That's Guangzhou - April 2017 by That's - Pulse of The City

TAK

that's guangzhou

that's shenzhen

The Cap Rise tivi of ty i Cet n C ace hin an a

China Intercontinental Press

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APRIL 2017

城市漫步珠三角英文版 4 月份国内统一刊号: CN 11-5234/GO

ALSO INSIDE: Win Flights to Thailand

that’s PRD 《城市漫步》珠江三角洲英文月刊

主管单位 : 中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 Supervised by the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China 主办单位 : 五洲传播出版社地址 : 北京西城月坛北街 26 号恒华国际商务中心南楼 11 层文化交流中心 11th Floor South Building, Henghua lnternational Business Center, 26 Yuetan North Street, Xicheng District, Beijing http://www.cicc.org.cn 总编辑 Editor in Chief of China Intercontinental Press: 慈爱民 Ci Aimin 期刊部负责人 Supervisor of Magazine Department: 邓锦辉 Deng Jinhui 编辑 : 梁健发行 / 市场 : 黄静李若琳广告 : 林煜宸 Editor in Chief Jocelyn Richards Shenzhen Editor Sky Thomas Gidge Senior Digital Editor Matthew Bossons Shenzhen Digital Editor Bailey Hu Senior Staff Writer Tristin Zhang National Arts Editor Andrew Chin Contributors Lachlan Cairns, Dr. Alfred Chambers, Paul Finkbeiner, Connor Frankhouser, Lena Gidwani, Oscar Holland, Matt Horn, Mia Li, Victor Liu, Noelle Mateer

HK FOCUS MEDIA Shanghai (Head Office) 上海和舟广告有限公司上海市蒙自路 169 号智造局 2 号楼 305-306 室邮政编码 : 200023 Room 305-306, Building 2, No.169 Mengzi Lu, Shanghai 200023 电话 : 021-8023 2199 传真 : 021-8023 2190 Guangzhou 上海和舟广告有限公司广州分公司广州市麓苑路 42 号大院 2 号楼 610 室邮政编码 : 510095 Rm 610, No. 2 Building, Area 42, Luyuan Lu, Guangzhou 510095 电话 : 020-8358 6125 传真 : 020-8357 3859 - 816 Shenzhen 深圳联络处深圳市福田区彩田路星河世纪大厦 C1-1303 C1-1303, Galaxy Century Building, Caitian Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen 电话 : 0755-8623 3220 传真 : 0755-6406 8538 Beijing 北京联络处北京市东城区东直门外大街 48 号东方银座 C 座 G9 室邮政编码 : 100027 9G, Block C, Ginza Mall, No. 48 Dongzhimen Wai Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100027 电话 : 010-8447 7002 传真 : 010-8447 6455 General Manager Henry Zeng Operations Manager Rachel Tong Accountant Annie Qi Production Supervisor Jack Lin Designers Claire Zheng, Felix Chen, Sally Wu Sales Managers Celia Yu, Justin Lu Account Manager Christy Cai Senior Account Executive Shumin Li Account Executives Wesley Zhang, Nicole Tang, Annie Li Sales Assistant Sunnie Lü Event Manager Valentina Latorraca Event Supervisor Alice Wang Senior Marketing Executive Fish Lin Marketing Executives Peggy Ni, Yuki Huang Distribution Luo Zhi, He Wei Wen National Operation CEO Leo Zhou Head of Communication Ned Kelly National Marketing Executive Zoe Zhou HR/Admin Director Penny Li Financial Manager Laura Lu Head of Digital Vickie Guo Digital Sybil Zhang, Joseph Miao, Miller Yue, Amanda Bao, Lambert Chen General enquiries and switchboard (020) 8358 6125 info.prd@urbanatomy.com Editorial (020) 8358 9847 ext 808 editor.prd@urbanatomy.com Sales (Guangzhou) (020) 8358 9847 ext 802 sales.prd@urbanatomy.com (Shenzhen) (0755) 8623 3210 ext 801 Distribution/Subscription (020) 8358 7749 ext 828 Listings & Events (Guangzhou) (020) 8358 9847 ext 808 (Shenzhen) (0755) 8623 3220 Web & IT (021) 5238 5459 Fax (020) 8363 3759 ext. 816

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Distribution across the Pearl River Delta: 63,000 copies

Editor's Note

April

When I think back to my first trip to SeaWorld as a kid, I picture the gift shop. Tantalizingly low shelves packed with unnaturally soft orcas and dolphins that were, of course, way too expensive to take home (even with my impeccable five-year-old persuasion skills). My affinity for these ‘charismatic megafauna’ – or animals that people inexplicably tend to fall in love with – continued long after our trip to Florida, resulting in the occasional Shamu inflatable pool toy or Lisa Frank psychedelic orca binder (yes, those were a thing and they were awesome). SeaWorld, the marine mammal park now criticized for its treatment of killer whales in captivity, may have introduced me to these spectacular creatures of the sea, but its commercial jingles and cuddly stuffed animals sure kept me from learning their side of the story – at least until I was older (if you still haven’t seen Blackfish, now would be a good time – it’s free on iQiyi). As many Western countries move to ban orca confinement in light of revealing documentaries and pressure from animal rights groups, however, China is just getting into the trade. There are currently 122 whales in captivity in Guangdong province alone, according to data from the China Cetacean Alliance, and an additional 449 held in other provinces in China. Where are they being taken? How are they transported? Are trainers here familiar with the risk of working with abused orcas? Senior Digital Editor Matthew Bossons explores these questions and more on p38. Elsewhere in the magazine, Sky Thomas Gidge investigates the triggers of expat alcohol abuse (p12), contributing writer Paul Finkbeiner brings us to the foot of Angkor Wat (p22) and Tristin Zhang steals some quality beach time in Huizhou (p24). In our Arts section, Connor Frankhouser chats with American Matthew Knowles about his lead role in Asura – the most expensive Chinese blockbuster ever made – which is set to hit theaters in the summer of 2018. Read about his sprint to stardom on p31. Last but certainly not least, we have a number of solid restaurants and bars to check out in Eat & Drink (p56), so be sure to flip to the back of this issue and see what’s new in town. The f(sm)og of March has finally cleared and life is good here in the PRD. Get out and enjoy the sunshine!

WIN WIN WIN

In Guangzhou, a pair of tickets to Urban Meadow by BodyVox (p70), a pair of tickets to Giorgia Fumanti China Tour (p72), a pair of tickets to Mahan Esfahani Harpsichord Concert (p72), a pair of tickets to German music producer and songwriter Maximilian Hecker (p72), a pair of tickets to ‘Tribute to Michael Jackson’ string concert by Aupa (p72) and a pair of tickets to British funk duo Majik (p72). In Shenzhen, four tickets to blackgaze masters Alcest (p70), a pair of tickets to Kyoto-based instrumental rock band SOW at B10 Live (p70) and five vouchers for a signature dish at Minikor (p78).

Jocelyn Richards Editor-in-Chief

Win a Pair of Flights to Thailand!

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Hourly updates on news, current affairs and general weirdness from around PRD and China.

Turn to p15 for a chance to win a pair of return flights to the Thai island of Phuket – and its dramatic karst islands and sandy white beaches – with the new That's AR app. Standing for Augmented Reality, the app allows users to scan the magazine to see interactive digital content such as video, audio, images and visualized 3D models leaping off the page and coming to life. Scan the relevant QR code below to download it now. 4 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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38 COVER STORY

8 CITY

TAKEN

9 TICKETS TO RIDE

The rise of cetacean captivity in China.

Bus attendant.

12 CITY SNAPSHOT Rails of time.

17 MOTHER'S DAY TREASURES Echostudio co-founder shares her vision.

24 DARK PARADISE

46 COMMUNITY

THE WRAP

16 LIFE & STYLE

The surviving grandeur of Cambodia.

26 ARTS 27 ALCEST Masters of blackgaze.

APRIL 12

32 SO LONG, CHICAGO

Urban Meadow by BodyVox

Talking with Addison Groove.

58 EAT & DRINK 62 5 O'CLOCK IN GUANGZHOU Cocktail bars for your every mood.

64 ATLAS KITCHEN Food without borders. 6 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

70 EVENTS

APRIL 21 Maximilian Hector

ONGOING Bruce Lee Exhibition in HK

CITY 'Flying Eagle'

The architectural feat behind Shenzhen's colossal civic center, p10

Chinese Urban Dictionary P11 8 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Putting Down the Drink P12

MAN ON THE STREET

TICKETS TO RIDE Bus Attendant By Bailey Hu

ith Shenzhen’s extra-long bus routes, a machine that charges a flat rate fare just doesn’t cut it: two stops shouldn’t cost the same as 20. Enter the bus attendant, or chengwuyuan. Armed with handheld card scanners and bundles of color-coded receipts, the (mostly) women in uniform thread their way through packed buses, asking customers for their destinations and charging them based on route length. According to attendant Wang Jun, in addition to charging fares, she also assists the elderly and children. We’ve seen her words proven true before, when a frail-looking older man boarded a crowded bus and the chengwuyuan convinced a passenger to give up her seat. In some ways, it’s a grueling job: one attendant says she averages “a dozen or so hours” each shift. However, that’s balanced by a flexible workweek that allows up to every other day off. When we ask Wang how she handles the

rush hour crowd or the dawn-to-dusk shifts, she simply replies that she’s “used to it.” After learning the ropes, there’s “not much pressure.” Wang comes from the city of Yongzhou, in Hunan, and has lived in Shenzhen for “many years,” she tells us with a laugh. Overall, she likes her job here. On a different bus, a chengwuyuan smiles as she explains why she loves being an attendant. Apparently it combines two of her main interests: the service industry and riding buses. She likes the social aspect of the job. Chengwuyuan are assigned a different route each shift, allowing them to meet many attendants and drivers. She also encounters an estimated 1,000 customers a day. Despite her enthusiasm, she admits that there are downsides. For one, due to limited break times, attendants soon learn not to drink too much water during shifts. On a more serious note, unruly passengers can cause trouble for attendants. Some try to avoid paying their fares, she

tells us. When they’re discovered, they may direct their anger at the attendant. Once, a man who stayed onboard well past his stop blew up at her, telling her: “You’re sick.” Considering the difficulties, would she switch jobs if given the chance? “I would continue [this job] because I like it,” she tells us. A consummate professional, she gives us a smile and waves as we get off at our stop.

THE DIRTY DETAILS Monthly salary: RMB2,500 Days per week: 3-4 Hours per day: 12

Man on the Street is a monthly feature where we talk to someone doing an everyday job, in order to get an insight into the lives of average Chinese people.

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THE BUZZ BEHIND THE CONCRETE

CITY SNAPSHOT

Shenzhen Civic Center

Rails of Time

The city of Shenzhen – which we all know transformed from a small fishing village into a major metropolis in just a few decades – has come to signify China’s economic leap over the last 35 years. Functioning as the municipal government’s primary office space, the Shenzhen Civic Center takes on the shape of a flying eagle and is supposed to be indicative of the city’s soaring urban development. Designed by acclaimed ChineseAmerican architect John Ming-Yee Lee and completed in 2004, the civic center is considered Shenzhen’s most distinguishable landmark after the towering Ping’an Finance Centre. One round and one square-shaped tower penetrate the 9,000-ton, 486-meter-long wing-shaped roof, which some say looks more like a giant gas station than a flying eagle, and we’d tend to agree. With Lotus Mountain grandly guarding its back, the Shenzhen Civic Center boasts superior fengshui, allowing it to attract general prosperity for the city (or so the logic goes). It takes only about 30 minutes to reach the peak from a roof garden that connects the civic center to Shenzhen Central Book City. Apart from serving as the working space for more than 30 government departments, the Shenzhen Civic Center also holds regular art exhibitions, lectures and performances. Shennan Dadao, Futian District, Shenzhen 深圳市福田区深南大道

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“After a long evening wandering around shooting ‘downtown’ Hong Kong, I was walking back towards my hotel across Hennessy Road when this image stuck in my mind – even before I shot it,” recalls @apkalogerakis. “I was pretty confident that long exposure would let me record some of the interesting light trails that give prominence to the busy road, and if I was lucky and accurate enough, I could have my cherry on the top and capture one of the passing ‘ding dings,’ or trains. “This photo is how I see Hong Kong. On the one hand, it’s a modern ‘in-forever-motion’ metropolis, looking even more vibrant at night with its dazzling array of lights. On the other hand, it’s a city with a rich and well-preserved historic legacy, where around every bend waits a chance to travel through time.” Have photos of Guangdong? Tag #thatsprd on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our feed and in the magazine.

RANDOM NUMBER

16 4,628

… is the number of bikes produced every 10 minutes in a factory in Tianjin to meet the growing demand for Mobikes, Ofos and other shared wheels. Tianjin is emerging as China’s low-end bicycle production hub and boasts over 1,000 bike manufacturers, according to a report by the Ministry of Commerce of China.

… is how much renminbi a man was charged for two ‘East China Sea wild yellow croaker’ fish at a restaurant in Shenzhen’s OCT Harbour last month. After receiving the unexpectedly steep bill, the man was able to negotiate a 5 percent discount, but he remained unsatisfied and filed a complaint with the Shenzhen Consumer Council the next day. By March 1, his story had gone viral online, and on March 3 Shenzhen’s Price Supervision and Inspection Bureau fined the restaurant – known as 1949 Hua Jia Li – RMB5,000 for its fishy business.

E D I T O R . P R D @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M

CHINESE URBAN DICTIONARY

Zhuangbi / zhuāngbī / 装逼 v. to pose, to pretend to be a bigwig I can’t come to dinner because I can’t eat at a public restaurant. Why not?

I’m too famous on the Internet. I'll just turn the restaurant into chaos.

We’ll book a private room then.

*Walks away*

According to psychologists, almost all adult problems are rooted in the gap between our expectations and reality. We all wanted to be astronauts, doctors, business moguls and supermodels, but we ended up being IT consultants, pizza delivery boys and office clerks. The distance between our dreams and our lives is so unbridgeable that it hurts to even think about. If there was some magic potion to alleviate that feeling of a failure, we’d take it in a heartbeat. And that’s what zhuangbi is – pretending to be your dream self for a short while, usually in front of some random audience, to ease the pain of being the embarrassing disappointment that you usually are. Zhuang means ‘to pretend’ and bi here is short for ‘niubi’ which means ‘extremely impressive.’ Therefore, to zhuangbi is to ‘pose to impress.’ This is what people are doing when they talk loudly in a crowded subway car about closing million-dollar deals, or when they sit in Starbucks with a soy latte that cost half of their weekly salary. For those few short minutes, those who zhuangbi feel like less of a loser in this game of life. And since our brains can’t distinguish fake happiness from real happiness, we feel as if we’re really our dream selves. This is why zhuangbi is an addictive game and some will never stop doing it. They sneak into first-class cabins to take a selfie that they post with the caption “first class isn’t what it used to be.” They memorize whiskey brands they’ve never tasted, just to casually drop the line “I only drink peaty single malts.” They pepper their speech with esoteric acronyms so that people think they are experts. They beg their friends to like their WeChat posts to appear popular and well-connected. The truth is: we all zhuangbi from time to time. We do it because it takes so little and feels so good. And sometimes, you might even successfully convince people that you are who you’re pretend to be. Whether you can convince yourself is another challenge altogether. Mia Li

Our MIT Collaboration The British School of Guangzhou is excited to announce our global collaboration with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). From August 2017, our students will have an enhanced STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) curriculum developed by experts, researchers and scientists from MIT. 6 of our students will attend the MIT-Nord Anglia STEAMFest in Cambridge, USA. There, they will interact with and learn from renowned MIT academics through a programme of forward-looking activities, including bioengineering, coding and robotics.

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Discover more at www.bsg.org.cn

+86 (0)20 8709 4788 ext. 2004

admissions@bsg.org.cn

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CIT Y | F E AT URE

THE LAST DROP What Killed Sean Hammond? By Sky Thomas Gidge

t looked like a happy gathering. In March of 2016, more than a dozen people arrived at a pizza shop in Shenzhen where a sign pasted onto a glass pizza display read: ‘Thirty percent of proceeds will be donated to Sean Hammond.’ Hammond had died suddenly and the money would go to sending his remains back to New Jersey, with anything extra raised going to his orphaned daughter. Billboard 100 hits played as pictures of Hammond were projected on a wall and friends stood to speak, describing him as a great – if challenging – friend. “This is how we met,” a man said before opening a bottle of 35-proof liquor and finishing it in a series of gulps. A suited host urged attendees to buy food and alcohol in Hammond’s memory and a woman put down a margarita before picking up the microphone: “I have some words to say. Bear with me, I’ll say them, then we can all drink.” It had been six days since Hammond drank himself to death. Medically speaking, Hammond died from cardiac arrest. It came as a shock to his friends, though many ‘saw it coming’ after the fact. Hammond struggled with alcohol for years, earning ‘frequent flyer’ status at hospitals, where doctors knew to treat him for alcohol poisoning on sight. Although many of his friends liked to drink, Hammond would take it too far, drinking for weeks at a time and having at least one bender that left him unable to shower on his own. 12 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

F E AT URE | CIT Y

His death wasn’t one night in the making and just because the road to his passing had been set, didn’t mean it had to happen. It took a predisposition to drink as much as it took a blind-eye culture and a language barrier preventing close friendships with locals. As much a victim of his vices, Hammond was a victim to the expat way of life. “The first two years I was here, I drank every day to the point of being drunk,” says 5-year Shenzhen resident Donald Heiman, who asked not to use his real name. “All the other expats were drinking. It was just the thing to do.” Heiman’s story is a familiar one. Unable to speak Chinese, he formed a motley crew of friends who had little in common outside of a fondness to imbibe. “When you get here, if you want to go out and socialize, you’re going to go and find people at the bar,” says Heiman. In 2014, the World Health Organization estimated that 3.3 million deaths each year could be traced to ‘harmful use of alcohol,’ a rather broad brush to paint the potential problem, but studies on expatriate alcohol use are few and far between. The little research done confirms what many expect. A study hosted by the US National Library of Medicine found an increase in drinking in Americans living abroad, with alcohol use increasing markedly among those who don’t integrate into the host culture. As welcoming as China is, laowai remain laowai. “The big difference for me was that I learned Chinese,” Heiman says. “After changing my social circle, I drank a lot less.” Rated as one of the most difficult languages in the world, learning Chinese requires 2,200 hours of academic masochism for native English speakers to hit ‘general proficiency.’ Most choose a relaxing night out over cloistered study.

“H

e was really a very persuasive, good looking guy. He was really a master salesperson,” says businessman James Sung. Sung convinced Hammond to come to China in 2010 with an eye towards working together. “There was a book, and it was such an appropriate title that I had to send it to him,” says Sung. “It was called ’Struggling in America? Come to China.’” Hammond, a single father with a tumultuous family life, did what many alcoholics do when problems stack up: he tried to lose them in another country. “I did what we call a geographical,” says Broc Smith, explaining a move common enough among alcoholics to have its own parlance. Now sober, Smith has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Shenzhen for around 11 years, serving as the organizer for much of that time. “In China they think alcoholism is a moral dilemma,” says Smith. “If you have a family member with it, you lock them in the basement and don’t talk about it.” Lacking even a family with a basement, Hammond’s problems worsened. A few days after arriving in China, Sung recalls finding his friend sitting on steps outside drinking from a bottle of Jack Daniels.

"As much a victim of his vices, Hammond was a victim to the expat way of life"

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CIT Y | F E AT URE

“He knew he had a problem and he would try to control it,” says Sung, who sent Hammond to the hospital for alcohol poisoning at least six times by his count. “There was a stretch with no problems with him for a long time, and then these coworkers at a company wanted to go out and drink.” It would have been difficult for Hammond to say no. In China, the pressure to drink can be extreme, with news of untimely deaths being a regular media feature. In 2016, a Hainan bridesmaid was filmed surrounded by people goading her into finishing glasses of high-proof booze until she collapsed. She later choked to death on her vomit. The same year, Anhui Province decided to issue an almost total ban on consuming at official functions after a spate of alcohol-related civil servant deaths. A recent story to make the media rounds comes from Jiangsu province, where a postgraduate student who rarely drank collapsed and died after reportedly being pressured to drink by his superior. “It has to do with giving people face, people just don’t accept you not having a drink with them,” Sung says. Dr. Seamus MacAuley has worked in addiction treatment for 12 years and is now the head counselor at Hong Kong’s The Cabin, a chain of treatment centers with branches ranging from Thailand to Denmark. “If a job takes someone away from supportive scrutiny and people calling them to account, then chances are they will do something they shouldn’t,” says MacAuley, who estimates that 25 percent of Hong Kong’s expatriates abuse alcohol, 9 percent more than drink ‘at hazardous levels’ in England. According to a Nanshan People’s Hospital information officer, Hammond sought treatment for alcohol poisoning the day he died, yet his death certificate doesn’t mention it. And that’s normal. “Of course it says cardiac arrest, but the underlying problem is alcohol. You very rarely will see anything on a death certificate related to alcohol. It usually reads liver failure, cardiac failure,” says MacAuley.

itting in his humble apartment in Shenzhen’s affluent Software Park area, Sung replays Hammond’s last WeChat voice messages from an iPhone 7 Plus. They range from threats, to business ideas to a plea for help 10 days before his death. “I didn’t think anything was wrong. It was so normal,” says Sung, who had been traveling at the time. “It still haunts me.” After Hammond’s death, Sung spearheaded the fundraising effort to return Hammond’s remains to the United States. It was a stunning success. Characterized by one long-term expat as ‘there but for the grace of God I go,’ it raised USD10,000, including donations from people in Beijing, Shanghai and Taiwan who had never met Hammond. Asked if Hammond’s death was inevitable, Sung pauses before answering. “On his path, I guess eventually,” he says “But really… I think (being in) China definitely sped up the process.”

