That's Shenzhen - July 2018

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The Women MMA Fighters Kicking Ass in China

that's guangzhou

that's shenzhen

城市漫步珠三角英 文版07月份

国内统一刊号: CN 11-5234/GO

China Intercontinental Press

JULY 2018




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 社长 President: 陈陆军 Chen Lujun 期刊部负责人 Supervisor of Magazine Department: 付平 Fu Ping 编辑 Editor: 朱莉莉 Zhu Lili

发行 Circulation: 李若琳 Li Ruolin

Editor-in-Chief Matthew Bossons Shenzhen Editor Adam Robbins Shenzhen Digital Editor Bailey Hu Senior Staff Writer Tristin Zhang National Arts Editor Erica Martin Contributors Paul Finkbeiner, Lena Gidwani, Cassandra Gu, Winnie Jin, Ned Kelly, Mia Li, Erica Martin, Dominic Ngai, Daniel Plafker, Jesse Pottinger, Pete Reilly, Zhuorui Wang, Dominique Wong

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 Designer Felix Chen Sales Managers Celia Yu, Justin Lu Account Manager Wesley Zhang Senior BD Executive Nicole Tang Account Executives Annie Li, Tia Weng Sales Assistant Sunnie Lü Marketing Supervisor Fish Lin Senior Marketing Executive Shumin Li Marketing Executives Peggy Ni, Kathy Chen, Wyle Yuan Distribution Luo Zhi, He Wei Wen National Operation CEO Leo Zhou Head of Communication Ned Kelly National Digital Business Director Vickie Guo HR/Admin Director Penny Li Financial Manager Laura Lu Digital Content Manager Bridget O'Donnell Digital Miller Yue, Amanda Bao, Orange Wang, Yu Sun, Elsa Yang, Jimmy Mi, Kane Zhu, Wayne Wu 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

JULY 2018

WIN

On May 30, several friends and myself made our way to Tianhe Sports Center to witness the debut of professional MMA in Guangzhou: REBEL FC. The event was action-packed, and, although I don’t categorize myself as a combat sports fan, I definitely enjoyed the show.

However, one major thing stood out to me at the fights: the lack of female fighters.

The only women that entered the ring over the course of the three-hour event were

“skimpily dressed and generically attractive” ring girls. At the evening’s conclusion, I silently pondered: where is China’s Ronda Rousey, where are China’s women warriors?

With this month’s Cover Story, we have an answer, courtesy of the always-fabulous

Dominique Wong from That’s Beijing. On pages 36-45, Dom takes an in-depth look at China’s rising female MMA stars and the challenges they face.

In our City section, I chat with a Guangzhou-based filmmaker and attempted to

answer a kinda bizarre question: is a man-eating species of salmon lurking in a Xinjiang lake?

Elsewhere in the mag, we introduce one of Guangzhou’s premier swimming holes

(which boasts some great cliff jumping spots, be careful!), chat with Shanghai punk

We’re giving away tickets to some of the very best events in the Pearl River Delta, alongside a host of free meals and other goodies. Follow our official WeChat feeds and sign up for our weekly newsletter for your chance to win major prizes! To stay up to date, visit www.thatsmags. com or scan the QR codes below and follow our WeChat accounts.

band Ugly Girls and share some stylish shirts for summer. Catch you all in August!

ThatsGuangzhou

Matthew Bossons Editor-in-Chief ThatsShenzhen

Hourly updates on news, current affairs and general weirdness from around the PRD and China. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

facebook.com/ThatsPRD twitter.com/ThatsPRD youtube.com/thatsonline #THATSPRD

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36 COVER STORY

8 CITY

Heavy hitters: the female MMA fighters putting China on the international stage.

10 A DAY IN JULY The Marco Polo Bridge Incident.

16 TERROR TROUT Is a man-eating salmon lurking in a Chinese lake?

21 DAYTRIPPER

62 EVENTS

THE WRAP

18 LIFE & STYLE

SZ

Baiyun Mountain Reservoir.

24 MINIMALIST TRANSITION An artistic extension to an existing hotel property.

JUL 14

What So Not

SZ

26 ARTS 27 UGLY GIRLS The Shanghai punk band on riot grrrl and women in music.

JUL 28

30 POETRY IN POLEDANCING

Brain Failure

A Shenzhen burlesque dancer’s journey.

HK

50 EAT & DRINK 54 STREET FOOD SPOTS Hitting the street for cheap eats.

60 V BAR Chill-out central.

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AUG 4

Bob Dylan MO

ONGOING La Parisienne - Cabaret Francais



CITY The Key to Guangzhou

Chatting with the man behind Canton’s first documentary webseries, p12

This Month in History P10 8 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Terror or Trout? P16


MAN ON THE STREET

RECYCLING SCAVENGERS

THE DIRTY DETAILS

By Bailey Hu

Days per week: Varies

Dumpster Divers

T

hey lurk in the background of certain neighborhoods and gated communities. Quietly, unobtrusively, they root through dirt-encrusted dumpsters and bulging plastic bags, picking out bottles or boxes and leaving the rest. Like old-timey nomads, many carry their precious cargo on poles balanced over one shoulder, using cheap sacks of almost comic proportions. Also like nomads, they’re elusive. One, an elderly whitehaired woman in lavender pajamas, tells us she’s simply “on a walk,” picking up any recyclables that catch her eye. She’s in her “70s or 80s,” she says, and living with her family. When we ask how much she can make from her small cache of plastic and cardboard detritus, she replies that she’s “not sure.” Before we can ask another question she meanders off, most likely in search of another dumpster. Fang Chunxiu, a Hunan migrant who’s lived in Shenzhen for a year, is more forthcoming.

Income: RMB7-10 per load Hours per day: Varies

She collects aluminum cans, cardboard and water bottles, selling them for about RMB7-10 per load. Collecting recyclables is only a side gig for Fang. At night she washes dishes at a restaurant, earning RMB3,200 per month. Life is better here than back home, she says, where she earned around RMB1,000. Now, not only does she command a higher salary but also a way to supplement it, although she has yet to tell her son about her second line of work. During daylight hours on her days off (usually Mondays and Tuesdays) Fang wanders through Shangsha, in Futian District, looking for items she can collect and sell. Why Shangsha? Because, unlike some places, “the sanitation workers won’t curse at you” when you pick up garbage. Fang’s findings are either dug out of dumpsters (“if it’s not clean, I won’t pick it up”) or scavenged off the street. Her partially-filled bag, over half the

height of her diminutive form, “isn’t heavy,” she tells us. Some days she doesn’t even fill it up, depending on her luck. Fang is only part of the picture, one segment of China’s massive recycling ecosystem. A step up from the scavengers are the middlemen, who collect and transport large amounts of plastics and cardboard to plants where they’re processed and reshaped. The ones Fang sells to happen to be camped out by a nearby overpass. Their apparatus is spare, ready to be moved at short notice: two medium-size cargo trucks, scales and several massive bags full of sorted recyclables. When we visit in the early afternoon, one truck is already half-full from the morning’s pickings. Two of the business owners sit in the shade, while another sweeps up debris from the street. Chengguan come by this corner every once in a while, one worker tells us, so it needs to look tidy. The trio is from Anhui province and have only been in

Shenzhen for the last six months, he says. Around about 40 to 50 scavengers frequent their stop each day, out of an estimated 10,000 trash pickers citywide. “If there was no one picking up [trash], society would be a mess.” He has a point. Despite muchtouted recycling regulations and fines, actual bins have yet to materialize in areas like Shangsha. And even when trash sorting takes place, not all recyclables make it into the can. Scavenging is doubly useful – not only are reusable items salvaged from incineration, but streets and sidewalks are left a little cleaner. Despite benefiting society, though, their jobs are “the most bitter work.” For about RMB5,000-6,000 each monthly, the three spend 16 or 17 hours a day collecting and delivering trash, and sleep in their trucks at night. For those with “no culture” and few opportunities, however, it’s “a way to survive.” Additional research by Yiwen Wang.

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THE BUZZ A DAY IN JULY RANDOM NUMBER

3

… times. That’s how many visits that world-renowned chef, writer and TV personality Anthony Bourdain made to Hong Kong between his three hit TV series: No Reservations, The Layover and Parts Unknown. Having racked up 291 episodes over the course of 17 years, the ‘Elvis of bad boy chefs’ told CNN that his recent trip to Hong Kong was the “professional highlight of his career." Bourdain tragically took his own life on June 8 in a Paris hotel during the filming of an episode of Parts Unknown, but his legacy lives on. Rest in peace, Mr. Bourdain.

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident One of the most important battles of the Second Sino-Japanese War – despite relatively low casualties – the Marco Polo Bridge Incident flared up on July 7, 1937, directly leading to Japan’s occupation of Tianjin and Wanping (today part of Beijing’s Fengtai District). It is generally regarded as the ‘official’ start of China’s resistance against Japanese aggression. The Japanese army controlled the north, east and south sides of Beijing but the Marco Polo Bridge remained in Chinese hands. In order to cut off Beijing entirely, Japan needed control of the bridge. Thus they manufactured a provocation that could be used to justify an escalation of hostilities. The army held a military exercise without informing Chinese authorities, during which, according to an intelligence officer, a Japanese soldier was reported missing after gunshots were heard during the drill. The Japanese used this as a rea-

son to enter Wanping to search for the AWOL soldier – which China refused. At about 5am on July 8, the Japanese launched an artillery attack and both sides joined battle, with the fight soon taken to Tianjin; the city was captured at the end of July. The incident marked the second instance of cooperation between the Communist Party and Kuomintang (KMT) forces. The anti-Japanese National United Front was formed, with the Red Army rebranded the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army of the KMT.

CITY SNAPSHOT

Belgium native David Lambert has taken shots of streets, landscapes and more over 12 years spent in China, but it’s only recently that he’s taken to the skies. Using a DJI Spark gifted by his wife, he set out six months ago to document Shenzhen’s “amazing architecture” from a bird’s eye perspective. According to Lambert there are “great lines and compositions” to be seen from above, as in this roseshaped garden arrangement near Coastal City. Follow @lambeertje for more highflying perspectives on the city. Tag #thatsshenzhen or #thatsguangzhou on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our feeds and in the magazine.

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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

URBAN DICTIONARY

Ganhuo / gānhuò / 干货 noun. real advice and insights without fillers or fluff My old trainer said I was bloated, but the new trainer said I'm just fat.

That is some ganhuo she gave you.

So I shouldn't be upset?

Not at all. You should thank her.

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

Have you noticed when you buy things measured by weight, they are often wet? Supermarkets know that covering things in water makes them look more substantial. When you go to an action movie, you often have to sit through a bunch of boring B-plot that you don't care about, because the director has to make a 90-minute movie out of a few good stunts. You go to a comedy show, and the comedy doesn't start till after an hour’s worth of chit-chat about the weather by the host, because the comedian has to build a show out of three good gags. This also happens to writings on the Internet. You click on something titled ‘The Real Secret to Becoming a Successful CEO,’ only to read some oft-parroted advice such as “hard work pays off” or “do the right thing.” Those cliches are fillers injected to puff up the article to make it look more substantial. They are like the water that the supermarket shrimps are soaked in – there to rip you off! Imagine a world without unnecessary fluff. That is what ganhuo is. Literally meaning ‘dried goods,’ ganhuo is the real deal – without the bells and whistles. It is what we all want in life and from the Internet. Content that can be certified ganhuo is direct and to the point. It solves problems efficiently and leads you straight to the relevant information. There is no long intro and no padded credentials of whoever is offering the advice. Like a good friend, ganhuo doesn't waste your time beating around the bush. If you are doing it wrong, ganhuo advice would tell you as it is, no sugar-coating. So here’s a tip for navigating the Chinese internet: before you click on the next listicle, say ‘32 Ways to Win Friends and Be Popular,’ or ‘10 Ways to Lose Weight Fast,’ first go to the comment section. There, you’ll see if the article has been certified ganhuo. (Early readers will let you know in the comments, per Chinese internet etiquette.) Don't waste your time reading if it’s not. ML

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Ele.me Delivery Drone

Delivery service Ele.me recently announced that it will officially begin using drones to deliver food in Shanghai. Still in its trial phase, these drones will only be able to operate on 17 designated routes within a delivery area covering 58 square kilometers in the Jinshan Industrial Park neighborhood. The drones won’t actually deliver food to your home or office. Instead, they will transport food from one distribution center to another, meaning drivers will have to pick up the drone orders and then deliver them to customers in person. Ele.me aims to decrease delivery times to just 20 minutes by using drones.

“You can call any old sh*t a Chinese proverb on the internet” So joked Twitter user @bokane after Ivanka Trump tweeted what she claimed was a Chinese proverb following the historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore last month. First Daughter Ivanka erroneously attributed a quote to ancient Chinese philosophy, writing: “Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it.” Social media users were left scratching their heads, with some

claiming it was a “fake Chinese proverb” that didn’t even come from the Middle Kingdom. Some pointed out that the quote may have actually originated from American novelist James Baldwin, while others noted that it first appeared as a comment in a Chicago newspaper from the early 20th century. The “proverb” even made an appearance in a sartorial US publication in the 1960s. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 11


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THE KEY TO GUANGZHOU

Chatting with the Man Behind Canton’s First Documentary Webseries

By Matthew Bossons

M

ohamed Elsayed really loves Guangzhou. An Egyptian national, Elsayed arrived in China in 2001, a few months after his 15th birthday, and has called the Pearl River Delta home ever since. Late last year, Elsayed reached out to That’s about a video series he had been planning, writing, filming and editing over the past several years. Titled 020 – The Key to Guangzhou, the project combines Elsayed’s love of Guangzhou, storytelling, filmmaking and drone videography.

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F E AT URE | CIT Y

In January, Elsayed released his first webisode in the series. It was a compact and well-edited look at the area surrounding the Canton Tower Metro Station, as well as the subway station itself, and our editorial team made the undoubtedly wise decision to publish it on our website, thatsmags.com. The feedback from our readers was overwhelmingly positive, with viewers praising the filmmaker's stunning shots of new Canton and his passionate narration. In the months since that first webisode, our friend Mr. Elsayed has been busily at work on a follow-up video profiling Guangzhou’s historic train station in Yuexiu District and its dynamic surroundings. We caught up with Elsayed last month to chat with him about his inspirations, dreams and concept behind the series.

What inspired you to start capturing video of Guangzhou? What inspired me is that I’ve witnessed most Chinese cities, specifically Guangzhou and other nearby cities, are booming like no other city ever has. As I’ve grown up in Guangzhou, I’ve witnessed the city grow from the ground up, with all its infrastructure developing according to the latest technologies. There are thousands of accomplishments and success stories by my Chinese brothers and sisters and I think it’s time to share these stories with the world. When did you get into drone photography?

How I got into drone photography is an interesting story. I had a dream that started coming to me repeatedly about four years ago. In this dream I saw myself flying over buildings,

like Superman, and in the dream Guangzhou was always the location. In the beginning, I didn’t understand the message but the dream kept coming back until I connected this dream to drones. I had my first [drone] flight around three years ago and the dream has never come back since. I guess it’s not needed anymore, I’ve got the message and have been flying almost every day since.

Tell us a bit about your current project: what inspired you to profile Guangzhou? My current project is called 020. I chose these three numbers as the name of the show because these are the numbers you dial to call Guangzhou from any place in China and the world. Simply put, the show holds the same idea, to make connections between my city and the whole

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CIT Y | F E AT URE

Scan the QR code above to watch the first webisode of Elsayed’s series and scan the code below to view the second.

world by sharing important information and developing the biggest archive of Guangzhou footage available on the web in English. You take a very positive look at the city and it is clear that you love being here. What is your favorite thing about Canton?

My favorite thing about China and about Canton is definitely the people. They’re very open, warm and accepting of others, I’ve never felt I’m a foreigner in China – especially in Guangzhou. Wherever I go filming or flying my drone, everyone in the street is happy and helpful and that’s what makes me keep up with my Cantonese lessons. I hope by the end of 2018, my [Cantonese] level is enough to have a decent conversation with any local. Your first video profiles the Canton Tower area, what can viewers expect from your second webisode of 020? The second episode is a little different from the first one. While the first episode was focused

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F E AT URE | CIT Y

on the newest parts of the city, in episode two I explore the traditional downtown through one of city’s earliest metro stations – Guangzhou Railway Station on Line 2. Another difference between the two videos is that, this time, I decided to go deeper around the metro station and show nearby attractions in more detail to help viewers experience what it is like to be there. You've split the second webisode into three parts. Tell us a bit about why you decided to do this.

As I mentioned, the newest episode covers the chosen area in more detail and it turned out much longer than the first episode. So, I decided to split it into three parts, with each portion reviewing a famous attraction around the Guangzhou Railway Station subway stop.

How many metro stations do you plan to cover in your webseries? Well, my plan is to keep going until I have covered all of Guangzhou’s subway stations and their surrounding areas. I plan to split the episodes into seasons and each season will be eight episodes. What do you hope viewers will take away from your videos?

