ChinaTravel.net Forum

Know Before You Go: Chinese Customs

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:03:00 EST

Learning a little about Chinese customs gets you a long way in a country where tradition helps a billion-plus people navigate changing times. Chinese culture can be intimidating to many first-time visitors. And no wonderChina's 5,000-year old civilization has developed its own complex codes of etiquette and respect. But don't worrywith a little preparation, you can easily get a handle on the basic rules of the Chinese social code. And once you're in China, you'll find that people are generally more than happy to help you learn the ropes.

China's Top 10 Romantic Destinations

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:03:00 EST

Did you know that China is the world's biggest honeymoon destination? Okay, okay, that's based on Chinese domestic travela nation of 1.3 billion has a lot of love to celebrate, after all. But now couples from around the world are discovering China's best romantic getaways, whether Vegas-grade glitz, cozy Himalayan resort stays, roaring '20s-flavored mutual self-indulgence, romantic Yangzi River cruises, classic beach holidays ... the list goes on, and we've picked out the best of the sexy best:

48 Hours in Beijing: Choose Your Own Adventure

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:02:00 EST

Welcome to Day 2 of our 48-hour insider guide to Beijing. See Part 1 of to take it from the top. For more self-guided Beijing tours, click here. Day 2 8:00 am 9:30 am The same breakfast and survival pack recommendations from day one apply. 10:00 am Choose Your Own Adventure We all have different ideas, hopes, opinions and aspirations for their China experience. Day one was jam-packed with major sitesand there are plenty more to fill many days' worth of sightseeingbut the morning of Day 2 of High-Impact Beijing offers four distinct options for different types of tourists.

Olympics Tourist Manual: High-Impact Beijing Day 1

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:01:00 EST

Warning: High-Impact Beijing is a rigorous program for travelers with limited time and serious curiosity about the wonders of China's capital.... If you suffer from heart disease, low blood sugar, chronic fatigue or are currently taking prescription medications, please consult your physician before commencing with the below recommendations. We recommend printing this guide for easy and portable reference. Below is a complete itinerary for Day 1; click here for Day 2. This is part of the ChinaTravel.net Beijing Olympics Tourist Training Manual... come back for more insider tips on getting the most out of your Beijing trip.

The Fierce Five: China's Top Olympic Hopefuls

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:00:00 EST

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are nearly upon us. Do you know your Chinese Olympians? If not, allow us to introduce you to China's Fierce Five.... What follows are the inspiring stories of five of China's top athletes, all of whom stand great chances of diving, lifting, shooting, and hurtling to Olympic gold in Beijing.

Beijing Olympics Tourist Training Manual: Intro

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:00:00 EST

Olympics 2008: You hit Beijing runningyou and half a million other tourists. Ready to compete? Our Olympic training manual can help... Get Ready... The Olympics are all about preparation. Athletes prepare for years to compete against the world's best. Host nations spend billions preparing for floods of tourists and global media scrutiny. Vendors, hotels and tour guides prepare to make a killing on clueless tourists. And what about you, the tourist? Are you prepared to compete with tens of thousands of fellow tourists? To outwit crafty vendors and gold-digging tour guides? To find your way around one of the world's biggest cities? Not sure? Read on....

Camping the Great Wall: Escape from Simatraz

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:58:00 EST

What happens when a couple of foreigners play barbarian and occupy a piece of the Great Wall of China for a weekend? Prison Break, anyone? Crouched in a corn field, we scanned the moonlit shadows for an escape route. Only a hundred meter sprint to the bridge across the river and we'd be free. Seconds before we made a mad dash for it, we spotted him. Beneath a tree by the bridge, the movement of his lit cigarette was the only evidence of his presence. Another guard. All exits from the tiny town were being watched. We decided then that even if we had to sleep in the corn fields that night, we wouldn't let them hold us captive. My Norwegian friend Thor and I had been housemates in university in South Africa before going our separate ways. Both avid world travelers, we crossed paths in China a year later and almost immediately began scheming to spend a night on the Great Wall.

China Drug Crackdown? The Writing's on the Wall

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:54:00 EST

All you shameless-illegal-substance-abusing foreigners in China, your days appear to be numbered. On June 1st, the Chinese government released a fancy new set of anti-drug laws that will see your sorry hides deported (at best) for production, purchase, possession, storage, use, transport or provision of drugs including pot, meth, coke, morphine, opium and heroin. So yes, now it's "zero tolerance" in China for anything drug-related including Olympic athlete doping, pharmaceutical companies malpractice and illegally obtained prescription narcotics and psychotropic drugs. These new laws will have to compete with the now-legendary China visa crackdowns and all other pre-Olympic crackdowns for the place of number-one-reason for foreigners to get deported from China (well, at least among the younger student and "creative" set that's settled so comfortably into Bejing, Shanghai and a few other choice hotspots). The new anti-drug regulations may prove to be the second-largest crackdown on drugs in China's history. When the Communist Party took power in 1949, they were successful in almost completely wiping out the country's opium trade by using "the same draconian repression with which it attacked Chinese society as a whole," as the Drug War Choronicle puts it. "Like prostitution and other perceived Western vices, however, opium has staged a comeback in China in the wake of economic reforms over the past three decades." The new laws are so tight as to, apparently, allow for the busting of people who are even in the presence of drugs, which could be considered "providing a place for others to take drugs and allowing them to do so." According to the regulations, just being at the wrong party could result in fines, prosecution or detainment for up to two weeks. You can be detained for up to five days just on the suspicion of involvement. To top it all off, these laws are to be enforced with the help of the neighbour-friendly technique of the citizen's arrest, notes City Weekend Deputy Managing Editor, Lee Mack. So it's not just about the police catching you -- now one's ayi, neighbor, security guards, favorite McDonalds delivery guy or a club bouncer could be the one ultimately busting one. The law is promising rewards and protection to informants. Of course, this means that business owners are to be held responsible for what takes place on their premises. Presumably, bars and clubs will feel the heat for failing to report drug users to the police. (Hmmm, if this is true, what will happen to the Bund after they turn off the giant stoner-light-show-in-the-sky Oriental Pearl Tower at night?) We imagine there will be a few more clubs biting the dust if the enforcement is as tough as they are saying it will be and that management will need to do some serious surveillance in the toilet cubicles. All in all, it also looks like Mr. Tony Supply is going to need to stop handing out his business cards in dive bars like some kind of Nanjing Lu bag-watch-DVD seller. Then again, it could another case of tough talk followed by spotty enforcement intended to make a show, followed be a quick return to business as usual. We shall see.... But in the meantime, if you are the type likely to find yourself the intended recipient of a passed J or a freshly cut line... be forewarned. Here's the buzz-harshing skinny from to chinaelections.org: "Chinese lawmakers adopted the country's first-ever anti-drug law in a bid to curb drug-related crimes and reduce the growing number of users, especially under-aged addicts. The police are authorized, if necessary, to search people and their luggage for illegal drugs at key public places, such as train stations, long-distance bus stations and border crossings. The number of drug takers in China has increased 35 percent over a five-year period to 1.16 million in early 2005. It is estimated that the country has more than 700,000 heroin addicts, of which 69 percent are under 35. Lawmakers said it was imperative to introduce the anti-drug law to crack down on drug-related crimes, protect public health and maintain social order. The bill stipulates that Chinese police should share information with other countries and international organizations and enhance collaboration in investigations." And finally, in anticipation of The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking being celebrated on June 26th, we offer the following list of 10 tips to assist in cleaning up foreign drug users in China. 1. Stake out the neighborhood kebab vendor and monitor foreigners who make frequent trips to the convenience store. 2. In a public place, get the suspected drug user to dial the number on Mr. Tony Supply's business card on a phone registered under their passport number. 3. Keep an eye out for people dancing without self-consciously frowning as conspicuous gesticulating, cheering of the DJ, and sweating are all dead giveaways. 4. Report any exceedingly friendly laid-back behaviorthis is sure a sign of marijuana or hashish intoxication. 5. Drink a few bottles of baijiu while smoking a pack of Double Happiness to enhance the good feeling you get from turning in drug users whose amoral behavior threatens both social harmony and your own personal health. (You deserve it, you vigilant defender of public safety, you!) 6. Post tagged photos of your friends who look stoned on Facebook and add Wen Jiabao as a friend. 7. Interview ayis about the greenery left on coffee tables after the weekend and the reaction they got when they told their expat bosses they threw it in the trash...again. 8. Stand in the toilet lineup at any nightclub and declare loudly that you are there to make citizen's arrests for drug abusers. A looped expat might think you're joking and confess, thinking it's all in fun. 9. Report anyone seen dancing on a couch/table at a bar who was not paid to do so (or who was not expecting payment at some point related to having done so...we haven't heard anything about a crackdown on prostitution). 10. Finally, display your moral rectitude by attending and applauding the group executions organized by the Chinese state to celebrate anti-drug day. Happy citizen's arrests.... Go get 'em.

