That's Guangzhou - August 2018

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RED COUNTRY How a Desert Region in Western China Built a Wine Industry From Scratch

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城市漫步珠 三角英文版 08月份

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AUGUST 2018

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that’s PRD 《城市漫步》珠江三角洲 英文月刊

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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 Krishna Barot, Lena Gidwani, Ned Kelly, Mia Li, Erica Martin, Dominic Ngai, Bridget O'Donnell, Jesse Pottinger, Pete Reilly, Zhuorui Wang, Alexandria Williams, Dominique Wong

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Distribution across the Pearl River Delta: 63,000 copies


Editor's Note

WIN AUGUST 2018

When I think of wine producing regions, areas like Bordeaux, Napa Valley and

Tuscany quickly come to mind. One area I don’t associate with winemaking, though, is

China. The land of baijiu, watery beer and jinjiu (which is actually quite alright), China is more commonly associated with the production of counterfeit wine than the real thing – although, that might be changing.

This month, we take a look at China’s up-and-coming wine region: Ningxia Hui

Autonomous Region. Defying the stereotype, folks in Ningxia are churning out tipples that are beginning to gain global recognition. Read all about it on pages 36-45.

In our City section, I chat with David Proper, the NHL’s executive vice president

of media and international strategy, about the league’s pivot to the East and the upcoming preseason game between the NHL’s Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins in Shenzhen (page 14).

If you’re anything like me – and hate preparing breakfast – then you’ll enjoy this

month’s featured ‘Hot on Taobao’ product: flip to page 20 to learn about the three-inone breakfast maker.

Elsewhere in this issue, we take a look at celebrated musical Cats (page 14) and

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.

introduce a selection of our favorite al fresco drinking and dining spots in Guangzhou (if you’re tough enough to handle being outside in South China’s oven-like summer). Before you turn the page, I want to take a quick moment to remind you, dear-

est reader, that this month is the official launch of the second edition of our Explore China travel guide. We’ve spent month’s working on this book and we’re extremely

proud of the final product. Stunning photography and valuable, well-researched in-

ThatsGuangzhou

formation make this guide a must-own, and you can purchase now for only RMB99 on thmart.com.cn (shameless plug, over). Enjoy the heat!

ThatsShenzhen

Matthew Bossons Editor-in-Chief

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 RED COUNTRY

8 CITY

How a desert region in western China built a wine industry from scratch. .

9 MAN ON THE STREET AC repair people.

16 GREEN FOOT Cleaning up our act.

19 JEN HAU Cofounder of JOVA HEALTH.

60 EVENTS

THE WRAP

18 LIFE & STYLE

GZ

22 READY FOR BOARDING

Well-designed passport holders for your next trip.

AUG 18 Liquid Oxygen Can

GZ

26 ARTS 27 MOUSE ON THE KEYS The Japanese trio on creating their own universe.

AUG 30 – SEP 16

30 JESSIE J

Cats the Musical

The British pop star returns to China this fall.

HK

50 EAT & DRINK 51 MICHELIN MADNESS

AUG 17-26 ALICE MO

Chefs speak out about the 2018 Michelin Guide.

54 PICTURE PERFECT

Five patios perfect for summer in Guangzhou. 6 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

AUG 4-5 World Animation Festival


MAN ON THE STREET

CITY Stick and Puck

NHL’s David Proper on the rise of ice hockey in China, p14

AC REPAIR PEOPLE High-Tension Heroes

A

Makeup Removal Challenge P11 8 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Crafting the Future P12

Income: RMB5-7,000 Days per week: 6-7

By Tristin Zhang

fter securing a safety belt around his waist, Zhao steps onto a stool before thrusting himself through the window, his wife holding tightly to the part of the belt that would normally be secured to an emergency tether. A wave of anxiety rushes over me as I watch Zhao set to work, six stories above the road below. It’s 10am on a Saturday morning and it’s wet, with a drizzly mist falling from the sky in the wake of a heavy downpour. Only minutes earlier Zhao and his wife had arrived at my door with two hefty air conditioning units they’d carried up six flights of stairs. Now, outside the window, Zhao stands on the edge of the weathered metal frame that holds my apartment’s air condition compressor. With the light rain enveloping him, he sets to work replacing my broken AC unit.

THE DIRTY DETAILS

Hours per day: 6 “Pass me a wrench,” Zhao instructs his wife in a Shandong accent. She removes a hand from her husband’s safety belt, squats slightly and reaches for the tool. A half hour passes and Zhao climbs back through the window. Using a rope, he hauls the old,

broken AC compressor through the window behind him. “It’s dangerous. Huang shifu fell from three floors up and broke his waist,” says Zhao’s wife, recalling an incident involving an acquaintance of theirs. “Now he walks kind of

funny.” While she chats, Zhao drills some holes in my apartment wall and sets to work fixing a pipe that connects the outdoor compressor to the AC unit inside. In just moments Zhao will be back outside the window, undertaking a daring and vertigo-inducing mission to secure the new AC compressor. “How much will this whole operation cost?” I ask the husband-wife team. “200 kuai,” Zhao answers with brevity. When all is said and done, the AC replacement process had taken two hours. While for myself it was two hours of nailbiting nervousness, for Zhao and his wife this death-defying work is just another day on the job – a job they’ve been doing since they moved to Guangzhou 13 years ago. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 9


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

THE BUZZ

URBAN DICTIONARY

RANDOM NUMBER

A DAY IN AUGUST

1,500

Central China Floods of 1931

… locations. As in 1,500 Tim Hortons restaurant locations to be opened across China over the next decade. The announcement was made on July 11 and the ambitious expansion will be rolled out through an agreement with Tim Hortons and Cartesian Capital Group. Founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, and named after a famed Canadian hockey player, Tim Hortons is a Canadian institution. The fast food chain, which is colloquially referred to as Timmies, is as synonymous with The Great White North as ice hockey, maple syrup, moose and – as much as we wish it weren’t so – Nickelback. The chain of restaurants operated largely within Canadian borders until the 1980s, when they began a push into the American market. Now Tim Hortons has locations around the world, including in Spain, the United Kingdom and the Philippines (the brand’s first foray into Asia). No word yet on where China’s first Timmies location will pop up, but with over 1,500 shops set to open in the next 10 years, those living in first-tier cities can rest assured that they’ll eventually have access to honey crullers, doubledoubles, iced capps and bagel BELTs.

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On the evening of August 25, 1931, the water through the Grand Canal washed away dikes near Gaoyou Lake, Anhui province, drowning some 200,000 people in their sleep. It was just one chapter of the Central China floods of 1931, generally considered the deadliest natural disaster ever recorded. From 1928 to 1930 central China had suffered a long drought. Heavy snow storms in the winter of 1930/31 were followed by heavy rains during the spring thaw, which only increased into the summer months. On average two cyclones occur per year in the region; nine hit in July alone. The high watermark was reached on August 19 at Hankou (one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan), more than 16 meters above normal (that’s higher than the buildings on the Shanghai Bund). When the flood reached the then capi-

tal Nanjing, it became an island in a massive flood zone. Countless people died of drowning or from waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhus, while there were widespread reports of wives and daughters being sold, infanticide and cannibalism. The death toll is estimated between 3.7 and 4 million people, with a further 30 million affected.

Come out drinking with us!

I can’t. I have a huge project and I need to stop procrastinating. No you don’t. You just need to stop and smell the roses...

Stop feeding me jitang. Don’t you have any real advice?

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

Makeup Removal Challenge

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“If not for that promise [to my parents], I might have quit several times, especially when I studied advanced mathematics” – Yao Ming At long last, after seven years of admission to Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Yao Ming finally received his bachelor’s degree. Nominated valedictorian of his class, China’s greatest basketball player delivered a speech where he recalled having so much difficulty in school that he came close to dropping out on several occasions. The former

Jitang / jī tāng / 鸡汤 noun and adj.,“chicken soup,” or advice that doesn’t solve any problem but makes one feel better.

Ah, chicken soup. It tastes good, warms you up and fills your belly for a short while but can't really sustain you till your next meal. Being mostly water, it is cheap, easy and devoid of substance. So is jitang information and advice. It tells you what you want to hear in the moment, but doesn't help solve any real problems. Jitang is common in our attention economy. Content creators know that we don’t cruise the internet endlessly day in and day out, or become glued to our phones and tablets, to actually learn anything. We don’t want the truth or any substance – we want dopamine and comfort. All we are looking for during our restless scrolling is a little something to make us feel better after looking at other people’s WeChat Moments. This is where jitang comes in. Jitang is bite-sized content that tells us that all our problems will be solved and everything will be okay, even if we don’t do anything. So we can read it and get through another day without making any changes. If you are overweight, jitang tells you that you are healthy as long as you have ‘a positive mindset.’ If you are over-spending, jitang tells you to live in the moment. If you are in a career you hate, jitang tells you that hard work will be rewarded, eventually. If you are in a miserable relationship, jitang tells you to “appreciate and cherish what you have.” Just like chicken soup, jitang soothes us for a short while and leaves us hungry soon after. We read it, feel better and go to bed, only to have the same problems coming back and haunting us a few days later. Then you find yourself reading jitang before bed again, and the cycle continues. Maybe chicken soup is good for one day, but sooner or later we have to eat something substantial. It’s okay to read jitang in the short term, but we’re better off seeking honest advice and making real changes.

