In Brief Expo
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
© www.expo2010china.com
Organiser Discusses Progress with UN Diplomat The Organiser of World Expo 2010 discussed updates and progress during his meeting in March with Li Baodong, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office (UNOG) at Geneva and other International Organisations in Switzerland. Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee, also briefed Li on the participation of the UN and some organisations under the UN at Expo 2010. Zhou thanked Li for his efforts during Shanghai's bidding. Li praised the organiser's work in terms of the record number of participants and promotions during the financial crisis. He also noted that the work is strenuous with many challenges ahead, expressing his hope that Expo officials could counter all these difficulties to host a successful Expo. The UN's participation is significant in enhancing cooperation between the organiser and China, Li noted. Several UN agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the International Atomic
Energy Agency, the International Maritime Organization, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United Nations Environment Program and the World Intellectual Property Organization have confirmed participation.
Germany Suggests Expansion Wolfgang Röhr, the former German Consul General in Shanghai, suggested that some activities might be staged outside the Germany Pavilion to reflect German culture and its people's enthusiasm. He made the proposal at a meeting with Hu Jinjun, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination. The two discussed Germany's cultural activities plans and exhibition. Hu said the organisers will provide any necessary help to Germany.
Expo's Entertainment Extravaganza Visitors to the 2010 World Expo will enjoy an entertainment extravaganza with countries from around the globe promising to bring some of their best cultural acts. German officials have suggested special activities at the Expo site to mark the end of a three-year cultural programme – "Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together." The programme was inaugurated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2007 during her visit to China. It is scheduled to land in Shanghai in 2010, the last stop after touring Nanjing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shengyang, Wuhan and Changchun. Wolfgang Schüssel, the former Federal Chancellor of Austria, recommended an exhibition of sculptures by Andre Heller and architect Mark Fisher. Meanwhile, an official in charge of the "African Footprint" tour through Europe, has expressed interest in a cultural program to give Shanghai a taste of Africa. African drums, soulful saxophones and haunting pennywhistles, dances such as traditional gumboot and hip-hop pantsulas, are all featured in the "African Footprint."
Schröder Has a Date with Expo
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Gerhard Schröder, the former German Chancellor, confirmed he would visit the 2010 World Expo to experience the charm of the event. He received a progress report from Zhong Yanqun, full-time deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee during a recent visit to the city. Zhong said the Expo has attracted 233 countries and international organisations to date. Incredible pavilions and shows as well as an average of 100 daily performances will be highlights for the Expo 2010, Zhong noted. She invited media from around the world to cover the event. June - July 2009 | 64
Health
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Friendships in Transit: Coping When Friends Leave My friend Debbie, who has been in Shanghai for two years, has had several friends leave recently and several more have announced their upcoming departures. In reflecting on this state of affairs, Debbie said, “When Susan leaves, the last of my original group will be gone. I don’t want to go to another goodbye lunch. I can’t do this. It’s too sad.” Much has been written about the experience of the person moving overseas, from the stages of acculturation and culture shock through to the difficulties of repatriation. Less has been written about this aspect of the expatriate experience – specifically about what happens to those of us left behind when friends move on. The values of friendships are plentiful. Friends provide company, increase our sense of belonging, purpose, and self-worth. They help us through the tough times and are there to celebrate the joys with us. Research has shown that regardless of circumstances, supportive relationships generally enhance physical and psychological well-being. When living in a foreign culture, our friendships take on added importance. Most expatriate families have left behind all of their home support systems: extended family, friends, counsellors, business contacts, sports teams – literally everyone they normally would turn to for assistance in any aspect of their lives. As a result, expatriate families tend to reach out to one another as surrogates for those we left at home. As strangers in a strange land, our bonds are even tighter. According to “Third Culture Kids”, Pollock and Van Reken's study of “the experience of growing up among worlds,” expatriates have different ways of dealing with the transient nature of friendships. Some expatriates jump into relationships, others are much more cautious. Frequent goodbyes make some unwilling to risk emotional involvement again. In an effort to protect ourselves from the pain of loss, the book describes three types of maladaptive coping styles. Some may consciously avoid developing close friendships in order to avoid the pain of grief when their friends leave. These people end up with a pain of loneliness even greater than the one they are running from. A second popular protective response is the “quick release.” When friends are about to leave, some peoples' response is to let go too soon. They may stop calling, visiting, or spending time with their friends, even before they have physically moved. A third protective response is the refusal to feel pain. Some people refuse to acknowledge the feelings of hurt they feel to others or to themselves.
Say goodbye: It is very important to say goodbye to significant people in our lives. The goodbye lunch, though dreaded, is one way. It is a ritual that acknowledges the importance of that relationship. Express your feelings: Remember that losses inevitably produce grief. It is normal to feel sad and it is far better to express those feelings than to keep them bottled inside. Writing a goodbye note or keeping a journal are good ways to do this. www.china.ahk.de
Rely on family: The time when your friends are in flux can be a time to pull in more tightly with your family or spouse if you came here with them. Use them for support during times of transition. Remain open to new friendships: It's easy when you get settled in and comfortable with a group of friends to say to oneself, "I have my group now. I don't need any one else." However, since you never know whether your friends are going to be stable, try not to shut yourself off from making new ones. It's also great to have multiple groups of friends as an insurance policy. Reach out to new families who have arrived – remember how hard it was when you arrived. People who've arrived after you have also a better chance of out-staying you! Use the internet to stay in touch: As expatriates we have a beautiful opportunity to make connections with a rich variety of people. The problem with so many relationships is that they simply can't all be maintained. There are so many resources available now for staying in touch – email, blogs and social networking sites all keep us closer. Take care of yourself: During times of change and stress it's more important than ever to take good care of yourself through exercise, good nutrition, regular sleep and a little pampering (foot massage, trashy novel, etc). We must accept that pain is part of life; if, out of fear, we don't take risks, if we shut ourselves off from opportunities, we will impoverish our lives. Friendships make our lives meaningful. It may be helpful to remember the proverb, “’tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” I like to think that every friend who touches us, lives on inside us. Dr. Lauren Muhlheim is an American Psychologist who works at Parkway Health. For any inquiries, please contact Parkway Health’s 24-hour information and appointment line at: Tel: 021 6445-5999 | Email enquiry@parkwayhealth.cn
65 | June - July 2009
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How Should We Cope?