I hope my videos of a beautiful city in China called Guangzhou inspire the whole world. There’s great things happening here everyday and it’s time for the world to learn from Guangzhou. I hope this can be a build up to the first real talk show that represents Guangzhou to the world. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 15


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TERR T U O OR TR

ing in a Chinese Lake k r u L n o m l ? Is a Man-Eating Sa ns

ew Bosso

By Matth

F

amed for its rich cultural heritage and cuisine, Xinjiang resides in China’s far-flung northwest. One of the Middle Kingdom’s five autonomous regions, the territory’s landscape is a scenic patchwork of rivers, lakes, prairies, forests, deserts and imposing peaks. It’s also the supposed home of lake monsters. We first heard the tale of Xinjiang’s aquatic leviathans a couple years ago, while researching China’s best fishing holes online. Although we can’t recall the source, the story we accessed made a passing mention of an unknown species of monstrous – and potentially man-eating – fish lurking in the depths of Lake Kanas, located in the autonomous region’s Altay prefecture. At the time, we made a mental note of the creepy story (because we simply love weird tales) and moved on with our investigation into China’s fishing hotspots. This month, we’ve decided to try and answer the question: is a man-eating trout lurking in a Chinese lake?

Lake Kanas is China’s deepest alpine lake and is located in a valley running though the Altai Mountains, near China’s borders with Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia. The area surrounding the lake is home to sizable populations of ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs. In the Tuvan language, the mysterious lake monsters are called hobzhk, which translates to ‘strange’ or ‘changing,’ according to

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‘Myth and majesty in China’s Xinjiang lake district,’ an article carried by the Guardian in June 2017. Local lore contends that the freshwater beasts are tasked with maintaining the lake’s water level by plugging a hole in the lake’s bottom to prevent its liquid contents from disappearing into the earth. It’s difficult to ascertain exactly how far back the story of the Lake Kanas cryptids

goes, although we can assume at least 800 years; according to the Guardian, eight centuries ago the legendary Mongol leader Genghis Khan stationed troops at the lake to guard the creatures. In the 1980s, Yuan Guoying, from Xinjiang University, reported seeing 50 fish that he assessed to be 10-15 meters in length. The fish were reddish-brown in color and Yuan’s students estimated their weight could exceed 4 tons, according to Xinhua.


F E AT URE | CIT Y

In the mid- to late-aughts, a video surfaced showing unknown animals cruising along the surface of Lake Kanas. The footage was aired by various Chinese news programs and has been viewed over two million times on YouTube. On September 9, 2013, hundreds of tourists visiting the lake allegedly witnessed a creature surface for several minutes before disappearing back into the depths. A 20-year-old tour guide quoted in the Guardian piece claims that farmers who have taken their livestock to the shore of the

lake have returned later to find only skeletal remains. This claim is repeated in domestic news reports on the lake, as well as on various online blogs and forums dedicated to cryptozoology. The same guide, referred to as Xiao Yue, also dropped a suggestion as to what the animal might be, telling writer Sam Gaskin, “Technically, the hobzhk are huge fish that love to eat meat. Their scientific name is hucho taimen.” She added she believes the species are a danger to humans and that she cautions tourists not to swim in the lake.

Yue's assessment of the creatures is partially correct, by our assessment: we also believe the 'monster' is likely a taimen, sometimes more ominously referred to as the ‘Mongolian terror trout.’ Where she is wrong, though, is that human flesh is not on the menu for the taimen – the largest member of the salmon family. The taimen, similar to Yuan’s 1985 account, has a reddish-brown body, while its head is typically greenish-gray. It also gets big (although we think 10-15 meters is a stretch), reaching lengths of over 2 meters and weighing up to 200 pounds. The largest one ever caught weighed in at 231 pounds. According to Gaskin, Yue claimed that fish “exceeding 12 metres in length have been caught on camera in Kanas,” although we were unable to find any video evidence of this online. Located in northern Xinjiang, Lake Kanas is also in the right geographical region for taimen, with the neighboring nations of Mongolia and Russia boasting the only significant populations of the fish. Video of the ‘monsters’ also appears to back up the taimen theory, with much of the footage showing several creatures cruising the surface of the lake, consistent with the way the species forms ‘packs’ to chase down prey – earning them the moniker ‘river wolves.’ There are, however, a few problems with assuming the species is responsible for the various Lake Kanas monster sightings. For one, taimen typically only live in rivers and, when they do appear in lakes, it tends to be near a tributary. The other issue is that the salmonid is extinct or near extinct in China due to overfishing, according to National Geographic. In August 2005, a team of volunteers and ecological experts, once again led by Yuan Guoying, undertook an expedition to Lake Kanas to investigated the monstrous fish and the stories surrounding them, according to a Xinhua report. We presume they didn’t find anything, as no follow up appears to have been published. If the taimen does reside in Lake Kanas, it goes without saying that the animal is (probably) not responsible for killing livestock grazing near the lake – further removing it from the monster of legend. Still, all things considered, and discounting the generic debunker explanations like unique wave formations and floating logs, the taimen is the most likely culprit for the sightings. But is a 12-meter-long, cow-eating salmon really lurking in the depths of Lake Kanas? Perhaps not. If it ever is discovered though… *dusts off fly rod*… we’ll be the first ones there! WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 17


LIFE

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

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

&

STYLE Minimalist Transition An artistic extension to an existing hotel property, p24

Daytripper P21 1 8 | | SSZZ | | J JUULLYY 22001 188 | | WWWWWW. .TTHHAATTSSMMAAGGSS. .CCOOMM

Button Up for Summer P22


SPOTLIGHT

ASH DYKES

The UK Adventurer Takes on the Yangtze Interview by Dominic Ngai

After being the world’s first person to trek solo through the Altai Mountain and Gobi Desert in Mongolia, as well as conquering Madagascar’s rugged terrain, Ash Dykes will embark on a yearlong journey to walk the entire length of the 6,440-kilometer Yangtze River this month. Before his departure, Dykes tells us about his preparation for the trip, and a few memorable brushes with death he has encountered on his record-setting journeys. Why did you decide to take on the Yangtze River as your next challenge? When I first visited China in 2010 (aged 19), I knew that one day I would return to take on something epic through the heart of the country. The Yangtze carves through so much of China’s beauty and diversity; I knew it would offer a unique experience.

“The anticipated step count is over 8 million”

Can you tell us more about your route?

I’ll start in the southern part of Qinghai at over 5,100 meters above sea level, trekking through the mountains for a few months before entering southwest Yunnan through the V-shaped valleys. This is also the first bend of the Yangtze, which leads me northeast through a more populated section, but with equally tough terrain. From the halfway point near Yibin (in Sichuan), I’ll continue to head east until I reach Shanghai, where the Yangtze pours into the East China Sea. The whole journey will take me around one year to complete, with an anticipated step count of over 8 million. What are you most looking forward to on this trip?

Besides the challenges, the people, the food, wildlife and culture, I also look forward to sharing the journey, as it will be one of the world’s most interactive expeditions, whereby I’ll be livestreaming, posting photos, videos and blogs. I also look forward to giving back to the local communities; I’ll be carrying

‘Water-To-Go’ filter bottles with me, which gives me access to clean drinking water the entire time thanks to a high-tech built-in filter. Their team will be meeting me during different sections of the trip to provide local communities with these bottles, too.

How are you preparing for this trip? Any adjustments to your workout routine and diet? I have always trained hard. It’s something that I’m very passionate about. For the Yangtze, I have trained a lot in calisthenics, including balance, coordination, agility, flexibility and so on. It’s important that my body is durable and able to withstand the various challenges I’ll face.

During your previous adventures, what was the most dangerous situation that you encountered? There have been many dangerous situations, from being held up at gunpoint by the military in Madagascar and crossing crocodile-

infested rivers, to catching the deadliest strain of malaria and almost losing my life in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. But what matters more than challenges you face and the mistakes you make, is what you’re able to learn from them.

If you were stranded on an island and can only bring three things with you, what would they be? I would bring a knife, a fire flint and a WaterTo-Go filter bottle. All of these can help me hunt and gather, build a shelter, cook and stay hydrated while I find a way to escape. If I could add one more item, it would be my music player. Do you have a go-to song for these adventures?

One song that has never left my music player since I started traveling in 2010 is Moby’s ‘Porcelain.’ Follow his journey on ashdykes.com or his various social media accounts.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 19


STYLE RADAR TAP THAT APP

OVERHEARD

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds

“Will she get her deposit back?”

You’ve seen it on the metro. In the break room at work. On the screens of young students stealing a cheeky game break at lunchtime. It’s the ‘battle royale’ gaming sensation that’s sweeping the nation and it’s a digital fight to the death. Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), the brainchild of South Korean gaming giant Bluehole, pits 100 players against each other in a trigger-happy virtual death-dance on a post-apocalyptic island – not unlike a live-fire version of the Hunger Games. As you battle, a noxious blue gas progressively encloses players in ever-tightening dragnet, precipitating a dramatic final showdown. Widespread critical acclaim and addictive replayability catapulted the game to global fame, with Chinese players quickly coming to account for as much as 40 percent of regular players. In a major commercial coup, Tencent Games secured exclusive rights to distribute PUBG in the PRC late last year, with more than 10 million players on the Chinese mainland preregistering for downloads almost immediately. Predictably, the ‘kill-everything-thatmoves’ approach to battlefield tactics that characterizes the battle royale genre did not initially thrill media regulators in the country. But promises by Tencent to adapt game elements to conform with “socialist core values and traditional Chinese cultures and moral norms” – blood splatter in the Chinese version of the shoot ’em up is replaced by a wholesomely ambiguous green liquid – ensured a smooth mobile release on local app stores earlier this spring.

Playerunknown’s Battleground is available on iOS and Android devices (search 绝地求生 刺激战场 juedi qiusheng: ciji zhanchang)

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… so comments a netizen on Weibo when Karlie Kloss was spotted posing with an Ofo bike on the streets of Shanghai. The 25-year-old model from Chicago was in the City of Devils (again!) last month to attend the Vogue Film premiere event. Despite the Middle Kingdom’s notorious Great Firewall, Kloss kept her Instagram followers around the world updated on her brief trip, which included an obligatory visit to the Bund, and a meet-and-greet session with her fans outside a luxury mall on Nanjing Xi Lu.

HOT ON TAOBAO

Max Glasiz Wooden Sunglasses With South China’s monsoon season in full swing, there may be days when you ask yourself, why on earth do I need a pair of sunglasses? But the days of torrential rain also coincide with our region’s other bout of intense weather. We’re talking, of course, about extreme heat, and the blinding summer sun. Fortunately, Taobao has got just the thing to protect you from those horribly aggressive rays of light: handmade zebra wood sunglasses by Max Glasiz. For decades, wood has been used to class up everything from home decor to the side panels on old station wagons. So why not brighten up your style by bringing that natural look right to your face? With the exception of the lens and hinges, these glasses are made entirely of wood, sanded smooth and lightly varnished, so there’s no need to worry about taking a splinter to the eye. And, unlike those cheap RayBan knockoffs

that broke two days after you put them on, these shades will actually stay in one piece, with polarized lenses that come in a variety of colors to ensure your vision remains 20/20.

RMB499 Max Glasiz Wooden Sunglasses; available on taobao.com (search Max Glasiz斑马木太阳镜, banma mu taiyang jing)


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

DAYTRIPPER

Baiyun Mountain Reservoir Let’s face it. Staying dry in Guangzhou in midsummer is no easy task. Between the soup-like, humid air and the ever-threatening typhoon rains, even leaving the apartment can seem like an invitation to get drenched. With wetness an all-but-guaranteed component of daily life in July, we at That’s contend that the best solution is to simply get it over with and jump in a lake. Just a short 20-minute saunter from the semi-industrial sprawl of Baiyun District’s truckchoked highway-scape lies a 400-square-meter sheet of crystal-clear water surrounded by

looming cliff faces and fragrant eucalyptus groves. Part of what makes a visit to this luscious reservoir so appealing is that, despite its incredible accessibility from the city center, it remains a little hard to find. The inglorious trailhead begins near a dusty driving school off the northbound lane of the Guangcong Highway. As the unmarked, garbage-strewn path works its way east into the sharply rising hills of the Baiyun Mountain Primeval Forest Park, you’ll pass such scenic natural splendors as a hydrocarbon gas depot and a delivery logistics

sorting facility. As potholed paving gives way to gravel, then to mud, you’ll come upon the Dashantang Reservoir, a key landmark to let you know you’re on the right track. The fenced-in, dammed-up lake is pretty, but the true treasures are still to come. Keeping the reservoir on your right, follow the path as it curves south, and as you come upon a crumbling farmhouse, turn sharply left down a disused driveway. The body of water that comes into view as you crest the next sharp rise is one of the cleanest we have ever seen on the Chinese mainland – the greens of the swaying trees and the blues of the summer sky all reflect on its pristine surface. A narrow line of roughhewn steps hugs the nearest cliff, carrying you down to a muddy bank with a tiny crude shack erected for changing. No ticket-takers. No souvenir hawkers. No nosy bao’an. Just pure, unharried outdoor bliss. The lake-bottom plunges sharply to a depth of more than 3 meters, offering endless opportunity for extravagant dives from

the temptingly climbable cliffs. Daredevil visitors might try their hand at some deep-water solo, though we obviously encourage readers to test the depth themselves before trying anything too risky. For more peaceful fun, swim across to the south bank, where large boulders rise high enough to sit upon in silent quietude. Be still long enough and tiny ‘doctor fish’ will soon surround you to nibble on your dead skin and any remaining city filth. Because the only thing better than a great summer swimming hole is a free spa treatment to go with it. DP

How to get there: From Exit B2 at Metro Line 3’s Yongtai Station, take the 833 bus seven stops north to Dongping Lukou. Then walk 20 minutes east into the hills. (Reservoir coordinates: 23°14'57.7"N 113°20'02.3"E)

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 21


LIFE & STYLE | FASHION

H&M RMB79.9 HM.COM

ZARA

ASPESI

RMB229 ZARA.CN

RMB2,112 FARFETCH.CN

With an average temperature of 5,000 degrees and relative humidity of 280 percent in South China, short-sleeve shirts are your bet for any occasion that calls for a smart casual dress code this season. Here are some of our favorites.

22 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

H&M

ZARA

RMB159 HM.COM

RMB259 ZARA.CN


FASHION | LIFE & STYLE

Button Up for Summer Compiled by Dominic Ngai

DSQUARED2

THOM BROWNE

RMB2,763 FARFETCH.CN

RMB3,120 FARFETCH.CN

BEAMS

COMME DES GARCONS

RMB1,190 BEAMS.CO.JP

RMB 4,384 FARFETCH.CN

PAUL SMITH RMB1,869 FARFETCH.CN

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 23


LIFE & STYLE | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

MINIMALIST TRANSITION

An Artistic Extension to an Existing Hotel Property Words by Dominic Ngai, Photos by Dirk Weiblen

Project name: HOW Art Museum Location: Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai Area: 7,000 square meters Design company: ARES Partners The brief: Opened in late 2017, HOW Art Museum in Pudong’s Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park is an extension to the hotel building of the same name. For this threestory art space, which includes a 4,200-square-meter exhibition area, an art store, a library and a small gallery, architecture firm ARES Partners took a minimalist approach for both the exterior and interior. 24 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

The main exhibition space features solid walls of different shapes and sizes, which allow viewers to become more engaged with art pieces on display.

The translucent U Channel glass window panels filter the amount of natural light that comes into the reception area, adding just the right amount of brightness and warmth to the room.


ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN | LIFE & STYLE

In order to create a seamless link between the existing and new structures, the architects added a 22-meter-long glass tunnel to the west side of the building to serve as the entryway to the art space, echoing the original facade of the hotel.

Emo quotes have become a regular decor feature on the walls of galleries and museums these days.

Fluorescent light from the entryway brightens up the sidewalk at night. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 25


ARTS Kinky Boots

A heartwarming story of friendship and high heels, p32

Coming to a Theater Near You P28 26 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Poetry in Pole-Dancing P30


DRUMROLL

UGLY GIRLS

The Shanghai Punk Band on Riot Grrrl and Women in Music By Erica Martin

Shanghai band Ugly Girls burst onto the scene in a major way last summer with the release of their debut album, Welcome to the Suck. The record is brimming with razor-sharp, hilarious social commentary paired with a healthy dose of righteous punk. We caught up with vocalist Casey Li Brander and drummer Ceridwen Brown to learn more about the band, and the two touch on everything from the fluid definition of ‘riot grrrl’ to Margaret Cho to women in music today.

How would you sum up Ugly Girls’ particular brand of punk? CLB: Ugly Girls makes funny angry honest punk music you can shout along and dance to. We’re awkward art weirdos showing the world how cool it is to be extremely uncool.