Houston Rockets center and NBA Hall of Famer also offered up some advice to his peers: “Try to combine your own future plans with society’s development, because only by doing so will you give yourselves more room to explore.” Scan the QR code to see more photos from Yao’s commencement.

Pointier chins, taller noses, longer lashes, slimmer cheeks, more colorful irises and brightly colored hair — imagine all these layers being shed to reveal an entirely different person underneath. This prosthetic transformation comes undone in a viral new trend, makeup removal videos, which became popular on Chinese video-sharing app, Douyin. These clips give a glimpse of what goes into the process of creating their tapered looks, and more importantly, an unedited version of their actual faces. Scan the QR code to see some of the craziest videos from the challenge.

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CRAFTING THE F U T U R E

Museum 2050 founders Nicole Ching and Leigh Tanner

It was mentioned that 65 percent of museum-goers in China are the ‘post-80s generation’ while in the West, the audience is generally older. What are the advantages of having a younger target audience? NC: I think we need to first state the difference between public state-owned museums, which mainly hold historical artifacts, Chinese works of art and relics, and private museums, which have a focus on contemporary and modern art, as the demographics vary greatly between these. The ‘graying’ population of museum-goers abroad has been oft stated, but in China, it is the opposite when it comes to private museums. It’s a subject that’s quite fascinating for me. The advantages are that the youth in China, and the rapidly rising middle class, are now turning their interests into engaging deeper with art and museums. This has positive effects because it is this group who will in turn share their learning and knowledge with the next generation.

What Will China’s Museums and Art Districts Be Like in 2050? Interview by Dominic Ngai

O

ver the past decade, Beijing’s 798 Art Zone or M50 and Redtory in Guangzhou are true testaments to China’s growing appetite for arts. Each weekend, hordes of youngsters can be seen hanging out in these neighborhoods with their friends over cups of coffee, lining up to see the latest big-name exhibitions in town and, of

course, snapping plenty of selfies for their WeChat Moments and Instagram posts. China’s museum boom isn’t just happening in first-tier cities. According to the China Museums Association, the number of the nation’s museums increased 60 percent in a span of just five years, rising from 2,600 to nearly 4,200 between 2009 and 2014. As such, urban planners and museum operators are keeping a close eye on this upward trend and digging deeper into the motives, behaviors and needs of the social media-savvy post-1980s generation, who make up nearly twothirds of China’s total museum-going population.

By 2050, the same group of museum-goers will be in their 60s and 70s. How should museums in China start planning to better serve this group, and also how should they attract the younger generations?

In June, the inaugural symposium of ‘Museum 2050,’ a Shanghai-based platform for investigating key issues about the future of cultural institutions in China and abroad from a local perspective, brought together experts in the field from around the country and beyond to discuss a range of issues from reconsidering the ‘creative city concept’ in an Asian context and the problem of counterfeit cultural relics in China to leveraging social media and online communities to promote and create content for musuems. We sat down with the project’s founders, Nicole Ching (International Communications Officer for the Long Museum, Shanghai) and Leigh Tanner (Shanghai-based independent curator), to find out more.

Can you tell us why you founded Museum 2050? What do you hope to achieve with the project? NC: Museum 2050 was born out of our shared belief that so much of what is happening in terms of China’s cultural development was not being accurately depicted in many of the talks and publications we were seeing outside of China. Leigh and I both have experience working in Chinese institutions and so we also understand many of the challenges these museums are facing. LT: We see [the project] as a part of a solution by providing young museum staff members 12 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

the tools to help develop their institutions from inside out, thus strengthening the overall landscape. Most of all, we wanted to create a space to share ideas and create a vibrant museum community. We hope that these young museum professionals can serve as resources for each other, and that through this continuous information exchange, institutions may better navigate China-specific challenges, which is essential for growth. NC: The ultimate goal is to build a brighter and more engaging museum future across China, and not exclusively in first-tier cities. Our strategy is twofold: creating a space for young museum professionals to share their experiences, while also building a platform

One of the most interesting things happening in China’s museum scene is that the very definition of museum is being redefined

where young academics can share research. How’s the museum scene in China different than other countries today?

NC: It is really difficult to accurately describe the scene that exists in China right now because it is so varied and vast. Something that was brought up during the conference was the definition of a ‘museum’ in a traditional sense, which includes several components such as having a personal collection, a dedicated publication department, an education and outreach program, and so on. However, many of the institutions in China we think of as museums do not fulfill

all of these stipulations. So I think one of the most interesting things happening in China’s museum scene is that the very definition of museum is being redefined, which can be a very good thing and there’s great potential.

LT: The much discussed ‘museum boom’ has been taking place in China over the past 15 years, so the sheer volume of the growth in and of itself is unique. At the same time, as Nicole mentioned, there is not a strongly held idea of what a museum should be or a deeply ingrained museum-attending culture, which allows for new paths and forms to emerge.

NC: An interesting point that was raised during the workshops was that many museums had education and outreach programs, but these were only targeting very young children and families. It was noted time and again that museums were trying to build an engaged and devoted museum audience from an early age, as it is in these formative years that one holds the most open mind. So indeed, if they are successful in their goals, and I certainly hope they will be, then by 2050 in China we will be seeing a much larger museum-going public, who will in turn share their passion for arts and culture with their children, which we hope will catalyze a positive cycle. Do you think new technologies like VR and holograms will affect how museums operate in the future? Will it have an impact on the survival of museums if the experience could be digitalized? LT: I think anything that gets people thinking

about and engaging with art is a good thing, but I don’t believe this will render museums meaningless. There is still something to be said for the physicality of seeing a painting in person, or experiencing the way an installation can guide you through a space. On the description, it says Museum 2050 aims to explore “the cultural and social impact that [the exponential growth of the number of museums] will have by mid-century, and how this growth affects audiences and ideas about existing museum frameworks.” Was there a theory shared during the talks that really stood out to you? LT: We heard a variety of perspectives from a diverse set of speakers, but I certainly can’t declare there was any sort of conclusion. Yet, there was a sense that the conversations and theories brought forth, in essence the sharing aspect of the weekend, is critical for considering what the result will be of the cacophony of museums built in the last decade. How different do you think the experience of going to museums in 2050 will be compared to today?

LT: We chose the date 2050 because it sounds far enough in the future that the imagination is allowed to dream up all sorts of science-fiction possibilities, and yet, it is close enough that it feels as if this future may be based in the world we already know. Thirty-two years in China feels like a century anywhere else, so I am optimistic we will see more accessible, more approachable museums in the coming years. I’d love to think that in China more museums will take the public mandate of education to heart as they develop the resources and audience to match. Finally, what’s next for Museum 2050?

LT: We are planning a publication of all the papers presented at our symposium, as well as some of the content of our workshops. Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming book and next year’s symposium via our WeChat account and website. Visit museum2050.com or follow their WeChat (ID: Museum2050) to learn more.

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STICK AND PUCK

ernment agencies that are committed to growing hockey, including our work with the Beijing Sports Bureau to integrate ball hockey into the physical education curriculums of local schools. Of course, there is also the China games, and we do a number of exchanges where we have Chinese youth teams come to North America to participate in activities here with local teams. How were last year’s China matches received by players that visited Beijing and Shanghai? Did they enjoy the chance to play overseas in a developing market?

NHL's David Proper on the Rise of Ice Hockey in China Interview by Matthew Bossons

On September 21, 2017, the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) hit the ice at Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena. The preseason match was the NHL’s first major foray into the Chinese market, and was followed by another game between the two teams in Beijing two days later. With a growing interest in winter sports, due to the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, China was a rational move for the NHL. In the months since the first pair of China games, the league has announced two more matches this fall: between the Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames in Shenzhen and Beijing. In the lead up to the NHL’s South China debut, we spoke with David Proper, the NHL’s executive vice president of media and international strategy, about the league’s big moves in the Middle Kingdom and hockey’s growth in the country. Mr. Proper also answers the question: when will Lord Stanley’s Cup pay a visit to China?

Give us a bit of background on why the NHL is putting a focus on the China market? When Beijing was awarded the 2022 Winter Olympics, the government showed major interest in winter sports; to the point where President Xi and the government said they want 300 million people playing winter sports by 2022. We assumed, correctly it seems, that there would be a real push to build the necessary facilities for people to participate in these sports. We really offered ourselves up to help build the sport of hockey [in China], offering our expertise to not just the government, but also to other organizations looking to grow the sport. Really, this just follows from our overall goal to build the sport of hockey as best we can and, when that opportunity presented itself in China, it would have been a miss for us not to participate as best we could.

The NBA has had massive success in China. What lessons has the NHL taken from basketball’s Middle Kingdom journey?

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You know, it’s tricky. We have a lot of friends over at the NBA and we speak with them reg-

ularly about doing business in China, but one of the things you can’t forget is that, when the NBA went in, there was about 100 years of basketball history in China. So it wasn’t as necessary for them to build up a knowledge base about the sport, while we have to spent a lot of time doing that. So, the situation is a little bit different. But, what the NBA has taught us – and what they’ve been very clear on – is that you have to be very committed to the market, from the grassroots level to the corporate and government level. You also have to be very patient, we have a lot we’re looking to accomplish and this isn’t the kind of thing you can do in a short time.