Chinese Visa Situation Reaches Facebook

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:30:00 EST

Well, China visa questions have reached Faceboook groups. Now people trying to figure things out have started joining groups to share experiences, ask questions and post articles about China visas. This just goes to show how difficult it is these days to find accurate information in the absence of official documentation.

So now if you are on Facebook, you can team up with like-minded confused people and have a wall to vent on. Who would have thought that a visa situation could be so enigmatic that people are looking for serious answers on Facebook? Ah, Facebook.

Read on for some tips from our favorite Facebook Chinese Visa Groups.

Danny Surez started a group "WTF is goin' on with the chinese visa": "As all of us know, chinese visa is gettin' damnly hard. So this is for all the ones who have been affected by this news. Now it doesnt matter if you study, if you work, if you have all your life here, we just have to go back home.. at least till these olympics ends; or who knows if this will be like, for even more time. "

Another Facebook group dedicated to the visa situation is "China's Visa Watch - 2008" started by James Dean:

"With all the rumbling and rumors floating around about Chinese visas (work and tourist) I thought many people would appreciate a place to record and discuss various reports about getting, keeping andextending visas for mainland China."

One tip from one of the message boards on the site posted by Molly Fitzpatrick: "According to the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission, all new Z-visas for foriegn persons working in Shanghai must be appiled for in applicants’ original country. If the foriegn person is living in Shanghai, he or she is required to return to his/her home country in order to seek a Z-Visa. Trips to Hong Kong and other locales may work on a case by case basis. Official legislation requires applicants to return to their home country."

James Dean wrote: "In many cities in China, including major ones including Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing, medical examinations prior to leaving your home country are now required as of May 1, 2008. Please contact in Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country directly for details on if a medical examination is required in order to apply for a Z Visa. Should you require a medical examination before applying for a Z Visa, you should do the following: 1) Determine what medical facilities in your area qualify for serving the medical exam. 2) Secure a medical form from the embassy. You will need your medical professional to fill this out before applying for your Z Visa."

Another general tip from Dean for getting your visa in Hong Kong: 1) L tourist visas are only being issued for 30 days only 2) If on your visa form you list Tibet or Lhasa as places you intend to travel to, you may be denied a visa. 3) If one has an expiring Z visa and wants to reenter China may only apply for a 30 day L-visa. Only then can they reapply for an L, F, or another Z visa. 4) Due to the increase in numbers and complications with the visa process, the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong is advising individuals to apply for a visa before leaving their home country.

Danny Surez recommends a visa agency in Hong Kong that has recently moved offices, here is a map and directions:

New China Visa Rules Update: 24 Changes You Need to Know About

Mon, 26 May 2008 23:55:00 EST

Our first New China Visa Rules post update met with such a strong response that we realized it met a major need. So we've done more homework for you on the visa situation, reading through literally thousands of posts on various China travel forums, sifting through the reports on our favorite blogs, chasing down news articles and smoking out rumors, all so you don't have to. We hope our work helps you out. Below, we've compiled everything we've learned into 24 changes you need to know about. Keep the comments and questions about Chinese visa requirements coming, and check back at ChinaTravel.net for more updates. Visit our Passport & Visa forum regularly for news from members. 1. No more L or F visa extensions after July 1st, 2008 (not even 30 days) "Under normal circumstances, most passport holders could get extensions for 30 days simply by paying a fee. Extensions and visas valid up to July 1 can be obtained, not beyond. This is what I have been told by 3 visa agents in Beijing," writes a user on the LP Thorntree "Visa Sticky" thread). Reports are generally saying that after June 30th there will be no more visa extensions. If you arrive after 1 July, you will only get 30 days with no option of extensions until some time in fall. "Interns and short-term project workers are required to apply for a Z visa if an uninterrupted stay in China is required," reports the Beijinger. More here.

