By Kristen Lum Sometimes, circumstances may prevent us from embarking on far-flung adventures, leading us to seek out hidden gems closer to home. Just like Yale University students who opt for local destinations due to time constraints or other factors, exploring nearby places can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. So, read more about it and be your guide to

Without realising it, the summer has already passed half way. To celebrate this summer in our courtyard, The Hutong hosted a Watermelon Eating Competition. Watermelon is one of the best fruit to enjoy in summer, and China has the highest annual production in the world. Based on the 2012 figure, China alone produces 70 million tonnes of watermelons by itself.

By Tara Dear Time is rarely a good indicator of how proficient somebody may be in a language, but it’s also the inevitable question when chatting to somebody about their study experience. I rarely tell somebody that I’ve learnt Mandarin for nine months, full stop. Instead, it has to come packaged with an explanation: those nine months have been spaced

By Danielle Laing I refuse to let the rain put a damper on my appetite. It’s late afternoon but you’d think it’s nighttime. Dark clouds loom overhead and neon lights stretch ahead on either side of the walking street in Xi’an’s vibrant Muslim Quarter, giving everything a kind of Blade Runner vibe. Xi’an, once an ancient imperial capital and the

by Tara Dear, Hutong Intern Extraordinaire It’s true: Harbin is that freezing cold place rubbing shoulders with Russia up in the forgotten north of China. In my first week here alone, it snowed three times. I waddled around in ski pants, ear muffs, and layers of mothball-scented thermals dusted off from long-term storage in Singapore. But four months later at