Cup of Cha
This is China

Three months ago I had a post planned where I would review The Founding of a Republic (建国大业), the Chinese film timed for the 60th anniversary of the most important day of the 20th century: the founding of Communist China. I was going to write a review extolling how the film portrayed the true greatness [...]

Continue reading “So THAT’S How The Republic Was Founded” »

If you’re reading this from somewhere outside of China, you may be unaware that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. That is probably because you hate the Chinese people and your concerted ignorance is a carefully designed plot to insult the world’s largest population. Or possibly, [...]

Continue reading “60 is the New 5000” »

Riots in Tibet last year. Riots in Xinjiang this year.
There is one lesson that we can learn from all of this:  Old people are dangerous.  Incited youths listen to and heed the words of virtually anyone the age of their grandparents. Young people are not motivated by ethnic hatred, lack of jobs or the perception [...]

Continue reading “Chinese Government Fears Old People” »

Every few months, China unrolls a plan that looks less-than well thought out. Maybe it’s censoring the media facilities during the Olympics. Or quarantining hundreds or thousands of travelers to Beijing over H1N1 fears, even though (or because) the country didn’t bother to do anything for the first three months of SARS six years ago. [...]

Continue reading “How China Can Fix its PR Problem” »

When I heard that the new Guns N’ Roses album is entitled Chinese Democracy, it got me wondering what, exactly, the point to the title was. Now, I think we should start with the premise that these fellows aren’t very deep thinkers. I’m not trying to hate on Slash or Axl Rose, but they did [...]

Continue reading “What’s up with Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy”?” »

Not sure how The Daily Show finds this stuff, but this is a pretty poignant sequence. Special thanks to Pop [and Sis] of Cha for the link:

Continue reading “The GOP on Inexperience and Female Candidates” »

Recently the government released eight things Chinese shouldn’t ask foreigners. Well, we at Cup of Cha have put together eight things visitors to the Beijing Olympics shouldn’t ask Chinese people:

When it says “duck’s blood” on the menu, what is it really? (And why is blood solid?)
Why does Taiwan (ie, Chinese Taipei) have its own flag [...]

Continue reading “Eight Things Olympics Visitors Shouldn’t Ask” »

The Olympics have, as hoped, put Beijing in the spotlight. My sister and some other friends are coming before the games, something I am not sure would have seemed as interesting or achievable without them. One reason for this is that for many the first thing that comes to mind when they think of China [...]

Continue reading “Welcome Olympic Guests” »

I remember being a little kid and opening up the newspaper during the Olympics to make sure that the US was always ahead in the medal count during the Olympics. Not the Winter Olympics, mind you. Although I strongly believe the US should merge with Canada to improve that situation as well. And to strengthen [...]

Continue reading “Earn Those Medals, Win That Respect” »

Not to scare anyone, but the State Department is warning Americans they could be watched by the government during the Beijing Olympics. You know, not in a warrantless-home-searches-in-the-middle-of-the-night kind of way, real intrusive stuff. They are advising Americans to be vigilant while in China. The report said:

All hotel rooms and offices are considered to be [...]

Continue reading “US: Beijing Olympics Give Totalitarianism Bad Name” »