How and when did you first become interested in riot grrrl? What does it mean to you? CLB: Labels are tricky because language is constantly shifting. Saying ‘riot grrrl’ is like saying feminism; no one really agrees on what that is exactly. Of course feminism is gender fairness, but the means of achieving this are always up for debate, and even the definitions and categorizations of gender are always in flux. It’s an important conversation, though. CB: We don’t mind the riot grrrl tag on our music. Of course we acknowledge the importance of that movement and love the bands it produced, but our music is current and original and its own thing. Tell us about your ongoing China Grrrl project – especially the fact that it was inspired by the idea that the Chinese music scene is more inclusive of women.

“We were both struck by the amount of Chinese female musicians playing in the scene here compared to back in our home countries” CB: I started the China Grrrl project last summer after pitching the idea to US magazine TomTom, which is all about female drummers. Casey and I were both struck by the amount of Chinese female musicians playing in the scene here compared to back in our home countries and the diversity and originality of the music they were making was super cool. We’ve been interviewing bands and filming live shows ever since. I write them up into articles that are being released gradually as an online series. Casey, since you’re also a comedian, how has your comedy affected your songwriting for the band?

CLB: Margaret Cho was so important to my development. I listened to her album Revolution in middle school, and I remember feeling so understood and not alone and it was extremely healing. Being able to take control of your narrative like that - to go from being someone else’s punch line to writing your own punch lines - is extremely powerful. That’s what I’m going for in my comedy. It’s not really meant to be for everyone, it’s more meant to heal myself and anyone else who can relate to what I’m saying. I mean, I

love a good fart joke as much as the next person, but I feel like there has to be a balance. Healing laughs are way more valuable than just pure entertainment laughs. Tell us about the recent ‘gender is not a genre’ concert you participated in.

CB: That show was organized by our friend Anlin, who used to be the singer for Beijing band Xiao Wang before she moved to Canada. She’s back for the summer, so they’re on a small tour with the Gender is Not A Genre theme. They are sick of always being called riot grrrl and don’t see it as a musical genre, but as a movement from another place and cultural context. We totally understand their frustration with that and agree that it’s an overused lazy term slapped on any band with a female voice. For me personally, putting the China Grrrl shows together was not about creating an exclusive or ‘safe’ space for the bands to perform. All of those bands are doing just fine representing themselves regularly in unmarginalized local scenes across the country. We play with all kinds of bands, all kinds of shows. I don’t think it boils down to versus… the more opportunity the better. Listen at: uglygirls-shanghai.bandcamp.com/releases

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018| SZ | 27


COLL AGE SINO CELEB

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU

Ye Si (AKA Gogoboi) Ye Si began his career as an English teacher before moving into the fashion industry, working as a junior fashion editor at Grazia China. In 2010, he began posting his own personal commentary on celebrities’ outfits on his Weibo account, under the handle Gogoboi. Known for his snarky and raw critiques, Ye garnered online attention and earned a steady growth of followers. His witty commentary provides a provocative look at the curated images of those in the limelight, challenging their qualifications as rightful spokespeople of high fashion. Though some dismiss Ye’s opinionated critiques as a rather distasteful means to seek public attention, it didn’t stop him from cultivating a cult following. With over 75 million followers on Weibo and more than 100,000 views per article on average on WeChat, Ye is now one of the most influential fashion bloggers in China. In 2016, Ye set up his own channel on Youku, China’s YouTube-like platform, where he interviews international celebrities such as Karlie Kloss, Cate Blanchett and Tim Burton, alongside presenting his own shows. In 2017, Ye launched his WeChat boutique, called Bu Da Jing Xuan, which sells a curated selection of luxury goods. Today, Ye has partnerships with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci and Dior, as well as high-street brands like Uniqlo and H&M. Representing a new kind of player in China’s luxury fashion world in the digital age, Ye has evolved from a mere social media personality to a fashion brand with commercial value. Kind of like: American fashion critic Cathy Horyn Famous for: snarky critiques on celebrity styles See him on: almost every Chinese social media platform

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Skyscraper

JULY 15

JULY 8

Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Set in the world’s tallest skyscraper, a fictional building in Hong Kong that essentially functions as an independent society, Skyscraper stars Dwayne Johnson as a family man, former FBI hostage rescue specialist and amputee who’s in charge of security for the building. When it inevitably comes under attack from a group of terrorists, he must step up to save the day, and nail-biting action sequences ensue. Many a joke has been made about how closely this campy plot parallels action classic Die Hard, but dramatic drone footage of the cityscape, two unbelievably cute curly-haired kids and The Rock’s indefatigable charisma might just make it work anyway.

This sequel to acclaimed 2015 film Sicario picks up where its predecessor left off, as hardened assassin Alejandro Gillick (Benecio del Toro) teams up again with ruthless CIA agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) to kidnap the daughter of a Mexican cartel leader for a somewhat shadowy higher purpose concealed by the US government. When the mission goes wrong, they are ordered to kill the young woman (Isabela Moner), but del Toro’s character refuses, so a manhunt for them both begins. Sicario’s celebrated director Denis Villeneuve did not return for the sequel, but Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Wind River) has again penned the screenplay.

HAO BU HAO

Hao Celebrated filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai made history during graduation season this year when Harvard University awarded him an honorary degree, which he accepted while looking like a boss in his trademark sunglasses. Joining the likes of Nelson Mandela, JK Rowling, Stephen Hawking and Oprah Winfrey, plus fellow director Pedro Almodóvar, Wong is the first Asian filmmaker to receive the honor. Harvard described him as a creator who “stands among modern cinema’s most influential auteurs,” citing his unmistakable visual style and worldview.

Bu Hao

Netizens on Weibo just about lost their minds during the last week of May, when Cui Yongyuan, a garrulous and famously outspoken TV presenter, claimed that Fan Bingbing had been paid millions of dollars for just four days of work, publishing screenshots of what looked like Fan’s contract. A week later, he alleged that Fan actually had two contracts for that and other gigs, an illegal but fairly common practice to avoid paying taxes. Fan’s studio quickly responded by threatening legal action, but the incident has sparked a debate about whether or not celebrities deserve their lavish salaries and special treatment.


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

Our favorite tracks from artists playing in Guangzhou and Shenzhen this month. For fun nightlife and gig listings, visit www.thatsmags.com

‘Among the trees’ (2012) E321

‘Inside’ (2005) Bang Gang

‘WeChat’ (2017) Higher Brothers

‘Conurbation’ (2017) 一三

‘想入非非’(1995) The Face

‘我的写字台’ (2016) Xu Fei

While it may not be everyone’s jam, this Swedish shoegaze creation slowly builds into a richly textured soundscape of murmured vocals and hard-rock harmonies.

They just don’t make music like they used to. But this rocker duo makes a fairly good effort, with folksy vocals and a good old-fashioned guitar solo.

Despite the name, this Icelandic pop band opts for a subdued, melancholy sound paired with lyrics on lost dreams and loves.

Ever wondered what a Chinese hair rock band might sound like? The Face comes pretty close with this expansive rock anthem, complete with cowbell.

If you follow Chinese hip-hop at all, you already know of this Chengdu quartet. If you don’t, now’s the chance to get acquainted through one of their viral hits.

Indie artist Xu Fei delivers a straightforward, sugary-sweet pop ballad with imaginative lyrics and acoustic guitar counterpoint.

WHAT’S NEW

Tencent and J. J. Abrams Launch Video Game Company Bad Robot, the enormously successful production company helmed by American director J. J. Abrams and responsible for everything from Lost to Westworld to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, announced last month that they are expanding into video games. To make this happen on the widest possible scale, Abrams has finagled what an official statement has deemed a ‘strategic relationship’ with megacorporation Tencent. Bad Robot Games is poised to enter the market for mobile, PC and console games, so partnering with the company behind both WeChat and the world’s most successful games business by revenue last year is no small feat. Several Abrams creations, especially the recent HBO hit Westworld, have found a large fan base in China, so audiences may see a video game set in the show’s dystopian amusement park sometime in the not-so-distant future. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018| SZ | 29


ARTS | D M AUNSCI CE

POETRY IN POLEDANCING A Shenzhen Burlesque Dancer’s Journey By Zhuorui Wang

A

Shenzhen native, burlesque dancer Zixy pursued a degree in Fine Arts at the Institute of

Chicago and there gained experience as a pole dancer, a career choice rarely seen among Chinese students overseas. Years later, she’s positioned herself at the center of the world burlesque dancing scene: New York City. Her journey has had its ups and downs but in the end, she's discovered poetry in her work as a pole dancer. Here’s the account of her lyrical journey from Shenzhen to New York.

Tell me about some of your formative experiences in Shenzhen. Besides studying in a liberal environment [at Shenzhen Middle School], I also started mingling with adults and people in the real world when I was in high school. I moved out with a classmate… into a studio apartment, so we had our own space and own lives outside of school. How did you get into the art of burlesque? I did Chinese traditional dance before. A lot of my inspiration and moves still come from my childhood exposure to traditional dance. Frankly, I got into pole-dancing [in high school] out of coincidence. When I was practicing and teaching dance, I met one person doing poles. He asked me to try. I tried. I had never expected to fall [in love with] poledancing so much. But as I began doing more and more of burlesque, it became a part of my life. Have your parents ever argued against your dancing? And how did your poledancing develop while you were in Chicago?

No, they were supportive. I have a great family, and they love me. In Chicago, everything went well. I kept practicing over there, stud-

30 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

ied Fine Arts and used the opportunities the city offered, like [going] to events, [and] kept fine-tuning my dancing moves. Then I started teaching. Gradually, over four years, I accumulated more students, more [of a] reputation, earned money and for sure my skills became better as well. How did you end up in New York?

By the time graduation loomed, I was facing a lot of pressure to have a real job. [I was] a mess, I do not know how I got through it. I applied for a fellowship program in New York with my current dancing firm, which I had wanted to enroll in since my first year. They only take a handful of people globally and they took me. I felt it was the right chance to come, and I needed to change my life – I couldn’t stay in Chicago anymore. How is New York so far?

New York is amazing. Way more opportunities and a faster-paced life... For example, this year, I choreographed a pole dance duet with an amazing dance partner and dear friend Brand On. This dance portrayed the kind of romance that has often been called “toxic” or the “crazy kind.” Each rehearsal is a deep conversation between us. We trust each other, invite each other into our most vulnerable memories,


DANCE | ARTS

share painful feelings and the ugly stories that lie beneath the butterflies and happy romance in our individual histories. We seek unity, and we are curious about the unknown. Together we made a team and walked on an introspective journey together. It is very rare to find a friend that you can put so much trust in. He has a lot of strength and I have flexibility. Our skillsets are complements to each other while we practice. Besides crafting our movement, we spent a lot of extra time building connections and discussing the details of our expressions. Sometimes we do not touch our apparatus for the whole rehearsal, but just practice looking into each other’s eyes. We want to find the right gaze. Sometimes we hold each other’s hands to feel the right touch. On our last show, we literally started arguing right before getting on stage. We warmed up too much for our emotions and we got into our characters. The stage monitor had to calm us down and tell us to “save the energy for the stage.”

Zhuorui Fu is a style journalist and entrepreneur based in NY, London and Paris. She has also founded a fashion collection (zhuoruifucollection.com).

Do you ever feel over-eroticized by others?

Frankly… no matter where you are, the whole entertainment industry is very sexualized. I embrace the fact instead of rejecting it.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018| SZ | 31


ls e S e H T h O Hig d n O a p hi B s d n e Y i r fF K o y r N o I t KA Heartwarming S

ARTS | ADVERTORIAL

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ADVERTORIAL | ARTS

O

ne of Broadway’s most jubilant musicals arrives in South China for the first time this August. With a book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (best known for originating the role of Edna Turnblad in Hairspray) and a score by ’80s music icon Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots was a sensation when it opened on Broadway in 2013. The show was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, and won six, including Best Musical. It’s still regularly selling out shows on Broadway today, and debuted on the West End to much acclaim and three Olivier Awards in 2016. Adapted from a 2006 film of the same name (which is in turn based on a true story), Kinky Boots tells the story of straitlaced British shoemaker Charlie Price and his attempts to salvage his struggling family business. After a chance meeting with drag performer Lola during a London

business trip, Price learns that drag queens usually perform in women’s shoes not built to hold their larger frames, which break often and can cause injury. Inspiration strikes, and Price and Lola go into business together to create a new kind of shoe for a niche market. Set to an upbeat score with Lauper’s signature synth-pop sound, Kinky Boots has a heartwarming message of friendship, as two very different shoe lovers come together as business partners and learn they have much more in common than either ever imagined. With action that spans a shoe factory in the sleepy town of Northampton to the catwalks of Milan, Kinky Boots continues to inspire audiences all over the world. Previous productions include a past US National Tour that played more than 80 cities, an extended run in Toronto, two productions in Korea, and a Japanese language production. Now the show is coming to Guangzhou, starring Lance Bordelon as Charlie Price, Jos N. Banks as Lola and Sydney Patrick as Price’s colleague Lauren. Scan the QR code below to purchase tickets to witness this spectacular story come alive on stage. Thu-Sat Aug 9-19, 2.30pm/7.30pm; RMB1801,080. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路1号广州大剧院

W W WW. W T HWA. T SH MA TA SGMS A. CGOSM. C |O JMU L| YJ U2 L0Y1 82|0S1 8Z | 3 3


ARTS | MUSIC

CHINA MUSIC CORNER

Three New Homegrown Albums on Our Radar This Month

By Erica Martin

Into Sparks by Dream Can One of Shanghai’s most original new bands and a leading light of female-led acts in China, Dream Can have finally dropped their debut album on Maybe Mars, a finely composed eightsong journey drenched in psychedelia. The band reveal right away that they are not messing around with the massive eight-minute opening track, ‘Cheap Cheap Time I Live, Money Money Saves Me,’ showing practiced restraint with its spare opening that builds until it soars. The band cites Acid Mothers Temple as an influence, and their repeated veering between spare and poignant twangs and frenzied guitar rock recalls the Japanese psych-rock giants as well as older bands like Big Brother and the Holding Company circa 1968. The decidedly trippy song ‘Time is Fractured’ creeps toward paranoia with a maze of twists and turns in sound that feel both manic and tightly composed. Their slower songs are lovely as well, especially the sad spaceship cruise that is ‘I am a Lonely Girl,’ which showcases A Re’s otherworldly vocals. Into Sparks sounds like music from another era, but it’s still brimming with innovation and, well, sparks. Listen here: downloads.maybemars.org/album/into-sparks

Monster KaR Vol. 3 by Monster KaR ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome Aboard Monster KaR Airlines’ are the opening lines of Monster KaR Vol. 3, which give a good indication of the serene weirdness of the trip ahead from this Guangzhou-based band. They’ve labeled themselves on Xiami as ‘hallucinogenic pop,’ and they do manage to convey a psychedelic and lightheaded feeling without relying on the more in-your-face noise guitar of psych rock. This is most successful on the dizzying track ‘Fight Club,’ largely thanks to the vocals, which are light, breathy and eerie. Monster KaR explore other genres on the album as well, like a sweetly retro 90s R&B on the melancholy ‘In Brown’ and ‘Don’t Leave Me When I’m Alone,’ which sports a soulful beat and some boy-girl spoken word interludes that feel especially 90s. This is music for the most gentle and peaceful of mind-altering substances, making it a less ubiquitous take on psychedelic music that feels crisp and refreshing. Listen here: www.xiami.com/play?ids=/song/playlist/id/1803202269

Migration by Diva Li The latest release from Beijing label Ran Music is a vibrant club-centric EP by producer Diva Li. An ear for dance floor rhythms is apparent right away, and Li displays a funk and disco sensibility woven into all the tracks, though her main focus is minimal techno and dub that’s been washed clean of the bro-y overtones that can plague the genre. Her punchy vocals push the energy level of each track skyward, making the EP fly by and an itch to hit the dance floor grow as you listen. The tracks get heavier and darker as the EP goes on, hitting their deepest in the throbbing bass of ‘Awakening’ and then rising in tempo again for the frenzied, dubby finale ‘Travel By Myself.’ Li was preoccupied with the migration of fish across the ocean when she created this album, hence its name. She “imagined herself as one among the hordes” swimming along in an Atlantic fish migration as she composed, and the thematic connection between feeling at one with your school of fish in the sea and with your fellow dancers at the club should not be overlooked. Listen here: ranmusicbj.bandcamp.com/album/migration

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ADVERTORIAL | LIFE & STYLE

AWESOME PRODUCTS AT THMART FOR YOUR SUMMER HOUSE PARTY Summer is upon us and thMart has an astounding assortment of homeware and kitchen appliances to match the rising temperatures. And is there anything better than to celebrate the season by having your friends over for a house party? Check out these handy wine sets, beautiful bouquets and much more for your next gathering.

