Archive for January 11th, 2015

  • Shop around for the best look at life on the streets

    Qianmen Street – Beijing.JPGNanjing Road – Shanghai.JPG

    Calligraphy stall in Yuyuan Bazaar, Shanghai.JPGA poultry seller in Shanghai.JPG

    The cities of Beijing and Shanghai are definitely a mecca for those who love shopping. Never ending roads brim with hundreds of shops which offer an endless choice of all sorts of products.

    Ancient shops of different traditional trades stand side by side to modern ones which sell famous brand commodities. Flea markets provide the opportunity to look out for unusual items or for a good bargain but one must always keep in mind that most of the items are not genuine.

    Shopping can also be a way of getting closer to the locals especially in those areas where one is expected to negotiate the price. At times language could be a barrier since not all the Chinese can communicate in English. However, somehow, if you really want to purchase something, you’ll surely find a way to get across.

    Qianmen Street – Beijing

    Qianmen pedestrian street runs south from Tiananmen Square, just along the Beijing central axis for about a kilometre.

    This popular zone bears its origin to the ancient times of the Ming and Qing Dynasties when it was already renowned for its lantern fairs, theaters and tea-houses. Yet unfortunately, in 1900, this area was burnt down to ashes when Beijing was ransacked by the Eight-Nation Alliance.

    The present Qianmen Street has been rebuilt into four zones with particular areas designated for culture, food, shopping and entertainment. Stepping from one shop to another is like entering into a different world altogether.

    Elegant shops selling expensive jewellery with a particular focus on jade stand next to bargain outlets bursting with a multitude of souvenirs and knick knack objects. Popular Western fast-food outlets like Mc Donalds and KFC compete with traditional Chinese cuisine such as Qianmen Quanjude Duck Restaurant for the attention of hungry clients.

    An old style tram runs from north to south of Qianmen Street. However, for those who really want a taste of Chinese culture, walking is definitely better.

    Wangfuying – Beijing

    Wangfujing is very famous both with locals and with tourists as its outlets extend over a total length of about two kilometres. This flourishing business quarter dates back to 1260 and it has a long interesting history.

    In the wide main street, once again, West meets East since one finds huge shopping malls with international designer brands standing next to Beijing renowned trades, such as Shengxifu hat store, Tongshenghe shoe shop, and the Wuyutai tea house.

    However, here, the real delight for tourists lies in the narrower side streets which look rather like a busy beehive. Indeed, this zone is definitely not recommended for those who hate crowded places or for those faint at heart. For this is where you’ll witness the roots of the traditional Beijing, especially through some of the exotic foods which you will be offered.

    The different smells coming out of the numerous food stalls will entice you to look closer and maybe to try out something. The vast choice will consist of fresh fruit, dumplings, fried foods, and plenty of kebabs with all sorts of meat including lamb, chicken, pork, starfish, seahorse, worms, insects and live scorpions!

    Nonetheless, if you lose appetite, there is still more to see and buy in the other outlets which boast the true colours of China. Your preference and the amount of money which you are ready to spend will be the only limits. Exquisite shoes, silk scarves and ornaments, clothes, wood creations, colourful masks, stuffed pandas and toys, and a torrent of souvenirs are some of the items available in a much longer list.

    At the end of this visit, you’ll feel as if you have just been through a whirlwind of experiences. Definitely unforgettable!

    Nanjing Road – Shanghai

    Shanghai is a different world altogether from Beijing and this is clearly evident whilst walking along Nanjing Road. Believed to be the first shopping street in China, this road stretches for more than five kilometres with hundreds of different shops on each side.

    Here, shopping malls, department stores and boutiques with luxury brands like Dior, Chanel, Armani, Prada and Calvin Klein compete for clients’ attention with elegant and costly products. In fact, more than a pedestrian shopping street this area has also become a zone for both locals and visitors in order to experience the culture of modern Shanghai.

    It is best to visit Nanjing Road in the evening when the area is fully lit and quite spectacular.

    Yuyuan Bazaar – Shanghai

    This is an outdoor bazaar which stands next to the famous Yuyuan Garden. Its attraction lies in the wooden architecture of the shops and market stalls and in the traditional items which they sell.

    Since Shanghai is close to Suzhou, one will find a good choice of silk products here. Moreover, amongst the amazing array of traditional Chinese products, one can select amongst paintings by folk artists, calligraphy works and tools, including ink, paper, brushes, pens, and ink slabs, bamboo and wood carvings, bronze wares, porcelain tea-sets, jade pieces and pearls from Taihu Lake, to mention only a few.

