Beating the teahouse blues at the Bookworm

January 17, 2011

BEIJING, CHINA – Forget the zen tea ceremonies and tranquil gardens of Hollywood lore–Beijing’s traditional teahouses are not a spot to get your meditation on. These famously “renao” (a traditional concept describing an ambiance that’s waaaay beyond boisterous) establishments are known for their raucous entertainment (like live Peking Opera performances)… (more)

From belly dancing to full bellies at 1001 Nights

August 13, 2010

BEIJING, CHINA – The midriff-baring, hip-quaking moves of belly dance may have been considered too racy for mainstream Chinese culture even just a decade ago. But as the country has thawed to global influences in recent years, belly dance (along with other sultry foreign dance forms like flamenco) has been… (more)