Olympic torch in Shanghai May 23-24

Thu, 22 May 2008 23:40:00 EST

Today if you are stuck in an endless traffic jam and being redirected all over Shanghai, it's likely a result of the road closures in preparation for the Olympic torch's arrival in the city. Over 400 torchbearers are participating in the Shanghai relay over the next two days with each bearer running a little less than 200 meters. The relay will last 10 hours each day. Originally, the torch was scheduled to arrive on May 21 and 22 during China's three day period of mourning for the earth quake victims. The relay was postponed by two days. The torch arrived from Zhejing Province last night and was lit at 8am this morning at a ceremony at the Shanghai Museum at People's Square by former Olympic medalist, Zhuang Yong. The torch will then pass through through Huangpu, Luwan, Yangpu and Pudong districts and spanning a distance of over sixty kilometers (although only a little over 13 km will be done on foot, the rest by car). At the end of the first day, a ceremony will be held in Binjiang Park, Lujiazui District. On Saturday, May 24, the torch will be lit at Shanghai Stadium by female footballer, Sun Wen, and then it will pass through Minghang, Qingpu, and ending in a final ceremony in Jiading district. The next stop after Shanghai is Jiangsu province. Shanghaiist reports that Shanghai is the first city in China to get, not one, but two days of torch relay and related festivities. At any rate, it's a good excuse if you happen to be late for work, a meeting or a dateto say that you were stuck in a road block due to the two-day torch relay. Over 62 bus routes are being redirected and there have been a number of road and metro closures so it could get a bit confusing out there. But, hey, we can't complain, this is just a tiny taste of what life is going to be like in Beijing during the Olympics. Respect to all our friends in Beijing because we certainly don't envy the summer of fun they can now look forward to. For many of us, catching a glimpse of the torch as it runs by might be the closest we get to the Olympic Games this time, so if you missed it this morning, set your alarm clock early and head to Shanghai Stadium to catch it Saturday morning. If you are in Shanghai and you want to avoid road blocks and traffic congestion, Shanghaiist has posted a list of areas to watch out for.

