The 10 Commandments of Bargain Hunting in China

Shopping—sometimes it seems like China’s national past-time. Expats are no strangers to the lure of the bargain either. But, when shopping in China, getting the oh-so-coveted “Chinese Price” (the same price locals pay) can be difficult to pull off, even if your Mandarin skills are off the charts. Not in shopping malls of course, but in markets and small shops, sellers will often charge even non-local Chinese people a higher price than bona fide locals, and fairly or unfairly expats often get quoted premium prices.

To make for a happier retail experience, I’ve compiled Ten Commandments for Chinese Bargain Shopping. You won’t find this Decalogue written down on stone tablets—though you might look at putting it on your tablet PC for future reference.

The First Commandment–Thou Shalt Give Face

In shopping as in any business transaction in China, giving and saving face is important. For example, if you name a price that is insultingly low, some shopkeepers may flat-out refuse to sell, especially if you’ve been brash, their business has been pretty good that day, or if their friends are watching.  Research what things cost, so you can make sure you don’t insult anyone by naming a price that’s too low, or lose face yourself by paying too much and looking like a sucker.

You can give face to sellers in a number of ways, mostly by being respectful and calm in all areas of the negotiation, even if it isn’t going how you planned. If they offer you some tea or lukewarm water, as much as you might not want to drink it, take it and sit down to chat. This is a good way to give them face—they’ve got customers sitting in their shop—and for you to think up your next tactics in the bargain.

However, if you’re talking to someone who deals with “rich” foreigners every day, for example if you’re in a heavily touristed Beijing shopping street, then chances are they won’t lose face if you immediately go for a small price.

The Second Commandment– Thou Shalt Not Act Covetous

It’s a cruel fact of bargaining, but if something catches your eye and you tell the shop assistant you really like it, you stand the risk of being priced out of owning it. Like wolves smelling fear, sellers in this country can smell excitement and if they get one whiff of it, you’ll be either shelling out more RMB than you thought possible, or sadly walking away without whatever cool thing you wanted.

One time I was trying to buy a polarizing filter for my new DSLR. I’d been in and out of camera and technology shops all morning, and none of them had had one. When I finally did come across one I couldn’t stop myself from grinning in triumph— prematurely. Once the salesgirl saw my good humour, she quickly quoted me 500 RMB—much too high for me to make a counter offer without insulting her, and almost five times what I eventually bought it for, straight-faced, in another shop.

The Third Commandment—Thou Should Not Admit It’s a Gift

Before coming to China, one of my tried-and-true bargaining tactics was to tell salespeople that I wasn’t shopping for myself, but for a friend. Well, in other cultures, this works because it distances you and your feelings from the object in question—you can always choose a different gift, right?

However, as I learned when buying a jadeite pendant for a cousin’s graduation gift, in China admitting something isn’t for you can actually up the value. As a Chinese friend explained on that shopping expedition (after I’d just botched the haggling), Chinese people might spend more for something they’ll give away—a phenomenon observed in the frenzy of trendy-labelled gift-giving during Chinese New Year.

The Fourth Commandment –Thou Shalt Honour Thy Google, TaoBao, and Fellow Shoppers

Knowing what price to start your haggling is hard if it’s the first time you’ve bought that particular item. A friend who just moved to a new city was as pleased as could be when he haggled a lady at the wet market down to 1 RMB per egg while his other newly arrived co-workers were paying up to 2 RMB. Pleased, that is, until he learned from a Chinese counterpart that the going price was 0.5 RMB.

Electronics like computers, video game players, even printers and modems, can be easily searched for price comparisons on overseas websites, and then on domestic websites such as the giant e-retailer Taobao. Knowing how much a real item costs in your home country can also help you make the decision whether to risk buying a fake product here. After purchasing four dud MP3 players, I finally shelled out 50 bucks for one while visiting the USA last year. It’s still working, and I paid less for it than I did for the combination of the other four.

The next step in this commandment is to go to the market and find someone to shadow. Surreptitiously, without making them feel like you’re going to steal their wallet, stand close enough to a local shopper that you can hear or see how much they’re paying for things. An afternoon of eavesdropping like this can add up to months of savings.

However, after observation, pay attention to…

The Fifth Commandment–Thou Shalt Avoid Other Shoppers

This varies somewhat with what part of the country you’re in, but chances are that if someone else—local or foreign—is also vying for the seller’s attention, you won’t get as good of a deal as if you go one-on-one. The salesperson doesn’t want to lose face by giving you a good bargain, or by having other customers see the foreigner score a deal. Also, at a busy stall, a seller may be less patient with you if your Chinese isn’t quite up to scratch than she would otherwise be if she had nothing left to do but play QQ games and gossip with her neighbouring salespeople. After all, when you leave, they can talk about you.

The Sixth Commandment—Thou Shalt Remember Thy Measure Words

This may seem like a minor point to those people who feel like grunts of “na ge” for “that one” and “zhe ge” for “this one” are enough to get their daily shopping done, but it helps a lot to know the correct measure words (also called “counters”) for the things you’re going to buy. I’m convinced I got Miao silver jewellery for a steal in Beijing only because I knew the earrings were a situation to whip out an “yi dui” for “pair” rather than a pedestrian “liang ge” for “two of.” Besides being more efficient, it might make you stand out in a touristy market as being someone who knows her stuff and who deserves a better deal.