Use the support network: If you and the person who is leaving had a group of friends in common, it can be healing for those remaining friends to come together and support one another. If that is not the case, it is still helpful to share your feelings with someone who can be supportive to reduce your feelings of isolation. When other friends express feelings of sadness, show empathy rather than trying to cheer them up. The latter tends to hinder the expression of feelings.
Education & Training
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Guangzhou Training Highlights
Training Courses Organised by the Delegation of German Industry & Commerce Date
Effective Selling Skills Title
Beijing 4th - 5th June Crashkurs Nordchina Intensive Spoken Chinese for Elementary Level 3rd June - 22nd August Intensive Spoken Chinese for Beginners 4th June - 22nd August Effective Selling Skills 11th - 12th June Executive Assistant Training 15th - 16th June Safe - Driving Seminar for VIP - Drivers 20th June Safe - Driving Training for Professional Cargo Transportation Drivers 4th July
Guangzhou / Shenzhen 1st June 2nd - 3rd June 11th - 12th June 16th June 25th - 26th June 18th July 20th - 21st July 21st July 23rd - 24th July
Professional Receptionist Training Management Transition from Engineer to Manager Effective Selling Skills Handling Complaints & Difficult Customers Executive Assistant Training Executive Assistant Training Management Toolkits for SMEs and Representative Offices Customer Service Excellence Management Essentials for High Potentials: Session 1: Presentation Skills
Shanghai 2nd - 3rd June 5th June 8th - 9th June 9th - 10th June 12th June 16th - 17th June 18th June 18th - 19th June 23rd - 24th June 25th - 26th June 26th June 30th June 3rd July 6th - 7th July 7th July 10th July 14th - 15th July 15th July 16th - 17th July 17th July 20th - 21st July Import 23rd - 24th July 28th July * New Courses
Train the Trainer China Tax Development and Planning 2009 MS Office Advanced Skills for Marketing & Sales Project Management Essentials Optimisation of Distribution Channels & Inventory Control* Project Planning and Controlling Managing Account Receivables* Professional Presentation Skills Business Negotiation Skills* Bridging the Cultural Gap Work-Life Balance* SAP Logistics Execution Management* Motivate Your Team MS Office Advanced Skills for Human Resources* Controlling for Controllers* Selling With Stories* Working Smart with MS Excel Planning and Practice in Corporation Income Tax in China* Working with MS Excel Functions & Macros International Procurement, Forwarding & Customs Clearance Management of Customs’ Commodity Classifications on and Export Cargo, and Analysing Technical Processing Skill* Key Account Management* SAP Management Essentials
All GCC members receive discounted rates on training courses. For further information please contact:
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Beijing Ms. Yang Xiao | Tel: 010 6590-0926 ext. 302 Email: yang.xiao@bj.china.ahk.de Guangzhou Ms. Xenia Deng | Tel: 020 8755-8206 | Fax: 020 8755-1889 Email: deng.xenia@gz.china.ahk.de Shanghai Mr. Ma Zhichao | Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1638 Ms. Michaela Hiebel | Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1659 Email: training@sh.china.ahk.de
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Selling skills have a direct impact on one’s career success and a company’s profitability. Participants at this two-day professional skills development workshop, will learn how to negotiate their way to more sales, bigger contracts and better client relationships and how to develop confidence in selling products or services successfully.
Executive Assistant Training Managing a senior executive’s busy schedule requires effective communication between executive assistants and their western managers. Differences in communication styles or work patterns can often cause inefficiencies. How to effectively manage daily tasks and administrative issues will be the key focus of this programme.
Shanghai Training Highlights Business Negotiation Skills in English Designed especially for sales teams, line managers and supervisors, this exciting two-day training will be delivered in English and approaches the concept of business negotiation from a new psychological angle. The programme is designed to help individuals master hands-on techniques and make them aware of the effects that one’s emotions can have on the ability to negotiate. Learning to understand the importance of negotiation and how to build up passion and the skills to become a great negotiator are the goals of this training. Through lectures, games, role-plays and group discussions, participants will learn to apply the skills needed for their everyday work and effective business transactions.
German Chancellor Fellowships for Prospective Leaders The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) awards up to ten German Chancellor Fellowships annually to young, prospective leaders from the United States, Russia and China with funds made available by the German Federal Foreign Office. The fellows must have shown outstanding potential for future leadership in their previous careers. The programme is established under the patronage of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and addresses applicants from all professions and fields of study, giving preference to the humanities, law, social and economic sciences. The aim of the programme is to give young leaders the opportunity to spend an extended period of time in Germany at an early stage of their professional lives. After returning to their careers in their home countries, they have the potential to become intermediaries between their home countries and Germany as they assume important positions in the economy, science, politics and society. The fellowship stipends range from EUR 2,150-2,750 per month, including a mobility lump sum and a contribution towards health and liability insurance. The fellowship is awarded for twelve months and commences in September with a four-week introductory seminar in Bonn and Berlin, followed by the individual project work starting in October. During the spring, the fellows take part in a two-week study tour through Germany. Fellowship extensions of up to three months are possible. Application deadline for the 2010/11 intake is 30th June 2009. Additional information and application forms are available on the Foundation’s website at www.humboldt-foundation.de/buka
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Education & Training
Mr. Ulrich Walker with the second round of students at their opening ceremony in January 2009
© Daimler Northeast Asia Ltd.