Bling da Noize: A Canadian MC on Hip Hop in China

Wed, 21 May 2008 04:35:00 EST

Ever wonder what it's like to be a Canadian rapper barnstorming China's hip-hop club scene? You can stop wondering: Let MC Blingman introduce you ... Bounce through the Milky Way Not many MCs feel this way Deltron 3030 Yo I'm lyrically gifted linguistically twisted And Ima keep hoppin' til you spirits is lifted Shanghai, bright lights, tha metropolis A rappin Laowai in yo populace Talking thus, in every city entertainment A foreign kid, in yo midst, breakin' containment China's daughters and sons don't get the rhymes I spun But I guarantee ya that we party til the sunrise come A diplomat, for hip hop's international relations An expat on China's hip hop radio stations Getting China's peeps to swerve outget the word out Get ya to curse loud, singin' a verse out They might not understand what I say in Wuhan But in Chengdu and Guangzhou they clap they hands They all give me love, plus they give me hugs See if I can stand da baijio, if I'll stumble much Thus thru blurred eyes what I see is pretty much pure These kids' hearts is golden, that is pretty much sure. Blingman AKA Mancub AKA Kaprishus AKA TipDeft Yo, have you ever seen 45-year-old Chinese businessmen strip off their collared shirts and ties, throw them to the crowd and jump onto be-dancing-poled stages to rock their pale little bodies? Though the mental image might be unpalatable to some, for a live performer like myself, the sight is truly awesome. And how many times have you seen a female Chinese club owner shower the crowd with bottle after bottle of champagne? How many times will you see Chinese people lining up at the stage for free long pours of whiskeywalking away cheering as much to their drinking prowess as to their whiskey-saturated clothing? How many times has a Chinese girl, looking like she weighs less than 110 pounds, challenged you to drinking, not a cup, but a full pitcher of mixed alcohol? How many times do you see a whole crowd repeating after the MC "Spank me baby!" and collectively spanking each other's naughty little backsides? This I have seen, and more. How have I found myself in such spots, you ask? Well, you see, I'm among the few touring foreign MCs in China, and I've rocked tha house as MCs Kaprishus, Blingman, TipDeft and Mancub in over 20 cities around China. There aren't many of us foreign MCs around, but you might see us here and there. We're usually sponsored by a major liquor brandJ&B Rare Scotch, Smirnoff, Absolut and othersthough some of us are also part of the music communities in the Chinese cities we call home, such as the Shanghai scene that's home to Redstar and MC Showtime. Now, there are pros and cons to being a fly MC in a country where the crowds don't understand a word you shout at them, and below is a little list I've assembled while on the road in China. I present it here as a precautionary tale or solitary wail (excerpts from a future prison confessional?). Pro: People never really understand what live MCs are saying no matter where you are, but in China, oral exercises to improve your diction are finally unnecessary! For example, I no longer practice repeatedly saying "red lorry, yellow lorry" in rapid succession while fellating an inflatable baseball bat (an ingenious exercise of my own invention).... I'll miss you, inflatable baseball bat ... kinda. "Wed lowwy, yellow lowwy." Geez, my diction's already starting to slip .... Con: It's really embarrassing when the crowd can see how crappy your Chinese is! I think you'd go a little red in the face if you were faced with the same situation. I was trying to get the crowd hyped about the sexy girls dancing for a RMB 10,000 prize, but my foreign accent, grammatical shortcomings and "so poor" vocabulary were met by a sea of puzzled expressions and silence. What I said probably amounted to "Look! Here are four girls! I have 10,000 applications for cheap Chinese classes I've yet to use! So Everybody Go Crazy!" Yeah, cue the chorus of crickets. Not the highlight of my MC'ing career. Pro: The next part of the set was four of those sexy dancers grinding themselves on me. Well, that put a smile on everyone's faces! Con: You don't actually get to see much of the cities you perform in. Case in point: Qingdao, a seaside resort town anyone who doesn't currently have either skin cancer or a morbid fear of the ocean would definitely want to check out. But does an MC get to see it? Of course not. And who's fault is that? Certainly not the MC's, and certainly not the promoter's (there's always a few hours between 5 a.m. when you leave the clubs and 11 a.m. when you board your plane to enjoy a sight or two). It is, of course, the fault of the loving locals. You see, one of the pros of being a touring MC in China is being the recipient of an incredible amount of love from the crowd. Pro: The crowd gives you mad amounts of love. You wouldn't guess it from the way people shove each other with blank faces in the Shanghai subway or on a Beijing bus, or from the way they refuse to intervene in scuffles between old men fighting for a cab, or the way they fail to help an overburdened old woman cross the street, but the love is there in abundance. Sure, sometimes I think that the love I receive isn't always so pure and that, rather, it's cynically offered as part of a ruse to see yours truly get drunk enough to cause irreparable property damage to the hosting venue (sorry, stained glass club signage!), but judging by the open smiles and welcoming arms directed at me, I would say that the love was, in fact, unblemished by guile of any form. As for said drunkenness, I guess I should take some responsibility for it. Partly it's the result of my Titanic-style approach to intoxication ("I'm unsinkable!"). But that's what you get when you down four bottles of Korean Soju with the DJ before the show even begins (DJ Kill, I will get you back!). And that's what you get when you visit every single table in the entire club and "gambei" with them. That's the entire club twice, folks. The result? Well, you miss your cues, for one. Fortunately, any DJ worth his salt will only let an instrumental track run for half a minute before deciding that enough is enough and mixing in the next song. I guess I can claim as one mini-pro the development of a liver of steel, with the concomitant mini-con being a slight yellowish tinge to my skin ... hmmm, wonder if I should worry about that ... A mixed pro/con of never-been-this-wasted-before-in-my-entire-life levels of drunkenness is the loss of motor control, depth perception, balance and judgment of what is culturally appropriate (I'm stone-cold sober as I write this, I swear). Even after launching myself clear over the stage in an attempt to leap on it and landing instead on the table of a young Chinese couple and spillingor was it breaking?everything on it, the manager still enthusiastically asked how much it would cost to bring me back. Just as it was with Belle and her beast, love overcomes all shortcomings. Love is awesome. But hey! I'm not the only clown in the house! Don't wag your finger and disapprovingly cluck at me just yet! You see, another big pro of being on the MC circuit is getting to see the Chinese really cut loose, a behavioral set often too elusive for many foreigners to be acquainted with, as, obviously we're all too aware of the prevailing bashful/conservative stereotype of the Chinese. Seriously, how often do you see girls on the actual bar countertop shakin' their tail feathers, how often do you see young Chinese men grab the microphone and croon "Ooohhh! I love you is so very good!" When I see people losing their inhibitions and living in the moment, it's just beautiful. Unless, of course, the moment involves explosive... Con: Ridiculously hazardous, pre-arranged party antics. Does anyone else here share my opinion that industrial-strength fireworks should not be set off indoors? Ha ha. Well, here's another part of the MC-in-China experience: brushes with death. Some say that staring death in the eye (visions of my burn-covered body, wails of agony unabated by multiple morphine injectionsoh the horror!) are an integral part of every person's life journey. I agree, and I'm glad that one of these occurrences (which I seriously hope stop happening with such worrisome frequency) happened to me while MC'ing. Here, the situational awareness of one square-bodied, Chinese-commando-force-worthy security guard is what saved me from sure disfigurement. Climbing on stage to deliver yet another cry of enthusiasm to the crowd, I was violently pulled off just in time to see a vicious geyser of chemical flame engulf the space just occupied by my face. Pro: Being cradled like a damsel in distress, saved by a squarish Chinese knight-in-dark-security armor. Don't think it's a pro? Well I'm charge of the story, so I get to say that it is! Thanks, muscley-Chinese-knight-in-dark-security-armor man! Con: Too much love. Yes, from time to time, this is possible. I reward the craziest, least inhibited partiers in my show with large, fake diamond-studded bling chains, making a big show of bestowing the bling upon them and "crowning" them as kings or queens of the party. (Yo, it's nutty how badly some people want a 22-kuai piece of plastic bling!) I had one older gentlemen (again, completely twisted and shirtless) smiling, his eyes totally unfocusedhis slovenly lack of coordination reducing his movements to that textbook, drunken, slow-motion kind of shuffleyank one of my bling chains right off my neck. What stands out as being most bizarre is how slowly it all went down, and how easily the chain broke (well, considering the 22 kuai price point, maybe not so bizarre...). The man's simple smileevidence of a thought-stream reduced to processing just one base desire at a timefaded. He stared at the broken necklace in his hands in dismay. He looked up to me, wide-eyed and innocent, and tried to give me the broken necklace back. I laughed. It's all yours, buddy! Pro: For the love of Chinglish! Some of the English songs I hear sung by live Chinese vocalists get hilariously corrupted. Take for example Guano Apes' "Open Your Eyes." First, take away the ability to properly inflect the sound "z," and combine that with faulty recall of kindergarten phonics classes. Then, accidentally switch the long "I" sound with the short "A" sound and what do you get? A chorus that could solidly anchor any number of chart-topping techno club bangers: "OOOPPPEEENNNN YOUR A$$$$$$!!" x 8 (remember to squint hard and sing with passion!) Poor guy. Of course, he was oblivious to our snickering. Sadly, he was even more oblivious to the fact that he'd probably rule Ibiza's gay scene for a full six months were he cognizant of his own (unwitting) potential. Heck, filter his voice to sound like a cartoon and he could probably rule all of Europe for twice that long! Pro: Sorry, I'm out of Cons. I've been to about twenty-odd cities thus far, hugged a whole lot of sweaty strangers, been doused with alcohol and blinded by spotlights all over the country and the next pro is simply the opportunity for fun, frank exchanges with a wide variety of Chinese people, an opportunity I wish more of the jaded foreign crowd could share. Though the expensive-club sample of Chinese people I'm referencing here can't accurately represent Chinese society in general, I'll venture to say that I doubt my sample is too far off the mark. The people I've had the fortune to meet have generally been warm, friendly and willing to experiment, even if it means getting in a little bit of trouble. Having partied with all these people, from Shenzhen to Tianjin, I've been privileged with a view into an interesting tension, the natural human desire for free expression and experimentation pulling against the socially inherited mores that dictate adherence to conformity and conservatism. All it takes for a self-conscious, suit-wearing guy to turn into a booty-shaking maniac with his tie wrapped around is forehead is one other buffoon to show him how it's done. Yeah, I'm that buffoon, and I can proudly say that I do my job well. Though I can't claim to have single-handedly turned the social trend towards development of a generation of insatiable party animals, I think I can take pride in having contributed to a worthy cause. For this, I'm thankful for the imperfect medium of hip hop, which, for all its sexist and hyper-capitalist imperfections, has still had a palpably positive influence on China. It's helped liberate people's sexuality (yes, grinding with complete strangers can be really fun!), and the world-conquering rhetoricinherent in its million variations on the theme of ghetto-pimp turned industry-ruling kingreally resonates with a generation of Chinese, arguably the first generation, seeking to really assert themselves as individuals. Obviously China is changing rapidly, but I think that if that change includes the open-mindedness, self-confidence, warmth, and overall good humor that I've been privy too, then I think that, culturally speaking, China's heading to good places.

