I found this article on CNBC today.
China Will Dominate Green Auto Market: Daimler CEO
Published: Tuesday, 2 Mar 2010 7:38 AM ET
Text Size
By: Robin KnightCNBC Associate Web Producer
China's expanding auto market will be the first to embrace alternative fuels, shunning the West's dependence on gasoline, Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, told CNBC Tuesday.
AP
Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler
"China knows that they can't go for mass individual transportation based on gasoline. Just by the number of people living in China there is not enough oil," Zetsche said.
"So they are absolutely determined to go for the next technology and therefore China is the perfect market to make this transformation happen," he added.
The German automaker unveiled its strategy to make cleaner cars for China as it signed a deal with BYD Monday. The Chinese car and battery maker, which has the backing of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, will provide batteries for Daimler cars.
The Daimler and BYD tie will create a new auto brand for the growing Chinese market that is built and tested within China, Daimler said. The move also marks a major change in the race for tapping the green auto market, according to Zetsche.
"The combination of BYD and Daimler is the best you can think of to execute in this strategy," he said.
Numerous automakers are clamoring to gain market share in Asia due to its potential for growth, including luxury brand Rolls Royce. CEO Tom Purves told CNBC that Asia remains the growth market for the high-end automotive industry and he is seeing a strong demand pickup in the region.
Zetsche described the growth in China as "tremendous" and claims Daimler has "unbelievable momentum, more than anyone else in this fast-growing market."
Zetsche also expressed optimism about future auto sales growth in the U.S.
"We do expect that there will be growth for the North American market … which obviously comes from a lower level (of) growth, but we are confident that this will be sustainable," he said.
Western automakers will also face competition from their Asian counterparts on their home turf as well as globally, Zetsche pointed out.
"Definitely the Chinese auto makers will become global players, will be competitive. But just as their Japanese or Korean partners in other countries, they will start in volume segments and will take quite some time before they become competitive in the premium segments," he said.
In contrast to the growth prospects for Asian auto demand, the outlook for the European market is bleak in 2010, Nick Reilly, CEO of Opel, told CNBC
Showing posts with label Kelly's blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kelly's blogs. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Kelly Post 8- Assigment from 02/20
1.Which type of culture has a stronger impact on workplace behavior: societal culture or organizational culture? Why?
According to Wikepedia, the definition for “Organizational Culture” is an idea in the field of Organizational studies and management which describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural) of an organization. A specific collection of values and norms that are shared by people and groups in an organization.
I believe organizational culture has more of an impact on workplace behavior because every workplace has tone that is set and you can usually tell what that tone is when you walk into the building and watch people interact. The environment may change and vary according to department, ie. the executive offices in my company are on the top floor and when you walk up there it is always very quiet and has more upscale office furniture. Whereas if you walk into the advertising department, people usually are dressed a little more casual and are more upbeat and energetic. Even with these slight differences in departments, the overall attitude within the company is usually the same. It appears in companies the HR employees have specific types of employees they would like to hire and this sets the tone for the overall workplace attitude. Every employee is interviewed and spoken to before a job is offered so the company can decide on a preliminary level if that particular person would mesh well with the others in the department and overall, the company.
2.Provide an example of a behavior in high context culture and low context culture.
I found a website called, www.culture-at-work.com/highlow.html that seemed to help answer this question.
Some attributes of high context culture are: long term relationships, more internalized understanding, face to face relationships. This culture seems to be more laid back, friendly and may have less communication boundaries.
Some attributes of low context culture are: rule oriented people play by external rules, shorter term relationships, task centered. This type of culture seems a lot more rigid, may micro manage employees, very time managed
3.Contact a person who is in the US from China. Seek their input on any instance of ethnocentric bias they experienced while in the US.
I was able to speak to someone who is Chinese from the company my sister works for. She said she came over to the United States to work about 10 years ago. She explained that people are often times rude to her because she still has difficulty pronouncing some English words. She also said she feels as though she does not get enough credit when she’s in meetings and often times feels she is not heard when in meetings with men in the United States. She said she feels Americans tend to feel like they no everything and do not give credit to her when she gives any inputs in meetings. She has not experienced the same issue with women.
4.Is China’s culture polychronic or monochronic? Justify your answer.
According to Wikepedia, some polychronic attributes are: change of plans more easily, highly distractable, do many things at once
Monochronic people do one thing at a time, concentrate on the job, adhere to plans and do not disturb others and emphasize promptness
I would say China is a polychronic culture because they do not seem to emphasize on schedules and being on time, the way we do in the United States. The culture seems to be a lot more laid back yet seem to be able to handle multi tasking more easily which may be the reason they do not set such strict emphasis on being on time. If a project headline changes, they adapt and change with it and keep moving forward.
5.What is Guanxi? Explain with an example from your workplace.
According to Wikepdia, Guanxi describes the basic dynamic personalized networks of influence, and is a central idea in Chinese society. It describes a personal connection between two people in which one is able to prevail upon another to perform a favor or service.
It appears Guanxi means, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. People working together to get something accomplished for one of the people involved.
An example in my workplace would be in my department, when the economy started to dip and companies were starting to lay off workers, the head of my department thought she was going to have to start letting people go as well. She went to another department asking for more work to give to us so we can keep our job. The other department obliged and we were all able to get extra work and keep our jobs.
According to Wikepedia, the definition for “Organizational Culture” is an idea in the field of Organizational studies and management which describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural) of an organization. A specific collection of values and norms that are shared by people and groups in an organization.
I believe organizational culture has more of an impact on workplace behavior because every workplace has tone that is set and you can usually tell what that tone is when you walk into the building and watch people interact. The environment may change and vary according to department, ie. the executive offices in my company are on the top floor and when you walk up there it is always very quiet and has more upscale office furniture. Whereas if you walk into the advertising department, people usually are dressed a little more casual and are more upbeat and energetic. Even with these slight differences in departments, the overall attitude within the company is usually the same. It appears in companies the HR employees have specific types of employees they would like to hire and this sets the tone for the overall workplace attitude. Every employee is interviewed and spoken to before a job is offered so the company can decide on a preliminary level if that particular person would mesh well with the others in the department and overall, the company.
2.Provide an example of a behavior in high context culture and low context culture.
I found a website called, www.culture-at-work.com/highlow.html that seemed to help answer this question.
Some attributes of high context culture are: long term relationships, more internalized understanding, face to face relationships. This culture seems to be more laid back, friendly and may have less communication boundaries.
Some attributes of low context culture are: rule oriented people play by external rules, shorter term relationships, task centered. This type of culture seems a lot more rigid, may micro manage employees, very time managed
3.Contact a person who is in the US from China. Seek their input on any instance of ethnocentric bias they experienced while in the US.
I was able to speak to someone who is Chinese from the company my sister works for. She said she came over to the United States to work about 10 years ago. She explained that people are often times rude to her because she still has difficulty pronouncing some English words. She also said she feels as though she does not get enough credit when she’s in meetings and often times feels she is not heard when in meetings with men in the United States. She said she feels Americans tend to feel like they no everything and do not give credit to her when she gives any inputs in meetings. She has not experienced the same issue with women.
4.Is China’s culture polychronic or monochronic? Justify your answer.
According to Wikepedia, some polychronic attributes are: change of plans more easily, highly distractable, do many things at once
Monochronic people do one thing at a time, concentrate on the job, adhere to plans and do not disturb others and emphasize promptness
I would say China is a polychronic culture because they do not seem to emphasize on schedules and being on time, the way we do in the United States. The culture seems to be a lot more laid back yet seem to be able to handle multi tasking more easily which may be the reason they do not set such strict emphasis on being on time. If a project headline changes, they adapt and change with it and keep moving forward.
5.What is Guanxi? Explain with an example from your workplace.
According to Wikepdia, Guanxi describes the basic dynamic personalized networks of influence, and is a central idea in Chinese society. It describes a personal connection between two people in which one is able to prevail upon another to perform a favor or service.