The Seventh Commandment–Thou Shalt Give Money to Good People

One time I was looking for souvenirs in a market catering to tourists. It was after school hours and a few small kids were doing their homework on stools in their parents’ stalls. I had just gotten the price on a doodad I was eyeing to near where I wanted it, when a boy, about seven, came up to his father, the seller, and asked a question. I didn’t catch the question, but body language told me the boy wasn’t trying to start an argument. The father turned around, backhanded the kid, and then turned back to me to finish the deal. It was finished; I went to the stall next door and began the process again, with someone else.

If you think that a seller is being rude to you or to someone around you, why give them money? I bet the store right next door has something similar, if not exactly the same.

The Eighth Commandment–Thou Shalt Check Thy Purchases Before Taking Them Home

Zippers, sizes, batteries, warranty cards, cases, even labels—all of these things should be double checked after the deal is made but before money is handed over. If something is amiss, but you’re willing to live with it—a small discoloration on a shirt sleeve, a mis-matching brand camera cover to go with your new camera—you might be able to renegotiate a little in your favour. If it’s something unacceptable, like a phone battery that doesn’t actually work in the model you’ve just bought, make sure it’s fixed before you leave.

The Ninth Commandment—Thou Shalt Buy in Bulk

Try to get out of the Western mindset that you’re negotiating for just one object. If all you want is one pair of socks because the ones you’re wearing are soaked, then you might not want to package deal (and you might not get a good price if the seller notices your squishy shoes), but if you’re shopping recreationally or for non-necessities you stand a better chance to bargain things down if you group several items together.

When I bought a new camera, I also bargained for a few memory cards, a small tripod, two different carrying cases, a screen protector and a soft cloth for wiping the lens. I paid significantly less than the posted price for just the camera. I got this good deal because I’d done my research, found friendly and idle shopkeepers and given them face by being firm but not pushy and by promising them more business in the future.

The Tenth Commandment—Thou Shalt Not Hide Thy Purchases in Eco-Friendly Bags

I hate the clutter of wadded-up plastic bags that tend to come home with me after a shopping trip, an unnecessary and environmentally unsound mess that seems to take ages to repurpose. In fact, if I’m buying things in a fixed-price store, I usually bring along a backpack or a cloth shopping bag. But, when going power shopping in China, having a lot of bags dangling from your every digit can help you bargain. A friend explained to me that, just as you are sizing up the seller and their likelihood to sell cheaply to you, they’re looking at you and figuring just how much of a gullible, susceptible idiot you might be. If you’ve got a lot of beat-up looking bags, they figure you’ve been shopping all day and that you’re adroit at the dance of the bargain.

A way to do this without feeling guilty about baby turtles dying from the discarded plastic bags wrapped around their throats, is of course to save a few bags up—the black plastic ones that no one can see inside of are best—and re-use them, with a sturdier cloth bag hidden inside to take the weight of your purchases.

And so, China’s expats, with these Commandments in mind, I bid thee – go forth and shop.

Why it’s getting harder to marry now in China

According to Xinhua.net (prominent Chinese news network) the unmarried rate in China has increased almost 20 percent from 1995 to 2005, and this rate is still increasing in 2014. Why is it so hard for people to marry nowadays, especially in big cities such as Shanghai and Beijing? Well, lifestyle changes, cultural expectations and the thinking of young adults are probably the most obvious reasons.

 

Differences in Rural – City Lifestyle

 

The phenomenon of high unmarried rates appears in most developed cities, but we hardly see it in developing cities, such as Henan, Shanxi, etc. This is because the living standard and lifestyle in these cities are totally different. In developed cities, people have a lot of pressures such as work, living and earning enough money to survive. Shanghai, for example, has sometimes such extreme living pressures which make it unbearable for the local Chinese at times. Most young adults need to work more than 8 hours and go back home very late (accounting also for long travel times). That means they have only a little time to do what they want. This decreases any chance of meeting with others.

 

Changes in the way Chinese communicate

 

In addition, the development of technology makes people prefer to stay at home. Online chatting makes it possible to stay at home and chat with their friends. But it limits the possibility to find a girl/boy to get into a relationship with. Shanghaiiese really don’t spend much time outside these days for reasons such as pollution, crime and general lack of facilities to do this. Although wedding websites now is also developed, people still refuse to accept other people from website. Most of them do not believe it is authentic. This won’t happen in some developing cities, because they have more time to stay at home and the comparison pressure is not as high as cities like shanghai.

 

Marriage is not everything anymore

 

Another reason is that, the idea of young adults changed. In the past time, people want to get married as early as possible. In tradition, a man should build up his own family and a woman should find a good man to marry and have many kids. The origin purpose of marriage is to raise more children and make a man’s family name continue. However, nowadays people received more and more modern thoughts from other countries and become international. They do not want to get married so early and the purpose of marriage is no longer just for children. They want to find true love in his/her life. So, it becomes not easy to find such a couple to marry with.