THE 12 QUESTIONS Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days? YES NO Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking? YES NO Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting drunk? YES NO Have you had to have a ‘hair of the dog’ upon awakening during the past year? YES NO Do you envy people who can drink without getting into trouble? YES NO Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year? YES NO Has your drinking caused trouble at home? YES NO Do you ever try to get ‘extra’ drinks at a party because you do not get enough? YES NO Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk when you don't mean to? YES NO Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking? YES NO Do you have blackouts? YES NO Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink? YES NO Four or more ‘Yes’ answers means you may have a problem with alcohol, according to Alcoholics Anonymous. Struggling with alcohol abuse? You can find help through Alcoholics Anonymous here. Shenzhen: WWW.AAShenzhen.com Guangzhou: WWW.AAGuangzhou.com

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F E AT URE | CIT Y

LIFE

P HO T O E S S AY | CI T Y

CI T Y | P HO T O E S S AY

STYLE Holiday in Huizhou

Escape to white sandy beaches without leaving Guangdong, p24

Conghua Hot Springs P19

FASHION

MOTHER'S DAY TREASURES

Echostudio Co-Founder Cynthia Zhong Shares Her Inspiration By Ziyi Yuan

t’s always hard to think of meaningful gifts for mom – so difficult, in fact, that the fruitless pursuit of a perfect China-themed, elegant piece of jewelry for mom led co-founders Cynthia Zhong and Andre Ramos to design a line of their own. In 2016, Echostudio was born: a brand of jewelry that incorporates distinctly Chinese elements that have been redesigned into sophisticated, contemporary pieces. This month, we chatted with Zhong about her experience starting the brand and Echostudio’s most popular designs.

Nowadays, you can find more and more talented jewelry designers in China with strong international backgrounds. With the rapid growth of e-commerce and the importance of social media in the fashion industry, people can get designer products and access new information easily online. Yet there are still far more copies than original designs out there. Consumers follow trends created by the market, which means everyone ends up following the same thing and losing their sense of identity. Tell us about your experience setting up a brand in China.

outside world and a sneak peek into what’s going on inside. In this collection you will see square, circular, oval and ice-ray patterns – similar to the Chinese lattice on window frames, but with a more contemporary design. What’s your vision for Echostudio going forward?

Our vision is to be widely recognized as an inspiring Eastern brand, which makes people feel proud of Chinese heritage.

The word ‘easy’ will not exist once you establish your own brand. So far, we have received a lot of support based on the trust from consumers and friends, which I have been very grateful for. Everything happened so fast, but I want to stick to the main point of this brand (build the trust of consumers regarding local Chinese design) instead of only thinking about how to gain profit.

What was your original intention when setting up your own brand? Our hope with Echostudio is to connect and educate our consumers about Chinese history through our accessories in modern design. By selecting specific symbols and representations such as window frames, Chinese knots and other items, we hope to bring the best sensation of China to consumers.

How are you positioning your line? Echostudio offers timeless, fashionforward and affordable accessories inspired by Chinese elements reimagined into beautiful modern pieces. We want to connect the young generation with the best of traditional China and expose expats to elements of Chinese culture through our accessories. What do you think of the jewelry market in China?

WECHAT | INSTAGRAM: ECHOSTUDIOOFFICIAL EMAIL: ECHOSTUDIOPT@GMAIL.COM

Can you explain the meaning behind one or two of your most popular works? One of our latest collections, ‘The Eyes of The World,’ takes its inspiration from Chinese window frames, and we love the way the light reflects and shines through these geometric designs. A long time ago, Chinese people had their wishes and blessings engraved onto window frames. A window offers both a view of the WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 17

STYLE RADAR TAP THAT APP

VUE Video Posting photos on WeChat and Instagram is cool, but if you really want friends back home to live vicariously through your experiences abroad, you can’t keep sharing stationary selfies. No, your pics have to move – or at least offer 360-degree views (see our review of the Camorama on thatsmags.com). Enter VUE: the video editing and movie making app that lets you shoot footage and create video montages between 6 and 60 seconds on your smartphone. Even if you don’t plan on posting footage of your live 10-second bungee jump at Baiyun Mountain to social media, VUE makes you feel a little more like Peter Jackson, and that’s never a bad thing. Available for free on Google Play and the Apple Store in both English and Mandarin, the app is simple to master and makes even a mundane shot of the floor in your office look like a scene from a badass indie drama (we tried it), so you really can’t go wrong. Start by selecting the shape of your frame (full screen vertical video, square, widescreen, etc.) and then choosing a filter from a list of names like ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ and ‘2001: A Space Odyssey.’ You can decide how many shots to take (1-6) and the total duration of your video. Next, pick your subject(s) and start filming. Polish your work by adding in transitions (fade, dissolve) between shots, subtitles, stickers (please don't) and background music (‘cinematic’ is our favorite). VUE lets you access your iTunes music as well, in case you don’t like the generic but surprisingly tasteful jingles included in the app. Now go out and film something! VUE is available on iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded in English or Mandarin.

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CHEAP CHIC VS LUX LABEL

XIAOMI MI HEADPHONES RMB199 xiaomi.tmall.com

Sound-Off A source of solace on perplexingly noisy metro and train rides in China, headphones are an invaluable companion on long road trips and commutes. If you’re afraid to rock anything but earphones, don’t be: living in Asia is the perfect excuse to invest in a pair of flashy, over-the-top headphones. They’re as much an accessory as a listening device. Our cheap but chic option this month comes from Xiaomi and sells for just RMB199 on Tmall. Producing a comparably clear, crisp sound for the price, the lightweight Mi Headphones are plenty comfortable and come in white or ostentatious black and gold. They’re compatible with any smartphone, tablet or laptop you have, so there’s no need to trade in your malfunctioning Apple phone for a Xiaomi just yet. On the higher end is Sennheiser’s Momentum 2.0, listed at a steep but bearable RMB2,199. Boasting more spacious and softer earcups than the 1.0, they bring out the best in all types of music – including heavy bass – and conveniently fold up to fit in a carrying case. The leather band and vintage design convey a smart sophistication that’s a bit more age-appropriate than those glossy Beats by Dr. Dre you bought in college.

INSPECT-A-GADGET

Cheap Camera Drone We quickly realized something was wrong. Perched on the edge of a building, we watched as Yadajia’s D61 drone drifted out of reach in the wind, six stories up. Onboard camera rolling, the 26-second video ends when the drone apparently crosses the 70-meter Wi-Fi range and out of our possession forever. Total money lost? RMB198. Packing ‘good-enough’ features that were the realm of prosumers just a few years ago, the quadcopter is about the size of a large pizza and costs less than a nice meal. In the box, you get everything you need to fly it, including an Xbox-inspired controller, which has a smartphone grip. Though a phone is not required, it makes the drone infinitely cooler by giving a live view from the camera and allowing you to record video, that although is

HOW MUCH: RMB198 SOLD WHERE: TAOBAO (SEARCH D61WG) FOR WHO: THE DRONE CURIOUS

advertised as being 720p, looks a bit lower. Build quality is what you would expect at the price point – flimsy plastic and screw holes a smidgen too small – but on the whole the drone works, though it can be a bit unwieldy, as we found out the hard way. While the drone industry in the West has seen layoffs and ‘pivots’ away from manufacturing, the D61 is a drone that only China could provide. Though DJI remains the obvious choice for hardcore hobbyists and videographers, this drone is an excellent first step for those who want to fly seven minutes at a time.

E D I T O R . P R D @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M

DAYTRIPPER

Conghua Hot Springs Town

e’re lucky here in South China. Not only do we have two of the mainland's four largest cities (and Hong Kong) a quick train ride away, but we’re also close to mountains in the north (Yingde) and a tropical island to the south (Hainan). Of course, no daytrip compares to the relaxation derived from bathing in a natural hot spring, and this month’s destination saw former US President Richard Nixon himself visit for a bit of steamy R&R in 1976. First, the town. It’s literally called ‘Hot Springs Town’ or ‘Wenquan Zhen,’ and is located in the northern part of Conghua, which is now a district of Guangzhou’s everexpanding megalopolis. There’s absolutely nothing to do in Hot Springs Town except, you guessed it, lounge in revitalizing mineral water, so hibernating in your hotel room all weekend won’t bring pangs of guilt. Dozens of resorts compete along the river, but the one at the very end of the road –

Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel – has our vote as the oldest and most scenic lodge that housed not only Nixon but Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaopin, Jiang Zemin and countless other heads of state back in the day. You can book the suite where they stayed for about USD5,000 a night, or opt for a room with a private patio spa that seats four to six for around RMB1,000. Simpler rooms (RMB300) still let you fill your indoor bathtub with hot spring water, but if you want to squeeze in more than one person at a time you’ll have to venture outside to the public pools. The grounds are spectacular in the springtime, when mist rises from the hills and fiery Kapok tree blossoms look particularly bright against the backdrop of gloomy winter vegetation. It’s also the best season to go for a dip according to traditional Chinese medicine, which claims bathing in a hot spring can help remove excess moisture from the body.

Aside from a few historic plaques and two lengthy outdoor corridors that were clearly intended for leaders to pace back and forth while mulling over world problems, there’s nothing political about the hotel, which, although built in 1955, is still refreshingly well designed by China standards. For a bite to eat, check out the on-site restaurant Taoran, which serves an amazing mix of Sichuan dishes (the shuizhu niurou 水煮牛肉 is on point) and Cantonese dim sum. There are also countless nongjiazhuang, or farmhouse restaurants, in town that serve regional dishes like baked rice (lawei jufan 腊味焗饭) and roasted pigeon (kaoge 烤鸽). Located just two to three hours away by public transport, Conghua combines a healthy dose of nature, relaxation and exploration into a two-day weekend without breaking your budget. JR Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel, 112 Wenquan Dong Lu, Wenquan Zhen, Conghua District, Guangzhou 广州市从化区温泉镇温泉东路112号广东温泉宾馆 (0208783 0888, www.gdwqbg.com)

How to get there: FROM GUANGZHOU Take a cab or metro to any major bus terminal in the city (Tianhe Coach Terminal, Guangzhou Railway Station, etc.) and ride a bus two hours to Conghua station (从化汽车站). Take a 30-minute cab to Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel (广东温泉宾馆). From there, you can easily walk to other hot spring resorts..

FROM SHENZHEN Sharing a Didi with friends is most convenient but will cost about RMB650. To travel on public transport, take a bus from Futian or Nanshan Bus Station about three hours to Conghua station ( 从化汽车站) and then follow the directions above. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 19

LIFE & STYLE | FASHION

FOR HIM

OUTERKNOWN

BEAMS PLUS

NEIGHBORHOOD

MARGARET HOWELL

SHONAN STRIPED HEMP AND ORGANIC-COTTON T-SHIRT

STRIPED COTTON-JERSEY T-SHIRT

STRIPED KNITTED COTTON T-SHIRT

MHL PRINTED COTTON AND LINEN-BLEND T-SHIRT

RMB690

RMB448

RMB759

RMB793

www.outerknown.com

www.beams.co.jp/beamsplus

www.neighborhood.jp

www.margarethowell.co.uk

Compiled by Victor Liu

They say stripes never go out of fashion. And we believe them. Once again, style reports are predicting that this timeless motif will be on catwalks – and sidewalks – this summer. Grab one of these classics and we promise it’ll still be on trend when stripes are next ‘in’ (which will probably be this time next year).

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FASHION | LIFE & STYLE

FOR HER

MADEWELL

SAINT LAURENT

M.I.H JEANS

Rag&Bone

Grayson striped cotton-jersey T-shirt

Striped cotton-jersey top

Mariniere striped cotton-jersey top

Vintage striped cotton-jersey T-shirt

RMB206

RMB3,793

RMB1,172

RMB655

www.madewell.com

www.ysl.com

www.mih-jeans.com

www.rag-bone.com

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 21

L IF E & S T Y L E | T R AV E L

DARK PARADISE

The Surviving Grandeur of Cambodia By Paul Finkbeiner

hird world, genocide and ancient temples. It might not sound like an ideal vacation spot to some, but for me and two Chinese friends, it was perfect – an affordable tropical paradise. During our stay in Cambodia, we planned to visit Phnom Penh, the capital, and then travel to the beach town of Sihanoukville before arriving at Siem Reap, home to the ancient temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat. Phnom Penh was busy but at a different pace than China. There were more tuk-tuks and motorcycles than cars and buses, and public transportation was limited until we entered the downtown area. China is clearly investing in the country. Most construction projects are financed by the mainland and there are a number of Chinese restaurants and businesses scattered throughout the city. But we were here to experience Cambodia, so we hired a tuk-

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tuk driver to take us to the Royal Palace, a complex similar to the Forbidden City. Many of the buildings there resemble Buddhist versions of Gothic cathedrals in Europe, their roofs covered in delicate, ornate carvings such as seven-headed snakes, dragons and Buddhist gods. Most have a central spire that towers over the building. Buddhism seemed ubiquitous in Cambodia, and there was a certain reverence I hadn’t expected. When we entered a temple, we had to remove our shoes and step over the wooden entrance to walk on the carpeted floor. Many people offered incense or money to the Buddhist gods inside. The next day, we headed to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – a former high school turned into a gruesome prison for those who opposed the Khmer Rouge regime. Though the extremist communist government only ruled for a few years, the atrocities they committed against their people are still felt today.

We learned prisoners here were chained to a metal bar and slept on metallic beds. A host of torture techniques were employed, and nearly 20,000 people were killed at this nightmarish high school. Those who survived torture were sent to the Killing Fields, which still house the graves of tens of thousands of people. An audio tour guided us along the path where the prisoners were dropped off by the truckload and executed. Apparently, the executioners would blast music from speakers and leave the truck engines running to mask the screams of those they killed. The audio tour finally took us to the stupa – a memorial tower – that houses the skulls of executed prisoners. There were 17 tiers of skulls categorized by age and type of death. We may never know their names, but at least they have a proper memorial now. Phnom Penh was sobering, and we were more than ready to relax our bodies and

T R AV E L | L IF E & S T Y L E

minds at Sihanoukville the following day. Our tuk-tuk driver took us to Otres Beach, a long strip of sand that curls around the coast. Behind it, hostels and restaurants have established oceanfront properties a few feet from the waves. We stayed for the sunset and watched the sun’s red and orange bands spread across the sky as it sunk below the horizon. The next day we would be diving in those waters. Snorkeling in the ocean is no easy task. For some reason, I struggled breathing through my tube and swallowed water quite easily. Eventually, I realized I could just hold my breath and duck my mask underwater to view the world below. The first island we visited was a letdown – muddled waters and practically no fish. After a lunch break on another island, we did a cliff jump before heading to the last atoll. The skies poured on us as we neared it. Jumping in, I was amazed to see all the

colorful lifeforms swimming beneath the surface. Dozens of striped fish darted around spongy rocks, tubular plants and sea urchins. The water wasn’t completely transparent, but it was close enough. I could have stayed suspended among the waves for hours, but my lungs were too weak and I was terrified I might accidentally pierce my foot on a sea urchin. So after an hour, we climbed into the boat and headed back to the coast. We traveled to Siem Reap the next day to see Angkor Wat, a massive temple complex built over 1,000 years ago by the Khmer Empire. It was well worth the USD40 entrance fee. A paved stone walkway led us across a moat that surrounds the temple and then through a massive gate that is the prelude to the main attraction. After passing through the gate, we saw five spires rising up from the temple courtyard. Once inside, carvings of Buddhist gods

embellished the pillars, walls and ceiling. The monsoon rains have clearly not been kind to the carvings, but surprisingly, many are still intact. Not all the temples are as well-preserved as Angkor Wat. Another one we visited had been gouged and scarred by trees. Their roots have toppled walls, crushed roofs and destroyed whole sections of the temple. Man may build a work of art, but nature and time will always prevail. Over the next two days, we visited more temples than I had seen for years. One had four-faced Buddha heads on each tower that seemed to smile beatifically at me. Another was a miniaturized Hindu temple built with red sandstone and adorned with carvings of intimidating Hindu gods. Angkor Wat made Cambodia great, while the Khmer Rouge nearly destroyed it. Now, the country is on the rebound, and I hope with time its wounds fully heal. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 23

LIFE & STYLE | HOTEL REVIEW

SEASIDE RENDEZVOUS Soak Up the Sun at Le Méridien Huizhou Text and photos by Tristin Zhang

ituated on Xiaojing Bay, Le Méridien Huizhou overlooks sky-blue waters and white sandy beaches. It’s a breath of fresh air for those itching to get away from the city and onto a coast without flying to Thailand or Cambodia. The real selling point? You can finally get your fix of water sports like paddle boarding and jet skiing – all of which are offered on the hotel grounds. But first things first. Established in Paris by Air France circa 1972, Le Méridien has expanded to include more than 100 locations worldwide. This past September saw the design-oriented luxury hotel open its doors in Huizhou, a city lush with trees, lakes and beaches located an hour’s drive from Shenzhen and two from Guangzhou. Inside, one is naturally drawn to the quaint seascape and infinity pool just outside the lobby. The views don’t stop there, however. Each of Le Méridien Huizhou’s 297 rooms faces the ocean, with a picturesque horizon visible from either the spacious private balcony or through large French windows.

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Contemporary in style, rooms are equipped with 55-inch IPTVs that are, as we excitedly discovered, loaded with free video games and complimentary 3D movies. If the kids are along for the ride, consider upgrading to a suite with a separate living room so they can have their fill of gaming while you relax in (relative) quiet. Attractive as the hotel’s interior is, you’ll want to set aside adequate time for the outdoors and presumed highlight of your trip: water sports. Located by the sea, Le Méridien Huizhou packs equipment for everything from jet-skiing and hydro biking to kayaking and paddle boarding, with coaches standing by to accompany you if needed. Don’t feel like getting wet? A leisurely 5-kilometer bike lane winds along the oceanfront next to the hotel – just ask the concierge to assist you in renting a bicycle. Now owned by Marriott International, Le Méridien is positioned to “unlock the destination with chic design and cuisine curated for the curious, creative traveler.” In its Huizhou establishment, two restaurants and a lobby bar are in service, with the Le Mei Chinese Restaurant focusing on Hakka dishes presented with a modern twist, while the Latest Recipe restaurant serves international fare. If you’re keen to try more authentic local flavors, a five-minute taxi ride into Huiyang District will allow you to explore Hakka cuisine – and culture – in more depth. Set to open new branches in Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Foshan and Guangzhou over the next three years, Le Méridien will soon be a solid staycation choice at a city near you. Though if water sports and an afternoon on a private beach sound appealing, the Huizhou location just might be your best bet. Room prices start from RMB988. From Guangzhou, you can take the high-speed rail from Guangzhou South (or East) Railway Station to Huizhou South Railway Station, then take a taxi to the hotel. From Shenzhen, direct buses from MixC mall are available throughout the week. 1 Xiaojing Wan, Daya Bay, Huizhou 惠州市大亚湾霞涌小径湾1号 (0752-555 6000, www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien)

ARTS Beast from the East

American Matthew Knowles on starring in China's most expensive blockbuster, p30

Ken Liu P36

FEATURE

ALCEST

Masters of Blackgaze By Andrew Chin

ince marrying shoegaze’s melodic waves of ear-bleeding distortion with the thunderous dramatics of black metal over a decade ago, Alcest has been leading the blackgaze movement. They show no signs of slowing down with their acclaimed fifth album, Kodama. Before they arrive in South China as part of their seven-city tour, we caught up with the French rockers’ frontman Neige. Kodama is said to be influenced by Princess Mononoke. How?

Japan became a big influence on the music, as well as the concept and visuals behind the record. I absolutely love this country and have had a close connection to it since I was a child. Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke told a story that I really related to. The feeling of living between worlds – the urban world and nature or the spiritual world and our earthly world – the duality between youth and death, femininity and animality, all are relatable to the music on Kodama. The album has been praised as a return to Alcest’s earlier blackgaze style. Was that intentional?

We wanted to go back to something a bit closer to our roots, but still perform in a mod-

"In the early 2000s, there weren’t really any other bands doing this specific mix of elements"

ern and new style. We consciously decided to go for a more punchy style on Kodama, by putting a bigger focus on the rhythm section than ever before, but at the same time keeping the melodic and atmospheric side through a lot of guitar work in many different textures. It was a very natural choice for us, after having released such a soft and mellow record as Shelter in 2014.

What can fans expect from your live show? Our setlists are usually a mix of songs from our entire discography, but we are of course playing a lot of the songs from Kodama. We try to stay close to the feel of the album when playing the new songs live. They are even more intense in a concert setting, though, which we think works really well with the character of the songs. Alcest are considered pioneers of blackgaze. Do you agree?

It’s true that when I started Alcest back in the early 2000s there weren’t really any other bands doing this mix of specific elements that I was doing in my music.

It wasn’t a conscious choice. I wasn’t really trying to make something new. It was mainly a result of definite inspirational sources from my youth; trying to recreate the atmosphere and vibe from these places. Could you imagine Alcest would achieve such acclaim when you started it?

In the beginning, I had no expectations as to what the future would hold. I could never have imagined people all over the world appreciating what we do in this way. We always hope to reach even more people as we tour around the world though. It still feels amazing to be doing so many dates in China. We love this place so much, ever since the first time we visited back in 2011 and we are super excited to come back. Asia is one of our favorite territories to play!

GZ: Mon Apr 17, 9pm; RMB100 presale, RMB120 at the door. SD Livehouse, 132 Gongye Dadao Bei, Haizhu District 海珠区工业大道北132号 (137 1919 6464); SZ: Tue Apr 18, 9pm; RMB100 presale, RMB120 at the door. B10 Live, North Side of Bldg. C2, North District, OCT Loft, Wenchang Jie, Nanshan District 南山区华侨城创意文化园北区C2栋北侧 (8633 7602)

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 27

COLL AGE SINO CELEB

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

Huang Xiaoming

14 Minutes

Born in Qingdao, Huang Xiaoming is undoubtedly the second most notable Qingdao export after the town’s eponymous beer. Mercifully, spending a night watching his films does not lead to headaches, nausea and poor life decisions in the manner spending a night with Tsingtao beer will. Huang was educated in acting in a classical and formal manner, attending classes at the Beijing Film Academy. He made his bones from 2001 until 2005, appearing in all three seasons of The Prince of the Han Dynasty 《大汉天子》. By the time he starred in a 2007 reboot of the famous TV series Shanghai Bund, Huang was a made man in the rapidly evolving and growing mainland television and film industry. He has subsequently maintained his star status by focusing on the silver screen, featuring in an installment of the ever-popular Ip Man film franchise, releasing a string of charting singles (he is a singer as well) and most notably by marrying Angelababy, the ‘It girl’ of China. The wedding between Huang and Angelababy was picked up by news outlets worldwide, introducing them to Western audiences, and was luxe enough to make the Han Dynasty prince Huang played early in his career jealous.