It appears Guanxi means, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. People working together to get something accomplished for one of the people involved.
An example in my workplace would be in my department, when the economy started to dip and companies were starting to lay off workers, the head of my department thought she was going to have to start letting people go as well. She went to another department asking for more work to give to us so we can keep our job. The other department obliged and we were all able to get extra work and keep our jobs.
Kelly Post 7 - Chinese stock market
China Tries to Tame its Swinging Stock Market
Equity index futures trading could come in March as the next step in a gradual regulatory effort to ease bold fluctuations in Chinese markets
By Bruce Einhorn
From BusinessWeek
Chinese investors are a brave bunch. The country's stock markets are notorious for their dizzying swings. After soaring in 2007, Chinese stocks suffered a sharp fall in 2008, with the benchmark Shanghai index losing two-thirds of its value. Last year, Chinese stocks again reversed course and increased 80%, thanks largely to $586 billion of stimulus spending by Beijing and $1.3 trillion in lending by state-owned banks. With China's economy now showing signs of overheating, officials are worried that the equities market may be poised for another sudden turn. Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, warned on Jan. 4 of hot money forming new "structural bubbles" in China's markets.
That could be why Liu and his fellow regulators are rolling out a series of financial market reforms designed to reduce market volatility and make investing in Chinese stocks less of a thrill ride. The latest: a long-anticipated move to introduce trading in equity index futures, which would allow investors to hedge risk by profiting from falls in stock prices. Stock index futures trading could begin as early as March, says an official with knowledge of the matter.
Index futures trading would be the most dramatic step yet by officials aiming to make China's markets more like the bourses of developed countries than those of emerging markets. As China closes in on Japan as the world's second-largest economy, the government wants Shanghai to be more New York and London and less Mumbai and Istanbul. Among reforms the government has launched in the past year is the debut in October of a Nasdaq-like market for younger companies, called Chinext. Regulators have also lifted restrictions that had kept prices artificially low on initial public offerings—almost ensuring a big jump on the first day of trading.
The reforms are long overdue, say many analysts. The changes will help local investors become more sophisticated and make Chinese markets more palatable for investors from outside the country. "In other markets, IPO prices can go up and can go down, but in China they could only go up," says Thomas Deng, chief China strategist for Goldman Sachs (GS). Changes such as futures trading and IPO pricing reform make Chinese markets more mature and "give investors more tools to manage their risks," he says.
There are still plenty of other changes on the to-do list. The biggest obstacle is the government's control of the IPO process, with regulators limiting the number of companies it allows to list on the main board in Shanghai. That prevents companies from swamping the market with new listings, but also leaves many companies—and investors—frustrated. "A more market-based stock market needs investors to decide whether a company will go public or not, not the regulator," says Zhang Xiang, a Beijing-based strategist for Guodu Securities. "The next step should be removing the restrictions on IPO approvals."
Don't expect Chinese officials to heed that call soon. Despite a background in central planning, they can move quickly when they want; witness the government's swift implementation of the stimulus program after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008. When it comes to the wild experiment in capitalism that characterizes the country's stock markets, however, Chinese officials typically move with great caution. The Chinext market in Shenzhen, for instance, was a decade in the making, and the March debut for futures trading follows years of anticipation.
There are advantages to having less-advanced markets. That China doesn't yet allow margin trading, for example, has helped cushion the damage to many investors when markets fell. So regulators are likely to continue moving slowly. "The system itself is more in line with international practice," says Lu Yizhen, chief investment officer at Tianhong Asset Management in Beijing, which oversees the equivalent of $665 million in funds. "But the possibility of having it completely international-like isn't quite realistic."
Equity index futures trading could come in March as the next step in a gradual regulatory effort to ease bold fluctuations in Chinese markets
By Bruce Einhorn
From BusinessWeek
Chinese investors are a brave bunch. The country's stock markets are notorious for their dizzying swings. After soaring in 2007, Chinese stocks suffered a sharp fall in 2008, with the benchmark Shanghai index losing two-thirds of its value. Last year, Chinese stocks again reversed course and increased 80%, thanks largely to $586 billion of stimulus spending by Beijing and $1.3 trillion in lending by state-owned banks. With China's economy now showing signs of overheating, officials are worried that the equities market may be poised for another sudden turn. Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, warned on Jan. 4 of hot money forming new "structural bubbles" in China's markets.
That could be why Liu and his fellow regulators are rolling out a series of financial market reforms designed to reduce market volatility and make investing in Chinese stocks less of a thrill ride. The latest: a long-anticipated move to introduce trading in equity index futures, which would allow investors to hedge risk by profiting from falls in stock prices. Stock index futures trading could begin as early as March, says an official with knowledge of the matter.
Index futures trading would be the most dramatic step yet by officials aiming to make China's markets more like the bourses of developed countries than those of emerging markets. As China closes in on Japan as the world's second-largest economy, the government wants Shanghai to be more New York and London and less Mumbai and Istanbul. Among reforms the government has launched in the past year is the debut in October of a Nasdaq-like market for younger companies, called Chinext. Regulators have also lifted restrictions that had kept prices artificially low on initial public offerings—almost ensuring a big jump on the first day of trading.
The reforms are long overdue, say many analysts. The changes will help local investors become more sophisticated and make Chinese markets more palatable for investors from outside the country. "In other markets, IPO prices can go up and can go down, but in China they could only go up," says Thomas Deng, chief China strategist for Goldman Sachs (GS). Changes such as futures trading and IPO pricing reform make Chinese markets more mature and "give investors more tools to manage their risks," he says.
There are still plenty of other changes on the to-do list. The biggest obstacle is the government's control of the IPO process, with regulators limiting the number of companies it allows to list on the main board in Shanghai. That prevents companies from swamping the market with new listings, but also leaves many companies—and investors—frustrated. "A more market-based stock market needs investors to decide whether a company will go public or not, not the regulator," says Zhang Xiang, a Beijing-based strategist for Guodu Securities. "The next step should be removing the restrictions on IPO approvals."
Don't expect Chinese officials to heed that call soon. Despite a background in central planning, they can move quickly when they want; witness the government's swift implementation of the stimulus program after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008. When it comes to the wild experiment in capitalism that characterizes the country's stock markets, however, Chinese officials typically move with great caution. The Chinext market in Shenzhen, for instance, was a decade in the making, and the March debut for futures trading follows years of anticipation.
There are advantages to having less-advanced markets. That China doesn't yet allow margin trading, for example, has helped cushion the damage to many investors when markets fell. So regulators are likely to continue moving slowly. "The system itself is more in line with international practice," says Lu Yizhen, chief investment officer at Tianhong Asset Management in Beijing, which oversees the equivalent of $665 million in funds. "But the possibility of having it completely international-like isn't quite realistic."
Kelly Post 6 - Hummer
As Deadline Nears, G.M.’s Sale of Hummer Faces Several Big Obstacles
By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: February 23, 2010
HONG KONG — Hostility from Chinese regulators and financing problems are increasingly likely to scuttle plans by an obscure Chinese machinery company to buy the Hummer division from General Motors, people close to the negotiations said on Tuesday.
General Motors has already extended repeatedly its deadline for completing the deal, with the current deadline at the end of this week; the original deadline was last September. But the buyer, the Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company, has failed to win regulatory approval for the deal at a time when senior Chinese officials are trying to put a new emphasis on limiting China’s dependence on imported oil and protecting the environment.
Chinese banks are now pulling back from offers to lend money to Tengzhong for the deal and Western banks are leery of becoming involved, people close to the transaction said. Auto industry analysts are deeply skeptical the deal will be completed.
“The deal is on the ropes, if it’s not on the canvas yet,” said Michael Dunne, the president of Dunne & Company, a Hong Kong auto consulting firm.
Tengzhong is still trying to complete the transaction by setting up a subsidiary outside China to buy Hummer, according to Chinese media reports on Tuesday that were confirmed by people close to the deal. These people asked for anonymity because of the political and financial sensitivity of the deal.
“As long as they are talking, they are going to try to make a deal,” said one of these people.
