Sunday 29 October 2017

Passport Power Rank 最强护照排行榜

With the opening of Paraguay to Singapore citizens visa-free entry, Singapore passport  has become the world's powerful passport.

随着巴拉圭开放让新加坡公民免签证入境,新加坡护照跃升成为世界最强护照。

This is the first time ever an Asian country passport to become the world's powerful passport.

这是历来首次有亚洲国家护照成为世界最强护照。


Global Passport Ranking Top 5 / 全球护照排行榜前5名

1. Singapore / 新加坡(159)

2. Germany / 德国(158)

3. South Korea, Sweden / 韩国、瑞典(157)

4. Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom / 丹麦、芬兰、法国、意大利、日本、挪威、西班牙、英国(156)

5. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland / 奥地利、比利时、卢森堡、荷兰、葡萄牙、瑞士(155)

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Mid-Autumn Festival Trivia 中秋节冷知识

Singapore - Chinatown

新加坡 - 牛车水


How many nicknames are there for Mid-Autumn Festival?

中秋节有多少个昵称?

At least 10.

至少10个。

Mid-Autumn Festival is named after the Chinese lunar calendar, the lunar year is divided into four seasons.

中秋节的命名来源于中国的农历,农历中一年分为四季。

Each quarter is divided into "Meng", "Zhong", "Ji" three parts, so the Mid-Autumn Festival also known as "Zhongqiu".

每季又分为孟、仲、季三个部分,因而中秋也称“仲秋”。

Other names for Mid-Autumn Festival / 中秋节的其他别称:

Eighth Month Festival / 八月节

Eighth Month Half / 八月半

Moon Dusk / 月夕

Autumn Festival / 秋节

Zhongqiu Festival / 仲秋节

Eighth Month Gathering / 八月会

Chasing Moon Festival / 追月节

Playing Moon Festival / 玩月节

Praying Moon Festival / 拜月节

Reunion Festival / 团圆节


The origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival is related to the imperial examination!

中秋的起源和考试有关!

Mid-Autumn Festival has become a major festival in the year, it had a subtle relationship with the ancient imperial examination.

中秋节成为一年之中的重大节日,与古代科举考试有着微妙的关系。

The three-year once imperial examination was scheduled to be held in eighth month.

三年一次的秋闱大比,恰好安排在八月里举行。

People who passed the examination were called "Yue Zhong Zhe Gui".

人们便将应试高中者,誉为月中折桂之人。

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, a grand celebration was held and it had become an important custom.

每到中秋,进行隆重庆贺,并成为重要风俗。


Moon cake is named by Concubine Yang?

月饼是杨贵妃命名?

Historical records, the originator of the moon cake can be traced back to the Han Dynasty.

史料记载,月饼的鼻祖可以追溯到汉代。

At that time, Zhang Qian was sent to the western regions, brought back flax from abroad.

当时,张骞通西域,从国外带回来胡麻。

The locals used the walnuts stuffing to make a round cake called "Hubing".

当地人用胡桃仁做馅,做出一种圆形饼叫“胡饼”。

In fact, moon cake had already appeared in Tang Dynasty, during Song Dynasty it had other varieties like lotus leaf, golden flower, hibiscus and so on.

实际上,唐代就出现了月饼,宋时已有荷叶、金花、芙蓉等品种。

Poet Su Dongpo had a poem "Small cake such as chewing moon, there are crisp and jelly" that praise moon cake.

诗人苏东坡曾以“小饼如嚼月,中有酥和饴”的诗句赞誉月饼。

One Mid-Autumn Festival, Tang Xuanzong and Yang Guifei were in the Daming Palace  beside Penglai pool admiring the full moon.

某年中秋夜,唐玄宗和杨贵妃在大明宫的蓬莱池畔赏月。

A servant presented a plate of "Hubing", Tang Xuanzong was displeasure with the name of the cake.

有人把一盘“胡饼”送上来,唐玄宗不悦觉得名字太俗不好听。

The emperor was not happy, so Yang Guifei became anxious.

皇帝不高兴,身边的杨贵妃急了。

She was a very talented person, picked up the round cake and casually said: His Majesty do eat the moon cake.

她本来就是一个很有才情的人,拿起一枚圆饼随口说:请陛下吃月饼。

Heard the word "moon cake", Tang Xuanzong was very pleased; from then "Hubing" was called "moon cake".

听到“月饼”二字,唐玄宗龙颜大悦,从此“胡饼”就改叫“月饼”了。


Moon cake to cut by the number of family members!

月饼要按家庭人数切!

In accordance with traditional customs, the moon cake which symbolise full moon should be cut by the number of family members, one per person.

按照传统习俗,要将象征圆月的月饼按家庭人数切,每人一份。

Those who did not return home in time, parents should keep their portions until they return to eat, then it is considered complete.

来不及回家来的家人,家长要把属于他们的那份保留起来,待他们回来品尝,才算圆满。

Gentle reminder: moon cake is rich in fat and sugar, do not eat more than one moon cake per day, so as not to cause indigestion and surge in blood sugar.

温馨提醒:月饼富含脂肪及糖,一天不要超过一个月饼,以免消化不良、血糖飙升。