The First Time the Chinese Flag Has Lowered for Ordinary People

Mon, 19 May 2008 22:58:00 EST

Following the Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake, it has been very interesting to watch how the Chinese government and people have reacted, and how many western observers have reacted. For the first time in Chinese history, the Chinese government has ordered that Chinese flags have to be lowered to half-staff, for three days from May 19-21. What is most significant, is that this is the first time that the flag has been lowered for ordinary civilians in Chinese history, ever. China has always had a larger population than other countries, and the country has had very bloody periods in its history. Some 20M Chinese were killed in the 19th century during a civil war, the Taiping Rebellion, and possibly another 20M were killed in WWII, when Japan invaded China. Millions also died because of bad political policy decisions in the 1950s and 1960s, which reached their culmination in the Cultural Revolution. Unlike in Washington DC, where you can find war monuments to Americans killed in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, there are no war memorials to Chinese soldiers or civilians killed in these wars, or to any who died as a result of bad government policy decisions. For the most part, they have just become unknown individuals who died and are now forgotten. This is why the decision to lower the Chinese flag for ordinary civilians is so different and marks a break with the past. For the first time in its history, the Chinese government is saying that it is OK to mourn for ordinary civilians. This did not happen during the Tangshan earthquake, which killed some 450,000 civilians in 1976, or in 1989, or even so much during the SARS crisis of 2003. For the first time, a Chinese government has embraced the idea that any human life, even that of ordinary human lives, has value. Actually, this is a very western concept, and is a very important step on the road to democracy. Is this not a valuable change in Chinas reforms and opening up? This will make it that much more difficult for any Chinese government to dismiss the value of any Chinese lives which are lost in the future, whether they are due to natural disaster, or war, or for political reasons. The Chinese government and party have activated their media, and issued an edict that entertainment websites should shut down over the next three days, entertainment programming should be curtailed, along with three minutes of mourning each day. This move immediately attracted strong criticism from many members of the Twitterati in the US who, to put it frankly, have embarrassingly little understanding of China, and continue to see China in over-simplified black and white stereotypes, as you can see in this feed from Robert Scobles Friendfeed account. When I think that the people who have Friendfeed accounts represent smart, well-educated, tech-savvy people, and they say these things, I just get depressed. The stereotypes and distrust of China just run so deep. I get a very different view simply because I read Chinese, and I know what many Chinese say and think on the Internet, where people have much more latitude to express themselves than on TV and the print media. Sure, the government has an agenda and is spinning and exploiting this to make themselves look good. And in some ways, they are doing it in a clumsy way. But the government is now accountable to protect the lives of ordinary Chinese. After 9/11, the US government claimed all kinds of special powers, including surveillance wiretaps, the need to kidnap and torture terror suspects, and the need to invade Iraq because the government of Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and the government needed to keep these weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists. If there is one thing we can learn from all tragedies, it is that all governments have agendas, and they will exploit every opportunity to push their agendas in the event of a tragedy. But it does not mean that the original intent should be completely dismissed out of hand as the actions of a dictatorial regime. Maybe I'm asking too much, but can some people, Americans especially, try to look at China through the eyes of the Chinese, and not always try to scare and frighten other Americans into asking what the rise of China means to the US and the west? Is it too much to think or ask that maybe, just maybe, Chinese don't spend everyday plotting how to steal their jobs and turn America into a third-world economy? And that maybe, they are just ordinary people who are trying to get along in life, and raise their child and get him/her in a good school, and buy a house? And that the government is far from perfect, but it has allowed ordinary Chinese to have a much better standard of living than before, and is now, for the first time, beginning to care for and mourn the loss of ordinary civilian lives? Theres a very simple rule: If you reach out and treat people like friends, they tend to act like friends, and if you treat them suspiciously, they become enemies. In the beginning, it's hard to reach out and trust people you don't know well as friends because they seem so foreign and different, but it always works out better in the end.

How to Donate from Abroad to the Earthquake Relief in Sichuan, China

Mon, 19 May 2008 22:57:00 EST

Today China began three days of mourning for the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan province. All over the country, flags are flying at half-mast and a nationwide silence was observed to mark the time last week when the earthquake hit. State media says that more than 71,000 people are dead, buried or missing and more than 220,000 people were injured. The Chinese government estimates that at least 436,000 homes have been destroyed, and there are reports that almost five million people are homeless. We have looked all over the web to find the best options for making donations from abroad. How Can You Help from Abroad? There is widespread consensus that donating to the Red Cross is the most reliable way to provide immediate disaster relief. You may also want to donate via Google.com. Feel free to add to the list below. IfGoGo.com has compiled an excellent comprehensive list of how to donate, especially for people from overseas. The information is listed below. Note: This table is only applicable for using foreign currency/people living out of China. If you are currently living in China or you can speak Chinese, please use Google or other search engines to locate your local red cross agencies. Junyu from Google also wrote a post on that (in Chinese). You can either donate some money or contribute in other forms. Quick tips: If you want to donate via credit card: Go to method 3, 5, 6, 7 If you want to donate via check, go to method 1, 10 If you can do wire transfer quickly, go to method 2, 3, 4 If you want to donate to some NGO that you can trust, go to method 8, 9, 10 If you want to donate via paypal, go to method 8, 9, 10 If you can read Chinese or if you are in HK, go to method 5, 6 If you are in United States and near New York, you can use Method 1. If youve heard of some NGO/Forums like bullog or mitbbs, go to their corresponding web pages. Method 8 and 9 provides the quick link. Method 1 Chinese Consulate General in New York Write a Check to Chinese Consulate General in New York. Pay to the order of: Chinese Consulate General in New York For Earthquake Relief Donation Mail to Liu Lei,520 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036″ Please leave your name, addr and zip code/tel so that we can connect you with receipts Phone number: 212-244-9392 ext. 1000. Website(In Chinese): http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/chn/ttxw/t434163.htm Method 2. Chinese Red Cross Wiring transfer to Bank Info: CHINA CITI BANK H.O.IN BEIJING, SWIFT:CIBKCNBJ Account Number: 7112-1114-8260-0000-209 Website http://redcross.org.cn (In Chinese) Tel 011-86-10-65139999, 64027620 Method 3. Chinese Red Cross FOUNDATION Bank Info: BANK OF CHINA, BEIJING BR., SWIFT:BKCHCNBJ110 Account Number: 8001-0008-6608-0910-14 Website: www.crcf.org.cn You can also use IE browser to access http://www.crcf.org.cn/gb/jianjie/jkindex.asp via your credit card. You can get the information about your donation at http://www.crcf.org.cn/gb/jianjie/jkindex.asp Method 4 China Charity Bank Info: BANK OF CHINA,H.O.IN BEIJING, SWIFT:BKCHCNBJ Account Number 0010-0914-9080-9101-4 Website: http://www.chinacharity.cn/wzdefaultservlet (Chinese) Method 5 Red Cross In HK http://www.redcross.org.hk American Red Cross http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main Chengdu Red Cross http://www.chengduredcross.org/ (chinese) Canadian Red Cross https://www.paypaq.com/redcross/new/index.php British Red Cross http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=81131 Method 6 Oxfam HK Online donation website https://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/donate/donate?donate_id=45 Other Organizations: Method 7 MercyCorps China Earthquake Relief (partnered with Western Union and the China Foundation for Poverty Allieviation) Donate on line via credit card. Website: http://www.mercycorps.org/chinaearthquake/?source=1062 Method 8 Bullog, a famous right-wing web forum in China, founded by Yonghao Luo. Donate via paypal. Website: http://www.bullog.cn/blogs/liuyanban/archives/136782.aspx (In Chinese) Method 9 MitBBS via paypal Website: http://www.mitbbs.com/article_t/sysop/31168784.html Pay to: contactmitbbs@gmail.com ATTN: Chinese earthquake relief. For paypal. You dont need a bank account to operate, just use paypal (If you know what it is). Note that MITBBS/Bullog are both popular and high-ranked BBSs among Chinese community, they are doing everything they can do to help the victims in the earthquake, but keep in mind that they are not a non-profit/tax free agency. [If you want a tax-exempt receipt. this might not be a good choice] Method 10 SVNT, a non-profit organization registered in California with IRS 501 (c) (3) status. We will publish all transactions of donations online. All donations will be 100% transferred to China Red Cross. (Unverified by me, but many Chinese have donated through this) Via Bank Transfer: Bank name: Washington Mutual Payee title: SVTN (special fund for earthquake relief) Routing #: 322271627 Acct #: 3170415745 Address: 690 RIVER OAKS PKWY SAN JOSE, CA 95134-1905 Or by check: Pay to: SVTN For: China Earthquake Relief Mail to: P. O. Box 1295 Fremont, CA 94538-0129 USA Or Paypal: tsinghua_foundation@yahoo.com Pay to China Earthquake Relief. As I only collect the information from web according to the best of my knowledge, please verify any information you get from the web twice before donation, especially the destination bank account number and swift code.

