Back to Hongkong

My original plan was to stay in Kunming, however with the whole visa thing getting worse and worse it seems like I have to go back to Hongkong. This is to bad, as I feel that the people in Hongkong actually speak Japanese. I hope I can continue my Mandarin Chinese learning adventures as well as I can here in Kunming.

Then, Hongkong might be an interesting experience that will give me new insights in many ways. Maybe I should start learning Cantonese, which I would do from scratch. Yesterday I stumbled across some Cantonese resources:
Learn Cantonese Podacast
Useful Cantonese words in categories

I can already say Ni Hao in Cantonese: Lei Ho (don’t know if this written correct, as I have not dived into the whole romanization thing).

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The Hump Bar

It’s Friday evening, You are in Kunming and don’t know where to go? Check out the Hump Bar, which is a great starter for the evening. But You might as well stay the whole night. The Hump Bar provides the coldest beer in town without these stupid icecubes (You can have icecubes if You ask, but no need - the beer is already freezing cold).

The Hump Bar
驼峰酒吧
1/F, Jinbi Plaza, Kunming
金碧路金马碧鸡广场
Phone: (0871) 3646229

(If You can’t read the Chinese characters I seriously recommend You to get a tool like Chinese Pera Kun)

When You made it to this place, You are almost there. The Hump Bar is just 1 minute ahead walking. If Your Chinese is bad tell the taxi driver “Wo Yao Qu JimBeam”. He will probably understand it, as this place sounds similar to JimBeam.

Already night, the party is going.

What is The Hump like? Expect cool Expats who have stayed long term in China and are working here. Foreign students are surprisingly rare, a lot of Chinese persons also hang out in the Hump Bar very often. Mostly they can speak good English. The Hump bar is a good start if You want to head to Kundu later, but You might as well stay in the Hump the whole night. The Hump has an open and friendly atmosphere, it’s really easy to make new friends there.

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ShiLin backcountry adventures

If You have strong feet and the main touristic areas of Shilin don’t satisfy You, I recommend You to take a look at the remote backcountry which has it’s own beauty. But take care, You are alone out there. This is part 3 and the final part of my Shilin series.

• Part 1: Shilin stoneforrest
• Part 2: Flowers in Shilin
• Part 3: Shilin backcountry adventures (You are here)

Do You remember the stairs picture I posted in the first part of the Shilin episodes? Yes, these stairs lead You the mysterious backcountry of Shilin. Follow the stairs and around the corner You will already see the first warning sign.

A sign warning You about what is ahead of You. Don’t worry, some passages are really small, but even if You are as tall as me, it’s doable. I did it.

Once You go up the mysterious stairs and follow the path for a while You will find You way to the top of a small peak. Beware, just before the top of the hill, the path divides in two different paths. One goes to the top, one goes further to the backcountry. From there You have a great 360° view over the scenery. You can look back and see the main touristic area, as well as look in the other direction and see what You can explore in case You have strong feet.

A nice view of the area where the grass is greenest.

Once You’re done looking around, go down and this time take the path to the real remoteness. There You can find a lot of unexplored area. There are birds singing in the trees and You hardly encounter any other people there. Some really beautiful stones can be found there, as well as a ancient painting on stones. Actually we didn’t make it until the painting, however if You have to much energy feel free to walk the extra mile.

Oh my, where are we now? If You go on walking at this point, small green witches might come and curse You. Honestly, we had no idea what this sign about the forbidden area of the stone forest was. Obviously it was signed by the Ministry of Land and Resources, PRC. Does this Ministry have to do something with the Chinese moon resources?

A really quiet area invites You to relax. Here the birds are signing in the trees and small mosquitoes are flying around. Not to much of them, only a few. We even saw some colorful butterflies there.

If You want to see this scenery, You should walk a little. But patience rewards You with great views and maybe even with some adventures. Plan a whole day in the stoneforest. Although tour guides are abundant, I think exploring on Your own might be the better solution. Shilin is definitely worth a trip and a great place.

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Flowers in Shilin

Although stones are the major attraction in Shilin stoneforrest, there also some flowers. When I had been there at the beginning much of the flowering was already over, but I got a few interesting ones. This article is part of my shilin series.

• Shilin stoneforrest
• Flowers in Shilin (You are here)
• Shilin backcountry adventures

I don’t know much about flowers, so I will just post the pictures. In case You have any clue about flowers, feel free to post their names in the comments.

