"It’s not fair." I often whine to my French boyfriend. "It’s like a playground for you western guys here in Shanghai. All the Chinese girls fancy you." "It’s not my fault." he says with a Gallic shrug. "Anyway, a lot of Chinese guys look at you, too." "Only because they see me as a freaky Amazon ...Read more>>
Next month heralds an event that will be incredibly meaningful to certain groups of people in Shanghai and across China, and is a milestone for communities worldwide. Whether you’re a tóngzhì [同志 | a gay man], a lālā [拉拉 | a ...... Read More>>
Photo: shardsofchina.wordpress.com Odds are, if you've been out to dinner in China, you've been offered cigarette after cigarette from a dizzying array of brands and boxes. Whether or not you accept them, each one has a specific meaning and makes a ...... Read More>>
Whether you've spent a short time in China or years here, you have probably picked up that there is little violent crime or murder. Despite the spate of stabbings in recent years, such attacks are still extremely rare events. However, if you plan to live ...... Read More>>
Getting sick in China can be quite inconvenient, but that doesn’t mean we should refrain from seeking proper medical treatment. While Chinese pharmacies may seem daunting with all the mysterious elixirs and concoctions, they can actually prove to be very ...... Read More>>
Whether you have mountains of student loans and credit card debt looming or you’re just looking to dump some red notes into your hometown bank, it’s important to find the cheapest way to transfer your hard-earned RMBs to your overseas bank accounts. ... Read More>>
Chinese culture certainly has no shortage of symbols of luck and good fortune, many of them stemming from wordplay or riddles. These symbols are easily seen in everyday life, but sometimes their meaning is not easily discernible. Here we take a look at ...... Read More>>
Go anywhere and you will see the oh-so familiar sight of foreign men with Chinese girls. Go on any internet forum and you will be able to access myriad threads extolling the trials and tribulations of dating Chinese girls, but what if we flip it the other ...... Read More>>
Despite being made illegal when the Communists rose to power in 1949, pornography flourishes in China. Just look at any DVD stand. Although the penalties for purchasing, peddling and producing pornographic material are draconian, it is clear that the threat ...... Read More>>
Beat the rush at the ticket windows and book your train tickets effortlessly through WeChat instead. Here are step by step guidelines for those with shaky Chinese to help you navigate the world of WeChat ticket buying. ... Read More>>
Most law-abiding citizens know the difference between right and wrong, and many rules and regulations are common sense. But sometimes you come across laws that are entirely the opposite, such as the ban on whaling in (landlocked) Oklahoma, and the ...... Read More>>
Geologically, the separation between the North and the South is easy to define: two continental cratons, edges merging near the Huai River. Culturally and ethnically, however, the division fades from somewhere in the centre like a bad Chinese haircut, ...... Read More>>
Here are 10 ways in which you’ll return home a reformed person after having experienced Chinese culture for an extended period of time. ... Read More>>
It was a warm night. I was sitting with a friend on the terrace of a bar in town, enjoying the balmy evening air, listening to soft jazz, and sipping beers. All was good. Until my friend raised her eyebrows in the direction of the table beside us. A portly ...... Read More>>
Karaoke is one of the most popular social activities in China. Unfortunately, foreigners often encounter substantial language barriers with the music, struggling to keep up with most Chinese karaoke songs. Next time you go to a KTV, try these 10 easy ...... Read More>>
While it isn’t a particularly uplifting topic, many foreign women have faced an unplanned pregnancy while living in China. Without getting into political or religious issues, it is safe to say that the options for dealing with an unplanned pregnancy in ...... Read More>>
While food scandals in the West appear to be a consequence of globalization, in China there are a number of other underlying and interrelated factors that result in unsafe food, including opportunists and profit-making attitudes, untraceable contracts and a ...... Read More>>
Thanks to the explosive growth in smartphone usage in China, mobile dating apps have changed the rules of the dating game forever. This article looks at a few of the fastest-growing and most promising dating apps in China. Mr or Mrs Right may just be a ...... Read More>>
If you’re single, new to China and plan on being here for a while, the issue of dating a Chinese partner will inevitably arise. Here are some things you should know before you start dating in China, so you and your Chinese partner don’t have too many ...... Read More>>
Besides creation of life and, depending on who you ask, the highest aim of life, sex also serves as a preserver of life. The sexual aspect of life force, qi, is qing essence. Cultivating and preserving qing essence isn't just a matter of selfish energy ...... Read More>>
Motorbikes are fast, convenient and (usually) don’t cost an arm and a leg. Here’s what you need to know to get a motorbike license in China to join China’s growing throng of two-wheeled riders. ... Read More>>
Fast food delivery guys whizzing about on their e-bikes at all hours of the day and night is a common sight across China. So how do you avail of this awesome service? We take a look at the three most popular fast food outlets and their online ordering ...... Read More>>
Banking in China can be nothing short of a headache, especially if you’re an expat – long lines, rare English service, and the confusion over paperwork is just the beginning. But the simple fact is that some banks really are better than others. We take a ...... Read More>>
Bowie, Iggy or Bo-ggy combo ran the boozy argument. My friends and I were debating who penned the track 'China Girl'. A quick internet search later and we were none the clearer. The mysterious algorithms and search bots, which are supposed to know our wants ...... Read More>>
It's not exactly a secret that China is the “land of cheap custom made clothes”. But, as with everything here, it's easy to get ripped off if you don't know what you're doing. These tips hold true for tailors with their own stores, and even the tailors ...... Read More>>
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