 

Your parent’s status

 

There is one very serious reason is that the limitation from parents. This limitation includes many things: the number of houses, cars, the amount of money and their status. It is really common to hear parents asking their child whether your boyfriend has a car/house? It is understandable but it is definitely hard for young adults. Housing price is still increasing now and the salary of most young adults is not high enough to buy a house or a car.

Creative Crops: Urban Farming in China

As argued by Chinese Anthropologist Fei Xiaotong, Chinese civilization originated in the countryside, and the majority of people in China still have roots in these areas. However, Chinese society has witnessed a definite change in the past few decades. More than half the Chinese population now live in the urban sprawl.

Impending environmental strain and land pressures mean that there is not enough space for China’s numerous city-dwellers to enjoy spacious and ‘green’ lifestyles. On top of this, there has been an increase in debates surrounding food security, and whether or not China is able to sustain its population. The want of a little extra cash, concern over food scandals and the desire for a more beautiful living space has lead to growth of urban farming in China and the emergence of rooftop gardening.

These space-saving gardens throughout the city also contribute towards fighting pollution in the bustling larger cities. This is especially important in the last few years, as pollution has become a hot and controversial topic, and environmental groups become more and more popular throughout the country as a result.

Urban farming also allows those in the cities to retain a certain connection to nature and agriculture. This connection is especially important in helping farmers and rural workers in adapting to life in China’s megacities, as retaining certain aspects of farming in the city may ease their transition from a rural to an urban lifestyle.

Artistic impression of what Shanghai’s vertical farms might look like.
Source: Except Integrated Sustainability

Inventive and Alternative Farming

The desire to farm more organically, and thus the rise in rooftop gardens in order to control growth of own food, has also arisen as a result of various food scandals in the past few years. From toxic bean sprouts, to rat meat replacing lamb food scandals in China are a dime a dozen. We all know about them. But with the growth of allotments outside of cities and rooftop gardening on the rise urban dwellers are creating innovative ways of farming, and creating more trustworthy food chains.

Zhang Guichun, a 55-year-old Beijinger, has gained a certain level of fame and respect following the construction of an organic “hanging garden” on his courtyard roof. Following on from his studies in Chinese medicine, he became keen on planting his own vegetables and herbs. Peng Quigen in China’s Zhejiang province’s Shaoxing has also been in the news, as he has successfully grown rice and watermelons on the roof of his urban-dwelling.

The Beijing Rooftop Landscaping Association was set up in China’s famously-polluted capital, following an official “let rooftops go green in Beijing” campaign in 2005. Although reports confirm that the campaign has not turned as many rooftops green as was previously hoped, there has been an increase in participating gardeners and farmers.

Trends in organic produce

It’s not surprising that some citizens would rather have control over their own food production, in hopes to avoid tainted produce in turn leading to an increase in interest in organic produce. There are currently 1.6 million hectares of organic farming in China (total arable land in China is 140 million), which accounts for 11% of the world’s organically managed land.

However, it is important to note that there are some disputes as to whether China’s ‘organic’ standards are equal to those in the West. Some have determined a 10-15 year lag behind the West with regards to the development of interest in organic foods, and the emergence of its development.

Conclusion

Urban farming may create a more positive future for the green aspects of China’s mega-cities. With pollution still a serious problem, and space being scarce in many cities’ centers, roofs provide an alternative space for those with a rural background to maintain their livelihoods, hobbies, and identities. On top of this, they provide a way for citizens to control how they grow fruit and vegetables, and whether chemicals are involved in production or not. Hopefully we will see more of this in the future.

Expats in China: What Lessons Do They Take Away?

As inarguably one of the fastest and most sustainably growing economies on the planet it’s not surprising that the number of long-term visitors to China has risen dramatically since the turn of the century.

In the 80s and 90s, foreign visitors to China found themselves in an alien world where European language, culture and food weren’t catered for, and the assumption of wealth and prestige came part-and-parcel with the colour of your skin.

The introduction of green card system in 2004 marked a tangible shift in China’s relationship with expatriates, opening the door for visitors to become permanent residents. Accompanied by the economic crisis in the West and China’s growing importance on the world stage, the appeal of China for expatriates is easily evidenced: the expatriate population in Shanghai alone has grown some 6.7% since 2011.

Source: ernop

Michael Brinksman, content editor at UK-based online expatriate resource WhichOffshore has seen a rise in interest from aspiring expatriates looking for a move to China,

“In the early to mid-2000s we were mostly contacted for advice on moving to the USA, Canada, Australia or the UAE. These four destinations comprised around 80% of our output.

“Around five years ago the levels of interest in China began to creep up, and now, although still not a major rival to the UAE, we’re finding expatriates asking about China to be a common occurrence rather than a rarity.”

So how has this new generation of expatriate reacted to this new, more accessible China and its people?

To find out we interviewed four of them:

• Norwegian national Christine Surlien lived in China sporadically for a total of six years: as a student at Renmin University in  Beijing from 1995 to 97, in Hong Kong as a Masters student at HK University from 2001-02 and as a diplomat spouse in Beijing from 2008-11.

• Mitchell Blatt, who first came to China from America in 2011 to study at Nanjing University. While there he travelled during holidays. He was so taken with China that, after graduating, he returned to intern at an advertising agency in 2012.