The pink and yellow flower bush can be found at several locations. The biggest one we encountered at one of the lakes just next to the place where You are allowed to relax on the grass.

This nice white flower bush was found in a real remote area. The path we were walking is not even noticed on the map at the backside of the entrance tickets.

This grass reminds me of the sheeps wool. Maybe it’s wool grass, but I don’t know really. In the remote part of the park, there are countless of these.

A bush with pink buds. The color is very intensive. Nice

As You can see, there are quite some flowers in the stoneforrest. Sometimes the colorful flowers compose a nice scenery together with the mighty stones.

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ShiLin Stoneforrest Yunnan

Last weekend I have been to the famous stoneforrest named Shi Lin 石林 （shí lín), which is not far from Kunming in Yunnan province. Shilin is a great place to relax. I’ve made a big amount of pictures, almost filled my memory card and I’d like to show some beautiful impressions. This is going to be a multiple post story, today up is part one: Shilin, the stones.

• Shilin stoneforrest (You are here)
• Flowers in Shilin
• Shilin backcountry adventures

Once You go over the bridge at the entrance of Shilin and go to the first stones You will encounter this beautiful scene. Unlike the workers who keep the grass in shape, You are not allowed to walk on the green. The perfect grassland with the stones growing all over the place seems so unreal and breathtaking.

If You want to, You can hire a guide to show You around in Shilin. These guides wear traditional costumes and You can see a lot of these. Strangely enough 90% of all guides are women, but that might be an accident as well. A guide costs 100 yuan a day. The entrance fee for Shilin is 140 yuan, or 100 yuan in case You have a valid student ID card.

Getting to the Shilin stoneforrest is easy. Just go to Kunming Railwaystation 昆明站, which is in the south of the city. You can take bus number 83 (and many others) to get there. At the ticket office You can buy a one way ticket to Shilin. I recommend to not buy a two way unless You want to return at the same day. You can buy a return ticket at Shilin. Oneway is 25 yuan.

The stone on the left could resemble a lion relaxing in the sun, but it could be as well what it is. Just a stone. My friend who visited Shilin together with me argued for the lion, but I rather think it’s a cow.

Another stone in the stoneforrest. My friend and me didn’t have any guide, but that wasn’t necessary at all, since You could just listen to one of the countless guides walking around with groups. This big stone resembled an animal, unfortunately I forgot which one. Be creative and see, maybe You can guess what it is. I feel the guides shouldn’t tell what it is, everyone should use his own mind.

The front area near the entrance is very touristy. Countless tourists share the small paths with You. There are also places to buy refreshment. The front area is easy accessible and with walking short distances You can see a lot. There is also a small area to sit on the grass at one of the small lakes. You can relax in the shadow of the trees there. However some other gems can only be found in the remote parts of the park. Once You come across some small stairs You are on the best way to the more remote parts of Shilin.

Some mysterious stairs at the beginning of the more remote parts of Shilin. If You made it until here be prepared for some gems not every tourist encounters. This is end of part one of my Shilin report. Part two is on its way, then You can discover the more remote parts of Shilin, as well as some colorful flowers.

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What makes work different in China?

My last post was about if learning Chinese is worth the effort, especially with a look on the recent visa changes. I also listed my main reasons why I am in China, one of them is WORK. Justrecently who is a fellow German and has a blog about the political implications of the Olympic games, wrote a comment and I’d like to answer his question. Here is what he wrote:

I can understand four out of your five reasons for wanting to stay in China. But what makes WORK different from work elsewhere?

Answer in short: You can have a lot of responsibility early in Your career. You can find a fulfilling job here without to much effort.

Basically the question is answered, however if You want to know why, read on. In the following paragraphs You will also get an idea which skills to strengthen to get a good career in China.

Depending on what You want, this might be for You or not. I prefer to have a position with responsibility. In China it is by far easier to get such kind of position as Your competition is far less than in Europe. Someone might argue I don’t want to fight my way in a Europe, but I understand that some people prefer the self-sabotage approach on this. Apart from that, there are other things in China You need to fight. Fight may be the wrong word, but that depends on Your own position. Say, You are on a business trip to China and now You have to attend a dinner with Your business partners. Exclusive, exotic Chinese specialities are on the menu. For some Westerners the word “fight with the culture” is appropriate. For some this dinner is great fun. If it’s fun for You, You just played Your cards correctly. What I want to say is: Know Your strengths and use them. Studying biology and then seeking an electrical engineering career is as stupid as is having great interest in Asian culture and then pursuing a career in the West.

