<- Click to filter by commenter
| 9 |
Why Maps in Shanghai are Upside Down? Jian Shuo, look here for a part answer to why North at the top. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1948JRASC..42..233P I suspect the Polar Star had a major role. Also, if George is correct about the 4 winds then we reverse east and west north and south and we are back where we started from but upside down :-). Mahjong only reverses the east and west so we have a true mirror image! |
| 8 |
Why Maps in Shanghai are Upside Down? Great to get such a quick response Jian Shuo. Now to answer George. The map actually has a marker at the top pointing to NORTH and with the Bei character , BUT it was where South should have been:-). Not simply a matter of the map being upside down on the wall, it was simply incorrect no matter how you view it. The second map was also not correct in the sense that viewing it and turning right would get you in the correct direction, you had to turn left because it was wrong in sense and position. Not fully convinced about the winds bit (yet). In Mahjong the set up initially makes the Great Wall in a square and the relative position of the walls is also with East wall at the dealer and North wall to his left etc. And George's explanantion should then cause Jian Shuo's East wind to become a West wind! Incidentally Chinese diesel railway locomotives are all Dong Fengs (east winds). So the east wind must certainly have a strong emotional meaning. On my trips to China I have been known as "Map Man" to my friends. Next time I'll be even more interested in the maps! |
| 7 |
New Regulations to Kill Group Renting in Shanghai The standard way for students and young unmarried people to live, in the rest of the world is to share a "flat", or house or apartment with more than 1 bedroom. Everyone contributes to the rent and power , telephone etc. Are you saying that in China now that no one can live with anyone else? Unless they are with parents or are married? There is a growing trend also, in the west for older widows (especially ,as ther eare more of them) to live together in a house rather than to go to an old peoples home. Perhaps what is intended to be restricted is "subletting". Where the first tenant makes a profit by on-selling rooms to others. This is commonly banned by many house or apartment owners elsewhere too. Perhaps the answer is just for all the people to end up in another financial arrangement by sharing better. |
| 6 |
Thanks Wendy for Finding my Passport It is called "having a mother's look" :-) |
| 5 |
Some Photo of Hong Kong in Jan Trip There are doubledecker buses just visible at the left and top of your picture of the Hong Kong doubledecker TRAMS :-). Note the rail tracks they run on. |
| 4 |
Where are You - Part II Hello Jian Shou Here is a topic and a question. What do you know of the background to Alipay removing the ability to use VISA to make payments (to Taobao traders and others) to China?. It was announced with much fanfare in April 2005 and I have been happily using it to trade with Taobao small traders since then. But on August 17th is was stopped , I have just found out. Interestingly, the Taobao trading was not just a trade thing. Some of the traders have become personal friends and we have even met in China on visits, expanding my horizons and theirs. All because of the ability to pay them with VISA! All now gone. Since you are part of this business world, you might know something about the rationale and if the stop is likely to be only temporary. It seems inconceivable that China can be part of the modern world and advancing, if this kind of thing is not reintroduced. It is surely preventing capital flowing INTO China ! The Alipay VISA facility was level 3D protected so was more secure than most VISA cards as only some banks had that level of security available on their cards. I had to hunt around until I found one that did.(The "Verified by VISA" system) Interestingly, Alipay still has the logo on the bottom of the home page :-) Is the Alipay VISA restriction also part of some bigger restriction on the use of credit cards in China? As always, appreciate your blog and insights. |
| 3 |
Where are You? I am in New Zealand, the South Island. Air New Zealand has just started (or will very soon start) direct flights to Shanghai so next time to Shanghai it will be much faster and less tiring :-). I live in Christchurch and frequently eat at Chinese eateries without any other Europeans around. There are also lots of Chinese shops and the Mayor of Dunedin is Chinese. Since my first visit to Shanghai I check your blog daily, there is always something interesting and relevant. Since my second visit I feel I "know" Shanghai a little (!) and feel very comfortable there. |
| 2 |
Z Series Train in China You will find train information here, use Google to translate the page if necessary; http://www.huoche.com.cn/ also here; http://www.oklx.com/cn/train/search_station.asp and here was working a few months ago but doesn't seem to be up now. http://www.e-shrailway.com/ I prefer to travel by hard sleeper. The "compartments" have no doors so you can see out equally on both sides without being trapped inside a room. The soft sleepers have compartments with end walls (no windows) and a narrow door, in the main, yuck. The hard class is more friendly and communal. If you are concerned about toilet hygiene then you should not be in China at all. |
| 1 |
"Not Happy New Year" It is a very Chinese thing to do, changing name and display. Westerners would think that you are very scatterbrained and fickle. Of course it seems to be traditional for Chines to adopt different names and personas. Very confusing for the rest of us who are constantly wondering , why? What would businesses suffer if they were constantly changing their logos and market identity? Many pay megabucks for infringements. Pick a name and display stick with it! ^.^. |