Bridging the Gap to Chinese High Potentials The EMBA in Compliance & Corporate Governance Goes into its Third Round September 2007 marked the beginning of an exciting project for Beijing Institute of Technology, Constance University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (Germany). The three schools co-launched the first Executive MBA programme for Daimler in China, aimed at supporting the company’s retention management and medium-term plans to increase the share of local talent in management positions. According to the involved parties, the programme is the first of its kind worldwide. Ulrich Walker, Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia, held an inspiring speech at the opening ceremony, introducing it as a highly innovative milestone.
global environment. Two rounds of students from Daimler are already attending the courses. While the first class of 17 students has accomplished two thirds of the way to graduation, the next intake of students is currently being recruited. Their courses will start on 5th September 2009. This time the programme is open for senior-level managers and technical staff with Bachelor degrees from all interested companies, to accommodate the public interest in this project. MK
Almost two years later, the EMBA in Compliance & Corporate Governance still targets Chinese high potentials between 30 to 40 years of age, who already reached a total of eight to ten years of professional experience with a minimum of five years in a leading position. The extra occupational programme lasts two years and consists of six blocks. Five of them take place in Beijing, one near Stuttgart, Germany. With a special focus on Compliance & Corporate Governance, the curriculum covers various management aspects using business models and business simulations while emphasising moral perspectives such as business ethics and CSR. Moreover, the EMBA includes training in intercultural management with a focus on eastern and western business culture. The driving force of the programme is Prof. Josef Wieland, Professor of Economy and Business Ethics at Constance University of Applied Sciences (HTWG). He furthermore heads the Constance Institute for Intercultural Management, Values and Communication (KIeM). In an interview with GC Ticker, Prof. Wieland described the programme as an “excellent contribution to a company’s executive development that targets the development of globally accepted norms of good corporate leadership.” Upon successful completion of their studies, the graduates are awarded a full EMBA degree by HTWG.
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The co-operation partners stress that executives undergoing this programme will create additional value for their companies by achieving success in a sustainable way. The EMBA qualifies them for working in a highly competitive For further information about the programme and enrollment options please contact Prof. Mei Wenbo at Beijing Institute of Technology Tel: 010 6891-5027 | Email: wbmei@bit.edu.cn http://learn.bit.edu.cn/ycxt/data/EMBA200812.pdf
www.china.ahk.de
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Giving Back
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
RMB 20,000 for a Life? An Improper, but Vital Equation The New Hope Project assists children suffering from congenital heart defects in Guangzhou’s poverty-stricken areas
Children receiving medical treatment in the injection room
In November 2007, a baby called Lin was diagnosed with a heart disease and abandoned by its parents at Guangzhou Children’s Hospital. A note, signed with “sad parents”, was found in Lin’s baby blanket: “Please adopt our son. He is suffering from valvular heart defect and needs 20,000-30,000 Yuan for the cure. We have tried everything but still cannot afford the high medical expenses. We wish someone would be kind enough to help him survive.”
The New Hope Project was officially launched in January 2009, but the trial period had started already in September 2007. Since then, the project has gained strong support from different individuals and enterprises in China and abroad. Apart from paying for the necessary medical treatment, the New Hope Project also seeks to arouse public awareness by promoting volunteer programs. Helpers can enlist to nurse CHD children in the hospital, organise events and give lectures to the affected families. Volunteers can also help to verify which CHD families are in need of support and to collate feedback and statistics of CHD children that have recovered through the project.
Sadly this was not the first time that a sick child with heart disease was abandoned because its parents could not raise the funds for the necessary treatment. According to the statistics from Guangzhou Children’s Hospital, the major medical centre for children in South China, about 2,000 infants with serious heart illness are born in South China each year. Around 100 of these babies are abandoned by their parents for economical reasons, even though most of the infants have a good chance of recovery after the surgery or therapies.
After a hospital visit by Executive Director Ms. Alexandra Voss, the board of the German Chamber of Commerce • South China decided to support the project, which is supervised and managed by the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League and the Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation. The GCC will collect donations among its member companies and visit the hospital once a year to introduce the charity project to delegations.
RMB 20,000 Can Save a Life
So far the project has already made a great contribution in giving New Hope to the helpless families. However, the existing foundation is no longer able to satisfy the yearly increasing demand of financial support. It is estimated that at least RMB 2–3mn will be needed this year to help children with serious illnesses in South China. As much as RMB 1–2mn will go into medical care and surgeries for 50-100 CHD children in the first half of 2009 alone.
Affecting seven to eight out of 1,000 newly borns, Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are among the most common birth diseases. In China each year about 150,000 to 200,000 children are born with different congenital heart defects – abnormalities in any part of the heart that are present at birth. Resulting from an investigation of 57 hospitals in Guangdong Province, incidences of CHDs have risen so rapidly that they are now the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths. Mr. Xia Huimin, CEO of the Guangzhou Children’s Hospital, pointed out that about half of the congenital heart defects could be cured if the patients undergo proper surgery in time. The average expense to cure a child with CHD is around RMB 20,000, an astronomical amount for families in rural and poverty-stricken areas. Thus they have no choice but to give up medical treatment or – even more tragic – abandon their child at the hospital due to the unbearable financial burden.
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was jointly initiated by the Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation, Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Treatment Centre and Guangzhou Children’s Hospital. New Hope focuses on helping children with serious illnesses under the age of 14, whose families cannot pay for their medial treatment. Through simplified application and verification processes, the young patients are able to receive timely medical or surgical care, while delayed treatment could worsen their condition or even kill the children.
New Challenges on the Horizon
Therefore, the New Hope Project is calling for more attention and support from society. As was once said by Hillary Clinton in her book It Takes a Village, “nothing is more important to our shared future than the well-being of children.”
