Laowai's Losing Charm

Here is an interesting article about the falling number of marriages between the Chinese natives to foreigners.

http://online.thatsmags.com/post/laowai-losing-their-charm-foreign-marriages-fall-by-11-in-china

Happy Chinese New Year!

Take A Seat: China Is Bringing The Future To You

Although according to the economist China says 2014 trade growth may lag last year's rate, there is so much the Chinese are looking forward to adding to their wow list in 2014. 

More Magnificent Architecture

As part of an ambitious development plan, a new district is being constructed in the city China’s Hunan Province, and its focal point will be a sinuous, Mobius strip-style pedestrian bridge that arcs over Meixi Lake. With a span of 490ft (150metres) and a height of 79ft (24metres), the undulating bridge incorporates a variety of routes at different levels and its looped design also references traditional Chinese knots, which are used in decorative Chinese folk art. Conceived by Amsterdam-based firm Next Architects, the Changsha bridge is one of a number of confirmed and proposed distinctive bridges this year. 

More Shopping

SkyMall is mostly a catalog of the utterly useless and completely extravagant that we may pull out of the seat pocket in front of us when we're cruising at 36,000 feet, out of sheer boredom. And it just so happens that the Chinese are adding fairly low priced cars, at around 100,000 yuan ($16,000) to that list. Although there is a small percentage that does, it's still rare to buy a car without first taking it for a test drive.

For Chinese consumers, who are just becoming accustomed to the thought of owning personal vehicles, the percentage may be significantly higher.

Particularly interesting is the fact that flight attendants will be educated about the details of each model. Passengers may even qualify for discounts, just for buying in the sky, all to encourage passengers to purchase.

Welcome To Haze-ing

Beijing is one of the most famous cities in the world but unfortunately also infamous for its unhealthy pollution levels. The city has been trying to clear its act up especially since the Olympics, which was an important time for China's image as a host country.

October, 2013, Chaoyang district in the afternoon, Beijing

A short back-story: In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics and to fulfill promises to clean up the city's air, according to the Wikipedia, nearly 17 billion USD was spent. Beijing implemented a number of air improvement schemes for the duration of the Games, including halting work at all construction sites, closing many factories in Beijing permanently, temporarily shutting industry in neighboring regions, closing some gas stations, and cutting motor traffic by half, reducing bus and subway fares, opening new subway lines, and banning high-emission vehicles.

But more recently in January 2013, measurements showed levels of air pollution, as measured by the density of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres in size – higher than the maximum 755mcg the US Embassy's equipment can measure (40 times above what the World Health Organization deems safe). You can see the Air pollution measurements on the Chinese website as well.

What’s more?

It is of no secret that the government regularly uses cloud-seeding- a method to increase the likelihood of rain showers in the region to clear the air prior to large events by altering the microphysical processes within the cloud (read: every Sunday).

People that come here from all over the world experience difficulty in breathing, skin conditions, hair-fall issues, teary eyes, and so on. Living in Beijing comes with getting used to air purifiers, mouth masks, and waking up to smoggy and hence, very gloomy mornings. The intensity of this situation is so serious that even wealthy locals are planning to move to other countries like the United States and Europe, after acquiring the respective country’s citizenship.

Meanwhile, there are several ways to keep yourself informed of the Beijing Air quality; not only through websites but even twitter, mobile apps, even calling the local authority. All we can hope for is that Beijing sets more rigid rules in the future that limit factories and vehicles from contributing to the hazardous pollution level not only in Beijing but throughout China, for the betterment of the locals along with the rest of us.

Also Check out: China's Smog As Seen From Space.

Recommendation- NO Spark

I have been a Jay Sean fan since he started with the Rishi Rich Productions. He’s always been a part of the group, I love Juggy D and Rishi Rich the same way. I've been so lucky enough to see and dance with Juggy D live! It’s been such an amazing experience. The following are two videos, one from before Jay showed up and the one after he did. 

