2000 subscribers?! Happy New Year from Xiamen

Support me directly: www.patreon.com/TheJourneyOfJake
Billi Billi: 韩森山在中国
Instagram: the.journeyofjake
In this video I learn how to say "Happy New Year" in Minnanese (the local language of Fujian province) and go for a little walk around campus to check out the venue for the New Years Eve party at Xiamen university.
Thank you all for helping me hit 2000 subscribers this year, wishing you all a belated Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!
I'm most likely heading to Yunnan in early 2024. If anyone has any recommendations leave them in the comments!
No video this Friday, see you guys next week.

[@AyaAya12361]

Im learning chinese myself, so you talking to people in chinese, culture overall and travelling through china interests me ;)

[@thejourneyofjake]

Message received, I shall do my best! 加油

[@revenchou8798]

I am a Chinese student studying in an English speaking country and you are a English native speaker studying in China, I can see a native English speaker learning my native language the same way I learn English, it is really interesting for me🤣

[@louiserobinson9776]

Chinese New Year is on 10 February. Avoid going to popular tourist spots in China during the week before and after because it’ll be crowded everywhere when people head home to spend the Spring Festival with the families. Good luck with your exam and Happy New Year 🎉

[@shaozhihao]

然而大年初一可能是一年中最不拥挤的时刻。强烈建议老外在大年初一出行。

[@openzzf9937]

福建很多地方。遇到喜事都道一声“吼呀”，简单的语句代表了万事顺意，平安喜乐。特别是前面有人带吉祥话，后面一堆人应声“吼呀”。即团结又喜庆。新年吼呀，一句简单又温暖。

[@leetan4203]

Xiamen is a lovely city. Was there last month. Went to Gulangyu island too- a must go island.

[@thejourneyofjake]

If you can believe it I haven't been yet... probably the only student here who hasn't haha...too busy going on weekend trips to other cities. Next week I plan to go :)

[@pb.jellifish]

We love your videos! Looking forward to more daily life in Xiamen content 🎉

[@theresa337]

Just keep doing what you are doing.

[@jeffreyINAus]

Hi,Jake, I will recommend you to travel to my hometown WUXI to see cherry blossom at the end of March.

[@thejourneyofjake]

这么巧, 我已经有计划做这样哈哈

[@anissaveldhuizen4153]

Interested in all the things you mentioned. 😊 Happy New Year from homeland , Australia 🐨🇦🇺🥳

[@ryu.ix7]

I want to study at Xiamen University and you being a student of xiada got me interested in exploring the student life there

[@thejourneyofjake]

Cool! I seem to get a lot of comments like this so I'm thinking of doing more Xiamen University videos in the future to help you guys!

[@ryu.ix7]

@@thejourneyofjake Looking forward for it

[@barbarahines3357]

Good luck on exams. I like the drone shots and listening to you speak mandarin. 😊

[@albert794]

Yunnan is fun. Solid choice for travel! Some other places I really enjoyed: Sichuan and Xinjiang. There are some national parks worth visiting as well such as the Jiuzhaigou national park in Sichuan and Zhangjiajie national park in Hunan.

[@HerrickChiu]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

[@panyaboonc5621]

The best about traveling in China is foreigner regardless of which country you are from, color of your skin, male or female and language you are speaking. You can travel to anywhere freely, safely and happily without much worry of anyone coming to bother you . There won't be any touting people following you, pestering you and want to be your sightseeing guide, pestering you to bring you go shopping with them, taxi or those trishaw rider want to show you around and trying to scam you. I has experienced in China west neighbor country "I". You can't even walk freely in their city. Many touting people keep following you pestering you to be your sightseeing guide, pestering you to bring you go shopping with them, taxi or those trishaw rider want to show you around and all trying to scam you. You hardly can have the freedom of enjoying yourself. I have been to many China cities and never a time I have met touting people. You are free to enjoys your holiday without anyone bothering you.