Giving “New Hope” to a Disadvantaged Group Dedicated to save the lives of these poor children and help their disadvantaged families in despair, project “New Hope”
Ms. Alexandra Voss (GCC • South China) with Mr. Xia Huimin (middle; Guangzhou Children’s Hospital)
For further information on how to support the New Hope Project please contact: Mr. Feng Guangqiang, Administration Manager of the Guangzhou Children’s Hospital | Tel: 020 8188-6181 | Fax: 020 8186-1650 | Email: gzfgq68@126.com
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Giving Back
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
One Year After the Earthquake GCC • Shanghai Supports Project of the Taicang Roundtable from Friends for Friends
After the tragic earthquake in Sichuan in May 2008 four Taicang Roundtable (TRT) members initiated a private project to build up a primary school in the small city Qingchuan. Until now the project has gained 25 sponsoring enterprises and an additional high number of private sponsors.
Why Qingchuan? The region around Qingchuan is located at the furcation of the Sichuan, Shanxi and Gansuhas provinces with an area of about 3,269km2 and 250,000 habitants. Qingchuan is one of the most seriously damaged cities. Until the end of 2008 this region has suffered more than 20,000 aftershocks. Nearly all public buildings have been destroyed and only one school is left. Due to the location in the back country and the almost completely destroyed infrastructure, providing help in Qingchuan is much more difficult than in the other, more famous earthquake affected areas. The low average income (less than RMB 5,000/year) of Qingchuan region makes the reconstruction of the city almost impossible without external help. The existing contacts and personal relationships of the TRT project team as well as the direct cooperation with the local government ensure a trustful and successful project.
As children are our future, we all have an obligation to support such projects. Helping pupils to increase their opportunities in life through better education will give them the chance to independently enhance their living situation in the future. For further information on how to become involved, please contact: Volker Brunner: volker.brunner@dunkermotoren.com Tan Jin: jin.tan@dunkermotoren.com Nico Kuestermann: nico.kuestermann@dunkermotoren.com www.taicang-roundtable.cn
Project Mission The TRT aims to enhance the opportunities of the pupils and their families in Qingchuan. Providing the preconditions of a good education will increase the future opportunities of the children. The project is directly “from friends for friends” and aimed as a long-term cooperation.
Project Cooperation and Supporters The project is fully supported by the Qingchuan government, members of the Taicang Roundtable, other German companies and private donors. To ensure a successful and professional construction phase, the TRT cooperates with the aid organization Amity and will have a staff member of the foundation on-site during the whole construction phase. In addition, the project team itself makes all decisions on budget, providers and allocation of support.
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The project team is particularly pleased to count on the support of the German Chamber of Commerce • Shanghai as a lead sponsor of the Qingchuang project. The project was first introduced to the members at a Chamber Meeting in June 2008. GCC • Shanghai’s board recently confirmed its donation of RMB 650,000 at the Taicang Roundtable – a generous act, which will go a long way towards the construction of the school.
How You Can Help Further help is necessary and much appreciated in several areas. Enlarging the network of supporters and contributing to the project working groups is as important as financial help and material donations.
www.china.ahk.de
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New Books
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Publisher: Taschen America Llc
China, Portrait of a Country Liu Heung Shing (Ed.) 424 pages, English, German and French Released in August 2008 Among the many coffee-table books about China, Liu Heung Shing’s “China, Portrait of a Country” certainly stands out. The Associated Press photojournalist and Time magazine contributor gives a deep and realistic insight into Chinese culture, politics and private life since the formation of the People’s Republic in 1949. The book thus goes a level beyond its counterparts, filled with stills of glorious landscapes and bustling cities by mostly western photographers. Liu Heung Shing edited this documentary of change with a vast selection of images from 88 famous Chinese photographers. A great number of these photographers were either employed by the Maoist government or the statecontrolled media, possessing a peerless access to politicians’ private lifes as well as historical events. More than 400 pictures visualise 60 years of Chinese history: photos of counterrevolutionists during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution and images of migrant workers in their shoebox sleeping quarters contrast with glitzy pictures of Shanghai’s skyline and billboards promoting global brands. Short multilingual introductions and detailed captions leave room for own thoughts, but also provide a historical background and deeper understanding of an often unimaginable time period. The shifting perspectives of mostly unpublished or rarely seen images accompany the viewer throughout the book and leave him churned up - just as the Chinese history itself.
Publisher: dtv Reihe Hanser
Ina aus China oder: Was hat schon Platz in einem Koffer Susanne Hornfeck 304 pages, German EUR 8.95 Seven year old girl Chen Yinna leaves behind an occupied Shanghai in 1937 to move to the widowed Ms. von Steinitz in Brandenburg. The relation of their families dates back to the Boxer War in 1900, when a German officer and his Chinese negotiating partner became friends. Two generations later this friendship helps Yinnas father to rescue the girl, now called Ina in her new home, from the brink of war. However, in 1939 Ina’s life is once again affected by war, when she experiences how the Nazi propaganda changes her daily life. She watches her friend Inge emigrate to Shanghai with her Jewish father, and witnesses how Japan – the enemy for which she left her native China – becomes an ally of Germany. Over the course of her changeful life, Ina starts to realise that friendships, enemies and the feeling of home in one’s personal life can largely differ from the political context. When Ina moves back to Taiwan in 1955 she speaks hardly any Chinese and feels even more like a stranger than 18 years before, when she arrived in Germany. The sinologist Susanne Hornfeck lived in Taipeh for five years. Her first novel “Ina aus China” is based on the story of a Chinese girl she met during that time. Narrated in a captivating style, the youth novel encourages young and adult readers alike to reflect what home, friendship and life in a foreign country mean. The book was published in Germany in 2007 and is currently being translated into Chinese by Huang Xiaoling. It is scheduled for local release through the Century Publishing Group this autumn.
Publisher: Volkswagen (China) Investment Co. Ltd.
Power of Volkswagen
Edited by Dr. Winfried Vahland, Molly Yang, Zhengzheng Duan, Gary Tao English and Chinese versions available through Mr. Rudolph Dreithaler at VW, Tel: 010 6531-3049, Email: rudolf. dreithaler@volkswagen.com.cn One would expect a book about Volkswagen’s history in China written by Volkswagen to be heavy on marketing, and in fact, there is a bit of it in evidence.