• Brazilian Katia Steilemann, who followed her husband to Shanghai and has been living there for the past two years.

• Another Brazilian trailing spouse, Christine Marote, who has lived with her husband in Changchun since 2004 and runs a Portuguese language blog about China athttp://chinanaminhavida.com.

On the Chinese People

Christine S: “I love the fact that most Chinese people are very playful. They love to sing and smile and laugh easily. They don’t take themselves very seriously and that makes me care less about my Chinese not being perfect or having to wear a plastic bag over my head to protect myself from a sudden downpour. It’s very easy to get in contact with Chinese, especially since so many want to practice their English these days and they are naturally very curious about foreigners. They care deeply about their family, children and close friends.”

Mitchell: “Chinese people are very passionate. They like to make friends and share their culture with foreigners. Chinese emphasize hospitality. When I met some friends at Nanjing University, they invited me to lunch and fought to be the one who got to pay the bill.”

Christine S: “However, there are some cultural differences that can be difficult to understand fully. Why can’t Chinese people stand in line? Why do they laugh when they are hurt or angry? Most foreigners will ask themselves many questions like this and it’s not always easy to understand the answer.

“What I dislike most is the common lack of compassion among Chinese. Instead of helping, they will often just stand and look, even if it is a serious accident.”

On Chinese Cities

Mitchell: “The biggest thing, looking back at my first week, was how big Chinese cities are. The Chinese phrase “People mountain, People sea,” is correct. In America the population density is much less. I like how there are so many parks with people dancing or singing and so many pedestrian streets. When I first went biking to school in Nanjing, it was kind of scary with so many people on bikes and motorcycles in the bike lane. I looked to each side and thought I will crash into the person next to me. But I got used to it quickly.”

Katia: “Compared to other big cities in the world I was amazed at how safe and clean it is, especially in Shanghai. Once, my husband lost his wallet while riding his bike. About 30 minutes later he realised it had fallen out of his pocket. On the way back home he was called by a street cleaning lady who had seen it fall on the floor. She gave it back to him and nothing was missing. Imagine her happy face when she received a generous tip for being so kind.”

Christine M: “For a Brazilian it is surprising the organization of so many people, transportation and security system. Everything works well.”

On Chinese Food

Christine S: “I love Chinese food! I love to explore the vegetable markets and of course all the restaurants. Some days we would eat noodles and baozi on the street, other days we would seek out the fancy, international restaurants, the rest of the days: everything in between. Especially Beijing, [which] has such a unique offer[ing] of Chinese and Western food, you’ll never be bored. And Chinese food is more than just “Chinese food”. All the regions have their specialities and spices; it’s a world to discover. My only concern was the frequent food scandals. I really hope the Chinese government takes this issue very seriously now.”

Mitchell: “Chinese food is the best. I love the intensity of the flavour. There are so many varieties, many different kinds of food to choose from. My favourite style is Sichuan and Hunan food.”

Christine S: “I love Chinese food. [It was] a little difficult when we arrived because we didn’t recognize the ingredients, but after some years we know exactly what we like and how to order a delicious Chinese food.”

What they took away from a life in China

Christine M: “I never rethink our option to move to China, in fact I really appreciate this country and all that I learned here. I believe that is impossible to live in China and to not ask, to not change anything in your life and to not learn new things!”

Katia: “Doing business in China is just a fascinating experience. Creating networks and new business relations is so much easier than in other countries. Here it seems everything is possible so I made my dream come true: I transformed a creative idea into an actual product – the first baby-proof stylish jewellery made out of eco-friendly corn starch”

“I had a great adventure flying alone to a city in China to meet a manufacturer. They had never done business with a women and only one manager could speak English. They showed great hospitality and generosity. At the end of a long negotiation day they drove me back to the airport and bought me a happy meal at McDonalds because they thought that this is the food that makes Westerners happy!”

Christine S: “Mastering a language that first seems impossible gives you a lot of confidence! Yes, it takes a long time to learn, but it’s doable! Learning about a very special and unique culture has taught me so much. I met some fantastic people, from China obviously, but also from other countries. Together we shared our joy and frustrations of living in the world’s most populous country.”

China: A Paradise for Expatriates?

Although the reports of these expats has been largely positive, so much so that both Mitchell and Christine blog about China even after they’ve departed, to suggest China is a suitable spot for all foreigners would be short-sighted, as Christine sagely points out:

“Remember that there is not only one truth about China! Everybody has their opinion and will come with all sorts of advice and warnings, but you have to find your own truth. China can be overwhelming and might not be suitable for everybody. Think through what is important for you and then see if those goals can be obtained in China. If not, don’t move here.”

With China only growing in economic significance and predicted to be the superpower by 2050, will we see a greater influx of expatriates looking for opportunities? Or will those opportunities be fewer in number as China becomes a more expensive place to do business? We can’t tell from here, but for the meantime China’s growing expatriate population seems happy with the unfamiliar culture they’ve found themselves in.

CHINA’S economy

CHINA’S economy, worth over $9 trillion in 2013, divides opinion. Often it divides it neatly in two: optimists contend with pessimists, apologists with alarmists, bulls with bears. Figures released this month encouraged both camps. China’s economy grew by 7.7% in 2013, a little faster than once feared. But a widely watched index of manufacturing, published by HSBC, a bank, fell for the fourth month in a row.