The sound of a billion mourners: Three minutes of silence for Sichuan

Mon, 19 May 2008 22:55:00 EST

The blast horn began to wail at 2:48 p.m., setting off car alarms, joined by a chorus of sirens and blaring horns rising from a city of 18 million. Everyone in the office stood, bowed their heads and was silent, a striking counterpoint to the cacophony outside.... I spend a lot of time working in a Shanghai office. It's a pleasant enough place, and very much the picture of the New China that gets so much press in the West these days: young employees who are very industrious, friendly and efficient, yet at least to my Western eyes often seem a little disconnected from the outside world and the people in it. Of course, my beginner-level Mandarin and resulting limited ability to communicate has more than a little to with this, and it's hard for someone like me to judge I've only been in China for a year and a half but still, it often has seemed to me that my colleagues, like so many young Chinese I meet, are primarily interested in material gain and self-advancement. In many ways, they start to feel an awful lot like so many young Americans back home, though here the aspirations and ambitions are sharper and, of course, so many cultural dynamics are different especially those having to do with group vs. individual behavior (it's hard to imagine a bunch of American hair stylists or waiters, say, lining up in military-style ranks outside the salon or restaurant and chanting slogans as I often see around Shanghai). And I have to admit that daily experiences like seeing people push and shove like crazy for a seat on the subway or pass the victim of a bicycle accident by without stopping to see if the person was okay added to my slow acceptance of the oft-repeated Western stereotype that says Chinese people are self-interested and pushy about it. I know I'm not the only foriegn visitor to China to have had such thoughts. But today, I had an experience that changed my perceptions. I stood for three minutes of silence with the hundreds of people on the floor of the office building I work in, and the thousands on other floors, and the tens of thousands in nearby buildings, and the millions in Shanghai... and the hundreds of millions across China, all of them memorializing those lost to the Sichuan earthquakes. It was somehow very Chinese, with the uncanny combination of noise and silence, of individual reflection and a mass scale, but it was, far more importantly, deeply touching in a universal sense that easily transcended topical cultural differences. All the trite observations and pat little judgments that come so easily to expats about China dissolved in the sound of the horns blaring and, more so, in the silence of millions upon millions of individual fellow human beings mourning the loss of so many others, somehow made palpable in the racket outside. I was deeply touched. Not to be trite with the metaphor, but it caused something of a seismic shift in my impressions of China and its people, and it changed my rather superficial impression of this generation of Chinese youth's apparent superficiality. The change was all the more remarkable to me because I previously considered the idea of something like a government-mandated period of silence as being rather absurd as if a bureaucracy had feelings! And of course, it's easy to mourn en masse for a few moments, right? How could that be an authentic expression of grief? But it wasn't just those few moments it was the culmination of a week of care and concern I've seen everywhere I've gone in Shanghai. And it wasn't just a government-mandated show that everyone had to participate in it was an authentic moment of deep emotional resonance, and it caught me by surprise. People who make very little money by US standards have given freely to relief efforts; the media coverage open and uncensored to a perhaps unprecedented degree has brought a whole nation into the unfolding of the tragedy as well as heroic rescue efforts on the part of regular citizens and trained rescue personnel alike. And even though Sichuan is a long way off, I can't help feeling like people in Shanghai have been a little more aware, more considerate, more patient in the past week. I lived in New York back when 9/11 happened and, though that was certainly a very different kind of tragedy, it had a similar effect, as many people have noted. For a while, the shock of the disaster jolted everyone into recognizing what connects us all rather than focusing on what separates us. As the Olympics approach, I suddenly feel less cynical than I did about the entire affair, especially after all the contention and controversy surrounding the uprisings in Tibet and Tibetan areas of Sichuan (areas that were hit pretty hard by the earthquake), Qinghai and Gansu. After seeing how a disaster can bring out the best in people, I'm feeling more hopeful that an international celebration of the best qualities of the human spirit can also bring people together. We shouldn't have to wait for a tragedy to see past our own biases and stereotypes to recognize that, behind all the cultural differences, we're all fundamentally the same.

