Shanghai, Then and Now

By Boon Hooi Hong, Studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. It was 2003 when I first visited to Shanghai, exactly 10 years ago. I remember it clearly as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) incident happened in the same year and it affected China greatly especially the economy. As an innocent teenager, I …

Religion in China: Christianity

By Ademola Akande, Studying Mathematics at the University of Nottingham UK. At virtually every place we visited, there was a substantial amount of fetish practices and beliefs proudly displayed to us tourists as Chinese history and culture. There was in fact a religious sculpture erected in front of a restaurant where we had lunch. However, …

China’s Elderly – The Old, The Wise and The Burden

By Liam Flaine, Studying Finance, Accounting and Management at the University of Nottingham UK. China’s booming commerce industries have caused economic growth levels to soar. In every aspect, China remains a growing superpower. Nevertheless, despite its thriving economical development, ironically it is China’s most durable, legitimate citizens that are inevitably going to restrict further development …

Beauty

By Alexandra Loewen, Studying History at the University of Birmingham UK. Where I am from we have an expression that says, “imitation is the highest form of flattery”. It’s a saying that my mom would tell me when my siblings were copying me to be annoying or when my friends bought the same clothes as …

My experience with food in China

By Andrew Spivey, Studying History at the University of Nottingham UK. Before travelling to China my anticipation to experience new culinary experiences was immense, and so it was to my delight that the plethora of new and exciting dishes awaiting me did in no stretch of the imagination disappoint. Since my childhood days I have …

The Differences between Western and Chinese Culture

By Abigail Hopcroft, Studying Sport, PE and Coaching Science at the University of Birmingham UK. After visiting Shanghai and Ningbo, trying to compare Western and Chinese culture is like trying to compare day and night. The cultural difference is open to interpretation and is a question of perspectives, beliefs and values; not all Western things …

How can the art and architecture in China be comparable to that in the West?

By Louise Jones, Studying Art History at the University of Nottingham UK. Before my trip to Ningbo I had some knowledge on the art practices in China and had many expectations of what I believed China would look like; high sky scraper buildings with the architecture being a mix of modern designs in the cities …

China and the West – Opposite attracts?

By Hans-Christian Mehrens, Studying International Relations at the University of Nottingham UK. Shanghai… Food Market… One song on my mind: “I’m a legal alien. I’m an Englishman in Shanghai!” Indisputably, we as Europeans are as much of an attraction to the local Chinese population as it is the other way round. Everywhere we went, pictures …

Positiveness in the China Daily

By Yvonne Nijenhuis, Studying Media and Culture at the University of Amsterdam Holland. Keeping myself up-to-date of the latest news during the summer school made me a fanatic reader of the China Daily. Besides the latest Chinese news, did it also give a good impression of the Chinese view on contemporary global issues. Instead of …

Growing Successful Cities

By Vincent Pan, Studying Commerce and Science at the University of New South Wales Australia. In Shanghai, a tour guide joked that the preferred mode of transport of Shanghai citizens were BMWs. That is, they rode Bicycles, they shared Motorcycles or they used their feet and Walked from A to B. For many citizens, these …