SPECIAL DIGITAL EDITION China nsight Fostering business and culturalI harmony between China and the U.S. VOL. 19 NO. 8 September 2020

What’s next? More fries or NOW, ONLINE desserts? Both or neither? ONLY!

News, p. 3

News, p. 4

Well, if you’re multi-talented and are interested in a wide range of activities from performing on Broadway to grilling flank steak with your father, then you have many choices. See what Lauren Hugh chose to do during the pandemic quarantine, p. 12.

Education State offers training opportunities for Community, p. 5 in-demand careers “It's amazing what landing a job can do ployment and Economic Development workforce development and training oppor- for your mental health; suddenly, I feel my (DEED), one of our key goals is making sure tunities to eligible Minnesotans and helps other goals and dreams springing back into Minnesotans know there are available jobs place them in high-growth, high-demand life,” said Ishmam. “I can only wish this for Minnesotans. Getting a job in demand, industries with long-term employment op- feeling on the countless others who are go- and setting out on a sustainable career path portunities. ing through the same struggle I did.” for the future, may mean changing careers Some employers hiring now offer on- Ishmam needed a new job and he needed or refreshing skills. the-job training. Search “on the job training” to find one during the pandemic. Through CareerForce, which is led by when looking at current job postings on He found a new job at a Twin Cities area DEED and our workforce development CareerForceMN.com to find options. Community, p. 11 high-tech manufacturing company, thanks to partners, we're helpin people identify skills And the state’s Coursera initiative offers help from CareerForce proud partner Hired. they already have that can transfer from Minnesotans a chance to explore new career Ishmam met virtually with Hired Senior one career to another. And with our part- fields, take classes for college credit and In This Issue Employment Counselor Beth, who gave him ners such as Hired, we’re ready to assist earn valuable certifications to help prepare the guidance needed to keep his job search Minnesotans, like Ishmam, who may need you for your next job – and it’s all free to Arts & Culture 8-9 going. Through both financial and emotional additional training or education to prepare you. Books 10 support, Beth and the Dislocated Worker for an in-demand career. DEED and our workforce development Community 5, 11 Team at HIRED helped Ishmam prepare for If you were laid off during the pan- partners want to ensure Minnesotans who Events 2 success. Ishmam took online courses and demic and need help preparing for an need help getting prepared for in-demand renewed his engineering certification, which in-demand career, you may be eligible for jobs get the help they need. Contact staff Food 12 put him on a fast track to employment. counselor-approved education or training at a CareerForce location near you to find Health & Environment 6 By the end of June, Ishmam accepted through Dislocated Worker services, which out more and get on the road to rewarding Language 7 an offer at Minnetronix as a Manufacturing helped Ishmam. work. ♦ News 3-4 Engineer II. Another option for eligible adults is People 6 At the Minnesota Department of Em- Pathways to Prosperity or P2P. P2P provides PAGE 2 / September 2020 events www.chinainsight.info

Asian American Unity Coalition to host ChinaInsight National Civic Leadership Forum in Publisher: Gregory J. Hugh September [email protected] After months of shelter in place, most we face insurmountable challenges in xeno- We also co-sponsored the "Rise Asian Pa- have now adjusted to the new normal of phobia, racial profiling, social and economic cific America" National Online Town Hall in Manager of staying home, juggling between our career insecurity, natural disasters exacerbated by May, the "2020 Presidential Town Hall" in Operations/Circulation: and home life, communicating via zoom, climate change in addition to the anxiety of June and "Sisters in Suffrage Recognizing Richard He emails, social media and attending many the general election in November. Needless Diversity" in August. [email protected] webinars. Our lives have become busier than to say, as Americans we are going through In September, AAUC together with ever even without the commute. It is great to very difficult times. Civic Leadership USA and cohosted by 25 see our AAPI communities have responded What direction should AAUC be taking plus organizations will embark the most Staff Writers: to the worsening of COVID-19 and the to make a difference in 2020 and beyond? ambitious and unique virtual 2020 National Greg Hugh deepening of the anti-black movement with The answer lies in upholding our core val- Civic Leadership Forum (2020 NCLF) [email protected] compassion and solidarity. At the same time, ues, focus on our vision and our mission from September 12-20 with live-streamed in these uncertain sessions and remain open for attendees to Elaine Dunn times. browse through all recorded sessions and [email protected] In the past exhibitions through September 25. This month, AAUC has virtual event will be delivered through the Intern: also built solidar- Whova integration platform to give the Jackson Venjohn ity and co-signed attendees the full virtual experience of at- [email protected] a number of open tending a physical conference. The theme statements and let- of the Forum is "AAPI Unity: The Power of ters supporting an- We". It will feature four sub-themes of: We Contributors: ti-hate, anti-racial are Diverse; We are Compassionate; We are Bu Aihua & Yang Lingling discrimination, Empowered and We are the Future". [email protected] and calling for 2020 NCLF is built on grass-root, bot- social justice. We tom up submission of ideas and proposal Lauren Hugh also have crafted resulting in 28 webinar sessions with over [email protected] an open statement 100 speakers and performers from over 10 calling for the end major ethnicities taking ownership of this Pat Welsh of entrenched rac- forum. In the spirit of building trust, 2020 [email protected] ism and violence. NCLF also offers plenty of networking op- William Zajicek During this diffi- portunities, cultural performances, cooking [email protected] cult times, AAUC class/demo, auctions, exhibition hall filled has led three AAPI with information from our sponsors and Production Editor: Unity Webinars in session leader organizations. It is an event Jennifer Nordin April, June and that no one should missed. Best of all, the [email protected] July respectively. registration is free. Register Now! ♦

9-2020 About ChinaInsight ChinaInsight is a monthly English FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS language newspaper fostering business and cultural harmony between China Getting to know you . . . and the U.S. Who are you? What articles do you enjoy reading? China Insight would like to ensure our content matches your interests. Please take a few minutes to complete this poll so we can update our ChinaInsight is a Member of The reader demographics. For your time, the first 10 respondents each month will receive a free annual subscription to China Insight. Winners will Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association be notified by email. (AAJA). Entry form Submissions &  Please send me free China Insight for a year if I am one of the first 10 respondents this month The top two articles that interested me the most in this issue are: Correspondence Page Article title ChinaInsight welcomes guest articles Page Article title and letters to the editor. Correspondence should be addressed to: I would like to see more articles on