    There are no boundaries to what you can actually find whilst exploring this bazaar. Indeed, in offhand corners, you might see people selling small animals and reptiles, and also bracelets of simple but fragrant flowers.

    A food market in Shanghai

    It is very easy to find yourself completely enthralled by the exciting and dynamic city of Shanghai, thereby feeling urged to explore also other areas which are outside the usual guided tours.

    Particularly endearing is the sheer contrast between the ultra-modern neon-lit high rises lying at the background of the raw and coarse atmosphere of meagre street food stalls where many locals gather to buy their grocery needs.

    Once again, your senses will be fully assaulted with unusual activities, smells and sounds. Here you can observe the wide choice of foods available which includes eggs of different poultry, river and sea fish and crustaceans, vegetables and fruit of whatever type and size, and various herbs and tea leaves.

    Live chicken and ducks look out from cages whilst one of them is being killed and cleaned there and then for a customer. Cute puppies look out expectantly from other cages, their destinies depending on who’s going to buy them.

    Surely, a visit to any of these markets should be included in one’s itinerary in order to experience the real China.

    (This article was published in the Travel Supplement of The Sunday Times of Malta dated 11th January 2015)

    2015.01.11 / no responses / Category: The Sunday Times - Articles

  • IL-KULURI TAĊ-ĊINA (2 Parti) Vetrini tal-għerf

    Sigar antiki jsebbhu t-Tempju ta' Konfucju.JPGWahda mid-dahliet tal-Kullegg Imperjali.JPG

    Klassi fl-iSkola Sperimentali.JPGSezzjonijiet attrezzati biex familja tara filmati fil-Librerija Kapitali.JPG

    Għal din il-ġimgħa għażilt li nitratta numru ta’ siti li żort f’Pekin li huma relatati mat-tagħlim u mal-edukazzjoni. L-ewwel post huwa tempju li ġie ddedikat lil Konfuċju li kien wieħed mill-aqwa filosofi li qatt kellha ċ-Ċina. It-tieni lwog huwa magħruf bħala l-Kulleġġ Imperjali u dan kien iservi bħala l-kwartieri ġenerali tal-amministrazzjoni tal-edukazzjoni u anki bħala post għat-tagħlim tal-għola livell. It-tielet sit jikkonsisti minn Skola Sperimentali għal studenti ta’ livell primarju u sekondarju li bħalissa qiegħda sservi bħala vetrina tas-sistema edukattiva kontemporanja fiċ-Ċina. Finalment, ir-raba lokalità magħżula hija l-Librerija Kapitali li f’dawn l-aħħar snin ġiet estiża b’mod tassew modernizzat u li jilqgħek.

    It-Tempju ta’ Konfuċju

    Konfuċju kien ħassieb, filosofu u għalliem li għex bejn il-perjodu 551 u l-479 Q.K. Il-filosofija tiegħu kienet temfasizza l-moralità personali u kif ukoll dik governattiva, il-korrettezza fir-relazzjonijiet soċjali, il-ġustizzja u s-sinċerità. Iżda fuq kollox, Konfuċju introduċa l-edukazzjoni għall-poplu in ġenerali u mhux għall-magħżulin biss.

    Taħt l-influwenza tiegħu, il-filosofi Ċiniżi ta’ ġenerazzjonijiet li għexu warajh għarfu illi l-istudenti m’għandhomx biss jimmiraw li jiksbu aktar informazzjoni imma wkoll li jiftħu iżjed moħħhom sabiex jesploraw kunċetti aktar wiesgħa ħalli b’hekk huma jtejjbu wkoll l-abitudni spiritwali tagħhom. Mexxejja tad-dinastiji fewdali li ġew wara Konfuċju ħaddnu t-tagħlim tiegħu u ħeġġu lill-poplu Ċiniż biex jimxi mal-ideoloġija tiegħu.

    Bħala turija ta’ rispett lejn Konfuċju, inbnew diversi strutturi li ġew iddedikati għalih. Fost dawn insibu t-Tempju ta’ Konfuċju f’Pekin li nbena mid-Dinastija Yuan fl-1306. Dan huwa t-tieni l-akbar tempju ddedikat għal dan il-filosofu Ċiniż fejn l-akbar wieħed huwa dak li hemm f’Qufu fil-Provinċja Shantong. Infatti dan it-tempju f’Pekin jokkupa arja ta’ 22,000 metru kwadru u l-ambjent tiegħu ġie ddiżinjat biex joffri trankwillità u serenità lil kull min iżuru.

