guangzhou Posts

May092011

Posted By
Ryan

Guangzhou laowai rolls out some high-level traffic justice

Should we get involved? A question that has plagued foreigners living in China since time immemorial. Do we step in when we see some gross injustice, or simply let it pass as “not our fight?”

It’s a tough question, and one not easily answered — unless you’re a rollerblading laowai in southern China’s Guangzhou. Being called “Rollerman”, the foreigner has been caught on traffic cameras around the city animatedly pointing out traffic violations to cars sporting government plates who no doubt thought they were above such petty laws.

Dec062010

1Comment

Posted By
Glen

Six and a Half Events at the Guangzhou Asian Games – Part II

After the blast that was sepatakraw and field hockey, I knew that I needed more. The games were only around for two weeks, and when else would I get the chance? I mean, I don’t exactly have plans to move to London for 2012, or Rio for 2016. So I set out for more tickets, unavailability be damned!

November 20 – Football (aka Soccer)

After trips all over the metropolis, I decided to settle close to home. I knew that there was a football match at the Tianhe Sports Centre, a short walk away from my house. I had heard that most soccer tickets were pretty easy to get, unless China was playing of course. Just to prepare myself for the game, and to decide on a team to cheer for, I checked out who was playing.

It was the Women’s Semi-final. Korea vs. Korea.

Nov272010

7Comments

Posted By
Glen

Six and a Half Events at the Guangzhou Asian Games – Part I

Asian Games: Coming to a Super Nova Near You!

The 16th Asiad is winding down here in Guangzhou. I’ll be honest, first I was excited about the event, then angry at all the construction, then angrier that I couldn’t get tickets, then excited again, then confused, then hungry, and finally back to excited. Now I find myself sad that they will be ending soon, and plotting my trip to Korea for the 2014 version of the event! I was lucky enough to take in six and a half events over the past two weeks.

For all the issues they had planning, and running this event. I can say from my own experiences as a spectator, it was fantastic, and the city and country should be pretty darned proud.

What experiences you ask? Well just read on to find out!

Oct302010

1Comment

Posted By
Glen

Fact or Fiction XI: Let the Games Begin!!!

Welcome back one and all to the October edition of Fact or Fiction. Those of you who read any or all of the last ten will know, every edition I will have a guest and we will discuss a few of the big issues in China of the day. Every answer will have a “Fact” or a “Fiction” and some justification to go along with it.

My guest today, Sara is a fellow inhabitant of the great city of the Five Ram City. Sara Jaaksola always had a dream about visiting China. But only February 2010 she found the way to make it true and is now enjoyning her life in Guangzhou. In her blog Living A Dream In China, www.sarajaaksola.com, she writes about her life, experiences and studies in this amazing country.

In less than 2 weeks Guangzhou plays host to the Asian Games. Given we both have front row seats to the construction and hype, it seems like a pretty logical talking point. So, join us today for Fact or Fiction XI: Let the Games Begin!!!

Sep292010

15Comments

Posted By
Glen

Fact or Fiction X: Moving On Up

Welcome back one and all to the September edition of Fact or Fiction. Those of you who read any or all of the last seven will know, every edition I will have a guest and we will discuss a few of the big issues in China of the day. Every answer will have a “Fact” or a “Fiction” and some justification to go along with it.

My guest today is someone you may recognize from Chengdu Living, or China Travel, Sascha Matuszak. He is a West-side Laowai who spent most of his 10 years in China living in Sichuan. He is currently living and working in Shanghai with his wife and son. You can check out more of his stuff at www.saschamatuszak.com.

Sascha and I have something in common (other than being devilishly handsome), we both have recently moved from from smaller, 2nd Tier cities to larger 1st Tier ones (that being Chengdu to Shanghai for him, and Suzhou to Guangzhou for me, for those of you keeping score at home). So today we are going to talk about the perils and pitfalls of moving within China, and life in a Chinese metropolis compared to a “small town” of a few million people. Join us today for Fact or Fiction X: Moving On Up!

Sep232010

7Comments

Posted By
Glen

7 More Slightly Off the Beaten Path Locations in China

Want to travel this October, but can’t afford to go to Thailand? Don’t want to visit Guilin or Hong Kong again? Well then this post is for you!

A little over a year ago I wrote a post detailing Pingyao, Xiahe, Tongren, Macau, Louyang, Emei Shan, Chongqing, Kashgar, Turpan, and Xishuangbanna as ten places to go to escape the Laowai tourist trail. Today, I’m going to add seven more locations to that list.

Mar102010

26Comments

Posted By
Steven

10 fantastic iPhone apps for your China life

If you’ve gotten your paws on an iPhone or an iPod Touch, you’ve likely added lots of useful apps to it. You might, however, have overlooked the fact that there are lots of apps – many by Chinese developers – that you can use daily to help find your way around, speak the language, or get information.

I’ve chosen 10 China-relevant apps, most of which are free

Jun182008

7Comments

Posted By
Ryan

Bikini-clad Chinese girls show off their … Olympic spirit

Finally some Chinese Olympic fever I can appreciate: h/t to Jenny Zhu – and you thought she just did ChinesePod – that’s just her part-time gig. Her real career centres around hunting down videos of hot Chinese girls in swimsuits. It’s a tough job, but someone needs to do it. Really.