I love the smell of French fries in the morning! I came by a French fry stand in People’s Park in central Shanghai on the morning of Day 4. I figured, it wouldn’t be open if French fries weren’t meant to be eaten in the morning. I decided to forgo any of the sauces that were available as condiments. I usually just salt my fries. And anyway, condiments such as French Pork meat Floss Flavor, Passion Chocolate Sauce, or Signs Cheese (whatever that is) just weren’t doing it for me. I tried to get a picture of the woman at the counter, but she was as bashful as she was friendly. I stopped by a juice stand and got a passion pop–a juice concoction made with passion fruit, pineapple, lime, banana. Refreshing!
China, A Little History, Part 4
Qing Dynasty (17th and 18th Centuries)
Way back in 1387, barely a decade after driving the Mongols of the Yuan Dynasty back to Mongolia, the Ming Dynasty were nervous about the possibility of an invasion by Mongols then ruling in Manchuria, to the northeast. In a preemptive strike, the Ming invaded Manchuria and loosely annexed it into China. About 200 years later, with the Mongols gone and the Chinese only governing Manchuria casually, native Manchus began to organize and by 1616 declared their own dynasty, eventually named Qing (pronounced “Ching”). The Manchu rebellion overthrew the declining Ming [Read more…]
China 2015, Day 4: Shanghai, Day 2
Central Shanghai
It was such a relief to stay in Shanghai for the day rather than taking another day trip. Because my arrival in Shanghai was delayed a day and I was departing for Beijing the next afternoon, this was my [Read more…]
China 2015 Food Diary, Day 3
Back again at Shanghai’s high-speed train station in the morning, I wanted to get something other than another croissant like I had there on Day 2. I found something labeled “Picnic Ham and Cheese” at a bakery. A ham & cheese sandwich is about as Chinese as a croissant. But it’s something I wouldn’t normally get, so I went with it. By the second bite, I knew something wasn’t right. It was slathered with mayonnaise. I don’t do mayonnaise. So I had to toss that.
China, A Little History, Part 3
Ming Dynasty
In 1378, the Mongols of the Yuan Dynasty were overthrown and sent packing back to Mongolia by what became the Ming Dynasty. Thus was ushered in perhaps China’s most shimmering golden age of all. In fact, Ming means “brilliant” or “bright”. In Beijing, the Ming picked up where the Mongols left off, creating a master-planned imperial city centered on the new imperial palace, known today as the Forbidden City. The Great Wall as it exists today is mostly due to construction performed during the Ming Dynasty. Ming emperors were enthusiastic patrons [Read more…]