    Bħal f’kull sit ieħor ta’ din l-importanza fiċ-Ċina, is-sengħa użata fl-arkitettura u fid-dekorazzjoni ta’ dan it-tempju hija mill-ifjen. Daqstant ieħor jolqtuk is-siġar antiki li tħawwlu f’dan il-lwog snin ilu u li llum iz-zkuk tagħhom ħadu forom leġġendarji daqs il-post li jinsabu fih. Bla ma trid, inti u tħares lejhom issib ruħek timmedita fuq il-medda taż-żmien u fuq dak kollu li seta’ qatt seħħ ġewwa dan is-sit.

    Ġewwa dan it-tempju wieħed isib erbgħa btieħi wiesgħa li jħarsu fuq arkati u binjiet disinjati biex ipaxxu l-għajn. Barra minn hekk, dan il-post iħaddan fih 198 ħaġra li fuqhom hemm minquxa l-ismijiet tal-51,624 student li attendew fih waqt id-Dinastiji Yuan, Ming u Qing.

    Il-Kulleġġ Imperjali

    Dan il-kulleġġ jinsab biswit it-Tempju ta’ Konfuċju. Ġie stabbilit fl-1306 waqt id-Dinastija Yuan. Ikopri medda ta’ 37,000 metru kwadru u huwa mżejjen b’arkitettura mill-iprem u b’kuluri mill-isbaħ. Fih hemm miġbura madwar 100 binja flimkien ma’ daħliet u arkati massiċċi u mill-isbaħ.

    Il-binja prinċipali hija magħrufa bħala s-Sala Biyong. Hija binja imponenti tal-injam maħduma fuq bażi kwadra li tħares fuq vaska ċirkulari mżejjna bi skulturi ta’ rħam abjad. Dan l-istil arkitettoniku jirrifletti t-twemmin tradizzjonali Ċiniż li d-dinja hija kwadra filwaqt li l-ġenna hija tonda. Fiċ-ċentru ta’ din is-sala wieħed isib tron u għamara oħra imperjali li kien juża l-imperatur biex jgħallem lill-istudenti ta’ livell għoli li kienu jattendu f’dak il-kulleġġ.

    Fuq in-naħa tal-Lvant u l-Punent tal-istruttura prinċipali ta’ dan il-kulleġġ inbnew sitt palazzi u erbgħa swali sabiex tinħoloq simmetrija perfetta ta’ unità.

    M’hemmx dubju li dawk li kienu jintagħżlu biex jitħarrġu f’dan il-post kienu jħossuhom pjuttost ixxurtjati u kburin.

    Skola Sperimentali tal-Università Kapitali Normali

    Kienet tassew sorpriża ħelwa meta tteħidna nżuru din l-iskola fejn ġejna milqugħa bħala mistednin importanti minn Malta. Grupp ta’ għalliema flimkien ma’ erbgħa studenti introduċewna mal-post u flimkien magħhom iddiskutejna s-sistema edukattiva li tintuża f’dik l-iskola u kif ukoll f’pajjiżna.

    Din l-iskola ġiet imwaqqfa fl-1999 u hija mmexxija mill-gvern. Fiha jattendu studenti tal-livell primarju u sekondarju u kif ukoll xi studenti minn pajjiżi oħra peress li l-iskola toffri kurrikulu internazzjonali. Hemm 60 klassi b’madwar 260 għalliema għal 2000 student. Bqajna impressjonati meta rajna li f’kull klassi kien hemm mal-50 student ma’ għalliema waħda u kollha kienu ubbidjenti ferm!

    L-istudenti jitgħallmu bosta suġġetti fosthom il-lingwa Ingliża li hija obbligatorja. Din l-iskola tħarreġ ukoll lill-istudenti fil-logħob tal-basketball fuq livell għoli. Iżda fuq kollox, it-tip ta’ tagħlim li jirċievu dawn l-istudenti huwa bbażat fuq ir-rispett reċiproku flimkien mal-imħabba lejn in-natura u l-ħajja.

    Il-prinċipal ta’ din l-iskola stqarret illi dan il-post jiffoka ħafna fuq l-eċċellenza fl-edukazzjoni u għalhekk huwa jservi bħala vetrina għall-viżitaturi barranin li jkunu jixtiequ jsiru jafu aktar dwar l-edukazzjoni li qed tingħata fiċ-Ċina bħalissa.