[@lmf1253]

Happy NY 🎉 Good luck with the study load - you’ve got this 🌟 Love all the cultural/travelling content just wish they were a bit longer tbh 😂😂

[@thejourneyofjake]

Happy new year!! I can always tell it's your comment from the positive vibes haha

[@lawrencechoong2615]

I would like to see you interacting with the local people.

[@thejourneyofjake]

That, I can do 🙂

[@revenchou8798]

中国的春节前三天可能会像你们的圣诞节一样，外面人很少，多数店铺都会关门。如果你不怕冷，假期可以去东北感受一下和厦门完全不一样的氛围；如果想去更温暖的地方，很多中国人会在冬天去海南岛过冬。海南岛是一个非常美丽的海岛--同时那里的花销会比较高。四川和重庆也是非常多人推荐的旅游目的地！

[@thejourneyofjake]

Thank you for the suggestions!

[@thataxx1534]

Anywhere you go during Chinese New Years break is going to be CROWDED, just be prepared

[@thejourneyofjake]

All part of the experience haha

[@MonicaTanAnLeng]

New subscriber here. Welcome to my ancestral province, plan to visit for the first time in the next few years. It’s good you can speak Mandarin. I can’t much nor in Hokkien. 😂😂😂 Xiamen University was founded by a clan member of my grandfather. So happy to see it thriving. Enjoy your stay in China and wishing you good luck in your studies.

[@thejourneyofjake]

Hey Monica. So interesting about your connection to the school, very cool. Thanks for subbing :)

[@austinhutton899]

Hello Jake. I enjoy watching your videos because I am planning to come there this year. My wife's daughter goes to school there and is going to be a professor. I have not met my stepdaughter, and my wife has not seen her for a few years. Your videos help me see what life is like there. So thanks.

[@thejourneyofjake]

Hey Austin thanks for the comment, glad the videos helped! Excited for you, it'll be an adventure for sure, good luck. If you have specific questions I'm happy to answer them.

[@kkw6320]

Just enjoy, whether exam or holiday coming up

[@thejourneyofjake]

I like this mentality a lot, thanks for the comment

[@jimmychin8313]

新年好。愿您的频道变得越来越大😀

[@thejourneyofjake]

谢谢，新年好！

[@917amazon]

山東省煙台市、青島巿都是不錯的選擇。

[@Toh4488]

新年快乐 in xiamen dialect should be "Xin Ni Kuai Lok"

[@LW78321]

All the best with your exams!! Enjoy your 6 week holiday coming up

[@thejourneyofjake]

Thank you 🙏

[@mechabot8652]

Happy new years! A day in a life as a student in China sounds fun

[@thejourneyofjake]

That one is definitely coming up soon

[@DichromaticMagus]

I like watching your videos because I'm also a foreigner currently studying Chinese in China, so it's interesting to see others experiences 😆as for the content, I'm fine with how it has been going. Good luck with the exams!

[@thejourneyofjake]

That's awesome! Where are you studying?

[@DichromaticMagus]

Beijing! Its finally vacations so I can't wait to explore more parts of China haha, hope your exams went well! @@thejourneyofjake

[@user-bp9be5mr2f]

欢迎来到我的家乡厦门，这位女士不是厦门人，她的口音听起来像贵州人，她不会闽南语😂😂😂

[@quietlives]

Yeah, go to southern China during winter time, and northern China (Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia) in summer

[@thejourneyofjake]

Sounds like a good plan

[@John-yx6yz]

闽南 Happy new year is Xin Ni Kuai Lok. At least that's how overseas Hokien people say it.

[@raideepu4]

Happy new year, bro! Best wishes!

[@thejourneyofjake]

You too!

[@davidnimmo6006]

I think Shaxi in Yunnan is an amazing looking village. Would love to see more of it. Would also love to find out how to come to China

[@thejourneyofjake]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@AmelieZh]

What... swipe palm now? Like what's Alipay ? 😂😂😂😂 Do go to smaller cities, check out every little Chinese , she goes to a lot of the rural China and they are so down to earth.