General Motors and Tengzhong declined to comment.
Tengzhong had been prepared to pay $150 million to $200 million for Hummer, and would not assume debts as part of the planned transaction.
Providing new details on the proposed deal, people close to the negotiations said that the biggest obstacle to emerge in the last few days was not regulatory approval, as suggested by the Chinese media, but rather bank financing.
Regulators have informally agreed not to object if Tengzhong makes the purchase through an offshore subsidiary, said another person knowledgeable about the transaction. But if an offshore subsidiary is used, Hummer would not qualify as a Chinese company after the deal and would not be able to open a low-cost assembly plant in China any time soon to supplement production in the United States.
China only allows foreign automakers to set up 50-50 joint ventures with Chinese car companies, and each of these deals also requires individual approval from regulators.
While Tengzhong has the cash to pay for the Hummer brand, it needs bank financing to operate the division, redesign vehicles and set up new production facilities in China. Some of China’s biggest banks had agreed to provide that financing, but have now pulled out partly because they prefer to lend to projects with Beijing’s blessing and partly because of concerns about whether Hummer can be run profitably without a factory in China, one of the people close to the transaction said.
Tengzhong has been desperately trying to persuade Western banks in the last few days to lend it the money to operate Hummer while keeping it outside China, but has found little enthusiasm so far, this person added.
Hummer sales have plunged in the last two years because of the combination of high gas prices and the slump in the global economy.
G.M. had planned to keep making the Hummer H3 and H3T for Tengzhong through 2012 in Shreveport, La.
I found this article in the New York Times. I found it to be very interesting because though Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machine Company wants to purchase Hummer; it appears they are going through many obstacles.
If people in China are not custom to driving those types of vehicles, would they still try to market to the United States? Also mentioned in the article, China is starting to look into environmental effects caused from these types of large vehicles, so that is also putting a damper on this deal. Hummer's are definitely not environmentally friendly and the government may be concerned it will not thrive in China since it's having so much trouble in the United States.
By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: February 23, 2010
HONG KONG — Hostility from Chinese regulators and financing problems are increasingly likely to scuttle plans by an obscure Chinese machinery company to buy the Hummer division from General Motors, people close to the negotiations said on Tuesday.
General Motors has already extended repeatedly its deadline for completing the deal, with the current deadline at the end of this week; the original deadline was last September. But the buyer, the Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company, has failed to win regulatory approval for the deal at a time when senior Chinese officials are trying to put a new emphasis on limiting China’s dependence on imported oil and protecting the environment.
Chinese banks are now pulling back from offers to lend money to Tengzhong for the deal and Western banks are leery of becoming involved, people close to the transaction said. Auto industry analysts are deeply skeptical the deal will be completed.
“The deal is on the ropes, if it’s not on the canvas yet,” said Michael Dunne, the president of Dunne & Company, a Hong Kong auto consulting firm.
Tengzhong is still trying to complete the transaction by setting up a subsidiary outside China to buy Hummer, according to Chinese media reports on Tuesday that were confirmed by people close to the deal. These people asked for anonymity because of the political and financial sensitivity of the deal.
“As long as they are talking, they are going to try to make a deal,” said one of these people.
General Motors and Tengzhong declined to comment.
Tengzhong had been prepared to pay $150 million to $200 million for Hummer, and would not assume debts as part of the planned transaction.
Providing new details on the proposed deal, people close to the negotiations said that the biggest obstacle to emerge in the last few days was not regulatory approval, as suggested by the Chinese media, but rather bank financing.
Regulators have informally agreed not to object if Tengzhong makes the purchase through an offshore subsidiary, said another person knowledgeable about the transaction. But if an offshore subsidiary is used, Hummer would not qualify as a Chinese company after the deal and would not be able to open a low-cost assembly plant in China any time soon to supplement production in the United States.
China only allows foreign automakers to set up 50-50 joint ventures with Chinese car companies, and each of these deals also requires individual approval from regulators.
While Tengzhong has the cash to pay for the Hummer brand, it needs bank financing to operate the division, redesign vehicles and set up new production facilities in China. Some of China’s biggest banks had agreed to provide that financing, but have now pulled out partly because they prefer to lend to projects with Beijing’s blessing and partly because of concerns about whether Hummer can be run profitably without a factory in China, one of the people close to the transaction said.
Tengzhong has been desperately trying to persuade Western banks in the last few days to lend it the money to operate Hummer while keeping it outside China, but has found little enthusiasm so far, this person added.
Hummer sales have plunged in the last two years because of the combination of high gas prices and the slump in the global economy.
G.M. had planned to keep making the Hummer H3 and H3T for Tengzhong through 2012 in Shreveport, La.
I found this article in the New York Times. I found it to be very interesting because though Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machine Company wants to purchase Hummer; it appears they are going through many obstacles.
If people in China are not custom to driving those types of vehicles, would they still try to market to the United States? Also mentioned in the article, China is starting to look into environmental effects caused from these types of large vehicles, so that is also putting a damper on this deal. Hummer's are definitely not environmentally friendly and the government may be concerned it will not thrive in China since it's having so much trouble in the United States.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Kelly McGarigle - Post 6- movie
Hello,
The movie I chose was titled, “Fight of the Red Dragon,” directed by Yuen Woo-ping, made in 1993. The film takes place somewhere in China during a time when Opium has taken over much of the country because of a corrupt Chinese emperor. A character named Hwang Fei Hung starts a revolution against the drug lords to prevent them from completely taking over the whole country. During his quest, a young man by the name of So Chan joins the adventures against the drug lords. Prolems arise when Chan finds himself wrapped in the clutches of Opium and starting to turn into a junkie like so many others. Chan eventually finds his way out of his toxic hole to return to fight the drug lords to stop the further spread of the Opium and takeover by the villains.
I thought the movie was okay. It featured a lot of kung fu fighting but those scenes went pretty fast however, at times it was almost hard to keep up with the fighting scenes because the image was a little blury. The movie was dubbed in English however, they did not attempt to match it very close so at times you were watching characters talk without their mouth moving correctly to the words.
When I first started watching it I thought it was going to be more of an action packed drama but there were definitely some comedic bits throughout that surprised me. I know in China, the father of a family is very respected, well in this movie, the father was often times grabbed by the nose and dragged around by his wife when he made a mistake; which I couldn’t help but laugh at. With how much control the government has on China I was surprised that such a portrayel was able to make it out on video, not knowing a lot about communism, I just thought movies would be sensored more to maintain respect to the men of China and not make them a mockery. Or maybe I was looking into this a little too much and maybe it was just a typical kung fu/ comedy that is still taken lightly contrary to the communistic ways of China.
If I were to pick another movie to watch I definitely think I would pick a movie with a more relaxed plot and not so much fighting.
The movie I chose was titled, “Fight of the Red Dragon,” directed by Yuen Woo-ping, made in 1993. The film takes place somewhere in China during a time when Opium has taken over much of the country because of a corrupt Chinese emperor. A character named Hwang Fei Hung starts a revolution against the drug lords to prevent them from completely taking over the whole country. During his quest, a young man by the name of So Chan joins the adventures against the drug lords. Prolems arise when Chan finds himself wrapped in the clutches of Opium and starting to turn into a junkie like so many others. Chan eventually finds his way out of his toxic hole to return to fight the drug lords to stop the further spread of the Opium and takeover by the villains.
I thought the movie was okay. It featured a lot of kung fu fighting but those scenes went pretty fast however, at times it was almost hard to keep up with the fighting scenes because the image was a little blury. The movie was dubbed in English however, they did not attempt to match it very close so at times you were watching characters talk without their mouth moving correctly to the words.
When I first started watching it I thought it was going to be more of an action packed drama but there were definitely some comedic bits throughout that surprised me. I know in China, the father of a family is very respected, well in this movie, the father was often times grabbed by the nose and dragged around by his wife when he made a mistake; which I couldn’t help but laugh at. With how much control the government has on China I was surprised that such a portrayel was able to make it out on video, not knowing a lot about communism, I just thought movies would be sensored more to maintain respect to the men of China and not make them a mockery. Or maybe I was looking into this a little too much and maybe it was just a typical kung fu/ comedy that is still taken lightly contrary to the communistic ways of China.
