LTL BLOG

Chinese Proverbs || 11 of our Favourites (with Bonus Proverb Quiz)

Chinese Proverbs (or Idioms) and sayings (谚语 yànyŭ in Chinese) are a great way to expand your Chinese vocabulary when you're learning mandarin.

Learning Shanghainese : A Beginner's Story 📖

Follow Carl's Learn Shanghainese story - " I thought learning Shanghainese is going to be insanely hard, but why not, maybe it'll help me with…

15 Plants in Chinese 🌷 Our Guide to the Plants in Mandarin

Discover How To Say 15 Plants in Chinese Do you know the names of some plants in Chinese? Perhaps you want to add some greenery…

Chinese Superstitions // How Many Do You Know?

Chiense Superstitions can seem down right crazy to some of us. We cover the number 4, your year of birth, turtles and facial hair. Something…

North China vs South China || Who Wins?

How different are north and south China? How should you choose where to go? We explain all in this comprehensive guide.

Shanghai Facts (for 2025) - Numbers That Blow Your Mind

Shanghai Facts and Figures (for 2025) – Incredible Numbers In 2011 I got talking with a professor at Shanghai’s Fudan University. One thing he told…

Cryptocurrency in Chinese // 21 Cryptocurrency Names Plus Much More

Like your Crypto? Studying Chinese? You've stumbled across the perfect article. We teach you all the key words and coins for cryptocurrency in Chinese.

How to Give Compliments in Chinese // Ultimate Guide WITH Audio

Compliments in Chinese ✨ How to Say Something Nice in Mandarin Giving compliments is a great way to connect with people, make friends, and practice…

Individual or Group Lessons When Learning a Language Online?

What’s Best for You when Learning Chinese Online? || Pros and Cons of 1-on-1 and Group Classes Studying online isn’t a new concept, but the…

Chinese Stroke Order // 11 Key Rules You Should Know

Even in the modern day Chinese stroke order is still important. Find out 11 important rules so that you can master Chinese handwriting.

Top 10 Ways to Say 'I Understand' in Chinese

Do you know how to say I understand in Chinese? There are more ways than you might think. Today we teach you 10 phrases in…

Reversible Chinese Words // 164 You MUST Know

Reversible Chinese Words are something you learn about in the intermediate levels. Today we are teaching you 160+ to get a strong head start!

10 Must Try Shanghainese Foods 🍜 Your Complete Guide

Chinese food is so diverse that it's really difficult to say what's best, so we've diluted it down. Here are the top 10 best Shanghainese…

Living as a Veggie in China // Top 6 Vegetarian Street Foods

Worried about being a vegetarian in China? Don't be, China is the giver of some of the best vegetarian street food there is. Check out…

Chinese Beauty Standards vs The West | How Different Are They?

How big are the differences between Chinese beauty standards and those of the West? You'll be amazed at some of the challenges that happen on…

Traditional Chinese Clothing 🤩 Four You Need To Know

Chinese culture is more than 5,000 years old and because of that, traditional Chinese clothing has an interesting history. Discover the best ones here.

Chinese Names 🤩 A Simple and Easy Guide to Understanding Names in China

Follow our guide to Chinese names to discover the most popular names in China (for boys and girls). Ever wanted your own Chinese name? We…

Chinese Currency || Discover The RMB / CNY

Chinese Currency 💰 LTL’s Guide to Chinese Money What is the Chinese Currency and how do you talk about it in Chinese? And what are…

Beijing vs Shanghai (2025) // Your Comprehensive & Complete Guide

Beijing vs Shanghai — they couldn't be more similar, and they couldn't be more different. But which one is for you? Find out first with…

2024 Chinese New Year in Shanghai - Top Five Things to Do

There are plenty of things to do in Shanghai for Chinese New Year. A definite must is the Yu Garden Lantern Festival, or one of…

Shanghai Metro 🚄 All 414 Stations and 16 Lines (2025 Update)

The Shanghai Metro is HUGE - in fact there are a total of 414 stations and 16 lines as of 2020 and more will follow.…

How to Become a Master Táobǎo 淘宝 Shopper! 2024-25 Guide

Ten Top Tips on How to Use Taobao 淘宝 – The Complete Guide If you live in China, or know someone who has, you’ve probably…

The Gardens of Shanghai 🌳 Yuyuan Garden 豫园

Yu Garden - Are you looking for a place to relax? Maybe somewhere scenic, with historic buildings? Yu Garden is just the place you want…

3 Days in Shanghai 🤔 How To Spend 72 Hours in Shanghai?

3 Days in Shanghai | 72 hours isn't a lot of time but it's enough to see some great things in Shanghai. Find out what…

The Year of the Monkey (Everything You Need to Know)

Year of the Monkey: Personality, Luck, Love and Language in Chinese Zodiac Today, we are learning about all the exciting facts of the Year of…

Year of the Pig: The Last But Lucky Chinese Zodiac

This Little Piggy Brings Prosperity: Your Guide to the Year of the Pig 🐷 Today, we’re exploring the Year of the Pig! (zhū nián) The…

Chinese Zodiacs: Year of the Dog 🐕 Pawsitive or Ruff Times Ahead?

Unleash the Qualities, Cultural Meaning, and Fascinating Feng Shui Traditions of the Year of the Dog Today, we’re exploring the intriguing aspects of the Year…

Chinese Zodiacs 🐓 Year of the Rooster Explained

When is the Next Year of the Rooster, What Does it Mean and Your Other Questions Answered! Today, we are exploring the Year of the…

Year of the Goat: The Unluckiest Chinese Zodiac?

Year of the Goat Personality, Compatibility in Romantic Relationships and Meaning in Chinese Culture Today, we’re continuing our Chinese zodiac series by exploring the story,…

Chinese Zodiacs 🐴 Year of the Horse (Ultimate Guide)

Explore the Year of the Horse in Chinese Astrology, Its Traits, and Its Impact on Personality In this 12-part blog post series, we’re taking you…

2025 Year of the Wood Snake || Guide, Horoscope & Predictions

Everything You Need to Know About the Year of the Snake🐍 Personality, Compatibility and Lucky Symbols In this 12-part blog post series, we’re taking you…

Chinese Zodiacs || Year of the Dragon (A Complete Guide)

Everything You Need to Know About the Year of the Dragon🐉 Personality, Compatibility and Lucky Symbols 2024 is coming and that means one thing: it’s…

Chinese Zodiacs || Year of the Rabbit (The Ultimate Guide)

The Year of the Rabbit 🐰 Everything You Need to Know || Luck, Culture and Compatibility In this 12-part blog post series, we’re taking you…

Chinese Zodiacs || Year of the Ox 🐂 (A Complete Guide)

The Year of the Ox 🐂 Everything You Need to Know || Luck, Culture and Compatibility In this 12-part blog post series, we’re taking you…

Chinese Zodiacs || Year of the Rat (A Complete Guide)

The rat symbolises fresh beginnings in Chinese culture. The Year of the Rat is considered the perfect time to pursue new opportunities and start afresh.

Chinese Zodiacs || Year of the Tiger (A Complete Guide)

The Year of the Tiger 🐯 Everything You Need to Know || Luck, Culture and Compatibility In this 12-part blog post series, we’re taking you…