China’s new Film Industry Promotion Law was introduced on March 1 and Hugh Jackman’s final Wolverine film was the first to be affected. Rated R in America for strong language and violence, Logan was released last month across China with 14 minutes cut from its original running time and a parental advisory. Historically, China has not employed a ratings system allowing audiences of any ages to see any films released. This has prevented films like Deadpool from coming to the country in the past. Despite the cuts and warning, Logan won the box office with an impressive USD48.34 million opening weekend. The film has garnered wide praise across the world for its gritty and surprisingly emotional story.

Kind of like: Brad Pitt during the ‘Brangelina,’ Mr. & Mrs. Smith days Famous for: marrying Angelababy See him next in: Nirvana in Fire 2: an upcoming historical drama

HAO BU HAO

Hao While this year’s Oscars will forever live in infamy, iQiyi has scored the streaming rights to Moonlight and La La Land, the two films announced as Best Film. It’s a huge coup for the Baidu-owned subsidiary that has also raised USD1.53 billion as they battle rivals like the Alibaba-owned Youku and Tudou for China’s streaming supremacy.

Bu Hao The first major Chinese-American coproduction was met with a resounding thud across North America. Despite starring Matt Damon and being directed by Zhang Yimou, The Great Wall failed to impress, grossing just USD34.8 million after last month’s opening. Ironically, many Chinese netizens criticized the film for being “too Hollywood.” Analysts estimate the big-budget spectacle could lose more than USD75 million.

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E D I T O R . P R D @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU

Ghost in the Shell The cyberpunk manga classic gets a glitzy Hollywood live action makeover. Despite criticisms of white-washing, Scarlett Johansson takes on the iconic role of The Major â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the human-cyborg field commander of Section 9. While the special ops law enforcement group is constantly thwarting cyber criminals and hackers, they face a new enemy that will stop at nothing to sabotage the artificial intelligence technology that they employ. APR 7

The Fate of the Furious

APR 14

What do you do after you set records and become the first film to gross over RMB2 billion in China? For Vin Diesel and the rest of the Fast and Furious crew, you seriously switch it up. Following the events of Fast 7, Dom Toretto and his team are settling back into normal lives. However, the mysterious criminal mastermind Cipher (Charlize Theron) is able to corrupt Dom, turning him against his friends. Can the family get back together? Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Helen Mirren, Tyrese and Kurt Russell co-star, while Straight Outta Comptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s F. Gary Gray directs.

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ARTS | F E AT URE

BREAKING BIG

China's American Face on the Future of the Chinese Box Office By Connor Frankhouser

oasting a 100-million-dollar budget, Asura is the most expensive Chinese film ever made. Though it features an international cast, the film is shot completely in Mandarin and is based on Buddhist mythology, with groundbreaking martial arts and fighting scenes that will conjure up comparisons to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. If male lead Matthew Knowles, a US-born actor fluent in Mandarin, has anything to say about it, tigers will crouch for cover and dragons will stay hidden as Asura vies to become China’s most prolific mainland film export. Knowles himself has a story almost as improbable as the mythology behind Asura. After playing football at Clemson University, he taught English in rural Guizhou, learned Chinese, put in the hours and landed a series of TV and film roles culminating in this latest blockbuster. Now based in Los Angeles, Knowles recently spoke to That’s about finding stardom and the future of the Chinese film industry. What was the first baby step that put you on the path, or catapulted you rather, to where you are now in your acting career? Basically, what catapulted me was number one, my Chinese language ability and number two, I could sing Mandarin songs. When I got to Chengdu… I met some TV hosts in a Sichuan KTV. They heard me sing and they were like “Hey, you need to get on one of our shows and sing and be a guest.” And so I did that and ended up signing with an agent. I starred in everything possible after that. But it was my signing coupled with my story I think that made me different. I came to China not to be a celebrity but to help people in Guizhou. It was not a story Chinese people had heard before and it kind of opened doors and the hearts of Chinese people, they were like “this guy cares about our country and our people… and can sing really well.” After all this you applied to the Beijing Film Academy? I was on this Chinese dating show and there was another American on the show named Grant. He said that if I was studying acting, I should apply to the Beijing Film Academy, the best place in China for film study. So I sent in my resume and reel, but you know how it is in China, sometimes there is no follow up… so I grabbed my suitcases and 30 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

flew back home. My plan was not to come back for six months, a year or maybe ever. But literally the day I landed my mom showed me a letter that said I’d been accepted into the Beijing Film and TV Academy. This was the first of July when I got this. And the letter said I had to respond by the first of June [laughs]. Three weeks later I was back in China. I know Huang Xiaoming [Chinese megastar] is a graduate of BJFA and that you’ve been able to hang out with him a couple of times… Yeah yeah, he is good friends with some of my friends. We have eaten dinner a few times. Yeah, he stole my girlfriend… [laughs] Angelababy.

So what would you have done back in the US if the Beijing Film Academy didn’t work out? I was looking to continue my acting, going to LA or possibly Atlanta. I had been learning the Chinese method of acting – communicating exclusively in Chinese – and I struggled with it to be honest, because they focus on a lot of physicality and how you look, whereas the American style is all about your internal and emotional life. It was really cool though to see that different perspective on how people act in China

and how it isn’t necessarily bad acting or overacting when you are thinking of it from a Chinese cultural point of view.

Let’s talk about Asura, where you play the Chinese version of Hercules. It’s still in postproduction so you understandably can’t divulge too much, but can you tell us what makes Asura really stand out? It’s a really cool project, it’s something that has never been done on this scale before in China. It’s a 100-million-dollar film, but with what they can do in China, it’s like a 200-million-dollar film anywhere else. What is super cool is that the director, Peng Zhang, has a big stunt background, and for some of the scenes they have brought on a guy named Damian Walters, he is one of the most famous parkour guys in the world. He did the Assassins Creed freefall scene. So he’s like a legend. From a purely martial arts and action movie perspective, it’s gonna be really cool to see things that’ve never been done before. Add to that this huge and epic story and demi gods fighting back and forth, good vs. evil, it’s a really epic movie. I’m totally pumped to be part of it. And this isn’t The Great Wall [ChineseUS co-production starring Matt Damon] where your lines are in English. Asura is entirely in Mandarin, is that correct?

F E AT URE | ARTS

"It’s a 100-milliondollar film, but with what they can do in China, it’s like a 200-milliondollar film anywhere else"

Yeah, the entire film is in Mandarin, I think it is the beginning of a trend in the future. I don’t think it is only going to be English language films that get out of China, I think it is going to be more and more Chinese language films. When you have something good like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, people don’t care what language it’s in, they just want to see it. You’re now based in LA, the mecca of acting. What are you working on? I’m filming an action film now called Bond: Kizuna, which is about the Japanese mafia in LA. I play like one of the main assassins, the bad guy – my first ever bad-guy role.

Do you think your career would have taken off as quickly in the USA as it did in China? I don’t think it would have taken off as fast in the USA, mainly because it was my uniqueness in China that gave me the opportunity. Being 6-foot-4 and able to speak Mandarin is rare, and someone who can act in Chinese is even rarer. It was because of that uniqueness – and the explosion of the Chinese movie industry – that I was in the right place at the right time with the right skillset to be able to take advantage of the right opportunities. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 31

ARTS | MUSIC

O G A C I H C , G N O L O S moving on. It’s is e v o ro G n o is nce music, Add d. a d n a c ri e m A scar Hollan en British and e O w s t ll e te b e e h g d s a ri , b Once a with Afrobeats in d n a o g a ic h out with C parties ’ I didn’t g out to my e’s ‘Footcrab, were comin ov ys em! ro gu G th k ed to on or is k lik w foot that I ay footwor e I heard Add knew a lot of to. I just knew a try and pl ate me ng nn uc The first tim ni go ed te t n lis n’ ca as as w do; they what I w there, but I e of it than I really know ith some n,” the progot way mor te I came up w ve of y’ e So . it he T qu em e th m e ly to at al it. uc at re th ed t’s y can ally sa io. “Tha more than I That om his stud “People actu ay footwork. it instead. the phone fr sh er K ov U e y m az icago and pl lls cr Ch to go ducer te a l nn sorrowfu “I’m never go !” drum loop, g cool.” id thing to do pnotic kick yway. Havin t promihy os a m of he ld be a stup ng (t ti s ou dundant an w ab re st l ago be Consis ic ca on k Ch vo so ac t or ay ab’), the tr e sounds of The issue m a flurry of sh spired by th word ‘footcr es e in m s th chords and Ja m g g ts in bu in en ar al o ything be 14’s Pres peatedly bl produced tw as unlike an hythm and 20 nent one re his new, fectious. It w e. Transistor R in m s ving. Among y ti 2’ ol gl at ev 01 lin th is (2 zz at ch K U oa e pr was pu st re genres th ap re cu in s’ a ic was at ts once-obs e), William en played – us lis ev ev m ri he ic G or , – on es e tr nc ad ec m the Atlantic: t influe sound in 2010 and el both sides of ore prominen a dominant m ay ill w st The year was ad as from he w g p ow in te mak and cumbia s were gr . While dubs that are now aning. Raver olan kuduru w ng st A less juncture , fa to r om as (O w gq . synths s, its star South African d–I d chainsaw Britain’s club ica. Chicago soun own drops an ep turned to bl st er ub ov “d t: of South Amer d en tely less of a my m ni of fi ss e de se ing tire on is as f as ct uf w w. plains. “It “My new st s’ more dire ne ex m ng ia he But hi ill ,” . et it W ng m e lo ed us for so at for so discover ise improb me was ripe e moment I – an otherw was doing th th yself b’ m ra om tc ep s fr , shit.”) The ti m ke oo es ‘F ia to isely how g. I’ve got est influenc ’s clubs. Will in ng th on ro e nd st m Lo sa This is prec p e swee , created ep doing th – was able to eadhunter) you can’t ke old African able anthem me p scene as H te na e bs th du . e er n to a lot of th ed te nd st U in lis re I n d. te d un ow in an so kn ts (then it, a new Afrobea my music. s er and, with rst producer “I really love any of it into ik fi t e on gh th m ou of w so I br e ne ly a me on ver real s from aying it out, ove, he beca ergetic beat stuff, but I ne and I love pl en , ic .’ So nt us ay ge m w Addison Gro n is ur h th ow love use. it in my fluences wit I thought, ‘I and ghetto ho n bastardize ke ca I to fuse UK in I ju ’ if b, k, e ra or se tc w l is. for ‘Foo mely foot might as wel ‘If it wasn’t licy was y new record Chicago, na le say to me: s continues. our music po nd of what m m op ki re ia pe ’s he ill at of w W t th ” ly lo k, nt “A or ce bit of w h e re it ot tl y w fo lit rt k a ed pa ac a and maybe “I played dubstep tr ve discover a a bi st m ju cu , as changed I ts w . wouldn’t ha ne. It a, Afrobea g too hard a dubstep tu strictly sals w and nothin as a ne w o it y. “But it was to d sl g an ou in – but noth r the night, r simultane unds.” fo nk he so s it k fu co to in ne or is d w D te ot an al fo that I lis n J Tropic illiams , it was both y name to D all the music n genres, W m ay ee pl In retrospect tw to t be ng go ge I id vibe. aving lo cord as a br really good he producers. H Using the re pleaser. But tronic ec new breed of el a r ’s fo in r.” ta ay ca ri w dless crowdy B , dm in oi m um av dr no n as y l paved the rl n. s ow clea er. As wel nces agai Williams is the beat of it ting fans eith erican influe me of m na so A ie e marched to g al av ed in le of rn ac n to tu io enough ’s just re d was embr has no intent o, he’s wise Williams, he undergroun Discos alias s welcomed n I speak to ork in Chicag ha w DJ Tropical a he s ic ot w hi fo er y, d g gl m A in an in – gh s Fitt ou rd th co ay al re pl nd oteric a. asked to of the US. A his more es to tour Chin he still gets 40s will from a tour he prepares and the brid sound, , as hy e from the 19 ty e s ci gu e’ m p en ov te ho er ro bs at m – du an a ic s r’ in ve Addison G d om Den kD ar the ol ter songs (“ “I don’t thin st wanna he its. old Headhun ell,” he adm to play any ago? y said, ‘We ju w tl ic o un Ch to bl in n e k w er in n’t ask him do th do go le st op Ju t. pe “I promoter th gh t do ly ri recalls. hs). But wha He’s probab of times,” he shit,’” he laug p. ago a couple te ic bs Ch du in aw ed an Lu, chains “I’ve play n, 1002 Keyu

Mansio 86 or, A8 Music 音乐大厦2 (1 D. Club Sect 路1002号A8 m; price TB 园 8p 科 8, 区 r 山 Ap t Sa 市南圳深 en zh strict, Shen Nanshan Di 6589 0130)

32 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

MUSIC | ARTS

s a w d n u o s o g “The Chica t s e g n o r t s y m f one o e h t m o r f s e c n e influ i t. d e r e v o c s i d I t momen g n i o d p e e k t ’ n But you ca t to o g e ’v I . g n i h t the same d” e t s e r e t n i f l e s keep my

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 33

ARTS | MUSIC

FANTÔMOS

Amiina Celebrates a Criminal Mastermind By Andrew Chin

n Scandinavia’s vast world of instrumental acts, Amiina has carved out its own distinct space. Known for incorporating a seemingly endless number of instruments into their songs, they first gained recognition as the string section for acclaimed Icelandic band Sigur Rós. “We first worked together in music collection and that evolved over some years as we started to do sessions and tours with various bands in Reykjavík,” explains Amiina co-founder Sólrún Sumarlidadóttir. While the group provided strings on four Sigur Rós albums, Amiina officially formed in 2004 after “feeling the need to compose our own material.” The result has been three acclaimed albums, including last year’s Fantômos – their score to the seminal 1913 French silent film. “The project began as a concert for (French musician) Yann Tierson’s curated shows celebrating the 100th anniversary of the film,” Sumarlidadóttir explains. “We had scored several silhouette animation films from the early 20th century by Lotte Reinige and really liked the idea of scoring such an old and remarkable film. The whole process of writing the music was really enjoyable.” A huge hit when it was released, Fantômos follows the misadventures of its titular criminal genius. It spawned four additional film serials, which were restored and rereleased in 2006. “The strong visual language of Fantômas appealed to us from the start,” Sumarlidadóttir says. 34 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

“For this project, we have a rather simple set-up – only about eight instruments” “The film has been so beautifully restored that all details are very vivid.” Sumarlidadóttir raves that the group’s initial Fantômos concert at the Theatre de Chatelet in Paris was “quite a unique evening and a great experience.” However, she admits that there was more work for the group to do. “Some of the musical cues in the film only last a very short time so we wanted to create versions of the tracks that could stand alone on an album.” The result is Amiina at their

darkest. Noirish strings meet foreboding beats to create what the Irish Times dubs “a contemporary classical, post-rock cocktail.” It’s the perfect soundtrack to the devious deeds of Fantômas – a character that represents the bridge from 19th-century Gothic villains to 20th-century serial killers in crime fiction. “For this project, we have a rather simple set-up – only about eight instruments,” Sumarlidadóttir says. “It’s a palette that just works really well with the film.”

With their world tour kicking off last winter and continuing into the fall, it would be hard to fault the band for becoming fatigued. But Sumarlidadóttir insists that’s not the case. “We even enjoy it more now than in the beginning,” she says. “It is always a pleasure to dive into Paris, 1913!

Tue Apr 25, 8.30pm; RMB150 presale, RMB180 at the door. B10 Live, North Side of Bldg. C2, North District, OCT Loft, Wenchang Jie, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 深圳市南山区华侨城创意文化园北区C2栋北侧 (0755-8633 7602)

TWELFTH NIGHT

Shakespeare’s Greatest Comedy By Andrew Chin

nown as the “most popular foreign touring company in China,” TNT Theatre has built up a huge fan base across the country. Its founder Paul Stebbings has even received an MBE from British royalty for his cultural efforts. Despite 11 years of bringing shows to China, Stebbings promises their upcoming tour of Twelfth Night will be different for everyone involved. “This is a brand-new production, which will actually premier in China – which is unusual for us,” he says. With recent China tours of Shakespeare classics like Hamlet, Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew to their name, Stebbings is excited that TNT is tackling what many consider to be the Bard’s greatest comedy. “Twelfth Night is fascinating because it is the last true comedy Shakespeare wrote. It is a whirlpool of action and interreaction that leaves the audience breath-

less, usually breathless with laughter,” Stebbings says. To capture the show’s hijinks, the company will be using a touring revolve set for the first time. “It’s a wall that rotates and gives many opportunities for comedy,” Stebbings explains. “It also has a door and window so actors can pop through it. We also have a chair on wheels – it’s a part of the comic whirlpool effect – everything is moving and unfixed.” Named after the Eve of the Feast of Epiphany which takes place on the twelfth night after Christmas, Twelfth Night captures the revelry of the holiday. During Shakespeare’s time, it was a carnivalesque night of role reversal inspired by the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia where masters became slaves for a day. The show’s storyline of mistaken identity and cross-dressing has inspired recent remakes like the hit jukebox musicals Play

On! and All Shook Up, as well as the lesser acclaimed film She’s the Man. “Gender and identity are such modern themes,” Stebbings notes. “The play questions everything about love, romance, loyalty, purity and moral corruption. It is a work that is constantly reinterpreted. “Our aim is to make sense of the play in all its richness but without trying to simplify or pin it down to one view. Let the audience decide and let Shakespeare speak is our intention.”

SZ: Thu Apr 27, 8pm, RMB80-300. Shenzhen Children’s Palace, 2002 Fuzhong Yi Lu, Futian District 福田区福中一路2002号 (8351 3099); GZ: Fri-Sat Apr 28-29, 7.30pm; RMB100-320. Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Lu, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District 越秀区二沙岛晴波路33号 (en.damai.cn, 8735 3869)

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 35

ARTS | BOOK

INVISIBLE PLANETS 13 ‘Visions of the Future’ By Bailey Hu

e’re big fans of Chinese literature in general, which is why we have mixed feelings about this collection of contemporary sci-fi yarns, rendered into English by translator and writer Ken Liu. Its slick cover promises “Thirteen intriguing visions of the future from China,” and the stories in the anthology at least don’t lack imagination. From villages populated by eerily lifelike androids to metropolises that fold up like game boards, there’s a lot to be explored here. But the occasional flaw in characterization or plotting can shatter the illusion of the world inside the book, and one of the stories suffers from a whole multitude of issues. To be clear, Invisible Planets includes some wholly wonderful tales. There’s Hao Jingfang’s ‘Folding Beijing,’ for instance, which won a well-deserved Hugo Award last year. In the story, a neat gimmick – Beijing as a tripartite mechanized city, each section of which folds and unfolds according to a strict schedule – unveils hard-hitting truths. Citizens in ‘Third Space’ live in poverty and are only allowed out at night, while those in ‘First Space’ enjoy high-end accommodations and coveted daylight hours. In ‘Folding Beijing,’ class division is literally made concrete, a pointed jab at modern-day inequalities. Other stories are just as zany in conception, but work. Chen Qiufan’s ‘The Year of the Rat,’ for instance, is set in a gloomy future where college grads are reduced to hunting down geneticallymodified, anthropomorphic rats in order to get by. But as readers work their way through the book, certain tired tropes tend to show up repeatedly, distracting from the colorful yarns. A lot of the tropes have to do with women. If a pale-skinned,

36 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

"From villages populated by eerily lifelike androids to metropolises that fold up like game boards, there’s a lot to be explored here" doe-eyed girl appears in a story, you can be sure that she’ll meet a tragic yet poignant end. Failing that, she’s an unattainable ideal that was inserted into the narrative to add unnecessary romantic tension. The one exception is ‘Call Girl’ by Tang Fei, a cryptic tale that oddly sexualizes its school-age female protagonist. But the weaknesses of the anthology are most embarrassingly apparent in the story ‘The City of Silence,’ by Ma Boyong. Intended as an

homage to 1984, it instead comes across as a pale imitation. George Orwell’s classic catches the imagination with the insidious, all-seeing Thought Police who understand human nature all too well. The analogous ‘appropriate authorities’ in ‘The City of Silence,’ on the other hand, don’t really get it. Implausibly, they rapidly narrow down the choices on a ‘List of Healthy Words’ that citizens can use while allowing no outlets for pent-up emotion, and yet the vast majority of people mutely obey. Exposition is lengthy and awkwardly placed, while attempts at compelling imagery fall flat: distilled water, the bland taste of which “nauseated” the protagonist, is repeatedly used as a metaphor for life under totalitarianism. ‘The City of Silence’ has a particularly bad case of the central problem plaguing the collection: unrealistic characterization. It’s distracting, and it makes it hard to take the anthology seriously. Which is a shame, because despite the translator’s best intentions, some will inevitably see Invisible Planets as representative of Chinese science fiction, and maybe even Chinese literature, as a whole. The casual reader who picks up this tome could be turned off from further exploration and discovery of real literary gems. Translator Ken Liu took a gamble with this unorthodox collection, which includes an introduction and three short essays that educate the reader about Chinese science fiction. Liu obviously intended for this background information to heighten readers’ interest in the stories, but while the checkered history of the genre is actually pretty ‘intriguing,’ we can’t always say the same for the rest of the anthology.

Invisible Planets (Macmillan) is available on Amazon.

COVER STORY

TAKEN THE RISE OF CETACEAN

CAPTIVITY IN CHINA Years after the documentary Blackfish made the capture, imprisonment and display of marine mammals taboo in the West, China is just beginning to dive into the act, opening its own versions of SeaWorld and paving the way for a new age of cetacean captivity in the East. This month, Senior Digital Editor Matthew Bossons explores the cruel reality facing orcas – from their capture to transport to confinement – all in the name of ‘entertainment.’

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

In August of 1970, 80 kill er whales from L-25 pod were encircled by a net at Penn Cove in Puget Sound, Washingt on. Herded together by a sop histicated operation involving speed boats, planes and explosives, the young wh ales were then lassoed and literally dragged out of the water and away from their familie s. All told, seven killer wh ales, also known as orcas, were captured in the Penn Cove operation and five died, acc ording to the Whale and Dolphin Conservat ion. In an effort to limit bad press – and because dead animals cou nted towards the team’s capture quota – the deceased animals were subsequently hid den at the bottom of the ocean.