You know, there are two ways to look at it, both of which are positive. The first: you can’t ever underestimate the incredible value of the cultural experience of coming to China. The players got to visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Bund and explore Shanghai; they got to do things and see things that are fascinating. When I spoke to the players afterwards they said it was a really wonderful experience for them. But, on a separate note, our players are the best ambassadors for the sport and they are very giving of their time to help showcase hockey. They love it when they see fans that are learning about the sport, and that was a unique opportunity in China, where a lot of kids came out to see what hockey is about. I think our players had the chance to interact with fans on a new level, with people that don’t really know hockey and want to learn more. It was a special opportunity that they really enjoyed.

a big undertaking to do these games so we need teams that are committed and have players that are willing to participate. Once we have a list of teams, we then look at which teams will be most interesting to the Chinese market, either due to Chinese immigrants living in particular cities – like Vancouver, or due to the popularity of certain players. We try to put all this together and, ultimately, we are very excited about the two teams we have this year, just as we thought the teams last year were a great fit for the China event. How far off is the day when we see NHL scouts coming to China to gauge local talent?

You know, it’s hard to say. The simplest answer is: scouts will go where the players are, in any particular market. That being said, players also tend to go where the scouts are. Often times, a player from outside North America will try to play some junior hockey

in Canada or the US so that they can be seen by the scouts. But, I would suggest that over time, as hockey grows and we see larger numbers of Chinese youth playing hockey, the talent level will increase and we will see scouts heading to China. But whether that is five years or 10 years away, that depends on a lot of factors that are outside our control. What I can tell you is: as hockey continues to grow and the talent increases, scouts will be there. Lord Stanley’s Cup has traveled around the world. Has the esteemed trophy ever visited China?

The Cup has not been to China, that I am aware of, but it will be soon. Details will be forthcoming, we are working out the specifics, as it’s no small matter to get the Cup to go anywhere, especially when it’s traveling halfway around the world. But we are committed to doing it, and I think you will see the Cup very soon.

What factors were considered when choosing which teams will come and play in China? Do teams volunteer, or is it left up to random selection? I can tell you it wasn’t a random draw, it’s never random. Teams were selected due to a combination of things. Obviously, it’s

Tell us a bit about the grassroots activities in China the NHL is participating in? We run player clinics for all age groups and we’re going to start doing clinics for coaches. The idea behind this is to get more NHL-type coaches and coaching certifications in China. We also run fan fests around our games and we do a lot of hockey education activities with our partners, to educate the fan base about hockey and the NHL. Obviously, we also work with local gov-

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GREEN FOOT Cleaning Up Our Act By Adam Robbins

E

very day, China taps our favorite apps and lunch appears. This happens 20 million times each day, China Youth Daily reports, but it comes at a hefty cost: over 60 million plastic cartons tossed aside daily and nearly 15 billion plastic bags each year. Some is burned, but too often it joins a tide of plastic pollution swept by rains and rivers into the world’s oceans. Of nearly 8 million tons that join the sea each year, China delivers over 2 million, according to the environmental journal Hakai Magazine. In January China’s National Development and Reform Commission promised new rules to limit the flow of single-use plastics, but it’s easy to feel powerless as

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we wait for a solution. Is there anything we can do? Yes. In fact, there is. In Guangdong, we’re home to Green Foot, a volunteer-driven community helping us reclaim our home from this mountain of trash. Jessica Huang, Ambassador for the Shenzhen Headquarters, explains that Green Foot founder Angela Wang loves the outdoors but found herself increasingly heartbroken. “When she’d go to climb mountains, she’d see a world full of rubbish. She didn’t want to escape from China to a cleaner place. She decided to take her own share in doing something for China, for

our country.” In 2016 she set up shop in Shenzhen and started recruiting like-minded strangers. By December she’d launched Green Foot’s first event, a hike through Dongxichong with her new friends, filling 10 rice bags with the trash they found. Since then Green Foot has spread across the region. “From our [WeChat] platform data,” Jessica reports, “10,000 people [have been] involved in at least one kind of event.” These include popular trash pickups, swap-meets and workshops about reusing old items. “The events were all in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan, but we’re talking about expanding to Shanghai. Green Foot members are so proud to be involved, they want to spread [to other cities]. “You’ll see the same banner, the flag, the same warm faces because we choose our ambassadors very carefully,” she continues. “And they speak English! We’re international, with many foreign members who help with creative ideas.” One ambassador, Joen, recently brought 40 eighth-grade students to Shenzhen Bay Park to get involved firsthand. “[We] spread out into the park, picking up litter. After one hour, we gathered up and each group shared their thoughts. After the sharing, I shared guidance and let them realize why we do this and how we can help in creating an environmentally friendly society.” It’s not just the trash they cart away, but the sense of purpose they share. When they take action together, “the world has been united in a new way,” Jessica tells us. “So that’s why we can build a community like this: because we know what people are longing for, in this money-talks society... Now we’ve become a community where people are tightly attached.” Get involved by following WeChat ID ‘green_foot’ for announcements (in English and Chinese) about events – as well as a program rewarding you with ‘green points’ for participating.

Mark your calendar for World Cleanup Day, September 15, 2018, when China joins 150 countries for a day of action, with Green Foot leading southern China. But if sun or rain keeps you away, consider Plastic Free Fridays as your personal challenge: each Friday, avoid the use of any single-use plastic cartons, utensils or bottles. “We understand that our life is getting busier and busier… it can be hard,” Jessica acknowledges. But Green Foot offers links to cute, reusable options you can use instead. “We can start changing our habits one day a week – we can realize what our life will be like without disposable plastics.” In a world awash in waste, Green Foot offers a path to a better future. It’s up to us to follow, one step at a time.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 17


SPOTLIGHT

LIFE

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

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

&

STYLE

JEN HAU

Cofounder of JOVA HEALTH

Naturally Built

Interview by Dominic Ngai

Reimagining a bamboo craft village in Sichuan, p24

Born in Taipei and educated in LA, Jen Hau first met Polly Zhang in Shanghai seven years ago through mutual friends. As a result of their shared interest in healthy living, the two became roommates and eventually business partners when they founded JOVA HEALTH in 2013. In addition to their TCM-inspired drinks and all-natural scented candles, Hau and Zhang are now rolling out JOVA SENSES, a line of wellness workshops to bring the brand’s core philosophies to life. How do you think your upbringing has influenced JOVA’s concept? Both Taipei and Los Angeles have a huge trend of wellness and healthy living, though a lot of them feature Western-oriented methodologies. With our Chinese heritage and upbringing, Polly and I were inspired to use TCM-inspired concepts to approach wellness and healthy living, which is really the foundation of JOVA HEALTH: ‘Eastern wellness reinterpreted.’ How do you and your partner Polly divide up the responsibilities? I do mostly operations, marketing, branding and sales, and Polly is in charge of production and logistics. While this is our general division of responsibilities, we hang out a lot together so we also do most things together. A best friend and business partner is a very good sounding board! Thinking back, what were some of the most memorable challenges that you had to overcome when you first started your brand?

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Finding the balance between friendship and business. Polly and I were roommates and best friends since we moved here in 2011. Upon starting JOVA HEALTH, there was a while when we spent too much time working instead of hanging out as just friends, and at times the other way around. Now, we’ve reached a more balanced allocation of time,

“A strong mind is just as important as a strong body” and know how to separate the two a little bit better (though our Monday lunch meetings still occasionally turn into a hangout session). You recently rolled out a new events program. Can you tell us more about it?

JOVA SENSES is an overall wellness experience incorporating yoga programs and wellness workshops. The goal is to encourage face-to-face time with our clients to help them better understand the concept of Eastern wellness through an offline experience. I started practicing yoga back in 2008 but didn’t start teaching until I moved to Shanghai. My previous job was really taxing, so a good sweat and balanced diet is always helpful for boosting work performance.

Besides eating well and exercising, do you have any other tips for staying healthy? Read, write, bake and listen to Top 40 hits! A

strong mind is just as important as a strong body, so I think giving oneself some mind space is a must. For anyone who’s never tried any TCMinspired drinks, which of JOVA’s drinks would you recommend to them?

I would start with ‘Purify’ (snow pear juice with osmanthus and tremella) and ‘Nourish’ (mixed nut milk with honey and vanilla). They’re lighter in taste but equally nutritious. For those like me who are lactose intolerant, you can even use Nourish as a dairy substitute in your coffee. Any exciting plans over the next few months for JOVA?

New beverages coming out soon and more offline yoga programs to be held!

