MyPlain

Blog

  • A Hike at the Beginning of This Year

    Recently, I’ve been going through my phone’s photo album, and it finally pushed me to write about some of this year’s hikes that I hadn’t documented yet.

    One trip that stands out was the one to Guangfu, an ancient town on the eastern shore of Taihu Lake in Suzhou. We went there in January specifically to see the famous black-headed gulls. The trail was a bit tricky — steep and slippery in places — but the view from the summit made it all worth it.

    The most memorable part, though, was at Yonghui Temple by the lake. We spent a wonderful afternoon with tea, watching hundreds of gulls soaring over the water — a scene that was both peaceful and magnificent. After that, we came across a wonderful sunset.

    Old friends might remember that I mentioned this hike right after I got back. If you want to see more pictures, you can find them here.

  • Some Chinese Vocabulary

    It’s a little late, but I’m here to drop some Chinese vocabulary that I taught my friend last Sunday, in case you want to learn Chinese too.

    1. I introduced the concept of “seasonal ingredients” (shí lìng cài 时令菜) — foods that taste best in a particular season, like water spinach (kōng xīn cài 空心菜) in summer.
    2. 靠近 (kàojìn) – means “to be close to” or “to approach.” Example: 别靠太近 (Bié kào tài jìn — Don’t get too close).
      远离 (yuǎnlí) – means “to stay away from” or “to keep distance.” Example: 远离危险 (Yuǎnlí wēixiǎn — Stay away from danger).
    3. 错过 (cuòguò) – means “to miss out on something.” Example: 别错过《奥德赛》这部电影 (Bié cuòguò “Àodésài” zhè bù diànyǐng — Don’t miss the movie The Odyssey).
    4. 薯条 (shǔtiáo) – French fries; the word literally means “potato strips.”
    5. The four seasons: 春夏秋冬 (chūn, xià, qiū, dōng) – all have first-tone pronunciation except xià (summer), which is fourth tone. A mnemonic: it’s so hot in summer that you need to bring the temperature down — so, a falling tone!
    6. 菜 (cài) – refers not only to vegetables but also to meat dishes (荤菜 hūn cài).
      卤菜 (lǔcài) – braised dishes. Though cooked in water, the long cooking time and various spices make them flavorful. Many ingredients can be braised, including beef, pork, chicken, duck, goose, seaweed, tofu, and some vegetables.

  • The New Tool

    There’s a Chinese saying that goes: “Lose on one side and gain on the other” (失之东隅，收之桑榆 shī zhī dōng yú, shōu zhī sāng yú). I really felt that this past Sunday.

    A few weeks ago, I had to change my communication tool because Microsoft discontinued its Teams Personal Edition in Mainland China on July 28. After two weeks of exploring, I found that the new tool, VooV Meeting, is actually way more useful than the old one.

    Here is the story.

    My friend helps me with the English questions I come across every week on Sunday evenings. In exchange, I help him learn Chinese. My questions are always very specific, and most of our chatting is in English, which helps me improve my listening and speaking a lot. Because of that, I had been a little worried about whether I was teaching him enough Chinese.

    The new tool has eliminated my concerns with AI meeting minutes. Every time, I just need to get the transcript after the meeting and check, revise, summarize, and email it to my friend. Of course, it is not perfect, but at least it provides quite a good structure to remind me of what we talked about.

    I’ll show you the latest minutes in case you are also interested in learning Chinese!

    Here’s a quick summary of our discussion on Sunday:

    1. Key Grammar: Uses of “都” (Dōu)
      1) Meaning 1 – “All” / “Completely”
      Indicates totality or a high degree.
      e.g. 都要 (dōu yào) — all need / want;
      功课学得都不错 (gōngkè xué de dōu bú cuò) — The homework/studies are all quite good.
      2) Meaning 2 – Emphasis (even / at all)
      Strengthens tone, often in negative structures.
      e.g. 一动都不动 (yī dòng dōu bú dòng) — Doesn’t move at all.
      (Here, 都 does not mean “all”, but emphasizes the extreme degree of “not moving”.)
      3) Polyphone – “都” as “capital”
      When pronounced dū, it means capital city.
      e.g. 北京是中国的首都 (Běijīng shì Zhōngguó de shǒudū) — Beijing is the capital of China.
    2. Complement Structure: “出来” (Chūlái)
      Three meanings:
      1) Physical: Movement from inside to outside, e.g., 种子长出来了 (zhǒngzi zhǎng chūlái le) — The seed sprouted/came out.
      2) Result: Completion or achievement, e.g., 计划做出来了 (jìhuà zuò chūlái le) — The plan was made/finished.
      3) Abstract: Perception or discovery, e.g., 看出来 (kàn chūlái) — notice/see clearly; 真相出来了 (zhēnxiàng chūlái le) — The truth came out.
    3. Vocabulary & Sentence Patterns
      1) 个子 (Gèzi): Refers specifically to human height (not used for buildings).
      ✅ 高个子 (gāo gèzi) — tall person
      ❌ Not used for buildings — use 高/矮 (gāo/ǎi) for height, 大/小 (dà/xiǎo) for size, 宽广/狭窄 (kuānguǎng/xiázhǎi) for width.
      2) 的 (De): Turns nouns into adjectives, e.g., 红色 → 红色的苹果 (hóngsè → hóngsè de píngguǒ) — red → red apple.
      3) Address order: Chinese: largest → smallest (Country → City → District); English: reverse.
    4. Cultural & Lifestyle Notes
      1) Solar terms: Mentioned 立秋 (Lìqiū) — Start of Autumn. Tammy plans to resume hiking after the heat.
      2) Film: Discussed The Odyssey (《奥德赛》, Àodésài) and its cast’s visit to Shanghai.
      3) Measurement differences (China vs. US):
      Distance: kilometers (公里, gōnglǐ) vs. miles (英里, yīnglǐ)
      Weight: kilograms (公斤, gōngjīn) vs. pounds (磅, bàng)
      Volume: liters (升, shēng) vs. gallons (加仑, jiālún)

  • The Willow Pattern Mystery | Yu Garden | Ep.3

    I’ve been digging into Yu Garden lately.

    And today, I stumbled across something fascinating — the tea house here was once called ‘The Willow Pattern Tea House’ by foreigners.

    Why? Because it looks just like a beloved English ceramic pattern.

    So, I dove deeper.

    First, the inspiration.

    In the 17th and 18th centuries, fine blue-and-white porcelain from Jingdezhen was highly prized in Europe.

    But it was expensive and hard to get — so it stayed a luxury for the elite.

    Then came the British “copy.”

    Around 1780, British potters adapted and combined Chinese motifs — willows, pavilions, and birds.

    With new transfer-printing technology, they mass-produced affordable ‘Chinoiserie’ ceramics.

    And the iconic Willow Pattern was born.

    But wait, there’s a catch.

    In the 1840s, to boost sales, the British came up with a tragic love story — star-crossed lovers fleeing across a zigzag bridge, only to be turned into swallows.

    By the way, Pure marketing. Not a real Chinese legend.

    Then came the déjà vu.

    When British merchants arrived in Shanghai and saw the Huxinting Tea House — and the Nine-zigzag Bridge right beside it — they were stunned.

    The landscape looked exactly like the scene on their plates and teacups.

    So, they called it ‘The Willow Pattern Tea House.’

    In my eyes, the Willow Pattern isn’t only a fascinating historical artifact, but also a cultural loop.

    It’s like a cross-cultural puzzle that took centuries to complete.

    Pretty cool, right?

    (This is the transcript from this video: https://youtube.com/shorts/FKW98xocZ18. I’d appreciate any feedback or pronunciation corrections. )

  • China High-Speed Railway Security Check – What You Need to Know as a Foreigner

    As you may know, I was browsing a forum to learn English and conduct market research. Maybe because it’s a unique and interesting transportation system in China, high-speed railway questions have been asked quite often. So, I wanted to write this post to help out our foreign friends!

    First, something special for foreign travelers:
    Passport  Check: Most stations require manual verification of passports. However, some upgraded stations (e.g., some on the Hainan Ring Railway and Guangshen High-Speed Railway) support direct passport scanning at the gates. If you’re unsure, just follow the signs or ask staff for the manual channel.

