Somewhere in Western China, an enormous yellowish-brown cloud of smog generally referred to as Chongqing clings to the steep hillsides at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Hidden within are thousands of tall buildings and around 10 million people. As Chongqing is one of the fastest growing urban centers on earth (if not the fastest) that number has grown to 11 … [Read more...]
Bad English Sign for Fat Food in Shenzhen
If this bad English sign near the Shenzhen Railway Station at the Luohu border crossing with Hong Kong is any indication, it seems China finally passed some truth-in-advertising laws.Get info on Shenzhen here and China in general here. … [Read more...]
Darlie (formerly Darkie): The Racist Toothpaste
The original Darkie toothpaste packaging on the left was changed to the current Darlie toothpaste on the right in 1985. I can't imagine why they would change it, but I'm guessing the green just looks nicer. The Chinese name remains the same: "Black Person Toothpaste."The Wikipedia page has a little more information on the Darlie brand, for those who are interested. … [Read more...]
How to Survive a Chinese Internet Cafe
Chinese internet cafes (called "Wang Ba" or "net bar") are all pretty similar. When you first enter, you are greeted by a young kid behind a desk. Well, not so much greeted as completely ignored until you either leave or force the kid to deal with you. He will be playing World of Warcraft with headphones covering his ears and a cigarette dangling from his lips and he will only … [Read more...]
Bad English Sign at the Great Wall of China
This bad English sign of cable car rules at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China near Beijing is pretty clear: change your underwear before visiting or risk breaking rule #6.You can read about my attempt at climbing the Mutianyu Great Wall of China.My Beijing guide has practical information for visiting the great wall; the guide for China has info on the … [Read more...]