Understand

Chinese dialects can be mutually intelligible, just like certain Japanese dialects. For example, Sichuanese and Mandarin can be understood by speakers of both dialects. However, dialects like Cantonese and Mandarin or Hokkien and Mandarin are not mutually intelligible, similar to how some German dialects cannot be understood by speakers of standard German. While all Chinese dialects use the same characters for reading and writing, a Cantonese speaker and a Mandarin speaker may not be able to understand each other when speaking. However, they can generally read what the other writes. Even speakers of Japanese or Korean can recognize many Chinese characters. It's important to note that while formal written Chinese is the same everywhere, there can be significant differences when the "dialects" are written in colloquial form. For example, Cantonese as used in Hong Kong may include more informal phrasings in everyday speech compared to what is written. One additional complication is the use of simplified characters in mainland China and Singapore, which were implemented to standardize the language across various Chinese dialects. However, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and some overseas Chinese still use traditional characters. Additionally, the Dungan language, a variant of Mandarin spoken in neighboring countries, uses the Cyrillic alphabet instead of Chinese characters. Chinese is spoken by about one fifth of the world's population, making it a widely spoken language. It is tonal and relates to languages like Burmese and Tibetan. While Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese may use Chinese characters in their writing systems, their spoken languages are not related to Chinese. Vietnamese, in particular, borrowed many words from Chinese and used Chinese characters in the past. Travellers going to Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, or Macau may find Cantonese more useful than Mandarin. Those heading to Taiwan or Southern Fujian may also find Minnan useful. Chinese, like Arabic, is often considered difficult to learn. While English speakers may initially struggle with tones and recognizing the characters (since Chinese has no alphabet), the grammar is simple and can be picked up easily. Notably, Chinese grammar does not have conjugation, tenses, gender, plurals, or other grammatical rules found in other major languages like English or French.

Map & Climate

Popular Foods

Dim Sum - A collection of small bite-sized portions of various Chinese dishes, which can include dumplings, spring rolls, barbecued pork buns, and egg tarts. These are often served as a brunch or pre-lunch meal, accompanied by tea.

Peking Duck - A whole roasted duck that is a specialty of Beijing, known for its thin, crisp skin, rich, tender meat, and flavorful fat. The duck is typically served with thin pancakes, scallions, and a sweet bean sauce.

Kung Pao Chicken - A stir-fried dish made with chicken, peanuts, vegetables (usually bell peppers and onions), and chili peppers, all coated in a spicy, savory sauce. It's a staple in Sichuanese and broader Chinese cuisine.

Historical Appearance

Traditional Male Clothing

Traditional Female Clothing