Recent News Postings from China

It's always interesting hearing and reading the latest from China. A few newscast, were of particular attention:

Video Shows Young Girl Driving Down a Busy Street
- And this really means "Young"!
- But be sure to read all,
- watch the video,
- and best of all, be sure to get the commentary at the end
- And yes, I do agree too! She does drive better than most!

China Launches Spaceship to "America The Beautiful"
- You just can't find better "patriotic" music!

Obama Fried Chicken
- Shanghaisst blog (as usual) covered it first
- Gotta love the slogan: "We're so niubi (cool), aren't we?"

Labels: China News, Obama

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:21 AM Comments: 0

Dressing as a Panda??

Did ya see the news yesterday from the panda center in Chengdu? Handlers dress up as big pandas to care for baby pandas!

Check a web report here.

Or see the newscast from the NBC Nightly News here.

It's all a part of the effort to reintroduce pandas into the wild. The center has been very successful in raising more pandas. But now with the renewed effort to introduce pandas to the wild, the theory is that humans cannot be involved with the pandas' care. Of course, the handlers have their hands poking out of the suits. Oh well. It's a worthy effort.

Labels: China News, Pandas

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 10:45 PM Comments: 1

Another Major Traffic Jam in Beijing

News is out of Beijing that the 110 Highway has backed up again. This time it's been a massive traffic jam for NINE DAYS!!! And is expected to last A MONTH!!!

See: Traffic Jam along National Expressway 110 hits 9th day; Expected to Last a Month!

Don't want to be in that traffic jam!

Labels: Beijing, China News, traffic

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 9:59 PM Comments: 0

Nihao Neighbors - What a Great New Service!

My good friends from One for the Road pub in Dongguan, always send me newsletters to keep me connected with goings on back in my former home. Jason, the manager, had a little contest to see who could catch an error in his last monthly edition. Within minutes, he had over 150 entries. I wish I had that much interest in my blog!

They recently started offering a monthly classified newsletter for interested local businesses and individuals to reach the ex-pat community through the OftR mailing list. This month the Classified featured a most interesting new group. They call themselves Nihao Neighbors, for being the Welcome Wagon for expats to Dongguan. Nihao means hello in Mandarin. And this group of ladies states that they:

"have come together to offer guidance and information as you take your first steps toward the adventure of living in Dongguan, China. Yes, you CAN have a great time and meet some terrific friends while on this journey. We've been where you are and we're ready to help you get started."

What a great concept, and should be of great service to newcomers to the area. Wish they had been there when I got to Dongguan.

But what really got my attention at their website is a monthly feature: To Pee Or Not To Pee (toilet report)! Yes, it’s a toilet report! Where: “Each month we will feature a clean western toilet complete with paper and hand washing facilities.”

Remember how I showed on Facebook recently where Asian toilets are “squatty style.” Well, here they are helping new residents – particularly the ladies – know where to find “Western Style” toilets when out and about in Dongguan! Great new service!

Labels: China News, Dongguan

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 3:59 AM Comments: 0

More Traffic Jam News

Since the widely publicized news of the massive traffic jam near Beijing earlier in the week, there have been new conflicting reports. First there were reports an NBC reporter that went to see the 60 day traffic jam did not find one. It reportedly had vanished and only occasional tie-ups or slow-downs at toll booths remained. Authorities evidently stepped in overnight after seeing the news being broadcast around the world.

However, The NY Times reported an officer admitted that the highway being cleared overnight was "impossible". Even if cleared, the congestion would certainly be back soon. The highway is important in bringing much needed coal from Mongolia to power plants in Hebei. That highlights one of the infrastructure issues affecting China, as reported by the Times. The Chinese government can cut through and build rapidly, but still cannot keep up with the demand of the large population intent on catching up with the world.

I could relate to both points. It was common to see the government make decisions rapidly and get things built fast. And it could easily be understood that the government could eliminate the traffic jam by massive overnight effort of police and other resources. But there were always so many people and fast economic growth, that one could even see that the massive efforts could still not keep up.