“They had us cut the ani mals that were already dead open and put rocks inside their cavity and anchors aro und their tails and sink them,” recounts John Cro we, a participant in the hunt, in the docum entary film The Killer Whale People. “It was bec ause of publicity and the money.” Unfortunately for the wh ale hunters, three of the cetacean car casses would eventually float to the surfac e and wash up on Whidbey Island. The incident remains one of the most infamous in the decade s-old history of North America’s live killer wh ale captures and was a turning point tha t contributed to the Marine Mammal Protec tion Act of 1972 in the US, which marked the beg inning of the end of live cetacean captures in America. While to many in the We st, the idea of rounding up whales, plu cking them from their aquatic home and sentencing them to lifelong incarceratio n may seem archaic (particularly in the wake of the 2013 documentary film Blackfish), public opinion on the other side of the Pac ific, here in China, is much more open toward s to the subject. As of June 2016, there were at least 39 ocean theme parks spr ead across the People’s Republic, with 14 under construction. The majority of these attrac tions are located on the country’s populous eastern coast. According to numbers provided by the China Cetacean Alliance (CCA), these facilities house an estimated 491 cetaceans representing 11 species, of which belugas and bottlenose dolphins are the mo st common. Guangdong province is home to the most aquatic facilities in the country, boasting five parks and 122 captive cetaceans. There are currently bel ieved to be 15 orcas held in captivity in China, nine at Chimelong Ocean Kingdo m in Zhuhai, four at taking of capturing live whales repeatedly over Shanghai Haichang Pol several decades. ar Ocean World and Of the 39 marine entert two at Linyi Polar Ocean ainment facilities locate Park. d in China, only six claim to have bred cetace ans in captivity, althoug Unlike their North Ameri h, according to the CCA can counterat least two of these cas , in es the calves are known parts, marine parks in to have died. China have yet to But without established master the ability to bre breeding programs, how ed cetaceans in capdo Chinese marine parks feed their increa sing demand for anima tivity, something that has ls? allowed parks like It tur ns out the ans we r is as dark and troubling SeaWorld to avoid the con as the infamous Penn troversial underCove cull. 40 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

COVER STORY

A DARK AMUSEMENT WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 41

COVER STORY

THE LAST LEGAL HUNTING GROUND 42 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

COVER STORY

To tell the story of Ch ina’s captive killer coast. whales, we must ventur e beyond the borders to oversee the prep wo of the Middle Kingdo In addition to helping rk for the transport of m to Russia’s far easter orchestrate the n orcas from Russia to whales’ capture, the job Okhotsk Sea. China. would also include basic training of the wi As one would expect, With the practice of hu ld animals. The paytransporting an nting wild orcas orca by truck for such out? A whopping USD7 now banned in Canad a long period of time a, the United States and million. poses a number of ris Europe, the Okhotsk “The Chinese were the ks to the animal. Firstly Sea is one of the last buyers, and the , cetaceans live their ent Russians had the per areas where it’s still leg mits. They wanted to ire lives in water, al to capture killer which delivers uniform bring me in to do the whales. capture and transport support through even distribution of pressu and initial training of American environment re over the animal’s the animals,” Foster is al journalist body. This, according quoted as stating in the Todd Woody explored to the CRC Handbook the Russian killer article. “The Russians of Marine Mammal Me had been trying to cap whale hunting operatio dicine, results in a tur ns in a 2016 article e killer whales for “functional weightlessn 15 years, and they jus for takepart.com titled t didn’t have qualified ess” that allows the 'China's Marine Park mammal virtually eff people showing them Boom Is Driving the Ca ortless breathing. Tak how to do it.” pture of Whales ea cetacean out of the wa and Dolphins.' In the Despite the fact that the ter and problems with story, he speaks with identity of the respiration will follow Chinese buyers was nev orca hunter turned ant . er revealed to Foster i-captivity advocate from the animal broker Jeff Foster about a 20 To combat this, moder 11 phone call from a , we can be confident n orca transport utilizes giant fabric slin they had money to bu European animal bro gs suspended in rn. On top of the USD7 ker looking to recruit wa mi ter-filled transport bo him to capture eight orc llion offered to Foster xes – something , Woody’s story sugas off Russia’s Pacific that allegedly mimics gests the buyers would the weightlessness the have had to fork over animals experience wh somewhere between ile fully submerged in USD25-80 million for water. the orcas in addition to the cost of shipping the giant cetaceans tho Despite the use of slin usands of miles. gs and water in transport units, it’s dif Foster ultimately turned ficult to deny that pu down the USD7 tting an orca in a box and million payout, but it didn’t matter: the hunt then driving for a week cannot be a ple would go on regardles asant experience for s. In October of 2013 the , mammal. seven killer whales we re pulled from the the Sea of Okhotsk, follow Ka lm ans on ’s assessment of road ed by at least five mo transre port, when quoted by animals in 2014 and Woody, is that it puts 2015. far more stress on the Although the main bu animals than other yers of Russia’s methods. whales appear to be peo ple living or doing business in China “In a truck, you have , there is no evidence road hazards, you have to change the wa that Chinese boats or ter in the container, hunters are actively you have to filter out involved in catching the urine and feces, and you orcas that end up in have to have a lot of ice the country. . And the animals can only lay down so much. According to Woody, You have to go over the culling of killer mountains on narrow whales in the Sea of Ok roads.” hotsk is “strictly a Russian operation.” While it is unknown ho w many of China’s captive orcas entered Environmental activis the country via longt and Sea Shepard distance truck, throu Conservation Society gh testimony from firs Founder Paul Watson thand witnesses like Mr affirms this view. “Th ere are no Chinese bo . Kalmanson, we can ats be sure at least some [involved in cetacean of the marine mamm hunts], they are active als ly arrived by road and end buying these animals from Russia or Japan. ured the journey. ” What we may never kn According to Watson, ow though is China gets only 20 how many animals did percent of their cetace n’t live through the ans from Russia, and tra the other 80 percent umatic transport exp come from Japan. erience. Erich Hoyt, a senior research fell Once captured, the wh ow with the Whale and ales are transDolphin Conservation, ported more than 90 0 kilometers by truck told That’s via email to that he is unaware of small holding cages in any animals dying in the Russian port city transport, although he of Nakhodka. From the added “I am not sure re, their journey to an I would hear that inform aquarium may be under ation if it happened.” taken again by truck or plane. According to Woody, through his interviews with Kalmans “They go a long way fro on, he was told “he m the capture [Kalmanson] wouldn’t area to where they are be surprised if anima held, and then they ls died in transport.” are held in these small pools and transported to China,” Woody told While China’s marine That’s. “It costs a lot parks are getting their orcas from Russi of money to fly a killer a, another Asian nation whale and it’s much is responsible for the easier if you want to vast majority of the avoid attention from PRC’s cetacean imports anti-captivity groups to use a truck.” : Japan. Every year, from Septem Florida-based marine mammal consultber until the end of February, fisherman ant Mitchel Kalmanson in Taiji, Wakayama is quoted by Woody Prefecture, begin the as stating the journey notorious dolphin dri to China by truck takes ve hunt, which leads to the between seven and 10 days, something he capture of over 1,000 cetaceans annually for knows from experienc meat or sale to aquari e. According to 'China 's ums. The hunt was mo Marine Park Boom Is st famously depicted Driving the Capture of in the 2009 Academy Aw Whales and Dolphins ard-winning documen,' Kalmanson was hired tary The Cove. back in 2014 by a Lond on insurance compan y This year’s cull ended on March 1, and, WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 43

COVER STORY

N U M B E R O F W H A L E S IN C A P T IV IT Y Hainan 24

Tianjin 24

Fujian 21

Hubei 18

Sichuan 17

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Beijing 16

Jiangxi 11

Guizhou 10

Hunan 9

Shaanxi 9

Jiangsu 9

Yunnan 8

Shanghai 7

Anhui 6

Henan 6

Heilongjiang 5

Chongqing 4

Guangxi 4 Gansu 2

according to statistics from the Dolphin Proje ct, saw the slaughter of 293 striped dolphins, 235 Risso’s dolphins and 41 pilot whales. A total of 235 cetaceans were captured for sale to marine parks, including 20 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 179 bottlenose dolphins, 35 pantropical spotted dolphins and one pilot whale. As earlier stated, Sea Shepard Conservatio n Society Founder Paul Watson estimates that a confounding 80 perce nt of China’s captive cetaceans come from Japan, with many – if not most – coming from Taiji. American activist Richard O’Barry, who famo usly trained the dolphins used in the TV series Flipper and starre d in 2009’s The Cove, has previously stated that many Chinese aquar iums, including the Beijing Zoo Aquarium, host dolphins that came from that small, bloody cove in the land of the rising sun. According to a 2015 article in The Guardian, between September 2009 and August 2014, 354 live dolphins were exported to 12 countries. Of the 354 cetaceans exported abroa d, 216 were brought to China. It is currently unclear how many of the cetac eans captured in the 2016-17 Taiji dolphin hunt are bound for China.

COVER STORY

B Y P R O V IN C E IN C H IN A

Source: China Cetacean Alliance

Guangdong 122

Liaoning 85

Shandong 72

Zhejiang 47

Hebei 35

In March of last year, SeaWo rld bowed to years of pressu re from activists and announced it would be scrapping its orc a breeding program and no longer ma ke the animals perform tric ks for live audiences. Some attributed the move to the public backlash aga inst the company in the wake of Bla ckfish, which has been cre dited with hurting attendance at the chain of marine theme par ks, while SeaWorld framed the change as moving with changing soc ial attitudes.

"Society's attitude toward these very, very large, majest ic animals under human care has shifted for a variety of reasons, whether it's a film, legislat ion, people's comments on the Internet," said SeaWorld Entertainm ent CEO Joel Manby in a 201 6 Bloomberg article. It would seem, at long last , that orca – and cetacean captivity as a whole – is on the verge of defeat in America. “Many countries copy the United States, particularly when it comes to making money,” said Watson. “We have the captivity industry on the ropes here and SeaWorld has lost money every year since Blackfish came out. “Amusement parks make a lot of money, I don’t know what tickets cost in China, but they make millions of dollars.” But with falling revenues at SeaWorld and orca shows being phased out, many trainers are now looking for work in new markets, the most booming and obvious of which is, you gue ssed it, China. Almost all of the experts we spoke with in assembling this story agreed that former Sea World employees, as well as staff from SeaWorld-affiliated Loro Par que in the Canary Islands, are popping up at theme parks in China. The great fear now is, with orcas making their China deb ut, more and more marine ma mmal parks will be lookin g for a blackfish of their own – fueling the demand for more capture d whales from Russia’s Okhotsk Sea . With the legacy of live orc a captures firmly in the rea rview mirror in America, China’s dem and for cetaceans may me an the next ‘Penn Cove incident’ happen s on this side of the Pacific .

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COMM UNITY Idea Exchange

Hear from diverse speakers and join an open discussion every Tuesday night, p48

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FEATURE

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

Pulses Race Ahead of the First Guangzhou Derby By Matt Horn

ootball fans in the PRD are in for a treat this month with the eagerly anticipated first derby clash of the season on April 8 between champions Hengda and local rivals Fuli. Excitement levels have risen since the big kick off last month, as the two sides have had markedly different starts to the campaign. It’s difficult to judge after just two games, of course, but whereas Hengda scraped a narrow home win against Beijing Guo’an followed by a surprise defeat at Shandong Luneng, Fuli opened with two straight wins without conceding a goal. Pressure is cranking up on Big Phil Scolari in the increasingly hot seat at Evergrande. Not only has it been a slow start for their title defense, but two successive draws in the Asian Champions League have left them with much work to do to ensure they avoid a second successive exit before the knockout stages. That precarious position is a complicating factor ahead of the derby, especially since the following Wednesday, the team will head to Japan for a crucial return clash against Kawasaki Frontale.

Claudio Ranieri’s sacking by EPL champions Leicester City shows there is no room for sentiment in football today, and should they fail to get through, knives may well be sharpened. Scolari himself joined Evergrande after Fabio Cannavaro was dumped, while Korean Lee Jang-Soo was another mid-season casualty that allowed Marcello Lippi to take over his ACL campaign. Meanwhile, R&F boss Dragan Stojkovic has seen his side make a great start to the season despite a quiet time in the winter transfer market. While CSL rivals across the country have been splashing cash on the likes of Oscar, Tevez and Ighalo, the one change in the foreign legion at Fuli has seen the departure of Gustav Svensson to be replaced by Brazilian Junior Urso. The new man has quickly become a fan favorite, not least with the only goal in the second win of the season in the unfamiliar Guangdong People’s Stadium, as refurbishment continued at Yuexiushan Stadium, where they return this month. But it is the two clean sheets that have been the biggest surprise this campaign

among fans, including the ever-growing band of ‘Fuligans,’ China’s first foreign fan group. Only the bottom side conceded more than their 50 goals in 2016 and the loss of two defenders, including influential skipper Zhang Yaokun. But with keeper Cheng Yuelei in inspired form, they were the only team not to concede after two games. Of slight concern is the initial misfiring from star striker Eran Zahavi, but he enjoyed success against Hengda last year and will be keen to make an impact again. This decade has been one of unparalleled success for Hengda, with six successive CSL championships, a couple of domestic doubles and two Asian Champions League triumphs. But as other teams have strengthened, fans fear they will be overtaken if they stand still. Everything is set up for a classic encounter – red verses blue, ‘big’ club verses ‘noisy’ neighbors, legendary veteran manager verses upcoming younger boss. One thing is for sure: a month into the season will give us a clearer indication of the immediate trajectory of both clubs. Bring it on! WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2017 | GZ | 47

COMM UNITY DEAR JAMIE

Sugar Daddy Wanted Dear Jamie, In Australia I had depression and I was an overweight loser. Since coming to China, I’ve lost half of my bodyweight and become very happy. Now I've traveled most of Asia. I’m 26 and I don’t want to return to Australia because I won’t be able to find a good job, but I don’t have skills for a good job in China, either. I also feel like it's too late and too expensive to go back to university. I wanted to find a rich Chinese husband and settle down, but even though I am – if I do say so myself – good looking: slim, blond and tall, I’m having trouble finding someone serious. My standards are low and I don’t care if he’s ugly or bangs other girls. I want him to provide me with financial security. How can I change my sh*tty situation? – Searching in Shanghai Dear Searching, The 1996 movie The First Wives Club is a delightful dramedy, powered by Bette Midler’s manic comic energy and penchant for a punch line. Trying to find a moneyed man that ‘bangs girls other girls,’ you’re well set up to join Midler’s club, except you’ll be the butt of the joke. The tealeaves are clear. Years after entering a relationship because his bank account had enough zeros, you’ll wash down your morning Valium with a glass of cheap merlot, before looking again at the divorce papers you’re refusing to sign ‘because of the children.’ Then, you think back to your 20s when you were pretty, well traveled and capable. You huff on a cigarette as sadness fills you like so much smoke, and your every fiber screams: Why!? Why!? Why!? Or not. You could just get your sh*t together. That means investing in yourself, whether that’s night classes or a job that will teach you new skills. It’s up to you. – Jamie Got a problem? Well you can just cry about it, or message Jamie at Jamieinchina@outlook.com.

AROUND TOWN SOCIAL SKILLS

Idea Exchange

We’ve all encountered it: that fellow expat in a bar complaining there aren’t enough stimulating activities in the PRD outside of drinking, drinking and… drinking. The best response? Tell them about Idea Exchange – a platform for ambitious types looking to meet and connect with other like-minded people, share unique ideas or join in open discussions. Every week, more than 50 attendees – a mix of expats and Chinese, consular staff, entrepreneurs, students, etc. – convene at a coffee shop to hear a speaker present on a topic. Recent narrators have included Kara Wutzke of K2Fit, Jeremy Sargent OBE of The Happy Monk, Matt Slack of the Pizza Factory and Turkish-Greek architect Levent Akdeniz. Others have talked about working at an NGO, directing a film or pursuing a career on Broadway. A lively Q&A session and open discussion follow the presentation, where attendees can join in a conversation about happiness, or entrepreneurship, or negotiation skills or self-development – the topic varies month to month. If you’re the networking type, there’s plenty of time to exchange cards with movers and shakers following the discussion. Alternatively, you can just relax and chat with chill people you might otherwise never run into at a bar. It’s a chance to open your mind, get out of that China rut and express your most profound experiences to people who ‘get it.’

Idea Exchange meets every Tuesday from 8-10.30pm at E-Coffee (Tiyu Sports Center Metro Station, Exit C), 299 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 广州市天河区天河路299号体育中心东小门E杯咖啡. The entry fee is RMB30 (or RMB10 for full-time students). Contact David (FBCFamily) on WeChat or follow the group’s official account (Idea-Exchange) for more information.

INTERNATIONAL CHITTER-CHATTER

City of Stars The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in China kicked off the month 65 floors up with a welcome back cocktail dinner at The Living Room in Park Hyatt Guangzhou. Members and friends of the chamber shared experiences, forged new business connections and chatted with Spanish Ambassador in China Mr. Manuel Valencia and new Spanish Consul General in Guangzhou Mr. Marcos Gómez Martínez. April is a packed month for the American

Chamber as it welcomes the APCAC Business Summit to Guangzhou from April 19-22. More than 600 business and industry leaders, media, academia and policy experts as well as top government officials from the US and China will convene in the city during the four-day summit. The event will conclude with the 2017 AmCham Spring Ball on the evening of April 22, which is themed ‘Musicals Fantasy’ and invites attendees to dance to tunes from La La Land, Rent, Phantom of the Opera and other Broadway classics. Those interested in joining the party should contact Joyce Hu at 020 8335 1476 or email jhu@amcham-southchina.org.

E D I T O R . P R D @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M

TAKE FIVE

George McKibbens

ew Yorker and longtime resident of Guangzhou George McKibbens is one of those expats who arguably knows more about China than many local Chinese. Between giving tours in Mandarin at Chen Clan Academy, co-creating the radio program Lingnan Voices and tracking down lost photographs of Guangzhou taken at the turn of the 20th century by a New Zealand missionary, McKibbens is constantly unearthing little-known secrets of the region and forging new connections between Canton and the outside world. This month, we chatted with him about what makes Guangzhou unique, the struggles of being a foreigner here and his (least) favorite expression in Mandarin. You’ve worked giving tours at the famous Chen Clan Academy. What’s the funniest question you've ever been asked by a visitor? A common question is “why are you here?” Still don't know how to answer that one. My fascination with the place is largely due to how it survived the Cultural Revolution by transforming into a printing factory for Mao’s Little Red Book, and was known as the Xinhua Printing Factory from 1966 into the early 80s.

Some people call Guangzhou a ‘cultureless’ city with very little international flair. How would you respond to that?

Anyone who believes that Guangzhou is suffering a culture famine needs to get their head out of Lonely Planet and walk around. This is the only Chinese city I know of where you can have Cantonese, African and Middle Eastern food all within a 10-minute walk across land bridges. Granted, there is serious tunnel vison – many local people don't step out of their own comfort zone and communicate across ethnic, linguistic or economic divisions. It’s important to look up once in a while and see who else lives here. What’s it like to be 6-foot-6 when riding the subway in China?

The benefit of being tall on the Guangzhou subway is that you can always spot a better place to stand. The downside is when you pass the Guangzhou Railway stop and out-of-towners who’ve never seen such a tall foreigner get on and can't contain their excitement. Sometimes they stand next to me and measure themselves – it's cute… at first.

You’re as fluent in Mandarin as the next Zhongguo tong. What’s your favorite word/ saying and why?

If you marry a Chinese woman you need to understand 撒娇 sajiao, which doesn't really exist in the West. It’s a form of communicating with your partner by pouting, stomping your feet and flailing your arms like a six-year-old. Chinese men who grow up with this understand it, but for us, it's like teaching a fish to walk. People always ask what city Guangzhou can be compared to abroad. Any ideas?

Guangzhou is a complex and multilayered place that ironically maintains a homogeneous understanding of identity – locals draw a line in the sand, so to speak. In that respect, this city is different from others because outsiders will always be, or at least will always feel like, outsiders.

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COMMUNIT Y | EDUCAT ION

LESSONS IN SINOPHILIA A Tale of Tones By Lena Gidwani

he one question I get constantly asked by those who know that I live in China is “How much Chinese do you know?” Ah yes, that old chestnut, the expat’s nemesis. Never gets old, does it? My habitual reply involves a woeful confession that for someone who’s been here for over a decade with a rather studded (no modesty here whatsoever) career, my Chinese skills could be much better. I then blame my delightful colleagues, all of whom, partly thanks to me, speak brilliant English. (It’s a public service, really.) Naturally, all of this gets a shell-shocked reaction that goes from disbelief to pity in a millisecond. “Oh, but you must be learning Chinese, right? Good for you, dear! China is a superpower, you know. You’ll be in high demand when you get back home.” Right. If this Sinophile ever goes back home… When I first arrived circa 2002, I remember being slightly stunned when I realized that many who had moved in before me had almost no spoken 50 | GZ | APRIL 2017 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

command of Chinese. Isn’t learning the native lingo the first thing one would do, as challenging as it can be? Mandarin, a stress-timed language, has four tones, which means that one word can have many meanings, whereas Cantonese, a syllable-timed language, has six(ish) – oh, and those 80,000 characters that have been identified over the course of history. To comprehend a book, you’ll need to have a working knowledge of at least 4,000 characters. There’s also that little nagging issue of your brain (I’m not 18 anymore) having to work extra hard, as studies show that those who speak tonal languages like Mandarin exhibit a very different flow of information during speech comprehension, using both hemispheres of the brain rather than just the left. Take that, English. Fast-forward 15 years, and I will be the first to admit that I am still learning the language. The only difference now is that I pull it off with a cool confidence that makes others gaze in awe at this one-line wonder. And these days, when folks ask me how much Chinese I know, I tell them how much

I know about China. Isn’t that what really counts? My Mandarin may not be perfect, but at least my baby steps can walk the talk. So in China, how does one learn to truly talk the talk? Are you a traditional classroom learner? Try signing up for classes – there are plenty of centers that offer good deals. Perhaps you’re a one-on-one private learner? Find a tutor to speak Mandarin with or better still, grab a colleague and enjoy a bilingual tete-a-tete over tea. Or are you a drop-me-on-the-Great-Wall-ofChina-from-a-helicopter-and-see-if-Isurvive type of person? If deep and immediate immersion is your thing, then perhaps living in China is a preferred option. Learning a language is a process, not a destination. You’re not aiming to speak perfect Chinese so you can run for the next presidency (cue Ivanka, I will never vote for you even though you wear beautiful dresses by local designers). You’re aiming to experience China for all of its majestic beauty, food, people and culture – even if your tone is completely off.