This binary split in opinion is too crude. To understand China’s economy today, it is more helpful to think in threes. Start, for example, with three forms of growth: in supply, demand and credit. Over the long run, China’s economic might depends on the size of its workforce and its productivity. This combination determines how much stuff China can supply without overstretching itself. Numbers released this week confirm that the supply-side limits on growth are gradually tightening.

The country’s urban workforce, which produces most of its output, is growing more slowly. The age group from which this workforce springs is now shrinking outright. The population of working age shrank by 2.44m in 2013, having already fallen by several million the year before.

This demographic turning-point (dubbed “peak toil”) has contributed to a marked slowdown in China’s potential rate of growth from the double-digit tempo of yesteryear. Whether the economy actually fulfils that (diminished) potential depends on a second kind of growth: that of demand. On the one hand, too little spending on goods and services will result in the underemployment of even a shrinking population (witness Japan). On the other hand, too much results in inflation.

By that yardstick, demand in China is still modest. It was enough to increase GDP by just over the government’s minimum threshold of 7.5%. But the economy did not grow fast enough to generate any inflationary pressure. Consumer prices rose by only 2.5% in the year to December. Prices paid to producers fell, for the 22nd month in a row. The Chinese economy is not overheating in any conventional sense.

China’s excesses take a different form. It is not the growth in demand that worries pessimists, but the growth in credit. The stock of outstanding financing for the private sector grew by about 20% last year, according to the central bank’s broad measure (which includes corporate bonds, equity issuance, and a variety of loans by banks and other lenders) even as nominal GDP grew by only 9.5% (see chart). Some of those loans are now turning ugly.

One credit product, sold exclusively through ICBC, China’s biggest bank, on behalf of China Credit Trust, a non-bank lender, is poised to default at the end of this month. It raised 3 billion yuan (over $490m) for Zhenfu Energy group, an ill-fated coal-mining venture, the vice-chairman of which was arrested for taking deposits without a licence. Zhenfu cannot repay its debts. The big question that remains is whether the product’s buyers, sellers or issuers will bear the loss.

China’s credit is not all this bad. And even the bad lending is not all bad in the same way. In fact credit, too, can usefully be divided into three categories, according to how it is spent, argues Richard Werner of Southampton University. Some is spent fruitfully, on new capital and infrastructure, increasing the economy’s productive capacity. Because lending of this kind adds to both demand and supply, it should result in higher economic growth without higher inflation.

Another chunk of credit is spent wastefully, either on consumption or on misconceived projects, such as bridges without destinations or coal mines without markets. These loans add nothing to the economy’s productive capacity, but they do add to demand. They make a claim on the economy’s goods and services, without adding anything to its ability to provide them. Credit of this second kind should, then, result in higher inflation, increasing nominal GDP but not real GDP.

The surprising lack of inflation suggests that much of China’s credit is instead of a third kind. It is spent speculatively, on existing assets, real or financial, in the hope they will rise in value. Because these assets already exist, they can be purchased (and repurchased) without adding directly to GDP or straining the economy’s capacity to produce new goods and services. Credit and asset prices can chase each other higher, even as consumer prices remain flat.

Because this third kind of credit adds little to economic growth, curbing it need not, in principle, subtract much from growth. China’s financial authorities have repeatedly stated their desire to shrink overstretched balance-sheets, especially among mid-tier banks, without discouraging the flow of credit to the “real economy”. But although this is entirely feasible in principle, it is a difficult trick to pull off in practice.

Pessimists argue that the government’s efforts to curb leverage will stymie growth this year. But these rigours should be offset by stronger exports and consumer spending, both of which have plenty of room for improvement. Foreign trade subtracted from China’s growth last year. Consumption, which made the biggest contribution to growth in 2012 and 2011, was once again overshadowed last year by China’s traditional engine of demand, investment.

China’s dependence on investment remains a worry. But although its pattern of spending showed little sign of rebalancing last year, it did at least enjoy a rebalancing of incomes and production. Both migrant workers and rural households saw their incomes grow faster than the economy as a whole. Four years ago, the disposable income of the average urbanite was 3.3 times that of his rural counterpart. That ratio has now fallen to 3.0.

Of greater historical resonance was the shift in production. Last year China’s output of services, which contributed 46% of GDP, finally eclipsed the output of its industry (44%). An economy based predominantly on making things for people now gets more out of doing things for them. Indeed, China’s fastest-growing sector last year was wholesaling and retailing, which expanded at a double-digit rate. In the workshop of the world, growing numbers now work in shops. Services are known as “the tertiary sector” (whereas agriculture is “primary” and industry “secondary”). It is this long neglected third piece of China’s economy that will prove the optimists right in 2014.

Modern Toilet: Xi’an’s Latest Quirky Restaurant

For some reason toilet-themed restaurant are the must have quirky restaurant for cities across China, from Beijing to Chongqing and it seems Xi’an is following suit. So take a seat on your porcelain throne with poo shaped cushion and eat your fried rice out of a urinal and for dessert soft-serve ice cream in the shape of….yes, you guessed it….a giant turd.