[@thejourneyofjake]

I know right? The future is now haha. I love watching her vids too, one of my favourite youtubers! I will try to get away from the big cities :) thanks for the suggestion

[@bikedude2001]

Mt Huan Shan. Near Xian, you can see the Terracotta Soldiers while you are there 🤔

[@myriamfelix5798]

閩南語新年快樂的發音: xin ni qu'ài lo

[@jerryfish09]

I agree with your teacher’s suggestion, but I can also add Gui Zhou and Si Chuan as alternatives. Some place in Yun Nan become more expensive because of tourism.

[@thejourneyofjake]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@terriwang596]

Feb 10，2024

[@jeanleveille5319]

I just came back from Xiangyang, I spent 10 days there. It is a well-appointed and impeccably clean city. The historical side dates back to the beginning of the 3 Kingdoms. It is at this place that the borders of the 3 met, the old town is worth seeing. The parks and the banks of the river are completely landscaped with stone. I was unable to receive or send an email, gmail does not enter.

[@psychiisu]

LOL，actually it's 新xin 妮ni 贺he。

[@leahlee8291]

You can go to chengdu, chongqing, guizhou and yunnan in one long trip

[@lbsyc]

The security guard's accent is a bit off, I suspect she's not from the region originally? In 闽南话 happy new year is 新年好Sen Nii Hou. She's right about people don't usually not saying 新年快乐 in 闽南话. though.

[@good2freelance1]

Type of contents? Perhaps teach Australians how to travel to China, like what to apply from Australia, and then how to use payment system to buy food ... etc in China, and what apps to use on the phone, as google map and other apps won't work there?

[@thejourneyofjake]

Good idea, thanks for the suggestion!

[@wandychen1285]

粿 妮 厚

[@YongLi-np3wg]

places you may go: xian xinjiang shanghai harbin Beijing

[@thejourneyofjake]

Great suggestions, I think I'll go in our summer holidays when it's warmer 😄

[@asamiaurelius3103]

Just do what you are good at, do some random walk and talk to the ordinary Chinese people you meet.

[@kakarote23]

I believe that Yunnan is a good choice, especially during winter.Do not go to the northern regions, it is too cold outdoors

[@thejourneyofjake]

I'm here now filming some upcoming vids, the weather is beautiful 😁

[@supercamel2040]

Happy new year! Just wonder why the staff said she owe you a cup of coffee, does it just mean pick up by the receipt? That sounds strange in Chinese

[@thejourneyofjake]

Good pick up! I didn't realise it when I was filming but I actually paid 15 yuan when a normal cup is 8 yuan, so she gave me 1 yuan off a second cup I guess and I needed to bring the receipt back to claim it.

[@ParryLinn]

Hey Jake, wanna make video together sometimes? I’m born in Xiamen and living in the city rn

[@liamlee8422]

She’s def not local. I can tell by her accent. She could’ve said she’s not from Xiamen originally. There’s words in min to describe happy new year.

[@AmelieZh]

但是肯定是闽南人

[@PS-383]

Not a good idea to travel during the Chinese New Year holiday period. Almost the entire population will be travelling during that time. Better to check out local area.

[@thejourneyofjake]

I've managed to find some beautiful spots away from the crowds, videos coming very soon!

[@JAn-og6lu]

I bet you can pass the exam quite easily.

[@thejourneyofjake]

Unfortunately we have to write characters from memory which is definitely not my strong suit! Fingers crossed 🤞

[@theresa337]

Ah. Good luck on exams.

[@stanbimi]

You are over-qualified for the Chinese language program.

[@thejourneyofjake]

Never too old to learn I say

[@jingsongyang876]

Yunnan is good choice. once you arrive in the town of Dali(大理,a nice place itself) the hub to all other small towns in western Yunnan province, you can branch out to the snow mountains to the north, Nujiang valley to the west, or tropical forest to the south. just don't cross the boarder into Myanmar, there's a war going on over there.

[@thejourneyofjake]

Thank you for the recommendations (and warning). I think I'll kick things off in Dali and see where I end up from there

[@jingsongyang876]

@@thejourneyofjake weather north of Dali can be very cold, be prepared with warm coat.