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YES you can visit our website, [email protected] with www.chinainsight.info, to read the latest issue, Digital subscription in the subject line. but did you know you can have ChinaInsight delivered directly to your email inbox? Include: A digital subscription is FREE and brings • Your name a full year (10 issues) of new understanding • Your phone number about today’s China, from language to business Copyright 2020 ChinaInsight, Inc. opportunities. • Your email address All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info news September 2020 / PAGE 3 Taiwan-China face-off Stinky noodles directors refused to sign and promptly left Hong Kong. Taiwan had always sympathized with Hong Kong. Its citizens supported the pro-democracy protests of 2019. In June, Taiwan further irked Beijing by announcing a humanitarian plan of support for Hong Kongers seeking asylum, and it opposed the new national security law that went into effect June 30. The spokesperson from its Mainland Affairs Council to follow the Taipei has its stinky tofu and Beijing has On the heels of enacting the National previous protocol so “normal relations” its stinky noodles. Security Law in Hong Kong, China accused between Taiwan and Hong Kong can be Tucked in a small alley in one of down- Taiwan of “messing up“ Hong Kong July 1. maintained. town Beijing’s oldest neighborhood is a tiny In mid-July, the Hong Kong government The “one China” document-signing family restaurant that the food rating app required officials of the Taipei Economic practice dated back to 1995, but as cross- Dianping gives it high praise for the “most and Cultural Office to sign a document straits relations improved during 2008-2016, authentic luosifen in Beijing.” This noodle, supporting “one China,” (meaning acknowl- it was dropped. However, when current luosifen (snail noodle), has a flavor and edge Taiwan and the mainland comprise President Tsai Ing-wen took office, Hong pungency a realm of its own. What gives of one China) or their visas will not be Kong reinstated the document signing it its distinct smell and flavour? Snail meat renewed. The head of the office and two practice. ♦ and sour bamboo shoots. Its smell has been compared to the smell of a broken toilet (and we all know toilet take-away orders for luosifen have risen 58 Arsenal build up smell in mainland China!), while some percent after Feb 25. China is stepping up its pace in construc- netizens call it a gastronomic bio weapon. A connoisseur of the dish said, "If luosi- tion of two domestically developed Type For whatever reason, sales of the fen is just about a foul smell, it might be on 002 aircraft carrier. It plans to rival the U.S. noodles have doubled since the pandemic, 'hot sell' for a short time because of those naval strength in the Pacific region by 2035. the Liuzhou Municipal Bureau of Com- hunting for a novelty, but the sour bamboo Hong Kong’s South China Morning merce reported. Taobao Foodstuffs Big shoots are the magic. As long as you put it Post reported that “assembly of the new Data Report says. Ele.me, one of China's in your mouth, only the savory taste lingers. aircraft carrier has begun and is expected major online food delivery services, says It's the taste of a past and present life." ♦ to be completed in the first half of next year … workers are also starting the keel-laying for the new carrier’s sister ship. Both ships China’s Mars probe have been built by the Jiangnan Shipyard Navy’s new-generation Gerald R. Ford-class Thirty-six days part of Mars’ Utopia outside Shanghai.” aircraft carrier.” It is expected that a new into its mission, Pantitia – the largest Unlike its first Russian-designed aircraft stealth carrier-based fighter jet also will be China’s Tianwen1 recognized impact ba- carrier, the new ones will have “the world’s ready when the warship is launched next had sent back a pic- sic in the solar system most advanced electromagnetic aircraft year. ♦ ture of Earth and the – to make scientific launch system, equal to that used by the U.S. moon taken on July surveys, the admin- 27 approximately istration said. The 746,000 miles rover will carry six Soybean production increased away from Earth. scientific instruments high). Its scientific research on soybeans If all goes well, the including a ground- has reached “world-class level,” said some 11,000-plus pound penetrating radar and in the research field. spacecraft will have meteorological mea- In Henan Province, soybean yields have traveled just over suring device for a exceeded 4.6 tons per hectare (2.5 times the 292 million miles before being captured by three-month surface exploration of Mars. national average level) as a result of new the Martian gravitational field in February If the rover mission is successful, it will be farming technologies involving no tillage. 2021. China’s first rover deployed on Mars. The The research used a genome-editing tool The mission’s goal is to soft-land a previous four were from the U.S. ♦ to “knock out” two key genes that regulate rover around May 2021 on the southern soybean flowering time and maturity. Even though soybean is native to China, China has made technological break- the country has relied on imports to meet Apple Daily dropped throughs that resulted in increased soybean increasing domestic consumption and, also longer sell pro-democracy Apple Daily output (18 million tons in 2019, a record processed into oil and animal feed. ♦ newspapers at its stores. The paper said ap- proximately 1,000 copies were distributed to 30 stores daily. When contacted by media, Smart transport project staff at the half -dozen stores said they are On Aug. 28, Baidu signed major coop- “temporarily” no selling the paper and they eration deals with Guangzhou government did not know why. agencies at the Guangzhou Annual Invest- Most Hong Kongers do not frequent ment Conference. Robin Li, Baidu’s chair- As of Aug. 28, mainland China-backed VanGO, so the distribution stoppage makes man and CEO said, "To build confidence convenience store chain VanGO will no no difference to them. ♦ and create a future of AI, Baidu will work closely with Guangzhou to strengthen co- operation in areas of self-driving, intelligent connected vehicles and smart transporta- tion.” Baidu's subsidiary, Guangzhou Apollo Intelligent Transportation Co Ltd., signed an agreement with the Guangzhou-based Sci Group, in an investment worth nearly US$67 million, to develop a self-driving and smart transport network in the city of velop a smart transport network that would Guangzhou. include the use of 5G technologies, along The company also signed with Guang- with Baidu's robotaxies and robobuses in zhou Public Transport Group Co Ltd to de- the city's public transportation. ♦

Thank you for reading China Insight PAGE 4 / September 2020 news www.chinainsight.info HK National Security Law a conundrum for press freedom

Daily by queueing up at 2 a.m. Aug. 11 to buy 500,000 copies of the publication. Interviewed by the Guardian, one of the protesters said, “I want to defend the value of freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Disappointment, fear, and pain are in my heart, but I tell myself every day to persevere.” What collusion / deals with foreign forces did Apple Daily and Jimmy Lai make? None cited. But Jimmy Lai had testi- fied before U.S. Congress; he had written Op Ed pieces for U.S. newspapers. He’s also a One day after the Japanese bombed the known critic of Beijing. U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, An Aug. 27 letter in Hong Kong’s Eng- President Franklin Roosevelt delivered a lish-language daily South China Morning speech that declared Dec. 7, 1941, as ”a Post by the co-chairs of the London-based Chris Buckley of the New York Times dom in Hong Kong had been on a downward date which will live in infamy.” For journal- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong was denied a work visa renewal for Hong slide in the World Press Freedom index since ists around the world, June 30, 2020, may Kong, said in response to an Aug. 24 letter Kong in July after being denied visa renewal the early 2000s. It had tumbled to 73rd out become their “Day of Infamy.” by the chief secretary for administration for mainland China in May. Another HK- of 180 countries (China placed 177th), a On June 30, 2020, the Beijing govern- in HK, based foreign journalist was denied a work drop of 25 places in 10 years. ment stepped in on Hong Kong’s gover- “In any other country, the police visa after being hired to join Hong Kong However, in his Opinion piece of Aug. nance and enacted the Hong Kong National marching in and arresting the owner Free Press, an independent local news out- 22. for HKFP, Robert Gerhardt (freelance Security Law – a vaguely-worded law with and senior staff of a major news pub- let – a transfer to a new employer since the writer who has lived in HK since 2015 and wide-reaching scope that criminalizes any lisher, whilst simultaneously arresting applicant had been working for other news member of the National Press Photographers act of secession, subversion, terrorism and other journalists across the territory outlets in HK already – after a six-month Association in the U.S.) tried to offer an collusion (with foreign / external forces). and other reporters being denied visas, wait. These actions are concerning to media optimistic outlook: Those found guilty can face life sentences. would be the sign of the collapse of free operations. “The applicant has already satis- “A free press has always been the Article 54 of the new law is particularly speech … It is admirable that the chief fied the immigration department before,” the thin grey line between the public and troubling for media as it suggests stricter secretary for administration in Hong journalist’s lawyer said. “The real issue is those in power who want to stop the censorship and monitoring of foreign news Kong is so fond of free speech and, in- where the applicant is going, the prospec- flow of unwelcome information. But outlets. deed, exercises his rights by writing to tive employer.” the journalists’ ability to do their work From 2017 to early-2020, the word a major international publication based According to Hong Kong Free Press, and provide that line depends not just “collusion” was instinctively connected in a country where such rights are taken nine international press freedom organiza- on themselves, but on the support of to the alleged crime of then presidential seriously, but it is not so admirable that tions “have jointly signed a letter urging the those who read or watch their work. candidate Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign under his regime young people are be- governments of China and Hong Kong to Hongkongers have shown their sup- and its now debunked “Russian collusion.” ing arrested for expressing an opinion stop the arrests, harassment and intimidation port for a free press in their reaction But these days, in Hong Kong, “collusion” on the future of Hong Kong and that of journalists, and demand “the protection of to the Apple Daily raid. And while the is THE subjective crime that is the dread of legislators are being barred from stand- democratic and media freedoms.” huge street protests of last year aren’t all journalists the world over. According to ing in the next (postponed) election.” Voice of America reported many media possible under Covid-19, the actions Article 38, the new security law applies to The Foreign Correspondents’ Club organizations were approached by authors of the people last week show that the HK and non-HK residents alike, as well as (FCC) of Hong Kong had sent a letter to to take down previous articles, putting the fighting spirit is still there, and that a people outside of Hong Kong who are not Chief Executive Carrie Lam seeking a media in a conflicting position of preserving free and open press is still something from Hong Kong. “guarantee that journalists would be free to a historical record of their publications and they will battle for. Not surprisingly, the first group arrested report on any topics they saw fit under the protecting their contributors. “So don’t mourn the death of the under this security law was from the media new national security law,” to which Lam Most activists have halted giving on- free press in Hong Kong. Don’t think and pro-democracy members. Hong Kong replied, “If the FCC or all reporters in Hong the-record comments because no one has that it is dead and gone. Journalists in police raided the offices of print (Apple Kong can give me a 100 percent guarantee figured out what “provoking hatred toward the city are still there doing their jobs. Daily) and digital media (Next Digital) and that they will not commit any offences under the government” means. In addition, 92 And the people still have their backs. To arrested owner Jimmy Lai, his two sons and this piece of national legislation, then I can percent of a survey conducted by the Hong say otherwise is just fake news.” some employees on Aug. 10. They were re- do the same.” Kong Journalists Association just before the Hope springs eternal. But reality is as leased on bail the following morning. A pro- The Hong Kong Immigrations Depart- law was enacted said they were “worried Canadian freelance documentary producer democracy lawmaker, Agnes Chow, also ment had been slow in granting work visas about their personal safety” and 87 percent Chris Lincoln told Toronto Star on Aug. 22, was arrested. It is widely believed the arrests to foreign journalist. When asked for an believed the media “would stop reporting the national security law “essentially placed were made to make them an example of the explanation by the FCC, the department on sensitive issues.” the territory under the authoritarian control National Security Law and to intimidate. said that the processing times for different “The entire media landscape is facing a of Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party Hong Kongers protested the arrest and applicants depended on their “merits and new frontier,” said a lecturer in media law … Is there a place in the world that has a free showed their support for the raided Apple circumstances.” at the University of Hong Kong.” press, but the kind of authoritarian regime As reported in previous China Insights that Hong Kong is being subjected to now?” (February 2015, p.11; April 2016, p.13; he asked. “When are they coming for the March 2018, p.6; July 2020, p.4), press free- journalists?” ♦ Your vote matters Election Day is Nov. 3, 2020 Vote by mail or in person Sept.18 through Nov. 2 for the election Visit www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting for more information about: • Registering to vote • Election Day voting • Where to vote • Other ways to vote • Sample ballots Hong Kongers protesting arrest of Apple Daily owner held up copies of the paper displaying “Free HK, Revolution Now.” www.chinainsight.info community September 2020 / PAGE 5 Minnesota China Friendship Garden

