Not insulated or very poorly insulated flats, built by the dozen of millions during the last 20 years. Electric heating/cooling in those flats, which is very wasteful due to the lack of insulation. Electricity made with coal, which is notoriously bad in term of emissions. Yeah, that electricity used to heat/cool ... Full Comment>>

Unless you know who was in the car, where they came from, with whom they were related, knowing the motive of this is pure speculation. The sad thing is, can't say the transparency of information in PRC have a great record. Control, control, control... Full Comment>>

Yup, back when Qing dynasty was at the end of its decay, and until the end of the civil war, quite a lot of Westerners were on the run for loot. Examples are abundant. I think of the Mogao rolls library as such vandalism and thievery. Nitpicking on the dates, common... The main idea is there, everybody could see ... Full Comment>>

I might fall into that much dreaded Westerner Foodie stereotype : I eat my breakfast in the street for 3 years and counting, and I've been completely fine so far ^^ I go mostly for the thin pancakes filled with various vegetables and vegetable-filled buns. Meat is definitely dodgy, in street and elsewhere (no ... Full Comment>>

Talk about a double-edged sword... If disgruntled workers demonstrates against an especially nasty factory boss, or a really rotten local official, does it counts as "seriously disrupts the order of society" ? Who's watching the watchmen ? It seems that so far the answer is "the watchmen are watching ... Full Comment>>

Personal one => Saying "aaaaayyyyyaaaa" as the main way to express frustration. Seen a lot amongst Westerns around here (I don't, it makes me cringe) => Using bike lanes counter-way, or just biking on the walkway, completely free of guilt Full Comment>>

Well, I worked in Chinese public universities for a few years. This and my relatives gave an insight on China's education system. There are indeed a fraction of brilliant students, like other places I've been. They are brilliant *despite* the education system, rather than *because*, I would say ^^ They would have ... Full Comment>>

Duh, just one word: Chengdu <3 Full Comment>>

Duh, just one word: Chengdu <3 Full Comment>>

I asked myself that question... To provide the same kind of education and environment I had back in Europe, it would be more expansive to recreate it here in China, rather than living in Europe. So I would spend more, while having to deal with the quirks of China's life, which I would largely avoid in Europe. ... Full Comment>>

I've been teaching Comp. Sci. in a top-tiers Chinese univ. Here's my own experience, and what I got from talking with colleagues (locals and expats alike). Grades, in theory are in the [0, 100] range. However, grading less than 60 is pretty much taboo : we would make the students loose face, I was told. Also, ... Full Comment>>

For those name themselve as "King", maybe because their name is "Wang", which can be the character for "king" ? Full Comment>>

I had the same experience on all the aspects you mention - inflated grades so that they are in the [100, 75] range, completly disconnected with the actual level of the students. Failing to comply to the rule would have me facing the school's direction. - students almost to the tears for some of them, when struggling ... Full Comment>>