But I also couldn't understand the traffic jam for another reason. I can tell you my driver, and most I ever saw in the Dongguan area, would never be caught in a long traffic jam. On one occasion my driver did a 180 turn in the middle of a highway and just headed right into oncoming traffic for about a mile to get off an exit ramp we had just passed - all to avoid a tie-up notice he noticed ahead. And in another jam, my driver went the wrong way down an entrance ramp to get away from the jam, as reported in "Wrong Way Home" post in July 2007. Most drivers would just do anything like that to get out of a jam. I don't know how so many were patient for days near Beijing. They probably weren't.

Labels: China News, China roads, traffic

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 2:58 AM Comments: 0

Subways of Shanghai

A friend from China, and former co-worker with Pennsylvania House Furniture, Steve, sent me a most interesting article about the subways of Shanghai. Seems they are experiencing such high volumes, that they have had to hire "shovers" to push passengers on board.

Check the photo and article here:

Shanghai metro hires people to shove commuters into trains

All things are crowded in China, but this must even put all things to an extreme. Glad I don't have that commute!

Labels: China News, Shanghai

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 7:27 AM Comments: 0

Seen in the News in China

News from China continues to be grim and concerning:

• Number of cases of swine flu continues to climb. Over 60 cases of H1N1 recently reported in Macao.

• The "great firewall of China" seems to be strengthening. Reports of blockage are up, and blogs I've often read are "unavailable".

• One blog did have an interesting if not bizarre story of the writers encounter of a knife fight at a Dongguan bus station, where the police did little to instigate things to a riot, but at the same time let the knife-wielding attackers leave without arrest, even though one person was visibly victimized and bleeding.

• A recent fight at a toy factory in Guangdong has been blamed for the rioting in the Xinjiang province, thousands of miles away.

• That riot in Xinjiang grew so violent last Sunday, that 140 have reportedly died from the conflict. The conflict involves Muslims in the western province of China.

Be careful over there my friends!

Labels: China News, Dongguan

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 3:30 AM Comments: 0

In the News from China

Contrary to most opinion, China does seem to try to get ahead of trends, even when related to the environment. Shenzhen is currently considering subsidies for buyers of hybrid vehicles.

Weather conditions have been particularly difficult in Guangdong province lately:

• Two persons were killed and one is missing after record rains in the eastern section of the province.
• In a bizarre report, 10,000 homes were destroyed by mega-hail, while tadpoles were raining from the sky in Japan.
• Photos of Dongguan rains highlighted on this site.
• While officials in the Guangdong government were sweating in their offices on a recent Tuesday, under restrictions to reduce energy for the day, to understand the demands on the public. They must also not use private cars one day a week.

Speaking of cars, traffic was halted on a major highway recently in Jiangxi province by furniture dealers, protesting a proposed tax crackdown.

And a Chinese worker in Dongguan, recently stabbed and killed two of his Taiwanese employers last week.

Be careful over there!

Labels: China News, Dongguan

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 10:08 PM Comments: 0

This Week in China

In gathering news from China this week, I came across some interesting developments (as usual, a click on the underlined italized note will take you to the original article):

• Police arrested someone behind a bomb blast in the Humen section of Dongguan that injured 14 people. The man confessed that he was taking revenge on society!??!

• Home prices around Dongguan have plummeted over 30% since the end of 2007. The drop has followed the US housing woes, and many online chat blogs are encouraging people to not buy homes for six months in hopes that prices will fall further!??!

• A ban on pole dancing in bars and clubs in Dongguan was not enacted, as originally feared. I don't remember such activity and sure didn't know there was a need for concern!!
  

Labels: China News, Dongguan

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 10:04 PM Comments: 0

From Dongguan

It's St. Georges Day, and One for the Road is celebrating:

• St. Georges Night Party at One for the Road

Wish I was there to celebrate! I'll have to look for photos at Here's Dongguan!

Dongguan Tigers have won there opening game in the CBA playoffs:

• Guangdong Takes Opening Win in CBA League Finals

Several former NBA players on the team.

An enterprising noodle restaurant has gained attention with a new promotion:

• Restaurant Issues Noodle Eating Challenge

Such good noodles in China!

And in other China news, new nuclear plants are still popular in China:

• China to Build Five New Nuclear Plants This Year

Got to stay ahead of that need for growth with electricity!

Labels: China, China News, Dongguan

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 8:53 PM Comments: 0