Merry Xmas everyone!🎄❤ ⚠️ WANT TO JOIN US IN CHINA IN 2025? Check out our Group tour in September 2025: www.humankindexpeditions.com/china 🇨🇳 Or maybe China isn’t your jam? How about a trip to our favourite country on Earth: UZBEKISTAN in October 2025 🇺🇿 www.humankindexpeditions.com/uzbekistan
Splendid 36 hours! I so do want to do the toboggan ride down from the Great Wall! Thanks for taking us on one heck of ride in and around Beijing! Merci Matt and Julia!
Thank you for this awesome adventure. I love learning about China and all that you both have been doing. The Great Wall is beyond words stunning. I laughed so hard as I watched you both ride down the slide on the carts. That had to be so much fun! Watching you all on your adventure in China makes me feel like I am there also. Be safe and thank you! Have a great holiday week!!
Matt, I thought you were freaking out on the toboggan 😂😂😂. What a fabulous day! I’m not surprised you love visiting the wall so much. The scenery just stunning. Have a beautiful Christmas guys.. big hug from me ❤
Hello everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was truly more adventurous than expected. What I found particularly meaningful was the way the Chinese honor the departed souls during special occasions. Thank you all for this memorable experience.
Mandarin: 节日快乐 我很高兴能在中国各地旅行。还能体验长城。所以，你们的中国班也要好好上。看来你的语言水平有了很大提高。 继续努力. English: Happy Holidays! I am happy able to travel all over China. Also experience the Great Wall. Therefore, doing well with your China Class too. It looks like you have improved with the Language. Keep it up.
YunNan province is beautiful as well!The weather is nice and food is incredible!You can have a trip in your winter vacation❤Maybe experience Chinese New Year in there😊
Ii truly love watching you both ..I like that when things happen you show it .That to me makes you guys relatable..Wishing u both a Merry Christmas and may all your dreams come true in the new year..God bless you both..ill b watching in 2025..❤❤❤
Harriet and I enjoyed our time in Beijing including The Wall. We climbed the stairs and took the toboggan down. It was fun. The views are stunning. it sounds like you guys had a lot fun too. Guys, what do think was your biggest takeaway in visiting The Wall ? Hope all is well. Harriet and I want to take this time out and wish you Happy Holidays!🎄🎄 to you and Yours. Sending much love❤ from richmond, VA. Harriet, Jim and Yuki
I was in Beijing Oct 29 to Nov 1, and I also saw a lot of little piles of ashes on street corners and was confused. I thought maybe it was how they disposed of the autumn leaves, since the footpaths were very clean everywhere else. Now I have a better understanding. 谢谢你 I was at Mutianyu Great Wall on Oct 30th 7am-1pm. Entered at Tower 4, made that steep climb to Tower 1, then went back the other way to about Tower 16 or 17 before we decided we had had enough and went back down. It was very clear for the first few hours, but it got very hazy by about 11am and lost a lot of the view. I didn't get to go on any of the cable cars or the toboggan, so my legs were sore for at least the following week, but it was an amazing experience and worth the pain! I got plenty of photos, with the trees a delightful assortment of green, yellow, orange and red. I'm curious which day you went up to Mutianyu. It must have been pretty close to the day I was there. It looks like you had the haze that came in the day I was there and it seemed to hang around for the next week or so. Or maybe the haze is there most of the time and I got lucky to have a few clear hours! Also, it's interesting following your 中文 progress. Does the school teach you the characters, or do they just concentrate on pinyin? Have you managed to pick up some of the characters naturally just from living with them around you all the time?
Winter Clothes Day (寒衣节) Winter Clothes Day, Tomb-sweeping Day and Hungry Ghost Festival are the days for people to offer sacrifice to their ancestors in China. The Winter Clothes Day falls on the first day of Lunar October.[1] October first of the lunar calendar has come into winter, thus people feel cold, which makes them miss the dead. To protect their ancestors against the cold in the netherworld, people send clothes to them,[2] which is why it is called the Winter Clothes Day.