HE ALT H | COMMUNITY

BEHA ADD VIORAL IC You C an’t A TION lways S Get

By D

r. Alf red C hamb ers ll addictions capture us with similar neurological patterns. Specifically, the internal cost and benefit calculation is thrown out of balance and the release of the ‘feel good’ brain chemical dopamine becomes the goal of all activity. Whether the addiction is first triggered by the direct ingestion of a substance or by an activity, the outcome is always the same: a craving and the subsequent inability to control ourselves. And then, when taken away, the addiction becomes all we think about. Try putting your phone away for a few minutes, or an hour, or two days and notice how you feel. Will you miss it? Probably. But be aware of your specific emotional response, whether you feel nervous, anxious, defensive or even angry. You may not think you’re addicted to your devices (you just enjoy chatting endlessly, checking social media and playing games, after all), but if time away causes painful withdrawal, then you may be more dependent on them than you think. Years ago, when addictive choices were limited to things like alcohol, drugs and gambling, psychologists assumed few people were actually susceptible to addiction. But now, with near universal access to technology, it’s becoming increasingly clear that devices and their unscrupulous software often lead to addictions – i.e. change the way our brains work. In isolation, most behaviors are not necessarily bad or harmful. A little shopping, chatting, sex, wine etc. may not impact our quality of life. But if a be-

What You

Want

havior continually takes us away from being present in our lives – if it stops us from being authentic or relaxed without it – then maybe we have a problem. In psychology, we pretty much assume that all addicts lie, make excuses and rationalize. Those are all part of the neurological process that keeps us doing ‘it.’ For example, pay attention to your reaction when reading article. Maybe inside you’re saying ‘Yes, but that’s not me…’ We need our phones, tablets and laptops for work, convenience, communication and just to get by in today’s world, but there is also an element of pleasure (or expected satisfaction) that comes from checking Facebook every 15

minutes. We are not born craving technology – we learn to crave it. So if you are a parent, think carefully about the standards you are setting for your children and consider an alternative before handing them an iPad for some quick-fix entertainment. It is rumored that Apple cofounder Steve Jobs never gave his young children any gadgets – just books and exercise. If you find yourself struggling to let go of your behavioral addictions, try paying attention to your behavior and thinking (including rationalizations). Be deliberate, understand that addiction is one of the brain’s natural processes, refocus and take a deep breath. Okay, now you can check your phone!

Dr. Al Chambers is a psychologist and director of mental health services at United Family Guangzhou Clinic, 1/F, Annex, PICC Bldg., 301 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 广州市越秀区广州大道中301号人保大厦南塔副楼首层 (4008- 919191, emergency: 8620 8710 6060, www.ufh.com.cn)

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CITY SCENES Ecuadorian Roses Accompany Flight Passengers on International Women’s Day (Supported by

)

On International Women ́s Day, China Southern Airlines, in alliance with ProEcuador, honored female passengers by gifting rare Ecuadorian roses and bracelets. Fourteen China Southern domestic destinations were selected, with 50 domestic flights in total and more than 10,000 passengers. Ecuadorian preserved roses are cultivated in “the closest country to the sun” and on slopes of volcanoes, where the soil is rich in minerals. The opening ceremony of this campaign was held at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on the morning of March 8 and saw senior management of China Southern Airlines, the Embassador of Ecuador to China, the Consul General of Ecuador in Guangzhou and other officials attend the event.

That’s PRD Food and Drink Tasting at Mezomd Restaurant Espanol To spread the art of Spanish cuisine, Guangzhou’s leading English media That’s PRD partnered with Spanish restaurant Mezomd on March 16 to host a food and drink tasting event adhering to traditional Spanish cuisine. The evening featured a set menu of Spanish assorted tapas, Iberian ham with Hami melon, Caesar salad with mango and Parmesan cheese, Spanish gazpacho, grilled angus short rib with red wine sauce, Spanish seafood paella, dessert and cheese cake with fresh fruit, as well as sangria, which were enjoyed by 24 attendees from a range of fields.

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St. Patrick’s Day at Bravo Brewery On the evening of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day, green beers enlivened Bravo Brewery, where patrons and That’s PRD readers reveled in a drunken night. Co-organized by That’s PRD, the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Bravo featured the ‘the Hulk,’ a special beer crafted by the Huajiu Lu brewery. The “green” night saw a medley of attendees, from business chamber members, consular staff and the Irish community, who were entertained by live bands playing traditional Irish music.

VIP Launch Manue Tasting at Belle-Vue, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen Eight lucky guests enjoyed a luxurious dining experience at the Belle-Vue restaurant in Shenzhen’s Grand Hyatt hotel on March 2. After Chef Marcelo and Restaurant Manager Ophelia gave introductory speeches, the carefully curated ‘Une Histoire Française’ menu was served. Dishes included foie gras and flambeed scallops, and each course was paired with wine. The artistic presentation of the dessert pleasantly surprised diners: chocolate bonbons filled with vanilla ice cream were served in silver goblets. After the meal, each guest left with a gift box from Grand Hyatt, plus a trial voucher for Vista SK-International Medical Center. The ‘Une Histoire Française’ menu (RMB500 plus 15 percent service charge) is available at Belle-Vue from Tuesday to Sunday, 6-10pm, until the end of April.

Urbanites Kitchen French Cooking Class at L’Étoile On the afternoon of Saturday, March 11, parents and kids spent some together time making French pastries at L'Étoile restaurant. While enjoying snacks and Fiji water, children watched a chef prepare the batter for madeleines. Then, equipped with miniature chef hats and aprons, they poured batter into molds and topped pastries with whipped cream. While the goodies were being baked, kids got a tour of the kitchen and created colorful greeting cards. Three lucky children won tiramisu, lemon tarts and brownies through a raffle. Meanwhile, all parents got coupons for wine and snacks at L'Étoile, as well as vouchers for Vista-SK International Medical Center.

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PRD FOCUS T

he Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou held a press conference in the Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou on February 28, introducing new itineraries in Italy for Chinese tourists, as well as ADS visa application process. Consul General Laura Egoli, along with prestigious government officials, presided over the meeting.

rganized by the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou and co-organized by Beijing Doctor Think Tank Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Arts Group and Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession Association, the first Italian Design Day was held at Kylin Villa, Shenzhen on March 2.

rom Monday March 13 to Friday March 17, Shenzhen (Nanshan) Concord College of Sino Canada (SCCSC) ran an internationally-recognized campaign called Bullying Awareness Week, with the theme of ‘Community,’ which discussed school bullying in various aspects.

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henzhen Women and Children’s Hospital held its 2017 Member Day for SWIC on the morning of February 22. The Member Day aims to provide opportunities for SWIC members to obtain the latest medical information and have face-to-face consults with top doctors. A sightseeing tour of the Nantou Ancient City and Guandi Temple followed.

he British School of Guangzhou hosted its annual Primary Dance Showcase in March, with all students aged from 5 to 11 taking part in a medley of musical performances. The audience got a kick out of the creative skits prepared by the youngsters.`

ISG’s robotics teams participated in the International School First Lego League (FLL) Tournament in Shanghai last month. Tournament champions 'Team Brick' earned a prestigious invitation to attend the FLL World Festival in Houston in April. Runners-up Cloud 9 were invited to the FLL Asia-Pacific Open in Sydney.

he 22nd edition of the Francophonie Festival, co-organized by 20 consulates and foreign affair representative offices in China, aims to promote the culture of France through a series of events and exhibitions. French Consul General Bertrand Furno was present to kick off this annual event at The Canton Place.

hekou was once again filled with action and activity on March 18 as Captivating International, in concert with the Shenzhen Charity Federation, ran its Mini Olympics event for the 6th year at Jingshan Villa's Shekou. The 2017 Funful Kidz With Heart Mini Olympics, with support from Funful Bilingual School, was a fun-filled day for all who participated.

Guangzhou reviews, events and information

This month

56 What's On in April 59 Home Cooking 60 Grapevine 64 New Food and Drink

FRESH CATCH

Spice Up Your Weekend with a Seafood Brunch at Four Seasons Hotel, Guangzhou p73

A monthly insert in April 2017

what's on

2017

in April

WED APR 12

URBAN MEADOW BY BODYVOX

GUO LANYING THEATER

FRI APR 21

DAILY ALL MONTH

SAKURA PINKY FUN

I BY INAGIKU, W GUANGZHOU

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GIORGIA FUMANTI CHINA TOUR

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

FRI-SUN APR 7-9

2017 CHINA (GUANGZHOU) PET EXPO

GUANGZHOU INTERNATIoNAL SOURCE CENTER

FRI APR 7 MAHAN ESFAHANI HARPSICHORD CONCERT GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE P72

SUN APR 9

TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON STRING CONCERT BY AUPA QUARTET GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE P72

THU APR 13 MAJIK

SAT APR 15 FOREIGNER JOB FAIR

MON APR 17 ALCEST

FRI-SAT APR 28-29 TWELFTH NIGHT

T:UNION P72

SHENZHEN CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTER P71

SD LIVEHOUSE P72

XINGHAI CONCERT HALL P70

FRI-SAT ONGOINg DRINK FLOW AT G BAR

ONGOING A ZEN TRIP

G BAR, GRAND HYATT GUANGZHOU P73

P71

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eat &

drink Food Without Borders

From the boys behind Hope & Sesame comes this latest fusion eatery, p64

Cocktail Bars P62 5 8 | gz | A p r i l 2 0 1 7 | www . t ha t s m ags . co m

Signless Coffee P68

By Jocelyn Richards

f last month’s rainstorms had you cooped up in your apartment staring blankly at your kitchen trying to recall how to cook a hot dog (do you even need to cook a hot dog?), then this month’s feature is for you. The following recipes are relatively easy to prepare and will come in handy if and when you’re faced with the task of becoming a self-sufficient adult. More importantly, it’s time to give those Baidu Waimai deliverymen a break, so get that apron on!

Aroma Bistro’s Basil Pesto Chicken Risotto Ingredients: 250g chicken broth 200g partially cooked risotto 20g smoked chicken breast 10g bell peppers 10g Mozzarella cheese 5g pine nuts 5g garlic 5g onion 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon of sugar 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper 1/4 cup white wine 1 spoonful basil pesto

Method: 1. Basil pesto: Put garlic, pine nuts, salt, black pepper, olive oil and basil leaves into a blender, blend until smooth. 2. Risotto: Stir-fry the garlic and the onion until the aroma is released. 3. Add the half-cooked risotto, white wine and chicken broth into the pan and fry on high for 2-3 minutes. 4. Add the smoked chicken breast and bell peppers, a little bit salt and pepper; cook until the broth is fully absorbed. 5. Add in cheese and basil pesto, stir until well-mixed. 6. Plate and serve immediately.

This recipe is courtesy of Chef Daniel Chu of Aroma Bistro, Shop 117, 460 Voka Street, Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 广州市天河区天河北路460号沃凯街首层117铺 (185 0200 1416)

SCAN FOR VIDEO Scan the QR code here to watch Chef Daniel of Aroma Bistro in action.

The Legendary Brew Burger Ingredients (makes four 140-gram patties): 450g beef 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese 4 tsp. chopped onion 4 tsp. hoisin sauce 2 tsp. minced garlic 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper

Method:

1. Choose the right beef – ideally 20 percent fat. The Brew grinds its own rib-eye beef daily, but if you have to buy pre-minced, avoid the extra-lean kind. 2. Gently combine the ground beef with all the ingredients using your hands (ideally wearing gloves). Do not overwork the meat or you will end up with a dense patty instead of a loose

crumbly one. 3. Gently form the meat into a 140-gram meatball, being careful not to overwork the meat. 4. Press the meatball into a oneinch-thick patty. 5. Heat a teaspoon of oil on a hot griddle and fry the patty for three minutes on each side for medium-well, forming a dark crust on each side. Do not poke or prod the meat. 6. Serve on a bun with all the fixings (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle) and whatever sauces your heart desires!

This recipe is courtesy of Chef Ivan of The Brew Zhujiang, West Section, 2 Huaxun Jie, Huajiu Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 广州市天河区珠江新城华就路华讯街2号保林苑西区 (3804 9549)

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HOMECOOKING

Summon Your Inner Chef

grape vine the scandalous scoop

We Tried It

We’re digging:

Spicy Duck Head Quack! Quack! That’s a sound you won’t hear at China’s Pure Flavor Duck Neck’s chain stores. The Hunan-headquartered business purveys every spicy bit of duck you would dare eat – and a fair few you might not. The most eye-catching product in the refrigerated cart of Sichuan-style offerings? Why, duck head of course. Displayed beside the tongues and intestines, these bird skulls retail for RMB5 and make for popular – if graphic – snacks. Resupplied each morning, the sellers aren’t privy to Pure Flavor’s recipes, though tradition states duck heads be boiled five hours and with 19 spices. So how do these two varieties of ya tou stack up?

news that 13 Factories is moving to a new location in Zhujiang New Town; the 200+ label beer selection at Supra on Party Pier (try the Chinese Prickly Ash Wheat!); more secret coffee shops like Signless (p68), Get Lab and Bonus; new German eatery Brez’n that just rolled onto Jinsui Lu; a legit crepery – yes, CREPERY – in Popark Mall (next to IKEA) run by handsome French lads. See the review on p66.

We’re done with:

Numbing Spicy Duck Head Light colored and cooked with peppercorn – and, fair warning, you may catch an errant pepper bit lodged inside the skull – the numbing spicy duck head is a tastebud-aimed nuclear blast. Though it may be light on the meat, eating it is as much a culinary gauntlet as stuffing your mouth with Warhead candies. By the time we reach the gelatinous brain, shouts of “awful” and “my face is on fire” are drawing stares.

Mild Spicy Duck Head Though darker in color, the flesh on this head tastes like sweet and sour pork with a Sichuan chili kick. The mild meat loses its spice as you get to the inner bits, creating a flavor accessible to those who prefer Western fare. Gloves are recommended as the head’s color rubs off on hands when getting to the brains by opening the skull, which pops open with the sound of a crushed apple.

Cocktail

The Aviation

the humidity zapping our potato chips of their crunch mere seconds after we open a bag; waiting for the much-anticipated bar slash club Code Red to open; the Canton Fair jacking up prices and jamming up roads for a good part of April – take the metro or don’t go out at all! (Well, unless you check out the cocktail bars on p62).

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Some cocktails rise from the ashes of the past, flaunting their classic status with a retro chic new blends can’t quite muster – the whiskey-based old fashion, for example, was re-launched by TV show Mad Men, after decades of only being in the most experienced bar keep’s repertoire. While the old fashion may be flying high, another classic in need of a come back has received far less attention: the aviation. Dating from the early years of the century, too long has this powdery purple, sour floral beaut sat neglected in your grandfather’s cocktail book. No longer! The crowning ingredient, creme de violette, was difficult to even find stateside until recently, but the magic of Taobao means it’s only a few days away from your doorstep (search ‘violet liqueur’ in English). A cheeky substitution would be parfait amour, available online on Nogogo.com.

Take off: 45ml gin 15ml creme de violette (violet liqueur) 15ml maraschino liqueur 20ml lemon juice

Landing:

1. Mix ingredients before shaking. 2. Strain into a martini glass. 3. Garnish with a cherry on a pick.

Recipe and photo provided by our friends at Shenzhen’s Providence Cocktail, 2/F, Paradiso Apartments, 82 Furong Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen 深圳市福田区福荣路82号金域蓝湾2楼 (186 6538 3106)

Oldie but Goodie

63 Steak & Burger Opened in 2013 by two Chinese owners who, upon graduating from school in Australia, returned to discover Guangzhou’s dearth of burgers, 63 Steak & Burger in Canton Place is the city’s go-to hamburger joint, catering to the affluent with hanbao of all flavors and combinations. During its first two years of business, more than 20 different burgers dominated the menu. Today, the variety has diminished somewhat, though there are still 13 sizable burgers to choose from, including the popular juicy Lucy burger (RMB88) stacked with a beef patty, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and mustard sauce, or the Mexico beef burger (RMB98) made with a rye bun, beef patty and nachos drizzled with chili con carne and jalapeno sauce. Be sure to ask for extra napkins before you wave your sauce-covered palm at the waitresses. To crank it up a notch, 63 Steak & Burger challenges brave stomachs to

devour the ‘Challenger Burger’ set (RMB198), comprised of a massive face-sized burger with a 500-gram beef patty, smoked bacon and vegetables, an extra-large coke and a pile of chips. If you can gobble the monstrous meal down in 15 minutes or less, it’s on the house. Prefer a classier repast? The imported

Australian steaks are also first-class and come with either mushroom or black pepper sauce, Dijon mustard or red wine and butter.

Shop 118, The Canton Place, Haifeng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城海风路广粤天地118铺 (3831 0351)

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eat & dr i n k | feau t r e

5 O’CLOCK IN GUANGZHOU

ocktails: more sophisticated than shots, cheaper than a bottle of wine, less damaging on the physique than beer and always easy on the palate, it’s no wonder they’ve garnered such a following. For years, we Guangzhouers have gotten by with syrupy concoctions mixed with fake alcohol or overpriced ‘experiments’ served 10 minutes after our friends have left to hit up the next bar. In the past two years, however, there’s been a jiweijiu resurgence in the City of Flowers, with numerous specialty cocktail bars popping up in historic districts like Dongshankou and Liwan and on central party streets like Xingsheng Lu. If you’re new to the area – or if you simply haven’t had a chance to explore the city as much as you’d like – we’ve rounded up the finest mixology hubs in Guangzhou to suit your every mood. Just ask yourself how you’re feeling and see where you end up:

Cocktail Bars for Your Every Mood By Jocelyn Richards

Like the Sh＊t MIXOLOGIE A smart stop for Mad Men-esque whiskey-teers on Party Pier, Mixologie pays tribute to heritage with its rich leather sofas and reproduction of the famous 1263 Scottish painting ‘Fury of the Stag’ hanging behind the bar. Unlike other cocktail locales, the menu here is thick – patrons can choose from more than 200 bespoke drinks – and most beverages are prepared on the strong side unless you ask otherwise. Sit outside for an epic view of the Pearl River, Canton Tower and Liede Bridge at night. Price: RMB60-100/glass

2/F, District B, Party Pier Beer Culture and Art Zone, 118 Modiesha Dajie, Yuejiang Xi Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区阅江西路磨碟沙大街118号珠江琶醍啤酒文化创意艺术区B区2楼 (187 0143 1966)

and ready to party REVOLUCION COCKTAIL If your midnight escapades haven’t yet led you to the humble establishment that is Revolucion Cocktail, you’re not hanging with the right crowd. A favorite among many expats and locals in Guangzhou, Revolucion offers expertly made drinks without the uptight vibe that characterizes other cocktail bars in town. Prices are reasonable, dancing on the bar is encouraged and service is surprisingly swift. Price: RMB60-80/glass 9 Xingsheng Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城兴盛路9号 (3802 9960)

Mysterious

HOPE & SESAME Guangzhou’s first expat-run speakeasy and winner of the Reader’s Choice award for Outstanding Cocktail Bar at our 2016 That’s PRD Food and Drink Awards, Hope & Sesame brings patrons signature cocktails in a refreshingly cozy atmosphere. Finding the place is an adventure in and of itself, as you’ll need to wander down an alley in Dongshankou, find the hidden door and pass a brief ‘interrogation’ on a secreted intercom in order to enter. It’s all very hush-hush, as are the cocktail recipes – unless you know Morse code. Price: RMB70-90/glass 48 Miaoqian Xi Jie, Yuexiu District 越秀区庙前西街48号 (188 1935 3462)

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AND Fancy

alternative P.O.P Recently moving to a new location on Jinsui Lu in Zhujiang New Town, this fourth-floor bar rocks an experimental air with alternative music and drinks like the Ginjam – a mix of honey, lemon, gin and ice with a spoonful of raspberry jam balanced on top. Culinary swashbucklers can try a glass of alcohol infused with reptil – er, ‘homegrown’ Chinese ingredients that’ll get your heart pumping. If you’re not into the exotic, there’s plenty of well-executed classic cocktails as well, the prices of which can’t be beat. Price: RMB40-60/glass Shop 408A, 4/F, Lijing Duhui, 28 Jinsui Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城金穗路28号丽晶都汇4楼408A (186 2060 5655)

LOTUS LOUNGE Another veiled venue, Lotus hides a floor above a nondescript cafe on Xingsheng Lu and attracts swarms of in-the-know clientele every night to talk business over original mixes. The low-lit interior is trimmed with dark wooden windows and hints of traditional Chinese decor, transporting guests to a posh Shanghai lounge from the 20s. Drinks are original, layered with intriguing flavors and adorned with everything from pine cones to sprigs of rosemary. Price: RMB90-100/glass Shop 107, 7 Xingsheng Lu, Tianhe District 天河区兴盛路7号107铺 (131 4372 2245)

S.T.M. BAR Founded by cocktail connoisseur Kelvin Wood, S.T.M – which stands for ‘sip till morning’ – takes its alcoholic creations very seriously. Located on the ground floor of St. Martin Hotel in a fascinating section of Liwan District, this bar doesn’t have a drink menu, and instead invites you to tell the bartenders your poison – or what flavors you’re in the mood for – and let them work their magic. Price: RMB70-80/glass 19 Zhongshan Ba Lu, Liwan District 荔湾区中山八路19号

PRISM Located in a heritage building in the historic neighborhood of Dongshankou, this molecular gastronomy restaurant and bar serves up custom cocktails like the ‘Prism Bamboo’ – a mix of vodka, sake and Spanish sherry adorned with a bamboo leaf. Save time to tour the refurbished mansion when you visit and be sure to make reservations ahead as seating is limited. Price: RMB90-100/glass 1 Qiming Yi Malu, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District 越秀区东山口启明一马路1号 (186 2023 0799, 131 2868 7301)

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eat & dr i n k | N ew Res t au r an t s

Atlas Kitchen Food Without Borders By Lena Gidwani

here are three buzz words in today’s modern, healthy kitchens: fresh, fusion and fast. And Atlas Kitchen appears to be hitting home on all three, appealing to health junkies, flavor seekers and armchair foodies at the same time. From the boys at the helm of Hope & Sesame, this new endeavor (in partnership with Hong Kong-based Twins Kitchen) is under the umbrella of its entrepreneurial owners Atlas. Tucked away on the third floor of Agile Center in Zhujiang Xincheng, the eclectic canteen welcomes guests with a well-stocked salad bar (RMB58 lunch, RMB78 dinner for unlimited servings) and hot and cold fridges touting grab-and-go options like roasted tomato and vegetable soup (RMB28) and Sichuan style crawfish and cucumber sandwiches (RMB48). Lunch deals are abundant and priced on

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the lower side. Try a crisp salad, a soup of the day and either tea, coffee or dessert for just RMB38. The juice bar is a whimsical nod to your daily dose of vitamins – get superpowers (RMB45), a mix of ginseng, ginger, apple and carrots, so you can fight the tropical storm (RMB38), a concoction of coconuts, pineapple and whey.

