Catching a breath in Gansu

I’m currently in the middle of a bike trip from Beijing to Hainan. This isn’t my first ridiculously long bike trip, I did something similar in 2008 when I went from Hainan to Beijing. But, unlike 2008 it’s a lot more ambitious. Not only did I start from a much lower level of physical conditioning, …Read More

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Crackdown on illegal foreigners in China coming, reports say

We know you are here legally. No no, please put your passport away. We don’t need to see it. But for that friend of a friend that’s working on an F or an L visa, you may want to pay attention to the following: Articles across the English-language state media are reporting that the government …Read More

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New Chinese superstitions: horoscopes and blood groups

One thing you find out pretty soon if you come into contact with Chinese society is that although most Chinese may not follow any organized religion, that does not mean they are immune from holding superstitious beliefs of all kinds. Superstitions relating to traditional Chinese medicine or to feng shui are of course widespread, although …Read More

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Laowai Warning: Casing the joint

As a group, foreigners in China tend to be hit with their decent share of scams. While certainly not alone in their potential victimization, rare does a week go by my (Chinese-registered) phone doesn’t ring with some identity theft scam, China’s criminal element definitely have an eye out for the comparatively affluent and possibly unknowing …Read More

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Top 10 Chinese cities, according to China expats

The results of China Daily’s 2011 Amazing China voting have been released, and the top 10 “most attractive cities for foreigners” have been announced.

The cities that made the top 10 list are: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Chongqing, Xiamen and Hangzhou.Read More

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City of the North – a love song to Beijing

Described as “a love letter to Beijing – and all its struggles, challenges, and unexpected beauty,” the following song was written and performed by Jason Chu, an American hip-hop artist that has been living in Beijing for the last several years.

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8-bit China – thanks Google!

I look forward to loading up Google every April 1st, but this one takes the cake. Straight from Google’s newly released Google Maps 8-bit for the NES, China:

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I’m Walkin’ Here: Consulate warns Americans to watch their step on Shanghai streets

The March edition of the Shanghai Consulate News for Americans kindly reminds its citizens not to hit cars that come to close to you, as it may lead to a “physical confrontation.” The American Citizen Services Unit has received several reports of American citizens being injured following physical altercations with drivers of automobiles within our …Read More

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