I had never heard of this custom but he is calling it 寒衣节 (寒衣節) han yi jie, which literally means Cold Clothes Festival - Winter Clothes Festival. You are making good progress on your Chinese language skills. Do pay close attention to tones as this is very important!
How fun that descent! here in my summer house in Uruguay. Cooking a sweet flan that will be accompanied with an ultra sweet Dulce de Leche! The Chinese would punch me in the face if I offered them that. Ha ha ! I cook for my family. As a diabetic I can't eat that. I see that China will be healthier for me than Turkey! Hope I can be there in September. What ! No goodbye kiss?? Love to both
Here in Southwest USA is something to honor dead loved ones: Día de los Muertos Mexican tradition honors dead: what it means In Mexico, Día de los Muertos traditions include building elaborate altars ("ofrendas") decorated with marigolds, candles, food like "pan de muerto" (bread of the dead), sugar skulls ("calaveras"), visiting cemeteries, parades, and sharing stories about deceased loved ones, all while celebrating life and the cycle of death with a joyful atmosphere; the holiday is typically celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, with each day dedicated to different groups of deceased individuals. Key elements of Día de los Muertos in Mexico: Ofrendas (altars): These are central to the celebration, decorated with photos of the deceased, candles, marigolds (believed to guide spirits), food like pan de muerto, water, and personal items of the departed. Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead): A special sweet bread often shaped like a skull, traditionally shared with family and placed on the ofrenda. Calaveras (sugar skulls): Colorful sugar skulls, sometimes decorated with names, representing the deceased and given as gifts, especially to children. Cempasúchil (marigolds): These vibrant orange flowers are believed to guide the spirits of the deceased back to the living world. Cemetery visits: Families visit the graves of loved ones to clean them, decorate them with flowers, and leave offerings. Papel picado (perforated paper): Colorful paper decorations often seen hanging around altars and during parades. Traditional food: Besides pan de muerto, other dishes like tamales and mole are often prepared during Día de los Muertos. Parades and festivities: Many towns and cities hold large parades with colorful costumes, music, and dance performances. Important points to remember about Día de los Muertos: Positive celebration: Unlike Halloween, Día de los Muertos focuses on remembering and celebrating the lives of the deceased with joy and love. Family focus: This holiday is deeply rooted in family traditions, with generations coming together to honor their ancestors. Indigenous roots: The origins of Día de los Muertos can be traced back to ancient Mesoamerican cultures
3:34 Breakfast in China varies greatly from place to place. Breakfast in the north is usually a drink and a carbohydrate based food, of course, you can also add meat, eggs or vegetables. Such as a pie and a cup of porridge, or a pancake with eggs and a cup of soy milk, or a few steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. In fact, the two of you ate about one person's amount of breakfast in the north, that is, a cup of millet pumpkin porridge and a meat pie, haha. 中国的早餐各地的差异太大了。北方的早餐一般是一种饮品和一份碳水为主的食物，当然也可以加上肉类，鸡蛋或者蔬菜。比如一个馅饼和一杯粥，或者一个有鸡蛋的煎饼果子和一杯豆浆，或者几个包子和一碗粥。其实你们两个吃的大概是北方一个人的早餐量，也就是一杯小米南瓜粥和一个肉饼，哈哈。
Burning paper money or other stuff is traditional Chinese culture in Qingming, which is in the spring and a few different days in the year. It's an EMS that transfers money and goods to people in the other world and hopes they have a good life there.
One difference between Qingming and Hanyi is that Qingming incense burning is mostly done at cemeteries, while Hanyi incense burning is done at crossroads.
In general Chinese don't like sweet food. They are more into salty stuff or other flavors. That is why u dont see creamy or dairy ingredients in chinese food.
Eating food that is too sweet is not good for women and can lead to obesity and dependence. Drinks that contain too much sugar can easily lead to kidney stones. Therefore, Chinese drinks are only slightly sweet and do not add too much sugar.