    Il-Librerija Kapitali

    Naturalment, kont qed nistenna li l-Librerija Kapitali ta’ Pekin se tkun imdaqqsa mhux ħażin imma qatt ma bsart kemm! Fil-fatt hija mibnija fuq art b’daqs ta’ 37,000 metru kwadru u fiha bosta taqsimiet għal etajiet u funzjonijiet varji.

    Il-librerija hija maqsuma f’żewġ partijiet fejn l-eqdem sezzjoni hija dik tat-tfal filwaqt li dik l-aktar moderna hija ddedikata għall-adulti. Xorta waħda, m’hemmx kantuniera li ma tilqgħekx. Anzi! Kollox jidher li ġie maħdum biex jiġbed kemm jiflaħ qarrejja lejn dan il-post. Dan kollu jikkuntrasta mas-snin passati meta l-libreriji ma kienux meqjusa bħala importanti mal-poplu in ġenerali.

    Ċertament iċ-Ċina nbidlet ħafna f’dawn l-aħħar snin u dan huwa rifless fis-servizzi ta’ din il-librerija imponenti li tħaddan fiha miljuni ta’ kotba ta’ kull xorta. Impjegat amministrattiv tal-post għarraffna illi kull sena jinxtraw mal-400,000 kotba, rivisti u materjali diġitali ġodda biex jiżdiedu mal-kontenut li diġà għandha din il-librerija.

    Bħala medja, madwar 10,000 persuna jżuru din il-librerija kuljum, għalkemm s’issa l-akbar rekord li kellhom ta’ viżitaturi f’ġurnata waħda jgħodd it-23,000 persuna! Xorta waħda, din il-librerija taħdem bis-sħiħ sabiex tiġbed numru akbar ta’ qarrejja lejha. Biex ilaħħqu ma’ dawn il-klijenti kollha hemm madwar 400 impjegat f’din il-librerija u dawn huma mgħejjuna minn sistemi awtomatiċi u effiċjenti mmens.

    Fost is-servizzi li toffri din il-librerija hemm is-self ta’ kotba u materjal diġitali dwar għadd kbir ta’ suġġetti bil-lingwa Ċiniża u b’lingwi oħra, fosthom bl-Ingliż. Il-materjal diġitali jista’ jintwera wkoll fuq numru ta’ kompjuters li hija mogħnija bihom din il-librerija u li waqt iż-żjara tagħna kienu miżgħuda bit-tfal. Sadanittant, sa mill-età tal-kindergarden it-tfal jiġu mħajjra biex joħolqu l-ktieb diġitali tagħhom billi jtellgħu xi ritratti u kitba ġewwa sistema apposta li tinsab fil-librerija. Eventwalment, dawn il-kotba jistgħu anki jiġu ppubblikati.

    Sabiex tkompli tressaq aktar nies lejha, din il-librerija għandha wkoll sezzjonijiet tagħha tassew moderni u attraenti li huma attrezzati biex jinkrew mill-familji ħalli flimkien jaraw xi film li jissellfu mill-librerija stess.

    Intant, fuq in-naħa esterna tal-librerija, ġewwa entratura kbira ferm, wieħed isib ukoll sistema diġitali li tinforma lill-pubbliku b’mod regolari dwar il-materjal ġdid li jkun daħal fil-librerija. Barra minn hekk, din tinkludi wkoll rakkommandazzjonijiet li jsiru kemm mill-amministrazzjoni tal-librerija u kif ukoll mill-qarrejja nfushom dwar l-aqwa kotba tal-mument. Sadanittant, għażla oħra ta’ kotba tista’ titniżżel fuq il-mowbajl u mezzi oħra diġitali sabiex tinqara fi lwogi oħra.

    Apparti minn hekk din il-librerija tinkorpora wkoll ħanut tal-kotba, ċinema, teatru, swali tal-esebizzjonijiet u kafetterija. F’kelma waħda, dan il-post jista’ jiġi mqabbel ma’ ġenna tal-art għal dawk li jħobbu l-kotba.

    (Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fis-sensiela IL-KULURI TAĊ-ĊINA (It-2 Parti) fit-Torċa tal-11 ta’ Jannar 2015)

    2015.01.11 / no responses / Category: Torca - Features & Articles