By William Zajicek, contributor Hello, my name is Bill Zajicek and I to see the possibility of something as exotic The Saint Paul-Changsha China am the new president of the Minnesota as a China Garden at Phalen just seemed Garden of Whispering Willows and China Friendship Garden Society. Linda like an impossible dream. Understand that I Flowing Water, “Liu Ming Yuan,’ Mealy-Lohmann passed on the torch this knew nothing about Chinese gardens at that was dedicated in July 2019. Well be- February and moved to a less demanding point. I just knew they could be amazing. fore that, one of our Board members role of secretary of the organization. She is Four years later, I encouraged our Com- did his engagement there. While definitely still active with the organization munity Council to call a meeting about the weeding last month, we came upon and you will no doubt hear from her from possibility of a China Garden at Phalen Park a small wedding. Apparently, there time to time. as specified in the new Master Plan and met has been over a dozen such events Linda Mealy-Lohmann, Mary Warpeha & at the location already. In addition, Joyce Hsiao. They did a presentation for 30 there are the movies that have been community members, including our State made at the site, individuals in Representative Tim Mahoney and his wife. mediation, and always the families The next year Tim and our State Senator taking pictures. Foung Hawj submitted a Legacy Bill for During our COVID morass, preliminary design of the St. Paul-Changsha Xiang Jiang Ting come out to Phalen Park and see China Friendship Garden. the “Liu Ming Yuan.” The entrance The last five years have been a blur: been involved in one if you don’t believe is right across from the Phalen Golf Club trips to Changsha, fund raising, community me. As a result, we have a promissory note House parking lot. Bring your tea or lunch. engagement meetings. many meetings with with the City of St. Paul to pay off Phase I. Spend a few minutes. Visit Master Lei Parks & Recreation, Peanuts sculptures to Donations, big and small, are welcome. If Yixin’s sculpture from Minnesota rocks Changsha, replica of the Aiwan Ting to you donate $1,000 or more, you will become “Meditation” at the other end of Picnic Minnesota, ground breaking, dedications, a Ground Breaker for the Garden and your Island. You will be far more hopeful and donation will be recognized on the donor Bill Zajicek successes and failures and, in the end, cer- serene afterwards. tainly one of the most amazing single pieces wall. The Ground Breaker title will only be The project started out as an engagement A little history as this project of creat- of public art in the State of Minnesota, the available for Phase I. to build a garden and, instead, it has become ing an authentic Sister City China Garden Xiang Jiang Ting. (‘Xiang’ is the name of Until the promissory note is paid, we an engagement to build a community. Join in Minnesota represents a walk through the the river that goes through our China sister can’t start Phase II: a Hmong Cultural us in supporting the Saint Paul-Changsha past 15+ years. My own involvement started city Changsha, ‘Jiang’ is river, and ‘Ting’ Plaza, a Chinese Moon Bridge between China Friendship Garden of “Whispering almost 10 years ago when the master plan is pavilion.) the garden and Picnic Island, completion Willows and Flowing Waters.” for the Phalen/Keller Regional Park came This year we are wrapping up the first of the rock garden from the Pavilion to the up for revision. As an active community phase of the garden. We will be doing a water’s edge, and a permanent Gate/Donor Follow us on Facebook: https:// member in the Phalen Lake area of St. Paul, planting on Sept. 26 & 27, and volunteers Wall on the east side of the garden. Ironi- www.facebook.com/Minnesota-China- I was involved in the revision of the Master will be needed. Email me at mcfgs@mnchi- cally, we already have nearly $500,000 of Friendship-Garden-114075207039431/ Plan. One footnote item in the plan called for nagarden.org if you are interested. restricted funds for Phase II, which we can’t Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ a China Garden. The East Side of St. Paul is These gardens are all more expensive use until the promissory note for Phase I is mnchinafriendshipgarden/ ♦ generally the under invested end of town and than anticipated. Talk to anyone who has taken care of.

ArtsCulture 2020 Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival to be celebrated Oct. 1 By Greg Hugh

story to go along with the festival. There are wants to stay close to them, so she stops tival is not only a must for local people but many versions of the Moon Festival legend, at the moon, the closest heavenly body to also an attraction for those from other parts but most of them involve the archer Hou Yi earth. And that is where she remains to of the country. and his wife Chang’e. this day. In Nanjing, people cook duck with According to one such legend, many Like many Chinese holidays, food plays sweet-scented osmanthus (according to years ago there were 10 suns in the sky. a prominent role. Wikipedia, this shrub is native to Asia and Crops could not grow and rivers ran dry, so For Moon Festival, Chinese will eat has culinary uses in tea and jam) because the people were dying of hunger and thirst. mooncake with fillings of bean paste or Nanjing people think sweet-scented osman- Hou Yi took his bow and arrows and shot lotus-seed paste packed inside a pastry layer. thus is a symbol of peace. It also is the “city down nine of the 10 suns, saving the people. Sometimes, the more expensive versions flower” of Hangzhou. In Guangzhou, a huge According to legend, Lady Chang'e flies to the moon As a reward, the Western Queen Mother even include a salted duck egg yolk, fatty lantern show is a big attraction for locals and gave Hou Yi a special potion. If Hou Yi meat and melon seeds inside. The tops of visitors. Thousands of differently shaped One of the most important holidays shares that potion with his wife, they will mooncakes usually have Chinese characters lanterns are lit, forming a fantastic contrast in Chinese and other Asian cultures is the both live forever; but if only one of them representing longevity or harmony. Moon- with the bright moonlight. In Chaozhou, Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the takes the potion, he or she will become a cakes are considered a delicacy; production Guangdong Province, people eat taro to Moon Festival. The Moon Festival falls on god. is labor-intensive and few people make them celebrate the festival because taro harvest the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, so the Hou Yi and Chang’e plan to take the po- at home. Most mooncakes are bought at occurs at the same time as the Moon Festi- date on the Georgian calendar is different tion together. But one of Hou Yi’s enemies, markets and bakeries. val. They eat taro and hope the harvest is from year to year. However, it is always Feng Meng, hears about the potion and plans Many Chinese will admit that they don't good in the next year. on the full moon, and this year it occurs to steal it. One night, on a full moon, Feng really like eating mooncakes, but like the In Taiwan, the Mid-Autumn Festival on Oct.1 (which happens also to be China Meng kills Hou Yi, and then forces Chang’e fruitcake at Christmas, gifting of mooncakes is also celebrated throughout the country. National Day). to give him the potion. seems to be a case of tradition beating out However, unlike mid-autumn festivals in Mid-Autumn Festival dates back more Rather than give the evil man the potion, taste..As noted, the Moon Festival is a popu- other countries, in Taiwan the food most than 3,000 years to moon worship in China’s Chang’e drinks it all herself. She starts to lar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese synonymous with the festival is barbecue Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.). It was rise into heaven, but she feels a close con- and Chinese descendants around the world. instead of mooncake. Asking Taiwanese first called Zhongqiu Jie (literally “Mid- nection to the world of the mortals, and It is a legal holiday in China, Hong Kong, people what they plan to do on Mid-Autumn Autumn Festival”) in the Zhou Dynasty Taiwan and Macau. The Mid-Autumn Fes- Festival, the most likely answer is “barbe- (1046-256 B.C.). tival is also a widely celebrated festival in cue.” Since the festival takes place at harvest Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, The government of the People's Re- time, it is a good occasion to celebrate the Japan and Indonesia. public of China listed the festival as an abundance of Mother Nature. It also is a Different parts of China each have dif- "intangible cultural heritage" in 2006, and time to gather with family and friends under ferent ways to celebrate the Mid-Autumn made it a Chinese public holiday in 2008. the full moon sky while eating moon cakes Festival. In some places, people make fires Unfortunately, celebration of the Mid- if you are Chinese, or pomelo fruit (native inside towers because they think the fire is Autumn Festival will be impacted by the to Southeast Asia) or barbecued delicacies a symbol of good business. In Zhejiang coronavirus pandemic now affecting the of Asian countries. Province, watching the flood tide of the world. But it’ll probably make the sight of Assortment of moon cake designs As with most Chinese festivals, there is a Qian-tang River during Mid-Autumn Fes- the bright full moon even more wonderful! ♦ PAGE 6 / September 2020 health & environment www.chinainsight.info COVID-19 pandemic – testing and contact-tracing