Deadline for Olympics Tickets Extended after Sichuan Quake

Mon, 19 May 2008 22:53:00 EST

Because of the national emergency brought about by the earthquakes in Sichuan, the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee has announced people who have booked phase-3 tickets on line may pay by May 23. They also announced that purchasers will be able to pay online as well as book online from May 14 until June 9. Previously, purchasers within China had to pay for their tickets at Bank of China outlets, even if they had paid online. Those who prefer to go to the bank can still do so, and the bank will give them their printed tickets at that time. From what I have read all tickets for purchase within China have sold out. As f foreigner, if you wanted to purchase tickets you had to have an address in China and a visa valid for over 6 months. Foreigners wishing to purchase tickets need to go through the Olympic committee of their home country, or use an agency. I suggest to just do a search for "Beijing Olympics tickets", and you will get dozens of websites with up-to-date availability reports. You will likely pay more than you should if you go through an agency (the mark up will be about 8 to 10 times what the original purchase price was). You need photo ID only for are the opening & closing ceremonies. You can still buy tour packages that include tickets to the games. If you want individual tickets, you'll have to go through ticket brokers or perhaps on one of the expat websites. The tickets for all events other than the Opening and Closing Ceremonies don't have names on them and are freely transferable.

Shanghai Turntablism Reborn with Cut Chemist at the Shelter

Fri, 16 May 2008 04:06:00 EST

The Shelter's dark, grimy space was suffused with an aura of revelation last night, as tripped out Atari-bleeps floated disembodied over undulating extra-terrestrial soundscapes only to swell into ingenious mixes of funk, banjo twangs and breaks. The bliss was palpable in the crowd, whose incessant and fervent press towards the DJ booth left just barely enough personal space to breathe (the arduous journey from the sofa bunker at the back to the front door took a full 35 minutes). The genius of the music was manifested in the crowd. Mesmerized by synapse-sizzling sequences and waves of satin groove, the crowd were affected by a quality too rarely on display in the Shanghai scene--that ephemeral capacity to evoke the spiritual in the dancing crowd. No, I didn't see L. Ron Hubbard's ghost, I'm just talking about a deep acknowledgment of incredible beauty, embracing an amazing new creation. The effect releases all tension. I'm talking about the tension in the dancing audience here, as there is always that self-conscious tension when dancing, a tension born of dances two aspects, dance as performance, to be viewed by others, and dance as a personal exploration of movement. Not that the man re-invented the turntabling wheel last night, but Cut Chemist finally gave Shanghai's residents a real taste of what DJing can really be. Myself, I realized I'd forgotten entirely what really great DJing is, having been subject to a Shanghai talent pool that seldom rises above mediocrity. Even the DJs brought from overseas are often constrained to play to their full potential, by club owners who use their names for marketing purposes, but insist on having them play the same, boring, used-up tracks of old. Guided by an inscrutable, paternal paranoia, they're looking for the guarantee that, at minimum, the magic of familiarity ensures that club patrons have something to identify with. I dont know why anyone would so infantilize their clientele and choose to actively shelter them from new, original sounds, but that's too often the way it is out here. Case in point is DJ Revolution's appearance at Attica two weekends ago. He gave us barely a glimpse of what his 12 million listeners get to hear on a daily basis. All that could be surmised by the end of his set was that he was technically competent (though the short-out of the sound system leaves some question as to the technical competence of Attica's staff) and knew the last decade's worth of top ten club tracks by heart. A disappointment for those aware of his virtuosic scratch and mixing skills and keen ability to detect compatibility in tracks youd never think would go together. Thank God the Lab crew doesn't apply the same strictures. Yet another feather in the Lab crew's hat, Cut Chemist's appearance in Shanghai was a revelation, and judging by the attendance last night, a sign of good things to come. For photos, go to ChinaTravel.net.

Sichuan Regional Overview

Wed, 14 May 2008 23:27:00 EST

We hope you'll include the beautiful province of Sichuan on your next itinerary and meet its warm and resilient people. Sichuan has always been a great place to travel, whether on a trip to see the magnificent peaks and lakes of Jiuzhaigou, sample the region's legendary cuisine and teahouse culture in Chongqing, begin a Yangzi River cruise or get off the beaten path in the mountainous west. The list goes on and on. In the meantime, feel free to share any Sichuan travel tips, comments, photos or stories you have with our growing ChinaTravel.net community. And let us know what you'd like to see more of. We're still developing this site and want to hear from you about what you'd like to see here. In the aftermath of the disastrous Sichuan earthquake, you can help. Check back in with us regularly for updates on what you can do and for news that might affect your travel plans. And please consider donating to the Red Cross Society of China to help the people of Sichuan recover and rebuild.

Photos from the Sichuan Earthquake

Wed, 14 May 2008 22:35:00 EST

A collection of the latest photos from China's devastating earthquake.

China Earthquake Latest News

Wed, 14 May 2008 02:28:00 EST

Note to China travelers: The following cities / counties were worst affected by the earthquake: Dujiangyan,Wenchuan County, Beichuan County/city, Mianzhu, Shifang, Chongqing Municipality (near Sichuan) Chengdu. So if you have plans to travel in these areas for holiday, you might want to reconsider. The 15 missing British tourists were found. So far, there have been no listed deaths of foreign tourists in China, although many tourists and travelers are stranded. The latest news on the earthquake: Xinhua reports the death toll from the earthquake at more than 12,100, with more than 26,000 injured, 7,800 missing and more than 9,400 trapped beneath debris. Hundreds of soldiers and disaster workers descended on Wenchuan, many of them digging by hand. Soldiers said only 3,000 of the town's 12,000 residents survived the quake. China accepted a $500,000 U.S. contribution for relief efforts that will be given to the International Red Cross, CNN reports, but China has not requested aid from the United States. Zhen Yao Wang, a spokesman for China's civil administration department, said China is thankful for international assistance, "and we will make efforts to ensure that these materials and money will reach the disaster hit area as early as possible." Almost 20,000 soldiers and armed police had arrived in the quake-hit areas of southwestern Sichuan Province. Another 30,000 soldiers were en route to the area by air, rail and road, and on foot, reports Xinhua. The navy also summoned 2,500 soldiers from the Marine Corps and they will go to quake-hit areas at any time. The air force's 18 helicopters have served 28 tasks to drop 12.5 tons of foods and other relief material to Mianyang, Mianzhu and Pengxian on Tuesday, the military source said. Chinese authorities were coping as well as could be expected with the disaster, CNN reports, having mobilised the army and emergency workers within hours of appreciating the severity of the earthquake. More than 50,000 troops joined disaster relief efforts or were advancing to the area. Thousands were ordered to parachute into Wenchuan province where rain and clouds had prevented military helicopters from landing. Make Donations The American Red Cross started China Earthquake Fund. Right now they only accept checks and donation by phone 1-800-435-7669. You can also donate at the website of Hong Kong Red Cross. They accept Visa and Master cards. Lots of people are making donation, so the site gets a little bit slow. China Crossroads lists the bank information for China Red Cross for those of you looking to make cash donations.

