China Elevator Stories
by Ruth Silbermayr
voices
“These conversations are sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always well-written and indicative of what living in China is truly like. This is social and cultural commentary in its purest form.”
China City Links
“Here’s a blogger whose point of view differs from other bloggers, because she doesn’t just limit herself to words. Ruth’s China is as a colorful mosaic of illustrations, drawings, pictures and words; a joyful voyage combining art, technology and the one-of-a-kind approach of a very talented young lady, who made China her home. China Elevator Stories is one of the most unique blogs about China.”
Chinese Tools
Knocked Up Abroad Again: Baby bumps, twists, and turns around the globe (anthology by Lisa ferland)
Twenty-five women experience both love and heartbreak as they bring their babies into this crazy beautiful world.
Imagine receiving a kit in the mail with everything you’ll need for your Dutch midwife to safely deliver your baby at home. Imagine overhearing the nurses in China talking bluntly about your medical status because they don’t think you understand Chinese. Imagine giving birth to your three children in three different countries, each with unique approaches, superstitions, and medical practices.
My story is featured in chapter 10: You should have a baby boy (by Ruth Silbermayr-Song)
“If You Take a Boat, You Can Step Onto the Shore in North Korea”
I chat with a cab driver in Dandong, Liaoning Province, at the Chinese–North Korean border.
Dandong, Liaoning Province: China’s Border City with North Korea (China Travel)
I visited Dandong, which is located on the Chinese–North Korean border in Northeast China, in September 2025.
When Laughter Surprised My Austrian-Chinese Son
Being around people who laughed was unfamiliar to my son.
The Different Stages of Becoming a Scapegoat
Being made the scapegoat within a system follows a particular process.
Puzhao Temple, A Buddhist Temple In Tai'an (China Travel)
This stunning temple in Tai’an is well worth a visit.
Fascism Doesn’t Always Wear a Uniform
According to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, there are 14 early warning signs of fascism.
Competition: When Others Compete with You, the Person Who is Talented and Great is You
I have experienced years of competition.
Real Intelligence Is Not a Number
People tend to think that intelligence equals IQ, but there’s much more to being intelligent than just scoring high on an IQ test.
Interview with Nicole Webb (Author of China Blonde)
Read my latest interview with Nicole Webb, author of China Blonde.
Chongqing: Forgotten Ally—China's World War II, 1937–1945 (by Rana Mitter)
Chongqing was one of the cities bombarded by the Japanese in what is referred to as the “bombing of Chongqing”.
“A Chinese Child Should Have a Chinese Mother” – Raising Mixed Children in China
A girl in Siping tells my Austrian-Chinese son he should have a Chinese mother.
“what are you harvesting?”
I come across a woman working in the rice paddies at Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces.
China
Travel
Whether trekking through Yunnan’s highlands or crossing the wide plains of the Northeast, discovering China offers a journey that’s as seamless as it is unforgettable.