Visit jovahealth.com or follow them on WeChat (ID: jovahealth) WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 19


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

STYLE RADAR TAP THAT APP

Habitica This was supposed to be the year that we got fit, finished that screenplay and turned our life around… after surviving this next round of Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds. How do we improve our lives with all these shiny, fun distractions? Habitica has a solution: make a shiny, fun to-do list. Imagine yourself as a tiny wizard (or thief, warrior or cleric) leveling up and casting spells powered by your list-checking progress. Add in the things you need to do, or want to do more (or should really do less) and the gamified app taps into the neuroscience behind your brain’s reward system to keep you on the right path. Check a task or a good habit off your list and Habitica rewards you with magic points and virtual gold to spend on pixelated pets or amplifying armor. Miss something essential or indulge a bad habit? It dings your hit points. Add friends (or meet some in the Tavern) to the app and it becomes mutually reinforcing, through quests where you slay beasts by doing your daily tasks, knowing that a lazy day brings suffering to your team. It won’t do the adulting for you, but Habitica’s DND-like system makes it a little easier, by making our good habits more fun. Habitica is available for iOS and Android devices and online at habitica.com

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COVET

DAYTRIPPER

Gentle Monster x Xander Zhou

Guanlan Shanshui Tianyuan Tourist Culture Garden

As part of its ‘Once Upon a Future’ collection, Korean eyewear label Gentle Monster has partnered with Beijing-based designer Xander Zhou to release a pair of limited edition sunglasses. Similar to the other items in the same collection, Zhou opted for some irregularly shaped lenses to match the sci-fi and futuristic theme. Available at Gentle Monster stores and their website for RMB1,880. > gentlemonster.com

HOT ON TAOBAO

Three-in-One Breakfast Maker Ever had one of those busy mornings where everything’s running behind and there isn’t even enough time to fix a healthy breakfast? Well, the three-in-one breakfast maker is here to solve that problem. Yes, that’s right. An all-encompassing machine that toasts bread, fries eggs and brews a few cups of coffee to top everything off. Although this sounds like a gadget that could only exist in the most perfect version of the future, the ‘three-in-one breakfast maker’ can easily be acquired on Taobao. Truthfully, the technology behind the machine is pretty simple. It’s essentially a coffee maker and oven, with heat from the oven used to cook your eggs. But, its three-in-one design saves counter space and time. We tested it out using some bread purchased at the stand down the street along with store-bought eggs and coffee grounds. While everything was being made we went and finished the rest of our morning tasks. Twenty minutes later we had a tasty, ready-to-go breakfast that left us feeling prepared to take

on the day. The coffee was finished well before the eggs and bread, but was kept warm by the machine. The eggs took the longest amount of time, so if we were rushed for time we could have just stuck with the bread and coffee. All in all, for RMB200, you can’t beat the peace of mind that comes with a ready-to-go breakfast in a three-in-one machine.

The three-in-one breakfast maker is available for RMB200 on Taobao (search 三合一早餐机, sanheyi zaocan ji).

I

t seemed the ideal getaway: water park, hot springs, lakeside cabins and pleasure cruises, plus lessons in landscape painting and virtual reality to escape into the sky or under the sea. Tucked in Shenzhen’s northern reaches, it’s a mere RMB38 to enter the park (RMB20 after 5pm) with another RMB130 for the water park (RMB110 on weekdays). Inside, Buddhist chants fill the air, as boats meander past dockside cabins where holidaymakers can spend a night or two (starting RMB388). Many families do just that, and there are countless kids scampering along the waterway. They fill the pool and, as we reach the arcade cacophony before the water park, the presence of children becomes overwhelming. Sharing waterslides and wading pools with them is about as fun as you’d imagine.

What started seven years ago as a tranquil retreat, with peaceful fishing along the lake, has sunk under the tread of boats and boisterous schoolchildren. If there were vestiges of the old Hakka culture, those, too, are lost. At the nightly performance, aggressive, auto-tuned Chinese pop music indicates the start of a ‘variety show’ of women in costumes better suited to Carnival. They endeavor to dance, but the weight of the ruffles allows only an out-of-sync shuffle. Guanlan’s once-promising retreat has descended to incoherent madness. In the decaying concrete of the place – recreating trees and cranes and more – we see the frosting of a Havisham cake, once charming but left out too long in the rain. If you stumble on this ramshackle tragedy, say a prayer for what it used to be. AR

How to get there: Take Shenzen Metro Line 4 to the Qinghu terminus, then catch the M339 bus to the Junzi Bucun Kou stop, followed by a 10-minute walk. Or catch a 35-minute Didi from Qinghu.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 21


FASHION | LIFE & STYLE

LIFE & STYLE | FASHION

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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN | LIFE & STYLE

LIFE & STYLE | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

NATURALLY BUILT

Reimagining a Bamboo Craft Village in Sichuan in Its Own Elements Words by Dominic Ngai, Photos courtesy of the architects

Visitors enter the village via the Tourist Center, which features brick walls and a series of wooden roofs. The two-story building houses a service center, souvenir shops and exhibition halls dedicated to traditional handicrafts on the ground level, while private offices occupy the upper floor.

InBamboo serves as the village’s community center and a gathering place for its residents, visitors and craftsmen. The bungalows are divided into two circular sections: living room and a recreation area. The private courtyard at the center of the bungalow brings in some natural light to brighten up the space. Project name: Daoming Bamboo Craft Village Location: Chongzhou, Sichuan Design company: Shanghai Archi-Union Architecture Design The brief: Located in Daoming county of Chongzhou, Sichuan, the Bamboo Craft Village is a rural community dedicated to preserving the age-old craft of bamboo weaving. After visiting the area to get a better understanding of its landscape and the daily lives of its residents, architects from Shanghai Archi-Union created several modern buildings that reflect elements from the village’s natural surroundings, cultural heritage and lifestyle to offer a comprehensive infrastructural upgrade for the entire neighborhood. Shaped like an infinity symbol, the InBamboo building is the centerpiece of the whole project. Underneath the interweaving roof, visitors will find several indoor and outdoor communal spaces featuring plenty of wood and steel, including two private courtyards in the center of the structure. 24 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Mirroring the infinity symbol-shaped design of InBamboo, Zhuyi Bed and Breakfast is comprised of eight standalone traditional bungalows, all given a modern upgrade to cater to the needs of modern travelers. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 25


DRUMROLL

ARTS

MOUSE ON THE KEYS

The Japanese Trio on Creating Their Own Universe

Jessie J

The British pop star returns to China this fall, p30

By Erica Martin

Mouse on the Keys is one of the most unique and unclassifiable of Japan’s many instrumental bands. With just two keyboards and a drum set, they’ve invented a dynamic sound that falls somewhere between jazz, post-rock and techno with a hardcore punk sensibility. We caught up with pianist/ keyboardist Daisuke Niitome before the band’s China tour to learn more about their hardcore origins, getting compliments from Brian Eno, and the surprising new direction of their latest album, Tres. How did your musical interests change from making hardcore music to the jazz/ post-rock you focus on now? [Drummer Akira Kawasaki] started the band in 2006, and he always wanted to make a band that consisted of only piano and drums. Before Mouse on the Keys, he used to play with [keyboardist Atsushi Kiyota] in a posthardcore/post-rock band, Nine Days Wonder. We had a specific sound concept in mind for Mouse on the Keys: utilizing elements of modern French music along with the hardcore music of the ’80s and ’90s, and mixing them in a style reminiscent of Detroit techno. The attitude is still hardcore, the music a mixture of jazz, post-rock, math rock, lounge, electronica... for us, it just needs to be interesting and fun to play live. Your live shows are very visceral and high energy – do you think your hardcore origins live on through them?

Coming to a Theater Near You P28 26 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Cats’ Meow P32

Definitely. One of the magical things about going to punk and hardcore shows is the energy in the room. When we were young and going to smaller punk shows, it was this feeling that made it so great. I think our live shows are very energetic and we always try to involve the crowd, so the feeling is like at a punk show.

“The beauty and simplicity of chaos can be mind-blowing” What helps inspire you to bring together such different genres of music? We always like to play with two different ideas. Our songs can sound very chaotic in the beginning, but then everything will come together in a magical way. This is very fun to play with, and we always try to trick our crowds. The beauty and simplicity of chaos can be mind-blowing. We also try to play with digital and analog stuff within our sets and create a universe of our own. It’s very challenging to make two contradictory ideas work within one song, but when it does, it’s the most rewarding thing.

Tres has a very soulful and almost romantic R&B sound compared to your previous albums. What’s the reason behind this? While we were on tour, Brian Eno showed up to one of our concerts and told us that he really liked the music. Because we are such big fans of his music and were inspired by his comments, we wanted to hold back on being a very technical band and try to have a more ambient sound in our new music. What inspires the distinctive visuals in your live shows?

The visual elements are very important in

our show. We like our shows to be very dark and use a lot of strobes, with the only light coming from the projector. This way, it’s easier for the crowd to make a connection with the music. Mouse on the Keys is conscious of the 20th century modernist movement in all that we do. In our cover designs, visuals and sound, we choose to keep the imagery stark and reminiscent of the subdued concrete structures that were designed by architects such Louis Kahn and Kenzo Tange. What’s one of your favorite memories from a recent tour?

The last headlining show we did in Beijing was amazing. We were surprised that the venue was super packed and we really bonded with the crowd. At the end of the show, our drummer started shouting “Sihai zhinei, xiongdi jie xiongdi!” (“We’re brothers no matter where we are.”) The whole crowd started cheering along with us, so that was a fantastic thing.

SZ: Aug 29, 8.30pm, RMB120 presale, RMB150 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; GZ: Aug 30, 8.30pm, RMB150 presale, RMB180 door. MAO Livehouse, 1/F, Zhongzhou Trading Center, Huizhan Nan Wu Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区会 展南五路中州交易中心1楼 (www.newnoise.cn) WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018| GZ | 27


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

COLL AGE SINO CELEB

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

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU

Fan Bingbing A Chinese celebrity who needs no introduction: Fan Bingbing. A film and TV sensation, singer, fashion icon and one of the highest-paid celebrities in China, in 2017 Fan ranked number one on Forbes China’s ‘Celebrity List’ for the fourth consecutive year. Born in 1981, Fan was first noticed by audiences in the hit TV series My Fair Princess, which initially ran from 1998-99. Her journey to stardom really took off when she starred in the highest-grossing film of 2003, Cell Phone. Since then, Fan has starred in countless films, many of which received rave reviews from both audiences and critics. She has even transitioned from Chinese films to Hollywood blockbusters, snagging the role of Blink in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Fan has been the recipient of numerous awards throughout her career, including ‘Best Actress’ at the Hundred Flowers Awards in 2004 and the 31st Golden Rooster Awards in 2017. Most recently, though, Fan has made headlines for accusations of tax evasion. The allegations against Fan were levelled by Cui Yongyuan this past spring, and have prompted authorities to launch an official probe into her dealings.

