Tag: "Shanghai"
Cheers In: Shanghai’s Beer Lovers Paradise
Píjiǔ, píjiǔ! When you think China and you think beer quite frankly the first thing that comes to mind is the watered down Snow, Harbin and Tsingtao that they have the cheek to call beer. Now I’ll fully admit I’m not a beer drinker (I can hear all of my home country Australia sighing in disgust!) that being said I can appreciate a good bottle of brew! And if you’re a Shanghai resident or just passing through the beer fairy has a grand treat for you, delicious, quality international beers thanks to four clever French guys and their new store …
Shanghai Snaps: Waltzing in Fuxing Park
There’s one thing that the older folk in China like to do and do well, that is waltzing. In every corner of China you will find China’s graying population waltzing their way around public squares and parks in the afternoons and evenings. It’s a great sight to watch, clearly most of them have been doing it their whole lives and subsequently look like pros who could take on anyone on Dancing with the Stars!
Fuxing Park is one of the many places in Shanghai you can observe this beautiful and entertaining pastime. But don’t just observe, join in, you will …
Going Green at the Shanghai Eco Design Fair
To celebrate the beginning of Earth Week Shanghai kicked off with the Eco Design Fair on Saturday the 16th of April. Running since 2008 this Bi-annual event aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and Eco friendly products and organizations in Shanghai and China. The event showcased the best in green living design, organic produce, environmentally friendly companies and Eco tourism.
This years spring Eco Design Fair was attended by over 5000 people, an impressive number for a movement that is really in its infancy in China. When I arrived the fair was a hub of activity, packed with …
Deciphering Chinese Directions
There is one fact about the Chinese that I learned pretty quickly, one fact that would have an impact on my entire time in China from my travels to my daily life. Here it is: In general, it seems a large proportion of the Chinese population simply can’t give directions! and deciphering them is a near impossible task. Now I hear you saying in your head “But you don’t speak Chinese, of course you can’t understand their directions!” well if I wasn’t going to learn any Mandarin but one thing, asking directions was that one thing. As it turns out, …
Strange Shanghai: Sleeping Salesman at ‘Not Quite Ikea’
In Shanghai, Ikea isn’t the only place you can buy budget furniture. Oh no you can buy it right off the back of a cart on the side of the street! Though apparently at this furniture shop on Gao’an Road in Shanghai’s French Concession, by the looks of the sleeping salesman business isn’t exactly bustling.
If that salesman is reading this here’s my advice to increase business: Paint the chairs bright red, yellow, green or blue and they will look exactly the same as their Scandinavian counterparts. Everyone will be rushing to Gao’an Roads “Not Quite Ikea!”
Do you have
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Chinese Clubs, The Good, The Bad and The Dangerous!
I’m not a fan of Chinese Clubs, in fact I loath them, they make me angry, they make me swear and they make me shake my fist angrily at that person who nearly smashed my skull in with a bottle while trying to edge past. What I realised almost the very moment I walked through that golden gilded doorway into my very first Chinese Club experience was that Chinese Clubs were certainly not my idea of a nightclub and I wasn’t sure if I liked it! So then began my lesson into Chinese Club culture…
The first lesson I …
Could it be? A Sexpo in China!!!
*Warning: If you’re in the office right now, email yourself the link and read it later, who knows when your boss will creep up behind you!
China is not a country whose name is synonymous with sex. When you look at the sexual culture of China’s neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines, China is the prude of the east. So when I heard a whisper of a ‘Sexpo’ to grace the city of Shanghai my ears pricked up and my fingers started typing at furious pace to find out as much information as I could, not to …
Strange Shanghai: Market Card Game
There are all sorts of strange things to be seen in Chinese Markets, mostly of the edible (or not so edible) variety. This however was not a sight I expected to see strolling around the street market on Anguo Rd, Hongkou District: Five men sitting around playing cards surrounded by live stock and poop! Just another one of those times I found myself saying “Only in China”.
Do you have an interesting photo or story showing the Strange Side of Shanghai that you want to share? Get in contact! It could be featured next week!
Ask Us Your Questions
Are you living in Shanghai? Have you just decided you want to move Shanghai? Then you’re in the right place! Shanghai Novice is a whole new website dedicated to documenting the lives of the young and young at heart in Shanghai and surrounds as well as showing you the fun, funny, creative, quirky side of Shanghai. For all you Novices new to Shanghai this website was created for you and we want to know what you want to know!
If you have any questions about life in Shanghai, life in surrounding cities, greater China and China travel then leave them …
Shanghai Move Checklist
So you decided to take the plunge and move to Shanghai. But before you jump on a plane and move to this interesting and unique city there are a few things to check off the list to make sure your transition into life in Shanghai is as smooth as possible (plus ease the anxiety of the friends and family who tell you you’re crazy for moving to China!).
Before You Arrive
Save Your Money
China may be a cheap country compared to the west but the first month or two of living in Shanghai is gonna hit you with a …