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However, there are also many German companies operating in or planning to enter the Chinese market, who can learn a great deal from VW’s experience, especially the company’s ‘values for sustainable development’ that have been a hallmark of its 30 year history here. How the company introduced its ‘focus on quality’, playing to a German strength, how it overcame cultural barriers, communicated effectively with customers and spent a large amount of effort to truly understand local conditions and needs, is told clearly and succinctly in 66 essays authored by Chinese and German Volkswagen managers. Reading some of them can be recommended to all who manage foreign companies in China or those at headquarters abroad, who are charged with supervising and developing efforts in the Chinese market. June - July 2009 | 70
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71 | June - July 2009
Food & Restaurants
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Learn – Cook – Enjoy
With a little help…
…and some able hands…
…a Chinese banquet is just a small step away.
“To cook or not to cook”, is a question often asked by foreigners living in China. The abundance of food on offer and display, from the nearby wet market to street kitchens and restaurants catering to almost every taste, makes the answer more often than not a quick “let’s eat out!”. Since food and eating makes up such an important aspect of Chinese culture and lifestyle, tasting yourself through the eight main regional cuisines should be part of everyone’s stay in China. Restaurants from just about every region can make the dining scene in most larger Chinese cities quite overwhelming. But what about enjoying some good home-cooked local fare in the cosy atmosphere of ones own walls? Many non-Asian expats still shy away from the wide range of unfamiliar ingredients, cooking methods and undecipherable groceries found in the local market or grocery store. Indeed, Chinese cooking requires some knowledge about ingredients and spices, but with a good portion of curiosity, a handful of talent (or two) and a pinch of help everybody can learn how to cook at least some local standards.
For those not lucky enough to have an ayi with cooking skills and the willingness to pass on her secrets, a good way to get started is through a cooking course. An increasing number of providers cater to foreigners and offer their classes, or at least their manuals, in English. And even if the language remains a barrier, simply observing and copying can go a long way.
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A convenient experience in Shanghai is a cooking lesson with the “Flying Chef”, as he holds his course at your home. Bringing along all the cooking
June - July 2009 | 72
utensils and ingredients as well as cleaning up the kitchen afterwards, the chef does all the hard work. During the three hours class a menu of the client’s choice with about five dishes, will be prepared – and enjoyed thereafter. Since the chef will do most of the cooking, the course attendants are rather observers than active kitchen-helpers, but the presentation and recipe handouts in English are still very useful and enjoyable. Having worked for a few years in Germany, “Flying Chef” Li can even speak some German, where he learned how to adapt his cooking style to his mostly western clientele. As the following selection shows, the range of learning opportunities is wide and growing. Cooking in groups can also be a fun activity with friends and family or a good ice breaker with new acquaintances among fellow students. Living and eating in China provides ample supply of experiences and anecdotes. Saying “Let’s cook!” can give rise to many new ones. CH
The Flying Chef Shanghai www.flyingchef.cn Rent-a-Chef Li flies into your kitchen and teaches you to cook
Chinese Cooking Workshop www.chinesecookingworkshop.com | Email: cookingworkshop@gmail.com Dim sum courses and other themed cooking classes in central Shanghai
Community Center Shanghai - Puxi – Healthy Chinese Cooking www.communitycenter.cn/classes_tours_contect.asp?id=2193 Learn to cook some healthy Chinese dishes within four sessions
Hias Gourmet Beijing www.hiasgourmet.com | Email: info@hiasgourmet.com Cooking demonstrations and hands-on training in the capital
Hutong Cuisine www.hutongcuisine.com | Email: chef@hutongcuisine.com Learn to prepare traditional Chinese cuisine in an old Beijng hutong
Art & Culture
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Parallel Units
Contemporary Art Institutions in South China When hearing the name Guangdong, most people think of the world’s textile factory in South China, with its highly-developed commercial environment and urban landscapes. It may seem that culture, the emerging Chinese contemporary art and the creative industry are not yet well developed in the Pearl River Delta. Indeed, the contemporary art institutions in Guangzhou and Shenzhen have not hit the radar screen of the international art scene, mostly due to their scarce presentations at art fairs around the world. Whereas in the art meccas of China – Beijing and lately also Shanghai – several different streams of art emerge, contemporary art organisations in Guangdong have their own distinct direction, interest and format. A range of parallel art units in the Pearl River Delta make up a diversified contemporary art spectrum that deserves a closer examination:
Address: No. 38 Yanyu Road, Ersha Island, Guangzhou 510105 Web: www.gdmoa.org
Libreria Borges Institute for Contemporary Art Libreria Borges is the earliest contemporary art institution in the Pearl River Delta. Either in cafes or old houses with small gardens, many artists began their first solo show or access to public attention from Libreria Borges. Nowadays, Libreria Borges continues its distribution of art books and develops own publications. Address: No. 7 Yile Road, Yile Yixiang, Guangzhou 510260 Web: www.blastgz.com
OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT) of He Xiangning Art Museum
Ping Pong Art Space
Located in an old factory from the 1980’s, the OCAT is surrounded by a growing number of art studios, galleries and art stores. Officially established in January 2005, OCAT is China’s only non-profit contemporary art organisation connected to a national art museum. OCAT hosts projects and events pivoted on visual art including live art, music performances, videos and multimedia presentations. Address: Enping Road, Overseas Chinese Town, Shenzhen 518053 Web: www.ocat.com.cn/en/
The Ping Pong art space is a fancy bar in the city of Guangzhou, where performances differ from night to night. Don’t miss it if you are interested in independent bands and Chinese underground music. Ping Pong is also engaged in the communication between Western and Chinese art by hosting small art projects and workshops. Furthermore, it offers young artists in Guangdong the opportunity to display their ideas and works, revealing the young generation’s opinion about the city and their current life. Address: No. 60 Xian Lie Dong Hen Road, Guangzhou 510500
Vitamin Creative Space (VCS)
Xiao Zhou Village
VCS was founded in 2002 and is the most famous independent contemporary art space in the Pearl River Delta. In order to operate independently from institutionalised funding, it acts both as an independent art space and commercial gallery. Vitamin Creative Space is actively trying to merge these two concepts. Through presentations at international art fairs, experimental art projects and independent publication programs, Vitamin Creative Space is gradually getting international attention. Address: Room 301, No. 29 Heng Yi Street, Chi Gang Road, Guangzhou 510300 VCS also has another branch at Beijing’s Jianwai SOHO in Chaoyang District Web: www.vitamincreativespace.com
The Guangdong Museum of Art is an important cultural establishment in the province and equipped with modern facilities. The high reputation originates from the Guangzhou Triennial in 2002 and their collection of contemporary photography and research on modern and contemporary art in China.