Therefore, if You have interest in Asia, by all means go there and have Your career there. You have a lot of skills most Chinese people do not have. This makes You a desired person in China and You can achieve a nice career in this place. Know and play out Your cards and receive a good position that makes You happy and rewards You with a good salary. Here are some key points, why You are wanted in China:

1. You can analyse things.
2. You make decisions.
3. You have social intelligence.
4. You understand both cultures, West and East.

You can analyse things

It probably has to do with their education system. As has been stated several thousand times on different blogs, websites and newspapers, the Chinese education is 99% learning facts. Individual thinking is unwanted in their schools. While the Chinese can make good decisions in situations where they are familiar with the facts, once they run into an unknown situation they are basically lost. They are not used to analyse unknown constrains. Instead they will just wait for someone else to help them out.

Westeners education however is a lot about thinking about unknown things. In the West students are often given something and the work is to analyse it and draw conclusions. A key factor for people who take responsibility is just that, analyse and decide. More Chinese than ever stay for short time in the West, some even do their Bachelors or Masters in the West. They have the required traits, however there are still to few of them compared with the demand.

Speaking about deciding things, this brings us to my next point why Westerners are a good asset for a responsible position.

You make decisions

Many Chinese are still concerned about saving their face. When some constrains concerning a decision are unknown they hesitate to decide. They are afraid of loosing their face in case the result is not the desired one. Westeners however have the ability to just decide. The following story happened to me, when I was in a restaurant with a Chinese person.

A Chinese friend and I were in a restaurant without an English menu. So I said to her, “just order something tasty with meat for me”. But instead of just ordering something, she asked me what kind of meat, she discussed with the waitress some things I couldn’t understand really. We were just wasting time. Her undecidedness just resulted in waiting and discussing. At some point I just took the menu and pointed at a meal that included the Chinese character for meat. After all it even was a pretty good dish.

In this case deciding without knowing all facts holds the risk of a wrong decision. Not deciding at all holds the risk of dying of hunger in a restaurant. Of course You have to distinguish, when it is to early to make a decision and when the risk is acceptable. But deferring the decision forever will lead nowhere.

You as a Westener often have the ability to decide and therefore are wanted and paid.

Your social intelligence is required

The life of young Chinese persons is often very formal. Females and Males live in separated dormitories. Social interactions between females and males are sometimes even discouraged. In the West man and woman normally live in the same dormitory in their student life. Also Westerners have travelled al lot and know about different places and their customs. In short, Westerners are used to social interaction. Further Westerners often have a good sense, when there is a social problem between coworkers and are able to solve it, as Chinese often tend not to talk about their problems. However these problems should be resolved as soon as they occur to have a positive atmosphere at a workplace.

You understand both cultures, West and East

Another straight forward point. You know the West, because You are a Westerner. If You have been in China for a while, then You also know how this place works. You are a key person when contracts between Western and Eastern companies are negotiated. When products are imported and exported. When someone wishes to push into the market of the other world. China still has to few people who know both, the West and the East. Another card You can play.

Conclusion

There might be more reasons why You are highly sought here in China. But I don’t want to expand this to far. If You are interested in China, You can have a good career here. Play Your cards and reap in the rewards. Get a good salary and enjoy life here. To be happy with Your work is essential for a fulfilling worklife. Here You can find this opportunity. You have a good reason to work right here.

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Is it still worth learning Chinese with the current visa policy?

Recently I heard this this dialog:

- Hey man, I want to invest in China, I want to settle here, can I do that? I mean because of visa and stuf…

- Sure You can. The law states You can. But we don’t know if this law still exists tomorrow.

Two weeks later, at April 1st, worst case happened. China’s visa policy changed dramatically without any previous notice.

The recent changes in the Chinese visa policy made me think. Not only me, since April 1st a lot has changed. Some even thought it was a April Fools Day joke, however it turned out true. On April 1st the Chinese government made severe changes to their visa policy, one of the hardest being that not issuing any more F visas that are valid longer than 1 month, except in case You do some serious paperwork.

First I will ramble a bit on the visa policy, in the later paragraphs I will outline the implications of this new visa policy.

With that being said visa are a topic almost every evening You go out with with your laowai friends who are here for working.