Nope. We just don’t understand why anyone wants to go, but it seems business is good.

Where: F/5 Jinsha International, Changan Lu, Yanta District, Xian

Saipan, Chinese Women’s New Destination for “Birth Tourism”

Saipan, the largest of 15 islands that constitute the Northern Mariana islands is a nippy four hour flight from China and has become a popular destination for “birth tourism” because the group of islands are US commonwealth territories and so babies born there gain US citizenship and you can get a 45 day visa on arrival.

Travel agencies in China have caught onto the trend and now offer travel packages catering purely to these expectant mothers. For $27,000 you can fly from China to Saipan, give birth and return home with your beautiful American baby.

Between 2009 and 2012 the number of Chinese women going to Saipan to give birth increased by 35%, totaling 282 Chinese-American babies. In 2012 a staggering 71% of all births in Saipan were to Chinese women.

Ailments in the East: Looking at Traditional Chinese Medicine Today

weather, free radicals and air borne bacteria are some of the reasons why many of us tend to get sick faster during this time of the year. Some may reach out for the quick and easy fix of Western medicine, while others might try the unconventional form of treatment: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

TCM is complex and overwhelming to try and understand as specific variables need to be considered to diagnose the right remedy for ailments from the common cold to fertility issues. TCM has multiple branches such as acupuncture, cupping, and the practice of herbal medicine. Yet it has been known that more women than men in China look to TCM for help. The majority of women who use it want help with their menstrual cycle, while others want to get pregnant and/ or avoid a miscarriage.

But TCM is not for everyone. With little emphasis on anatomical structures, the scientific community has said that TCM does not have enough evidence-based medicine to properly conclude of its effectiveness when compared to Western medicine. Not surprisingly, more and more Chinese are receiving Western medicine as their choice of treatment.

Source: http://www.abcsources.com/

Immediacy versus waiting for results

Common ailments like cold, flu and fever may be cured within a 48-hour period when Western medicine is taken orally. However, taking TCM to cure the same ailment may take a week to see the same results.

David Tao, pharmacist at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou, sees thousands of outpatients especially during this time of the year. Tao says when the Cantonese are unwell and do not want to see a doctor, they would rather cook their own herbal medicine.

Some drink the commonly known Wang Lao Ji as a supplement; this Chinese tisane is one of the most popular herbal teas. But drinking herbal tea has a different connotation for locals in the south. The Cantonese prefer to drink a ‘soup’ of herbal tea (this is another form of TCM). According to Tao, many Cantonese drink more of these soups in the summer than in winter to prevent diseases and to heal one’s body.

Tao warns of herbal teas that claim to be effective when they are bottled and sold commercially. Because properties are diluted and sugar is added into the water, the benefits are almost nonexistent. Buying the ingredients and brewing your own tisane at home is the only way.

First time TCM hospital experience

TCM interprets that a person suffering from a disease is experiencing a disharmony within their body. At your first appointment a practitioner will begin by taking your pulse, looking at your tongue, skin and eyes, and finding out about your sleeping and eating habits.

It seems that after living in Asia for five years, my skin shows signs of unbalance caused by external factors (weather and free radicals) and internal factors (over-stress and poor eating habits), all of which has caused my skin to breakout – something that I have never experienced back in my home country.

After paying a 22 RMB registration fee at Xiguan Traditional Chinese Medicine House in Guangzhou, the TCM doctor in her 50s provided me a list of food I shouldn’t eat including beef, strong coffee, seafood, spicy food and even chocolate.

I was then given two individual bags (80 RMB/bag) and told to cook the bags’ ingredients for about two hours. Colorful leaves and an appeasing odor were emitted during the cooking process. Drinking it was pretty tough though. To help with the bitterness, I was advised to suck a candy while closing my eyes so I would not see the black-dirt looking drink.

TCM: the past, today and the future

Ken Wu and Cate Wei have degrees in TCM. Wu studied acupuncture while Wei acquired her knowledge in general TCM. Both have been brought up in TCM using households, but it wasn’t until they began working in the field that they truly understood it.

Wu says that after his studies he still believes 60 percent of what TCM has to say regarding treatments. He has since lost faith in the other 40% because of the many recent changes in TCM, many of which have been to do with the combining of Western medicine with TCM medicine.

After working for over a year as an acupuncturist, Wu laid down the needles due to the lack of recognition garnered by his specialty. Moreover, the long hours and low pay do not reflect the eight years that he had spent studying acupuncture. Today, he is a drummer for a couple of local bands in the city.

Meanwhile for Wei, who once worked at a hospital pharmacy, the daily grind only pushed her to realize that working in the TCM industry did not fit her personality. The mundane work of fetching herbs and other ingredients tired her out. She too decided to change career path, resulting in her having a better life today. She admits to having forgotten a lot of what she learned, but Wei still uses basic plant roots like ginseng in her diet because of its healing properties.

While Wu and Wei have stepped out of the TCM industry, they have remained believers knowing that keeping the TCM traditions alive is part of their culture. “There are good TCM in Japan, Korea and in Taiwan. They have good traditions and traditions are important. But TCM is more complicated in Mainland China,” says Wu.

