【推荐1】While telling others your zodiac sign (星座), you are being evaluated (评估). Evaluations are being made about your luck, your personality, future development and how you will do in a given year. So what is the Chinese zodiac, exactly? It’s a 12-year cycle labeled (标记) with animals, starting with a Rat and ending with a Pig. For example, if you were born in 2004, you are a Monkey.

The Chinese believe some animals are luckier than the others, such as the Dragon. Unlike in Western tradition, the Chinese Dragon stands for power, strength and wealth. It’s everyone’s dream to have a Dragon baby. Ma Yun’s parents must have been very proud. And they are not the only ones. In 2012, the Year of the Dragon, the birthrate in China increased by about 5%. That means another one million more babies. With a traditional preference for baby boys, the boy-girl ratio that year was 120 to 100. When those Dragon boys grow up, they will face much more serious competition in love and job markets.

According to the BBC and Chinese government reports, January 2015 saw a peak of cesarean sections (剖腹产术高峰). Why? That was the last month for the Year of the Horse. It’s not because they like horses so much, it’s because they try to avoid having unlucky Goat babies.

Tiger is another unwelcome animal, because of its dangerous and unstable (不稳定的) personality. Many Chinese places saw a considerable decline of birthrate during those years.

Perhaps one should consider zodiac in a different way, as those Tiger and Goat babies will face much less competition. Maybe they are the lucky ones. I went through the Forbes top 300 richest people in the world, and it’s interesting to see the most unwelcome two animals, the Goat and Tiger, are at the top of the list, even higher than the Dragon. So maybe we should consider that it’s much better to have less competition.

【推荐2】Hans is a young German born after 1995, who is a big fan of Chinese culture. He has been learning traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since 2016. Now he is studying for his master’s degree at Henan University of Chinese Medicine.

As he thought some diseases can’t be treated thoroughly with Western medicine, he decided to research into TCM. Hans came to Central China’s Henan Province in 2015, where a rich TCM culture can be enjoyed because Henan Province is the hometown of Zhang Zhongjing, the medical master of ancient China. After one year of learning the Chinese language, he started to learn Chinese medicine. Hans thought TCM is one of the best-preserved aspects of Chinese culture. He hopes to solve problems and understand Chinese culture deeply by learning TCM.

Without a language barrier, Hans read some of the ancient Chinese medical classics, such as Huangdi Neijing and Yi Jing. He believes different aspects of traditional Chinese culture interact with each other.

Studying TCM also changed Hans’ mind and lifestyle. He used to be addicted to electronic devices and stay up late every night, trapped in this fast-paced but unhealthy daily routine. But now, according to the Yin-Yang theory in TCM, he lives a balanced and peaceful life,   practicing good habits such as drinking tea and meditating, as well as reading ancient books.

Hans also uses what he has learned to help his family. Previously, acupuncture tools and Chinese medicine were necessities when he went back to his home in Germany. With acupuncture and Chinese-style massages, various physical disorders of his family have been well-treated. Now, he always provides his family members with some advice about staying fit after he checks their skin or tongues online. Over time, his family gradually began to understand his passion for TCM.

He plans to run a traditional Chinese clinic in China or Germany after graduation, which could serve as a bridge between the two countries and publicize TCM and its culture.

【推荐2】Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free(免签证的)Access

According to Hainan 30-day visa-free access plan, foreign citizens holding the passport of 59 qualifying countries can have 30 days visa-free entry to Hainan if received by travel agencies. During the stay, they can travel in the whole of Hainan Province without a Chinese visa.

Qualified Ports for Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Access

Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport and all ship ports are qualified ports for this 30 days visa exemption.

Airports Contact Information

●Haikou Meilan International Airport: 0898-65760114

●Sanya Phoenix International Airport: 0898-88289390

Areas Allowed to Stay—The Whole Hainan Province

Foreigners with the Hainan 30-day free visa can travel inside Hainan Province. Going to mainland China from Hainan is not allowed if not having a proper visa. Those wishing to visit mainland China, or extend their stay in Hainan, can ask their travel agency to help them apply for a regular Chinese visa.

How to Apply for Hainan 30-Day Free Visa Access

Requirements:

●Valid Passport/Travel Document Valid for at Least 3 Months from the Date of Entry

● Tickets for Round-trip International Flight or Cruise Ships

●Hotel Bookings

●Travel Plan to Hainan

Registering Yourself with a Local Travel Agency Is a Must

Independent travelers cannot apply for the Hainan 30-day free visa on their own. This needs to be done through a travel agency in China. Visitors can submit the above information to the travel agency at least 48 hours before their arrival, and then the agency will apply for the visa-free entry on their behalf from the local Exit and Entry Administration of Hainan.