www.china.ahk.de
Punk Bookstore Punk Bookstore has quite an ambiguous identity. It’s either a small family business or a unique shop with a shady collection of art films and DVDs it depends on how you look at it. Since the store is tucked away in a metro station, only few people know the place – especially because the owners only like to be contacted via internet. However, it really is a landmark of underground culture in Guangzhou. Through its special network, Punk Bookstore offers important knowledge and resources for artists, filmmakers and journalists in Guangzhou, but even Beijing and Hong Kong. Web: http://shop33364182.taobao.com Mr. He Cong is Project Manager at Vitamin Creative Space Tel: 135 7096-1204 | Email: hecong@vitamincreativespace.com
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Community
Guangdong Museum of Art
Surrounded by a rapidly developing city, Xiao Zhou is one of the most ancient villages in Guangzhou. More and more artist studios and small non-profit art spaces hide behind the beautiful trees and rivers. The artists and their works seem to merge with the landscape. Contemporary art here is not as obvious, but more private and in harmony with the local people and their culture. Address: Xiao Zhou Village, Guangzhou 510320
Travel
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
A Tale of Skies, Rivers and Horses Discovering Nature Off the Beaten Tourist Track in Inner Mongolia
Skies, clouds, rain, lakes, wind, rocks, rivers, sheep and horses. Pure oneness with nature. These are the ingredients that make up the Mongolian grasslands.
here, but Ghengis Khan thought it was changing too fast. When Russian settlers started coming, he left with his hoard all of a sudden one night.
Inner Mongolia is a frozen culture. Throughout the world, great cultures come and go. Cultures like the Assyrians are no more. Even Ghengis Khan is gone, but his legacy lives on in frozen nature. The early Mongolians were Shamanistic and worshiped nature. Even today you can see piles of rocks with blue and white banners and streamers. The blue represents the sky.
In the South, the grasslands are true grasslands. Flat grass-covered plains as far as the eye can reach. Impressive vastness. Large parts of these grasslands have been converted into farmland by settlers, but pockets of the real, isolated grasslands still exist. Whether visiting the flat grasslands of the South, the hilly grasslands in the centre, the northern grasslands that are really small mountains or the Inner Mongolia of thick forests, the experience is a completely different one. My favourite sceneries are the hilly grasslands and the forests. Though these are not the typical grasslands one may think of, they are still a truly Inner Mongolian landscape. There are bluffs, rivers and unadulterated nature. The temperate forests are of the same nature as in parts of Germany or North America.
Community
The cradle of Mongolian culture is in Inner Mongolia. Ghengis Khan came from northern Inner Mongolia, near the Russian border to Siberia. This is a beautiful land of mushrooms, hazelnuts, blueberries, forests and rivers. The grasslands here gradually blend into a beautiful mountainous environment of bears and deer, and swarms of mosquitoes in summer. Not too much has changed up
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Travel
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
RUSSIA Deep Forest Hills
Genhe
Ergun
Hailaer
la
nd
s
MONGOLIA
Xilinhot
Hohhot
t Fla
Gr
as
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Inner Mongolia CHINA
Out on the grasslands there are no hotels and no restaurants. Visitors have to stay in domestic Yurts (Mongolian: ger) or simple houses. Staying in a Yurt can be a very comfortable and certainly memorable experience, even without running water. There are many tricks to add comfort, like using hot stones to stay warm. The rewards are plentiful. Watching the animals come home at night and hearing the sheep and cows roaming, is just one of them. Sometimes at dawn, when the sky is rosy from the sunset, a large herd of horses may come grazing past. The Mongolian people are very poor, but truly hospitable. If you are lost, they will provide you with lodging and food at no cost, a great way to taste some horse meat, local whiskey and milk tea. If one cannot live without a certain standard of comfort like hot water or a fluffy bed, the range of authentic places to see in Inner Mongolia is admittedly limited. Many tourist places rent out horses, but more like car rentals that limit you in the range of allowed places and mileage. Even when staying in a comfortable hotel though, a trip to a small town, from where to get a horse for several hours of riding, can be managed in a day. Once these day trippers set foot into a Mongolian village, they often forget about the need for traditional comforts and wish to stay on. While it may cost more time and money to get to remote places like XilinHot and Hailaer, one will certainly encounter less fellow travellers and souvenir shops there and a richer Mongolian experience than in popular destinations like HohHot. Once out there in the wilderness, there are not many opportunities to spend money.
Community
Horse riding is available in all places, but Mongolian saddles are different. Although Mongolians can ride for days in these, the Western traveller may painfully realise that several hours can become a very long time. Taking a car some part of the ways and a horse to ride further cross-country is a good way to take in the most. Horse riding in Mongolia is easy, a bit too easy in the touristy places, where one can see the grasslands, but not much culture. Recreated tourist yurts with hot water near the grasslands just aren’t the same thing. Ms. Naren Chen (Naren means moon in Mongolian) organises trips to areas around HaiLaer, XilinHot and rural Inner Mongolia, where foreigners are sometimes not seen for years, or sometimes never seen at all. The desire of her small company is to help travellers experience Mongolia the way it should be experienced. Email: Sales@TravelInnerMongolia.com | www.TravelInnerMongolia.com
www.china.ahk.de
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City Tour
Entrance of Yugong Yishan (l.) and Duan Qirui Fu complex (r.)