Women, Pregnancy and TCM

Dr. Hong He, TCM gynecologist at the Guangzhou Women and Children’s Hospital and Health Institute, has been helping women and soon-to-be mothers for over 10 years. She says that TCM helps with the kidney system of pregnant women. “When there is a problem with their system, then there is a risk of a miscarriage.”

TCM consists of medicinals that are prepared using plant elements but are not the only substances. In the past, animals, minerals and human parts have been incorporated. Still, TCM remains a cause for concern and requires strict control because some of the mixtures can be highly toxic and thus need proper supervision.

“When we mention poison, it’s not your common poison. If the TCM can cure a particular disease, then it’s not poison,” Dr. He says. “But if it’s not the right medicine, then it can act as a form of poison. If the quantity prescribed is too high, then it becomes poisonous. You need to give the right amount of medicine.”

Post-TCM Hospital Experience

After 48 hours, two mugs of bitter drink and applying calamine lotion on my affected areas three times a day, there have been some improvements. Thoughts of trying acupuncture for muscle pains or cupping have remained a possibility for other ailments of mine.

The Shamate: China’s Misunderstood Sub-Culture

Maybe you’ve seen them? Maybe you haven’t? But if you did, you’d most certainly know that something was different, very VERY different. The shamate are growing in popularity, and they’re building quite a name (and reputation) for themselves, both because of their look and their distaste for society’s current status quo. If you didn’t know about them before, you should, so without further ado, please allow us to introduce to you the shamate: China’s misunderstood sub-culture

The shamate: a group who can’t and don’t want to associate with the mainstream
Source: www.tianya.cn

Who are they?

The ‘Shamate’ are a sub culture within China’s youth and are most recognizable by their hair – think spiky blow outs with buckets of wax and hair dye thrown on top. They are often migrants from China’s countryside who end up in cities, but remain alienated from the great urbanization push, or as an article by Kevin Tang for Buzzfeed put it: they are mostly “dropouts from schools in the countryside, moving away from their families to work low-skill jobs at big city factories, street-side vendors and hair salons. They take elaborate selfies of their vampire makeup, live in cramped basements, speak in farmland accents, and listen to bad dance music.” As opposed to people who have found their niche in contemporary Chinese culture, the ‘Shamate’ are a group who just can’t and don’t want to associate with the mainstream.

When did this social trend begin?

It seems that the ‘shamate’ first appeared on the mainland in the 1990s. The word shamate is a transliteration of the English word “smart,” but has nothing to do with academic achievement. In fact, the shamate are seen as a rebellion against the status quo and the intelligent, well-off individuals of contemporary society. 

Just like any new trend, the shamate roots were planted elsewhere. In an article for China Daily, Tony Lam, links shamate to Hong Kong’s MK style (i.e. Mong Kok Style), which in turn was derived from Japan’s notorious anti salary-man youth counter culture that really began to take off in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The young residents of Mong Kok created their own alternative counter culture that mixed outlandish hairstyles, loud colors, spiky hair and, of course, lots of harsh cigarettes. And many see shamate as the poorer, semi-urbanized, and uncultured version of that style.

How do they set themselves apart?

Similar to their MK Style brethren and Japanese sub cultures like the Saburuko girls, they wear and dress in a way that screams, “I’m not you.” However, due to their relatively low incomes, their style comes off as a bit tackier than their predecessors in Hong Kong and Japan. I would argue that shamate style is a cross between Goth, punk, emo and MK Style. Dyed hair, chains, thick leather boots, piercings, tattoos, heavy makeup (for males and females) and various accessories are just a few of the common styles seen with the shamate movement: though it definitely lacks any cohesion or any sense of style that is associated with other counter cultures.

It must be noted, though, that just because the shamate style is associated with this particular brand of fashion, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the typical shamate dressed like this every day. Some of the shamate go to work during the day, and at night or in limited free time, dress up in shamate flare.

Why do the shamate separate from society?

Kevin Tang argues that the shamate’s uniqueness is a backlash against China’s Chuppie (Chinese yuppies), the strawberry generation (who are known to be pretty on the outside and soft in the inside) and the notorious fuerdai (the uber-materialistic “second rich” generation who obnoxiously spend daddy’s money like there ain’t no tomorrow). These sub categories that have benefited from China’s booming economy have money, consumer goods, an education, a worldly view and all the pleasures that come with having a fortunate life. Since the shamate don’t have these privileges, they do the opposite and separate themselves from that culture. In essence, it’s a backlash against society, and they identify with other who are in their same position and unite so they can be “part of a group.”

Where are the shamate?

I’ve only seen one shamate after having lived in China for years now, so yes, they are hard to stumble upon. Though they come from rural areas and migrated to China’s big cities, they maintain a low profile and try to avoid the society that they loathe. Many prefer to connect with each other online. There are QQ chat rooms that organize “shamate families,” and there’s a hierarchy within those families with individuals holding certain positions from “tech-assistant” to “president.” Based off their position within their certain shamate family unit, they are also granted noms de guerre such as Evil Cat Y, Leftover Tears and Ghost Monster. There are even ‘celebrities’ within the sub-culture, one vampire, who strangely resembles Marilyn Manson, has become a shamate “idol.”