Kind of like: Courtney Cox Famous for: tax evasion scandal, glamorous Cannes outfits, charity work See her in: newspaper headlines, Cell Phone (2003)

‘I know, U know’ (2017) PO8, C.N.K

‘Kingyo Hanabi’ (2004) Ai Otsuka

‘I’m Gone’ (2012) Tamaryn

‘红昭愿’ (2018)

‘Khartoum’ (2012) There’s a Light

‘Best Friend’ (2011) Jason Chen

The dreamy vocals in this low-key R&B tune are grounded by steady rapping from Chengdu hip-hop artist PO8.

Taxi 5

AUGUST 3

The Meg

Taxi 5 is the latest film in the Taxi series, a French franchise that’s the country’s answer to The Fast & the Furious. Though the plots differ, the chase scenes and close-up shots of car fenders are pretty much the same, and this newest installment even has a muscular bald protagonist (Franck Gastambide). Directed by Gastambide and produced by Luc Besson (Taken, District 13, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets), Taxi 5 takes place 10 years after the events of its predecessor, in which a police inspector teams up with the nephew and the niece of the original film’s hero Daniel to foil a robbery planned by Italian mobsters.

HAO BU HAO

This Japanese quadruple-threat sings, writes, co-produces and plays piano. Her plaintive vocals and instrumentation make for an ethereal pop concoction with a fairytale sound.

Known for treading the line between shoegaze and dream pop, US-based Tamaryn has created a dense, nocturnal soundscape interwoven with husky vocals.

AUGUST 8

This action horror film revives the ancient shark-giant Megalodon, which went extinct 2.6 millions years ago, and sets it upon a team of unsuspecting marine researchers. A Chinese-American co-production directed by Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) and starring Li Bingbing, Jason Statham, Rainn Wilson and Ruby Rose, The Meg takes place in a futuristic underwater research center 200 miles off the Chinese coast. Sanya’s iconic Guanyin of Nanshan statue features prominently in the trailer, as ‘The Meg’ heads toward the coast and the research team must stop it before it gets there.

音阙诗听

This month-old hit by an experimental group is a delightful hybrid of electropop and traditional Chinese musical sensibilities, topped off with honey-sweet vocals.

The titular track from this post-rock German band’s EP establishes a warm ambience that climbs to electronic intensity and back, punctuated by aphoristic spoken lyrics.

American pop singer Jason Chen may have gotten his start performing covers, but this original love song is undeniably catchy, showing off Chen’s swoon-worthy vocals.

Hao This summer’s most acclaimed domestic film is Dying to Survive, a sharp comedy that chronicles a salesman’s attempt to smuggle leukemia medicine into China from India, where it costs a fraction of the price. The film is based on a real court case from 2015, in which a man detained for sneaking medicine into the country was later pardoned because he helped so many sick people. Critics raved about the film after its debut at Shanghai Film Festival, citing lead actor Xu Zheng’s comedic skill and the social significance of its commentary on affordable medical care. Popular demand led to a nationwide release of the film in domestic cinemas last month.

Bu Hao

28 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

A new TV show has come under fire for potentially having plagiarized the fourth book and film of the Harry Potter series. Legend of Fu Yao centers on a young woman at a Taoist school of sorcery. The school hosts a competition in which contenders toss a piece of blood-soaked paper into a cauldron to enter, and someone submits a paper dipped in Fu Yao’s blood, hoping to get her killed. Harry Potter fans immediately took to Weibo to point out the similarities to the sign-up process for the Triwizard Tournament in The Goblet of Fire, in which a teacher threw Harry’s name into the goblet without his permission.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018| GZ | 29


ARTS | MUSIC

“I

genuinely didn’t think I was going to win,” Jessie J says when she’s asked about her unprecedented victory on the Chinese talent show Singer earlier this year. “I don’t think it’s sunken in yet.” The British pop star has just finished a whirlwind three-month stint in Changsha for the filming of Singer, a Hunan TV reality competition featuring established singers similar to The X Factor. Jessie J was one of the first foreign contestants on the hit talent show, performing alongside some of the biggest artists in China, including Taiwan singers Sam Lee and Angela Chang, as well as Beijing rocker Wang Feng. “It felt like being on a really cool version of The Hunger Games,” Jessie J tells That’s in an interview the week after the April finale. “Everything [in Changsha] felt really epic. It’s like nowhere else I’ve ever been.” After turning heads back at home for competing on the show, the 30-year-old platinum pop star and former judge of The Voice ended up winning the contest with nearly half of the audience vote. Her heartfelt rendition of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ earned her top marks in the finale, which hundreds of millions of

viewers tuned in to watch. That night, she became the first non-Chinese and foreign singer to take the crown. “It was amazing for me to be on the other side, to not be the coach but to be the person that was competing,” Jessie J says of her appearance on the show. “It taught me a lot about how I’ve been with contestants on The Voice in the UK and Australia, and how I could improve as a coach and contestant. I genuinely feel like I got to know myself more in the process. I’ve definitely improved as a singer.” Throughout the season, Jessie J wowed audiences with her on-point vocals and bubbly, down-to-earth personality. During the 13-week stint, she sang some of her own hits (including ‘Domino’ and ‘Flashlight’) in addition to covering a broad repertoire of classics, which eventually led to her sensational triumph. Having never finished outside of the top three over the course of the show, Jessie J also set a record by winning five rounds, with three wins in a row starting her off with a commanding lead. “Every week the show was like a festival,” she says of the environment backstage and with her fellow contestants. “Because everyone on the show was already established, it was more like a celebration of talent.” Despite the language barriers, Jessie J performed in Chinese, during an episode

JESSIE J

After Winning a Chinese Reality Show, the British Pop Star Returns to China This Fall By Bridget O’Donnell

It felt like being on a really cool version of The Hunger Games 30 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

where she sang the end of Prince’s smash hit ‘Purple Rain’ entirely in Mandarin. During our interview, she gives us a rendition — and her pronunciation is surprisingly good. “I have no idea what I just said,” she jokes. Acclaimed for mixing her soulful vocals with elements of R&B, pop and hip-hop, the London-born singer first catapulted to fame in 2010 with her debut single ‘Do it Like a Dude,’ followed by her 2011 charttopping debut album, Who You Are. A series of other hit songs followed, including ‘Price Tag,’ ‘Domino’ and ‘Bang Bang’ with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj. At the same time, she’s picked up several awards and nominations and has performed at festivals worldwide. Jessie J had already accumulated a sizeable fanbase in China before she joined Singer as a contestant, thanks to the overnight success of ‘Price Tag.’ Previous tours have seen her make stops in China, and she even made a guest appearance at last year’s Alibaba Singles Day e-commerce gala (singing ‘Price Tag,’ of all hits). “I am a contestant in this industry, and we’re always competing,” she says, reflecting on her eight-year-long career. “[Singer] was just putting a few of us in a bubble on a TV show. But everyone in this industry is fighting to stay relevant and to re-establish themselves and to create more.” Jessie J returns to China this August and September for her R.O.S.E. World Tour, with confirmed dates for 12 cities in China so far, including Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Tianjin. The concert will see her perform songs from her fourth studio album of the same name. Released in May, shortly after her Singer bid, the album sees her veer away from the ‘power pop’ of her previous work and take a bold new direction towards old school R&B and hip-hop. The album was released in four parts — R (Realisations), O (Obsessions), S (Sex) and E (Empowerment). Working with producers DJ Camper and Kuk Harrell, Jessie J cowrote the album, which includes the singles ‘Real Deal,’ ‘Think About That,’ ‘Not My Ex’ and ‘Queen.’ “I can’t wait [for the tour],” she says, visibly giddy at the prospect of performing more than one song at a time for a Chinese audience. “I love being here, around new energy and new culture and just a completely different way of life to anything I’ve ever [experienced]. I have a whole new understanding of the world, I really do.” Sep 12, 8.30pm, RMB580-1,280. Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena, 3001 Binhai Dadao, Nanshan District 南山区滨海大道3001号


ARTS | T HE AT ER

CATS’ MEOW The Classic Musical Creeps Its Way into Guangzhou By Erica Martin

W

hen T.S. Eliot penned a series of poems about cats for his godchildren in 1939, he couldn’t have known what profound cultural significance the jocular little book could have nearly 80 years later. Though fairly obscure and decidedly silly compared to some of his other works, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats inspired sixtime Tony winner and musical theater impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar), to compose one of the most enduring and universally successful musicals of all time. First staged in the West End in 1981, Cats blew audiences away with its breathtaking dance sequences and Lloyd Webber’s memorable tunes, paired with lyrics adapted directly from Eliot’s poetry. Staged in a moonlit back alley, with tires and discarded washing machines strewn about, the show begins as the ensemble of cats creep onto the stage from all corners of the theater. The orchestra then kicks up the nimble, spine-tingling opening theme, like a cat’s footsteps as it tiptoes along a fence. Though a bit of an open mind is required to get into the premise, which is about a tribe of ‘jellicle cats’ (a word invented by Eliot) celebrating their annual meet-up in the alley, what follows is a series of quirky meditations on cats’ interior lives, what they’re thinking about while staring out the window for five hours or why they knocked over all the stuff on your dresser for no reason. 32 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