Umbra Wine Products, from RMB60

Enhance your wine drinking experience with these stylish wine sets by Canadian design studio Umbra. Wine toppers are certainly not a new thing and there are tons of variations available, but Umbra’s also come with a range of wine glass charms to separate yours from someone else’s. Last but definitely not least is their assortment of corkscrews, which perfectly signify the simplistic design philosophy of the brand.

Sunny Smile Bouquet, RMB168

Want to give your apartment a summer look? This Sunny Smile Bouquet is your answer. Containing six sunflowers and other floral treats, these lowmaintenance plants will brighten up your home in a symphony of warm color tones. If you order one of these arrangements before noon, they’ll even be delivered on the same night.

BRITA Marella 3.5L + 6-pack MAXTRA+ filters, RMB428 Sick of dragging water bottles back home in the heat? World-renowned water filter company BRITA presents a solution with its 3.5L water pitcher, which is designed to get rid of all the toxins in tap water, so it’s safe for you and your guests to drink. Don’t forget to buy these replaceable MAXTRA+ filters along with your pitcher!

Midea Air Fryer TN20A, RMB550

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For any business opportunity, please email us at thmart@urbanatomy.com. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 35


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The Female Fighters Putting China on the International Stage

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he’s going to try and choke her!” a commentator yells as MMA fighter Xiong Jingnan, or ‘The Panda,’ jumps onto Singaporean Tiffany Teo’s back. It’s the first round of the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Championship. Two women battle barefoot inside a round cage to the cheers of a rapturous crowd in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the unheard cries from streamers watching online. The Panda slips off but manages to send a kick to her challenger’s face moments later. Xiong is lightning fast, and by the end of the third round, her opponent looks shattered. “Teo’s face is a mess,” the commentator observes. Shortly into the fourth round, Xiong’s relentless pummeling proves too much for ‘No Chill’ Teo. The judge declares Xiong the winner by technical knock out, and ‘The Panda’ is hailed the first Chinese champion in the history of ONE Championship. Xiong ties the national flag of China around her neck like a superhero cape as she accepts the title belt, while the commentator booms: “The age of China is upon us.” MMA, or mixed martial arts, owes its roots to The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), an American MMA organization that pioneered the sport. Beijing-based Jiu-Jiutsu coach Andy Wang grew up in Denver, the city that held the first UFC fight in 1993. “There were no rules, no referee stoppages. It would just be a fight to see what star was the best,” he tells me over lunch. “Now, the UFC is a global brand. Back then, MMA was a curiosity. Now it’s an accepted sport.” Already popular overseas, the activity has gained traction in China in the past few years, with the number of combat sporting clubs in the country having quadrupled since 2008, the New York Times reports. Today, international organizations (called ‘promotions’), like Singapore-based ONE Championship, are increasingly visible. UFC held its first mainland event in front of a sold-out crowd in Shanghai last November.

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Meanwhile, events shown live on CCTV draw up to 20 to 30 million viewers, according to Jetli.com, a kung-fu blog run by the eponymous martial arts star. A combat sport that uses techniques from a range of wrestling and striking disciplines, like boxing, Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA bouts typically last for three 5-minute rounds. But there’s more to MMA than physical skill – it’s also entertainment. There’s the cage that spectators press up against; the ring card girls, skimpily dressed and generically attractive; the trash-talking and bizarre crossover match-ups (boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs MMA fighter Conor McGregor, anyone?); the over-the-top walkout music and booming voice of the announcer. Often bloody and always violent, MMA has traditionally been a male-dominated sport. However, awareness of women fighters in the sport is growing, thanks to trailblazers like Americans Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. In China, fighters like Xiong Jingnan are making their own mark on the scene. Xiong’s title win has put her name firmly on the radar of those in the industry. I meet the champion and her manager, Libya native Ali Elezzabi, at their training center in Beijing, before she heads home for Chinese New Year. Xiong is nursing a broken hand, suffered in the second round of the title fight. It’ll take another month to heal. “Every time I had to think twice before using my hand,” Xiong says. “I don’t think anyone can understand how excruciatingly painful it was. But I had to keep focused during the fight. “I was really excited [leading up to the fight] because I knew that if I won it, then I would be China’s first female fighter to win an international world title.” The Jakarta bout was Xiong’s second time competing in ONE since she signed a two-year contract with the brand last year (she was previously signed to Chinese promotion Kunlun Fight). Xiong’s contract means that she can fight in ONE events only. The 30-year-old’s first


Above: Professional MMA fighters Tian Yang (left) and Meng Bo relax in their apartment Left: Tian strikes a fighter’s pose

ONE fight was so impressive – she delivered a knockout in the first round – that the outfit promptly offered her a shot at the title. “She’s like a sponge,” Elezzabi says. “I’ll show her a technique and it’ll take her two or three times to do it. Most people go back to their comfort zone. She’s not afraid to lose, and that’s what makes her evolve.” Xiong’s success has opened the door to lucrative sponsorships, namely with Gre3n coconut water and AWBR Nutritions Alliance Jiu Jitsu China, both of whom she name drops. The importance of these can’t be overstated, Elezzabi says: “On a monthly basis, her bill can reach RMB10,000 on diet alone.” Although Xiong is from a working-class family in Shandong province, Elezzabi tells me that her family “doesn’t rely on her for support.” Yet financial reward is a major incentive for many in the sport, Wang says. “A lot of fighters, especially in China, come from bad backgrounds. It’s a way out. You don’t see a lot of rich white dudes, or any [rich] dudes, boxing in America. Here, it’s the same.”

“Apart from sleeping and showering, everything is with guys. Training, eating, everything” Wang, a former UFC fighter himself, has “seen it all” and doesn’t recommend going pro. “It’s a blood business. You will bleed mentally, emotionally, physically and, for a lot of people, financially.” But for Xiong, the sacrifice is worth it. “Before the fight, I was training so hard, I could hardly bear it, in my heart and in my mind. [But] the only thing I could see was the belt,” she says. “The belt is every fighter’s dream.” The Panda may be a warrior in the cage, but, free from training, she lets her guard down. When told to ‘be herself’ during our photoshoot, Xiong bear hugs a punching bag with a huge grin across her face. Xiong credits her father as the person who’s influenced her the most. “My dad has seen all my fights. He watches them all the time. Sometimes I’ll get a call from him, saying, ‘I watched your fight, and you had a mistake here and here.’ “He always told me to be kind to everyone. I hope [I’ll also] influence others,” Xiong adds. “Especially Asian women.” Although MMA is growing in China,

event lineups are overwhelmingly male, Wang says. “If you go to an event, out of 10 fights, only two of them will be women and the rest men.”According to Wang, the number of professional female fighters in China is still relatively small. “People want to see men because, in the end, what gets people excited [in sports] is violence. And men can produce more violence,” he says matter-offactly. Between MMA and kickboxing, Elezzabi estimates about “six or so” professional female fighters in China. (The US, in comparison, has over 100 notable female MMA artists.) Professional MMA fighters Tian Yang and Meng Bo offer a more generous number. “There’s about 100 professional and amateur women [MMA fighters] in China altogether,” Meng says during my visit to the Beijing apartment she and Tian reside in. “But, really famous ones – around 20.” And men? “A lot more, about 500, probably,” Tian says. “But not many famous ones. It’s harder for guys because the competition is so good.”

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RIght: Pro MMA fighter Gita Suharsono prepares for a fight at the ONE Warrior Series tryout

Below: Surharsono spars with her coach before the fight

“The real prize is victory. It tastes so sweet, it’ s addictive”

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Tian and Meng, both 23, fight together and room together. While neither lay claim to an international title, Meng’s fight record has her ranked No. 5 out of female fighters in China, according to MMA database Tapology (Xiong sits at No. 3). Unlike Xiong, the two are free agents, meaning they aren’t tied to one promotion. Tian has fought for Chinese Kungfu (CKF) while Meng’s most recent fight was for Fight Nights Russia (FNR). Hailing from Liaoning province in Northeast China, Meng has 10 years of combat sport experience. “When I started practicing sanda [Chinese kickboxing], there were only two of us [female fighters]. The other, Wu Yanan, is a UFC fighter now. “I started practicing MMA in 2012 because I wanted to reach the highest stage in the arena,” Meng continues. “At first, my family was worried. They’d ask me if I got injured or not, but when I continued to persevere, my family grew to support me.” Sporting glasses and layered up in winter clothes, Tian is relaxed and welcoming – a far sight different to her WeChat profile picture, a commanding shot of her silhouette against a sunset, one leg kicked high in the air, ready to strike. Originally from Enshi, a prefecture-level city in southwest Hubei province, Tian has practiced combat sports for four years. The Wuhan Sports Institute graduate comes from a fighting background. “My dad used to be a police officer and my uncle a judo fighter.” Like Meng, Tian says her family was hesitant about their daughter taking up MMA at first, but: “I was very persistent and dedicated, so they eventually had my back. They’re pretty open-minded.” The fighters train every day with different coaches, depending on their practice, but if they have a fight coming up, it takes them two months to prepare, Meng tells me. In addition to physical training, fighters also have to ‘cut weight,’ to ensure they stay within their designated weight grade. Tian explains: “A lot of Chinese women are uninformed about [combat sports]. They think their body will get bigger and they’ll hurt themselves. To them, MMA is really strenuous. They couldn’t accept this kind of toil, and they wouldn’t be able to bear it, either.” Due to the limited pool of fighters, women have no choice but to train with men, explains Meng. “Every day you need to practice with guys. Apart from sleeping and showering, everything is with guys. Training, eating, everything.” The upside of this, according to Tian, is that they “can train with guys that are better [than us] and this will help us improve faster.” When I ask about whether the industry is sexist, Tian and Yang say no. According to Xiong Jingnan, though, women in the industry are not equal with men. “Other people’s manner towards female players is different, whether its fans or bosses,” she says. “They even pay women less. It’s the culture [of MMA]. I just train,” she shrugs.

Xiong regularly encounters stereotypes. “My family and close friends accept me, but other people don’t see me as feminine,” she says. “They won’t directly tell me, but will ask, ‘When are you going to get married? When are you going to grow your hair? How long are you expecting to do this for?’” Even commenters on social media platforms will say she looks like a boy, or a “lady boy,” manager Elezzabi says. It’s hard to imagine male Chinese fighters receiving the same kind of comments about their looks. For her part, Xiong is nonplussed. “I cut my hair because it got pulled out while practicing Jiu-Jitsu. People can say what they want – I don’t care. I know what I need to do.” Although Meng prefers to keep a natural look when fighting, she doesn’t like women MMA fighters being put into a box. “Other people don’t have to say anything. At the end of the day, we’re women and we ourselves can keep up our own appearances.” Yang agrees, saying: “Even though we’re usually busy training, when we have time off, we like to do our hair and that kind of thing.” Because of numbers – and the added entertainment-value – Tian’s and Yang’s fights are always against foreigners. Yang doesn’t mind – in fact, she hopes that more women fighters from other countries will train in China in the future, because “if they come here, we can learn from each other.” One such fighter is Yang’s friend, Gita Suharsono, who is also based in Beijing. Over coffee, the Indonesian native tells me she recently transitioned from kickboxing to MMA. Tall and lean, Suharsono is a former journalist who, unsatisfied with her lifestyle, quit her job and took up combat sports to get back into shape two-and-a-half years ago. After one fight, she was hooked. “I felt so alive,” she says. Suharsono trained and has previously fought in Thailand. Although she has won every fight of her career so far, she is especially effusive about her competition in China. “Chinese female fighters are not joking. They are the toughest fights I’ve ever had, because in China, if you want to be a fighter, you really [have to] want to.” As a foreign female fighter in China, Suharsono is different. “A lot of Chinese women fighters are stockier. They train like that to survive in a male-dominated sport,” she explains. “But you don’t need to be like that – women can be anything. That’s the type of message I want to give. “I’ve seen a lot of [foreign] fighters just do it for the money [...] but for me the real prize is victory. It tastes so sweet, it’s addictive.” A few weeks after we meet, Suharsono is accepted to try out for a spot in Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series. A former UFC middleweight champion and now vice-president of ONE Championship, Franklin travels around Asia, from Manila and Seoul to Beijing, to find the next undiscovered superstar fighter from the continent. The ONE Warrior Series is part reality show – in one YouTube episode Franklin’s colleague gets a tattoo in Bangkok – and part “minors to a professional league,” as Franklin describes it. Show participants who are offered contracts are guaranteed four ONE fights.

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Pro MMA fighter Xiong 'The Panda' Jingnan puts her opponent in a chokehold at the ONE Women’ s Strawweight Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia (photo by Dux)


“Chinese female fighters are the toughest, because if you want to be a fighter in China, you really have to want to� 43


The Beijing audition takes place in a combat studio in Haidian District on a blustery Sunday. Dozens of wannabe professional fighters wait nervously for Franklin and his team to arrive, while Chinese kids practice sports on the other side of the room. In addition to Suharsono, there is one other woman trying out – Shanghai karate teacher Wang Xue, who has traveled up for the weekend. Suharsono has a cold. She’s just come back from a training trip in Thailand, she tells me croakily. But, as soon as Franklin arrives, she rushes up to introduce herself and Franklin compliments her top – a Captain America muscle T-shirt. The two women, the second pair of the day, compete against each other in a series of grappling and striking challenges. Both are impressive. Suharsono, a head taller, is tenacious, all long limbs and fury. Wang is quieter, but grapples well. During the event’s lunch break, Franklin tells me he’s noticed an increase in female fighting talent while scouting in Asia. “It’s not just China,” he says, before explaining his surprise at turning up to auditions in Bangkok and Manila to find over half a dozen women trying out. “I don’t mean it to sound the wrong way, but when we thought about scouting, we kind of automatically thought, subconsciously, that we were going to

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“A lot of fighters in China come from bad backgrounds. It’ s a way out” look for male talent,” Franklin admits. The former champion puts the rise in female participants in Asia down to natural progression as the sport grows. Plus: “Martial arts are marketed differently here. [MMA] is marketed for things like self-defense, [but] that’s not how is it in the States.” When it comes down to actual signings for the series, Franklin says he doesn’t follow a quota. “Hey, Jonathan,” he yells to Jonathan Fong, director of ONE Warrior Series, sitting at the judges’ table a few meters away. “How many females did we sign? Two or three?“ “One,” Fong replies. “Only one?” Franklin asks, surprised. “There was one in Manila we were on the fence [about] and we decided to go with her brother instead,” Fong says. “Oh, that’s right,” Franklin recalls. “OK, so we’ve had one solidly signed female at this point in time. Realistically, to build the sport, I’m probably more interested in

finding good quality female talent, than male talent. “I’ve had a couple [of women] where I’m like, ‘Look, your time in the league is going to be short [at four fights]. So, I want you to work on X, Y and Z, and let’s see you try out again in six months.’” At the end of the event, both Suharsono and Wang are offered contracts for the ONE Warrior Series. Suharsono accepts. After some consideration, Wang ultimately declines. The contract offers are a good sign for other China-based female fighters hoping to have a crack at the international professional league. Meanwhile, back at Tian and Meng’s apartment, the two are adamant that more Chinese women will take up the sport and that the level of Chinese female fighters will improve. When I comment tentatively that, in the future, perhaps they will have the opportunity to fight against more Chinese women, Meng laughs: “No, a Chinese guy!”


Left: 'The Panda' relaxes in her Jiu-jitsu training studio in Beijing

This page: Xiong savors her title win (photo by Dux)

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CITY SCENES AmCham Spring Ball 2018 (Supported by )

On May 26, the American Chamber of Commerce in South China hosted its annual Spring Ball, titled ‘Studio 54 East,’ at the LN Garden Hotel. With a theme of vintage American ‘70s pop culture, the event opened with a cocktail reception dedicated to departing US Consul General in Guangzhou Charles Bennett. After the cocktails were all served, the party moved into the hotel’s Grand Ballroom where guests enjoyed a selection of delicious Italian dishes served with a contemporary twist. Amid the spectacular dining options, singing and dancing kicked off in grand fashion before a lucky draw capped off the evening.

Stone Eden Hosts Peter Rabbit-theme Family Events (Supported by and )

Exquisite Ecuador Food Festival Held in South China

On June 16, Stone Eden British Nursery joined hands with That’s PRD and Urban Family to hold an event titled ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit.’ More than 20 families enjoyed the nursery, fun art classes and had the chance to play with two real rabbits! Additionally, all families received prizes from Stone Eden and Urban Family. During the event, participating children were given the opportunity to experience loving childcare and participate in educational activities, such as ‘vegetable painting,’ a scavenger hunt, storytelling and other rabbit-themed fun. The activities were designed to help boost the children’s confidence, independence and creativity.

In cooperation with Longyatt Hotel in Foshan, Pro Ecuador launched a gastronomic festival – Exquisite Ecuador – on May 28. Presented to PRD-based diners for a period of three months, the Ecuadorian dishes on offer are created by the hands of seasoned Ecuadorian chef José Luis Molestina. The opening celebration was attended by local businessmen, chefs, chambers of commerce and catering service professionals from Guangdong province. Guests not only tasted Ecuadorian dishes, but were also shown live cooking demonstrations, where Chef Molestina presented different preparation techniques native to the nation of Ecuador.