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Colonial architecture at Duan Qirui Fu
Fancy hall at Fangjia Hutong No.46
From Dongcheng with Love The Dongcheng quarter located in the north-eastern part of Beijing’s inner city is transforming itself into a new focal point in the capital’s art and music scene with the participation of German hands.
Community
Hospitable courtyard at Fangjia Hutong No.46
Fangjia Hutong’s unassuming west entrance
June - July 2009 | 76
Yugong Yishan from a nocturnal perspective
City Tour
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
Glitzy facades of high rises reign the city’s east side, where most of the foreign business presence is concentrated. As you cross the second ring road and step into the inner circle of the city, however, the skyline suddenly fades and you find yourself in the very heart of the city: Dongcheng, the “eastern part” of town, where wealthy merchants lived during Imperial times, and where the hutong still dominate the grid pattern of Beijing. It is this part of town that is attracting a loyally localised foreign community, which is taking part in shaping especially the north-eastern part of the district.
tele is located. The hybrid forms of culture that are shared by many foreigners living in this part of town are manifesting themselves in the changing urban landscape of Dongcheng. The historical heritage inspires, and at the same time provides the necessary niches for change while being firmly grounded in the Chinese tradition and building substance. “798 is out – Dongcheng is the next place to be!” says Thiedig.
Beyond Nanluoguxiang
Not only bars and clubs and creative shop concepts are opening day after day, Dongcheng is also slowly emerging as an important spot on the city’s art map: The grounds of no. 46 Fangjia Hutong are home to an emerging art district that is slowly but steadily growing. The former China National Machine Tool Corporation, which was built in the 1950s, covers 13,000m2. The area is a little village in itself and houses art lofts and cafes. Ms. Thiedig points out the international recognition that this new art centre is receiving and mentions Columbia University as one international player involved in initiating an architecture forum in one of the buildings. Here, lectures are held and the space can be used for events. This trend reflects many current opinions that wish art to be incorporated within the existing structures, centred in town and not confined to satellite art districts far from the city centre.
The transformation of north-eastern Dongcheng is well under way. Little cafes, bars and restaurants catering to a hip local Chinese crowd as well as foreign residents first centred around Nanluoguxiang, a hutong connecting Gulou Dong Dajie with Ping’an Dadao running parallel to the South. The south part of Nanluoguxiang also houses one of the city’s leading schools for performing arts, where local talent is bred. The “Nanluoguxiang trend” is spreading, and these days there are restaurants scattered up Jiu Gulou Dajie and running east on Gulou Dong Dajie, dotting the hutong in between. The pace is much slower here and many foreigners have chosen this area of town to start their own bars, clubs, and businesses. Many young German entrepreneurs are among them. “This is by far the most beautiful area in Beijing, a place where you can both live and work. The longer I live here, the less I feel the need to venture out to other parts of town” says Julia Hofmann, while taking a short break from serving German breakfast to her customers at Café Zarah on Gulou Dong Dajie. Café Zarah regularly hosts photography exhibitions that attract an artsy crowd to stop by for a coffee before exploring the adjacent music instrument stores for pipa and erhu, as well as keyboards and African drums.
Not Without Critics Even though the makeover of Dongcheng is pleasant to the eye, there are voiced concerns about gentrification of the neighbourhood, as more and more wealthy home-owners, Chinese and Westerners alike, are attracted to the area’s charm. By engaging in expensive refurbishing of century-old courtyard houses and moving into the area, they are changing the demographic landscape of Dongcheng, so the critics. What sets the recent activities apart from similar developments is that “this is not an invasion – this is active participation!” states Stefanie Thiedig, who runs her culture agency Kulturgut from this part of town. The avid fan of the area has actively decided to set up shop in Dongcheng, where she can be immersed and participant, while still enjoying close proximity to the embassy area and Liangmahe, where most of her clien-
No.46 Fangjia Hutong Café Zarah
Art Goes Centre
Music with a History
Yugong Yishan
www.china.ahk.de
Dongcheng has it all: Quirky pyjama-clad locals playing Majiang and taking their birds for a walk, trendy small eateries, Western and Asian alike, an emerging art scene and some of the city’s best music clubs. All easily accessible by bike or a stroll on a lazy sunny Saturday afternoon. The coming months and years will tell whether or not with Dongcheng, Beijing just got its very own interpretation of an artist quarter reminiscent of Montmartre in Paris or SoHo in New York. KSB
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Community
Nanluoguxiang
The music club Yugong Yishan first started business in 2004. At the beginning, it was a mere rectangular box, an unassuming club at the end of a parking lot near Gongti Bei Lu. The club amassed a loyal crowd of music lovers despite the less-than representative location. In 2007 the bar was raised, and Yugong Yishan moved into one very fascinating structure on Zhangzizhong Lu (near Dongsi Shitiao) - the premises of the former residence of Beiyang Warlord general Duan Qirui (1865-1936), one of the most powerful men at the time in pre-Republican China. This building complex has an eventful history. Having housed the Jesuit mission in Beijing and later the Portuguese, who added more structures in 1903, the mansion was used by the Allied forces during the Boxer rebellion. It later became the headquarters of Warlord Duan and had one of its bleakest days on March 18th, 1926, when Duan ordered the assassination of protesters in the courtyard, during which 47 protesters were gunned down and more than 200 were injured. Later on, the Japanese used the building as their headquarters and at present, People’s University uses a small portion of the building for Qing-related media archives. Yugong Yishan is further sharing the space with a PSP sub office and a small café. The Qing media archives will have to move out soon as there are plans to transform the space into a museum with a European exhibit. “I love the diverse history of the space that is now housing our club” says co-owner Doro Adam of her establishment, which, after only five years, has become a landmark in Beijing’s music scene. Yugong Yishan hosted more than 200 shows last year, and German bands have paid frequent visits. The year 2009 already saw Jazzanova, Gudrun Gut, Mediengruppe Telekommander, Mio Myo and the collaboration between Pitchtuner, Berlin Electro Icon and Helen Feng, Beijing’s rock darling. This is no coincidence, as Dorothea Adam comes from Germany and her husband Lue Zhiqiang, who received GoetheInstitut’s “Medienbotschafter” trophy, lived in Berlin from 1995 to 1999.