The musical has a loose story structure; it’s less of a linear narrative and more of a vaudeville-style variety show, as characters like lovable rogue Rum Tum Tugger and Mr. Mistoffelees the original Conjuring Cat each introduce themselves via an unforgettable theme song dreamed up by Lloyd Webber. The fluid plot does center on one character, however: the mysterious, aging former dancer Grizabella the Glamour Cat. In a role originated by acting royalty Elaine Paige, Grizabella is the only character who doesn’t actually appear in the Book of Practical Cats; instead, Lloyd Webber based her on a woman Eliot describes in his poem ‘Rhapsody on a Windy Night.’ ‘Memory,’ her attempt at redemption and the climax of the show, is Cats’ most famous song and one of the most iconic show tunes

of all time, which has been covered by everyone from Barbra Streisand to Barry Manilow. Cats has its Guangzhou run through September 16. Attendees should expect a bit of audience participation; after all, it’s impossible to keep a cat contained to one room or stage. Chinese speakers should also keep an ear out for a surprise in the second act. Though the show has delighted cat lovers throughout its record-breaking run, it’s not the sole reason the musical has endured. These characters have resonated for decades mainly because their personalities feel so relatable that they seem far more human than cat. Aug 30-Sep 16, 7.30pm (additional performances at 2.30pm on weekends), RMB180-1,180. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (gzdjy.org)


ADVERTORIAL | LIFE & STYLE

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MUSIC CORNER

Three New Homegrown Albums on Our Radar This Month

Whether you’re looking to clean your house or prepare for a barbecue party with friends, thMart has got you covered with the vast array of product offerings.

By Erica Martin

The Twenties by The Twenties Formed in 2013, The Twenties were active in Beijing’s live scene for several years before settling to record their eponymous, self-released debut. The result of this reasonably long incubator period is that the band sounds confident and in charge, with a fully realized identity. Vocalist Findy Zhao’s voice has an appealing deadpan irony that’s reminiscent of ’90s slacker rock, and there are elements of grunge and the fuzziness associated with lo-fi bands, but nonetheless the production feels slick. The opening track ‘Fire Fire’ is our favorite thanks to a catchy chorus that will worm its way into your head and linger for the rest of the day. In fact, it’s this instant catchiness in many of the songs that elevates them from being overly derivative of ’90s alt-rock bands – the pop sensibility woven in gives the debut an extra kick, and we’re excited to see where the band goes from here. Listen here: thetwenties.bandcamp.com/releases

Seippelabel Vol. 10 by Seippelabel Beijing’s Seippelabel has been releasing compilation albums a few times a year since early 2015, working with notable China-based electronic acts like Alpine Decline, GUIGUISUISUI, GOOOSE, Nocturnes and Noise Arcade. They also have a solid footing in greater Asia and beyond, and their 10th release showcases producers from as nearby as Shanghai and as far as Mexico and Australia. With a panoply of genres, from footwork to grime to a harsh industrial noise track, not all the songs are successful, but there’s something for every taste. The best tracks defy classification, like ‘Surge,’ a dramatically symphonic instrumental hip-hop piece by Shanghai-based WhatsupNarja, Singapore producer Fauxe’s ‘Shoutout to Paradise,’ a frenetic and ambitious beat overlaid with tribal chanting, and the sultry, almost tender track ‘A Weight on Both Shoulders’ from Flower Boy. The liner notes explain that the ultimate goal of Seippelabel was to put out 10 compilation albums, but hopefully this doesn’t mark the end of their eclectic releases.

Clorox Products, from RMB39

Lings ‘Hello, You’ Natural Scented Candle, from RMB68

Chinese-style Leaf Bookmark, from RMB9.9

Mini Barbecue Special, RMB139

From disinfectant wipes to soap-filled steel wool pads and multi-purpose cleaning solutions, grab some Clorox products and give your house a good wipe-down.

Made with vegetable wax, cotton wick and all-natural essential oils, light up some Lings ‘Hello, You’ candles and your room will take on the sweet, refreshing aroma of blood orange, pink grapefruit and mint.

Listen here: seippelabel.bandcamp.com/album/seippelabel-vol-10

Elusive Magic by Panic Worm Out on Ruby Eyes Records is the debut album from Panic Worm, a plucky Wuhanbased five-piece dealing in energetic post-punk. The band half-jokingly imply that they are the offspring of “the once-famous Wuhan punk movement” in the late ’90s and 2000s, which birthed the likes of SMZB and later AV Okubo. Having recently opened for The Cribs when they passed through Wuhan on tour with Split Works, Panic Worm has indeed taken up the mantle as one of the city’s more notable new punk acts, exploring what they describe as “’80s post punk scattered with ’90s slacker sensibilities.” The earnest riffs in the lead single ‘Chicken Spit,’ have a sort of sweeping, epic quality heightened by Yu Cheng’s stately vocals. Though rooted in the city’s punk tradition, they’re serving up something fresh. Listen here: panicworm.bandcamp.com

A perfect souvenir for friends and relatives back home, these handmade Chinese-style leaf bookmarks come in several different prints, including panda, traditional calligraphy and natural sceneries.

One of the most popular summertime activities is a barbecue party. This package with sirloin, ribeye, and burger patties will satisfy all meat lovers for sure.

For any business opportunity, please email us at thmart@urbanatomy.com. 34 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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How a Desert Region in Western China Built a Wine Industry From Scratch words by Noelle Mateer graphics by Iris Wang

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“The challenge was that there was nothing here. It was desert”

K

iki Chenshu got into the wine business because she was lonely. When she moved back to her native Yinchuan, in Ningxia, Chenshu felt she could no longer relate to her childhood friends. She had gone to university in Beijing to study urban development, then moved abroad, dreaming of one day working for the UN. Back home, she no longer fit in. “For me, the things I care about, they don’t care about,” she says. “I care about what happens internationally. They just care about buying houses and cars. It’s been really hard.” Yinchuan is a small city by Chinese standards (its population is a meager two million). It’s the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is a sliver between China’s western Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. Over 30 percent of the region’s population is Hui, a Chinese ethnic minority group that practices Islam. Growing out of one’s hometown is a tale as old as time – but what is novel about Chenshu’s story is her surprise happy ending.

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Just after her return, Chenshu discovered a group of foreigners – seven winemakers from seven different countries, in town to work with local vineyards. “I didn’t have anything to do,” she says, so she helped translate throughout their stay. Chenshu doesn’t drink wine – most people in Yinchuan don’t – but she and the winemakers became fast friends regardless. Soon after, she landed a job as an assistant for a New Zealand winemaker consulting for a local vineyard, and she’s been working with Ningxia vintners ever since. Today, Chenshu is on the forefront of Ningxia’s most booming industry. The seven winemakers she met in 2012 had been flown in for Ningxia’s first-ever International Winemaker Challenge. For the 2017 Challenge, 48 came. The number of wineries bottling and selling their wines has also skyrocketed from 20 to 86, according to Chenshu, and in total, 200 wineries are now registered. Not only are Ningxia wines numerous, they’re award-winning – the region’s vintages have scored top marks in the prestig-

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Left: Ningxia's Helan Mountains are visible from Chandon's vineyard; Above: Stateof-the-art machines bottle sparkling wine

ious Decanter World Wine Awards since 2012, when local winery Helan Qingxue’s Jiabeilan variety won Ningxia’s first regional gold. The ability of Ningxia wines to hold their own in an international market is no longer a secret – at least among winemakers. But the similarities between Ningxia’s wine industry and that of those abroad stop there. Whereas the world’s other wine regions are often built on longstanding family chateaux and local wine-drinking cultures, Ningxia has no history of winedrinking to speak of (in fact, a good percentage of the local Muslim population doesn’t drink at all). Instead, Ningxia’s industry is boosted by a provincial-level Wine Bureau – the only bureau of its kind in all of China – that has effectively built a wine region from scratch. The result is a small, tightknit community of wine pioneers leading Ningxia’s fastest-growing industry. “This is a small place,” Chenshu tells me. “Everyone knows everyone.” Then, as if to prove her point, she offers to drive me to Kanaan.


