The Beijing spring and its beautiful blossoms have come and gone, and last weekend the summer solstice was celebrated in the traditional way by eating noodles。 Mind you， there was no emperor available to pray to the gods at the Temple of Heaven， but they seem to be happy with us since we feel far away from the gloom and doom reported in the west。
We are now well into summer with temperatures in the high 30s centigrade (high 90s F!). I've not been able to make a new posting for various technical reasons, but am glad to report that all is well with me. We are enjoying the lychees from the south, which are so sweet and plentiful. I'm not sure why anyone buys the locally grown cherries at 3 times the price! Mangos, mangosteens, durian and apricots have been with us for some time, but strawberries which are just coming in time in the UK for Wimbledon are a distant memory.
We have had so many visitors - friends, relatives, clients - and they are amazed at the huge changes in this city. "I've read about China's growth in the papers but never imagined it was like this!", or " Is this really a communist state?", or "I'm definitely coming back again soon!". I was able to take them to my favourite restaurants, shops and bars. We had a great get-together last week of 6 old friends. We all used to play in the same badminton club when I was in London a few years ago, and it was such a coincidence that they were all in town at the same time. I also had the honour of showing round the owner of Utopia website and helped them update and expand their Beijing information.
There are certainly more and more things to do by day and night, especially with the warm weather allowing outdoor swimming to cool you off, dining al fresco with views across the Forbidden City or drinks on a terrace overlooking a lake or a local hutong, where you can watch the streetlife pass by below. I would be very happy to take you there next time any of you come. Just push the contact button on the left, and let me know in advance. Will get more photos up next time.
Personal tour guide - contact me on jetchina0602@hotmail.com
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
5.12 - One Year On
If you've been in China recently, you would surely have seen many signs of the first anniversary, which falls today, of 5.12, the day on which a scale-8 earthquake hit Wenchuan, Sichuan province, exactly a year ago. Numerous events throughout the country, as well as in the papers, TV and internet, are commemorating this date. The President Hu Juntao and a Vice Premier have flown to the site specially for a memorial ceremony.I can still remember how one year ago as I was sitting at my desk in my 29th floor apartment in Beijing, I could feel my apartment building move back and forth due to tremors from over a thousand miles away in Wenchuan (that's like the distance from San Francisco to Denver). Little did I know at that time that 69,000 people would lose their lives due to this single disaster, not to mention the 19,000 people missing. For comparison, hurricane Katrina 4 years ago, one of the worst natural disasters in the USA in modern times, left under 2000 people dead . So many stories of courage, perseverance, selflessness ( the photo shows a policewoman feeding someone else's baby), bravery, sorrow and grief have been told since then.
One year on, reconstruction of the whole area is in full swing. New homes have been built,
new schools to withstand scale 9 earthquakes are being built, commerce and tourism have started up again
and even the pandas are breeding, awaiting their new home after the Wolong Panda reserve was devastated also. 
There is hope again for the region, and the children especially are being told to work hard and with determination for a better future.
Monday, April 27, 2009
The guest feedback and some photos
The great wall, which is in the un-touristy part!
The wall again you can see how beautiful it is!
The weekend market which I like very much!
It is me in front of a gate in the Forbidden City!
Jet again in front of a modern house in the Commune By The Great Wall!
On the Wall!
"Recently I went to China for the first time, namely Beijing and Xien. I was a bit nervous because I didn't quite know what to expect. Jet was the perfect guide, from both professional and social standpoints.
Professionally, he is at the top: I'm convinced that he knows everything. He can easily relate the facts and figures you would like to know about the Forbidden City, Lama Temple, Tianenmen Square, and so on. Our trip to the Great Wall was an experience I'd never forget, and he provided the perfect place to hike it.
Socially, he is warm and sensitive to client needs. If he sees that you like a Chinese opera or acrobatics show, he'll try to fit in another round for you. If you want to drink a beer at a local establishment, eat the best dumplings in the city, or shop at discount prices, Jet can help you with all of these things and a lot more.
At the end of my week in Beijing, I felt like Jet wasn't merely a guide - he was also a friend. The next time I go to China, I will definitely meet up with him again.-
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
"Moo-ve over Ox, this is the Year of the Car"
So read the headline in the China Daily yesterday. It is astonishing that in the first 3 months of this Year of the Ox, there have been higher monthly auto sales in China (1.1 million cars in March 2009) than in the USA. 20 years ago, there were only a few outdated models available, the grand old Red Flag was the Chinese Mercedes, and the total production volume of the few local car companies in the whole country was even less than that of a single Western or Japanese car-maker alone. 
Buying a car was so easy then since there was little choice in size, shape, style, colour or price.
There were few delivery time problems since there were high taxes and import duties imposed so few white collar workers were able to even think of buying a car. That was the privilege of the few foreigners in China or government leaders.