    Then, a couple of special reminders:
    · Arrive at the station at least 45–60 minutes before departure. If you are fluent in Chinese and familiar with the process, 30 minutes will be enough.
    · Your passport will be checked both at the station entrance and at the boarding gate. (We Chinese citizens use our ID cards for the same process).

    Finally, here is the main part: the official rules from 12306.

    🚫 What You CANNOT Bring at All (Not in your bag, not in checked luggage)
    · Guns, ammo, or anything that looks like a real gun.
    · Knives, daggers, crossbows, or any blade/weapon controlled by law.
    · Fireworks, firecrackers, gasoline, diesel, or any fuel.
    · Alcohol stronger than 70% by volume.
    · Self-heating food (the kind with a heat pack – they react with moisture and can catch fire).
    · Poisons, strong acids (like sulfuric acid), strong alkalis (like lye), or radioactive materials.
    · Infectious stuff – like dangerous germs or viruses.
    · Live animals (except guide dogs). Small pets can be checked as luggage if you have a health certificate and a proper carrier.
    · Anything that smells really bad (even if sealed – yes, durian and sticky tofu count), or anything that might scare other passengers.
    · Any item that security can’t figure out but looks risky.

    🧳 What You CANNOT Carry On, But CAN Check as Luggage
    Note: I haven’t used this service myself, so please allow extra time and budget just in case.
    · Kitchen knives, scissors, or blades longer than 60mm (about 2.4 inches).
    · Professional knives (like scalpels).
    · Sports gear like bats or clubs.
    · Tools like drills, axes, or farm tools.
    · Bows, slingshots, or similar items.
    · Small pets (as above – with papers and carrier).

    ⚠️ What You CAN Bring, But With Limits
    · Alcohol – Only if it’s sealed, clearly labeled, and between 24% and 70% alcohol. Max total: 3 liters (about 100 fl oz). To be clearer, alcohol under 24% is allowed without special volume limits, as long as it complies with standard baggage rules. And anything over 70% is banned. And alcohol must be in its original, labeled, sealed container.
    · Sprays (aerosols) – Like hairspray or sunscreen. Each can ≤150 ml (5 fl oz), one per type, total ≤600 ml (20 fl oz).
    · Flammable liquids (non-spray) – Like perfume or bug repellent. Each bottle ≤100 ml (3.4 fl oz), one per type.
    · Power banks – Must have clear labeling—each ≤100Wh (about 27,000 mAh). No limit on how many, but must be for personal use. No damaged or unlabeled ones.
    · Lighters – Max 2 (no kerosene lighters). Matches – Max 2 small boxes.
    · Nail polish & remover – Total ≤50ml (1.7 fl oz).
    · Small seafood – Like fish, shrimp, or crabs – OK if in sealed containers.


    📏 Baggage Size & Weight
    · Weight: Adults ≤20 kg (44 lbs), children ≤10 kg (22 lbs).
    · Size:
    1) On high-speed trains (D, G, C): length + width + height ≤ 130cm (51 inches).
    2) On regular trains (K, T, Z, etc.): ≤ 160cm (63 inches); pole-shaped items ≤ 200cm (79 inches).

    🔍 At the Security Check
    · Every bag goes through the X-ray machine.
    · Liquids, power banks, and some other items may need to be taken out or opened for checking. (Tip: Pack these items in an easily accessible place so you can grab them quickly.)
    · If you refuse the check, you won’t be allowed in.

    🚨 What Happens If You Break the Rules
    · Banned items – Confiscated, and police may be called.
    · Over-limit items – You have a few choices:
    Check them as luggage (if allowed).
    1) Hand them to someone seeing you off.
    2) Store them at the station (free for up to 3 days).
    3) Send them via express delivery.
    4) Throw them away.

    🚜 A Special Note for “Slow” Trains
    Some slower, public-service trains in rural areas have different rules – they may allow small farm tools and a few live birds/animals. This only applies to those specific trains.

    Disclaimer: The official information above was collected on July 31, 2026. Please refer to the latest official updates from 12306 for specific details.

    Traveler’s Note:

    Navigating China’s railways can be tricky—if you’d like us to handle the details for you, check out our travel services.