Its not a strict no, Chinese everywhere do enjoy Chocs or Ice cream etc, but in General, not-too-much, You are able to see from the chinese drinks in the supermarket that are lightly sweetened,.
4:24 You are getting used to it in China! Congrats! The Chinese praise for dessert is "not particularly sweet". Because excessive intake of sugar is not healthy. It not only causes obesity, but also diabetes and damage to the skin. But spicy taste may be only a small number of people will have oral and intestinal discomfort, does not harm health. 你们在中国越来越适应啦！恭喜！中国人对甜品的称赞就是“不是特别甜”。因为糖类的过分摄入是不利于健康的。不仅仅会引起肥胖问题，还有糖尿病以及对皮肤的损害。但是辣味可能仅仅很少数人会有口腔和肠道的不适感，并不会损害健康。
With regards to food It’s unnatural too sweet to add too much sugar. You are practically masking the true taste of the ingredients. Often referred to as natural sweetness. There of course Chinese candies that are very sweet those are treats for special occasions.
It sounds a bit strange, but it's easier up high. If you walk down, you need very good, sturdy shoes. If you slip in your shoes, your toes will always hit the front and hurt a lot when you are at the bottom.
Why is your audio always so bad? I have to turn up my TV so my mother and I can hear it just to be blasted out when a commercial comes on. Sorry, but it drives us crazy! Please wear microphones the quality would be so much better and very much appreciated.
I have to say this does not happen for me so maybe you could adjust your settings or go on another viewing product, all too maybe. Then all be well. Happy Christmas.
Merry Xmas everyone!🎄❤
⚠️ WANT TO JOIN US IN CHINA IN 2025? Check out our Group tour in September 2025: www.humankindexpeditions.com/china 🇨🇳
Or maybe China isn’t your jam? How about a trip to our favourite country on Earth: UZBEKISTAN in October 2025 🇺🇿 www.humankindexpeditions.com/uzbekistan
Splendid 36 hours! I so do want to do the toboggan ride down from the Great Wall! Thanks for taking us on one heck of ride in and around Beijing! Merci Matt and Julia!
I visited the 'Wall' at a different location when I was in Beijing during my tour back in October. This area is even more spectacular!! Nice video.
The Great Wall is truly magnificent.
Thank you for this awesome adventure. I love learning about China and all that you both have been doing. The Great Wall is beyond words stunning. I laughed so hard as I watched you both ride down the slide on the carts. That had to be so much fun! Watching you all on your adventure in China makes me feel like I am there also. Be safe and thank you! Have a great holiday week!!
Wishing you both a very Merry Christmas, enjoy the holidays, hopefully you’ll be with your families.
Hello guys 🤗.
The city is very beautiful and so clean as well .
Anyway enjoy
Love you guys!
Matt, I thought you were freaking out on the toboggan 😂😂😂. What a fabulous day! I’m not surprised you love visiting the wall so much. The scenery just stunning. Have a beautiful Christmas guys.. big hug from me ❤
Hi
Hello everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was truly more adventurous than expected. What I found particularly meaningful was the way the Chinese honor the departed souls during special occasions. Thank you all for this memorable experience.
What an experience! Coming down in those carts I swear I heard your guide shouting, Julia, wiggle wiggle! So funny. 😂 Your antics make me smile ❤❤
Hahaha, he was too funny! 😂 Glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
This was SO fun and interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Have a Merry Christmas, Julia and Matt. 🎄
Thanks for sharing and have a great trip!
So pleased you had a great time with Mr Gao 🎉
All built by hand with no electronics. Stunning.
Thanks! Merry Christmas from Mexico!
That mountain ride looked awesome.
I haven’t seen anything like that in the entire world.
That White Hoodie is totally cool, I want one!
Great wall is incredible, unimaginable how in olden days those peoples built it and the human toll involved.
Fantastic episode, you two!