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(Supported by

)


Marché Mövenpick Opens Shenzhen Marketplace (Supported by

)

On June 14, popular Swiss foodservice concept Marché Mövenpick opened its first China marketplace restaurant in Shenzhen’s fast-growing business district near UpperHills. The new establishment combines the modern flair of a European-style marketplace with distinctly alpine features to create a uniquely cozy Swiss atmosphere. Guests can stroll through the 800-square-meter space and choose from a wide selection of fresh, quality products to customize the perfect meal. Watch the chefs prepare home-cooked dishes at Marché’s open show kitchens, and choose from a plethora of house specialties, European delicacies and mouth-watering desserts, as well as coffee, tea, juice, wine and beer.

Dongfeng Nissan and NBA China Announce Extended Partnership (Supported by ) Last month, on June 2, NBA China and Dongfeng Nissan announced a multi-year extension of their marketing partnership. Senior members of both organizations told Shenzhen press that the renewal would involve continued promotion of basketball in China through events like NBA Fan Day, NBA Cares, interactive visits from current and former NBA players and official NBA China games. As NBA China’s key partner, Dongfeng Nissan will play a leading role in these programs, and work to engage fans year-round, specifically during the NBA Playoffs and Finals. Since its inception in 2015, Dongfeng Nissan and NBA China have hosted a number of notable events throughout the country, including NBA 5v5, several NBA China games and an NBA Chinese New Year celebration.

Annual French Guinguette Party (Supported by ) The French Guinguette party, held in Shenzhen on Saturday, June 9, by catering company French Touch Kitchen, once again gathered an impressive crowd this year. Around 350 enthusiastic guests enjoyed fine dining from France and beyond. Cheese, French wines and international cocktails were in abundance. An accordion show and live bands entertained partygoers, contributing to a festive and relaxed atmosphere that was enjoyed by all.


PRD FOCUS T

he Italian Consulate in Guangzhou held a reception on June 1 at the Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic.

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n June 8, Vietnamese restaurant Muine held a ceremony and brand conference at OCT Harbour O'Plaza in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District. Numerous media organizations were invited to the event to witness a presentation on Muine’s interior design. Attendees were also able to sample a selection of new dishes.

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usic Day, a yearly music festival organized by the French Consulate in Guangzhou, enlivened Foshan’s Shunde District from June 16 to 17. A lineup of both French and Chinese bands and musicians entertained a diverse mix of both local Foshanren and foreigners. 48 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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KS Group International Limited announced that it will join hands with the Centre d’Art Contemporain SinoFrançais (Sino-French Modern Art Center) to establish a platform for international art and fashion design – Avant Fashion, which will focus on creating a program called ‘The Road of Talents.’

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o celebrate the 2018 Turkey Tourism Year in China, the Consulate General of Turkey in Guangzhou held the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition, Reunion of Turkey and China Silk Road Exhibition – the Last Caravan, on June 19 at the Guangzhou Library.

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tudents from the British School of Guangzhou visited the Guangdong Provincial Maternity Center on Children’s Day to perform and hand out gifts. Along with charity organization Hopeful Hearts, the school continues to raise money to help fund life-saving operations for young children.

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n May 29, Guangzhou United Family Hospital held its official dedication ceremony. The latest and largest addition to the network of United Family Hospitals across China is located in Guangzhou’s Pazhou area. The hospital will deliver comprehensive, world-class healthcare services including labor and delivery, post-partum rehabilitation, surgery, inpatient hospitalization and 24-hour emergency care.



FOOD, DRINK

& EVENTS IN SHENZHEN 5 Street Food Spots

Hitting the street for cheap eats, p54

Coffee Old Fashioned P53 50 | SZ |JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

23 Burger Store P58


By Paul Finkbeiner

You’d think it would be impossible to confuse milk tea with flavored water at a convenience store. But Japanese beverage company Suntory has fooled us all by producing a variation of milk tea that looks and tastes pretty watery.

That’s right – it's clear, just like good ol’ fashioned H2O. Aside from the bottle’s label, which features pictures of cream and a glass of milk tea, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the bevvie for water or oddly-packaged baijiu. Any misconception about what the liquid might be, though, is quickly dispelled when you open the bottle: Suntory’s milk tea unleashes a surprisingly aromatic tea leaf scent. Compared to a cup of Coco-brand milk tea, in fact, we found the Suntory variety had a stronger, more fragrant odor. Unfortunately, smell doesn’t translate to taste in this case, and we found the clear milk tea to be a watered-down version of the real deal. With an off-putting sugary aftertaste, the Suntory beverage reminded us of one of those clear, flavored drinks that try to pass themselves off as substitutes for Gatorade or Powerade. While the clear milk tea does list a dairy sweetener in the ingredients, the creamy smoothness of milk is nonexistent and the taste, overall, screams artificial. Suntory’s milk tea certainly gets points for innovation and creativity, but it just can’t compare to standard milk tea. If you’re feeling adventurous, give it a try. Otherwise, stick to milk tea's classic variety.

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INTERVIEW

SUNTORY CLEAR MILK TEA


GRAPE VINE THE SCANDALOUS SCOOP

We’re Digging:

New bars, restaurants, cafes and more in Futian with the opening up of a Shuiwei ‘talent’ housing project (see page 60); Volfoni’s imminent return to Shekou with a brand-new location; and talk of Michelin stars and guest chefs at a food fest hitting OCT Harbour through the first half of July.

We’re Done with: WHAT'S ON WAIMAI

Miandianwang

The deportation of 15 foreigners to Hong Kong following a drug raid at a certain Nanshan bar; bidding a fond farewell to Shekou standbys Brew Magic Pub and Cheeky Monkey; street food’s disappearing act in Shenzhen (see page 54) over the last few years – but at least we’ll always have squid on a stick at Dongmen.

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With its uninspiring corporate appearance and perfunctory service, Miandianwang isn’t exactly date night material. That’s why you should opt for delivery instead when craving a taste of this massive South China chain, which boasts well over 100 shops in Shenzhen alone. The flaccid dumplings may be subpar, but other offerings can satisfy even the most jaded fast-food diner: a generous RMB12 plate of broccoli, for instance, is flavorful with salt and sesame oil. Zhajiangmian (RMB18) is served with a decent amount of vegetables and can be customized with regular, thick-cut or pricier whole-wheat noodles (RMB25). You can even add broth to your bowl, if you’re into that. Other types of noodles can also be tai-

lored to taste, although we recommend you steer clear of those featuring questionable chunks of meat. Instead, opt for the braised spare ribs (RMB35), which yield a satisfying if messy carnivorous experience. The same goes for the sweet-smelling, slightly crispy sesame buns stuffed with braised pork, which sell for RMB8 a pop. In fact, steer clear of overly processed meats on the menu and you can almost imagine you’re ordering from a nice little mom-andpop store instead of a soulless corporate chain. Price: RMB18-25 Good for: cheap noodles, stir-fried veggies Search for: miandianwang 面点王 Available on: Baidu Waimai, Dianping, Eleme, Koubei, Meituan


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

COCKTAIL

Timmies’ Coffee Old Fashioned The Old Fashioned was originally called a ‘whisky cocktail,’ way back in the early 1800s. There were also variations of the drink that utilized rum and gin instead of whisky. As time passed, cocktails became flashier: mixologists began experimenting with new ingredients, blending liqueurs and fruit juices into cocktails. Some bar goers, though, hankered for a drink made ‘the old fashioned’ way. This month, learn how to make an Old Fashioned with a caffeine kick: the Coffee Old Fashioned. This recipe calls for Canada’s favorite coffee, but feel free to experiment with your preferred coffee blend.

This month’s cocktail comes to us from Rob Turnbull and Zach Friedenberg, whiskey connoisseurs from Whispers in Guangzhou.

Ingredients (two servings) - 60ml Bulleit Bourbon - 20ml Tim Horton’s coffee - 15ml homemade simple syrup - 2 dashes Angostura bitters Directions

In a mixing glass, combine the bourbon, coffee, simple syrup and bitters with a handful of ice. Stir until the outside of the glass builds up some condensation (approximately 30 stirs) and then strain over a perfectly clear ice ball in a short glass. Garnish with orange zest, expressing the oils around the rim of the glass.

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E AT & DR INK | F E AT UR E

5 GREAT STREET FOOD SPOTS

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HITTING THE STREET FOR CHEAP EATS BY BAILEY HU AND EVELYN WANG

ike it or not, street food is being slowly phased out of China’s largest cities, giving way to slightly more upscale holes-inthe-wall and shops with hipster pretensions. But in Shenzhen, dirt-cheap changfen and street-side skewers can still be tracked down – if you know where to look.

Baishizhou

The urban village may be gearing up for redevelopment, but its street food scene is still alive – just slightly rearranged. A narrow lane some 50 meters north of Jiangnan Supermarket, along Shahe Jie, is now jam-packed with vendors selling perfectly spiced flatbread and every kind of fried rice imaginable, while more stalls are scattered around nearby alleys. Jiangnan Supermarket, 92 Shahe Jie, Nanshan District 南 山区沙河街92号江南百货 (2691 7304)

Dongmen

We’re stretching the definition of street food here, but Dongmen is still a prime destination for all the strange snacks on a stick, plus random wholesale goods, your heart could desire. Just follow your nose – and the crowds – for fried chicken, stinky tofu, grilled squid, takoyaki, and, for the adventurous, shellfish. Yongxin Lu, Luohu District 罗湖区永新路

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F E AT UR E | E AT & DR INK

Haichang Jie

Shekou’s gone respectable, but there are still some al fresco spots that don’t require a hefty price tag. A few outdoor barbeque spots bookend blocks along Haichang Jie, while the street’s seedy side alleys hold more tiny shops selling noodles, doughy pancakes, cured pig parts and more. Haichang Jie, Nanshan District 南山区海昌街

Huaqiangbei

In between malls, electronics wholesalers and a plethora of sit-down restaurants, Huaqiangbei’s street food scene is still going strong, if smallerscale than before. Sample freshly made wontons or changfen, Guangdong’s trademark breakfast food, at a range of streetside stalls.

Shuiwei

Alas, the old ‘food street’ has been cleared out, but some of the vendors are still set up a few blocks away. Not only is the city’s (arguably) best roujiamo stand here, but if you turn right down Shuiwei Wu Jie, you’ll also find street-side manicures, clothing hawkers and more. Shuiwei Liu Jie, Futian District 福田区水围六街

Zhonghang Lu, Futian District 福田区中航路

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E AT & DR INK | NE W R E S TAUR A N T

ART+ CANTEEN

Palette Pleasing By Adam Robbins

The Place Long before the steel-framed heart of Shenzhen arose, food and family thrived in villages that trace the river to the sea. Many are now mere memory, but Niu Hu village has emerged as an art-infused gem for Shenzheners seeking a different side of the city. Near Aohu Gallery and a new sculpture-adorned riverwalk, Art+Canteen is one of the rare finds within Longhua New District that earns four stars from diners. You’re unlikely to stumble upon it, so aim for the gallery and a short walk north.

The Food

The white fish (RMB108) is a best seller, with a Sichuan pepper coating and a heat that builds as you crunch into broth-

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soaked baby lotus root. It’s good clean fish with few bones and a refreshing lemon infusion to balance that broth. Fried rice (RMB46) features crisp kernels of corn, cubes of carrot with just enough bite, chives sliced fine, clean plump shrimp and tender earthy chestnuts. Salad (RMB45) is modern, with quinoa, thin slices of red cabbage and a fat-rich dressing that slides between the dew drops of crisp greens. New Zealand lamb chops (RMB98) arrive in three attractive cuts, seared and coated in spices familiar to any chuan’r shop. They’re only marred a bit by the abundance of cumin – better reserved for hiding inferior meats – and the habit of cooking meats longer than necessary. Ask for medium rare. Insist, if you must.

Drinks favor tea, but also feature Baodenburg beer (RMB45/500 milliliters) and decent wine by the bottle (RMB198). Desserts are a caramel-stewed egg (RMB25, out of stock when we visited) or charming glutinous rice balls (RMB18).

The Vibe

The feel is art gallery adjacent: there’s striking art in each room of the refurbished Hakka-style family compound. The owners display creative whimsy and

elegance in their decorations, creating a very new urban village feel, inviting the rest of Shenzhen to come up and see what else is possible.

Price: RMB200-400 Who’s going: art village daytrippers, locals in the know Good for: elegant entrees, creative dates over wine Nearest metro: Qinghu (Exit D) 29 minute drive

Open daily, 11.30am-2pm, 5-9.30pm; 90 Qiming Street, Guanlan, New Who Art Village, Longhua New District 龙华新区牛 湖村观澜观澜街道启明街90号 (2816 2436)


NE W R E S TAUR A N T | E AT & DR INK

FELIZ

Not-So Mexican Eats By Winnie Jin

The Place Hidden between unassuming shops and local food joints on a quiet street north of Huaqiangbei electronics market, cafe and restaurant Feliz adds an unmistakable pop of color to the neighborhood. Every inch of Feliz’s walls is painted with vibrant hues and a giant mural with the words “ESTA FELIZ?” Seeing the eye-catching decor and, of course, the name of the restaurant, we’re inclined to believe that Feliz is a Mexican eatery. But while there are a few Mexican dishes on offer, the rest of the menu runs the gamut of burgers, pasta and even an American-style brunch platter.

The Food We start off ambitiously with Feliz’s nachos (RMB88), which are among the priciest and most Mexicaninspired dishes on the menu. While not entirely authentic (the tortilla chips are smothered not only in salsa but also mayonnaise), they’re quite tasty and satisfying. The same is true for the quesadilla (RMB48), which subs a puff-pastry type bread for the flour tortillas but contains a pleasant ground beef filling. In the end, Feliz’s tiny shredded chicken burger (RMB48) proves the surprise favorite, with impressively tender meat and flavor that packs a punch.

The Vibe It’s always satisfying to find a quiet local hangout with a laid-back vibe and tasty drinks, which is exactly what Feliz offers for Futian dwellers. Pop over when you’re in the area to enjoy the bright ambiance with some good company. Esta Feliz? Si! Price: RMB50-100 Who’s going: Huaqiangbei workers, couples and local business associates Good for: colorful vibes, eclectic eats Nearest metro: Huaxin (Exit A1), 4 minutes

Open daily, 10am-12am; Shop 106, Building 201, Hongli Road, Huaqiangbei, Futian District 福田区华强北红荔路上步工业区201栋106铺 (8278 5752)

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E AT & DR INK | NE W R E S TAUR A N T

23 BURGER STORE ‘Count it!’ By Winnie Jin

The Place While there is obviously no shortage of shopping malls in Shenzhen, the new MixC near High Tech Park is a welcome addition, featuring a variety of Chinese and international eateries. There is much to explore on the strip of restaurants and bars outside the mall, but we come with our eye on the prize – a nice, juicy burger. Luckily, 23 Burger Store looks like just the place to find one.

When our food shows up, we’re impressed by the presentation. The burgers arrive with the top buns askew to show off the towering meats and veggies within. In the ‘Michelin’ burger, the beef patties stuffed with foie gras are rich, creamy and well-balanced by the caramelized onions and crispy potato flakes. The mushroom burger is similarly satisfying, with pickled coleslaw and white sauce adding flavorful dimensions. As a bonus, the hearty fries are covered in a mild Cajun-inspired seasoning. Of course, no meal is complete without dessert, so we grab a swirly soft serve cone (RMB8) on the way out to top things off.

The Vibe

Striking a balance between the swanky high-end burger eateries and the fast food joints of Shenzhen, 23 Burger Store is polished but accessible. We leave feeling full and very much at home. And, honestly, what more can you ask for from the new neighborhood burger joint? Price: RMB50-100 Who’s going: families, High Tech Park yuppies Good for: mid-range burgers, homey diner vibes Nearest metro: High Tech Park (Exit A), 2 min

Open daily 11am-11pm; NL117, MixC, 9668 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District 南山区深南大道9668号万象天地NL117 (157 1212 9835)

We walk in past the outdoor tables to find a modern, casual diner setup. There’s an open kitchen with bar seating, warm overhead lamps and a clean, industrial look that seems to be trending on the F&B scene. Immediately, the smell of grilling burger patties hits us in the face, and we eagerly scan the QR code on our table to access 23 Burger Store’s onlineonly (and Chinese-only) menu.

