Lifestyles

The Way to the Spring

Passengers head for the exit of a railway station in 南京 (Nánjīng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China, as this year’s nine-day spring festival holiday comes to an end. Photo: China News Service/Getty Images.

年马年 (Year of the Horse)

A red horse plush toy produced by Happy Sister in the city of 义乌 (Yìwū) in the west of China went viral all around the country because of a manufacturing error that gave it a frown instead of a smile. Photo: 高璇 (Jade Gāo)/AFP/Getty Images.

When the Apricots Bloom

A farmer pollinates apricot flowers in 枣庄 (Zǎozhuāng), 山东省 (Shāndōng province), eastern China. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock.

Classical modernity

Visitors wearing traditional costumes pose for photos at the 紫禁城 (Forbidden City) in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: Ng Han Guan/AP.

Dragonfly

Folk dancers perform a dragon dance before the Lunar New Year celebrations in 太仓 (Tàicāng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

Snakes in the Wood

It’s almost time to say goodbye to the Year of the Dragon (龙) and welcome the arrival of the Year of the Wood Snake (蛇) that will begin on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. If one believes in horoscopes, it is noteworthy that J. K. Rowling is a Wood Snake and that Voldemort’s most beloved companion, Nagini, was a woman turned into a snake due to a curse for twenty years.

Barbarella fends off killer snakes in a panel from Jean-Claude Forest’s original strip.

Quantum entanglement

This afternoon we paid a long-due visit to an old friend of ours — 林丽丽 (Lín Lìlì) — only to find that her past as a dancer through the looking-glass of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” still haunted her.

Cosmos and Metacosmos

2020 is the Year of the Metal Rat, beginning on January 25, 2020, and ending on February 11, 2021. The Rat is the first animal in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac, and its Year symbolises a time of deep transformations, both on personal and professional fronts. Photo: Vladimir Astapkovich/Sputnik.

Pigs with Wings

A folk artist makes dough figurines of pigs holding couplets to greet the Year of the 豬 (Pig) in 临沂 (Línyí), 山东省 (Shāndōng province), China. Photo: VCG/Getty Images.

In vino veritas

A rare 明 (Míng)-style moon-flask, with a 雍正帝 (Yōngzhèng) six-character seal, circa 1725-35, is displayed at Christie’s auction house, London, United Kingdom. Photo: Guy Bell/Rex/Shutterstock.

走婚 (Walking marriages)

Sixty-six couples dressed in traditional clothing take part in an ancient-style love ceremony of the 摩梭 (Mósuō) people at 泸沽湖 (Lúgū Lake), 四川 (Sìchuān)/云南 (Yúnnán) provinces, China. Photo: Imaginechina/Rex/Shutterstock.

Room for rent

出租屋 十平米左右的空间 局促，潮湿，终年不见天日 我在这里吃饭，睡觉，拉屎，思考 咳嗽，偏头痛，生老，病不死 昏黄的灯光下我一再发呆，傻笑 来回踱步，低声唱歌，阅读，写诗 每当我打开窗户或者柴门 我都像一位死者 把棺材盖，缓缓推开 许立志 (Xǔ Lìzhì), 2013年12月2日 Rented Room A space of ten square meters Cramped and damp, no sunlight all year Here I eat, sleep, shit, and think Cough, get headaches, grow old, get sick but still fail to die Under the dull yellow light again I stare blankly, chuckling like an idiot I pace back and forth, singing softly, reading, writing poems Every time I open the window or the wicker gate I seem like a dead man Slowly pushing open the lid of a coffin 许立志 (Xǔ Lìzhì), December 2, 2013

[English translation by 闹 (Nào)]

许立志 (Xǔ Lìzhì), born on July 28, 1990 in 揭阳 (Jiēyáng), was a day & night factory worker and a part time poet. He worked for Foxconn and attracted media attention after his suicide on September 30, 2014, in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China. After his death, his friends published his anthology of poetry. Photo: TouTiao.com.

The Running Man

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) will perhaps have to postpone again and again his wedding! In fact, as we learn from the website of the Russian Chess Federation, immediately after his participation in the 4th Altibox Norway Chess, he’ll join his teammates of Siberia (Novosibirsk) to play the 23rd Russian Team Chess Championship. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)’s betrothed fiancée should now have a clearer idea of where to start a list of who to thank.

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) when all flowers were blooming around him
Photo: blog.sina.com.cn

归途列车 (Last Train Home)

• Alley partisans, 纪录片《归途列车》——中国农民工群体面临的社会问题 (“Last Train Home” is a documentary devoted to the social problems faced by Chinese migrant workers), RedChinaCn.net, April 13, 2016

《归途列车》(“Last Train Home”) is a 2009 documentary directed by 範立欣 (Fàn Lìxīn) and produced by Daniel Cross and Mila Aung-Thwin of EyeSteelFilm. It won the Best Documentary Feature at 2009 IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam).

大概 (Probably)

Europe Échecs (‏@EuropeEchecs)

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) asked about his fiancée’s reaction to the postponement of their marriage: “She’ll probably understand”.

The Worker Poet

冲突 他们都说 我是个话很少的孩子 对此我并不否认 实际上 我说与不说 都会跟这个社会 发生冲突 许立志, 2013年6月7日 Conflict They all say I’m a child of few words This I don’t deny But actually Whether I speak or not With this society I’ll still Conflict 许立志 (Xǔ Lìzhì), 7 June 2013

English translation by 闹 (Nào)

The poetry of 许立志 (Xǔ Lìzhì), born on July 28, 1990 in 揭阳 (Jiēyáng), the Foxconn worker who killed himself on 30 September 2014, at the age of 24, in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China. Photo: people.inewsweek.cn.

We are just passing through

我咽下一枚铁做的月亮...... 我咽下一枚铁做的月亮 他们管它叫做螺丝 我咽下这工业的废水，失业的订单 那些低于机台的青春早早夭亡 我咽下奔波，咽下流离失所 咽下人行天桥，咽下长满水锈的生活 我再咽不下了 所有我曾经咽下的现在都从喉咙汹涌而出 在祖国的领土上铺成一首 耻辱的诗 许立志, 2013年12月19日 I swallowed a moon made of iron I swallowed a moon made of iron They refer to it as a nail I swallowed this industrial sewage, these unemployment documents Youth stooped at machines die before their time I swallowed the hustle and the destitution Swallowed pedestrian bridges, life covered in rust I can’t swallow any more All that I’ve swallowed is now gushing out of my throat Unfurling on the land of my ancestors Into a disgraceful poem 许立志 (Xǔ Lìzhì), December 19, 2013

English translation by 闹 (Nào)

许立志 (Xǔ Lìzhì) (1990 – 2014)

虚假朋友一个个倒下了

AnnaJBV, The Kiss of Judas. Artwork © AnnaJBV.

Do not make friends with those ethically inferior to you. Confucius

Just Like the Movies

Waiting to come back to her Florentine Renaissance, 林丽丽 (Lín Lìlì) is just concentrating on doing her daily yoga poses in a women-only gym downtown 厦门 (Xiàmén), 福建省 (Fújiàn Province), China.