聖誕快樂🧑🎄☃️❄️
Mandarin: 节日快乐 我很高兴能在中国各地旅行。还能体验长城。所以，你们的中国班也要好好上。看来你的语言水平有了很大提高。 继续努力.
English: Happy Holidays! I am happy able to travel all over China. Also experience the Great Wall. Therefore, doing well with your China Class too. It looks like you have improved with the Language. Keep it up.
Merry Christmas to both of you. To visit The Great Wall twice what an experience. Were are you spending Christmas ?
Amazing video ❤
Great video, as usual. Beautiful city. Merry Christmas!!⭐️💕🎄
YunNan province is beautiful as well!The weather is nice and food is incredible!You can have a trip in your winter vacation❤Maybe experience Chinese New Year in there😊
great video thank you
Ii truly love watching you both ..I like that when things happen you show it .That to me makes you guys relatable..Wishing u both a Merry Christmas and may all your dreams come true in the new year..God bless you both..ill b watching in 2025..❤❤❤
Thank you so much! Really appreciate the support ❤️ Merry Xmas to you too, lots of love 🎉🎄
What a fun 36hrs!!
Harriet and I enjoyed our time in Beijing including The Wall. We climbed the stairs and took the toboggan down. It was fun. The views are stunning. it sounds like you guys had a lot fun too.
Guys, what do think was your biggest takeaway in visiting The Wall ? Hope all is well.
Harriet and I want to take this time out and wish you Happy Holidays!🎄🎄 to you and Yours.
Sending much love❤ from richmond, VA. Harriet, Jim and Yuki
15:30 Breathtaking backdrop
One of Chinas most spectacular sights for sure 😍
When you get older, you begin to lose your sense of balance. Tai Chi is the answer. It's great for balance both physical and mental.
Hello mat and julia 😊
Hello! 👋🏻❤️
@MattandJulia wish you a good time ahead 💖🥰✌️
I was in Beijing Oct 29 to Nov 1, and I also saw a lot of little piles of ashes on street corners and was confused. I thought maybe it was how they disposed of the autumn leaves, since the footpaths were very clean everywhere else. Now I have a better understanding. 谢谢你
I was at Mutianyu Great Wall on Oct 30th 7am-1pm. Entered at Tower 4, made that steep climb to Tower 1, then went back the other way to about Tower 16 or 17 before we decided we had had enough and went back down. It was very clear for the first few hours, but it got very hazy by about 11am and lost a lot of the view. I didn't get to go on any of the cable cars or the toboggan, so my legs were sore for at least the following week, but it was an amazing experience and worth the pain! I got plenty of photos, with the trees a delightful assortment of green, yellow, orange and red.
I'm curious which day you went up to Mutianyu. It must have been pretty close to the day I was there. It looks like you had the haze that came in the day I was there and it seemed to hang around for the next week or so. Or maybe the haze is there most of the time and I got lucky to have a few clear hours!
Also, it's interesting following your 中文 progress. Does the school teach you the characters, or do they just concentrate on pinyin? Have you managed to pick up some of the characters naturally just from living with them around you all the time?
Winter Clothes Day (寒衣节)
Winter Clothes Day, Tomb-sweeping Day and Hungry Ghost Festival are the days for people to offer sacrifice to their ancestors in China. The Winter Clothes Day falls on the first day of Lunar October.[1] October first of the lunar calendar has come into winter, thus people feel cold, which makes them miss the dead. To protect their ancestors against the cold in the netherworld, people send clothes to them,[2] which is why it is called the Winter Clothes Day.
Taichi originated as an ancient form of reading called chitai
I had never heard of this custom but he is calling it 寒衣节 (寒衣節) han yi jie, which literally means Cold Clothes Festival - Winter Clothes Festival. You are making good progress on your Chinese language skills. Do pay close attention to tones as this is very important!
lol, you have the next challenge on the Great Wall, sleep over, cheers !
🫣🤔😅
You can get a workout climbing those sleep steps.
