China Tools & Tips

China Blog Network - Static Code

For members of the China Blog Network that aren't able to use the default CBN control panel code because they can't add Javascript to their sites (ie. blogs hosted on Wordpress.com), or for anyone that wants to create a more customized layout of their China Blog Network panel, here's how to do it.

First, chose the colour of buttons you prefer, and insert your China Blog Network ID - which is available if you log into the China Blog Network and edit your site. Each site has it's own unique ID, which is located at the top of the site edit page.

Once selected and inserted, simply click Generate Code and the code will appear in the box below. Copy and paste that code to the location on your blog where you want the CBN control panel to appear, in your sidebar for example. If you have any questions or problems, please contact us.

Customization

The code is completely customizable, you simply need to keep the links intact, as it is the links' urls that are used to determine your location in the network. If you prefer to use your own icons/buttons, simply create your own in your favourite graphic editor, upload them to your site and replace the <img... tag with the location to your new graphic.

Access Blogger and Wordpress Blogs in China

Many of the largest free blogging services are blocked in China by the GFW. As we here at Lost Laowai believe strongly in freedom of speech and freedom of expression - below find instructions on how to set your computer up to access blogs that are hosted at two of the largest free blog hosts - Blogger/Blogspot and Wordpress.com.

A common way to access such blogs is to go through a Web-based proxy service, or use a collection of proxy/anonymizer programs such as Tor. Though these are well and good, the following method will allow you a much quicker access time - as rather than bouncing around the globe through a proxy service, this simply slips a non-blocked IP in place of the blocked one. That's cool, trust us.

How to get a QQ account in English

QQ, for those that don't know, is China's most popular IM software. Usage is so widespread that among the younger generation you're near as likely to get someone's QQ # as you are their mobile number.

For expats in China and wishing to make friends with local Chinese, having a QQ account is a must. Though Western-based IMs are also popular, with Windows Live Messenger quickly grabbing ground from Tencents QQ, using the Chinese-made product will win you lots of points with your new found friends.

Though Tencent has had an English version of the QQ software since 2005, until recently English-speaking QQ-wannabes had to bribe their Chinese friends to do the registration process for them, asking them to signup and get them a coveted QQ # that can be plugged into the software and connect you to the Chinese IM world.

Lost Laowai in 9 Languages

Lost Laowai can now instantly be translated into any of nine different languages, courtesy of Google's translation service.

It's robomatic, and so isn't fantastic, but for any Laowai out there having trouble with navigating the site, it may prove useful. Currently you can translate any page on the site into: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and, of course, Chinese.

Stop the flickr Block

Sometime near the start of June 2007 the servers that host flickr's images was blocked in the People's Republic of China. Access to the main flickr site is fine, but the photos don't display.

Enter Firefox and the Access Flickr plugin.