Now, after a decade of double digit growth in annual GDP as well as annual car production, all that has changed. Firstly there are several hundred million 'middle class' consumers who have, or will soon enter the market. Secondly, most major multinational automakers are in China with one or more joint venture factories producing a whole range of compacts, luxury sedans, hatchbacks, jeeps, and SUVs.
Did you know that even the ever so British London taxi is being produced in China? And the automakers are not bringing their old outdated models, anymore but the latest ones for the increasingly sophisticated Chinese car owner.
On top of that, China has been buying technology and brands, notably MG (now 'Modern Gentleman') and Rover (now Roewe),
and is developing her own emerging auto 'giants, notably SAIC, FAW, JAC, Geely and Chery, as well as BYD specialising in electric/hybrid cars.
The Red Flag brand still going strong after 50 years, has reinvented itself as a high end sedan car,........
whilst Geely's high end model has definitely taken inspiration from Rolls Royce.....
What has happened in the past couple of decades with household goods such as TVs, fridges, microwave ovens, air conditioners, computers and cameras - where China changed from being a net importer to global exporter - will soon happen to the auto sector as well. Watch out Detroit!
The biennial Shanghai Auto show (13th one, also called Auto Shanghai 2009) which opened this week is a sign of things to come, with an unprecedented number of almost 40 new product launches by domestic and global manufacturers. 1500 companies from 25 countries are present. Volkswagen, Mercedes -Benz and BMW have stands each with an area exceeding 2500 sq. m. GM, nervous under the shadows of possible bankruptcy back home at its headquarters in USA, is showing off 37 models over its full range.
Porsche has even chosen this show for the global launch of its first ever luxury sedan model.
There is undoubtedly a marked contrast between the optimism here and the gloom in other parts of the world in the auto industry. Of course, part of the demand is due to government policy measures with reduced taxes and subsidies, especially for smaller fuel efficient models and rural buyers. Demand has also been artifically boosted by delayed purchases rolled over from last year by customers waiting for prices to drop. It remains to be seen for how long the surge can be maintained. Meanwhile, there are many happy faces to be seen at Auto Shanghai 2009, both from manufacturing suppliers as well as potential new car owners. As some headlines have been proclaiming, "Crisis, What Crisis?".
Buying a car was so easy then since there was little choice in size, shape, style, colour or price.There were few delivery time problems since there were high taxes and import duties imposed so few white collar workers were able to even think of buying a car. That was the privilege of the few foreigners in China or government leaders.
Now, after a decade of double digit growth in annual GDP as well as annual car production, all that has changed. Firstly there are several hundred million 'middle class' consumers who have, or will soon enter the market. Secondly, most major multinational automakers are in China with one or more joint venture factories producing a whole range of compacts, luxury sedans, hatchbacks, jeeps, and SUVs.
Did you know that even the ever so British London taxi is being produced in China? And the automakers are not bringing their old outdated models, anymore but the latest ones for the increasingly sophisticated Chinese car owner.
On top of that, China has been buying technology and brands, notably MG (now 'Modern Gentleman') and Rover (now Roewe),
and is developing her own emerging auto 'giants, notably SAIC, FAW, JAC, Geely and Chery, as well as BYD specialising in electric/hybrid cars.
The Red Flag brand still going strong after 50 years, has reinvented itself as a high end sedan car,........
whilst Geely's high end model has definitely taken inspiration from Rolls Royce.....
What has happened in the past couple of decades with household goods such as TVs, fridges, microwave ovens, air conditioners, computers and cameras - where China changed from being a net importer to global exporter - will soon happen to the auto sector as well. Watch out Detroit!
The biennial Shanghai Auto show (13th one, also called Auto Shanghai 2009) which opened this week is a sign of things to come, with an unprecedented number of almost 40 new product launches by domestic and global manufacturers. 1500 companies from 25 countries are present. Volkswagen, Mercedes -Benz and BMW have stands each with an area exceeding 2500 sq. m. GM, nervous under the shadows of possible bankruptcy back home at its headquarters in USA, is showing off 37 models over its full range.
Porsche has even chosen this show for the global launch of its first ever luxury sedan model.
There is undoubtedly a marked contrast between the optimism here and the gloom in other parts of the world in the auto industry. Of course, part of the demand is due to government policy measures with reduced taxes and subsidies, especially for smaller fuel efficient models and rural buyers. Demand has also been artifically boosted by delayed purchases rolled over from last year by customers waiting for prices to drop. It remains to be seen for how long the surge can be maintained. Meanwhile, there are many happy faces to be seen at Auto Shanghai 2009, both from manufacturing suppliers as well as potential new car owners. As some headlines have been proclaiming, "Crisis, What Crisis?".
Monday, March 30, 2009
Photos from my client last week
I had a very busy week. Three groups of clients came to Beijing last week. Every client was happy with my work. One of the clients came here for only two days. I took him to the Great Wall, Ming tombs, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven.
He was so happy to see those places in Beijing. He is a very good photographer I think!
Please take a look below at the photos taken by him!