If I were to pick another movie to watch I definitely think I would pick a movie with a more relaxed plot and not so much fighting.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Kelly - Post 5 - Tips for visiting Beijing and Shanghai
Tips for visiting Beijing
It is hard to clearly define Beijing culture because it is a mixture of traditional and contemporary values. Beijing’s history as a city dates back to 350 BC and it has undergone many changes as rulers have come and gone. The city has been the capital of the country for four dynasties and has been called Ji, Zhuojun, Youzhou Nanjing, Yanjing, Zhongdu, Dadu and Beiping.
Beijing’s People
The people in Beijing are quite friendly but have the unnerving habit of staring at foreigners. Although many people shake hands, it is still customary to join your hands and bow when greeting one another. It is important that you do not lose your temper in public or cause anyone to experience public shame; even contradicting someone in front of others should be avoided. If you must complain, do so calmly and privately. Punctuality is very important in China, so make sure you arrive for a meeting with plenty of time to spare. You may want to learn to eat with chopsticks prior to your Beijing tour as it is the most common eating utensil used in China. Forks are rarely used and are only given in more modern restaurants. Also remember that tipping in China was strictly forbidden and until recently and is typically frowned upon.
Beijing China Weather
Beijing weather has four distinct seasons. Spring which lasts from February to April is dry and windy, summer is hot and rainy. Autumn which lasts from August to October is the best season to visit Beijing as the temperature is mild, the sky is blue and the air is crisp and clean. This is also the peak tourist season in Beijing and tends to be very crowded. Winters are very cold due to the Siberian winds that come from the north. Most travelers avoid traveling to Beijing during the winter.
Beijing Shopping
There are numerous shopping districts in Beijing with something for everyone. Located near Tiananmen Square, Dachilan is the best place to buy silk during your Beijing tour. Also found here are many clothing stores, restaurants and department stores. Jianguomenwai is another popular Beijing shopping spot featuring the Youyi Shangdian (the Friendship Store) that sells everything from souvenirs to everyday items. Also in Jianguomenwai are more famous clothing stores like Gap and Prada. Liulichang has some of Beijing's oldest antique shops where you can find many unique artifacts. Remember to bargain and make your purchases carefully because you can be cheated. Sanlitun has a smaller clothing market and is less crowded than the other shopping areas.
Here tourists can find good China silk and clothing, as well as enjoy a quick drink at one of the many local bars. The most popular shopping area in Beijing is Wangfujing with the city’s first super mall, the Xindong Plaza. The markets Panjiayuan and Hongqiao are two of the most popular markets in the city. Panjiayuan is a weekend market, and the Hongqiao is a 3-storey market that sells nearly everything. You can buy anything from antiques to fake designer products from here.
What to Wear in Beijing?
You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in during your Beijing tour since Beijing is not as conservative as it once was. If you come to Beijing in spring, a thin sweater or coat will be needed. In summer, the climate gets quite hot so you will want to opt for casual clothes. In the winter, you will likely need a heavy sweater and a long coat. It is important that you remember to dress appropriately when visiting temples and sacred sites during your Beijing tour.
Travel Around Beijing
When traveling in Beijing, always carry a map (which is available at bus and railway stations and at the airports) and be sure that you know exactly where you want to go because most people do not speak or understand English very well. Traveling by taxi is the easiest way to get around Beijing. They are available in front of hotels, train stations and the airport. Always make sure the taxi driver turns the meter on when you get inside; unmetered taxis are illegal.
Buses are everywhere in Beijing, unfortunately for some travelers, they are very crowded and the signs and stops are only in Chinese. The subway is another great way to get around Beijing. The Circle Line, East-West Line, and Fuba Line connect all major streets in Beijing. The trains run every 10 minutes, and have a fixed fee of ¥3.
Beijing Nightlife
Beijing’s nightlife and entertainment scene are rapidly evolving. There are many nightclubs, discos, karaoke bars and pubs all over the city. Most clubs are open all night and charge an entrance fee of about ¥100-200. The most popular bar is Sanlitun, in the northeast section of the city. It is pretty lively and frequented by foreigners. Situated in Tuanjiehu Park, Sanlitun is the popular Old Poachers Inn.
Other bars can be found on Xinjiang Kou. Durty Nellie’s a great bar with live music. Sgt. Pepper’s, the Goose and Duck Pub, The Pig and Thistle, the Holiday Inn Lido and the Jichang Lu are also popular bars. Beijing’s most chic club is JJ’s, Xinjiekou Bei Dajie. Kiss Super Club, 35 Xue Yun Lu, is another popular place frequented by young foreigners.
Beijing Business
Beijing is a bustling city with a population of about 12 million people. It is a major force in China’s tourism industry, accounting for a quarter of the country's tourism income. Many Chinese are still involved in agriculture and farming but are regularly setting up small shops and stalls in the city. Many people work in the hotel industry because it pays very well. Locals are also opening bars, pubs and restaurants on a small scale to cater to the many tourists in Beijing.
Tips for Visiting Shanghai
Shanghai is an exciting and exotic city by the sea that has beckoned travelers for over a century. At the heart of China’s economic revival, Shanghai offers its visitors fun, excitement and entertainment like no other place in the world. With its own unique take on Chinese traditions and Western culture, Shanghai is definitely a place to visit for vacation.
Shanghai culture can be traced back to its roots as a tiny fishing village on the Chinese coast. After colonization by the British, the French and the Americans, Shanghai exploded onto the map as a great place to go to visit, work and learn. With its often-mystical Chinese traditions, Shanghai was mysterious and alluring to people which lead to its becoming rather colorful and decadent as an easy stopover for sailors and merchants. However, by 1950, communist rule came into force and most foreigners left the city. It remained dormant until the 1990’s when it was once again revived to spearhead China into the new millennium.
Shanghai is once again a great place for business and at the very core of China’s economy. The handshake here is now an accepted form of greeting, as is the exchange of business cards. Cards and gifts should be always presented, and received, with both hands. When invited to someone's house it is important that you never go empty-handed; always take a gift, even if it is just some fruit. Also, remember to take off your shoes at the entrance of a house, as shoes are considered to be unclean. The Chinese are very hospitable and often take guests and business colleagues out to dinner, so it is important that you learn to use chopsticks.
Weather in Shanghai
The best time to visit Shanghai is in the autumn, when the temperature is mild and it is less likely to rain. Shanghai's weather is moderate with an annual average temperature of about 15° C (59° F). The weather in Shanghai can be divided into four seasons: a warm spring, a hot summer, a cool autumn and a cold winter. Shanghai also receives plenty of rainfall from July to September; thunderstorms and torrential rain occur frequently. Summers in Shanghai are hot and humid with July and August as Shanghai's hottest months. January is the coldest month in Shanghai.
Shopping in Shanghai
Shanghai has a great city for shopping. From ancient Chinese artifacts to trendy western wear, Shanghai has it all. Western-styled shopping malls, huge department stores, street stalls, shops and colorful open-air markets can be found all over Shanghai. Most shops are open daily from10 am - 10 pm, with weekends, especially Sunday being the most hectic and busiest day to shop. Shanghai has some of the best antiques in mainland China and is known for its variety of Chinese silk. Jewelry, especially jade, gold, silver, and freshwater pearls can be found at bargain prices. As with most Asian cities bargaining is a must while shopping. Popular items on sale include: ceramics, hand-made embroidery, teapots, painted fans, handbags, carpets, lacquer ware, painted snuff bottles, and peasant paintings.
