Empire State Building Turns Red and Yellow
The Chinese New Year Festival last 15 days so it has been rather quiet in China. I have also been on holiday so posting less frequently than normal. This Sunday is the Lantern Festival, which ends the Lunar New Celebrations so I should get back to posting more regularly.
Chinese New Year celebration have spread across Asia and now becoming more global. Originally these started in the China Towns of cities around the world like London, New York and San Francisco. However now the celebrations are becoming more mainstream and spreading out across countries.
In New York, the iconic Empire State Building just put on a special light show. It celebrated Chinese New Years Eve by changing its building lights to red and yellow representing the colours of China’s National flag.
Empire State Building lights on for Chinese New Year
The Empire State Building is lit with red and yellow lights in New York, the United States, on Feb. 16, 2010. The Empire State Building lit in red and yellow Tuesday night to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.
Best Chopstick Food in Canada
The 2010 Winter Olympics has put Vancouver in the map for many people around the world. However for most Chinese, Vancouver is already a well-known destination as it has one of the largest immigrant populations of Chinese outside America.
Vancouver is constantly voted the best city to live in and is now voted to have the best Chinese food outside of China. I have never been to Vancouver but my Chinese wife has lived there for 6 months and definitely agrees.
Vancouver may be hosting the Winter Olympics, but it also seems to triumph in dumpling devouring. Over 38 meals in 12 restaurants, our indefatigable writer beholds the thrill of noodle pulling. (Warning: Don’t read this on an empty stomach)
Dog Food Off the Menu
While the best Chinese food may be in Vancouver, the Chinese government is now planning to ban the sale and eating of dog for in China. Eating dogs is a common practice especially in Southern China’s Guangzhou province where it is something of a speciality.
Several years back I was offered dog meat at a roadside food stand in Guilin. However this dog food was not already dead, but was a little live puppy. It was running around tied to a long rope and couldn’t have been more than a few months old. The stallholder picked him up by the scruff of its neck in one hand and had a meat cleaver in the other. He grinningly offered to chop it up and cook it fresh, but I obviously declined and decided not to eat at this place at all.
Eating cats, dogs could be outlawed
In a move prompted by calls of animal cruelty, legislation is being drafted to make eating cats and dogs illegal.
It may be months or a year before the draft is actually voted on by lawmakers, but the plan is to submit it to the legislature and State Council by April, according to the leader of the drafting team, Chang Jiwen, who is also director of the Social Law Research Department at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.