China Cultural Insights Archives

Chinese Society Past and Present Ruqin’s Notes

Grandma’s Hanging Basket: A Memoir of Resilience and Love

My grandma died of stomach cancer at the age 76. Her doctor said my grandma had damaged her stomach by eating a kind of dirt known as the Goddess mud to fight the hunger when she was a kid.

Ruqin China Travel January 12, 2024

Chinese Society Past and Present Ruqin’s Notes

My Father, the Happy Military Veteran of Gan Xiu Suo

Gan Xiu Suo (干休所 ), literally meaning "PLA retirement homes", have been supported by provincial Military Districts since the end of 2017. These are the units catering for high-ranking retired officers. All this is directed by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs (MVA) .

Ruqin China Travel December 20, 2023

Waiting room at Department of Emergency at FAHZU Campus

Chinese Society Past and Present Ruqin’s Notes

My Wife’s Fractured Right Ankle

A few days ago, my cellphone rang. It was my wife calling from Lijiang, a poetic old town in Yunnan Province in the landlocked southwest China. She was on her solo trip there. She told me that she had her right ankle broken and she got the disappointing result after X-rayed in a local hospital.

Ruqin China Travel December 17, 2023

Chinese Society Past and Present Ruqin’s Notes

Beijing is My Second Hometown – Calm and Down to Earth

Two days ago, I made a solo long-distance drive from my hometown Hangzhou all the way up north to Beijing which I call my second hometown where I once lived consecutively for 20 years. And now I still stay on and off in Beijing with strong nostalgic feeling for this great city.

Ruqin China Travel September 19, 2023

Chinese Society Past and Present Ruqin’s Notes

Trade and Internet Promote the Similarity Between China and the West

In the past 10 years I've been living on and off mainly between my home country China and Canada. Now each time when I return to Hangzhou - my hometown in China, I don't feel much difference or any inconvenience materially as I did 10 years ago. The reason is very simple: The West is "in" China now.

Ruqin China Travel September 15, 2023