The best place to shop in Shanghai's is Nanjing Lu, which has many modern shopping malls and department stores. The Nanjing Lu Pedestrian Mall on Nanjing Dong Lu downtown is a popular shopping mall. Also popular is Huaihai Zhong Lu conveniently located parallel to Nanjing Lu. The Huaihai shopping area runs from the Huangpi Nan Lu Metro Station to the Changshu Lu Station. For the best in fashion and accessories, the Maoming Lu/Changle Lu area is the best. Taikang Lu has some of the most fashionable boutiques in the city with everything from designer handbags to expensive silks. Another major shopping street is Hengshan Le and Shanghai's Old Town Bazaar is a good place to shop for local arts and crafts and antiques. In Pudong, shopping is mainly east of the riverfront and south of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The Super Brand Mall in Lujiazui has plenty of shopping and Maison Mode, Raffles City and Plaza 66 are all great department stores. Shops like Taikang Ar Factory, Xintiandi and Yu Garden Bazaar are the prefect places to buy local crafts and wares.
What to Wear in Shanghai
The people of Shanghai have a reputation of being not only the best dressed in China, but in the world. Fashion conscious and stylish, most trends in the country usually originate from Shanghai. The best items of clothing are the ones you are most comfortable in because it is extremely hard for a tourist to out-dress a local. Jeans, t-shirts and shorts are the way to go and business wear is similar to the styles of the West.
Travel Around in Shanghai
Unlike many other Chinese cities, Shanghai has a great public transportation system with buses and a new metro (subway). All three metros take you almost anywhere in the city with all the information provided in English. Tickets range from ¥2 - 3. Taxi drivers here usually do not speak English, so be sure to bring the address written in Chinese. Most rides inside the city cost between ¥10 - 25. During rush hour, buses are extremely crowded and it is not a recommended to use them. Taxis are the most efficient, inexpensive way to travel in Shanghai. If you prefer to drive, a driver’s license can be obtained by surrendering your existing license. Be careful when walking around in Shanghai, as traffic can get quite hectic during rush hour; always try to cross the street in a group of pedestrians.
Health Services in Shanghai
Shanghai has the most advanced medical facilities in all of China. Most high-end hotels have an in-house or on-call doctor and always refer guests to dentists and doctors. The following hospitals provide international standard services:
World Link Medical and Dental Centers, Nánjing Xi Lù 1376
Shànghai Centre, Suite 203, Unit 30
Mandarine City, Hóngxu Lù 788, Hóngqiáo District (offers 24-hour emergency services)
World Link Inpatient Center at Dànshui Lù 170 on the 3rd floor.
The Foreigner's Clinic at Huá Shan Hospital, in Jìng An District on the 19th floor
The First People's Hospital International Medical Care Center, near the Bund (offers 24-hour emergency assistance)
Watson's Drug Store (which has branches throughout the city) is the best place to get medication
Shanghai Nightlife
Shanghai had a notorious nightlife in the late 1800’s and early 20th century. Gambling dens, opium joints, nightclubs and glamorous theatres were found everywhere in old Shanghai. However, with the communist revolution, Shanghai was cleaned up and now the entertainment is more respectable. Acrobatics, musicals, opera, dance and theatre performances can be found all over the city. Performances by Yo-yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Diana Krall and the Kirov Ballet have been held in Shanghai. There are also plenty of nightclubs and bars in the city with live music. The Shanghai International Jazz Concert Series is held in the second week of November each year in Shanghai.
Shanghai has some of the best dance clubs and discos in China. Pu-J's Big Top in the Grand Hyatt Hotel is a great dance club. Maoming Lu is another trendy bar on the rise. The Ark Live House, Dr Bar, Le Club at La Maison, Soho Pub and TMSK are all great places to visit and party until the wee hours of the morning.
Dining Out in Shanghai
Shanghai has many great restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and coffee shops to dine out in with family, friends or on a business lunch. The Darling Harbour Xin Gai Nian Chuan Cai, Wen Hao Za Liang Shi Fu, the Atrium Café, Huang Cheng Gen Er and the Roxy Bar & Grill are some great places to eat at. For more expensive and classic meals, the T8, Shintori Null II, Yongfoo Élite, M on the Bund and Quan Ju De are excellent. The more reasonable restaurants include Hot Pot King, Simply Thai, Nooch Noodle Bar, and Grape.
Shanghai Business
Shanghai is a thriving metropolis that has plenty of business ventures to keep most local and foreign businesspeople intrigued. Shanghai and the surrounding area all have Special Economic Zones which offer different tax incentives for the business executive who wants to open a business in Shanghai. The best way to get this information is to contact your respective consulate in Shanghai or the Chinese embassy. Pudong is the new financial and industrial center of Shanghai and has the best bets for tax incentives. Though China is still restrictive when it comes to setting up businesses, the government is keen to attract foreign investment; most businesses have a joint venture from of organization. From telecommunications and media to imports and exports, Shanghai is the best place to do business in China.
It is hard to clearly define Beijing culture because it is a mixture of traditional and contemporary values. Beijing’s history as a city dates back to 350 BC and it has undergone many changes as rulers have come and gone. The city has been the capital of the country for four dynasties and has been called Ji, Zhuojun, Youzhou Nanjing, Yanjing, Zhongdu, Dadu and Beiping.
Beijing’s People
The people in Beijing are quite friendly but have the unnerving habit of staring at foreigners. Although many people shake hands, it is still customary to join your hands and bow when greeting one another. It is important that you do not lose your temper in public or cause anyone to experience public shame; even contradicting someone in front of others should be avoided. If you must complain, do so calmly and privately. Punctuality is very important in China, so make sure you arrive for a meeting with plenty of time to spare. You may want to learn to eat with chopsticks prior to your Beijing tour as it is the most common eating utensil used in China. Forks are rarely used and are only given in more modern restaurants. Also remember that tipping in China was strictly forbidden and until recently and is typically frowned upon.
Beijing China Weather
Beijing weather has four distinct seasons. Spring which lasts from February to April is dry and windy, summer is hot and rainy. Autumn which lasts from August to October is the best season to visit Beijing as the temperature is mild, the sky is blue and the air is crisp and clean. This is also the peak tourist season in Beijing and tends to be very crowded. Winters are very cold due to the Siberian winds that come from the north. Most travelers avoid traveling to Beijing during the winter.
Beijing Shopping
There are numerous shopping districts in Beijing with something for everyone. Located near Tiananmen Square, Dachilan is the best place to buy silk during your Beijing tour. Also found here are many clothing stores, restaurants and department stores. Jianguomenwai is another popular Beijing shopping spot featuring the Youyi Shangdian (the Friendship Store) that sells everything from souvenirs to everyday items. Also in Jianguomenwai are more famous clothing stores like Gap and Prada. Liulichang has some of Beijing's oldest antique shops where you can find many unique artifacts. Remember to bargain and make your purchases carefully because you can be cheated. Sanlitun has a smaller clothing market and is less crowded than the other shopping areas.
Here tourists can find good China silk and clothing, as well as enjoy a quick drink at one of the many local bars. The most popular shopping area in Beijing is Wangfujing with the city’s first super mall, the Xindong Plaza. The markets Panjiayuan and Hongqiao are two of the most popular markets in the city. Panjiayuan is a weekend market, and the Hongqiao is a 3-storey market that sells nearly everything. You can buy anything from antiques to fake designer products from here.
What to Wear in Beijing?
You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in during your Beijing tour since Beijing is not as conservative as it once was. If you come to Beijing in spring, a thin sweater or coat will be needed. In summer, the climate gets quite hot so you will want to opt for casual clothes. In the winter, you will likely need a heavy sweater and a long coat. It is important that you remember to dress appropriately when visiting temples and sacred sites during your Beijing tour.
Travel Around Beijing
When traveling in Beijing, always carry a map (which is available at bus and railway stations and at the airports) and be sure that you know exactly where you want to go because most people do not speak or understand English very well. Traveling by taxi is the easiest way to get around Beijing. They are available in front of hotels, train stations and the airport. Always make sure the taxi driver turns the meter on when you get inside; unmetered taxis are illegal.
