Category: History and Travel
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Guide to visiting Beijing for those who hate crowds
By Isaac Tang When I visited Beijing for the first time, I wanted to see as many famous sites as possible and tick them off my long checklist. Unfortunately, everyone else planned to do so too, and the huge crowds at many top tourist destinations really detracted from the experience. On hindsight, Beijing is an…
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A Day Exploring Huizhou: Chengkan, Qiankou Residence, and Xixinan Village
By Isaac Tang During my trip to Huangshan, I decided that I would stay in a hotel next to Huangshan North Train Station to make things more convenient when I arrive, and leave, Huangshan. Before travelling to Huangshan, I did a lot of research about what to do in the vicinity of Huangshan North Train…
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Statesman, Mathematician and Christian: A Unique Visit to Xu Guangqi Park in Shanghai
By Isaac Tang Nestled between skyscrapers in the Xujiahui district of Shanghai, Guangqi Park is a quiet oasis of greenery, unfrequented by tourists and untouched by the hectic commercialisation that is exploding around it. As a memorial to one of the most brilliant and unique individuals in the Ming dynasty who epitomised all the positives…
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The Imperial Academy (Guozijian) in Beijing
Reflections on the History of the Imperial Examination System By Isaac Tang Contents Introduction It should come as no surprise that the written examination, dreaded by students throughout the world, was invented in China, a country whose people are often stereotyped to display academic prowess. Known as keju, the written examination system was a sophisticated…
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Tips On How To Visit The Forbidden City (Palace Museum) On Your Own
By Isaac Tang This article is different from my previous articles where I discourse on poetry and music. As part of the Chinese diaspora, I have had a lifelong dream of visiting the Middle Kingdom. This was delayed multiple times for various reasons, including a certain event in the year 2020. Now that China has…
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Dr Wu Lien-Teh: A Glimpse into Early 20th Century Asia
By: Isaac Tang Wu Lien-Teh is a name that perhaps sounds more familiar now, after the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the globe and triggered mass lockdowns, mask wearing and “social distancing” rules. Dr Wu is credited with spectacularly suppressing the Manchurian plague in Northeastern China at the beginning of the 20th century (1910-11) with various…
Isaac Tang - Poet, Author, Composer 