I would much rather go to Peking University, Tsinghua University, or even Zhejiang University than the vast majority of America's 3,000 colleges and universities. I have been to college in both countries... both places have problems, and China more so, but success in life is still equal parts guanxi, luck, talent, ... Full Comment>>

When I first came to China, part of the reason was as a medical tourist to get my wisdom teeth out. In the USA, the procedure would be 5,000 dollars including insurance given the severity of how impacted mine are. Three years down the road, and I wouldn't dare go to any dentist in China for it. I haven't even gone ... Full Comment>>

It actually would have been a good idea if they had a made a faithful reproduction. The advantages of course being that you could go inside and touch everything and not just stare at the back of everyone's heads as they try to peek through the window of the Emperor's chamber. I actually would have had fun taking my ... Full Comment>>

My main concern about this execution is that he was barely a criminal; he was just another Communist Party cum Capitalist cronie who wasn't doing anything that the government is not doing now. We all know how many train tickets China sells a day...yet under Liu Zhijun the Rail system lost a billion dollars a year. ... Full Comment>>

I think what he meant to say was, "luckily because it was only 6% of the noodles in Kunming I probably haven't eaten any because I can afford the high end brand..." Full Comment>>

What kind of society has to pass a law forcing people to take care of their parents? What happened to love for even just one's fellow human? Confucius says when the family unit is broken, it indicates that all levels of society are immoral and broken. Though I disagree with a lot of his opinions, I think he's onto ... Full Comment>>

China City, Michigan... talk about an opium dream. Since 75% of the American population is within 500 km of either coast, why would they put a "business city" 2000 km away from either side in a town that has been dying since any remnant of business moved away in the 80's? Not too mention the only way out ... Full Comment>>

This little epithet combined with the Jiangsu official saying, "If police don't beat people, what's the point?" perfectly sums up everything wrong with China. And one way or another society will pay for what they did for that little girl--her life is the crucible in which sociopathic criminals are formed. Full Comment>>

I always thought they could make good sales to the homeless/frat guy market. You can buy 5 liters for 8 kuai! How else can you get "should I take him to the hospital now?“ smashed for a $1.50? Full Comment>>

This is nothing new in other first world powers. The fact is, if you need to buy a wife, there's probably something seriously wrong with you. Those men can't speak a word of Vietnamese, and it's highly unlikely those VN farm girls could speak Hakka. I would guess severe neglect, abuse, and servitude are all in play ... Full Comment>>

Exactly. My meaning is, only people who vacation on the North Sea or Sakhalin Island would find Hainan a tropical paradise. As a serious comment, literally the only people I have known who like Hainan are Siberians. Full Comment>>

To be honest, I think he resents children learning English, because foreign English language websites are the ones in which content can't be filtered. Full Comment>>

I used to live in Hainan as well. I always like to say, Hainan is not so much an island as a corporation with a really good marketing department. The citizens are the only Chinese I have ever met who were not hospitable and warm. They are even quite rude to Mainland Chinese (whom they are quick to point out they are ... Full Comment>>

University classes do eat up a lot of time, but if it wasn't for them, I would never have learned Chinese. They won't make you fluent, but they will bring you to a level where you could easily self study and get a Chinese friend to help. Once they know you can understand them, they drop the English fast, and sitting ... Full Comment>>

That town is called Erdos, and it's located in Inner Mongolia. It was built for wealthy oil executives to live there, but inevitably they all live in Beijing and commute (who wants to live in the middle of desert?). Mainly the problem there was that the town should have been built for 5,000 people and instead was ... Full Comment>>

If her husband is pulling in that kind of money, I doubt he even saw her long enough to cuddle after the child was conceived. Full Comment>>

Question 1: Not infrequently I've even been asked about the size of my... by both men and women. Another really common one is how many Chinese girls I've slept with (I always reply, You mean how many Chinese girlfriends have I had?). It's terribly embarrassing to those of us who are actually decent people. I part ... Full Comment>>

I don't usually have the gall to criticize a FREE internet periodical, but I wanted to say this. Andrea, the fact that you're married to a fellow expat explains why you are a very good writer with very little to say that is insightful or interesting about China. Hehe, take that as a compliment, by the way. I have ... Full Comment>>

In regards to question 1: You should ALWAYS give less than 1000 RMB unless you're at Hu Jintao's daughter's wedding. The custom of gift giving is that whatever you give them, they have to return and more. So in the countryside, 300 is good and even in Shanghai, 500 is a standard amount. Otherwise you may find that ... Full Comment>>