TootTaLu

Well,if Chinese students dont stop hiding their mobile phones in their lap under their desks while they text message in school,they are all going to become sterile anyway,at least thats what I tell them.

Help me out. America is guilty of "baseless demonization" when we point out China's exporting defective products to us? (Waiter!!!Theres a fly in my soup.) Now they blame "American designers"? Lead paint in toys made in China is America's fault?

It seems that they learn one way of doing things in China,then stick with it. What worries me is those "blue truck driver types" always have their nose burried in the screen of a mobile phone and text messaging while driving down the highway. Its getting out of hand,these hand phones.

I don't mean it that way, Dave. It's just like this; we're not supposed to be doing the political thing now, and I've really tried to give it up, but to see it continue makes it difficult. Know what I mean? This thread is about bashing China over economics; why does it end up with a criticism of OUR way of life? From what I see when I go over there, about 1.299 billion Chinese want to be more like us. Is it the best thing for them? I don't know; maybe maybe not, but there are SOME people in this world who see some value to our way of life. To top it, mods will slap us down if we get too political. What kind of example do we have here? If I'm out of line, so be it... Lao Po talked to her friend from Philadelphia last week. (Lao Po can pronounce "Philadelphia". I think that makes her bi-lingual!??!!). Her friend told her that she doesn't want to return to China for anything more than a short visit. She is AMERICAN now and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm impressed. She loves it in Philly???? Now THAT is the acid test. Best Regards When I left China in 1989 I wowed not to return even for a short visit, not even have my remains return to China. Well, I did not visit for over a decade, no contacts, no phone calls, no emails or letters. But when the prospect of earning three times more than working in a U.S. law firm appears, the way of life aspect suddenly seems less important. There are tons of social and economical problems. The thing is, either you can complain about it or take advantage of it. People keep on complaining about the social/income gap every where, in the US, in China. But why not try climb on to the top? When I see the rapid development in China,I cant help but believe that there is going to be a burn out. Lots of the stuff they are building,like buildings and roads,seem to be falling apart already from lack of maintenence. I mean that if they build too quickly,they are going to have too much "stuff" on their hands and not be able to maintain it. I think lots of the building and beautification projects in China are for making a fast profit and not really needed. I had a teenaged friend who was given a Porche car,but it was TOO EXPENSIVE to maintain and fell in to disrepair and had to be sold in exchange for a more practical car.

Im not too fond of YunNan,Ive been living in JingHong for two years,but I must say that your little town of YuXi looks like quite a nice place.

Sacha Matuszak's new article: http://www.antiwar.com/matuszak/?articleid=11517 About REDICULOUS 750rmb china "L" visa fee and China's lame excuse for sticking it to Americans only.

Im in YanTian ShenZhen right now. Im really new to this part of China,so its very different than what Im used to seeing. Its a very clean place,and Im staying near the "Minsk World",a big old Russian war ship used as a tourist museum. There are many factories and a nice shopping area here. About every hour or so,THOUSANDS of young women and men with blue shirts,factory workers,pour out on to the street and sidewalk,doing some kind of a shift change. THOUSANDS of these blue shirts trailing all the way down the street,across the overpass,and down the other side of the street. I have never seen such a mass of people walking on the street before anywhere. They eat cheap fast food noodles and fried rice from styro boxes as they walk. I walk past their "apartments" and can clearly see through the windows there are about 12+ people living in each bare room on bunks. I wonder what kind of benefits these people get,or what happens to them if they become totally disabled for some reason and can no longer work,and I wonder what the living conditions are like for those factory workers from other "less visible" areas of the city. There is something wrong with making money off the sweat of another mans brow.

I don't get it Bob??? Everyone in China knows that Taiwan IS a province of China now... There is only one Taiwan,and China is a part of that Taiwan,right?

www.mooncake.com

Dont count on that "foil strip" either,because they can fake that too. On the back of the 50,there are very fine lines in the background,and when compared to a real 50,its clear to see the fake. ALSO NOTE,the "new" China money actually have several different versions,so though all the 50's are green,there are various security features. Not all new bills the same!

Its the green fake 50rmb notes that I have seen a lot of. They look real,until you compare them with a genuine 50rmb bill. I hate to receive 50rmb notes,and my fiance ALWAYS checks them for me after a purchase. I have even see a FAKE 1rmb coin! I must say that in my 2 years+ living here in China,I have never knowingly been given any fake money,but I have seen a few fakes passed to Chinese people. Beware of those green 50rmb notes!!! They look very good.

Although I agree it is easy to spot counterfeit Chinese currency, the fact is that not everybody has the time or the custom to check after each and every single transaction. And then you have to worry about coins: 1/3 of the coins in circulation are also fake. A common scam is that you pay with 100 RMB and the merchant hands you back your money saying he can't change 100. The problem is that he switches the good 100 you tried giving him for the fake 100 he returns to you. Consider that probably most foreigners visiting China stay for 5 days or less. My Iranian friend is a tour operator in Beijing,and he invited me along with his small group to go to The Great Wall and The Summer Palace. The group were a Dutch airline crew and staying in China a very short time. Exiting The Summer Palace the group bought souvenirs. One person received an old Russian bill,but did not notice. When the Iranian tour operator discovered this,he went to the Chinese vendor (a different person,because the con went hiding) and the correct money was happily handed over to the victim.