Source: Asian Media Access

It has been five months since the COVID diagnosed with COVID-19, they are hos- right away) was contact with the positive person. The 19 outbreak in Minnesota. Like other com- pitalized and go to the ICU at rates higher • Symptoms develop during quarantine or 14 days are not changed or shortened just munities, our Chinese American community than the overall COVID+ population. Asian after getting a negative test = Test right because of a negative test. COVID can still has been hit hard physically, mentally and Americans are the second highest percent- away again develop. economically. We all need to be alerted age in hospitalization, and third highest • Negative test, but known contact = still to test for COVID-19 and participate in percentage in ICU. quarantine REMEMBER: contact-tracing to better combat the virus. Asian American children have been • No symptoms, negative test, no known • 10 days = the general amount of time that According to the most updated state infected by COVID-19 at a significantly contact = return to or remain doing regular MDH believes people can spread COVID. Department of Health COVID-19 data, higher rate, with over 17 percent of all cases activities • 14 days = the general amount of time it Black, indigenous and people of color 0-5 years old and 11 percent of all cases 6-9 can take for the virus to develop from a (BIPOC) have borne disproportionately years old, regardless of only 5% of Asian If you are COVID-19 positive, please single contact high COVID-19 cases, hospitalization rate, Americans in total MN populations. ISOLATE yourself: • 5 days = the general minimum amount of ICU rate and deaths in the state. Source: In order to reduce the impacts from CO- Isolation = alone time before the virus can be detected after https://mn.gov/covid19/data/data-by-race- VID-19, Asian Media Access has partnered Positive cases should be isolated, alone a contact ethnicity/index.jsp with MN Dept of Health to urge Chinese from everyone else in the house (unless The Minnesota Department of Health Reasons: Americans to take precaution: they are also positive). Own bathroom, no offers FREE COVID-19 Community • BIPOC communities have increased ex- • Wearing Masks entering the kitchen, no walking through Testing at State sponsored site. Everyone posure to COVID-19 because of working • Washing your hands at least 20 seconds common spaces. Cannot leave the house, can get the Testing for free, and you do not in low-paying jobs that are now considered • Social Distancing - Keeping at least 6 feet even for essential items. Can only leave need to show insurance or ID. Lastly, please essential. with each other for medical care. be mindful for your social activities - going • BIPOC communities have substantially If you: For 10 days, calculated from the first to where and meeting with whom, to help higher rates of health inequities, making • Showing Symptoms without known/un- day of symptoms OR the test date if there contact tracing and protect all of us. them more susceptible to get infected and known contact = Test right away are no symptoms. more suspectable to die from COVID-19. • No symptoms, but known contact = wait For more information: For example, when Asian Americans are 5 days before getting a test (self-quarantine If you have contacted someone who tested • Free MN Community Testing date/location positive, please QUARANTINE yourself: at https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/ Quarantine = separate coronavirus/testsites/index.html Quarantine is for those who have not • COVID-19 Symptoms PSA: Chinese tested positive but have had contact with a (YouTube) positive person. Quarantine is 14 days. COVID-19的感染症状 (Chinese) Contacts in quarantine can be together, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj9PzZ they just need to be separated from others 8BGv0&feature=youtu.be without contacts in the household. Within • For translated materials the same household they can use the same https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/ bathroom, cook together, sleep together, etc. coronavirus/materials/index.html ♦ For 14 days from the last day there

People Celebs come together to get Minnesota actor James Hong a Walk of Fame star

Source: Arts & Leisure | Aug.11, 2020 natown.” He’s been on even fewer roles than there are now, but he Chinese immigrants. He grew up on Third “Seinfeld,” “The Big also served the Asian American community Avenue South, where his father ran a gro- Bang Theory,” “X- by co-creating the legendary East West Play- cery store. Files” and “West Wing.” ers theater company.” "It's all gone now, of course,” he ex- He was on “Hawaii The page raised over $55,000 in three plained to City Pages in 2014 when he was Five-O” in the 1970s days, and #StarForJamesHong has been in town for Comic Con. “All those little and 2018. trending on Twitter, with celebs like Harry stores when I was born, the department And yet, the 91-year- Shum Jr., Ken Jeong, Randall Park, George stores. [My childhood home] was on the old actor doesn’t have a Takei, John Cho, and Ming Na giving shout- second story of my father's Chinese grocery star on the Hollywood outs to Hong and the fundraiser. store on Third Avenue and Seventh. We were Walk of Fame. Actor The next step will be submitting an a big family -- seven children -- and I was Daniel Dae Kim and application to the Walk of Fame selection right in the middle." friends are planning to committee, which accepts 30 recipients Hong grew up in the Twin Cities, James Hong isn’t just an actor. He’s change that. Kim started a GoFundMe a year out of a pool of around 200. That graduating from Minneapolis Central High basically the most epic version of the “Hey, page to raise cash to pay for a star to honor competition is kinda stiff, but Hong seems School and then heading to California for it’s that guy!” to ever exist. His career spans the man who inspired generations of Asia like a shoe-in. college and eventually breaking into show over 70 years, with parts in nearly 700 dif- American Hollywood hopefuls. "It's time James Hong was honored in business. ♦ ferent productions. “This man epitomizes the term ‘working the way he deserves, and it's time to show That’s 469 TV shows, 149 feature films, actor,’” Kim writes on the GoFundMe page, him how much he - and all the actors of color Editor’s note: China Insight published 32 short films, and 22 video games. “and that's not even taking into account all of earlier generations - have done to pave a three-part article, September-November A few highlights: He was the eyeball he's done to help further representation for the way for us today," says Kim. 2009, about James Hong’s visit to Min- maker in “Blade Runner,” Chi-Fu in “Mu- actors of color. Not only was he one of the As for his connection to Minnesota? neapolis to attend his high school reunion. lan,” and Evelyn’s Butler Khan in “Chi- few who worked steadily when there were Hong was born in Minneapolis in 1929 to www.chinainsight.info language September 2020 / PAGE 7 Chinese Language Corner (漢語角) Where something is By Pat Welsh, contributor