So, the best place to find the shamate is online rather than in the streets since they like to keep a low profile, but after years of cyber bullying, they now do extensive background checks on any prospective new shamate family members to ensure they aren’t bullies in disguise. Furthermore, to keep their identity while simultaneously staying under the radar, shamates have set up exclusive dating sites for members. It’s said that most shamate are females, and in these dating sites, they seek shamales. Interested fellas?

Conclusion

As you can see, any avant-garde style such as the shamate causes a lot of controversy, especially in a place like China that has conformist tendencies. For this reason, it should be no surprise that they have been labelled “China’s most hated subculture” by Buzzfeed, and the reason why they get bullied so much. In the West, there still is bullying and discrimination against certain groups of people, but it seems that extreme fashions like shamate are becoming more acceptable every day, especially in larger cities. In New York or LA, for example, you’re bound to see a shamate-like character every day!

Perhaps as China grows, opens and internationalizes, people like the shamate will become more accepted, almost how they have been in Japan. Or perhaps the discriminatory stereotype will stick, causing the shamate to either sink deeper into exclusion and disappear or, perhaps even more disturbing, turn violent, as some outcasts in American society have done. Only time will tell, and so will the legacy of China’s newest and perhaps least understood sub culture—the shamate.

The Stigma of Mental Illness in China: Past, Present and Future

We’ve all seen the grungy, old-school, mid-20th century, horrifying mental institutions made popular in movies such as Shutter Island. Fortunately, for the sake of morality and the patients who suffer, most developed nations have improved their mental health sectors by making them a lot more humane. On the other hand, China’s mental institutions and the stigma associated with mental illness are lagging way behind the aforementioned countries.

“The Forgotten People, the State of Chinese Psychiatric Wards”  is a collection of pictures taken by Chinese photo journalist Nan Lu 25 years ago. If you clicked the link, you, like most people, were probably appalled. It’s a horrific sight, and to be honest there doesn’t seem much difference between these psychiatric wards and a Gulag. For some more modern images, typing a quick “China mental institutions” in the CCP’s favorite search engine will bring up a few that are just as stomach turning, especially if you crank up that VPN.

Source:http://www.abcsources.com

The stigma of mental illness in China

China has a particularly disturbing history concerning the mentally ill. The first mental institutions in the country were set up in 1849 by visiting Western missionaries. If the ill were to leave and walk the streets, they’d be ridiculed, laughed at, stoned, or even arrested. For this reason, since many of the sick were locked up and rarely seen in public, many Westerners in China at the time observed that China had a much lower percentage of mentally ill people than Europe or America.

Even now, “Mental problems are always seen as a source of shame to a person and his or her entire family”, says Xie Ben, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at Shanghai mental Health Centre. Professor Cheon from the Northwestern University Department of Psychology in  Cross-Cultural Psychiatry  reemphasizes this data, saying that “studies have suggested that Asians and Asian Americans typically endorse greater stigma of mental illness compared to Westerners,” and that Asian communities have a “greater desire for social distance from mental illness.”

Using modern research methods, The Psychiatric Bulletin speaks about Chung and Wong’s 2004 research entitled “Experiences of stigma among Chinese mental health patients in Hong Kong,” which states “Chinese young people and their parents perceive mental illness as being ‘crazy’ and associated with violence.” [Note: while it’s true some chemical imbalances do cause violent behavior, as you’ll read below, the overwhelming majority of people with mental illnesses do not act violently].

This stigma means that it is hard for people to go find help. People suffering are forced to keep it an isolated burden. However, this also perpetuates the association of violence with mental illness as the times when it is discussed is usually in relation to a random act of violence, like the spree of school stabbings that occurred between 2010 and 2012.

Action has been taken

In response to those school stabbings, China passed its first mental health law, which came into force in May 2013. This was a massive milestone because it showed that officials are actually acknowledging a culturally sensitive issue— when usually the government’s preferred response is to shrug their shoulders and act like nothing is wrong.  According to the Wall Street Journal Blogs, this new bill protects the rights of the mentally ill, bans involuntary mental health evaluations unless the patient has violent intentions, makes hospitals provide counselling services for patients and ensures that institutions protect patients’ rights and personal information. The law also requires more doctors to be trained in the field of mental health since it’s estimated that 100 million people in China suffer from some kind of mental illness, and there are only 17,000 certified psychiatrists.

With all the positives from this new act, perhaps the most important aspect of them all is that human rights activists believe this new bill will stop the CCP from “silencing critics” by locking them up in insane asylums— a common trend that many have accused China of doing in the past. The most public case was that of Wang Wanxing, a pro-democracy activist, who was locked in a police-run mental institution in 1992 for 13 years.

The future

Even though it is extremely difficult to change the public’s view (especially when that public constitutes 1.4 billion people), and not enough time has passed to tell whether officials are successfully implementing the new measure, it does seem that for now China has taken the right steps towards fixing the mental health industry. By doing so, and addressing this problem, they’ll inevitably lighten the stigma associated with mental disorders. However, like so many other things in China from the One Child Policy, the booming economy, and the roaring military expenditures, only time has the answers. These questions continue to twist and curl the tail of the dragon into an even bigger question mark year after year.