Junjie’s China blog

The official post for April 2010

My Dear Readers,

I didn’t write that much during the last few weeks. The most important reason for this is the sunshine. It’s springtime and I was outdoors very often. It’s gotten really warm here and staying indoors isso painful at the moment. Spring feelings Grilling meat, hiking in the mountains and helping my parents in the garden. The rest of my time at the computer I used for working a little bit on my Bachelor thesis. I pretty much missed out what’s going on in the internet recently and I also didn’t write anything here for a few weeks. So you better hope for some rainy, cold, chilly weather and I shall return to the keyboard. To avoid you gettin’ bored, here a few reading recommendations:

Reading recommendation 1: Silicon Hutong
I discovered a new blog called Silicon Huton, written by David Wolf, an “Corporate Communications and marketing strategist living and working in Beijing since 1995″. It’s new for me as I discovered it like two weeks ago, but in fact this guy has been writing for a long time already. He writes about economics in China, but it is in a way that is very connected to the everyday world. Apart from that his text is very readable. Want to read more? Then click this link now.

Reading recommendation 2: Ride2Freedom
Ride2Freedom is written by my reader Anthony and he writes about his ride on a bike through China. His focus point is rural China and connecting to the people. He writes about how he organizes his ride through China (that part is not so interesting for me), but he also posts outstanding pictures of rural China. The pictures alone are worth a visit. He also writes about problems in the society, with a focus on the rural areas. This blog is new, but new posts appear regularly. If you want to see some interesting countryside pictures of China, then click this link now.

Reading recommendation 3: The Chinese Reading World
Before anyone complains that I only link to English materials, here is something in Chinese. The Chinese Reading World has a insane collection of reading materials written in simplified Chinese for beginners, intermediate learners and advanced learners of Chinese. Each text is also accompanied with an interactive online test to help memorizing new words. Need to read a lot of text in Chinese? Then click this link now.

Finally…
I hope I have more desire to write here soon. Be assured, this blog has not ended yet. Just don’t expect to many posts in the coming weeks.

Posted in Various stuff | 14 Comments »

bye bye google.cn

http://google.cn

There was some talk about shutting it down at the 10th of April, but now it already happened. Let’s see who shouts, cries and complains the loudest. Bye bye google.cn, bye bye censorship. I guess they’ll throw a big party in the Baidu headquarters. Who has Baidu shares?

Posted in Asia business | 14 Comments »

The A-Team is back

If you watch TV once in a while then you probably agree that the A-Team is the best TV series ever. Now the A-Team is back in a movie to be released at June 11th 2010! Here is the new A-Team:

Liam Neeson as Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as Sgt. B.A. “Bad Attitude” Baracus and Sharlto Copley as Capt. H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock. I also want to mention that Col. Lynch has a comeback, played by Patrick Wilson.

During my childhood I watched every episode … twice… at least. Unfortunately they never broadcasted the English version in German TV, fortunately they are going to release all episodes of all seasons in a collectors edition DVD pack. A whooping 25 DVDs of A-Team in English. And once I’m done I’ll watch the A-Team in Chinese. I love it when a plan comes together

Posted in Various stuff | No Comments »

Jukuu provides example translations

Translation to and from Chinese can be tricky at times. Sometimes you know the translation of a word, but you don’t know how it can be placed inside a sentence. Or you have some sentence, you know the words, yet you cannot translate it in one piece. This is the moment when you need some example sentences. In fact there are several websites that provide examples, however one sticks out in a positive way. Check out jukuu.com.

Searching for 学习 gives a lot of insight.

What you do is basically search for a single Chinese character, or word, or even longer phrase, chengyu or proverb. Then you get a list of example sentences where your searchphrase is used and appropriate translations. In fact you get a long list of translations so you can easily see how a word is used. On the right hand side jukuu provides additional information, like standard translations and a pie chart of translation frequency. Now the best part is it works the other way as well. Jukuu can also help with example translations when entering an English word or short phrase.