Red Cross Disaster Relief for Sichuan Earthquake

Tue, 13 May 2008 03:35:00 EST

The Red Cross Society of China has created a disaster relief group to help out in Sichuan, where yesterday's earthquake hit the hardest. Thousands are injured and the death toll is rising. If you would like to contribute to the relief fund, the bank account details for direct deposit are listed below. You can also donate online. Account name: Red Cross Society of China Donate in RMB: The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China branch below: Donate in Foreign Currency: The CITIC Bank branch below: China's Red Cross Emergency Relief Hotline: (8610) 65139999

Sichuan Earthquake Felt in As Far Away As Shanghai

Mon, 12 May 2008 04:24:00 EST

Under an hour ago, I got a text from a friend in Shanghai, "Did we just get an earth quake? Either that or I am getting the flu -- my entire apartment was spinning! Know anything?" I figured she just had the flu. Until my email was bombarded with earthquake messages.

Reuters reports:

An earthquake measuring 7.5 rocked China's Sichuan province less. The tremor, centered 92 km northwest of Chengdu, was felt as far away as Beijing and Shanghai and the Thai capital Bangkok, where office buildings swayed with the impact. We felt continuous shaking for about two or three minutes. All the people in our office are rushing downstairs. We're still feeling slight tremblings," said an office worker in Chengdu. In Beijing's financial district, many workers poured from their buildings but there were no visible signs of damage. The subway system was unaffected. High buildings shook in the Thai capital Bangkok and tremors were also felt in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and high buildings in Bangkok were continuing to sway seven minutes after the first movements were felt. If you were near the earthquake or felt the tremors, let us know. There is still not much information available on the aftermath of the quake.

Photos of the Day: The Olympic Torch in Guangzhou

Thu, 08 May 2008 03:48:00 EST

Yes, the Olympic torch made it to Mainland China after many adventures—and misadventures—in the rest of the world. We're not sure how it's going to make it to Beijing if the torchbearers have to pass through crowds like these everywhere they go, but we're sure it'll find its way to the capital by 8/8/08. (Click here to see the entire series).

New on ChinaTravel.net: Regional Overviews of Tibet, Yunnan and Xinjiang!

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:11:00 EST

Nimen hao, loyal ChinaTravel.net Forum readers (we know you're out there)!

We're introducing a new feature to our China Guide that we think you'll like: regional overviews. We're starting with three of China's best-loved western travel destinations, Yunnan, Xinjiang and Tibet, and in the weeks and months to come, we'll be adding overviews for other provinces and regions around China.

If you're reading this, you're no doubt already familiar with our local destination overviews, from giant metropolises like Beijng and Shanghai to remote getaways like Jiuzhaigou and Kansas Lake. Now, with our regional overviews, we aim not only give you tips for your trips to China's cities and individual sites, but provide big-picture views of its wide-open western spaces and teeming eastern provinces.

more...

Photos of the Day: Superman Rides the Shanghai Metro

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:04:00 EST

One of a set...

New China Visa Rules Affecting Expats: Please Read

Tue, 06 May 2008 01:30:00 EST

As the saying goes "ask a question to 100 different people in China and get 100 different answers, or ask a question to 100 people and get the same answer, which is still wrong". This is true of the new visa rules in China. So we have done our homework and sifted through the latest and best China visa news out there so you don't have to. Here is the latest. Read carefully.

1. No More Multiple-Entry China Visas Issued

Multiple entry visas have been suspended until October. But multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid. Now only 30-day single or double-entry visas are being issued and now some foreigners who live in China are having to go back to their home country to get visas.

2. The Countries on the China Visa Banned List

Having (Good Green) Fun on Your Hong Kong Visa Run

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:47:00 EST

It's the classic expat nightmare scenario, on par in its ability to induce nocturnal terror with the sudden realization that you're not wearing any pants as you make that big presentation: You confidently pull out your passport and hand it to the nice uniformed official, only to be reprimanded in a scathing stream of Putonghua. Your visa has expired! A crowd of curious onlookers gathers and begins to chatter, pointing and laughing....

Actor John Cusack in Shanghai

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:30:00 EST

Shanghai doesn't get a lot of celebrities kicking around, but if they're here, the gossip spreads by word-of-mouth and chances are, you might run into them at one of the more up-market nightspots in town. Months back, Paris Hilton was spotted bored out of her skull, writing text messages at Attica. Richard Branson was spotted dancing a while back at Attica -- which is frankly impressive for a guy of his age. Friend of mine ended up partying with Kylie Minogue after her H&M show last year.

Insider's look at Kashgar

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:15:00 EST

The wail of prayers from the Id Kah Mosque made it hard for me to believe that I was still in the Middle Kingdom. But there I was, walking the narrow streets of Kashgar's Old Town past men in kufi skullcaps, veiled women and bazaars selling rugs, spices and silk, all of which gave Kashgar an aura I'd always associated more with the Middle East than the Far East. Indeed, Kashgar feels as exotic to a Chinese tourist from Chengde or Chengdu as it does to an American or an Australian.

Feature - Dali vs. Lijiang: Which Yunnan Are You?

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:23:00 EST

Ask anyone who's been to Yunnanparticularly the mountainous western part of the provinceto tell you about their trip and you'll probably get one of two responses: "Lijiang was tourist hell, but I could stay in Dali forever" or "Dali is a total trap; skip it and head straight to Lijiang for the real China." Am I Dali or Lijiang? And why are these cities so polarizing?

Miss Hong Kong Goes Head to Head Against Miss Shanghai

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:37:00 EST

After a 3 day visit to Hong Kong, my grandiose opinions are hardly that of a specialist. But even a brief visit allows for strong impressions that are best explored in a comparative way with Shanghai, my present home. No matter where you live, there is competition between cities: which is a better place to live. To decide you must prioritize which city has hotter bodies, better parties, cuter pets, better jeans, meaner women, sweeter digs, cheaper champagne, more taxis, and ultimately, how much access the average person has to all of these necessities. This is an incredibly simplistic approach, but makes for popular dinner conversations.

It's really not that big of a deal.

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:07:00 EST

Traveling around or living in China can be a real eye-opener. Many people walk away with several memory cards filled with photos, an extra suitcase filled with souvenirs and a renewed appreciation for just how good they have in developed countries. Others run screaming. If you prefer the former to the latter, read on. Read more...