The Food

The offerings range from the ordinary to what millennials would call ‘extra’ – there’s a classic cheeseburger (RMB48) next to not one, but two different foie gras burgers. We choose the ‘Michelin’ foie gras burger (RMB78) – unfortunately, we found no actual relation to the Michelin restaurant guide – and the mushroom burger (RMB48). Although we decide not to drink on this particular evening, there is a notable selection of bottled beers on display. 58 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM



E AT & DR INK | NE W B A R

V BAR

Chill-out Central By Bailey Hu

A

new, densely-clustered housing project for ‘young talent’ has opened in Futian District’s ever-lively Shuiwei Village, and with it has arrived a slew of tiny cafes, shops, restaurants and bars. V Bar may be one of the most prominent, if only because its white neon sign is visible from the street. Like the other new attractions, it’s small – very small – although an outdoor patio and second floor help make up for it. According to the head bartender, what sets V apart is its reasonable pricing. And with imported beers priced at RMB25-50 a bottle, basic cocktails going for RMB45, and snacks under RMB30, the bar does outperform its Coco Park peers. Just don’t expect a dance floor, though V does have a bouncy EDM-pop soundtrack and dice games. Most customers opt to hang out on the comfy bar seats, however, or smoke and talk outside. Special drinks on offer are similarly chill, from a Corona-tequila mix flavored with lime and salt to the mild, toffee-tasting ‘prince on a white horse,’ also made with beer – both RMB68. Having only been open for over a month, V Bar’s wine menu is still under development during our visit, although we do sample a sweet Italian red that’s very sippable. As we make our way through the menu, wellgroomed bartenders flit back and forth among the 20 or so customers, many of whom live nearby. It’s a fairly slow weekday night, but then again the area is brand-new. There’s plenty of potential for growth, both for the ‘talent’ living in brightly-colored apartments above and the promising food, drink and other small businesses below. Price: RMB25-68 a drink Who’s going: Shuiwei locals, young talent Good for: chilling out cheaply, people-watching Nearest metro: Fumin (Exit D), 10 minutes

Open daily, 6pm-3am; #101, Bldg 173, Area 1368, Shuiwei Xin Cun, Futian District福田区水围新村1368街区 173栋101号 (0755-8278 9062)

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ISNS

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NANSHAN SHENZHEN

MAKING HISTORY Congratulations to the Class of 2018. ISNS’s first IB Diploma Programme (DP) cohort!

IB STRONG

FOLLOW

www.facebook.com/GoISNS/

[e] admissions@isnsz.com [w] www.isnsz.com [t] +86-2666-1000

@ISNS_School

@isns_official

FIRST CONTINUUM IB WORLD SCHOOL

11 Longyuan Road, Taoyuan Sub-District, Nanshan District Shenzhen, P.R. China, 518055 中国深圳南山区桃源街道龙苑路11号

IN SHENZHEN, CHINA


HEAR DJ R-Wan EDM

What So Not Trap/Bass/House

With a sound that ranges from heavy-hitting club bangers to soft and melodic soundscapes and everything in between, French DJ R-Wan has secured a variety of accolades for his work, including several top 10 positions on Beatport, a spot on the DJ Mag 2016 list and a Best Open Format DJ Award in 2013. And for all the hip hop heads out there: among R-Wan’s featured artists are big names like Lil Jon (yeahhhh!) and the legendary Snoop Doggy Dogg. Sat Jul 7, 7pm; Price TBD. Boa, 3/F, West side of International Bar Street, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District 南山区蛇口海上世界国际酒吧街西侧三楼 (130 4894 9034)

E321 Post-rock

What So Not began in 2010 as an experimental collaboration between Australian record producers Emoh Instead and Harley Edward Streten (aka DJ Flume). The two have since parted ways, with each earning an international reputation for their musical versatility and out-of-this-world sound. If you’re a lover of the smooth and consistent groove of techno or deep house, this is not the show for you. What So Not will draw you in with an enchanting melody and soft vocals, only to make your body tremble from the inside out when a blast of glitchy bass envelops you with the next track. Sat Jul 14, 7pm; Price TBD. Club bbR, 3/F, Bldg A, Poly Culture Square, Haide Er Dao, Coastal City, Nanshan District 南山区海岸城海德二道保利文化广场A栋3楼 (0755-8631 1999)

Bang Gang China Tour 2018 Electronic/Pop

win! With influence from both post-rock and shoegaze, E321 was born in the Swedish industrial city of Vasteras in 2011 and went on to release their first, homemade EP – Among the Trees – the next year. It wasn’t until the end of 2014 that the band released their debut album – Id, a portrayal of humankind’s most primitive thoughts and feelings. Head down to B10 Live as E321 embarks on their very first visit to Shenzhen. Sat Jul 7, 8.30pm-10pm; RMB90 presale, RMB120 door. B10 Live, Building C2, North Area, OCT-Loft, Xiangshan Dong Jie, Nanshan District 南山区香山东街华侨城创意文化园北区C2栋 北侧 (b10live.cn)

win! We’re giving away tickets for this featured B10 Live concert! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsShenzhen) three days before the show and tell us why you should win!

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Icelandic pop band Bang Gang, founded in 1996 by Renaissance man and multi-instrumentalist Bardi Johannsson, are recognized for their blend of songwriting, electronica and glacial atmosphere. Johannsson, described as “an island within the music industry in Iceland” by a local magazine, left the band in 2008 but returned in 2014 with the album The Wolves Are Whispering, in which he reflects on both his technical and personal growth. Sat Jul 14, 8pm; RMB380 presale, RMB480 door, RMB680 VIP. A8 Live, 2F, 1002 Ke Yuan Lu, Nanshan District 南山区科园路1002号A8音乐大厦2层 (247tickets.com)


All-American Boys Chorus Youth Ensemble

Consisting of over 100 boys between 8 and 15 years old, All-American Boys Chorus is a California-based group that has been touring the world for over 40 years. With an unparalleled passion for their craft and extensive vocal training by expert leadership, the AABC performance is sure to be a unique and memorable evening. Sat Jul 21, 8pm; RMB180-580. Shenzhen Children’s Palace, 2002 Fu Zhong Yi Lu Futian 福田 区福中一路2002号 (247tickets.com)

Brain Failure Punk/Rock

Brain Failure (Nao Zhuo) or, if you use a translator, Brain Turbidity Band, is a punk rock group from Beijing famed for their groovy guitar riffs and raspy vocals. The band has toured extensively throughout China, as well as elsewhere in Asia, Europe and even North America. To get a feel for what these guys are all about, look no further than the lead singer’s leopard print head of hair — the same funky style that they display in their music. With a combination of English- and Chinese-language lyrics, their feelgood tunes will have you on your feet and dancing, even if you can’t understand a word they’re saying. Sat Jul 28, 8.30-10pm; RMB80-200. B10 Live, Building C2, North Area, OCT-Loft, Xiangshan Dong Jie, Nanshan District 南山 区香山东街华侨城创意文化园北区C2栋北 侧 (showstart.com)

Rythmo! by Samajam Kids Show

Created with the little ones in mind, Rythmo! is an interactive musical performance. Each child and parent will receive drumsticks, whirly tubes or an African djembe drum and will be led by talented musicians to create something extraordinary. Enjoy this collaborative and creative afternoon of family-friendly percussive play. Thu Aug 2, 2pm, 4.30pm; RMB180-380. Shenzhen Poly Theatre, Baoli Culture Square, Haibin Lu, Houhai, Nanshan District 南山区后海滨路保利文化广场保利 剧院 (247tickets.com)

Carl Barât Indie/Garage Rock

Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is a British musician hailing from Hampshire. With a presence in the industry of over 20 years, Barât has been frontman for several different acts, most notably The Libertines, which he formed with Peter Doherty in 1997. He has since incorporated his indie rock sound in a number of other projects including Dirty Pretty Things, The Chavs and, most recently, The Jackals – a group that Barât handpicked through a series of interviews and auditions done via Facebook. Sun Jul 22, 8.30pm-10pm; RMB330 presale, RMB400 onsite. B10 Live, Building C2, North Area, OCT-Loft, Xiangshan Dong Jie, Nanshan District 南山区香山东街华侨城创意文化园北 区C2栋北侧 (showstart.com)

Black Coffee x Nouvelle Tour Alternative Rock

win! Hong Kong natives from Sha Tin, Black Coffee’s style draws influence from a myriad of genres to create a Brit-pop sound reminiscent of icons like Blur and Oasis. Their recently released debut album Haze Days evokes the range of emotions they input into their work, from carefree and content to dark and somber. Nouvelle began their musical journey in 2015, in the small Guangdong town where the three members originated. Rock ‘n’ roll has since been their window into the world around them, and they’ve used their noise rock tunes to venture far from the point of their humble beginnings. Fri Jul 13, 8.30pm; RMB70 presale, RMB100 door. B10 Live, North side of Building C2, North Area, OCT-Loft, Xiangshan Dong Jie, Nanshan District 南山区香山东街华侨城创意文化园北 区C2栋北侧 (b10live.cn)

win! We’re giving away tickets for this featured B10 Live concert! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsShenzhen) three days before the show and tell us why you should win!

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DO 18th China International Fashion Brand Fair Fair

Fashionistas rejoice! For the 18th year in a row, the Fashion Brand Fair is bringing local and international clothing and fashion trends to Shenzhen. The fair aims to help domestic brands grow and expand their business, while simultaneously acting as a gateway for foreign brands to share their work within China’s booming fashion market. Whether you’re involved in the fashion industry or simply want to bask in the glitz and glam of it all, this fair is not to be missed. Thu-Sat Jul 5-7, 9.30am; Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, Jintian Lu, by Binhe Da Dao, Futian District 福田区金田路与滨河大道交叉口西北向 (8284 8800, WeChat ID ‘fashionszshow’)

World Cup Final Party

Catch the final game of the FIFA World Cup series at The Terrace Restaurant and Bar. Party with Terrace’s house band TAS in addition to a guest DJ. Make a bold guess at which team will take home the title, and those who vote for the winning team will get 18 bottles of champagne to make the glorious victory that much sweeter. Let’s end the month of festivities with a bang! Sun Jul 15, 11pm match kickoff. The Terrace Restaurant and Bar, #201, Sea World Square, 32 Taizi Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District 南山区蛇口太子路32号海上世界广场商铺201 (2682 9105)

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Bastille Day (French National Day) Party

Following their previous Paris In Terrace party, The Terrace Restaurant and Bar is bringing France to their venue once again, this time in celebration of Bastille Day. During the event, Terrace will play host to a French DJ, who will accompany house band TAS for a live show that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. As an added bonus, all French wines will be 10 percent off! Fri Jul 13, 9.30pm; The Terrace Restaurant and Bar, #201, Sea World Square, 32 Taizi Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District 南山区蛇口太子路32号海上世界广场商铺201 (2682 9105)

Shenzhen Cartoon and Animation Festival Festival

The 10th annual Shenzhen Cartoon and Animation Festival returns to South China’s coastal tech hub this month. Prepare for four days packed with a range of activities, including numerous eSports games and cosplay shows. Three exhibition halls – of comics, video games and interactive games – are slated for this year's festival. Thu-Mon Jul 19-23, 9am; RMB50-80. Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, Jintian Lu, by Binhe Da Dao, Futian District 福田区金田路与滨河大道交叉口西北向 (www.szcaf.com)


DO Shenzhen International Cake & Coffee Expo Expo

The Chinese mainland's only exposition with a focus on cake and coffee, this event welcomes over 60 brands from throughout China, Europe and the United States to exhibit their finest products. The event organizer hosts similar gatherings in Hong Kong each year, and boasts a huge network of buyers both domestically and overseas. But you don’t need to be in the business to enjoy this one, because cake, and coffee. Thu-Sat Jul 19-21, all day; free entry. Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, Jintian Lu, by Binhe Da Dao, Futian District 福 田区金田路与滨河大道交叉口西北向 (www.szccie.com)

28th National Book Expo Expo

SEE St. Petersburg State Children’s Ballet Theatre: Swan Lake Ballet

Perhaps you saw last month’s Swan Lake performance and are eager to reignite the whirlwind of emotions that it evoked. Or you missed it, in which case, this is your second chance. The youth counterpart to the Russian State Ballet, St. Petersburg State Children’s Ballet Theatre consists of around 100 children ages 7 to 17. But don’t be fooled by their age, these performers are among the best ballet dancers in the world. And with its legendary Tchaikovsky soundtrack, the show is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. Sun Jul 28, 8pm; RMB180-480. Nanshan Culture & Sports Center Grand Theater, 62 Nantou Jie, Nanshan Dadao, Nanshan District 南头街62号南山文体中心剧院 (247tickets.com)

Shenzhen FC Home Games Football Maintain the current football hype by checking out Shenzhen FC’s mid-season match against the Shanghai Shenxin FC. The World Cup only lasts one month, but China’s football season runs all the way to November. If you’re an uber fan, you’ll likely want to make it to as many games as possible, and keep up-to-date with all the latest China League Football News. Sat Jul 14, 7.30pm; RMB30-90. Shenzhen Stadium, 2006, Sungang Xi Lu, Futian District 福 田区笋岗西路2006号 (247tickets.com)

TA S T E If you’re among the ever-shrinking number of individuals that actually read for pleasure, consider checking out Shenzhen’s upcoming book expo, ambiguously themed ‘new time, new reading.’ All of Shenzhen’s six book malls will attend the event, with each incorporating their own theme into their section. There will be nearly 2,000 exhibitors throughout the expo grounds, with approximately one million books and hundreds of activities. And with digital reading and e-readers on the rise, there will also be special booths that focus on the less traditional ways to consume text. Thu-Sun Jul 19-22; free entry. Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, Jintian Lu, by Binhe Da Dao, Futian District 福田区金田路 与滨河大道交叉口西北向 (8284 8800)

World Cup Promotions and Beer Special at the Hard Rock Food Festival Hard Rock Cafe and Hotel Shenzhen is offering some amazing deals to accompany all the World Cup festivities this month. Bottled beer starts at RMB38, with ‘Fight Alone’ and ‘Teamwork’ food and snack packages going for RMB128 and RMB268 respectively. Kick back and watch the game from their 150-inch HD projector, or get involved in one of the many activities lined up for guests. From PS4 challenges to foosball and other football related games, there will be no shortage of things to do at Hard Rock, right up to the final match! During every football match until Jul 15, see game times; free entry. 9 Mission Hills Dadao, Guanlan, Longhua New District 龙华新区观澜高尔夫大道9号 (3395 2888)

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HONG KONG & MACAU CALENDAR HK

JUL 21-22 SAT-SUN

Lan Kwai Fong Beer and Music Fest, 1pm to late; free admission. With its well-known reputation for debauchery, it’s no surprise that a beer festival would take place at Lan Kwai Fong. With over 40 booths displaying 200-plus beer brands from across the globe, as well as games, eats and a variety of performances all day long, you won’t have to be a beer drinker to have a good time. But if you are, pace yourself!

JUL 27-29 FRI-SUN

JUL 27-31 FRI-TUE

Ani-Com and Games Hong Kong, 10am-9pm; HKD35 (Tickets available at 7-11 and Circle K). Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (ani-com.hk) A massive amalgamation of entertainment, animation, toy, comic and game industry titans congregate at this enormous event each year – one of the biggest of its kind anywhere in Asia. Visitors can expect a weekend jam-packed full of activities ranging from a cosplay carnival to model kit competitions to autograph signings, as well as a range of forums, presentations and live performances.

AUG 4 SAT

Hong Kong International Darts Festival, competition times vary; HKD380-580 (free admission to carnival). Star Hall, Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (HKIDF.com) As the sport of darts has grown in popularity throughout Hong Kong in recent years, from a drunken bar game to, for some, a more competitive activity, 3S Entertainment Group introduced the island to its first-ever darts festival last year. The 2nd annual festival will include several live performances, a carnival and, of course, numerous darts matches, with competitors from Hong Kong and around the world going head to head.

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Bob Dylan, 8.30pm; HKD488 and up. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre American music icon Bob Dylan is returning to Hong Kong next month for what is expected to be one of the city’s hottest summer shows. Over the course of 50-odd years, the singer-songwriter has covered an eclectic range of musical genres, from blues to rock to folk and even gospel music. Most recently, though, Dylan made headlines after being awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. To his fans, Dylan will remain most notable for his numerous hits (‘The Times They Are a-Changin,’ ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and ‘Like a Rolling Stone,’ to name a few) and celebrated voice. Tickets are sold out online, but if past concerts are any indication, there will be numerous scalpers to look out for.

JUL 6 FRI

China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Gala, 8pm; MOP50. Macao Cultural Centre (macauticket.com) This month, the Macao Cultural Centre will see artists from eight Portuguese-speaking countries and from China’s Gansu Province gather to present stunning cultural and artistic performances, including a festive folk performance that portrays the heritage of distant lands in Northwest China, singing performances by musicians from Portugal, Angola, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Brazil, as well as traditional dances by performers from Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and East Timor.

MO Macao Museum of Art. This exhibition is dedicated to the great Russian painter Marc Chagall. Born in 1887, in the Russian Empire, Chagall spent the twilight years of his painting career in southern France, where the famed artist was inspired by the bright landscape of the French Rivera and the Mediterranean Sea, as is showcased by this exhibit.