Wang Fang, who goes by ‘Crazy Fang,’ despite seeming perfectly sane and friendly throughout our visit, runs Kanaan Winery, one of Ningxia’s most successful brands. Kanaan’s wines have been sold in Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the UK. Fang proudly shares that her ‘Pretty Pony’ wine is on the list at a famous London restaurant alongside noted French labels such as Château Lafite. “If a Chinese wine is on the same list [as those wines], then what do you think that says about the wine?” Making good wine in Ningxia is feasible, but difficult. Ningxia is dry, and much of it is desert. The nearby Yellow River makes irrigation possible, but winters here are so windy that each winery hires hundreds of temp workers each fall to bury their vines underground, and dig them up again every spring. And yet, the development of a wine industry here was no accident. In the late ’80s, just after the Reform and Opening Up, a group of wine experts scoured

Above: Wine production facilities; Right: Thierry Courtade and

China to find the best soil for grape-growing. They determined that the soil at the base of the Helan Mountains – just outside Yinchuan – might just be suitable for growing grapes. “[My father] used to be a civil servant in the science and technology department of the government, responsible for agriculture,” Fang says. “He met many professors from around the world, and they told him that the East foot of the [Helan] mountains could be the best terroir [wine-growing region] for grapes.” Fang’s father then began planting grapes on the land that would one day become Kanaan’s. “Only a few people trusted my father’s word, but these people had money and power. So that’s decisive,” she says. Ningxia’s agriculture bureau launched its own vineyard, Xixia King, named after the Western Xia dynasty, which fell at the hands of the Mongols. The region is dotted with the crumbling, sand-colored remains of Xia rule. On our way from Kanaan to the Silver Heights win-

“You’ve probably heard about Ningxia wines because the government promotes it so much”

Emma Gao at their winery, Silver Heights (photo courtesy of Silver Heights)

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ery, the landscape becomes more desert-like, a flat plain from which the Helan Mountains appear to jut out of unexpectedly. The only glimpse we catch of modern life along the way is a colossal parking lot filled with tour buses. It’s a sort of Universal Studios for Western China, Chenshu explains as she drives. Red Sorghum, the film based on the Mo Yan novel of the same name, was filmed here in 1988. Just like the mountains, Silver Heights appears to spring from nowhere. “The challenge was that there was nothing here. It was desert,” says co-founder Thierry Courtade, in a lilting countryside French. “We had to get rid of all the rocks and stones.” Courtade runs Silver Heights alongside his wife Emma Gao, a native of Yinchuan. The two often act as de facto ambassadors for Ningxia wines, Gao’s Ningxia heritage and Thierry’s family history of French winemaking lending them a collective measure of authority. Search ‘Ningxia wines’ online, and you’re bound to see photos of Gao smiling in her


Clockwise from top left: Ningxia's Wine Bureau resembles a wine barrel; Wang 'Crazy' Fang poses with wines in her cellar at Kanaan; award-winning local wines are displayed at the Wine Bureau's museum

“You can make plans for the short term, but for the long term, it’s nearly impossible. My mind could change, the policies could change”

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vineyards. (During my own visit, she’s traveling to promote her wine elsewhere in China.) “Each region has its own style. This wine,” Courtade says, holding up a glass of his Last Warrior red, “is a bit sugary. And the rocks here, from the mountains, they give it a mineral flavor. It’s a bit like St. Emilion,” he says, referencing the famed region of his native Bordeaux. Business is good. “Every year we plant one or more additional hectares,” he says. But he has someone to thank: the Wine Bureau. “They’ve done everything to develop the region,” he say. “They bring us water, they bring us electricity. They want Ningxia to be the best wine region in China.” Those unfamiliar with Chinese wine might think this an easy goal. Chinese wines have long suffered from a reputation for poor quality, and even within China, the most popular Chinese wines are the low-quality convenience-store varieties by Great Wall. As recently as a decade ago, many China-made ‘wines’ were just grape juice with cheap alcohol mixed in. But the country’s wines have grown in prominence over recent years, and today’s medal-winning vintages come from regions as varied as Xinjiang, Shandong and Hebei. Tianjin, meanwhile, has the longest history of selling and marketing wine – the first foreign-Chinese joint venture opened there just after Reform and Opening Up with the founding of Sino-French Tianjin Dynasty Wine Company. And so, Ningxia’s Wine Bureau takes its job seriously. Very seri-

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ously: the Bureau itself is a hulking 17-story complex, one side of which is housed in a massive, modernist interpretation of a wine barrel. We pass through several checkpoints just to get inside, where, at the staff canteen, legions of professional wine bureaucrats slurp noodles beneath murals of grapes. The Bureau director we meet there is too busy to speak with us, but suggests we help ourselves to the cafeteria desserts instead. “You’ve probably heard so much about Ningxia wines because the government promotes it so much,” sommelier Ashley Gao tells me later, from her workplace in Beijing luxury hotel The Opposite House. Gao is more familiar with wine in Beijing’s neighboring Hebei province, where she got her first job out of university, growing grapes among the same mountains that will host the Winter Olympics in 2022. “They make really good wines there,” she says. “And it’s the closest wine region to Beijing.” Ningxia’s distance from Beijing makes its wine harder to get. “I’ve been to Ningxia and I love the wines there,” she says. “But a lot of them don’t have distributors.” While many of the region’s wineries have perfected the art of making wine, they are less well-versed in selling it. The region’s most prominent boutique wineries, like Kanaan and Silver Heights, work with distributors to sell their wine elsewhere in China, but they don’t have the capacity to mass-produce, which makes their product expensive. Kiki Chenshu tells me this is something the Bureau is working


SILVER HEIGHTS CHANDON

The Last Warrior Red

Brut Sparkling Wine

We dare you to find a more giftable bottle of Chinese wine: not only is this cabernet-merlot blend from highly-respected winery Silver Heights, it also features a terracotta warrior on the front, and a label on the back that reads “Long live Chinese wine!!”

This is China’s only sparkling wine produced via the méthode traditionnelle of Champagne.

on. Whereas the Bureau’s previous director focused on developing boutique wineries, now, “they are thinking we should have some famous brands.” One such brand could be Chandon. Chandon is one Chinese wine Ashley Gao is able to serve a lot of. The sparkling wine brand is a project by LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët-Hennessy, of Moët & Chandon Champagne), which establishes wineries throughout the world to produce sparkling wines for various markets. (Any sparkling wine produced outside the region of Champagne cannot be called ‘Champagne.’) Thanks to the backing of their parent company, plus a builtin network of distributors, this year Chandon has made waves in hotels and restaurants in first-tier cities. It’s The Opposite House’s go-to sparkling for brunches at its Chinese restaurant, Jing Yaa Tang.

Chandon’s China property is just a few minutes’ drive from a crumbling section of the Great Wall, on Ningxia’s border with Inner Mongolia. But inside its visitor center, it feels like Europe – gleaming white walls and plush couches, a long granite countertop for hosting tastings. Inside, the site manager plays a slickly produced promotional video on the center’s flatscreen TV. “Our target is young, upper class people from first-tier cities,” she says, as a bride on screen holds her glass up to the camera. The real thing to see here, however, is the view. And so, sparkling wine flutes in hand, we walk up to the roof of the visitors’ center and gaze across the vineyards. It’s a crystal-clear day in Ningxia, and vines stretch in front of us for miles. Only some of them are the pinot noir and Chardonnay grapes of Chandon – the rest belong to countless other

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wineries, trying to cash in on this booming industry. “See that blue building over there?” says the manager. “That’s COFCO’s winery. It’s the biggest in Ningxia.” When I ask Crazy Fang if she, too, would like to expand to have a more corporate-sized wine venture, she says, “This is enough. I already haven’t had a vacation in years. “When you’re in China, you can make plans for the short term, but for the long term, it’s nearly impossible,” she explains. “My mind could change, the [local bureau] policies could change. I would never say I hope that this vineyard goes on for 100, 200, 300 years. This is not negative, this is the reality.” We’re in her living room now, sipping her fruity Riesling. Crazy twirls her glass, watching the sunlight glint off the yellow liquid. “But the wine industry will continue in Ningxia. There is no doubt,” she says, smiling. “People need wine.”

Above: Wine ferments in barrels at Kanaan Winery

GOING WEST

Four Ningxia Wines to Try

KANAAN WINERY

HELAN QINGXUE

Riesling

Jiabeilan

This fruity, zesty white is widely considered to be Ningxia’s only high-quality Riesling, a style that’s a throwback to winemaker Crazy Fang’s years living in Germany.

The wine that put Ningxia on the map, Jiabeilan’s blend of cabernet and merlot places in Decanter’s World Wine Awards year after year.

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CITY SCENES French National Day 2018 Pool Party at Hotel Nikko Guangzhou (Supported by and ) The 2018 edition of Canton Plage – French National Day was held on July 13 in Guangzhou. Organized by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (CCIFC) and the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou, the event took place at the Hotel Nikko Guangzhou. French and Chinese communities in the city gathered to celebrate French National Day and experienced the diversity of French culture, with numerous activities to entertain guests. Like every year, a delightful selection of tipples were on offer at the open bar – from French wines by Red Pony to spirits by Pernod Ricard and beers by San Miguel. Hungry attendees were treated to a succulent barbecue as well as French and Asian edibles, while Confee provided a spread of fine cheeses.

Conrad Guangzhou and Huiling Host Charity Reception (Supported by and ) In concert with Guangzhou Huiling Home for Persons with Mental Disabilities, Conrad Guangzhou hosted a charity event and reception on the evening of July 13. The occasion saw the attendance of over 50 invitees, and total proceeds of more than RMB20,000 were donated to Huiling.

46 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

‘Off the Beaten Plate’ Food and Drink Tasting (Supported by

)

This dinner was the first in a new series of food and drink tasting events hosted by That’s PRD, a series we’ve dubbed ‘Off the Beaten Plate.’ Through these events, we intended to introduce our readers to some of Guangzhou’s lesser-known culinary offerings. That’s why, this time around, we teamed up with TWG Tea – one of the world’s most luxurious and high-end tea brands – to help our readers enjoy the beauty of tea-infused gastronomy. The gourmet dinner menu featured seared Hokkaido scallops, oven-baked traditional beef Wellington wrapped with Parma ham and mixed wild mushrooms, grilled tiger prawns and squid ink risotto with clams and calamari, among numerous other delectable edibles.


PRD FOCUS L

ai Heen, the signature Cantonese restaurant of The RitzCarlton, Guangzhou, has earned its first Michelin star in the inaugural Michelin Guide Guangzhou 2018. It is the one of the eight restaurants in Guangzhou who received this award. Lai Heen also becomes the ninth restaurant to receive a Michelin star among The RitzCarlton hotels in the Asia-Pacific region.