How fun that descent! here in my summer house in Uruguay. Cooking a sweet flan that will be accompanied with an ultra sweet Dulce de Leche! The Chinese would punch me in the face if I offered them that. Ha ha ! I cook for my family. As a diabetic I can't eat that. I see that China will be healthier for me than Turkey! Hope I can be there in September. What ! No goodbye kiss?? Love to both
Haha, sounds increíble! 😍 we hope so too 🥰🤞🏻 Have an amazing time in Uruguay, Feliz navidad! 🎄 and … 😘 (from Julia, for clarification 😅)
Dude, she's a keeper.
Here in Southwest USA is something to honor dead loved ones:
Día de los Muertos Mexican tradition honors dead: what it means
In Mexico, Día de los Muertos traditions include building elaborate altars ("ofrendas") decorated with marigolds, candles, food like "pan de muerto" (bread of the dead), sugar skulls ("calaveras"), visiting cemeteries, parades, and sharing stories about deceased loved ones, all while celebrating life and the cycle of death with a joyful atmosphere; the holiday is typically celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, with each day dedicated to different groups of deceased individuals.
Key elements of Día de los Muertos in Mexico:
Ofrendas (altars):
These are central to the celebration, decorated with photos of the deceased, candles, marigolds (believed to guide spirits), food like pan de muerto, water, and personal items of the departed.
Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead):
A special sweet bread often shaped like a skull, traditionally shared with family and placed on the ofrenda.
Calaveras (sugar skulls):
Colorful sugar skulls, sometimes decorated with names, representing the deceased and given as gifts, especially to children.
Cempasúchil (marigolds):
These vibrant orange flowers are believed to guide the spirits of the deceased back to the living world.
Cemetery visits:
Families visit the graves of loved ones to clean them, decorate them with flowers, and leave offerings.
Papel picado (perforated paper):
Colorful paper decorations often seen hanging around altars and during parades.
Traditional food:
Besides pan de muerto, other dishes like tamales and mole are often prepared during Día de los Muertos.
Parades and festivities:
Many towns and cities hold large parades with colorful costumes, music, and dance performances.
Important points to remember about Día de los Muertos:
Positive celebration:
Unlike Halloween, Día de los Muertos focuses on remembering and celebrating the lives of the deceased with joy and love.
Family focus:
This holiday is deeply rooted in family traditions, with generations coming together to honor their ancestors.
Indigenous roots:
The origins of Día de los Muertos can be traced back to ancient Mesoamerican cultures
Kensington Ave equivalent anywhere? LA Traffic? Pushy up-charging masseuse haggling you at the mall? What's the skinny? Weird vending machines?
I had to check what you meant. When you say Kensington to a Brit you conjure up a very different meaning 😂
I almost ruined the comment. Lol. Well, I want the best Cathy and them (too)!
Fabulous content
TY 🫶
Love from India ❤🇮🇳
3:34 Breakfast in China varies greatly from place to place. Breakfast in the north is usually a drink and a carbohydrate based food, of course, you can also add meat, eggs or vegetables. Such as a pie and a cup of porridge, or a pancake with eggs and a cup of soy milk, or a few steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. In fact, the two of you ate about one person's amount of breakfast in the north, that is, a cup of millet pumpkin porridge and a meat pie, haha.
中国的早餐各地的差异太大了。北方的早餐一般是一种饮品和一份碳水为主的食物，当然也可以加上肉类，鸡蛋或者蔬菜。比如一个馅饼和一杯粥，或者一个有鸡蛋的煎饼果子和一杯豆浆，或者几个包子和一碗粥。其实你们两个吃的大概是北方一个人的早餐量，也就是一杯小米南瓜粥和一个肉饼，哈哈。
Haha, nice! We are catching on 😀
Burning paper money or other stuff is traditional Chinese culture in Qingming, which is in the spring and a few different days in the year. It's an EMS that transfers money and goods to people in the other world and hopes they have a good life there.