The well-designed menus are a risky hybrid of dishes that use ingredients sourced locally, but inspired internationally. The puff pastry clam chowder is inspired simplicity: steaming soup is topped with a willowy blanket of crumbly pastry. For RMB38, it works. Try the shellfish bisque laksa (RMB68/ crab, RMB128/whole Boston lobster), with a superb broth that is hot, sweet, tart and succulent, or the slow-cooked duck hash brown (RMB48), a pan-fried bed of spuds, topped with homemade sour cream and crispy bits of duck. For dinner, the incredibly juicy meat mains such as the 48-hours barbecue ribs – cooked sous vide so that the collagen that binds together strands of muscle melts away – is worth ordering (RMB158). The due of earthy cumin and sesame seeds add a supernova of aroma

and piquancy, making it finger-licking good. But does it always work? In most cases, yes, but some dishes like the clay pot paella with Chinese preserved sausage (RMB138) fall flat – the rice isn’t as appetizing as one would expect and the seafood is a tad dry. But those craving carbs (and protein) can opt for the attention-grabbing alternatives: grilled tuna and avocado rice bowl (RMB78) or char siu mac and cheese (RMB48), anyone? Fitness freaks will find their fix here too. The spinach and feta egg white omelet with a garden salad (RMB48) is as nourishing as it gets. With cocktail masters running the show, expect a beverage selection that satisfies. If you’re looking to sate taste buds that evoke the world, give Atlas a go for its new, creative approaches. Price: RMB120 Who’s going: global villagers, inspired distinctions Good for: bold combos, fun mashups

3/F, across from Atlas Gym, Agile Center, 26 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城雅居乐中心3楼 (2818 0606)

N ew Res t au r an t s | eat & dr i n k

Amaroni’s Sayonara, Saizeriya Text and photos by Connor Frankhouser

nsconced on the third-floor roof of the upscale Taikoo Hui shopping center, Amaroni’s New York-Italian style restaurant looks phenomenal and certainly walks the walk. The real question is whether the fare offered can talk the talk and deliver authentic Italian-style dishes that transport you from Taikoo Hui to Tuscany. On a tepid Monday evening, we go to scope out the scene at Amaroni’s and find the nicely designed and handsome patio nearly full. The restaurant is only half-occupied, however, and the crowd almost wholly local. We elect to sit inside. The accoutrements are stylish and paired with subtle background music that’s a lovechild of Herbie Hancock and Nine Inch Nails. Details evoke a chic Manhattan cafe; the kind Patrick Bateman and his yuppie friends in American Psycho would kill for – or at the very least have their secretaries make reservations months in advance to. The service isn’t evocative of New York City, where the wait staff deign to your every

need in hope of a 20 percent tip. This is one of those places where you must refill your own glass or learn how to shout fuwuyuan loudly in a passable Cantonese accent to get attention. Red spinach soup (RMB25) and mulberry salad (RMB78) begin our Amaroni’s adventure. Both are excellent. The soup is just begging to have a piece of the complimentary breadsticks dunked into it, and we oblige. The salad is an excellent creation that would make even the most he-man-salad-hater dig in. The main events are penne rustica (RMB98) and New York classic pizza (RMB 108). Both come highly recommended by the wait staff and both are slightly underwhelming. We wish we’d sampled other tried and true Italian tropes such as the lasagna (RMB98) or spaghetti carbonara (RMB128). If you are feeling particularly posh, you can spring for more luxurious fare such as oven roasted live crab (RMB288) or the slow cooked oxtail (RMB256).

Our apprehensions about the main course are quickly assuaged when desert arrives. The cannoli (RMB24) is worth crossing the Rubicon a thousand times over for and the deliciously soft tiramisu (RMB48) is like biting into an espresso-and-creamflavored cloud. We note that that the tiramisu milkshake (RMB38) would be a five-dollar shake back home. But just like our visit to Amaroni’s, it’s worth every mao. A fine date spot, Amaroni’s plugs a nice hole both price- and taste-wise between rock-bottom Saizeriya Italian fare and skyhigh Italian delicatessen Limoni restaurant in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Price: RMB200 per person Who’s going: amorous couples, people tired of the whacky toppings at Pizza Hut Good for: a romantic date that doesn’t get too splurge-y Shop L304, Taikoo Hui, 383 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District 天河区天河路383号太古汇L304 (8550 9028)

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eat & dr i n k | N ew C A F E

Enzo & Max

Have Your Crepes and Eat ‘Em Too Text and photos by Tristin Zhang

bout a year ago, 24-year-old Parisian Enzo Matte was a wealth manager for French bank Le Crédit Lyonnai, while Maxime Terry, 25, worked in Louis Vuitton’s HR department. Now, these two young French gentlemen stand behind the red, white and blue counter in the basement of Popark Mall making crepes (as Chinese passersby eagerly snap photos). Craving a challenge, adventure and to experience Chinese culture first-hand, the two arrived in Guangzhou to open the city’s first authentic crepery: Enzo & Max. Like a pancake but thinner (and richer), crepes are popular in Europe and North America and originate in Brittany in northwest France.

In fact, it was a restaurant in Brittany that led Matte and Terry to refine their crepe-making skills following their life-altering decision to start a business in Canton. Enzo & Max, which offers catering for events and parties, crafts crepes both savory and sweet. For a main dish, try the la Forestière (RMB53), mushroom-scented and enriched with Port wine and cheese. Another solid option is the La Marinière (RMB53), infused with smoked salmon and a lemony cream sauce. Dessert crepes come with fruity add-ons like diced mango, bananas, whipped cream, caramelized apple slices and ice cream of various flavors. We topped our chocolate crepe (RMB28) with vanilla ice cream and banana slices, but you may ‘go nuts’ with your Nutella (RMB23) served with mango and caramelized apples. Dine with a glass of imported cider (RMB25) – it’s what they do in France.

Price: RMB70 Who’s going: everyone who reads this review, crepeholics Good for: authentic crepes, catering option B2/F, Popark Shopping Plaza, 63 Linhe Zhong Lu, Tianhe District 天河区林和中路63号东方宝泰购物广场B2层 (188 2001 0175)

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eat & dr i n k | N ew C A F E

Caffe Pascucci Powwows Before Pour-Overs Text and photos by Jocelyn Richards

Signless Coffee

Off the Beaten Path Text and photos by Jocelyn Richards

t’s no secret that some of the best coffee shops and cocktail bars here in Guangzhou are largely hidden to the naked eye – exposed only through word of mouth or an in-the-know friend – and Signless Coffee (无牌咖啡) is no exception. Contrary to what its name suggests, it does have a sign (the font of which resembles something out of Diagon Alley), and a colorful splash of graffiti on the wall opposite its entrance. Take Exit A from Gongyuanqian Metro Station, cross the street, enter an alleyway marked ‘南朝新街,’ turn right and walk until you see it on the left. Housed in a stand-alone abode, the two-story shop features a spacious first floor and a kitchen for roasting coffee beans on the upper level. Feel free to wander in and watch the process or just inhale the heavenly scent of freshly roasted beans. Baristas will ask your preference for coffee and show you a collection of jars holding a dozen kinds of beans from Columbia, Kenya, Panama and more. Some are flowery and taste almost like red tea, others register thick and chocolatey. If you’re with a friend, share a couple pour-overs (RMB20-25) without milk or sugar first to compare different flavors and, if you can’t bear the bitterness, ask for a latte (RMB20) with the bean variety you like best. As with most coffee shops in China, arriving right at opening (11am in this case) will grant you an hour or two of privacy, as business usually picks up after 2pm. Having come on an empty stomach, we were a little disappointed to find the shop only had cupcakes (RMB38), which, although painstakingly handmade every night and undeniably delicious, weren’t exactly suitable for breakfast. Apparently other edibles will be available soon, and we’re told matcha cakes are in stock now, two for RMB35. When we visited, the menu was only in Chinese and written by hand on coffee filters, but that will likely change by the time this review is published. Go for the adventure of finding the place and to taste the house roasted beans, which are also available to purchase (RMB90-200 per 230-gram bag).

Price: RMB25 Who’s going: in-the-know coffee enthusiasts, photographers Good for: comparing coffee beans, pourovers

1/F, 5 Nanchao Xin Jie, Qiyi Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区起义路南朝新街5号一楼 (138 2224 6505)

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ust as a family-owned vineyard preserves its wine-making expertise over generations, so has the Pascucci household passed down the art of roasting beans in the Montefeltro territory since 1883. Instead of recounting the long history of this Italian coffee chain, however, we’ll jump ahead to the present and the brand’s latest overseas branch in IGC mall, Guangzhou. Though all of Pascucci’s beans are roasted in Italy, patrons can choose an origin of harvest (Columbia, Guatemala, Brazil, Kenya, Peru or Costa Rica) and a style (hand-brew, syphon, cold-drip, mocha, French press or aero press). Prices range depending on what you pick (RMB28-108), with the most expensive being a Costa Rican mocha. The day we visit, both the Columbian and Brazilian varieties are sold out, but the Kenyan hand-brew (RMB38) turns out to be well-balanced and pleasingly fragrant. It takes nearly 10 minutes to ‘pour,’ however, so if you’re looking for a speedy cup to go, Caffe Pascucci probably isn’t the place. It’s also not an ideal spot for breakfast, as the quality of premade cheesecakes (RMB29), muffins (RMB15) and sandwiches (RMB2532) is on par with what you’d find at Starbuck’s. Inside, abstract murals and a kind of biker-tattoo theme sets the mood, with clusters of 70s-style orange and green leather chairs that would feel more at home in a college lounge. The split-level interior is much larger than it appears from the entrance. In fact, we’re halfway through our coffee before we realize there are other laowai inside – a group of about six women – who are taking advantage of a secluded room in the back of the shop. Besides us, there are a couple well-to-do Chinese men in suits pacing back and forth, too preoccupied to even finish their espresso. Would we come back? It depends. With so many decent coffee shops popping up lately, there’s no reason to head to the second floor of a ritzy mall for an average dose of caffeine. Caffe Pascucci’s main advantage is its spacious, quiet interior that seems conducive to holding interviews or semi-private meetings in the morning. The rest is unremarkable. Price: RMB40 Who’s going: expat book clubs, Chinese businessmen Good for: making private calls, a peaceful coffee break

2/F, IGC, Liede Xipu Dajie, Tianhe District 天河区猎德西浦大街天汇广场(IGC)2楼 (3727 7301, pascucci.it)

URBAN MOMENTS Do you have party pictures to contribute? Send them to us at editor.prd@urbanatomy.com and we’ll run the best.

2017 LANYU Spring/Summer COUTURE @ Park Hyatt Guangzhou Mar 24

That’s x Bravo St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Mar 17

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Urban Meadow by BodyVox Contemporary Dance

see

That Disappears

Exhibition

Chinese avant-garde designer Gong Ting perceives the temporality of fashion and fine art. She refines the craftsmanship of fashion design by creating pieces of clothing and installations that embody certain sensorial experiences. Gong explores how space creates a sense of belonging and authentic value with her fashion items, which contemplate the past to grasp a glimpse of the future. See these futuristic clothing items at Art23 Gallery. Daily until May 7, 2-6.30pm; RMB29; free entry on Wed. Art23 Gallery, 23 Qiming San Malu, Yuexiu District 越秀区启明三马路23号Art23当代艺术馆 (2813 0144)

BodyVox is a dance troupe led by the Amy-Award winning choreographers Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland, best known for their vital visual presentation and ingenious conception. Founded in 1997, BodyVox combines dance with the imagery of theater and film and boasts more than 200 original dance works. The Portland-based dance troupe will bring their Urban Meadow collection to Guangzhou this April. Wed Apr 12, 8-10pm; RMB99-299. Guo Lanying Theater, Guangdong Culture and Art Vocational College, 250 Dongyi Lu, Panyu District 番禺区东艺路250号广东文艺职业学院郭兰英剧院 (www.juooo.com)

win!

We have a pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before April 9 with the subject ‘BodyVox’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

Like Singing and Dancing: John McLean’s Abstract Painting Exhibition

Visible Meditation

Exhibition

Twelfth Night Comedy

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a comedy of gender fusion in which a girl disguises herself as man to be closer to the count she adores. After many an adaptation, including a 1996 Oscar-nominated film, TNT Theatre – well known and much loved in China for touring Shakespeare plays and Dickens adaptations – has crafted a version with a contemporary, absurd twist. Fri-Sat Apr 28-29, 7.30pm; RMB100320. Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Lu, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District 越秀区二沙岛晴波路33号星海音乐厅 (en. damai.cn, 8735 3869)

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British painter John McLean’s work is influenced by abstract expressionism – he decorates the canvas with fluid paints to make an abstract and rhythmic composition. McLean’s artworks are also influenced by French artist Henri Matisse and Spanish painter Joan Miró, from whom he discovered “a much more sophisticated way of using shape.” The Guangdong Museum of Art is exhibiting a collection of his paintings until April 23. Tue-Sun until Apr 23, 9am-5pm; free entry. Guangdong Museum of Art, 38 Yanyu Lu, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District 越秀区二沙岛烟雨路38号广东美术馆 (www.gdmoa.org, 8735 1468)

Filipino artist Jon Poblador is good at expressing the subject of meditation through this work, removing superfluous images, decorations and stimuli and using only colors and geometric figures. In this exhibition, audiences will see paintings created via repetitive brushing to form over 30 layers of coatings, which gives them a sculptural feel. Pobaldor enlarges insects on a sheet of paper with his sketch skills, allowing audiences to observe details otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Tue-Sun until Apr 23, 2-6.30pm; free entry. 103 Store, 27 Liuyun Wu Jie, Tianhenan Er Lu, Tianhe District 天河区天河南二路六运五街27号103 Store

EuroCham Gala Dinner Networking

A Zen Trip Weekend

Getaway

The EuroCham Gala Dinner, which sees more than 300 attendees from foreign and Chinese business communities attend every year, is one of the most important corporate events in Guangzhou. It is an opportune occasion to network with a party of professionals, managers, VIP corporate clients and local political figures in a stylish and chic ambiance. This year’s event is themed ‘Fashion Through Time,’ so come dressed up in whatever is or was fashionable from the 1920s till today and enjoy a night of reveling. Sat Apr 8, 6.30pm-midnight; RMB800 for members, RMB1,200 for non-members. LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区环市东路368号广州花园酒店 (gz.marketing@europeanchamber.com.cn)

Cycle Canton Bike Tour Spoken Word Open Mic Night Story Telling On the second Saturday of every month, Loft345 hosts an open mic night featuring inspiring storytelling in any language, style and skill level. Come for a night of entertainment, inspiration and a chance to win some booze. Second Sat of the month, ongoing, 10pm-midnight; free to join. Loft345, 4/F, 19 Qiangui Da Jie, Qianjin Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区前进路路前桂大街19号晓港花园4楼Loft345

Foreigner Job Fair Job

Fair

The best way to explore Guangzhou is on bike. With Cycle Canton, you can tour hidden gems of the city by starting in the ‘old town’ in Yuexiu District and ending in the modern downtown of Zhujiang New Town. Experienced guides who have hosted more than 2,500 guests since 2013 will accompany and point out interesting facts along the way. It’s a great way to learn more about Canton, whether you’re just visiting for the weekend or have lived here for years! Daily ongoing. Go to www.cyclecanton.com to book a tour.

Getting bored of your oily and calorie-packed diets in the city? Sign up for this weekend getaway at a Buddhist temple in the mountains, where simple, nutritious, healthy vegetarian meals will help to freshen your appetite. A two-day trip organized by a group of Zen Buddhism enthusiasts, the trip is open to anyone aged 15-50 and will include activities like meditation, a gongfu tea ceremony and Buddhism classes. Ongoing. Bus to the temple leaves at 7.30pm on every Friday at Exit A of Liede Metro Station and arrives back in Guangzhou at 8pm on Sunday at Haizhu Square Metro Station. For more information, contact Shengxin at 176 8885 8760 or on WeChat: gsbenxin (www.duanqichujia.net)

2017 China (Guangzhou) Pet Expo Expo

Chinajob.com is moving from the web to the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center this month, as the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs sponsors a job fair to help you start a new career. Thousands have attended this annual event in the past, which see hundreds of companies set up booths to find fresh talent every year. That ‘talent’ could be you! Sat Apr 15, 10am-4pm; free. Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, 111 Fuhua Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen 深圳市福田区福华路111号深圳会展中心 (0755-8284 8900)

Love adorable pets? Yeah, us too. The China (Guangzhou) Pet Expo is the largest of its kind in South China and features all kinds of animals, pet food, medical equipment and other ‘necessities’ for pets. There’s even an animal parade, where dogs, cats, turtles and, uh, spiders (allegedly) will strut down the street together. A wide range of activities will be arranged for your furry friends, while rare species of pets will also be available to take home – for a steep price. Fri-Sun Apr 7-9, 9am-5pm; RMB30, free for children under 1.1 meters. Guangzhou International Source Center, 8 Pazhou Dadao Dong, Haizhu District 海珠区琶洲大道东路8号广州国际采购中心 (www.chinapetfair.com) www . t ha t s m ags . co m | A p r i l 2 0 1 7 | G Z | 7 1

Mahan Esfahani Harpsichord Concert: Goldberg Variations Concert

Giorgia Fumanti China Tour Concert

Long before Iranian harpsichord player Mahan Esfahani attended Stanford University to study musicology and music history, he had mastered the harpsichord with help from his father. Honored as a BBC New Generation Artist from 2008 to 2010, Esfahani has been tirelessly promoting harpsichord ever since as a mainstream concert instrument. Described as “young, suave and eloquent” by The Guardian, Esfahani’s concerts are not to be missed. Fri Apr 7, 8pm; RMB180-580. Experimental Theatre, Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (www.gzdjy.org, 3839 2888)

Famous for her angelic voice, Fumanti enjoys equal popularity with British crossover singer Sarah Brightman, Italy’s classical tenor Andrea Bocelli and Celtic musican Enya. Her pure and clean soprano has captivated audiences in Europe, Asia and North America and her repertoire ranges from classic categories to pop songs. Fumanti’s concert in Guangzhou will include classy pieces like ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Dream a Dream,’ as well as famous Chinese songs such as ‘A Place Far Away’ and ‘The Moon Represents My Heart.’ Fri Apr 21, 8pm; RMB88-888. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (www.gzdjy.org, 3839 2888)

Hear

Majik Funk/Electronic These two talented twenty-somethings mix music in a way that can only be described as magical. Comprised of Jamie – the ‘scientist’ on guitar – and Marcus – a sensitive, soul-searching wordsmith turned vocalist – this British funk duo puts on a quirky but undeniably awesome show. Search them on Apple Music to learn more or come to their live show at T:union on April 13. Thu Apr 13, 8.30-10.30pm; RMB50 advanced order, RMB70 at the door. T:union, 361-365 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Yuexiu District 越秀区广州大道中361-365号东方花苑1层凸空间 (3659 7623)

win!

We have a pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before April 5 with the subject ‘Harpsichord’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

Tribute to Michael Jackson – String Concert by Aupa Quartet Concert

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We have a pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before April 19 with the subject ‘Fumanti’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

win!