Together with the Wikipedia translation method this should be a good way to translate most words and sentences properly. Have fun.

Website: jukuu.com

Posted in Learn Chinese | No Comments »

Pornography should be Legal in China – Signed!

The blog China Divide just made a case for legalizing pornography in China: Pornography should be legal in China. Before I comment about the details I just want to add my signature. Junjie supports that case. Signed! Healthy sex life in China 加油!

Help doctor, my sex life is not harmonious!

Since chairman Mao took over mainland China sex became more and more anti-harmonious. Mao prohibited men having several wifes. Yet he himself had several at the same time, but that’s probably because he was holy or whatever and he had special powers. However the ill-fated propaganda continued and continues today. The black suits of all ranks know how to have a swinging party in sleazy KTVs, yet they speak with their twisted tongue in interviews and public announcements, upholding the harmonious society. Why should anyone care?

I’ve been to China a few times and it can be really painful to talk to some people. I was in Kunming at this English corner some day and talked to this mid 20s guy. He just broke up with his girlfriend. Something was wrong with him. So I asked him if the sex was not satisfying. He said he had been with her like 10 years, but they didn’t have sex. Well, they didn’t even kiss (except on their cheeks). She told him she is not yet ready. Then some day he found out some other guy is banging her regularly. He asked her to stop it, but finally split up with her. The story was really heartbreaking.

From all I heard and experienced I have this theory, that many girls in China who do go out once in a while (read: they know something about life, yet know what the family expects) in fact have one official boyfriend. She will keep him at distance and not start anything with him, yet she will do things necessary so he stays. This guy is just for public display to show she is a traditional girl. At the same time she has fun secretly with all the other guys.

If your brain gets brainwashed with CCTV every day, then there is no wonder this crap happens. Watch some random Chinese soap opera. It’s not romantic. It’s totally over the top. If those guys watched some porn in their youth instead they would actually know what is life about. You can’t blame them.

This being said I agree with China Divide. Educate the masses. Let them watch porn! Would make a real harmonious society with a healthy sex life in China.

Posted in China in General | 8 Comments »

Accepting drinks in a Chinese disco

One of the unique features of a Chinese nightclub, disco or bar is, the Westener often gets free drinks sponsored by other customers. Some popular explanations include that the Chinese want to impress the Westener so the Westerner stays with this particular Chinese guy. From the Western perspective paying drinks for an unknown person is a weak gesture. Thanks for the drink, have a nice evening, bye. In China however Western guys not only get one drink, they can get completely drunk without spending a single mao. But what is the Chinese perspective on this matter? Why do Chinese guys buy drinks for Westerners in a nightclub, bar or disco? On a side note, it’s almost always the guys who pay drinks for you. One of the very few occasions where a female gave me a drink, she later turned out to be a professional. This was a woman from a mixed group of Chinese, not a single woman.

Babi 2 Club in Chengdu, one of the best Chinese clubs I know.

To answer this question we have to look at Chinese values for a moment. Money ranks very high in the Chinese value system. Like it or not, a big wallet in China is an indicator of your importance in the society. In fact Chinese people mostly believe all white faces are rich. Surveys among Chinese women have show that money ranks among the most important factors for choosing a partner.

What does that have to do with sponsored drinks in China? If have accepted drinks more then once during your time in China, you may have observed something interesting. Sometimes it happens, sometimes not. This Chinese guy just offered you a drink. You accepted and he leaves the table. Only you and the ladies are left there at the table. What this guy did is, he just showed that he is economically superior and you are dependent on his beer (in a economical sense). While it may sound strange from the Western point of view, it makes quite sense from the Chinese viewpoint. What can be done?

If you plan to visit a certain location more than once you should consider buying your own drinks. Otherwise the lovely Chinese females may come to the conclusion that you really are a beggar and have no financial power. Another good idea is to visit two different places and dedicate one to get drunk, where you accept any drink offered, and another place where you pay for yourself and have a higher status.