One difference between Qingming and Hanyi is that Qingming incense burning is mostly done at cemeteries, while Hanyi incense burning is done at crossroads.
17:21 万山红遍，层林尽染
Ah okay, thanks
That looks like the most unsafe way down ever! 😂
Which Camera you Have ???
We mainly filmed this video on a GoPro 11 🤗
In general Chinese don't like sweet food. They are more into salty stuff or other flavors. That is why u dont see creamy or dairy ingredients in chinese food.
Eating food that is too sweet is not good for women and can lead to obesity and dependence. Drinks that contain too much sugar can easily lead to kidney stones. Therefore, Chinese drinks are only slightly sweet and do not add too much sugar.
Too much sugar (sweet) is not good for anyone, not just women!
@@lynniew7376tell americans that
At least they drive on the right side of the road in China. ;)
everyone feels like a kid in those tobagan
Watching from planet mars 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Is that near Derby?
@MattandJulia i'm joke
😅😅
😃😃😃
😮
Greenery i.e. plants should be everywhere accompanying human beings according to Chinese tradition.
I once gave a chocolate to a Chinese woman and she ate it like it's nothing. So I'm not convinced that Chinese don't like eu sugar level sweets.
Its not a strict no, Chinese everywhere do enjoy Chocs or Ice cream etc, but in General, not-too-much, You are able to see from the chinese drinks in the supermarket that are lightly sweetened,.
Korea food?
Yes, Korean 😌
4:24 You are getting used to it in China! Congrats! The Chinese praise for dessert is "not particularly sweet". Because excessive intake of sugar is not healthy. It not only causes obesity, but also diabetes and damage to the skin. But spicy taste may be only a small number of people will have oral and intestinal discomfort, does not harm health.
你们在中国越来越适应啦！恭喜！中国人对甜品的称赞就是“不是特别甜”。因为糖类的过分摄入是不利于健康的。不仅仅会引起肥胖问题，还有糖尿病以及对皮肤的损害。但是辣味可能仅仅很少数人会有口腔和肠道的不适感，并不会损害健康。
Haha, thanks! Being English and Russian, we will always be prone to sugary desserts though 😏 谢谢
Not Russian but Chinese Mandarin 😂 @@MattandJulia
With regards to food It’s unnatural too sweet to add too much sugar. You are practically masking the true taste of the ingredients. Often referred to as natural sweetness. There of course Chinese candies that are very sweet those are treats for special occasions.
Matt you swore ha ha.
I thought you guys settled in Turkey?
They traveled all over the world. Who would choose a Muslim country to live in ?
Have you seen Linglong Mandarin Chinese 'If English had Chinese Grammar'? ruclips.net/user/shortsMpkdz6Zr9oc
哈哈，我觉得你们需要一个向导。不然会错过很多有意思的体验。
Is it better going up or down walking the wall? 😂
It sounds a bit strange, but it's easier up high. If you walk down, you need very good, sturdy shoes. If you slip in your shoes, your toes will always hit the front and hurt a lot when you are at the bottom.
❤😂🎉❤😂🎉
❤️🙌🏼😌
а мэтт часом не шотландец? че-то он подозрительно рыжий. может предки шотландцами были?
На самом деле нет, на сколько я знаю, я полностью англичанин))
Were you crying on the slide? 😂
Why is your audio always so bad? I have to turn up my TV so my mother and I can hear it just to be blasted out when a commercial comes on. Sorry, but it drives us crazy! Please wear microphones the quality would be so much better and very much appreciated.
I have to say this does not happen for me so maybe you could adjust your settings or go on another viewing product, all too maybe. Then all be well. Happy Christmas.
Apakah ada makanan muslim di situ
i dont like north korea! but i like china
Okay, we like China too 😌😅
@@MattandJulia I like turtles
@ImOldGregg What about Cheesecake?
@ just baileys
🇺🇸
Nice video. Great place. Wasn’t so happy to see the Russian flag held out proudly.
Yet more disinfo : )
The Kelly Family in China.
❤❤