Buses are everywhere in Beijing, unfortunately for some travelers, they are very crowded and the signs and stops are only in Chinese. The subway is another great way to get around Beijing. The Circle Line, East-West Line, and Fuba Line connect all major streets in Beijing. The trains run every 10 minutes, and have a fixed fee of ¥3.
Beijing Nightlife
Beijing’s nightlife and entertainment scene are rapidly evolving. There are many nightclubs, discos, karaoke bars and pubs all over the city. Most clubs are open all night and charge an entrance fee of about ¥100-200. The most popular bar is Sanlitun, in the northeast section of the city. It is pretty lively and frequented by foreigners. Situated in Tuanjiehu Park, Sanlitun is the popular Old Poachers Inn.
Other bars can be found on Xinjiang Kou. Durty Nellie’s a great bar with live music. Sgt. Pepper’s, the Goose and Duck Pub, The Pig and Thistle, the Holiday Inn Lido and the Jichang Lu are also popular bars. Beijing’s most chic club is JJ’s, Xinjiekou Bei Dajie. Kiss Super Club, 35 Xue Yun Lu, is another popular place frequented by young foreigners.
Beijing Business
Beijing is a bustling city with a population of about 12 million people. It is a major force in China’s tourism industry, accounting for a quarter of the country's tourism income. Many Chinese are still involved in agriculture and farming but are regularly setting up small shops and stalls in the city. Many people work in the hotel industry because it pays very well. Locals are also opening bars, pubs and restaurants on a small scale to cater to the many tourists in Beijing.
Tips for Visiting Shanghai
Shanghai is an exciting and exotic city by the sea that has beckoned travelers for over a century. At the heart of China’s economic revival, Shanghai offers its visitors fun, excitement and entertainment like no other place in the world. With its own unique take on Chinese traditions and Western culture, Shanghai is definitely a place to visit for vacation.
Shanghai culture can be traced back to its roots as a tiny fishing village on the Chinese coast. After colonization by the British, the French and the Americans, Shanghai exploded onto the map as a great place to go to visit, work and learn. With its often-mystical Chinese traditions, Shanghai was mysterious and alluring to people which lead to its becoming rather colorful and decadent as an easy stopover for sailors and merchants. However, by 1950, communist rule came into force and most foreigners left the city. It remained dormant until the 1990’s when it was once again revived to spearhead China into the new millennium.
Shanghai is once again a great place for business and at the very core of China’s economy. The handshake here is now an accepted form of greeting, as is the exchange of business cards. Cards and gifts should be always presented, and received, with both hands. When invited to someone's house it is important that you never go empty-handed; always take a gift, even if it is just some fruit. Also, remember to take off your shoes at the entrance of a house, as shoes are considered to be unclean. The Chinese are very hospitable and often take guests and business colleagues out to dinner, so it is important that you learn to use chopsticks.
Weather in Shanghai
The best time to visit Shanghai is in the autumn, when the temperature is mild and it is less likely to rain. Shanghai's weather is moderate with an annual average temperature of about 15° C (59° F). The weather in Shanghai can be divided into four seasons: a warm spring, a hot summer, a cool autumn and a cold winter. Shanghai also receives plenty of rainfall from July to September; thunderstorms and torrential rain occur frequently. Summers in Shanghai are hot and humid with July and August as Shanghai's hottest months. January is the coldest month in Shanghai.
Shopping in Shanghai
Shanghai has a great city for shopping. From ancient Chinese artifacts to trendy western wear, Shanghai has it all. Western-styled shopping malls, huge department stores, street stalls, shops and colorful open-air markets can be found all over Shanghai. Most shops are open daily from10 am - 10 pm, with weekends, especially Sunday being the most hectic and busiest day to shop. Shanghai has some of the best antiques in mainland China and is known for its variety of Chinese silk. Jewelry, especially jade, gold, silver, and freshwater pearls can be found at bargain prices. As with most Asian cities bargaining is a must while shopping. Popular items on sale include: ceramics, hand-made embroidery, teapots, painted fans, handbags, carpets, lacquer ware, painted snuff bottles, and peasant paintings.
The best place to shop in Shanghai's is Nanjing Lu, which has many modern shopping malls and department stores. The Nanjing Lu Pedestrian Mall on Nanjing Dong Lu downtown is a popular shopping mall. Also popular is Huaihai Zhong Lu conveniently located parallel to Nanjing Lu. The Huaihai shopping area runs from the Huangpi Nan Lu Metro Station to the Changshu Lu Station. For the best in fashion and accessories, the Maoming Lu/Changle Lu area is the best. Taikang Lu has some of the most fashionable boutiques in the city with everything from designer handbags to expensive silks. Another major shopping street is Hengshan Le and Shanghai's Old Town Bazaar is a good place to shop for local arts and crafts and antiques. In Pudong, shopping is mainly east of the riverfront and south of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The Super Brand Mall in Lujiazui has plenty of shopping and Maison Mode, Raffles City and Plaza 66 are all great department stores. Shops like Taikang Ar Factory, Xintiandi and Yu Garden Bazaar are the prefect places to buy local crafts and wares.
What to Wear in Shanghai
The people of Shanghai have a reputation of being not only the best dressed in China, but in the world. Fashion conscious and stylish, most trends in the country usually originate from Shanghai. The best items of clothing are the ones you are most comfortable in because it is extremely hard for a tourist to out-dress a local. Jeans, t-shirts and shorts are the way to go and business wear is similar to the styles of the West.
Travel Around in Shanghai
Unlike many other Chinese cities, Shanghai has a great public transportation system with buses and a new metro (subway). All three metros take you almost anywhere in the city with all the information provided in English. Tickets range from ¥2 - 3. Taxi drivers here usually do not speak English, so be sure to bring the address written in Chinese. Most rides inside the city cost between ¥10 - 25. During rush hour, buses are extremely crowded and it is not a recommended to use them. Taxis are the most efficient, inexpensive way to travel in Shanghai. If you prefer to drive, a driver’s license can be obtained by surrendering your existing license. Be careful when walking around in Shanghai, as traffic can get quite hectic during rush hour; always try to cross the street in a group of pedestrians.
Health Services in Shanghai
Shanghai has the most advanced medical facilities in all of China. Most high-end hotels have an in-house or on-call doctor and always refer guests to dentists and doctors. The following hospitals provide international standard services:
World Link Medical and Dental Centers, Nánjing Xi Lù 1376
Shànghai Centre, Suite 203, Unit 30
Mandarine City, Hóngxu Lù 788, Hóngqiáo District (offers 24-hour emergency services)
World Link Inpatient Center at Dànshui Lù 170 on the 3rd floor.
The Foreigner's Clinic at Huá Shan Hospital, in Jìng An District on the 19th floor
The First People's Hospital International Medical Care Center, near the Bund (offers 24-hour emergency assistance)
Watson's Drug Store (which has branches throughout the city) is the best place to get medication
Shanghai Nightlife
Shanghai had a notorious nightlife in the late 1800’s and early 20th century. Gambling dens, opium joints, nightclubs and glamorous theatres were found everywhere in old Shanghai. However, with the communist revolution, Shanghai was cleaned up and now the entertainment is more respectable. Acrobatics, musicals, opera, dance and theatre performances can be found all over the city. Performances by Yo-yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Diana Krall and the Kirov Ballet have been held in Shanghai. There are also plenty of nightclubs and bars in the city with live music. The Shanghai International Jazz Concert Series is held in the second week of November each year in Shanghai.
Shanghai has some of the best dance clubs and discos in China. Pu-J's Big Top in the Grand Hyatt Hotel is a great dance club. Maoming Lu is another trendy bar on the rise. The Ark Live House, Dr Bar, Le Club at La Maison, Soho Pub and TMSK are all great places to visit and party until the wee hours of the morning.
Dining Out in Shanghai
Shanghai has many great restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and coffee shops to dine out in with family, friends or on a business lunch. The Darling Harbour Xin Gai Nian Chuan Cai, Wen Hao Za Liang Shi Fu, the Atrium Café, Huang Cheng Gen Er and the Roxy Bar & Grill are some great places to eat at. For more expensive and classic meals, the T8, Shintori Null II, Yongfoo Élite, M on the Bund and Quan Ju De are excellent. The more reasonable restaurants include Hot Pot King, Simply Thai, Nooch Noodle Bar, and Grape.