In this article, we will continue with the topic of asking and telling where something is. Other Vocabulary With many of these expressions you have to think of replacing prepositions with place-word nouns. The word 在 “zài” literally means “is located at.” The word 的 “de” Chinese English Pinyin is a possessive marker. In many textbooks, 的 “de” is inserted between the noun and the Characters place word. In actual casual speech, 的 is often omitted. 商店 Instead of thinking that something is “on the table,” you have to say that something is store shāngdiàn 火车站 on the table”s top-side. The same applies to English prepositions such as “under,” “in,” train station jīchăng, fēijīchăng 机场，飞机场 “inside,” “outside,” “next to,” “right of,” “left of,” etc. airport huŏchēzhàn 加油站 Among the place-word nouns listed in the vocabulary below, some Chinese speakers gas station jiàyóuzhàn 五金商店 will use the words 面 “miàn” or 头 “tóu” instead of the syllable 边 “biān.” In casual hardware store wŭjīn shāngdiàn 医院 speech, because these syllables are in an unstressed position, these three syllables will hospital yīyuàn 书店 often be uttered in the neutral tone as described below. book store shūdiàn pharmacy, drug store 药店 yàodiàn 博物馆 Vocabulary museum bówùguăn library 图书馆 túshūguăn Chinese department store 百货商店 báihuò-shāngdiàn English Pinyin Characters jewelry store 首饰店 shŏushidiàn school 学校 xuéxiào inside 里，里边 li, lĭbian primary school 小学 xiăoxué outside 外边 wàibiān high school, middle school 中学 zhōngxué on, on top of 上, 上边 shàng, shàngbiān university, college 大学 dàxué under, beneath 下, 下边 xià, xiàbiān next to, beside 旁边 pángbiān between 中间, 之间 zhōngjiān, zhījiān Pronunciation Reminders right of 右边 yòubiān ai Sounds like the “igh” in “high.” left of 左边 zuŏbiān ao Sounds like the “ow” in “cow.” before, in front of 前边 qiánbiān eng Sounds like the “ung” in “lung.” behind, in back of 后边 hòubiān ian Sounds almost like “yen.” he The “e” sounds almost like the “u” in “up.” ke The “e” sounds almost like the “u” in “up.” Chinese English Pinyin nǚ Sounds like the English word “knee” but your lips must be rounded, not spread. Characters q Sounds like an aspirated tch; qin sounds like ”tcheen.” shi Sounds almost like the “shir” in “shirt” with the tongue curled back a little further. The sofa is in the living room. 沙发在客厅里。 Shāfā zài kètīng lĭ. x Sounds like a weak “sh”; xi sounds almost like English word “she.” The table is in the living room. 桌子在·客厅里。 Zhuōzi zài kètīng lĭ. zhi Sounds almost like the “jer” in “jerk.” The dog is in the living room. 狗在客厅里。 Gŏu zài kètīng lĭ. zhong Sounds like “tjoong” with the tip of the tongue curled back producing a slight “r.” sound. zhu would almost sound like “drew.” The cat is lying on the sofa. 猫子躺在沙发上。 Māozi tăng zài shāfā shàng. zi Sound almost like “dzih” or “dz” with a neutral slight buzzing sound following it. The lamp is on the desk. 灯在书桌上。 Dēng zài shūzhuō shàng. The stool is on the floor. 凳在地板上。 Dèng zài dìbăn shàng. Tones The shoes are under the bed. 鞋子在床底下。 Xiézi zài chuáng dĭxia. Using numbers: 5 = your normal high 4 = mid-high 3 = your normal mid pitch The shoes are under the chair. 鞋子在椅子下边。 Xiézi zài yĭzi xiàbian. 2 = mid low pitch 1 = your normal low pitch

I am standing by the window. 我站在窗户旁边。 Wŏ zhàn zài chuānghu pángbiān. Tone Description Notes I am sitting by the window. 我坐在窗户旁边。 Wŏ zuò zài chuānghu pángbiān. ā High level pitch (55) Regarding tone ă á Mid-Rising Tone (35) 1. when occurring directly before an- It is between the table and the 在桌子和椅子的中 Zài zhuōzi hé yĭzi de zhōngjiān. ă Dipping (213) other dipping tone, tone ă becomes chair. 间。 à High falling pitch (51) tone á. Thus “hĕn hăo” (very good) 在桌子和椅子之 Zài zhuōzi hé yĭzi zhī-jiān. An unstressed neutral tone. Following changes to “hén hăo” (2 ways to say this) 间。 a other syllables, syllables in this tone 2. occurring directly before any tend to be somewhat lower that of the other tone, Tone ă will change to a 在卧房和浴室的中 It is between the bedroom and Zài wòfáng hé yùshì de zhōngjiān. previous syllable. The lone exception mid-falling tone 间。 the bathroom. is when it occurs after tone ă when the Regarding tone à 在卧房和浴室之 Zài wòfáng hé yùshì zhījiān. neutral tone is often slightly higher • When occurring before another 间。 (2 ways to say this) in pitch. à tone • The first toneà reduces its fall to 53 The bank is left of the post of- 银行在邮局的右 Yínháng zài yóujǜ-de yòubiān. fice. 边。 Next month’s topic will be on asking and telling where someone is going. ♦ The supermarket is to the left of 食品杂货店在邮局 Shípĭn-záhuòdiàn zài yóujǜ-de the post office. 的左边。 zuŏbiān.

The post office is between the 邮局在银行和食品 Yóujǜ zài yínháng hé shípĭn- bank and the supermarket. 杂货店的中间。 záhuòdiàn-de zhōngjiān. About Pat Welsh 邮局在银行和食品 Yóujǜ zài yínháng hé shípĭn- (2 ways to say this) 杂货店之间。 záhuòdiàn zhījiān. In 2009 while teaching English at Sichuan University, Welsh was asked to give a speech where he was introduced to the audience as a “pioneer of Chinese I am standing in front of you. 我站在你的前边。 Wŏ zhàn zài nĭ-de qiánbian. American relations” as a result of his cooperative work in international banking He is standing in front of you. 他站在你的前边。 Tā zhàn zài nĭ-de qiánbiān. during the Deng Xiaoping era. For more than 65 years, Welsh has been learning Chinese and has used this knowledge both professionally and personally to en- She is sitting behind him. 她坐在他的后边。 Tā zuò zài tā-de hòubiān. hance his understanding of Chinese and Asian affairs. He uses Beijing Mandarin We are sitting behind her. 我们坐在她的后 Wŏmen zuò zài tā-de hòubian. most frequently when meeting with senior Chinese government officials when 边。 conducting business in China. For 17 years, Welsh taught Chinese, German and Spanish in two local high I am standing next to the car. 我站在车的旁边。 Wŏ zhàn zài chē-de pángbiān. schools. Now fully retired, he currently resides in Georgia where he used to His house is next to mine. 他的房子在我的旁 Tāde fángzi zài wŏ-de pángbiān. lecture on China to a number of classes at Dunwoody High School. 边。 PAGE 8 / September 2020 arts & culture www.chinainsight.info Unique Dong food-related festivals in China By Yang Lingling and Bu Aihua, The Center for Hunan Cultural Heritage at Huaihua University, contributors

Note: This article features unique Dong food-related festivals in Southwest Hunan Province, China and is supported by China Schol- arship Council under contract NO. CSC201808430262. The Center for Hunan Cultural Heritage as U.S.-China cultural and educational exchange and research. The Center for Hunan Cultural Heritage is located in Huaihua University, southwest Hunan Province, China. Yang Lingling is an assistant professor in Foreign Language School of Huaihua University. Her research interests cover second language education and cross-culture study. Living in the minority area, she has strong affection and various chances to experience the minority cultures in the local area. Professor Bu Aihua is the head of International office, Centre for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Exchange as well as the dean of International School of Huaihua University. Her major research interests cover comparative education, biculturalism and bicultural active living lifestyle with a special focus on the Hmong youth in western part of Hunan Province and the state of Minnesota. She is also the vice director of the Center for Hunan Cultural Heritage, a provincial translation institute dedicated to the preservation and development of Hunan’s diverse ethnic communities and shared with the global community.