I was in Japan in 2002 and I had all my money in NEW $5 Bills (Big Head Linclon bills). I went to the bank and tried to change $100 in to Yen. The guy fed the $5 bills in to a machine,but they were so new his machine could not read them. The guy was embarrassed,scratched his head,then called his boss over. I assumed the boss wouls straighten it out and change my money. He said "Sorry,no change money." Before I travel,I collect US Cash that has NO pen or pencil markings,is very clean,and is $5,$10 and $20 bills. I had $1,000 is 20's from my bank,and 50% of them had writing on them. The bank people thought I was kind of strange because I wanted only "clean money".

There were lots of guys living there at one time who had their testicles removed to get in. Thats a good enough reason for me.

Well it seems that 150/200rmb hotels are available in YanTian. If anybody have a favorite one please let me know. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTFzF-XwC_M

I need a CHEAP hotel in YanTian (YanTian is just a little east of ShenZhen). I will arrive in LongGang ShenZhen Bus Station,then take a taxi to YanTian. Cheap? I pay 60/80rmb for my budget room in FoShan,but 140rmb is the normal average price for a hotel in FoShan. I dont expect to fing any 60rmb rooms in YanTian,but Id like to. 140rmb room would be nice,maybe 200rmb. I really dont want to spend more than 200rmb. I need the room for about 5 nights. If you know a hotel,please post the telephone number here.

What's the consensus among members as far as using this option? My SO lives in Shenzhen. Is it that much faster to just have it mailed to the normal place in GUZ or does it make sense to have it mailed to her in Shenzhen? Especially if we end up not staying overnight in GUZ because of the Canton Fair or other issues. Our slip of paper,a couple of months ago when we picked up our visa,said this "visa by mail" was only available to people living in (receiving mail) GuangDong Province

I found this website www.yesallasian.com I have never bought anything from them,but it seems all their DVDs have Chinese subtitles. There are some movies that I MUST have with Chinese subtitles,so maybe this is a place to buy them. If you know of any other places to buy DVDs with Chinese subtitles,please post a link here.

Also my fiance is planning to keep herself busy once she arrives in America by going to school and taking a part time job,but we have been buying up those cheap DVDs of Chinese TV programs,one disc contains about 10 hours of programs,and the cost about 5Yuan each. Im not so interested in Chinese TV,but I would like her to have some kind of "non internet" Chinese language news,but NOT produced in China/Taiwan/HongKong/Vancouver/Seattle/LA. An American newspaper in Chinese language. Also,Id like to find some Chinese language books on BASIC American history. We bought a book in China at XinHua Bookstore,a rather cheap book I must admit,that had the Statue Of Liberty and a waving American flag on the cover. Inside the book,the first 80 pages went on and on about Mao Ze Dong!!!30% of an American history book glorifying the acomplishments of Mao,but no indication of this on the cover artwork. My Chinese friends told me that there are Chinese school textbooks that are not full of BS like that cheap book I bought,but I dont know where to buy them. In America,is there any Chinese language books with the basic light American history,or Chinese text versions of the US Constitution or Declaration Of Independence? Not anything too thick,just the stories that most Americans learned when we were children. Anything like this online? I was taught that George Washington chopped down some cherry tree then admitted it to his father,but later learned that maybe that never really happened,so I understand the US history is filled with a lot of "stories",but these books I have found in China are pretty much useless,unless you want to believe it was Mao Ze Dong who explained to George Washington about self criticisim and convinced him to admit to his father about the cherry tree incident.

We went to the US Consulate and my fiance got her "pink slip",and was also given a map to a Post Office near the US Consulate at a spicific time and date. When my fiance arrived to the Post Office,she received her Passport with the visa inside. MANY PEOPLE at the post office that day did NOT receive their visas,even though they had their "pink slip". When we received the "pink slip" from the US Consulate,my fiance and I were quite aware that there was still a big chance we would not get the visa at the post office. Its not over until they actually hand you that visa.

The license on the website is fake. The Shanghai and Beijing newspapers have recently run a lot of stores about dealers selling Japanese and European motorcycles as well as CJ 750's, solo and with sidecar, with fake or fraudulent documents and license plates -- usually produced in Hebei Province It is impossible for a private individual to legally own a CJ 750 on the Mainland. Only specially formed businesses may buy them and then can lease them to an individual without the individual ever being to claim ownership. No imported motorcycles or motorcycles over 250cc can be licensed unless they have certification of import and proof of customs duty payment. Unless the motorcycle is licensed, it cannot be operated legally on any public roads. Since it is cost prohibitive to legally import motorcycle, the vast majority of imported or over 250cc bikes found in China have been either illegally smuggled, stolen or the product of chop shops. Between Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu, there are a couple of dozen expats locked up for riding bikes with fraudulent documentation and / or driver licenses. Generally they are given 10 days detention, but new rules now allow up to 21 days without court process. The vast majority are deported once they complete the prescribed number of days in jail. The US consulate is limited to visiting you once a month in jail and providing vitamins, recycled clothing and paper & pencil to write a letter home. Before you start your trip, let me know what kind of vitamins you prefer. Heres my plan (though Im not hell-bent on using a motorcycle,maybe Ill switch to Donkey Cart): Be married to a Chinese person in America who is a legal licensed driver in China. Return someday to China. Buy one of those lovely Sidecar style motorcycles,my Chinese spouse being the legal "owner". License and Register the vehicle in my Chinese spouse's name. Wear an Uncle Sam suit,top hat and everything,cover the vehicle with "BOYCOTT BEIJING 2008 OLYMPICS" bumperstickers,fill the sky with jubulent gunfire and drive around china,the sidecar filled with XinJiang ditch weed. Is dinner free in Chinese jail?