Competitions
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
How well do you know China?
Chinese Course
Which river in which city does this bridge cross and what is its name?
Even if your colleagues speak perfect English or German, living in China inevitably means needing some basic Chinese to get around. Every issue, New Concept Mandarin provides GC Ticker readers with some useful phrases for everyday life.
Check out our next issue for the answer and send us a photo from your own pool of China travel pictures, indicating the name and place of the motive. The best entry will be published with credits of the photographer in our next issue. Email your entry to porpaczy.bernhard@ sh.china.ahk.de
Solution 2/2009: National Grand Theatre of China in Beijing. The National Grand Theatre, created by French architect Paul Andreu is located west of the Great Hall of the People. The building of 149,500m2 arises in the middle of a lake and houses an opera, a concert hall, a theatre and exhibition spaces.
Sudoku
Community
Just like a muscle, your brain needs to be exercised to stay in top form. Use this number puzzle to develop a flexible mind and enhance your concentration and problem solving skills. Fill in the game board so that the numbers 1-9 appear once in each row, column, and 3x3 box.
Taken from: www.sudokushack.com
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Church Calendar
The German Chamber of Commerce in China
German Speaking Christian Community
Date
Time
Place
Service
Beijing
7th June 14th June
10.00am 10.00am
German Embassy German Embassy
First Communion Protestant
20th June
5.00pm
German Embassy
Catholic
28th June
10.00am
German Embassy
Protestant
German Embassy
Oecumenical
th
5 July
10.00am
(– Summer break –)
Shanghai
6th June 14th June
3.30pm 10.30am
St. Peters Church Hofbräuhaus Pudong (TBC)
Catholic Protestant
21st June
3.30pm
St. Peters Church
Catholic
10.30am
Residence of the
Protestant
th
28 June
5th July
TBA
Contact:
Consul General (TBC) TBA
Oecumenical
(– Summer break –)
Beijing: Dr. Karl-Heinz Schell – Protestant Pastor | Mob: 136 9363-1857| Email: dt_gemeinde_peking@hotmail.com | www.egpeking.de Catholic Services | Email: kgds.peking@gmail.com Shanghai: Peter Kruse - Protestant Pastor | Mob: 139 1765-4475 | Michael Bauer – Catholic Priest | Mob: 137 7431-0216 Email: dcgs-gemeindeinfo@gmx.net | www.dcgs.net
Community
www.china.ahk.de
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June - July
Event Highlights North China
Regular Events North China Kammerstammtisch – every third Monday of the month at Paulaner Brauhaus, 7.00pm Praktikantenstammtisch – every second Tuesday of the month at changing locations, 7.00pm
South China German Happy Hour Guangzhou – every last Tuesday of the month Young Professionals Stammtisch – every second Thursday of the month at Oasis Bar
Next stop Shenyang The latest station of the event series “Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together” is Shenyang, capital of Liaoning. The opening of the station was on 21st May with a performance of Büchners “Leonce and Lena”. The GermanChinese Promenade, which will be open for visitors from 12th - 20th June will see a prominent visitor. German Minister of Environment, Mr. Sigmar Gabriel, is expected to visit the event on June 15th among others for a round table talk on ecological industrial policy, which is organised by the German Chamber of Commerce • Beijing.
East China Chamber Meeting, 25th June 2009 This time with a guest speaker from Beijing, the monthly flagship event of the GCC • Shanghai will feature Mr. Ulrich Walker, the Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia Ltd. Mr. Walker will provide his update on the global and Asia-specific strategy of Daimler and the rapidly developing automotive market in China.
East China Deutscher Stammtisch – every second Tuesday of the month at Paulaner Brauhaus Fenyang Road, 7.00pm Praktikantenstammtisch – every third Wednesday of the month at Mural Bar, 7.30pm
Chamber Calendar Date
Event/Topic
North China 4th June
Construction Roundtable
16th June
Networking Tianjin
15th June
Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together
Round Table “Ökologische Industriepolitik”
7th July
German-Chinese Medical Symposium
8th July
Logistics Roundtable
TBA July
Inter-Chamber Networking
South China 11th June
Seminar: Tax Restructuring Regulations (Guangzhou)
17th June
Seminar: Fire Protection (Shenzhen)
th
18 June
Seminar: Fire Protection (Guangzhou)
TBA June
Customs Workshop (Guangzhou and Shenzhen)
TBA June/July
Interchamber Networking Events
(Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai)
TBA July
Roundtable: Sponsoring in Times of Economic Crisis (Guangzhou)
East China 4th-5th June th
9 June
China HR Tomorrow - The Summit Workshop Environmental Protection
18th June
JV Round Table
18th June
Summer Inter-Chamber Mixer
19th June
Asparagus Dinner
th
25 June
Chamber Meeting
30th June
Kick-off Meeting: Young Professionals
The Chamber Teams regularly update the GCC website with details on speakers, times, dates, locations and new events. Check our homepage and our e-newsletters for the latest information and to register online for our events: www.china.ahk.de Beijing | Tel: 010 6590-6930 | Email: germanchamber@bj.china.ahk.de Guangzhou | Tel: 020 8755-2353 | Email: chamber@gz.china.ahk.de Shanghai | Tel: 021 5081-2266 | Email: chamber@sh.china.ahk.de