So how to handle the situation? The best case is to have your own drink. The second best is the accept the drink immediately, smile, and say “Thanks dude”. The worst case is to say “no” for a while, only to give in afterwards and accept the drink. In this case you really subordinated yourself to the other guy and appear to be his tool. Don’t do that. I hope I could give some insight on Chinese nightlife to you. If you like to add something, feel free to comment. Cheers!

Posted in Girls, Improve Yourself | 13 Comments »

PM10 particle air pollution in China

As the topic air pollution has come up a few times here, I have created some videos to help everyone find a nice spot for living healthy. First of all, AMFIC publishes measurements and forecasts of air pollution in China. Unfortunately you cannot look at past measurements comfortably, therefore I wrote a script to download all 2009 measurements and created some nice videos. Each of them shows the pm10 particle concentration in different parts of China, including Hong Kong / Guangzhou area, Beijing, Shanghai and Eastern China. pm10 particles are particles smaller than 10 micrometers but larger than 2.5 micrometer. Unfortunately they don’t publish <=2.5 μm measurements. In general, the smaller and lighter a particle is, the longer it will stay in the air. Larger particles (greater than 10 micrometers in diameter) tend to settle to the ground by gravity in a matter of hours whereas the smallest particles (less than 1 micrometer) can stay in the atmosphere for weeks and are mostly removed by precipitation. As a rule of thumb, smaller particles are more likely to cause cancer in your precious body.

Beijing pm10 particle air pollution 2009

Shanghai pm10 particle air pollution 2009

HK / Guangzhou area pm10 particle air pollution 2009

Eastern China pm10 particle air pollution 2009

As you can see, Kozen in Hong Kong enjoys superb air quality and that place can be a place of choice, unlike the nearby Guangzhou. MKL in Taiwan also made a great choice, as Taiwans air is definitely above average for such a large urban area. Keep in mind that air in Europe rarely surpass the green readings. You will find yellow air quality readings in Europe only in large industrial areas during long periods without rain. Just to keep things in perspective. Microparticles may lead to cancer, alzheimers, atherosclerosis and permanent declines in lung capacity (among other nasty things). For those in Beijing, there is a Twitter Channel called Beijing Air for pm2.5 particles. Readings during last few days are almost entirely composed of very unhealthy. Mind you, the highes level on that scale is hazardous, which happens also frequently, but no toxic level as the scale is intended to be used in Europe and Northern America where the level mediocre is never exceeded.

Posted in Various stuff | 2 Comments »

WoW players against harmony

网瘾战争 – War of internet addiction

I just watched this movie created by WoW players (World of Warcraft) from China. They used the game to portrait some events that happened during the last few years in China regarding their beloved game and also freedom of speech in general. In the movie the hero Kan Nimei goes on a strife against his main enemy Yang Yongxin who in reality is a Chinese professor who tried to cure children from internet addiction by using electric shocks. Along his way he comes along many things that people in China had to endure while playing WoW. The video is well made, over 100 people contributed, funny but also very moving and shows the unbearable situation of young people on the Chinese internet. In the end the authors ask the people to raise their hands against suppression by the authorities. It seems to be discussed all over the Chinese internet right now. I don’t know why it isn’t harmonized yet.

If you have about 1 hour time, you definitely want to watch this.
网瘾战争 – War of internet addiction by 性感玉米 (sexy corn)
Version with English subtitles: youtube.com/watch?v=zHjg65mQJkw
Original Chinese version: v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTQ3MDMwNDQ0.html
A list of cultural references: docs.google.com/View?id=ddp3vkc6_1gxdvjdhm

Unfortunately I don’t have the time to write about the details, but some other people already did. Check this Wallstreet Online article. DigiCha has an article with more references. Kaiser Kuo also commented on “war on internet addiction”. Apart from a moving, well made movie about important Chinese issues, it also offers interesting young language. You might learn some new words. Junjie says: Absolutely worth watching.

Posted in China in General | 9 Comments »