I found this website. There is a photo of a Foreigner's Temporary Driving License. The photos roll by.so if anyone here knows how to copy this photo and post it here,please do. http://www.sidecar-solution.com/trip.htm This license seems to be issued for a period of 14 days. I know these "Motorcycle Rental" places have ways to get around the driving license problem,so this is not the "proper" way for a foreign spouse of a Chinese citizen to obtain a legitimate Chinese Driving License. Also,there are special colored license plates for foreigners to use,and those are usually limited to a spicific city. There are "black" colored license plates for foreigners to legally drive around in China,but these are expensive and difficult to get. Im sure,having a Chinese spouse,I will be able to make this kind of "cross country" motorcycle trip in the future,independently without the assistance of a travel agency. Theres a Spanish guy living regularly here in JingHong,and he is a famous Vespa motorcycle traveler and has written books about it. He has a "driving license" for China,but even his is not "normal".Some Chinese person had to help him get it. Im not any kind of motorcycle entheusiest,but I have decided a Chinese Motorcycle w/Sidecar is the most practical way for me to drive across China,possibly in to Russia and Europe. They are talking about Hong Kongers and those few countries bordering China where vehicular traffic is allowed. You will not see cars with North Korean plates, Vietnamese plates or Indian plates. Yes, certain categories of foreigners (i.e. from non-adjacent countries) can import cars, put they must be new cars and the process takes at least a month to get the necessary paperwork. "L" visa holders are not amongst these and I seriously doubt Beijing will allow this for the Olympics when they already have 3 million domestic vehicles in Beijing and about 50% of them will be banned from driving during the Olympic period. A lie. Don't believe everything you hear. Large motorcycles are available for purchase here, of course, but they are not able to be imported. Also, nobody can drive "everywhere" because there are several cities (i.e. Shanghai, Guangzhou & Beijing, amongst others) where nobody can operate a motorcycle, period. Another issue is that on a tourist visa you may be able to get a temporary license, you cannot get a temporary motorcycle license. The license system is not like in the States where you can get a car license which automatically allows you to operate a motorcycle. A car license and a motorcycle license are two distinct items here. The vast majority of those "L" visa people you have met are really English teachers (over 50% work on "L" visas and "F" visas anyhow) and they stick to rural Hooterville type places just because there they do not get hassled for unlicensed operation ... yet. I know a lot of people like that, too, and the US consulate gets to meet quite a few of these people when they get into an accident and the cops are forced to take action because they were not authorized to operate a motorcycle -- usually 14 days detention and if there is bodily injury it can be a few months. The consulate has a stock of vitamins all ready for these people because that's all the consulate can do: listen to them cry once a month and give them a bottle of vitamins. Not a pretty picture. What kind of vitamins do you prefer? Oh, and renting cars here means you rent the car and pay the rental company's driver to operate the car for you. Operations where you drive the car you rent yourself are very few and far between and I seriously doubt that they will let just anybody with a license rent a car like this unless you have a serious cash downpayment and ties to the country that far surpass an "L" visa.

Its my idea to drive across China,probably on a motorcycle with sidecar. I expect that I will get a 1 Year China Visa,because I will be married to a Chinese person,so I should be able to get a 1 Year Driving License. My Chinese spouse can "own" the vehicle. I would like to be able to drive from China to Laos/Thailand,or to Kazakhstan/Russia/Europe. (I think there are situations where a "foreigner" is not allowed to drive the vehicle across the border,but can easily hire a driver for the actual border crossing.) Unless you have a resident permit allowing work or study in China and have held such for at least one year, you are not eligible to obtain a license in China. This rule may not be enforced very strictly in smaller cities and towns. You can, however, buy a vehicle in your name without limitations. The rule is: have cash, can own. I saw a story recently on CCTV English about "renting" cars and getting "temporary driving license" for tourists. This story was about Beijing and the 2008 Olympics,but they said this new driving law was for "China". They even mentioned foreigners bringing cars in to China on a temporary basis,not exceeding the time limit on their "Tourist Visa".(Often I see MyanMar plates on cars in YunNan,and I have seen "car ferry" from Japan/South Korea advertised on the internet). I have ran in to several foreign tourists recently in China owning and legally driving large motorcycles. When I ask them,they tell me they are allowed to go "anywhere" in China legally,but they have "L" Visas,and they are really just travelers,not "English Teachers".

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