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Harbin Ice Festival: Best Attractions & Essential Travel Tips
Harbin, China, isn’t just cold in winter—it’s Siberian cold. But if you’re willing to brave the elements, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most spectacular winter experiences on the planet: the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. Every year, sculptors from all over the world descend on this northeastern Chinese city to carve massive ice palaces, intricate sculptures, and gravity-defying towers from blocks of ice harvested straight from the Songhua River. Getting There Harbin is well connected by air and high-speed rail. If you’re flying in, Harbin International Airport is about an hour’s drive from the city center. Coming from Beijing? The bullet train will get you there in…
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Skip Guilin….Why You Should Visit Yangshuo
Before my flight to Guilin from Shanghai, I spent hours going back and forth wondering how much time I should spend in Guilin and the neighboring cities. My friends told me to skip Guilin, and it didn’t take long for me to realize why that was worth doing. To be honest, there isn’t much in Guilin. It’s simply your launching pad into the other cities in Guangxi Province. Sure, you have the Li River, but you can see that from other cities with a better view. My advice: Skip Guilin and go straight to Yangshuo. Why You Should Visit Yangshuo Located just an hour and a half away by bus…
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China vs. Japan vs. South Korea: Which Should You Live In?
Since late 2012, I’ve had the privilege of living in China, Japan, and South Korea, and during this time, I’ve been able to truly immerse myself into each of their unique cultures. China, Japan, and South Korea are three countries that often come to mind to foreigners (mainly western) when seeking employment abroad, but the differences among the three are not widely understood. Below, I’ll highlight their key differences and help you better decide which country is best for you. Food: China: Chinese is my least favorite among the three, as much of it is pork based and very oily, which concerns me as a very health conscious person. With…
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A Guide to Climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is one of the world’s most famous mountains and one deeply important to Japanese people as it is one of their 3 holy mountains. Each year, thousands flock to Japan hoping to catch a glimpse of Fuji on the train passing by, while the brave ones attempt to climb it. At 12,389 feet (3,776.24 meters), Mount Fuji ranks as the largest in Japan, and 7th largest peak on an island in the world. Fuji is iconic and has served as the inspiration for many artists and poets worldwide and after climbing Mt. Fuji and seeing the views for myself, I can see why. Here is a guide to…
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How Studying Abroad in Japan Changed My Life
Being bi-racial, African-American and Japanese, I always had a fascination with Japan. Growing up in the U.S, I often wondered what living in Japan long-term would be like. I had visited Japan several times, but often for short periods of time. As a child, I knew one day that I would get the opportunity to stay longer and that I would not hesitate to seize that opportunity. In November of 2010 as junior at the University of Maryland College Park, I applied to study abroad in Nagasaki at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies, and by December I was admitted. I will admit, it was one of the happiest moments in…
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Traveling to Xinjiang: China’s Wild West
Xinjiang is one of China’s most unique regions and one truly worth exploring if you have time. Xinjiang is far from what most would imagine China to be. Uyghurs, the majority group living in Xinjiang, are culturally distinct from most Han Chinese. Aside from their physical features, they mostly practice Islam, speak Uyghur, and have their own cultural traditions. Although a part of China, traveling to Xinjiang almost feels as if one is in an entirely new country. One can describe it as China’s Wild West. Sayram Lake I had limited time in Xinjiang, so I tried to visit the most accessible places from Urumqi. One place was Sayram Lake,…
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Black Barbershop in Shanghai
If you’re of African heritage living in Shanghai or thinking about moving to Shanghai, it is likely you’re looking for a barbershop that can cut black hair to keep you fresh from week to week. Grooms & Co. By Cultura Barbershop is a new concept born in 2022 focusing on experience, comfort, and a range of services for both expats and locals. Grooms & Co is located in downtown Jing An district surrounded by restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Address: Haifang Road 555-2. Jing An District Phone: 187-0174-3842 WeChat: fineecuts When I first came to Shanghai, I tried going to local Chinese barbers to save money, which was a big…
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Day Trips From Tokyo
Many travelers visiting Japan will fly into Tokyo and spend a few days here before heading off to their next destination. For those with limited time in Japan that can’t afford to go far or just have a few extra days to spare, here are four places you can visit if you’re looking for day trips from Tokyo. 1) Kamakura: A small city about an hour by train from Tokyo famous for its temples, beach, and giant Buddha. From Tokyo Station, take the JR Yokosuka Line to Kamakura Station. 2) Hakone: A mountainous area west of Tokyo, 1-2 hours away by train, famous for its hot springs, scenic views, relaxed…
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Dali: One of the Most Scenic Places in China
Yunnan is often regarded by Chinese locals as the most beautiful province, and after visiting, I couldn’t agree more. I visited Dali, one of the most scenic places in China and was absolutely stunned by its natural beauty. If you’re in China, Dali is one place you should visit. How to get to Dali Assuming you’re not already in Yunnan province, first you’ll need to fly to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. Next, you’ll need to decide whether you want to go to Dali by bus, train, taxi, or plane. There are several night trains leaving Kunming from 8 to 11 that take about 6-8 hours on average. You can…
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How to go to Graduate School in Japan
In 2009, the Japanese government started a program to attract foreign students, which became known as the “Global 30”, now the “Top Global University Program.” The Japanese government selected the most elite schools and began offering English-only undergraduate and master’s programs. Since 2009, graduate school in Japan for international students has become more popular than ever. The beauty of this program is that you do not need to take the GRE for admission. You simply apply as you would do with any other school. How much is it? Compared to the U.S (my home country) it’s amazingly cheap. One semester cost me around $3,000. I graduated in 3 semesters and…