Shanghai Business
Shanghai is a thriving metropolis that has plenty of business ventures to keep most local and foreign businesspeople intrigued. Shanghai and the surrounding area all have Special Economic Zones which offer different tax incentives for the business executive who wants to open a business in Shanghai. The best way to get this information is to contact your respective consulate in Shanghai or the Chinese embassy. Pudong is the new financial and industrial center of Shanghai and has the best bets for tax incentives. Though China is still restrictive when it comes to setting up businesses, the government is keen to attract foreign investment; most businesses have a joint venture from of organization. From telecommunications and media to imports and exports, Shanghai is the best place to do business in China.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Kelly- Post 4- China Family Visiting
Hello,
I found a website that explains proper etiquette when visiting a Chinese family and thought it may be useful if we are able to do that.
Chinese people are hospitable. If you are invited by or wish to pay a visit to a Chinese family, there are some formalities that you should follow:
a. Make an appointment in advance, and then you should always be punctual for the appointment.
b. Choose an appropriate time to have the family visiting, avoid visiting at other's dining or resting time. The best time is the period after noon or supper.
c. Bring some gifts as a polite gesture.
d. Hand your hat, overcoat, raingear, etc...to the host for placement.
e. Greet to all people in the family no matter whether they are acquaintances or not.f
. Be seated only when invited to do by your host.
g. Usually you will be offered tea, beverage, cigarette, fruits, candies socks and dim-sum. Just express your thankfulness then you can help yourself to them.
h. Never poke fun about anything in the host's family.
i. Generally do not stay more than an hour unless being asked by the host to stay longer.
j. Always express your thanks to the host when you leave.
By the way, do you feel puzzled when you want to buy some gifts for your Chinese friends? Hope you will have a clear idea after reading the following words:
Chinese people set store by gift giving. As we say in English, it is the thought that counts. Giving a gift to Chinese people should be appropriate for the condition or occasion. If you pay a visit to a Chinese family, it is smart to bring gift for the hostess like bouquet, cosmetic, or scarves. Toys, candies, books are good for the children if they have them. If you attend a wedding party, the artistic adornment, bouquet, or some practical items are the best choice. During the traditional Chinese festivals, you can bring wines, cigarettes, tea, candies, fruits, or some of your local products.
However, there are some tips for you to note, which is considered to be unpropitious:
a. Clocks should never be presented as gift to others, especially to elders.
b. Pears can not be sent to couples.
c. People who are unwell may not be given medicine as gift.
d. Intimate items of clothing may not be gifts for friends of the opposite sex.
I found a website that explains proper etiquette when visiting a Chinese family and thought it may be useful if we are able to do that.
Chinese people are hospitable. If you are invited by or wish to pay a visit to a Chinese family, there are some formalities that you should follow:
a. Make an appointment in advance, and then you should always be punctual for the appointment.
b. Choose an appropriate time to have the family visiting, avoid visiting at other's dining or resting time. The best time is the period after noon or supper.
c. Bring some gifts as a polite gesture.
d. Hand your hat, overcoat, raingear, etc...to the host for placement.
e. Greet to all people in the family no matter whether they are acquaintances or not.f
. Be seated only when invited to do by your host.
g. Usually you will be offered tea, beverage, cigarette, fruits, candies socks and dim-sum. Just express your thankfulness then you can help yourself to them.
h. Never poke fun about anything in the host's family.
i. Generally do not stay more than an hour unless being asked by the host to stay longer.
j. Always express your thanks to the host when you leave.
By the way, do you feel puzzled when you want to buy some gifts for your Chinese friends? Hope you will have a clear idea after reading the following words:
Chinese people set store by gift giving. As we say in English, it is the thought that counts. Giving a gift to Chinese people should be appropriate for the condition or occasion. If you pay a visit to a Chinese family, it is smart to bring gift for the hostess like bouquet, cosmetic, or scarves. Toys, candies, books are good for the children if they have them. If you attend a wedding party, the artistic adornment, bouquet, or some practical items are the best choice. During the traditional Chinese festivals, you can bring wines, cigarettes, tea, candies, fruits, or some of your local products.
However, there are some tips for you to note, which is considered to be unpropitious:
a. Clocks should never be presented as gift to others, especially to elders.
b. Pears can not be sent to couples.
c. People who are unwell may not be given medicine as gift.
d. Intimate items of clothing may not be gifts for friends of the opposite sex.
Kelly -Post 3- China warns on Meeting with Dalai Lama
China Warns U.S. on Meeting With Dalai Lama
By EDWARD WONG
Published: February 2, 2010
BEIJING — A senior Chinese official strongly warned President Obama on Tuesday against meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of the Tibetans, saying it would damage relations between China and the United States.
The official, Zhu Weiqun, said any country would suffer consequences if its leaders met with the Dalai Lama, whom China considers to be a dangerous separatist. Mr. Zhu did not elaborate on what actions China could take.
But a White House spokesman said the president’s plans were unchanged. “The president told China’s leaders during his trip last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama, and he intends to do so,” said the spokesman, Bill Burton, speaking aboard Air Force One as it flew Mr. Obama to New Hampshire for an event.
“To be clear,” he added, “the U.S. considers Tibet to be a part of China. We have human rights concerns about the treatment of Tibetans. We urge the government of China to protect the unique cultural and religious traditions of Tibet.”
Last autumn, when the Dalai Lama visited the United States, Mr. Obama declined to meet with him to avoid angering China before Mr. Obama’s trip to Beijing, in November.
Both Mr. Obama and the Dalai Lama are Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Mr. Zhu, who is the executive vice director of the United Front Work Department, the arm of the Chinese Communist Party that oversees ethnic policy, made his remarks at a morning news conference, according to Xinhua, the state news agency. The purpose of the conference was to give details on recent negotiations between the Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama, in which China rejected demands for greater Tibetan autonomy.
Any move by American leaders to meet the Dalai Lama will “harm others but bring no profit to itself, either,” Mr. Zhu said.
Despite Mr. Obama’s earlier overtures to Beijing, tensions between the United States and China have been on the rise.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently chastised China in a speech she gave in which she denounced Internet censorship. Last Friday, the United States announced sales of $6.4 billion of arms to Taiwan, the self-governing island that China says is a rebel province. In response, China said it would break off military-to-military ties with the United States and impose sanctions against the American companies that make the arms.
China usually criticizes any prominent figure who meets with the Dalai Lama.
In 2007, despite furious objections from China, President George W. Bush met privately with the Dalai Lama in Washington and was present at a ceremony at which Congress awarded the exiled Tibetan leader its highest civilian honor. China called the event a farce.
A decade earlier, President Bill Clinton informally greeted the Dalai Lama at the White House and said he would urge China to open talks with him, but the two leaders did not meet formally.
In 2008 China protested a meeting between the Dalai Lama and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France. It hinted that it would impose economic sanctions against France but never did.
China considers sovereignty issues like the status of Tibet and Taiwan to be what officials call the nation’s “core interests.” Few things anger the Chinese government more than the perceived intervention of foreign countries in these matters. Tibet, always a thorny foreign policy issue for the Communist Party, became even more so after an uprising exploded across Tibetan regions of western China in March 2008.
The Dalai Lama, 74, lives in India and says he wants only “genuine autonomy” for Tibet, not independence.
The latest meeting between his envoys and Chinese officials ended over the weekend. It was the ninth round of talks since 2002, and Chinese officials restated their rejection of the Dalai Lama’s call for greater autonomy for the Tibetans.
Mr. Zhu said Tuesday that the Dalai Lama was not a legal representative of the six million Tibetans in China and that China would discuss with the envoys only the status of the Dalai Lama, not the future of Tibet.