We have a pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before April 10 with the subject ‘Majik’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

Female Guitarists Concert Acoustic Guitar

From Aupa Quartet’s classical instrument comes a diverse repertoire of groovy, spontaneous music varying from jazz to funk to flamenco. Their catchy tunes coupled with improvisations have come to be known as ‘aupa style.’ After playing in well-known music halls in Barcelona, France and Italy and with distinguished musicians, Aupa Quartet will visit Guangzhou this April to give a concert with an MJ-themed repertoire. Sun Apr 9, 3pm; RMB180-380. Experimental Theatre, Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城珠江西路1 号广州大剧院 (www.gzdjy.org, 3839 2888)

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We have a pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before April 6 with the subject ‘Aupa’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

Alcest Blackgaze

On April 7, T:union will stage three adroit female guitarists who are of different nationalities and personalities but share a common passion for guitar. They are: Christie Lenée, hailing from the US, whose performances resembles those of legendary guitarist Michael Hedges, Joni Mitchell and Dave Matthews; Taiwanese fingerstyle guitarist Xu Yijuan; and 20-year-old Japanese guitar player Kanaho. Fri Apr 7, 8-10pm; RMB150-300. T:union, 361-365 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Yuexiu District 越秀区广州大道中361-365号东方花苑1层凸空间 (3659 7623) 7 2 | G Z | A p r i l 2 0 1 7 | www . t ha t s m ags . co m

Maximilian Hecker Pop

France’s leading blackgaze (a fusion genre combining elements of black metal and shoegazing) duo Alcest returns to China this April to present their new album Kodama. Known for their innovative metal music with the addition of translucent acoustic guitars, Alcest has crafted their latest and fifth album as a ferocious return to the epic and contrasted style of their early works while continuing the pursuit for fresh ideas. Mon Apr 17, 8.30pm; RMB100. SD Livehouse, 132 Gongye Dadao Bei, Haizhu District 海珠区工业大道北132号SD Livehouse (newnoise.taobao.com)

German music producer and songwriter Maximilian Hecker is adored for his delicate voice and troubadourlike quality, leaving an unconventional impression on fans. From his very first album Infinite Love Songs to Spellbound Scenes of My Cure, Hecker, an all-around musician, has insisted on composing, singing and playing instruments on his own. Hecker describes his songs as “melancholy pop hymns.” Fri Apr 21, 8pm; RMB100-380. Friendship Theater, 696 Renmin Bei Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区人民北路696 号友谊剧院 (www.juooo.com, 8666 8991)

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We have a pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before April 19 with the subject ‘Hecker’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

Sakura Pinky Fun Set

Dinner

Fresh Seasonal Menu at Connoisseur New

Seafood Brunch at Catch Brunch

Spring is (finally) here! Enjoy a new seasonal menu from Executive Western Chef Robert Conaway at the Connoisseur in LN Garden Hotel Guangzhou. A California native, Chef Conaway has designed a delectable set menu that includes imported steak topped with minced garlic and greens over an artistic spread of mashed potatoes and edible flowers vibrant enough to awaken the senses. Ongoing, business lunch noon2.30pm (Mon-Fri), dinner 6-10.30pm (Tue-Sat). The Connoisseur, LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区环市东路368号广州花园酒店 (189 2625 8301)

Catch, located on the 100th floor of Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou, is launching a new weekend brunch with abundant seafood dishes and a panoramic view of the city. A wide array of Asian style delicacies will be offered in addition to a new menu that features eight different dishes with prices starting from RMB98. Sat-Sun ongoing, 11.30am-2pm; prices start from RMB98 per dish (15 percent service charge). Catch, Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou, 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城珠江西路5号广州四季酒店 (8883 3300)

Tast e

Drink Flow at G Bar

Drink Deal

After a long week of work, relax at G Bar in the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou and revel in a flow of champagnes, red or white wines, as well as a wide range of beer and spirits for only RMB200, before an epic view of downtown Guangzhou at night. Fri-Sat ongoing, 8pm-11pm; RMB200. G Bar, Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, 12 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城珠江西路12号广州富力君悦大酒店 (8396 1234)

Inspired by this season of cherry blossoms, chefs from I by Inagiku at W Guangzhou are offering an artfully sakura dish collection, blending the sweetness of cherry blossoms with refreshing and nourishing ingredients to tantalize taste buds. Daily all month, 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-10.30pm; RMB380 for set lunch, RMB680 for set dinner (prices subject to 10 percent service charge and 6 percent tax). I by Inagiku, W Guangzhou, 26 Xiancun Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城冼村路26号广州W酒店 (6628 7830, bfreservation.wgz@whotels. com)

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hotel news HOTEL NEWS

Langham Place, Guangzhou Sets up Mobike Parking Station

Working with the trendiest bike-sharing platform, Mobike, Langham Place, Guangzhou launched Mobike parking stations at the hotel as a market pioneer in the urban area. This initiative not only seeks to encourage proper parking of shared bikes, but also reinforces the hotel’s goal to build sustainable communities. Summer Cho General Manager of Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe

Hengda Hotels & Resorts Launches 2017 Spring Roadshow in Tianjin

On March 17, Hengda Hotels & Resorts hosted a 2017 Spring roadshow in its flagship hotel, Donglihu Hengda Hotel, Tianjin, aiming at promoting comprehension of the brand among its online partners, customers in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the media, while building a deeper relationship with the above-mentioned parties. Pullman Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Named Best Airport Hotel in China 2017

Puckseng Tang Appoints Executive Chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Haikou

Puckseng Tang has been with The Ritz-Carlton Hotels in China for 17 years, starting his career with the company at The Ritz-Carlton Millennia, Singapore. After briefly venturing out to work for The Westin Tianjin and Mandarin Oriental Beijing in 2008, he rejoined the company as executive sous chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou. Tang was appointed executive chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Haikou this February. The World’s Most Luxurious Hotel Unveils Worldclass Burj al-Arab Terrace

General Manager of Guangzhou Marriott Tianhe Summer Cho, who boasts 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry, is responsible for raising brand awareness in Guangzhou through implementing different promotions and launching special products that are also beneficial to Grandview Mall.

Pullman Guangzhou Baiyun Airport was named the Best Airport Hotel in China on March 14 at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. This is the third consecutive year that travelers have selected this hotel as the best of best in China. The Skytrax World Airport Awards are the most prestigious recognition in the airport industry as they are selected by the travelers. This award indicates that Pullman Guangzhou Baiyun Airport shows a truly outstanding level of commitment to all guests, providing world-class service.

Set in the stunning azure waters of the Arabian Gulf, Buri al-Arab recently unveiled its highly anticipated ‘Burj al-Arab Terrace.’ Located at Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the terrace functions as a remarkable one-of-a-kind restaurant, pool, beach and cabana space, offering hotel guests and Burj al-Arab members the finest Arabian hospitality.

Promotions Indulge at White Tiger Restaurant

Dine at White Tiger Restaurant in Chimelong Hotel and take advantage of the following offers: a buffet voucher for one adult if accompanied by a party of five; RMB50 off for adults and RMB30 off for children if present used theme park tickets; and 10 percent off if order from official website or app. Plus, enjoy lunch or dinner for the bargain price of RMB168 on your birthday. Panyu Dadao, Panyu District 番禺区番禺大道 (www. chimelong.com, 8478 6838) 7 4 | G Z | A p r i l 2 0 1 7 | www . t ha t s m ags . co m

Weekend Cultural Tour Package at LN Hotel Five

Experience a cultural weekend with LN Hotel Five’s package that starts from RMB1,380, which includes one-night accommodation, all-day breakfast for two, as well as limousine transfer between LN Hotel 5 and Huangpu Port. 277 Yanjiang Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区沿江中路277 号 (8931 0505)

The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou Introduces a Luxury Spring Picnic Experience

To welcome the arrival of summer (yes, summer – there’s no such thing as spring in Guangzhou), The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou has launched a luxurious picnic package to encourage guests to enjoy an al fresco experience. Its Spring Picnic Package allows you to soak up the sun and explore the always scenic Ersha Island. The package, starting from RMB1,888, includes an overnight stay in a spacious room overlooking the Pearl River and the city skyline, specially prepared cutleries, a picnic mat, an assortment of games like Frisbee and kites, a picnic hamper with fresh fruits, sandwiches, and beverages catering to two adults and one child, and, last but not least, a luxury car shuttle to the picnic ground on Ersha Island. 3 Xing’an Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城兴安路3号 (3813 6898)

travel deals

Dubai Travel Package This month, in response to a soaring market demand, Dubai Tourism, Emirates Airlines, Jumeirah Hotels, Nanhu Travel and GZL (广之旅) announced the second phase of the travel series ‘On Emirates Airlines, Love Witnessed in Dubai.’ The package starts from RMB9,999 and includes a round-trip ticket to Dubai (tax included), free visa processing, hotel accommodation provided by the world’s top hotel brand Jumeirah, tickets for Dubai Parks and souvenirs for each couple. If traveling in style for the least cost interests you, be sure to contact the office of GZL at 4008 638 888 and Nanhu Travel in Guangzhou at 40008 40008 to learn more information.

Emirates to Unveil Enhanced A380 Onboard Lounge at ITB Berlin Emirates, Skytrax’s World’s Best Airline 2016, will launch a series of new cabin products and enhancements in 2017 for both its A380 and Boeing 777 fleet. The multi-million-dollar cabin interiors upgrade program includes an enhanced onboard lounge for its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. The new Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge will make its first public appearance at the Emirates Infinite Possibilities stand during ITB Berlin, one of the world’s largest tourism trade fairs. It is currently being installed onto one of Emirates’ brand new A380 aircrafts, and will make its operational debut in July 2017.

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Featured listings Scan for complete listings

Want to see all restaurants, hotels and more in Guangzhou? Check out www.thatsmags.com or download our app by scanning the QR code

Food & Drink

Element Fresh 1) Shop L302, TaiKoo Hui, 383 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (3808 8506); 2) G/F, 42 Qingfeng Jie, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3828 8482) 新元素 , 1) 天河区天河路 383 号太古汇广场 L302 店 ; 2) 天河区珠江新城清风街 42 号首层

1920 Restaurant 1) 4/F, 1 Jianshe Liu Malu, Yuexiu District; 2) Shops 67, 69, 72 & 76, The Canton Place, Qingfeng Jie, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (8388 1142); Shop MW01-03, 05, Central Zone, Mall of the World, 89 Huacheng Dadao, Tianhe District (8709 6033) 1920 咖啡厅 1) 建设六马路一号前幢 4 楼 ; 2) 天河区珠江新城清风街 48 号广粤天地 67, 69, 72, 76 号铺 ; 3) 天河区花城大道 89 号花城汇 MW01-03, 05 商铺

Happy Monk 1) Back of Yi’an Plaza, Jianshe Wu Malu, Yuexiu District (8376 5597) ; 2) No. 109, 7Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3877 8679); 3) Outdoor Plaza, Happy Valley Mall, 36 Machang Lu, Tianhe District (3832 5317) 1) 越秀区建设五马路宜安广场后门 ; 2) 天河区珠江新城兴盛路 7 号 109 号铺 ; 3) 天河区珠江新城马场路 36 号太阳新天地户外广场 The Brew Sports Bar & Grill 1) Unit 9-11, Huanan Country Garden, Panyu Dadao (across the road from Chimelong Theme Park), Panyu District (3482 0401); 2) West Section, Bao Lin Yuan, Huaxun Jie, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3408 9549); 3) Shop 11-13, Yuhai Food Street, 1 Jianshe Liu Malu, Yuexiu District (8382 8299) 1) 番禺区番禺大道华南碧桂园碧华商业2街9-11 号; 2) 天河区珠江新城华讯街保林苑西区加拿大布鲁咖啡馆, 近发展中心; 3) 越秀区建设六马路誉海食街11-13号铺

Aroma Bistro Shop 117, 1/F, Voka Street, 460 Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District (185 0200 1416)天河区天河北路460号沃凯街首层 117铺 Bravo Shop 114-115, 6 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城华就路6号114-115铺

In·Side·Out By Threedrops 3/F, 10 Xietianli, Lingnan Tiandi, Chancheng District, Foshan (0757-8203 1400, 189 885 25470) 佛山市禅城区岭南天地协天里10号3楼T

Buongiorno 1) 3/F, Yi An Plaza, 33 Jianshe Liu Malu, Yuexiu District (8363 3587); 2) A7, Xinshijie Haoyuan Diyi Ju, 168 Dongcheng Nan Lu, Dongguan (0769 2339 6499) 邦奴意大利餐厅 1) 越秀区建设六马路宜安广场 3 楼 ; 2) 东莞市东城南路 168 号新世界豪圆第一居 A7 号 The Eating Table No. 401, 4/F, GTLand Winter Mall, Zhujiang Dong Lu, Zjujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (8398 0502) 天河区珠江新城珠江东路高德置地东商场店 4 层 401 室

Hooley’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 1)101, 8 Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3886 2675); 2)Section 2, Yijia Yuan, 7 Xingzhongdao, Zhongshan 1)爱尔兰西餐酒吧, 天河区珠江新城兴盛路8号101; 2) 中山市兴中道7号颐嘉苑2卡

Knightship Fusion Restaurant Newly opened in Guangzhou’s CBD and conveniently located in Zhujiang New Town, Knightship Fusion Restaurant provides gourmet food with international favor in an unparalleled atmosphere. We are committed to applying our understanding of what constitutes a quality life to each dish in our boutique restaurant. In addition to Chinese and Asian foods, you can also taste the best of European fare on our‘fusion’menu. Shop No.116，Zhong Hai Jing Hui Huating, No.33, Liede Da Dao, Tianhe, Guangzhou 广州市天河区猎德大道 33 号中海璟晖华庭一期首层 116 号铺电话：020-85162413 M9 Restaurant Lounge Shop 112, 9 Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District

Monthly Highlight: Coffee Shops

Apf. Kafe G/F, 42 Huakang Jie, Tianhe District 天河区华康街 42 号地铺 (3855 1184)

Lock Chuck Coffee Shop 101, 6 Xinniu Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区犀牛路 6 号 101 铺 (186 6488 4020)

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Hay Coffee 43 Qiaoyi Yi Jie, Tianhe District 天河区侨怡一街 43 号 ( 天河区侨怡幼儿园对面 )

Signless Coffee 1/F, 5 Nanchao Xin Jie, Qiyi Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区起义路南朝新街 5 号一楼 (138 2224 6505)

Laihui Coffee 1/F, 84 Tianhe Nan Yi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区天河南一路 84 号首层 (2984 7242)

Wantok Coffee 48 Tianhe Nan Yi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区天河南一路 48 号 (8516 2397)

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Nobu, a Michelin-starred restaurant opened in 1994 in New York, specializes in Japanese cuisine. Its Nobu miso Chilean sea bass is favored by many a Hollywood star, and now you can taste it at fusion restaurant Knightship without flying to New York. A rare fish that dwells two kilometers below the ocean’s surface, Chilean sea bass has long been considered a precious commodity. When cooked with miso, the fresh taste and tender texture of the bass is enhanced, creating a delicate and delectable flavor you won’t forget. Shop 116, Park Royal, 33 Liede Dadao, Tianhe District 天河区猎德大道33号中海璟晖华庭一期116铺 (8516 2413)

(3802 0171) McCawley’s Bar & Grill Shop 101, 16 Huacheng Dadao, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3801 7000) 天河区珠江新城花城大道 16 号 101 铺

Oggi Pizzeria 1) Shop 119, 8 Xingsheng Lu, Tianhe District (3805 1282); 4) 1 Tianlun Garden, Jianshe 4 Lu,Yuexiu District (8356 1196) www.oggirestaurant.com 卡布里西餐厅 1) 天河区兴盛路 8 号 119 铺 ; 2) 越秀区建设四马路天伦花园首层

Paulaner Bräuhaus L307, 3/F, TaiKoo Hui, 383 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (2808 6333) 宝莱纳 , 天河区天河路 383 号太古汇广场 L307

Sultan Restaurant Turkish BBQ 1) 1-3/F, 367 Huanshi Dong Lu, between Baiyun Hotel and Friendship Store, Yuexiu District (8349 4170, 8349 4171); 2) Shop 102 & 114, Zhonghai Jinghui Huating, 31 Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, TianHe District(3801 5002) 1)苏坦土耳其烧烤餐厅, 越秀区环市东路367号1-3楼(白云宾馆与友谊商店夹位处); 2)广州市天河区珠江新城兴盛路31号中海璟晖华庭二期商铺102 & 114 The Tavern Sports Bar Traditional English style bar that fosters a cosy intimate atmosphere. Both Taverns offer an extensive menu of Western favorites and different theme nights throughout the whole week. 1) Poly 108, 6 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (8550 3038); 2) On the right side of the Huanan Country Garden, Yingbin Lu, Panyu District (3482 4882, www.tavernchina.com) 致盛 1) 天河区珠江新城华就路 6 号保利 108 公馆 ; 2) 番禺区迎宾路华南碧桂园大门右侧

Health Rebel Rebel 42 Tiyu Dong Lu, Tianhe District (8520 1579) 天河区体育东路42号

Ricci Creative Eats Shop 015B, G/F, Popark Mall, No.63 Linhe Zhong Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China (Across the street from IKEA) (3809 6330) 天河区林和中路 63 号东方宝泰购物广场首层（宜家家居对面） Shami House 2/F, Zhao Qing Da Sha, 304 Huanshi Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District (8355 3012 / 8355 3091) 莎米屋 , 越秀区环市中路 304 号肇庆大厦 2 楼

China's Unmissable Trek: Tiger Leaping Gorge

All Smile - Dr. Lu Int'l Dental Clinic Rm 603-604, 6/F, Metro Plaza, 183 Tianhe Bei Lu (24-hour hotline: 8755 3380). Mon-Sat 9am6pm (other times by appointment) 大都会牙科，天河北路183号大都会广场六楼 603-604 Bellaire Int'l Clinic No. 601, 6/F, East Tower, Times Square, 28 Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District (3891 0511) 贝利尔诊所，天河北路 28 号时代广场东 6 楼 601 Deron Dental 11/F, Ice Flower Hotel, 2 Tianhe Bei Lu (3886 4821,www.kaiyiyk.com) 德隆齿科诊所，天河北路 2 号冰花酒店 11 层 Dr. Sherily Xiao Master of Medicine. 19 years TCM & Acupuncture & Massage & Physiotherapy Experience.Only for appoint-

7 Ways to Stay Sane in Rainy Guangzhou

ment. Fu Lai Garden Shui Yin Zhi Jie Shui Yin Road Yue Xiu District Guang Zhou. （Tel: 137 1052 6617. E-mail: xiaoshuilan@ hotmail.com. L5, Zoo station, C exit) 广州市越秀区水阴路水阴直街福莱花园 Eur Am Int’l Medical Center 1/F, North Tower, Ocean Pearl Bldg, 19 Huali Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng (3758 5328, 24hr urgent care: 137 1041 3347, www. eurammedicalcenter.com) 康辰国际医疗 , 珠江新城华利路 19 号远洋明珠大厦北座首层 H&H Dental Center 1/F, Mingmen Building, 4 Huacheng Dadao, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3808 0700, 3808 0729; 24-hour hotline: 139 2516 2826; Email: hnhdental@163.com) H&H 牙科中心（嘉茜医疗门诊 ), 天河区珠江新城花城大道 4 号名门大厦正门首层 United Family Guangzhou Clinic 1/F, Annex Bldg, PICC Bldg, 301 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong (4008 919 191, 24-hr urgent care: 8710 6060) 广州越秀和睦家门诊部 , 广州大道中 301 号人保大厦南塔副楼首层

Lifestyle SO’ O LK (Hair Salon) 1) G/F, 545 Binjiang Dong Lu, Haizhu District (3425 7429); 2) Shop 103A, World Trade Centre, 371-375 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District (8760 6299); 3) Shop101, 712 Binjiang Dong Lu, Haizhu District (8419 1022); 4) Shop101, Fuli Edinburgh Apartment, 2 Huali Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District(3826 3718); 5) Shop 15 2/F, Chateau Star River Hotel, Yingbin Lu, Panyu District(3479 0641); 6) Shop81-82, G/F, New City Plaza, Olympic Garden, Luoxi New Town, Panyu District(3452 1826); 7) Shop 21, Agile Phase II, Fenghuang Bei Lu, Huadu District(3692 8686) 苏豪路易士，嘉玛发廊，1) 天河区天河北路 366 号都市华庭 13 铺 ; 2) 越秀区环市东路 371-375 号世界贸易中心首层 103A; 3) 海珠区滨江东路 712 号 101 铺 ; 4) 天河区珠江新城华利路 2 号富力爱丁堡公寓 101 铺 ; 5) 番禺区迎宾路星河湾酒店 2 楼 15 号铺 ; 6) 番禺区洛溪新城奥园城市花园首层 81-82 号铺 ; 7) 花都区凤凰北路雅居乐二期 21 号铺 True Pilates China China’s First True Pilates China Studio www . t ha t s m ags . co m | A p r i l 2 0 1 7 | G Z | 7 7

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&True Pilates NY Instructor Certification Training Center. Add: 7F/7 Huacheng Dadao, Zhujiang New Town. www.truepilateschina.com （186 2007 6022）珠江新城花城大道 7 号 7 楼

EDUCATION American Int’l School of Guangzhou (AISG) 1) 3 Yanyu Nan Lu, Ersha Island (8735 3393); 2) 19,Kexiang Road Luogang District,Science Park, Guangzhou (3213 5555) 1) 广州美国人，二沙岛烟雨南路 3 号 ; 2) 广州罗岗区科翔路 19 号 Canadian Foreign Language School Cambridgshire Garden, Panyu District (39191868 ext. 0) 广州市番禺区剑桥郡加拿达外国语学校，广州市番禺区剑桥郡花园

feng Lu, Yuexiu District (2833 7215; 2833 2888) 广州希尔顿逸林酒店 , 越秀区东风路 391 号 Grand Hyatt Guangzhou 12, Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (8396 1234 www.guangzhou.grand.hyatt.com) 广州富力君悦大酒店 , 天河区珠江新城珠江西路 12 号 Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe 228 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (6108 8888) 广州正佳广场万豪酒店，天河区天河路 228 号

Cuba Rm 2411, West Tower, Huapu Plaza, 13 Huaming Lu, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 2238 2603 / 2238 2604; Fax: 2238 2605) 珠江新城华明路 13 号华普广场西塔 2411

LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou 368, Huanshi Dong Lu (8333 8989, www.thegardenhotel. com.cn) LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District 广州花园酒店 , 越秀区环市东路 368 号花园酒店 (8333 8989)

Denmark Rm 1578, China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel, 122 Liuhua Lu (Tel: 8666 0795; Fax: 8667 0315) 丹麦领事馆，流花路 122 号中国大酒店写字楼 1578 室

LN Hotel Five 277 Yanjiang Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District （8931 0505）广州岭南五号酒店，越秀区沿江中路 277 号 Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou 389 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (3808 8888) 广州文华东方酒店 , 天河区天河路 389 号

Canadian Internatioanal Kindergarten Agile Garden, Yinbin Lu, Panyu District (8456 6551). 加拿大国际幼儿园，番禺区迎宾路雅居乐花园

Park Hyatt Guangzhou 16 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (3769 1234) 广州柏悦酒店天河区珠江新城华夏路 16 号

Clifford School International International Building, Clifford School, Clifford Estates, Shiguang Lu, Panyu District (8471 8273; 8471 1441; 8471 1694) 祈福英语实验学校，番禺区市广路

Shangri-La Hotel Guangzhou 1, Huizhan Dong Lu, Haizhu District (8917 8888, www.shangrila.com) 广州香格里拉大酒店 , 海珠区会展东路 1 号

Eclipse English Education 18D, No.368, Tianhe Bei Road, GZ (Tel:38780382,18922769713) 爱誉英语, 天河北路, 368号, 18D

Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich 988 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Tianhe District (3883 8888) 广州圣丰索菲特大酒店 , 天河区广州大道中 988 号 . www.sofitel.com

Guangzhou Nanfang International School No.1 South Industrial Park, Yinglong Lu, Longdong, Tianhe District (3886 6952, 3886 3606, Fax: 3886 3680). www.gnischina.com 广州南方国际学校，天河区龙洞迎龙路龙山工业园南1号