This time when I was in Beijing, I found out Jay Sean was coming. Determined to see him live me and my sister reached there right on time, waited for over 2 hours for him to show up and when he did, the crowd obviously got crazy. The bouncers were right upfront, even though there were wide steel pipes separating us from the stage. After my several attempts to ignore and avoid the crowd punching and pushing from behind, the Chinese bouncers took both me and my sister out of the club. The most obnoxious sort of club I have ever come across. This club is so discriminatory. We were in the front, minding our business and dancing while these other Chinese women were dancing and punching us from behind, and to our surprise, the bouncers decided to take us out instead. It is ridiculous and honestly absurd. 

The View From The Great Wall does not recommend “Spark” located in Guomao, Beijing.  Avoid this discriminatory club. 

F Visa (Business) Extension In Beijing, China 2013

The Extension of the Business "F" visa

Most of us are confused with the new visa rule changes that have come up in the recent times. Starting on 1st September, the following on the link are the changes come in effect.  http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2013/07/25/china-releases-final-draft-of-new-visa-and-residence-permit-regulations-for-foreigners.html

Foreigners being invited to Beijing for undertake activities like short term visit investigations lectures business scientific & technological and cultural exchange and short-term advanced studies practice etc., should holding "F" (visiting) visa for entry, and stay within the resident period of visa, which countered from the date of entry, if still need to stay when exceed the resident period, should process visa extension application procedures to Exit & Entry Administration, Public Security Bureau in Beijing before the expiry, the times of extension is not limited, but each time extension shouldn't exceed 3 months, the accumulated resident period not exceed one year. When request visa extension application, must provide the following materials:

1. One's valid passport and visa;

2. Host units' official letters in chinese (if hosted by independent investment joint venture and foreign investment enterprises the whole-people collective and joint stock companies etc., must also provide originals and copies of duplicate of "Business License");

3. Adding the official seal of the unit when fill out "Application Form for Visa Residence Permit", and stick a recent, two in., bareheaded, full-faced photo.

Sources:

http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/visa/Fvisa/t982146.htm
Official website: http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/web/

Note: You cannot apply for an extension of visa AGAIN. You have the choice of either leaving the country (eg HK) or apply for another kind of visa. I know, totally sucks. Let's see what's in store for me next week. 

Address of visa Office: 

2 Andingmen Avenue (East), Dongcheng District, Beijing (Southeast of BeiXiaoJie Bridge, 2nd Ring Road).

How to get there: Public transportation: BeiXiaoJie HuoKou Stop by Bus 44, 13, 116,807, 117,  or Lama Temple Station by Underground Line 2, exit B

Datong in Pictures! 2012

SO we finally went on our much delayed trip, Datong is a quiet city, such a contrast to Beijing. We left shortly after classes and reached this city which lies in Shanxi province after a 6 hour train ride with the locals who could not stop talking to us. I have never seen more curious people almost too fascinated with foreign skin.We reached at night and roamed the city streets after checking in a recently opened hotel. We managed to find a restaurant open and ate whatever we could find normal on the menu which was quite a task. 

The next day, we started our journey early morning and took a taxi to The Hanging Monastery located outside the city. This amazing temple happens to be lodged on a cliff-face with rooms linked by mid-air walkways. Just the feel of standing in the middle of mountains was enough to take my breath away. After this we head towards our next destination - The 1500-year-old Yúngāng Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These mountain-side caves and recesses are filled with 51,000 Buddhist statues - the largest being a 56-foot Seated Buddha while the smallest is only a few centimetres tall. The thought of how such accurate and precise buddha statues were made back in the ancient times is bound to cross your mind several times. I cannot question enough how people then could carve through stone and make such gigantic statues.We saw the Nine Dragon screen next located in the middle of the city. Followed by fortification ruins which was just huge and beautiful! Later we went to a local noodle shop but I ate KFC instead because i dont like noodles thankyouverymuch. Got back to Beijing the next day which felt great. Out of all the other cities in China this city is home to me. And it feels great to be back here each time. 

[All images are self clicked]