怎么办？

Alternatives include a tourist visa, which is valid longer than a business (F) visa by default. This sounds like a bad joke.

Next up is a working visa (Z). However to get one You must be working in a big company with lots of money. Small companies normally cannot give You the paperwork needed for a Z visa.

Then there is the student visa. I’m not aware about what’s really up with the student visa, however according to some media I read the student visa also were slightly hit. Apart from that, You can’t earn money with a student visa, so this one is out, too.

You might consider marriage, however giving up Your homecountries passport is not a real solution for a person like me, who still wants to travel all over the world. The German passport I hold is one of the best when it comes to traveling.

As mentioned before, the business visa is no longer making it, because of it”s severe restrictions.

After the Olympics everything returns to its original state

Honestly, I have my doubts. For several years in a row the visas have been restricted more and more. The state of visa policy at the beginning of 2008 was already pretty damaged. The last change is more like the last semi polite way to ask foreigners to leave the country, except if they bring large sums of money.

If China returns to the beginning of 2008 state after the Olympics, this is not a real solution, especially if You are making an investment here. China really should put some modern visa policy in place to encourage Westeners to dedicate to this place. However at the moment the future is insecurer than ever. Even if there rules are relaxed after the Olympics, noone knows what happens next year. Trust has been misused here.

Speaking about investment, I’d like to point out the implications on my investment here in China.

Is it still worth to learn Chinese?

This is a really tough question. Let’s see why I am here:

• The beautiful woman
• The good food
• Work
• Learning Chinese is fun
• Nice people to party with

I have quite some reasons to be here.And therefore I learn Chinese. Yes, I’d like to spend a good part of my life here in China. However if the big guys don’t allow me to be here any longer, should I still learn this language? My friends who hang out in Japan have often told me: Start learning Japanese and come to Japan. In Japan there is no risk that the visa policy might change any day. The rules are clear and if You just work a little You can stay as long as You want.

When I return to Germany in autumn this year, I have already invested 2 years into Chinese. Someone might tell me, hey just get a contract with a big company, then You have Your Z visa. However I want to move around in the country. I’d like to stay 1 year in Beijing, 1 year in Shanghai, 1 year in Guangzhou. Which company would like to hire someone and do all the paperwork for a Z visa, if the guy moves on after 1 year anyways? These companies should be rare. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not indecided. In maybe 10 years I want to settle down.Then I can easily sign that 10 year contract. But now I want to have fun. So it might be, that China won’t let me in anymore. Then I’ve invested in Chinese for nothing. Learned a language of a country, which doesn’t really want me. Maybe I’m talking to fast. We will see what happens after the Olympics…

Yet I have to see what Taiwan has to offer for me. Maybe Taiwan is an alternative. If it isn’t I really have to consider the Japanese option.

There are too many thoughts on this topic in my head. The above shows just the most important part. At the moment there is so much insecurity about this in me, the conclusions I draw here might be too fast, yet I’m not a gambler. And at the moment I feel learning Chinese is like a big gamble.

Posted in Asia business, China in General, Improve Yourself, Learn Chinese | 8 Comments »

A fish in my soup

suddenly appeared… what is this guy doing here?

Whatever he does there, he’s tasty. Generally speaking the food is way better than back in Germany. Luckily I can enjoy Chinese food for a few more months until I have to return to good old Germany.

So how is it going? My Chinese efforts are currently heavily undermined by my company. We have lots of work and in the evening I’m too tired to do something. Sometimes I can get a seat on the bus in the morning, then I get out my Chinese textbook, however most of the time the seats are already taken at my busstation and I have to stand. I really need to develop some strategy on how to incorporate my learning in my daily life.

Got this fish in a food place very  close to the city centre, maybe 5 minutes walking distance. There is a building with about 30 small restaurants inside catering all kind of food.

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Wikipedia unblocked

Who would have believed that? Wikipedia got unblocked in China. The Chinese variant however is still blocked.

Overall it doesn’t matter. Loading my blog to write this article took more than 10 minutes. In the morning the internet is faster, however I need to work in the morning.

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Late in the office

This week I was pretty busy in the office. So busy, I even had the chance to make a photo of the sunset from our office.

After the weather started out rather bad, when I first arrived in Kunming, now it has become so much better. The sun is shining strong every day and the stars twinkle in the night. These are really great weeks.

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