ONGOING SAT

JUL 7-8 SAT-SUN

Macao Philharmonic Festival 2018, 8pm; MOP80. Dom Pedro V Theatre (macauticket.com) The Macao Philharmonic Festival is a two-day musical occasion organized to delight classical and jazz music fans. On the first day, the festival brings together classical music groups from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macau on the stage of Dom Pedro V Theatre to perform selective works by some of the world’s most famous composers, while on the following evening, two jazz ensembles from Hong Kong and Macau are set to perform some catchy, jazzy tunes.

Macau Junk – Saturday Sunset Cruise, 5pm; MOP 350 adults, MOP200 children aged 10 and below. Doca do Lam Mau, Avenida Marginal do Lam Mau (853-6284 5289, macausailing.com) Organized by Macau Sailing, this leisurely Saturday cruise at sunset covers the city’s Inner Harbour and waterfront, taking guests onto a century-old, traditional junk – or flat-bottomed sailing vessel – capable of carrying 45 people. Macau Sailing can also customize tour packages to fit any customer’s demand, be it a party, company meeting, birthday, team building, wedding or just about anything else.

ONGOING TUE-SUN

ONGOING TUE-SUN

Marc Chagall, Light and Colour in Southern France, 10am-7pm; free.

La Parisienne - Cabaret Francais, 5pm/8pm; MOP188-488. The Parisian Theatre (macauticket.com) By using state-of-the-art audio and visual technology, La Parisienne Cabaret Francais takes audiences on an immersive tour of Paris, passing by the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe, The Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral before heading to Macao. Join in with an international cast of stunt performers, illusionists, world champion skaters, international models and awardwinning entertainers, as they take you on an astonishing 65-minute journey.


HOTEL NEWS SHENZHEN MARRIOTT HOTEL NANSHAN APPOINTS GARY FENG AS GENERAL MANAGER

Effective June 4, Gary Feng, hailing from Hong Kong, will be the new General Manager of Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan. Feng has served as a valuable member of the Marriott team for 27 years, with previous experience at hotels in Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shanghai. With 11 years experience as General Manager in four iconic locations, Feng is now tasked with elevating this award-winning property to a new level of dynamic, thoughtful and inventive service.

THE OCT HARBOUR-SHENZHEN, MARRIOTT EXECUTIVE APARTMENTS 5TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY

Last month, on June 13, over 80 long staying guests, important clients and media representatives gathered at Resident Lounge to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Apartments. Themes for the event, titled ‘Shall We Dance,’ were ‘Elegant Life’ and ‘Masked Party.’ The evening commenced with some fiery Latin performances, and participants filled the building with cheer and laughter, mingling and dancing late into the night. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | JULY 2018 | SZ | 67


LISTINGS

Scan for complete listings

Want to see all restaurants, hotels and more in Shenzhen? Check out www.thatsmags.com or follow our official WeChat account by scanning the QR code.

FOOD & DRINK

OPEN DOOR

AMERICAN

Element Fresh 1) 1/F, Zone B, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (2681 4848) 2) L27/7A, Wongtee Plaza, 118 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8323 7249) 1) 南山区海上世界广 场B区B130-210号 2) 福田区福华三路118号皇庭国 商购物广场L2-7/7A号

Baia Burger Concept 1C-077-078A, 1/F, Shopping Park, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8290 6696) 福田区福华三路购物 公园一楼078A Morton's Grille N901 PAFC Mall, Ping An Finance Center, 5033 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8326 8333) 福田区益田路5033号平安金融中

心N901

Hard Rock Cafe Shenzhen 9 Mission Hills

Blvd, Longhua New District (3395 2888) 龙 华新区观澜高尔夫大道9号www.hardrockhotels. com/shenzhen

Blue Italian Seafood & Grill Restaurant 3/F, The Venice Raytour Hotel Shenzhen, 9026 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District (2693 6888) 南山区深南大道9026号深圳威尼斯

睿途酒店3楼意大利餐厅

Baia Restaurant Bar Grill B301, Bldg B, Zone B, Sea World Square, Shekou, Nanshan District (2681 8836) 南山区蛇口海上世 界广场B区3楼B301

La Terrazza 1/F, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, 1881 Baoan Nan Lu, by Jiabing Lu (2218 7338) 罗湖区宝安南路1881号深圳君悦酒店 Paletto 2/F, The Ritz-Carlton, 116 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (2222 2222) 福田区福 华三路116号深圳星河丽思卡尔顿酒店二层

Oggi Trattoria Pizzeria 3-14 Golden Century Lu, Phase 3, Coastal Rose Garden, Shekou, Nanshan District (2689 0118) 南

山区蛇口金世纪路南海玫瑰花园三期金世纪路 3-14号

PIZZA

Blue Frog Shop 28, 2/F, Wongtee Plaza, 118 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8255 3646) 福田区福华三路118号皇庭国商购物广

场2层28铺

CHINESE CANTONESE Hoi Fan 1) North gate L/F, Yijing Central Walk Shopping Mall, 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (8322 6165) 2) Rm 16 3/F, Raffles City, 2163 Nanhai Dadao, Nanshan District (2640 8664) 1) 福田区福华一路3号新怡景商 业中心L层北大门 2) 南海大道2163号来福士广 场3层16号

Diandoude Dim Sum 4/F, Greater China IFC, Shennan Dadao and Caitian Lu Interchange, Futian District (8321 9215) 福田区

Pizza Express Shop 568, 5/F, the MixC, 1881 Bao'an Nan Lu, Luohu District (2215 9036) 罗湖区宝安南路1881号万象城5楼568

号商铺

Kiwi Pizza 1) Shop B14, COCO Park, by Fuhua Lu (8329 2299) 2) 8 Outlets Minkang Lu, by Huanan Lu 3) B1, 138 Mintian Lu, by Fuhua Yi Lu 1) 福田区购物公园B1楼地铁商业街

B14铺 2)龙华新区奥特莱斯8号仓店 3) 福田区民田 路138号购物公园B1楼

NYPD New York Pizza Delivery 1) Shop 26, Haichang Jie, 1 Gongyuan Nan Lu (8887 6973) 2) 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, by Zhongxin Si Lu (8887 6973) 1) 南山区公园南路1号海尚

国际26号铺 2)福田区福华一路中心城FL1015商铺

Pizza Express Shop 568, 5/F, the MixC, 1881 Bao'an Nan Lu, Luohu District (2215 9036) 罗湖区宝安南路1881号万象城5楼568

深南大道和彩田路交汇处大中华IFC四楼

号商铺

Jade Garden 22-31 L2/F, Yitian Holiday Plaza, 9028 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District (8860 6228) 南山区深南大道9028号益田

Kiwi Pizza 1) Shop B14, COCO Park, by Fuhua Lu (8329 2299) 2) 8 Outlets Minkang Lu, by Huanan Lu 3) B1, 138 Mintian Lu, by Fuhua Yi Lu 1) 福田区购物公园B1楼地铁商业街

假日广场L2楼22-31号

SICHUAN Rong Yue 1) 468 4/F, MIXC, 1881, Bao'an Nan Lu, Luohu District (2221 6888) 2) L3/F, Yitian Holiday Plaza, 9028 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District (8665 6877) 1) 罗湖区宝安

B14铺 2)龙华新区奥特莱斯8号仓店 3) 福田区民田 路138号购物公园B1楼

NYPD New York Pizza Delivery 1) Shop 26, HaichangJie, 1 Gongyuan Nan Lu (8887 6973) 2) 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, by Zhongxin Si Lu (8887 6973) 1) 南山区公园南路1号海尚国际26

号铺 2)福田区福华一路中心城FL1015商铺

FRENCH

南路1881号华润万象城一期4层468号2) 南山区深 南大道9028号益田假日广场3层

Lan Ting 23/F, Hilton Shenzhen Futian, Tower B, Great China IFC, 1003 Shennan lu, Futian District (2130 8888) 福田区深南大

KANPAI CLASSIC Korean-style Raw Beef For this dish, the executive chef uses 40-day dry-aged Australian Wagyu beef, blended with a spicy, minced beef sauce. The beef is then topped with a raw egg yolk, and garnished with cucumber, pear and sliced scallions, creating a plate that is as visually stunning as it is appetizing. Served with a fried tortilla to deliver a multi-layered feel on the palate, it makes for a wonderful appetizer.

Australian Wagyu Beef and Hand Roll Sushi Sushi rice and raw beef intertwine on a bed of baked nori, complemented by the addition of carefully selected sea urchins. Paired with top-quality soy sauce, this hand-rolled sushi is a flavourful delight. 9/F, PAFC Mall, Ping An Finance Center, 5033 Yitian Road, Futian District (6182 2987) 福华三路平 安金融中心第9楼

道1003号大中华国际金融中心B座大深圳中华希 尔顿酒店23楼

SHANGHAINESE Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao B1/F, KK MALL, 5016 Shennan Dong Lu, Futian District (2265 9183) 福田区深南东路5016号 KKMALL京基百纳空间B1层

Din Tai Fung 3/F, MixC, 1881, Bao'an Nan Lu, Luohu District (2598 2779) 罗湖区宝安南

Belle-Vue Grill 37/F, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, 1881 Bao'an Nan Lu, Luohu District (2218 7338) 罗湖区宝安南路1881号君悦酒

店37楼

L’etoile Building A 302-303, Ecological PLAZA, OCT, Nanshan District (8166 8111) 南山区华侨城生态广场A 栋302-303

La Maison Shop 108, Nanhai Rose Garden, 91 Wanghai Lu, Nanshan District (2685 7030) 南山区望海路91号南海玫瑰花园108号 Taste Moment Restaurant 1st floor, Bldg 1, Block A, 1979 Cultural and Creative Park, 1011 Qiaoxiang Lu, Futian District (8255 6173) 福田区侨香路1011号1979文化生活新领

域A区1栋1层

路1881号华润万象城一期3层

Shanghai Min A-1F, OCT Bay, 13 Baishi Dong Lu, Nanshan District (4008209777) 南山区白石路东13号欢乐海岸曲水湾A-1F

ITALIAN Artisans 1/F, Block A, Poly Cultural Center, Houhaibin Lu, by Haide San Dao (8628 7109) 南山区 保利文化广场A区40号店铺

GERMAN Haxnbauer 1) L1C-055B, 1/F, Coco Park, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8359 2080) 2) L1-15, Raffles City, 2163 Nanhai Ave, Nanshan District (8652 6580) 1) 福田区福华 三路星河Coco Park一楼L1C-055B 2) 南山区南 海大道2163号福士广场L1-15


LISTINGS

Paulaner Brauhaus 1) C-005, Huanchuan Square, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (2668 7230) 2) 8/F, Shop 801, PAFC Mall,Ping’An Finance Centre, 5033 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8253 5187) 1) 南山区蛇口

海上世界环船广场C-005 2)福田区益田路5033号 平安金融中心8楼801

SPANISH El Toro Spanish Restaurant and Bar Rm 122/123, East Block, Coastal Building, Haide San Dao, Nanshan District (1330231 2550) 南山区海德三道海岸大厦东座一楼

KOREAN Minikor Kitchen L01-B01, Coco Park, 269 Fuhua San Lu, by Mintian Lu, Futian District (8606 9266) 福田区民田路福华三路269号星河

Coco Park L1-B0

Bornga Korean Cuisine A-11A, Qushui Wan, OCT Bay, 42 Baishi Lu East, Nanshan District (8654 1158) 南山区白石路东42号欢乐

海岸曲水湾A-11A

122-123铺

Ling Spanish Kitchen 1011 Qiao Xiang Dong Lu, 1979 Cultural Park, Nanshan District (8322 7522) 南山区侨香东路1011号1979 文化新天地B区1层

OPEN DOOR

VIETNAMESE Lian Shop 562, 5/F, The MIXC Shenzhen, Luohu District (8266 6366) 罗湖区万象城商 场5楼562铺

MEXICAN Orale No. 1026, Zhonghang Beiyuan V Shangjie, Zhenhua Lu, Huaqiangbei, Futian District (2396 4990) 福田区华强北振华路中航 北苑V尚街1026号铺

Tacosa 3118#, Sea World Square, 32 Taizi Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District (2161 1006) 南山区蛇口太子路32号海上世界广场A3118店铺

Latina No. 1128, Sea World, Wanghai Lu, by Nanhai Dadao (2667 7679) 南山区蛇口望 海路1128号海上世界广场C区

INDIAN Bombay Indian Restaurant & Bar Shops 20-24, Sea World, Nanshan District (2667 6049) 南山区海上世界商铺20-24号

Muine 1) L2-203, Coco Park, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8271 2527) 2) B139 and B139-2, B1/F, Jiufang Shopping Mall, ShennanZhong Lu, Futian District (2681 7828) 3) No. 219, 2/F, Shekou Garden City Center, Nanshan District (2681 7828) 4) B2-017A, King Glory Plaza, Luohu District (2220 3052) 5) RL1094B, Yijing Central Walk Shopping Mall, 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (8273 2993) 6) G-025B, OCT Bay Shopping mall, 13 Baishi Dong Lu, Nanshan District 1) 福田区福华三路COCO Park L2-203

2) 福田区深南中路华强北九方购物中心B1层B139 & B139-2 3) 南山区南海大道1086号花园城中心 第2楼219号铺 4) 罗湖区人民南路金光华广场B2 层B2-017A号 5) 福田区福华三路中心城广场L层 RL1094B号 6) 南山区滨海大道2008号欢乐海岸 购物中心G-025B

Mon Saigon Block B, 1979 Cultural and Creative Park, by Qiaoxiang Lu, Futian District (8270 3282) 福田区侨香路1979文化 生活新领域B区

Pho Nam Shop B26C, Link City Passage, by Fuhua Lu (8255 7048) 福田区连城新天地

B26C商铺

Saffron Indian Restaurant and Bar Floor B1, Jinhu Hotel, 1005 Wenjin Lu, Luohu District (8219 1115) 罗湖区文锦中路1005号锦

THAI

湖宾馆地下一层

Indian Cottage Shop 48-49, 2/F, Area A, Poly Cultural Centre, Wenxin Wu Lu, Nanshan District (8628 7265) 南山区文心五路保 利文化广场A区2楼48-49号商铺

Little Papa Indian Restaurant #116, Building 6, Nanhai E-Cool, Taizi Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District (2686 0020) 南山区蛇口太 子路南海意库6栋116号

JAPANESE BOA 3/F, West side of International Bar Street, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (130 4894 9034) 南山区蛇口海上世界国际酒

吧街西侧三楼

The Terrace Restaurant & Bar #201, Sea World Square, 32 Taizi Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District (2682 9105) 南山区蛇口太子路32号海 上世界广场商铺201

Very Siam 1/F, A3 Bldg, Xiangshan Dong Jie, OCT-Loft, Nanshan District (8623 3225) 南山区OCT创意园香山东街A3栋1楼

Yes Thai 1) 4/F, KK Shopping Mall, KK Financial Centre, 5016 Shennan Dong Lu, by Hongbao Lu (2290 0333) 2) 5/F, Costal City, 33 Wenxin Wu Lu, by Haide Yi Dao (8635 9989) 1) 罗湖区深南东路5016号京基百

纳空间购物中心4楼 2) 南山区文心五路33号海岸 城购物中心五楼

La Maison D'Elephant 8/F, PAFC Mall, Ping An Finance Center, 5033 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8831 9918) 福田区益田路5033号平

安金融中心8楼

Tang Ben Jia #FL1011, L/F, Yijing Central Walk Shopping Mall, 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (8280 1086) 福田区福华一路3号怡景中

BUFFETS

心城广场L楼FL1011号

Bincho Ya L120-121, Bldg 2, Times Square Excellence, Fuhua Lu, Futian District (8278 2760) 福田区福华路卓越时代广场二期L120

-L121店

Komachi B-132, North Side, Shopping Park, Futian District (8290 5806) 福田区购物 公园北园B区132号

Kyoku Japanese Cuisine B-17 Qushui Bay, OCT Bay, 50 Baishi Lu East, Nanshan District (8654 1122) 南山区白石路东50号欢乐 海岸曲水湾B-17

Nishimura 1/F, Macro Polo Hotel, Fuhua Yi Lu, by Mintian Lu (3339 7709) 福田中心区福 华一路马哥孛罗好日子酒店1楼

Kanpai Classic 9/F, PAFC Mall, Ping An Finance Center, 5033 Yitian Road, Futian District (6182 2987) 福田区福华三路平安金

融中心第9楼

Café Zen 1/F, Futian Shangri-la Shenzhen, 4088 Yitian lu, Futian District (2151 3825)

福田区益田路4088号深圳福田香格里拉大酒店1层

The Show Kitchen 32/F, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, 1881 Baoan Nan lu, Luohu District (2218 7338) 罗湖区宝安南路1881号深圳君悦

THE TERRACE RESTAURANT & BAR Panaeng Curry

Market Café 2/F, Hyatt Regency Shenzhen Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Boa’an District (2345 1234) 宝安区深圳

This special Thai curry is a must-try, and among the most popular dishes in Thai cuisine. Unlike the classic green curry, with its lighter flavour and vegetablegreen hue, the Panaeng curry is yellowish-red in color, emitting a strong coconut fragrance and packed with contrasting sweet, salty and milky flavors. You can choose from chicken, beef, pork or vegetables, but whatever you choose, you are going to be more than satisfied. Mix it up with the rice and enjoy. Before you know it, your bowl will be empty!