Known as “China’s Minority Nationality which symbolizes a new beginning and a of a Thousand Festivals,” the Dong ethnic good harvest. group has a variety of unique festivals. Traditionally, the celebration of this Among these festivals, many are related to festival varies in different Dong villages. certain special food since the Dong believe Some would gather 1-2 liters of the grains that “food is the first necessity of humans,” from the fields of the ripe early rice, then dry which have nurtured unique Dong food them, remove the husks, and finally cook culture and festivals. them to taste. Some would peel the buds of These Dong festival foods are mainly the late rice in the fields, take the tender ears fresh rice, glutinous rice, artemisia rice cake, of grain back home, and steam them to taste. zongzi, fish gel, pickled fish, pickled duck, In the eyes of the Dong, without these events home-made glutinous rice wine, etc. of collecting the grains and rice buds, the festival would be soulless and meaningless. Dam Festival (塞坝节): artemisia rice cake (篙菜粑) Dong Dam Festival takes place on the second day of the second month of the Chi- nese lunar calendar in Tongdao Autonomous County of Huaihua City in southwest Hunan Province. It is an important Dong agricul- tural event related to spring ploughing and Black Rice Festival specialties: a. Pickled fish; b. Black glutinous rice; c.Pickled pork meat; production. d. Whlte glutinous rice; e. Yellow glutinous rice; f. Fried glutinous rice tea ) --- photo from On this day, the young and strong men sohu.com from every family of the Dong village stop pound them and put them into the millstone, Gathering grains of the ripe early rice from up the dams of local rivers or paddy fields Black Rice Festival (乌饭节) adding some water to make black juice. the fields --- photo from sohu.com with stone or hard earth for diversion and steamed black glutinous rice On festival day, cattle don’t work in the irrigation to ensure a bumper crop for the 乌米饭 ( ) fields. The Dongs would steam black gluti- year. The women of each household would Dong people live in mountainous areas On this day, the dog is treated as the nous rice in honor of the cattle in hopes the go to the mountains to pick baskets of wild with a variety of terraced fields. They cul- distinguished guest. Dong legend says in cattle would continue to work hard to ensure artemisia from the field. After washing the tivate the land with farm cattle. In order to ancient times, the floods were so severe a bumper harvest year. artemisia, they mix it with the pre-soaked show their respect and gratitude to the cattle that the farmers reaped nothing at harvest On the morning of the festival, Dong glutinous rice, then steam them to make that have been working hard year after year, time. A white dog drifted across the sea. The people would steam the soaked black artemisia rice cakes. The cakes would be Huangdu villagers hold Black Rice Festival dog rolled on ground that belonged to the glutinous rice in a steaming bucket. In the shared with all family members, guests, on eighth day of the fourth month of the Heavenly Queen Mother, and was covered evening, black adinandra milletti juice or relatives and friends, which is a way of Chinese lunar calendar. They make their with sticky grains. The grains on that dog’s would be used to soak the glutinous rice. reminding all people in the village to stop special food such as steamed black gluti- body were washed away when it crossed the The cooked glutinous rice is black and up the dams of the farmlands. nous rice, pickled fish, pickled pork meat sea, only the tip of its tail that stuck out of shiny, fragrant and delicious with a unique and home-made fried glutinous rice tea to the water carried a few grains. With these herbal flavor. celebrate the festival. cherished grains, Dong ethnic groups have developed and flourished. In order to always remember the dog's contribution, when the first fresh rice of the year is cooked, the dog is served first. Friends and relatives also would be in- vited to celebrate the day with an abundance of Dong special foods, such as pickled fish, chicken or ducks, smoked fish, pork, pickled vegetables, etc. The stopped-up dams of the paddy fields --- photo from sina.com Steamed black glutinous rice in bamboo bowls --- photo from news.cn

Tasting Fresh Rice Festival (尝 新节) - fresh rice (新米) During the sixth month of Chinese lu- nar calendar, the grains of the early rice is beginning to plump up and will soon ripen; Adinandra millettii tree leaves pounded in the the middle-season rice is flowering; the late millstone to make black adinandra millettii rice is beginning to bud. Tasting Fresh Rice Dong women preparing a feast on the juice --- photo from hualongxiang.com Festival is held by the Dong on the sixth day Tasting Fresh Rice Festival --- photo from sohu.com of the sixth month in Xinhuang Autonomous Two or three days before the festival, County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province, to Artemisia rice cakes served on Dong peo- Dong villagers would go to the mountains enjoy the fruits of their hard work. "Tasting ple’s dinner table ---photo from funyqq.com to pick the leaves of adinandra millettii tree, fresh" means to taste the fresh ripe grains, Continued on page 9 www.chinainsight.info arts & culture September 2020 / PAGE 9 Dong food-related festivals Continued from page 8 ANCIENT MEDICINE FOR MODERN HEALTHCARE

Diversity Scholarships Available Bunched mugwort leaves and zongzi for the festival --- photo from sohu.com Receive 50% Off Tuition Besides, every family also prepares and slightly astringent taste used to clear zongzi (粽子) 1, hangs mugwort leaves and “heat” and remove toxicity, cure abscess and grass buds on the doorframes of their houses discharge pus, etc.), fennel, ginger and other and drinks realgar wine to ward off evil. ingredients to make fish soup. After cooling Join a growing integrative healthcare movement and help improve lives by providing non-invasive and drug-free treatments These traditions are similar to the customs overnight, the fish soup would turn into "fish as a Doctor of Chinese Medicine. of Chinese Han people during the Dragon gel" the next day as if it had been frozen. Boat Festival2. ChiropracticMassageMassage • Massage Therapy Therapy Therapy •• AcupunctureAcupuncture • Acupuncture && ChineseChinese & Chinese Medicine Medicine Medicine 吃冬节 Winter Eating Festival ( ) nwhealth.edu/ChinaInsight [email protected] 952-885-5409952-885-5409 952-885-5409 - fish gel 冻鱼( ) Early in the eleventh month of the nwhealth.edu/ChinaInsightnwhealth.edunwhealth.edu Chinese lunar calendar, Dong people in the 1,000-year-old Yutou Dong Village of Tongdao Autonomous County begin to sing vegetables and home-made rice wine and and dance to celebrate the Winter Eating so on and so forth also are served. Festival, also known as Dong New Year, the The wine and dishes for the banquet second major traditional Dong festival, next are contributed by each household of the to the Spring Festival. The festival usually village. They take them to the drum tower lasts for more than one month. in bamboo pots or baskets, put them on the long tables and share together. The food-related festivals mentioned A Dong man catching fish in the field for the above are only a minute part of Dong food Winter Eating Festival --- photo by Wang culture. The friendly and hospitable Dong Helong banquet in celebration of the Win- Binzhen people welcome all guests to their villages to ter Eating Festival in Yutou Dong Village, have meals, taste wine and enjoy the beauty Huaihua City, Hunan Province --- photo and harmony of nature. from sina.com

Dong People getting together to celebrate the Winter Eating Festival --- photo by Duo Bu Fish cooked in special Dong sour juice for the Winter Eating Festival --- photo by Wang During the festival, all villagers dress Binzhen in their best. Each family would compete to treat guests. The more guests they have, the prouder they would be. Guests would be invited to have meals from one family to another in turn. The term “Winter Eating (吃冬),” is Food carried to banquet in bamboo baskets on bamboo poles--- photo from aiweibang.com derived from the saying "eating frozen dish" Notes: “I,” “O” or “S” shape. It is the banquet with the since the Chinese characters for winter “ 1. Zongzi: a Chinese pyramid-shaped dump- highest standard (The shape of the table or what 冬” and frozen “冻” are homonyms. "Eat- ling made of glutinous rice wrapped in lotus or is this “etiquette?”) for Dong people to serve ing frozen dish" refers to eating fish gel, reed leaves. distinguished guests. a special Dong dish that is indispensable Fish gel for the Winter Eating Festival 2. Dragon Boat Festival: a traditional Chi- 4. Drum Tower: the unique landmark of a for the Winter Eating Festival. Every year ---photo by Wang Binzhen nese festival in honor of Qu Yuan, a ministerial Dong village. It resembles a pagoda with many around the winter solstice, the weather scholar and patriotic poet of the state of Chu stories in odd number. Drum Towers are con- turns colder. Dong people choose a day Customarily, Dong people would hold Country during the Warring States period (475- structed with no iron nails, but with wooden or to catch fish in the pond or field and cook a Helong Banquet (合拢宴)3 in front of 221 BC). Traditional celebrations include eating bamboo joints by exquisite workmanship, which them with special Dong sour juice (pickled the Drum Tower (鼓楼)4 to celebrate the zongzi, drinking realgar wine and racing dragon symbolizes harmony and unity. Dong people carrot, ginger and red pepper), adding herba festival. Besides the fish gel, other dishes boats, etc. discuss and settle important matters of the village 3. Helong Banquet: a traditional Dong feast together, or hold festival ceremonies on special houttuyniae (a typical Chinese herba mainly and wine, steamed glutinous rice, pickled in which Dong villagers and their guests get occasions at the towers. ♦ in south of Yangtze River with fishy smell fish, pickled duck, sauerkraut, seasonal together to share food along a long table with PAGE 10 / September 2020 books www.chinainsight.info “Rebel City: Hong Kong’s Year of Water and Fire” by Zuraidah Ibrahim and Jeffie Lam

Reviewed by Nicholas Gordon, Asian Review of Books, Aug. 7, 2020

Editors: Zuraidah Ibrahim & Jeffie Lam Co-Publishers: SCMP &World Scientific Publication date: June 2020 Softcover: 510 pages

Zuraidah Ibrahi is Deputy Executive Editor of the South China Morning Post, overseeing local Hong Kong coverage and Asia and International news. Previously the deputy editor of The Straits Times in Singapore, she was a key author of the bestselling memoir “Lee Kuan Yew, Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going” (2011). Her most recent publication is “The Opposition in Singapore” (2017).

Jeffie Lam is a correspondent and leads the Hong Kong politics team at the South China Morning Post. An award-winning political journal- ist, she started her career as a reporter in 2009 and joined the Post in 2013, covering the city's legislative affairs, social movements and party politics. Lam reported on the Occupy movement in 2014 and the protests of 2019.