This is me at the Forbidden City moat.
Glazed tile with mandarin ducks and lotus in the Forbidden City.
One of my favorite treasure in the Forbidden City.
A corner wall in the City
A copper crane standing front of the hall.
A corner wall again, the wall always with yellow on the top and red with the wall.
National flag on the Tiananmen Square.
The Tower of Buddhist Incense in the Summer Palace.
Summer Palace again.
The Ming Tomb
The Soul Tower in the Chang Tomb.
The Empress crown.
He was so happy to see those places in Beijing. He is a very good photographer I think!
Please take a look below at the photos taken by him!
This is me at the Forbidden City moat.
Glazed tile with mandarin ducks and lotus in the Forbidden City.
One of my favorite treasure in the Forbidden City.
A corner wall in the City
A copper crane standing front of the hall.
A corner wall again, the wall always with yellow on the top and red with the wall.
National flag on the Tiananmen Square.
The Tower of Buddhist Incense in the Summer Palace.
Summer Palace again.
The Ming Tomb
The Soul Tower in the Chang Tomb.
The Empress crown.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Rights of Spring (Part 2)
The need to carry on the fight for rights can also be said for the much more recent promotion (hardly a fight) of gay and lesbian rights. At least the word for homosexual appears in the media now, though very often in a negative way in connection with Aids. One recent popular film, "If You Are The One" even had a small but openly gay role, though it was tinged with rather camp behaviour, thereby reinforcing negative stereotypes of gays. Interestingly, one of the most popular skits in the traditional Chinese New Year's Eve TV show this year featured a young (straight) male waiter, acting in a very obviously effeminate, camp way. However, most Chinese viewers just see a funny character, and would not even have thought of the role as gay, just as they would see men dressing as females in traditional Beijing Opera as perfectly 'normal'. Being gay or lesbian is still unacceptable to most parents who want their children to marry and continue the family line. So strong is this family pressure that online advertisements appeared before Chinese New Year for hiring 'temporary partners' for single people in the cities who then take these pseudo-partners home to show to their parents. This forces many gays into sham marriages, leading to happy parents perhaps but tragically unhappy husbands and wives.
In refreshing contrast to this silence and invisibility, a few brave gays and lesbians dressed up recently as 'married couples' in order to publicise legalisation of gay marriage and the lack of gay rights in general. They gave out roses in the recently renovated Qianmen area close to Tiananmen Square, just behind Mao's mausoleum, where Mao was probably turning in his coffin. There was a certain amount of publicity in the local media, and also many puzzled locals who did not understand what all the fuss was about. This event caused a lot of debate on the internet (as did theTV skit above). On the China Central TV website, an online survey held just after the ' gay marriages' attracted over 82,000 respondents. The results showed 76% accepting gays and lesbians, 93% supporting legalisation of gay marriage and 93% with gay/lesbian friends. These of course represent the views of the up and coming younger generation in China, and not of mainstream society.
It seems that most gays would prefer to lead a quiet discreet life in the shadows and would never dream of taking part in such a publicity event. The government also seems to prefer this, since award winning gay films such as Lan Yu (set and filmed in Beijing) and Brokeback Mountain are still not allowed to be shown in public cinemas (of course pirate copies are available everywhere!). Most gays stay in the closet, and it is this 'invisibility' that reinforces the discrimination against gays and lesbians, and makes the growing Aids problem even more difficult to tackle. So the fight for gay rights carries on.
And for those of you who are men, gay or otherwise, did you know that there is an International Men's Day? Now there's something to celebrate, but not until November 19th.
In refreshing contrast to this silence and invisibility, a few brave gays and lesbians dressed up recently as 'married couples' in order to publicise legalisation of gay marriage and the lack of gay rights in general. They gave out roses in the recently renovated Qianmen area close to Tiananmen Square, just behind Mao's mausoleum, where Mao was probably turning in his coffin. There was a certain amount of publicity in the local media, and also many puzzled locals who did not understand what all the fuss was about. This event caused a lot of debate on the internet (as did theTV skit above). On the China Central TV website, an online survey held just after the ' gay marriages' attracted over 82,000 respondents. The results showed 76% accepting gays and lesbians, 93% supporting legalisation of gay marriage and 93% with gay/lesbian friends. These of course represent the views of the up and coming younger generation in China, and not of mainstream society.
It seems that most gays would prefer to lead a quiet discreet life in the shadows and would never dream of taking part in such a publicity event. The government also seems to prefer this, since award winning gay films such as Lan Yu (set and filmed in Beijing) and Brokeback Mountain are still not allowed to be shown in public cinemas (of course pirate copies are available everywhere!). Most gays stay in the closet, and it is this 'invisibility' that reinforces the discrimination against gays and lesbians, and makes the growing Aids problem even more difficult to tackle. So the fight for gay rights carries on.
And for those of you who are men, gay or otherwise, did you know that there is an International Men's Day? Now there's something to celebrate, but not until November 19th.
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