I chose this article from the New York Times, it was just published yesterday. I thought this was interesting because it clearly shows how adamant China is against President Obama meeting with the Dalai Lama. As I started reading the article I realized I was going to have to do a little research of my own and investigate the full story behind the Dalai Lama and why he is considered by China to be a "dangerous separatist."
By EDWARD WONG
Published: February 2, 2010
BEIJING — A senior Chinese official strongly warned President Obama on Tuesday against meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of the Tibetans, saying it would damage relations between China and the United States.
The official, Zhu Weiqun, said any country would suffer consequences if its leaders met with the Dalai Lama, whom China considers to be a dangerous separatist. Mr. Zhu did not elaborate on what actions China could take.
But a White House spokesman said the president’s plans were unchanged. “The president told China’s leaders during his trip last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama, and he intends to do so,” said the spokesman, Bill Burton, speaking aboard Air Force One as it flew Mr. Obama to New Hampshire for an event.
“To be clear,” he added, “the U.S. considers Tibet to be a part of China. We have human rights concerns about the treatment of Tibetans. We urge the government of China to protect the unique cultural and religious traditions of Tibet.”
Last autumn, when the Dalai Lama visited the United States, Mr. Obama declined to meet with him to avoid angering China before Mr. Obama’s trip to Beijing, in November.
Both Mr. Obama and the Dalai Lama are Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Mr. Zhu, who is the executive vice director of the United Front Work Department, the arm of the Chinese Communist Party that oversees ethnic policy, made his remarks at a morning news conference, according to Xinhua, the state news agency. The purpose of the conference was to give details on recent negotiations between the Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama, in which China rejected demands for greater Tibetan autonomy.
Any move by American leaders to meet the Dalai Lama will “harm others but bring no profit to itself, either,” Mr. Zhu said.
Despite Mr. Obama’s earlier overtures to Beijing, tensions between the United States and China have been on the rise.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently chastised China in a speech she gave in which she denounced Internet censorship. Last Friday, the United States announced sales of $6.4 billion of arms to Taiwan, the self-governing island that China says is a rebel province. In response, China said it would break off military-to-military ties with the United States and impose sanctions against the American companies that make the arms.
China usually criticizes any prominent figure who meets with the Dalai Lama.
In 2007, despite furious objections from China, President George W. Bush met privately with the Dalai Lama in Washington and was present at a ceremony at which Congress awarded the exiled Tibetan leader its highest civilian honor. China called the event a farce.
A decade earlier, President Bill Clinton informally greeted the Dalai Lama at the White House and said he would urge China to open talks with him, but the two leaders did not meet formally.
In 2008 China protested a meeting between the Dalai Lama and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France. It hinted that it would impose economic sanctions against France but never did.
China considers sovereignty issues like the status of Tibet and Taiwan to be what officials call the nation’s “core interests.” Few things anger the Chinese government more than the perceived intervention of foreign countries in these matters. Tibet, always a thorny foreign policy issue for the Communist Party, became even more so after an uprising exploded across Tibetan regions of western China in March 2008.
The Dalai Lama, 74, lives in India and says he wants only “genuine autonomy” for Tibet, not independence.
The latest meeting between his envoys and Chinese officials ended over the weekend. It was the ninth round of talks since 2002, and Chinese officials restated their rejection of the Dalai Lama’s call for greater autonomy for the Tibetans.
Mr. Zhu said Tuesday that the Dalai Lama was not a legal representative of the six million Tibetans in China and that China would discuss with the envoys only the status of the Dalai Lama, not the future of Tibet.
I chose this article from the New York Times, it was just published yesterday. I thought this was interesting because it clearly shows how adamant China is against President Obama meeting with the Dalai Lama. As I started reading the article I realized I was going to have to do a little research of my own and investigate the full story behind the Dalai Lama and why he is considered by China to be a "dangerous separatist."
Upon doing some research I found China being a communist country dislikes the Dalai Lama because he has such moral authority to convince many people that the Chinese version of history is not truthful. The Dalai Lama, along with millions of people inside and outside of Tibet believe that Tibet should be considered an autonomous country even though it was invaded by China. Due to his views, he has been exiled from China.
This view is now still a conflict of interest between the United States and China mostly because the opinions vary greatly. The United States believes the Dalai Lama to be as George Bush said, "a shepherd of the faithful" believing that the people of Tibet should celebrate their religious freedom and views. The Chinese however feel the Dalai Lama "splits the motherland."
Now according to the article, tensions are rising between the United States and China since President Obama has explained to China's leaders that he is going to meet with the Dalai Lama. This could prove to further damage the relationship between the U.S. and China especially since China is still recovering from Hillary Clinton's remark about interenet censorship in China.
With China becoming a superpower, I just wonder what affect this damage will cause in the future.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Kelly Post 2 -Getting to know me
Hello,
My name is Kelly. Sorry this is a little late, I'm currently trying to juggle three classes and it's definitely proving to be quite busy.
So a little about me....I graduated from University of Illinois Chicago campus with a bachelors in Communications. I didn't know what field I wanted to get into so I went after a degree that had a broader spectrum. After graduation I got a job and started working. Upon being in the working world I started to realize my passion for Marketing. I enjoyed learning more and more about the field and decided to start my MBA with an emphasis in Marketing.
I'm very excited about the China trip, I love traveling and learning about new cultures and found this would be a great experience for me personally and professionally. I've traveled to England before but other than that and Mexico, I've never been out of the country. It's definitely a little scary not going with any friends or family but I think it will still be a great experience.
I'm currently working for the American Medical Association in the Member Relations department. I'm looking for a new job where I can utilize what I'm currently learning. I like the job but just don't feel like I'm being challenged any longer and since it's not career related, I'm finding myself more and more dissatisfied with it. So hopefully sending out my resumes will pay off one day.
My main hobby I would say is running. I love running, I've never felt like I could get away and clear my mind more when I'm on a run. I played soccer in high school and after that was over, I still felt the need to do something, so I started running and eventually decided in 2008 to participate in the Chicago Marathon. The marathon was probably the greatest experience of my life thus far. Then in 2009 I did my first Chicago Triathlon; that was fun, but I really didn't enjoy swimming a mile in the 63 degree lake water. I would like to participate in at least one more marathon before I settle down and start having kids...so 2009 may be the year.
Well, I hope everyone was able to gain a little insight into who I am. I look forward to going to China with everyone. See you on the 20th!
Regards,
Kelly
My name is Kelly. Sorry this is a little late, I'm currently trying to juggle three classes and it's definitely proving to be quite busy.
So a little about me....I graduated from University of Illinois Chicago campus with a bachelors in Communications. I didn't know what field I wanted to get into so I went after a degree that had a broader spectrum. After graduation I got a job and started working. Upon being in the working world I started to realize my passion for Marketing. I enjoyed learning more and more about the field and decided to start my MBA with an emphasis in Marketing.
I'm very excited about the China trip, I love traveling and learning about new cultures and found this would be a great experience for me personally and professionally. I've traveled to England before but other than that and Mexico, I've never been out of the country. It's definitely a little scary not going with any friends or family but I think it will still be a great experience.
I'm currently working for the American Medical Association in the Member Relations department. I'm looking for a new job where I can utilize what I'm currently learning. I like the job but just don't feel like I'm being challenged any longer and since it's not career related, I'm finding myself more and more dissatisfied with it. So hopefully sending out my resumes will pay off one day.
My main hobby I would say is running. I love running, I've never felt like I could get away and clear my mind more when I'm on a run. I played soccer in high school and after that was over, I still felt the need to do something, so I started running and eventually decided in 2008 to participate in the Chicago Marathon. The marathon was probably the greatest experience of my life thus far. Then in 2009 I did my first Chicago Triathlon; that was fun, but I really didn't enjoy swimming a mile in the 63 degree lake water. I would like to participate in at least one more marathon before I settle down and start having kids...so 2009 may be the year.
Well, I hope everyone was able to gain a little insight into who I am. I look forward to going to China with everyone. See you on the 20th!
Regards,
Kelly
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