The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou 3, Xing’an Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (3813 6688, www.ritzcarlton.com) 广州富力丽思卡尔顿酒店, 天河区珠江新城兴安路3号

ISA International School Guangzhou Block C2-2, 128 Yuancun Siheng Lu, Tianhe District 广州爱莎国际学校, 天河区员村四横路128号红专厂创意园C2-2 (8890 0909, info@isaschool.com ) The British School of Guangzhou 983-3 Tonghe Lu, Baiyun District (8709 4788) 广州英国学校 , 白云区同和路 983-3 Utahloy Int’l School www.utahloy.com 1) 800 Shatai Bei Lu, Baiyun District (8720 2019, fax 8704 4296); 2) Sanjiang Town, Zeng Cheng (8291 4691 fax 8291 3303) 广州誉德莱国际学校，1) 白云区沙太北路 800 号；2) 增城三江镇

HOTEL Chimelong Hotel Panyu Dadao,Panyu District (8478 6838, gz.chimelong.com) 长隆酒店 , 番禺区番禺大道 Chimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel Hengqin New District, Zhuhai (0756-299 8888, www.chimelong.com) 长隆横琴湾酒店 , 珠海市横琴新区 Chimelong Penguin Hotel Hengqin New District, Zhuhai (0756-299 3366, www.chimelong. com) 长隆企鹅酒店, 珠海市横琴新区 Chimelong Circus Hotel Hengqin New District, Zhuhai (0756-299 3399, www.chimelong.com) 长隆马戏酒店, 珠海市横琴新区 China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel 122, Liuhua Lu (8666 6888) www.MarriottChinahotel.com 中国大酒店 , 流花路 122 号 DoubleTree by Hilton Guangzhou 391 Dong-

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Colombia Unit 12, 36/F No 5, Zhujiang West Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou (8883 4826, cguangzhou@cancilleria.gov.co) 哥伦比亚驻广州总领事馆，珠江西路 5 号广州国际金融中心主塔写字楼 36 层 12 单元

Langham Place Guangzhou 638 Xingang Dong Lu, Haizhu District(8916 3388) 广州南丰朗豪酒店 , 海珠区新港东路 638 号

Canadian International School of Guangzhou Cambridgeshire Garden, Nancun Town, Panyu District (3925 5321) www. cisgz.com 广州加拿大人国际学校，番禺区南村镇雅居乐剑桥郡花园内

Hanbridge Mandarin School Daily Chinese/Business Chinese/ HSK Kids Chinese/Cantonese/Company Training 1303, Left tower, Stars building, No.174 Huasui Road, Zhujiang Newtown, Tianhe , GZ. Branch shcools：Linhexi CITIC & LieDe Pub Street & ShiPaiQiao TaikooHui TEL&Wechat：189 9838 3060，181 0272 9662 翰语桥中国语, 总校：天河珠江新城华穗路星辰大厦东塔1303

Canada 26/F, Tower 1, Taikoo Hui, 385 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 8611 6100, Fax: 8667 2401) www.guangzhou.gc.ca 加拿大领事馆，天河区天河路 385 号太古汇一座 26 楼

W Guangzhou 26 Xiancun Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (6628 6628) 广州 W 酒店 , 天河区珠江新城冼村路 26 号 White Swan Hotel 1 Shamian Nan Jie, Liwan District (8188 6968) 白天鹅宾馆 , 荔湾区沙面南街 1 号

Consulates Argentina 2405, Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (3888 0328, cguan@ mrecic.gov.ar) 阿根廷共和国领事馆 , 天河区天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 2405 单元 Christian Fellowship Hilton Hotel Guangzhou Tianhe , 215 Lin He Xi Heng Lu, Tianhe District (6683 9999) (Foreigners only. Please bring ID) Worship Hours: 10am11:30am.every Sunday. 广州天河新天希尔顿酒店 , 广州天河区林和西横路 215 号 Guangdong Int’l Volunteer Expatriate Service (GIVES) Contact Rosaline Yam (8778 2778; givescn@ yahoo.com) www.gives.cn Guangzhou Women’s Int’l Club (GWIC) For contact information, visit www.gwic.org Brazil Rm 1403, 10 Huaxia Lu, R&F Center, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (02083652236; cg. cantao.itamaraty.gov.br) 巴西驻广州总领事馆, 珠江新城华夏路10号富力中心1403室 Australia 12/F, Zhujiang New City, Development Centre, 3 Linjiang Lu (Tel: 3814 0111; Fax: 3814 0112) www.guangzhou.china.embassy. gov.au 澳大利亚领事馆，临江路 3 号珠江新城发展中心 12 楼

Ecuador Room 1801, R&F Building, 10 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 3892 7650; Fax: 3892 7550) 厄瓜多尔共和国驻广州领事馆，珠江新城华夏路 10 号富力中心 1801 室 France Rm 810, 8/F, Main Tower, Guangdong Int’l Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (2829 2000) www.consulfrance-canton.org/ 法国领事馆，环市东路 339 号广东国际大酒店主楼８10 室 Germany 14/F Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 8313 0000; Fax: 8516 8133) www.kanton.diplo.de 德国领事馆，天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 14 楼 Greece Rm 2105, HNA Building, 8 Linhe Zhong Lu (Tel: 8550 1114; Fax: 8550 1450; grgencon. guan@mfa.gr) 希腊领事馆 , 林和中路 8 号海航大厦 2105 室 Guangzhou Narcotics Anonymous Meetings: Monday 6.30pm and Friday 7pm. (For help: 188 9857 0042 (French, Chinese & English), 133 3287 0750 (Persian), 185 8876 4470 (English), www.nachina.com) India 14/F, Haichuan Dasha, 8 Linhe Zhong Lu, Tianhe District (8550 1501-05) 印度领事馆，天河区林和中路 8 号海船大厦 14 楼 Indonesia Rm 1201-1223, 2/F, West Building, Dong Fang Hotel, 120 Liuhua Lu (Tel: 8601 8772; fax 8601 8773; kjrigz@public.guangzhou. gd.cn) 印度尼西亚领事馆，流花路 120 号东方宾馆西座 2 楼 1201-1223 室 Israel 19/F, Development Center, 3 Linjiang Dadao, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (8513 0509) 以色列领事馆，天河区珠江新城临江大道 3 号发展中心 19 楼 . Guangzhou.mfa.gov.il Italy Rm 1403, International Finance Place (IFP), 8, Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 3839 6225; Fax: 8550 6370) 意大利领事馆，珠江新城华夏路 8 号合景国际金融广场 14 楼 1403 室 Japan 1/F, East Tower, The Garden Hotel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8334 3009; Fax: 8333 8972) www.guangzhou.cn.emb-japan.go.jp 日本领事馆，环市东路 368 号花园酒店东塔 1 楼 Korea (Republic) 18 Youlin Lu, Chigang Consulate Area, Haizhu District (Tel: 2919 2999; fax 2919 2980; Guangzhou@mofat.go.kr) 韩国领事馆，海珠区赤岗领事馆区友邻路 18 号 Kuwait 10A-10D, Nanyazhonghe Plaza, 57 Lingjiang Dadao, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 3807 8070; Fax: 3807 8007). 科威特国总领事馆，珠江新城临江大道 57 号南雅中和广场 10A-10D Malaysia Rm 1915-1918, 19/F, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu ((Tel: 3877 0765; Fax: 3877 2320) 马来西亚领事馆，天河北路 233 号中信广场 19 楼 1915-1918 室 Mexico Rm2001, Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Bei Lu (Tel: 2208 1540; Fax: 2208 1539) 墨西哥领事馆，天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 20 楼 01 单元

Belgium Room 0702, 7/F, R & F Center, Unit 2, 10 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (Tel: 3877 2351; Fax: 3877 2353) 天河区珠江新城华夏路 10 号富力中心 7 楼 0702 室

Netherlands 34/F, Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe Bei Lu (Tel: 3813 2200; Fax: 3813 2299) www.hollandinchina.org 荷兰领事馆，天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 34 楼

Cambodia Rm 802, The Garden Hotel (Tower), Huangshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8333 8999 - 805; Fax: 8365 2361) 柬埔寨领事馆，环市东路花园酒店大楼 808 室

New Zealand Rm C1055, Office Tower, China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel, 122 Liuhua Lu (Tel: 8667 0253; Fax: 8666 6420; Guangzhou@nzte. govt.nz) www.nzte.govt.nz 新西兰领事馆，流花路 122 号中国大酒店商业大厦

1055 室 Norway Suite 1802, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu (3811 3188 Fax: 3811 3199) 挪威领事馆，天河北路 233 号中信广场 180 室 Peru Unit 01 on 32/F 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe (Tel: 6184 6244; Fax: 6631 1804) 秘鲁驻广州总领事馆，珠江西路5号广州国际金融中心主塔写字楼32层01单元 Philippines Rm 706-712 Guangdong Int’l Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8331 1461; Fax: 8333 0573) www.guangzhoupcg.org 菲律宾领事馆，环市东路 339 号广东国际大酒店主楼 706-712 室 Poland 63 Shamian Da Jie (Tel: 8121 9993; Fax: 8121 9995) 波兰领事馆，沙面大街 63 号 Singapore Unit 2418, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu (Tel: 3891 2345; Fax: 3891 2933) 新加坡领事馆，天河北路 233 中信广场 2418 室 Spain Rm 501/507/508 5/F, R&F Center, 10 Huaxia Lu, Pearl River New City (Tel: 3892 7185 / 3892 8909; Fax: 3892 7197). www.maec. es/consulados/canton 西班牙驻广州总领事馆，珠江新城华夏路 10 号富力中心 5 楼 501/507/508 室 Switzerland 27/F, Kingold Century, 62 Jinsui Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (Tel: 3833 0450; Fax: 3833 0453) 瑞士领事馆，天河区珠江新城金穗路 62 号侨鑫国际金融中心 27 层 Thailand Rm M07, 2/F, Garden Hotel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8385 8988; Fax: 8388 9567) 泰国领事馆，环市东路 368 号花园酒店 2 楼 M07 室 The Russian Federation 26/A, Development Centre, 3 Linjiang Dadao, Zhujiang New Town (8518 5001 Fax: 8518 5099 (office)/ 8518 5088(visa section)) 俄罗斯联邦驻广州总领事馆 , 珠江新城临江大道 3 号发展中心 26/A United States 43 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (Tel: 3814 5000) http://guangzhou-ch.usembassy-china.org.cn/   美国领事馆，天河区珠江新城华就路 43 号 Vietnam 2/F, Hua Xia Hotel, Haizhou Square, Qiaoguang Lu (Tel: 8330 5911; Fax: 8330 5915) 越南领事馆，侨光路华沙大酒店 B 座 2 楼北部

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE American Chamber of Commerce Suite 1801, Guangzhou International Sourcing Center, 8 Pazhou Dadao Dong, Haizhu District (Tel: 8335 1476; Fax: 8332 1642; amcham@amcham-sunthchina.org) www.amcham-southchina.org 美国商会，海珠区琶洲大道东 8 号广州国际采购中心 1801 室 Australian Chamber of Commerce Rm1714 -15, Main Tower, Guangdong International Building, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 2237 2866; Fax: 8319 0765; mail@austcham-southchina.org). www.austcham-southchina.org 澳洲商会，环市东路 339 号广东国际大厦主楼 1714 – 15 室 BenCham, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) Chamber of Commerce in China, Pearl River Delta, Floor 34, 208 Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu (155 2118 2708 ). 荷比卢商会 , 天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 34 楼 www.bencham.org British Chamber of Commerce Unit 2201B, International Financial Center, 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District ( Tel: 8331 5013; Fax: 8331 5016; events@britchamgd.com) 英国商会，天河区珠江西路 5 号国际金融中心 2201B European Union Chamber of Commerce Rm 2817, Tower A, Shine Plaza, 9 Linhe Xi Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 3801 0269; Fax: 3801 0275) 中国欧盟商会，天河区林和西路9号耀中广场A塔2817室 French Chamber of Commerce in South China (CCIFC) Room 802, 8/F, Leatop Plaza, 32 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (2916 5535) 天河区珠江新城珠江东路 32 号利通广场 8 层 02 单元

classifieds ACCOUNTING FIRMS Harris Corporate Solutions Ltd Guangzhou | Shanghai | Beijing | Hong Kong Established since 1972 • WFOE & Rep. Office Set Up • Accounting & Tax Compliance • Payroll, HR & Visa Solutions • Hong Kong & Offshore Company Registration • Hong Kong & China Bank Account Opening Serving all your business needs for investing in China. Call us for a free consultation. Tel: (86)20-8762 0508 Mobile: 135-703-48815 Email: info.gz@harriscorps.com.cn

CENTURY, a Comprehensive Office Services Company 1. Office Relocation, Personal Relocation 2. Second-hand Office Furniture Resell 3. Office Cleaning Services 4. Landscaping/Indoor Plant 5. Carpet Cleaning 6. Pest Control Tel: (86 20) 2816 5345 Email: guangzhou@centuryrelo.com

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Expatriates welcome! Large group multinational, non-denominational expatriate Christians hold English services Sundays 10.00am to 11.30am. Need foreign citizenship proof. Website: www.gicf.net Tel: 137 1043 2474.

Eclipse English Education Native English teachers wanted. Competitive pay with flexible scheduling. Free Chinese classes for employees. Tianhe location. 13902273359 or (020) 38780382 Mrs. Wong

MOVING & SHIPPING

BUSINESS SERVICES HiTouch Consulting Leading business and legal solution provider • Company Registration • Tax & Accounting • Intellectual Property • China Visa Tel: (8620) 8355 5515 Website: www.hitouch.com Guangzhou丨Shanghai 丨Yiwu

Rayca Moving & Transportation Services With 10 years experience, Rayca provides international, domestic, local moving services & pet relocation service. We can effectively move you anywhere with competitive price! You move, you save! Service hotline: 400-048-9099 Email: info@raycatrans.com Website:www.raycatrans.com

jobs offered

South China HR English Website (English.job168.com) China's most famous & professional job hunting website 8/F, Nanfang Jingdian Building, No. 198 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 1/F,Huapu Building, No.104 Tianhe Road,Guangzhou (Tel: 85584676) 南方人才网英文站(english.job168.com) 广州市天河路198号南方精典大厦八楼广州市天河路104号华普大厦西座一楼

Romeo Lau & Co. work visa, WFOE, JV, RO, HK company, auditing, car rental,driver license. www.romeolawoffice.com Mobile: 13570993252, 020-38865269, dmc_ canto@yahoo.com

Asiabs & B.string Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai 1) Setting-up HK, BVI and other offshore company 2) Setting-up WFOE, JV, Representative Office in China mainland 3) Accounting, Taxation, HR, Visa & Trading service Tel: 852 8102 2592 /  86 21 58362605       86 10 65637970 Website: www.AsiaBS.com www.Stringbc.com E-mail: info@stringbc.com

CHURCH

AGS Four Winds is leading international moving company offers a full range relocation, moving, and storage services. Our global network of over 300 offices worldwide plus 40 years experience in the moving industry, we know your concerns and have the ability to serve you anywhere in the world. We are FAIM & ISO 9001-2008 accredited, members of the FAIM and FIDI. Contact us for FREE survey and quotation: Tel: +86 20 8363 3735 Email: manager.guangzhou@ agsfourwinds.com Website: www.agsfourwinds.com

Asian Tigers Mobility Is an international relocation specialist started in 1988 handling visa and immigration, orientation, home finding, international, domestic and local moves and settling in services in China. We are FAIM & ISO 9001-2008 accredited, members of the OMNI and FIDI which gives us the global representation. Contact us: Tel:(8620) 8326 6758 / 8666 2655 E-mail: general.can@asiantigers-china.com Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com

TRAVEL Free N Easy Travel An International Travel Agency in GZ, offers you the most competitive airfares, best discounted hotels worldwide and great getaway packages. Call our Toll free no.800-830-2353 or Tel 3877 2345 or email us at Guangzhou@fnetravel.com or visit us at our travel center at 218 Sky Galleria, CITIC PALAZA, 233 Tianhe North Road or check for more details at our website---www .fnetravel .com

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HONG KONG & MACAU CALENDAR MO

April 1-30 FRI-SAT

The BNP Paribas Museum of Bethanie, 12pm, 4pm English tours; HKD25 per ticket. The BNP Paribas Museum of Bethanie (www.hkapa.edu) The BNP Paribas Museum of Bethanie, which tells the history of the French Mission, Bethanie and its sister foundation Nazareth, is open to the public. Museum ticket holders will be provided with a complimentary guided tour of this historic site. Advance bookings are recommended.

APRIL 9 SUN

2017 JCW Fan Meeting, 8pm; HKD6801,380. Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre Ji Chang Wook, who rose to fame in Asia starring in Korean dramas, will enter his mandatory conscription this year. The new film Fabricated City, which he first starred in as a leading role, has broken a new Korean film record this year, selling two million tickets in just 12 days.

The popularity of Caillat's MySpace profile led her to become the number-one unsigned singer in her genre for four consecutive months. Her debut album, Coco, released in July 2007, which included hit singles ‘Bubbly’ and ‘Realize,’ sold over two million copies in the United States and was certified 2x Platinum.

WED

Lee Dong Wook Fan Meet and Greet, 7pm; HKD680-1,380. Kowloon Bay International Trade and Exhibition Centre (hkticketing.com) South Korean actor Lee Dong Wook gained popularity through high caliber performances in movies like Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. He will meet with fans and share his memories and take questions.

ONGOING MON-SUN

SUN

Songs of Yesteryear, 2pm and 7pm; HKD280-480. Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre Got older Chinese family-in-law? Knock their separately-washed socks off with this celebration of crooners like Qing Shan, Zhang Di, Li Ya Ping, Huang Qing Yuan, Yang Xiao Ping and Sakura! Qing Shan’s vocals made him a hit in the 1970s and he has been popular in Asia for more than 40 years.

APRIL 17 MON

APRil 19 WED

Bibap, 2pm/6pm/8pm; MOP180-480. The Parisian Theatre (www.macauticket.com) Centered around South Korea’s national dish bibimbap, Bibap, a musical comedy deliciously blending martial arts, acrobatics, beat box, street dance and hip-hop, tells a story of a cooking competition between two chefs at the Bibap restaurant. Transcending language barriers, this comedy cracks up audiences of all nations and ages. Expect to be invited onto the stage to taste the ‘food.’

APRil 15 SAT

FRI

April 16

TUE-SAT

MAY 3

APRIL 14 Pan Mei Chen 2017 Concert, 8pm; HKD480-280. Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (www.hkticketing.com) Pan Mei Chen is a popular Taiwanese Mandopop singer and songwriter. She debuted with her hit song ‘Regrets’ in 1987 at the ripe age of 18. She went on to produce many albums over the years, finding an audience in mainland China with KTV anthems like ‘Don’t Go, Don’t Go.’

APRil 7-23

Bruce Lee: Kung Fu. Art. Life, 10am6pm; HKD10. 2/F Thematic Gallery 6, Hong Kong Heritage Museum (www. heritagemuseum.gov.hk) In collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation in the United States, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has organized an exhibition that looks at Bruce Lee as not only a film star and martial artist, but also cultural phenomenon. The exhibition has more than 600 invaluable items of Bruce Lee memorabilia provided by local and overseas collectors.

APRIL 1-30 MON-SUN

Art@MTR, 10am-10pm; Free. Arttube, MTR Central Station (www.jccac.org. hk) You don't have to visit the museum to get in touch with your artistic side. In everyday life, we often interact with artwork even without noticing it. Ten exquisite sets of artwork from resident artists of the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre will be showcased at Arttube in MTR Central Station, injecting creativity into the heart of the community.

Rice by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, 8pm; MOP150-300. Grand Auditorium, Macao Cultural Centre (www.macauticket.com) Rice is a dance celebration of nature’s lifecycle, created by Taiwan’s iconic dance company Cloud Gate, which presents the island’s essential crop with a choreographic blend of modern dance and martial arts. With meticulous movements, Cloud Gate’s dancers will stage yet another extraordinary performance accompanied by traditional Hakka drum rhythms and classical compositions, conveying the concepts of death and birth, East and West.

APRil 19 WED

APRIL – MAY 30 MON-SUN

Colbie Caillat Live, 8pm; HKD480-880. Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (hkticketing.com) Colbie Caillat rose to fame through social networking website MySpace.

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Me: Millennials, 10am-11pm; free. K11 in Tsim Sha Tsui This new media art exhibition will showcase a large-scale digital sculpture created by Dutch digital artist Faiyaz Jafri and a joint new media art exhibition by 10 millennial generation artists. The blurring boundaries between different media forms create a new artistic experience.

(www.macauticket.com) Portuguese alternative rock band Os Azeitonas is popular in the city of Porto, Portugal, performing in bars in their early times before being nominated at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Although singing in Portuguese, they’ve written songs with powerful rhythms that move audiences, no matter what language they speak.

Os Azeitonas, 8pm; MOP150. Grand Auditorium, Macao Cultural Centre

A-Ma Festival, A-Ma Temple. On A-Ma Festival, homage is paid to Macau's most revered deity A-Ma, the goddess of fishermen and other seafarers. Also known as Tin Hau, A-Ma is said to give Macau its name. The story goes that maiden A-Ma ordered the elements to calm down when a storm threatened boats out at sea. When she spoke, the winds abated. A temple is built on the spot where she supposedly landed. To this day, families of fishermen still visit the ancient temple, which was built in 1488.

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The 28th Macao Art Festival, for specific programs, please visit www. icm.gov.mo/fam/28 (www.macauticket.com) The 28th edition of the Macao Arts Festival (MAF), themed ‘Heterotopia’ will take place this month in the land of casinos. Comprising 25 captivating programs and a total of over 100 activities, exhibitions and shows, the MAF is a great chance to head to Macau and enjoy a host of artwork from different decades.

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Feast of the Drunken Dragon, Morning; Kuan Tai Temple (near Senado Square) The Feast of the Drunken Dragon, also known as the Drunken Dragon and Lion Dance Gala, is a local traditional folk festival celebrated by fishmongers in Macau, which later on developed into an annual festivity on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar. A ‘drunken dance’ is performed with a wooden dragon head and tail, as well as a ‘drunken dragon parade,’ lion dance and distribution of ‘longevity rice.’