There will, one imagines, be quite a few position Hong Kong is in now requires an The chapters on the protestors, for example, Lam’s term for it). books written about Hong Kong’s year of understanding of the year of protests that explore the emotions that drove a wide range The second is 13 August, when protes- protests, from journalistic retellings from led up to it. of people, from secondary school students tors in Hong Kong’s international airport the front-lines, memoirs from influential By virtue of being drawn from the to middle-class professionals, to take part briefly detained two Mainland Chinese figures, and attempts to tie the protests to a reporting of a local paper, “Rebel City” is in protests. people they suspected of being Mainland broader “New Cold War” narrative. There both broader and deeper than other current This would make “Rebel City” an easy Chinese security officers. “Rebel City” have already been a few. longform writing on the protests. SCMP re- recommendation for anyone outside the city notes that this was the point where Chinese But one might hope, as a necessary porters delve into how the protests affected who wants more detail about Hong Kong’s state media shifted from ignoring the pro- foundation, for a reasonably authoritative a wide swathe of Hong Kong society, from protests. But even avid readers of local tests to strongly negative coverage. timeline of what happened. “Rebel City: the poorly-paid cleaners who had to clean Hong Kong news (whether in Cantonese “Rebel City” does not dwell on these Hong Kong’s Year of Water and Fire” is a up after street violence, Mainland Chinese or in English) will find value in its straight dates, but they help elucidate the timing of lightly-edited volume collecting The South migrants in Hong Kong unnerved by the retelling of events. developments since the protests began. China Morning Post’s coverage of the 2019 protests’ increasingly anti-Mainland tone, For example, most Hong Kong people Reading through “Rebel City” shows protests, starting from the first proposal of and the domestic helpers who lost their can probably recite the important dates in how variable the outcome of the protests the extradition bill in February 2019 to the Sunday social spaces to protests. the movement: 12 June, when police fired really could have been. Post facto, the new de facto pause in protest activity caused by But reporters also had access to insights tear gas on protestors gathered outside the status quo can look inevitable, but “Rebel the COVID-19 pandemic. It fits the bill. drawn from the pro-establishment, pan- Legislative Council; 21 July, when protes- City” notes all the individual decisions “Rebel City” has already been overtaken democratic and protest camps to get a richer tors in Yuen Long were attacked by a group made by the city’s senior political leaders by events. But any discussion about the view of what motivated people’s decisions. with rumored triad links; the week of 11 along the way. Different decisions may November, when protestors occupied Chi- have led to different outcomes, yet those at nese University and Hong Kong Polytechnic the time were operating without the benefit University. of hindsight. Yet “Rebel City’s” timeline highlights “Rebel City” is necessary reading for a few other important dates that, as of now, anyone trying to understand where the city have been less-discussed, yet are perhaps goes from here. ♦ useful in understanding the shift in the Cen- tral Government’s view of developments in Hong Kong throughout 2019. About the reviewer The first is 23 March, when Anson Chan and other prominent pro-democracy politi- Nicholas Gordon has a Master of cians travel to Washington. “Rebel City” Philosophy degree from Oxford in In- notes that this was when Beijing’s approach ternational Relations and a Bachelor shifted from studious silence to more active of Arts from Harvard. He works at a support, as the Washington visit turned what think tank in Hong Kong. His writing was originally might have been seen as a has also appeared in The South China local and perhaps non-critical issue into Morning Post, The Diplomat, China “a sort of sovereignty and security level” Daily and Caixin. problem (to borrow Chief Executive Carrie

Thank you for reading China Insight www.chinainsight.info community September 2020 / PAGE 11

Chang Wang: Q&A on26032 5 x 7 serving on CAPM 4c In May 2020, Governor Tim Walz • Also, I frequently analyze and comment Celebrating appointed Chang Wang, a regular China on U.S.-China relations, Asian and Chinese Insight contributor, to the Board of Council American culture, and current affairs. In on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM) to addition to China Insight, I also regularly community spirit represent the Chinese Minnesotans at the contribute to: Council and the State government. China - BBC Chinese (HK-based Chinese Insight caught up with Wang for him to share language news service); his background and reasons for serving - Caijing (leading Chinese language on the Board and the Chinese Minnesotan magazine with world distribution); communities. - Minnesota Times (local Chinese lan- guage newspaper for Chinese Minnesotans); China Insight: Where are you from? How - Chinese Minnesotans (Chinese lan- long have you lived in Minnesota? guage online platform). Wang: I was born in Beijing, China. I have been living in Minnesota since 2003. CI: What do you believe you bring to the Board and the communities the Council CI: What academic and/or professional serves? steps brought you to where you are to- Wang: Serving on the Council allows me to: day? • Contribute to the larger Asian-Pacific Wang: Before coming to the U.S., I received communities; a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film- • Build bridges among the Chinese Min- making from Beijing Film Academy and a nesotan community and other communities; Master of Arts. in comparative literature and • Educate and distribute authoritative and cultural studies from Peking University in authentic information from the State and the China. In 2000, I enrolled in the contempo- Council to the Chinese community; rary art history program at the University • Utilize my knowledge and expertise in Friends, family, neighbors, and local business owners of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2003, law and cultural studies to assist the gov- are the backbone of this community. I received a Master of Arts in art history ernor and legislators in making informed and, at the same time, was admitted into decisions. the University of Minnesota Law School. After receiving a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the U of M Law School and passing wellsfargo.com the Minnesota Bar Exam in 2006, I began © 2020 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. to work for Thomson Legal & Regulatory All rights reserved. IHA-26032 (commonly referred by Minnesotans as "West Publishing"), first as Global Strate- gist and Legal Consultant, then as Chief Research and Academic Officer. Chinese in Minnesota and advocating for favorite authors are Asian-Pacific writers: From 2009, I began teaching American all API. The Council is always reaching out Lin Yutang (Chinese), Viet Thanh Nguyen law and comparative law courses in law to and hearing from different groups about (Vietnamese American), Chang-Rae Lee schools in the U.S., China, Korea, Switzer- different viewpoints and various concerns. (Korean American), Yi Chong-jun (Korean) land, Italy, Austria, Australia, and Brazil. In We are in the throes of a pandemic; as such, and Yasunari Kawabata (Japanese), to name 2018, I joined Kingsfield Law Office, which the Council has been actively supporting a few. consists of a group of senior law professors state government to ensure that it addresses who specialize in international law litigation a number of key issues, including a strong CI: What, if anything else, would you like and immigration law petition. focus on the increased anti-Chinese/Asian members of state government and the I have published six books on compara- sentiment, translated materials, and chal- Council's community across Minnesota tive law, in English and in Chinese. lenges faced by Chinese Minnesotans. to know about you? Wang: In 2016, in a legal thriller movie, I CI: What is your current role in your CI: What are some of your hobbies or played a leading role as a Chinese diplomat profession and/or the community? interests? working in the U.S., I believe my unmistak- Wang once served as the interpreter for Wang: Wang: As a Buddhist, I love all sentient able Chinese accent got me that role. (See President Jimmy Carter, who is Wang's role • I am practicing law as a partner of Kings- model for public service and integrity. beings. We have three "immigrant" dogs: photo on p. 1.) field Law Office. Bill Sr.(father), Bill Jr. (elder son), and Bill • I also hold associate and adjunct profes- the Regular (younger son), all related. They CI: How can the community reach you? sorships at several law schools, teaching CI: What is your impression of CAPM's were born in Beijing but later came to the Wang: Feel free to reach me at changwang@ law regularly. role within Minnesota? U.S. with us, for a better life and colder kingsfieldlawoffice.com if you have any • In 2016, I joined Governor Mark Dayton's Wang: I am impressed by the Council's weather. questions or concerns related to the Chinese Diversity and Inclusion Council's Civic work. The Council is charged with advo- Buddhists believe in reincarnation, and Minnesotan communities. I also encourage Engagement Committee, participating in cating on behalf of Minnesota's Asian/Pa- I am positive that I already had a connection you to visit the Council's website at https:// drafting the Civic Engagement Plan in cific Islander (API) communities. I see the with Minnesota in one of my past lives. mn.gov/capm/ and follow the Council's Minnesota. Council is actively building trust between As an avid book lover, I have a collection Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ • In 2017, Governor Dayton appointed me the state government and Minnesota's API of more than 10,000 books in my library. CAPMnews/ and on Twitter: as a trustee of the Minnesota Zoological communities by advocating for the needs I spend a few hours per day reading his- @CAPMnews. ♦ Board. of API communities; engaging with diverse tory, biography, and literature. Some of my • In 2018, Chief Justice Lorie Gildea of the API communities, from newly arrived to Minnesota Supreme Court appointed me as long-established, to understand their evolv- Photos provided by Chang Wang a member of the Minnesota State Board of ing needs; and building and maintaining Continuing Legal Education. strong and diverse partnerships. • I am also an Advisory Board member of the University of Minnesota China Center, CI: What are its current focuses, esp. which engages me in various community in reference to the Chinese Minnesotan education programs. community? • In 2014, I published the first Chinese Wang: There is no single "Chinese Min- language book about Minnesota – "New nesotan community." The approximate Tales of the Twin Cities: The History, Law, 35,000 Minnesotans of Chinese heritage and Culture of Minnesota." Chinese Min- come from very diverse cultural, linguistic, nesotans and Chinese students have well educational and religious backgrounds. The received the book. Council is responsible for representing all Left to right: Bill Sr., Bill Jr., Bill the Regular in Minnesota snow PAGE 12 / September 2020 food www.chinainsight.info Rewriting the recipe of your life: An actor’s journey creating a food blog By: Lauren Hugh, contributor