Café Marco 1/F, Marco Polo Shenzhen, 28 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (3322 7777) 福

#201, Sea World Square, 32 Taizi Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District (2682 9105) 南山区蛇口太子路32 号海上世界广场商铺201

酒店32层

Silk 2/F, The Langham, Shenzhen, 7888 Shennan Dadao, Futian District (8828 9888 ext. 8921) 深圳东海朗廷酒店2层秀·自助餐厅

宝安国际机场深圳机场凯悦酒店2层

田区福华一路28号深圳马哥孛罗好日子酒店1层

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OPEN DOOR

LISTINGS

HOTEL

NIGHTLIFE

Futian Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen No.4088 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8828 4088). 福田香格里拉大酒店 福田区益田路 4088 号

Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen 138 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8826 8888) 福田区福华三路 138 号

Grand Hyatt Shenzhen No.1881 Baoan Nan Lu, Luohu District (8266 1234) www.shenzhen.grand.hyatt.com 罗湖区宝安南路1881号 Hardrock Hotel Shenzhen, Hard Rock Cafe Shenzhen,No.9 Misson Hills Road,Shenzhen,0755-3395 2888 深圳硬石 酒店 观澜高尔夫大道9号

Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai 1177, Wanghai Lu, Nanshan District

深圳蛇口希尔顿南海酒店 南山区望海路 1177 号 (2162 8888)

The George & Dragon is a quintessential British Pub; good draft beers, ales, and cider; comforting pub food and great BBQ; non-stop sports on three screens; secluded beer garden. Your home away from home. Also available for catering your parties and events. www.george-dragon.com; e-mail: manager@george-dragon.com; tel: 2669 8564; Shop 3, behind Taizi Hotel, Taizi Lu 5, Shekou. 南山区太子路5号太子宾馆1楼后排

Hilton Shenzhen Futian Town B, Great China International Finance Centre, 1003 Shennan Dadao, Futian District (2130 8888)

Club Viva No. 140, Fuhua Lu, Coco Park, Futian District 福田区福华路城建购物公园

深圳前海华侨城 JW 万豪酒店 宝安区宝兴路 8 号

3号商铺

140 号

Dazzle Club 3/F, Central Commercial Building, No.88 Fuhua 1st Road, Futian District (2348 1542) 福田区民田路中心商务大厦三楼 McCawley’s Irish Bar 1) Shop 151-152, Coco Park, Futian District (2531 3599) 2) Shop 118, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (2668 4496) 1) 福田区购物公园151152 2) 南山区蛇口海上世界广场118号

Pepper Club 2/F, Shopping Park, Fuhua Lu, Fustian District (8319 9040) 福田区福华

福田区田面村深南中路 4030 号

This tasty snack platter combines a variety of mouth-watering delicacies from across Vietnam. Spring rolls, sugarcane shrimp, beef skewers, chicken skewers, crab buns and more! Explore the diversity of Vietnamese street eats, packed with flavors that evolve from the country’s north to south. Remember to eat with vanilla and dipping sauce. 1) L2-203, Coco Park, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8271 2527) 2) B139 and B139-2, B1/F, Jiufang Shopping Mall, ShennanZhong Lu, Futian District (2681 7828) 3) No. 219, 2/F, Shekou Garden City Center, Nanshan District (2681 7828) 4) B2-017A, King Glory Plaza, Luohu District (2220 3052) 5) RL1094B, Yijing Central Walk Shopping Mall, 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (8273 2993) 6) G-025B, OCT Bay Shopping mall, 13 Baishi Dong Lu, Nanshan District 1)

70 | SZ | JULY 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Marco Polo Shenzhen Fuhua Yi Lu, CBD, Futian District (8298 9888). www. cn.marcopolohotels.com 福田中心区福华一路 Shangri-La Hotel East of the Luohu Train Station, Jianshe Lu, Luohu District (8233 0888). www.shangri-la.com 罗湖区建设路火车站东侧

Sheraton Dameisha Resort 9 Yankui Lu, Dameisha, Yantian District (8888 6688) 盐田大梅沙盐葵路 ( 大梅沙段 )9 号

The Langham, Shenzhen, No. 7888, Shennan Dadao, Futian District (8828 9888).

Green Oasis School  No 4030, Shennan Middle Road, Tianmian, Futian District. (8399 6712) admission@ greenoasis.org.cn   www.greenoasis.org.cn

Vietnamese Snacks Platter

JW Marriott Shenzhen Bao’an 8 Baoxing Lu, Baoan District (2323 8888)

The Terrace Above Starbucks, Sea World Plaza, Shekou, Nanshan District (2682 9105) 南山区蛇口海上世界广场2 楼星巴克楼上

南山区蛇口公园路82号青少年活动中心

Mekong big shrimp, ancient Vietnamese cooking. These giant freshwater prawns from Vietnam are both fresh and delicious. Prepared simply, and using the time-tested methods of ancient culinary masters, it is served with traditional sour sauce. This dish retains the essence of the succulent Mekong prawn, while the medley of tamarind and spices adds a pleasant kick of flavor.

福田区深南大道 6005 号

St. Regis Shenzhen No.5016 Shennan Dong Lu, Luohu District.(8308 8888)

American International School, No. 82,Gongyuan Lu, Shekou,Nanshan District (8619 4750)

Big Prawns with Tamarind Sauce

JW Marriott Shenzhen No.6005 Shennan Dadao, Futian District. (2269 8888)

路购物公园二楼

EDUCATION

MUINE

福田区深南大道1003号大中华国际金融中心B座

International School of Nanshan Shenzhen A Canadian school accepting application for Pre-Grade 1 through Grade 12. 11 Longyuan Lu, Taiyuan Sub-District, Nanshan District (2666 1000, 2606 6968). admission@isnsz.com www.isnsz.com 南山区龙源路11号

Merchiston International School, Shenzhen No. 12 Shilongzai Road, Daliang SubDistrict, Longhua District, (400 867 0177) admissions@merchiston.cn, www.merchiston.cn 龙华区大浪街道新石社区石龙仔路12号

深圳瑞吉酒店 罗湖区深南东路 5016 号

深圳朗廷酒店 福田区深南大道 7888 号

The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen 116 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (2222 2222)

福田区福华三路 116 号

The Venice Raytour Hotel Shenzhen No.9026, Shennan Dadao, Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District (2693 6888)

深圳威尼斯睿途酒店 南山区华侨城深南大道 9026 号

The Westin Shenzhen 9028-2 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District (2698 8888) www.westin.com/shenzhen 南山区深南大道 9028号-2

Hyatt Regency Shenzhen Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Bao'an District 深圳机场凯悦酒店 宝安区深圳宝安国际机 场 (755-2345 1234)

InterContinental Shenzhen, No. 9009, Shennan Road, Nanshan District 深圳华侨城 洲际大酒店,南山区深南大道9009号 (3399 3388)

The Courtyard by Marriott Shenzhen Bao'an, No.46 Dongfang Road, Songgang, Bao'an District 宝安区松岗东方大道46号 (2986 9888, www.courtyardshenzhenbaoan.com)

Peninsula Montessori Kindergarten the Peninsula one, Jin Shiji Lu, Shekou Nanshan District ( 2685 1266)

HEALTH

半岛城邦国际幼儿园 南山区蛇口东角头金世纪路1 号半岛城邦一期

Quality Schools International 2/F Bitao Center, 8 Taizi Lu, Shekou,Nanshan District (2667 6031). www.shk.qsi.org 南山区蛇口太子路 8 号碧涛中心 2 楼

QSI International School of Shenzhen (Futian) A1, TCL Science Park, No. 1001 Zhongshan Yuan, Nanshan District (8371 7108) 南山区中山园路1001号TCL 科学园区A1栋 Shekou International School Jingshan Villas, Gongye Er Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District (2669 3669). www.sis.org.cn 南山区蛇口工业二路鲸山别墅内

Shen Wai International School 29 Baishi San Lu, Nanshan (8654 1200, www.swis.cn) 深圳外国语学校国际部 南山区白石三道 29 号

Vista-SK International Medical Center Lvl 4, Bldg 4C, Shenzhen Software Industry Base,Xuefu Lu, Nanshan District (3689 9833) 南山区学府路软件产业基地4栋C座裙楼4层 HarMoniCare Women & Children's Hospital 12018 Shennan Dadao, by Nanshan Dadao (3339 1333) 深圳和美妇儿科医院 南山区深南大 道12018号

C-MER (Shenzhen) Dennis Lam Eye Hospital 1-2/F, Shengtang Bldg, 1 Tairan Jiu Lu, Chegongmiao, Futian District (4001 666 120, 3322 7188) 福田区车公庙泰然九路一号

盛唐大厦1-2层

IMC(International Medical Center) serves the local community and expatriates from all over the world. We are proud to


LISTINGS

provide private, personalized healthcare for each patient. Our experienced staff from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas provide comprehensive medical services including general and specialty outpatient services, health assessments, inpatient services and more. Scan QR Code above for more info of IMC. 深圳市福田区海园一路,

香港大学深圳医院国际医疗中心 International Medical Centre,The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, 1, Haiyuan 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen (0755-86913388)

BUSINESS Regus Serviced Office 雷格斯服务式办公室 • Flexible office leases from 1 day to 1 year • Quick and easy to set up for 1-200 people • Prices from RMB180 per month • Find more on Regus.cn • Tel: 400 120 1207 1) Futian Anlian, 26/F, Anlian CentreNo.4018 Jintian Road, Futian District; 2) A8 Building, 15/F, A8 Building, No.1002 Keyuan Road Tech Zone, Nanshan District; 3) Futian NEO, 44/F, NEO Tower A, No.6011 Shennan Avenue Futian District; 4) SCC, 7/F, Tower A, SCC Financial Centre, Junction of Houhai Avenue & First Haide Avenue Nanshan District; 5) New World Centre, 23/F, New World Centre, No.6009 Yitian Road Futian District; 6) Times Financial Centre, 14/F Times Financial Centre, No. 4001 Shennan Avenue Futian District; 7) New Times Plaza, 3/F, New Times Plaza,No.1 Taizi Road Shekou District; 8) Panglin Plaza, 35/F, Panglin Plaza, No.2002 Jiabin Road Luohu District; 1)深圳安联中心, 深圳市福田区

金田路4018号安联大厦26层; 2) 深圳A8大厦,深圳 市南山区科技园科园路1002号A8大厦15层; 3)深 圳NEO大厦, 深圳市福田区深南大道6011号NEO 企业大道A座44层; 4) 深圳中洲控股金融中心, 深圳 市南山区后海大道与海德一道交汇处中洲控股金融 中心A座7层; 5) 深圳新世界中心, 深圳市福田区益 田路6009号新世界中心23层; 6) 深圳时代金融中 心, 深圳市福田区深南大道4001号时代金融中心14 层; 7) 深圳时代广场, 深圳市蛇口区太子路1号新时

OPEN DOOR

代广场3层; 8) 深圳彭年广场, 深圳市罗湖区嘉宾路 2002号彭年广场

China-Italy Chamber of Commerce Rm220, 2/F, International Chamber Of Commerce, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (Tel: 8632 9518; Fax: 8632 9528). www. cameraitacina.com ` 福田区福华三路国际商会中心 2 楼 220 室

European Union Chamber of Commerce Rm 308, 3/F Overseas Chinese Scholars Venture Building, southern section of HighTech Industrial Park, Nanshan District (Tel: 8635 0920; fax: 8632 9785). 南山高新科技园南区留学生创业大厦 3 楼 308 室

French Chamber of Commerce in South China (CCIFC) Room 318, 3/F Chinese Overseas Scholars Venture Building,South section of Hi-tech Industry Park, Nanshan District (Tel: 8632 9602; fax: 8632 9736) www.ccifc.org 南山区科技园南区留学生创业大

厦3楼318室

German Chamber of Commerce 217 Chinese Overseas Scholars Venture Building, Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District. (8635 0487) www.china.ahk.de 南山区高新科技园南区留学生创业大厦 217

The American Chamber of Commerce in South China Rm 208, 2/F Overseas Chinese Scholars Venture Building, southern section of High-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District (Tel: 0755-2658 8342; fax: 0755-2658 8341). www.amcham-southchina.org The British Chamber of Commerce, Shenzhen Sub-Chamber Rm 314, 3/F Overseas Chinese Scholars Venture Building, southern section of High-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District (Tel: 2658 8350). 深圳市南山区 高新科技园南区留学生创业大厦3楼314室

Morefoods No1,1F,Building A ,OCEAN city Garden,Shekou New Street, Nanshan District,shenzhen (0755-8827 9078) 深圳市 南山区蛇口新街澳城花园A栋一楼1号铺

AZZURRO Pizza, Pasta and More How can you differentiate these pizzas from others? They’re homemade with love! The Pizza Tricolore is made of rich tomato sauce and fresh, homemade mozzarella cheese, dotted with basil leaves and pesto. All ingredients and materials are handled with care, and oven times and temperatures are chosen individually based on the specifications of each pizza. Enjoy the authentic Italian flavor of these addictive pizzas! Spaghetti Di ‘Mare Azzurro’ is Azzurro’s signature dish. The noodles mingle with an assortment of rich seafood and cherry tomatoes, with a hint of spice to accentuate the other flavors. They use only the freshest ingredients and hold all their dishes to the highest standard. If you enjoy a warm and cozy atmosphere with food and service to match, be sure to check out Azzurro. 115 Zhongxin Er Lu, Shopping Park North Area, Futian District (8316 7994) 福田区购物公园北区中 心二路115号

CLASSIFIEDS JOBS OFFERED Shenzhen Longrun Investment Co., Ltd, a fast-growing restaurant enterprise is looking for two foreign hostesses to join the team to greet and show hospitality to guests on behalf of the company. Requirements 1. Ability to understand and speak basic Chinese. 2. A minimum height of 168cm. 3. A passion for communications, with a presentable image. Monthly payments ranges from RMB 12,000 to 15,000 The options of full-time (RMB12,000 to 15,000 per month) or part-time (RMB70-90 per hour) employment are available. For inquiries and application, please contact Ms. Hu at 136-3159 3166 or 07552290 9515. Mobile Game company business development position. A NASDAQ-listed Shenzhen-based mobile game company. iDreamSky is looking for an expat for one business development position, native English speaker and fluent in Mandarin a must, well versed with mobile games or business negotiation experience a plus. Responsible for looking for Western games suitable for the Chinese market and contacting the game developers. Our office is located in

Nanshan district, Shenzhen. If interested, please send resume to Evan at evan.liang@ idreamsky.com.

MOVING & SHIPPING 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: +8620 8363 3735/ +86 139 2277 1676 Email: manager.guangzhou@ agsfourwinds.com Website: www.agsfourwinds.com Rayca Moving & Transportation Services With 10 years experience, Rayca provides international, domestic, local moving services & pet relocation service. We can effectively move you anywhere at competitive prices! You move, you save! Service hotline: 400-048-9099 Email: info@raycatrans.com Website:www.raycatrans.com

XIHE BEIJING DUCK Traditional-style Beijing Duck Indulge in high-quality, phase-four ducks at Xihe Beijing Duck. Boasting birds all the way from Yanqi Lake in Beijing, Xihe Beijing Duck serves a traditional take on Beijing’s most celebrated dish, with all ducks hung and roasted over a wood fire. When the duck arrives at your table, you will notice the deep and beautiful maroon color of the animal’s skin – a tell tale sign of a tasty bird! #SL257, Mixc World, 9668 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District 深南大道9668号华润城万象天地 SL257号 (6664 0376)

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A1 AIRFIELD The Legend of a B-29 Crew in China During WWII Written by Yang Song, Translated by Wei Jing

L

ocated near a historic town on the Western Sichuan Plains in Central China, the A1 Airfield has been abandoned since WWII came to an end in 1945. Based on her research on aviation industry and her own experience as an army surgeon in the Chinese military, this book is Yang Song’s first of a trilogy of fictional stories centering on pilots during the war. Translated by US-based journalist and author Wei Jing, A1 Airfield: The Legend of a B-29 Crew in China During WWII is about a brief romantic encounter between an American Air Force officer and a young Chinese woman that sparked a longing that spans nearly half a century.

BOX 中英书名: 《A1机场,一个美丽的传说》 A1 AIRFIELD — THE LEGEND OF A B-29 CREW IN CHINA DURING WWII ISBN 978-7-5085-3413-8

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Author: Yang Song

Translator: Wei Jing




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