March 16, 2020, a Monday, is a day I form. You can find me at the ones listed to blossom were definitely not ideal, nor Helpful Links: will never forget; it’s the day all my jobs es- above as well as on Facebook, Pinterest and what I had planned. However, it gave me the Lauren’s blog: sentially vanished. At the time, I was living Jumprope. Jumprope is a new app with an time to explore something that I have always https://www.hugheatswithyou.com in New York City, auditioning and perform- easy step-by-step tutorial format. I recently wanted to. Like me, I imagine many of you Instagram: @hugheatswithyou ing, all to continue pursuing a career in act- became a Featured Content Creator and are finding new ways to reinvent yourselves, ing. I also was working several “side-hustle” Founding Community Member for them. or put time and brain power towards an idea jobs, one being an assistant pastry chef at a Although the goal of my blog is to make mil- that has been festering for a while now. If social club in Tribeca, when the world shut lennials excited about cooking, I currently anything, that is a silver lining of this crazy down. Given the anticipated trajectory of the have a wide range of viewership across these time. I don’t plan to stop acting. This silver COVID-19 situation at the time, I decided platforms. Overall, I want my content to be lining simply gave me an opportunity to Lauren Hugh is an actor/blogger to fly home to Minnesota March 18, 2020. accessible to anyone, no matter how they expand myself and showed me how my and granddaughter of China Insight I have been quarantining with my parents prefer to consume it. love of acting and my love of cooking can publisher Gregory Hugh. As a child, in Eden Prairie ever since. Also, Broadway I am half Chinese, so a lot of my cook- complement each other, and with that, the her grandfather gave her a space in doesn’t plan to open until at least the new ing is rooted in that flavor profile. Since I’m possibilities are endless. China Insight to foster her skills as a year, which sets a precedent for the rest of mixed, my blog includes what is authentic Overall, I love food and I think it is a cartoonist with the comic, “Sally C.” my industry, so I don’t foresee going back to me and my experience growing up in a great way for people to come together, I She graduated from the University of to New York anytime soon. mixed household, along with other favorites. mean – we all have to eat! I started this Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelor of I found myself in the biggest creative I include a lot of Chinese and American blog, because I love being able to share my Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre. block of my life. I had every hour in the day recipes, because one type of food is not food or a meal with other people, and I can’t Immediately following graduation, she to practice a song or write a play and I was necessarily better than the other. They both currently hold an elaborate dinner party. performed at some of the top theatres completely at a loss for motivation or new have great flavors to offer. If you put a We are so fortunate to be able to have all in Minnesota, including the Guthrie ideas. I found myself cooking and baking a slice of pumpkin pie and a Chinese egg tart these virtual platforms to connect at a time and Ordway Center of the Performing lot during this time. I know for many people, in front of me, I would have a tough time like this. So, chatting with you all through Arts. She then moved to New York City cooking can seem like a chore. However, for picking only one. online comments will have to do for now. where she made her Off-Broadway me, it’s weirdly therapeutic. Cutting veg- I plan to continue growing my blog so that debut in the musical, “Frankenstein” etables and baking beautiful cakes revitalize community and conversation through food at St. Luke’s Theatre and was a soloist me. Plus, I was staying with my family and can inspire us all, and be a positive light no at Broadway in Bryant Park. we all needed to eat anyways. matter where we are. ♦ At the peak of quarantine, cooking an extravagant meal helped me pass the time in the day. I’ve always had an interest in fer- Please enjoy one of my favorite recipes of all time! If you make it, take a picture mented foods, so like many, I taught myself and tag me on Instagram @hugheatswithyou. how to bake sourdough and make kimchi. Per my dad’s request, I also started making Asian Flank Steak Marinade him banana bread weekly. Since I was baking and cooking all day Ingredients anyways, and had a wide-open schedule, I Lauren, left, with older sister Megan 1 (1 ½ - 2 pound) flank steak eventually started making some food videos ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce on the app TikTok. In my fifth video, I made However, there is a lot more to my blog (I use Kikkoman) a recipe for potstickers, which received over than just Chinese and American. I love try- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 62.2k views. I also posted the TikTok videos ing all sorts of new foods and am influenced ¼ cup avocado (or olive) oil to my Instagram page, where my friends by so many different things/people in my 3 tablespoons honey would direct message me to, “keep posting life, and my blog reflects that. Eventually as 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced more!” I realized that I had an untapped my blog grows, I hope to have options for 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced audience, my own generation, and decided everyone, no matter their food preferences. 3 scallions, thinly sliced to go full throttle creating food content on I have a few friends that are vegan, so I like a blog. to recreate some of my favorite recipes so Equipment I had tried to start my blog back in col- they can enjoy them too. Gallon sized plastic bag lege, but I only accomplished two posts My blog however, isn’t just an electronic Meat tenderizer because I was so busy with classes and cookbook with fun and delicious video rehearsals. I decided to revamp my food content. I genuinely want people to learn Directions blog, renaming it “hugh eats with you!” something when they visit my blog. I also • In a bowl or liquid measuring cup, mix the a play on my last name. On my past blog quickly realized that a lot of random food soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and oil. Whisk (Food and Fork MN) I had mainly written facts and tidbits I had in my head were not in the honey, garlic, ginger and scallions. about restaurants I enjoyed eating at. Since widespread knowledge. Any chance I get, • Place a gallon sized plastic bag inside that obviously wasn’t much of a possibility I try to include those in my posts, to make a larger bowl to prevent spills. Tender- during quarantine, I began developing new someone’s food experience just a little bit ize your flank steak and add it to the bag. recipes for my favorite restaurant staples easier and hopefully more interesting. Pour the marinade over the steak, and seal and filming video tutorials for my website, After the riots in Minneapolis I created the plastic bag. Once it is tightly sealed, Asian flank steak with rice, broccoli Instagram and YouTube channel. I figured an extensive list of “Black Owned Food flip the meat around to ensure it is covered and mushrooms there were tons of people at home, like me, Establishments to Support in Minnesota.” I completely. who were probably finding themselves in initially posted it to Instagram where it has • Place the steak in the fridge to marinate for at least 5 hours but preferably over- need of great recipes and not knowing where received more than 7.5k views and numer- night and up to 24 hours. to find them or how to make them. ous reshares on the platform. I created it • When ready to cook, remove the steak from the fridge and allow it to sit out at The reason I opted into the YouTube as a way for those who might not be able room temperature for 20 -30 minutes, to ensure even cooking. Then preheat your platform was because whenever I found my- to lend a hand to the Black Lives Matter cooking surface (grill or stovetop grill pan). Remove the steak from the marinade, self searching for a recipe, I would always movement in other capacities to contribute save the leftover liquid, and cook on each side until the internal temperature reaches gravitate towards the ones that had a video. by simply eating/ordering takeout. It is a list 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit. While your steak cooks, bring the excess marinade to Everyone learns differently, so I think it is of Black-owned food establishments across a boil, then turn down to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Use as a side sauce. paramount to have written directions and Minnesota so people can consciously sup- • Let the steak rest for 5 minutes, then slice it against the grain and serve with sides video content along with each recipe. I also port the Black community. I hope to be able like jasmine rice and broccoli. thought that the skills I gained from acting to create more content like this on my site. training in school would transfer well to Ultimately, I want my blog to be a resource Click here to read the full blog article or here for the video tutorial! being a food channel personality. and a fun way for people to not only cook, I think what sets me apart from some of but truly learn about their food, where it Happy eating! the other food blogs that have been around came from and how that dish they’re eating Lauren for years, is that I make a point to engage came to be. with pretty much every social media plat- The circumstances that caused this blog