T

O

n June 22, the Consulate General of Belgium and the Consulate General of Italy hosted a gala dinner at the Ritz Carlton, Guangzhou to celebrate Europe-China Tourism Year 2018.

he Consulate General of France in Guangzhou held a reception on July 13 at Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich to celebrate French National Day. Consul-General of France Siv Leng Chhuor was in attendance to celebrate the occasion with a diverse group of guests from around the world.

C

antonese fine-dining restaurant Jiang by Chef Fei was awarded one Michelin star in the first edition of Michelin Guide Guangzhou 2018. Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou’s stylish Ebony restaurant was also recognized by the Michelin Guide as a Michelin Plate restaurant. 48 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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erchiston International School – Shenzhen’s first and only school providing a British education and boarding system – welcomed the Right Honourable Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh Frank Ross among a contingent of foreign dignitaries. Lord Provost praised “the authentic Scottish look and feel of the school” and expressed his eagerness to return after the school opens in August 2018.

F

our Seasons Hotel Guangzhou’s Yu Yue Heen restaurant was recently honored as a ‘One-Star Restaurant’ in Guangzhou’s inaugural Michelin Guide. Yu Yue Heen, located on 71st floor of the hotel, offers authentic Cantonese cuisine with unsurpassed views of the city skyline in tranquil ambience.

HE ALT H | COMMUNITY

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR… FOR TCM Build Your Health and Prevent Illness Later in the Year By Jon Hanlon

S

anfu tian, or ‘the dog days of summer’ in English, is upon us here in Guangzhou. The 30- to 40-day period when the weather is expected to be at its hottest, Sanfu tian follows the lunar calendar, and this year runs from July 17 till August 25. Our summer weather is already hot and humid in Guangzhou, so the added heat of Sanfu tian can feel like adding insult to injury. Fortunately, this time of year offers a great opportunity to improve your health. If you suffer from seasonal health problems that flare up in autumn or winter, then now is the best time to have TCM treatment so you can prevent their recurrence. With every change in weather, your body adapts its internal environment to adjust to external climatic changes. As temperatures rise outside, your yang qi becomes abundant and active. You feel energized, have a greater urge to be active and feel less desire to sleep. Your body is warm, active and functioning at its maximum intensity. Now is the time to take advantage of these internal changes in order to correct imbalances that lead to recurrent health problems in the cooler months. It’s also the best time to correct health issues that are accompanied by weak feelings or sensitivity to cold. Specifically, Sanfu tian is the best time for treatment to prevent health problems associated with: • Allergic rhinitis, asthma, chronic bronchitis • Poor immunity, fatigue, feeling cold easily • Arthritis or other joint problems, especially if they get worse in cold weather • Gastritis, ulcers, chronic diarrhea, poor

digestion, low appetite • Most menstrual problems, especially period pain Most commonly, Sanfu tian treatments are given on four or five specific days of the Sanfu tian time period and use one of three TCM treatment methods: herbal plasters, moxibustion or herbal tonics. Most people are given very similar combinations of points or tonics and are advised to repeat the treatments during the Sanfu tian period over three consecutive years. You can choose to have your series of treatments anytime during the hot summer months and your doctor will recommend the best frequency of treatments specific to you. At United Family Hospital, we try to make the most out of Sanfu tian by scheduling long appointments which allow a complete consultation and accurate diagnosis. This is because we aim to get results you notice this year, not three years down the road.

Jonathan Hanlon is a TCM doctor at United Family Guangzhou Clinic. He uses acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to help people enjoy healthy, painfree lives. 广州和睦家医院 (即将开业); Guangzhou United Family Hospital (Opening soon) 广州市海珠 区芳园路28号 No. 28, Fangyuan Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China 和睦家广州诊所; United Family Guangzhou Clinic 广州市越秀区广州大道中301号人保 大厦附楼首层; 1F, Annex Building, PICC Building, 301 Guangzhou Avenue, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China 24小时服务中心; 24-Hour Service Center: 4008 919191

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FOOD, DRINK

& EVENTS IN GUANGZHOU Picture Perfect

Five patios perfect for summer in Guangzhou , p54

What’s on Waimai P53 50 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM 50 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Xinjiang Eats P56


FEATURE

MICHELIN MADNESS

What Four Guangzhou Chefs Really Think of the 2018 Michelin Guide By Matthew Bossons

The first-ever Guangzhou version of the esteemed Michelin Guide has arrived, and people – particularly those in the F&B industry – have opinions. In the wake of Michelin Guide Guangzhou 2018’s launch, we checked in with a number of long-time Guangzhou chefs to get their take on the book and the restaurants featured within – under the condition of strict anonymity, of course. Opinions vary greatly, from those who are happy with the selections to one Guangzhou chef who questioned if the guide is even real.

“It’s simply not possible that Michelin rewarded any restaurant in Guangzhou with a star…”

I used to have a Michelin star back in Germany and already sent an email to them about those rumors regarding Michelin in Guangzhou. [I’m] waiting for their reply, because it’s simply not possible that Michelin rewarded any restaurant in Guangzhou with a star... Let me wait for a reply from Michelin headquarters, I wouldn’t be surprised if I receive an answer different to the [online] posts. Officially, there’s no star rewards published for Guangzhou.

so many good restaurants in Guangzhou. It’s also a little bit strange that there’s not many Western restaurants in the book. To be honest, there’s not a lot of good Western restaurants in Guangzhou, but we still have a couple and they are not mentioned.

“I think more Western restaurants could have been included...”

I think the Michelin Guide is already too political in Asia, especially in China. When they started in Shanghai, there was a lot of controversy about which restaurants got stars and which didn’t. In this case, Guangzhou’s [guide] is just about Chinese restaurants and that’s okay, because we are in China, but I think more Western restaurants could have been included. With that said, I don’t want to [suggest that] the restaurants that were chosen are bad or don’t deserve [to be included]. The good thing is that the Michelin Guide coming to Guangzhou helps open a

lot of doors for [the city’s] restaurants and puts focus on the city.

“If they do not diversify the next guide… then I think the guide will become irrelevant for this market...” There is more to Guangzhou than just Cantonese cuisine, can I say that? More Western [cuisine] should have been included, more of what the city offers besides just the local cuisine. Hopefully the next guide with be more inclusive; if they do not diversify the next guide to showcase the unique and tremendous food Guangzhou offers then I think the guide will become irrelevant for this market. For a first guide, [the reviewers] did honor some good spots. They gave me a new hot list to follow up on, as some of the restaurants I have yet to dine in. The opinions expressed above are held by individuals and do not represent That's PRD.

“It might be the thinnest Michelin Guide in the world...”

Compared to Michelin Guide France and other countries’ guides, I would say it looks a little strange to have so few pages in the book… I’ve already had friends from France message me to say it might be the thinnest Michelin Guide in the world. After the selection, I think it’s correct, I think it’s good to promote the city and Cantonese food. The only thing I’m a little bit sad about is they didn’t open the door a little bit more to give more chances to people [to get in the guide], there are WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 51


GRAPE VINE THE SCANDALOUS SCOOP

OLDIE BUT GOODIE

We’re digging:

Antalya Garden

ritzy new whisky and cigar lounge Guu’s (page 59); the news that Canada’s favorite coffee shop – the legendary Tim Hortons – is planning to open 1,500 locations in China over the next decade; Xinjiang eats finding a place in Zhujiang New Town’s F&B pantheon, with the opening of Drunk Lou Lan (page 56); Lay’s delicious new wasabi chips; and a new taco/burrito eatery coming soon to Huaxun Jie (stay tuned!).

We’re done with:

the (hopefully) temporary closure of Xiaobei’s Namaste restaurant, allegedly due to licensing issues; and paying RMB18 for peanuts at Dragon Phoenix Bar in Haizhu (page 58).

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Named after the scenic, coastal city in Turkey, Antalya Garden specializes in a delectable range of Turkish fare. Located in Lieren Fang – a restaurant and bar locale opposite to Conrad Guangzhou, the two-floor eatery (second floor opening soon) is the reincarnation of the now-defunct Antalya Restaurant on Xingsheng Lu. As the name suggests, Antalya’s new location is blessed with a verdant garden, or rather, a patio with artificial grass. Nonetheless, it’s a lovely spot for toking on the ol’ water pipe and snacking on delightful Turkish edibles. On the rich, enticing menu is, first and foremost, kebab dishes with prices ranging from RMB75 for a chicken kebab to RMB550 for a mixed special kebab, which can feed up to four adults. For couples, we recommend sampling the Antalya mixed grill (RMB110): three different kebabs, a chicken wing, lamb chop, peppers, rice and hummus. Pair it with a glass of appetizingly-salty ayran and you’re good to go. Also worth sampling is Antalya’s collection of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean salads, among which the fatush salad (RMB35), toasted pieces of Arabic flat bread combined with mixed greens, will serve your stomach well. Cap your feast off with the tradition Arabic dessert kunafa (RMB40).

With a range of fruity flavors (apple, pineapple, watermelon and the like), the shishas that grace Antalya’s hookahs are made onsite and are arguably the restaurant’s crowning attraction. The amiable Egyptian man that makes the shisha will also tend to you during your smoke session, replacing burnt out coals when necessary. Shop 29A, Building 12, Lieren Fang, Liede Dadao Xi, Tianhe District 天河区猎德大道西猎人坊12栋29A


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

BREAKING BITE

Tea 5 Launches Summer Menu

LN Hotel Five’s Tea 5 restaurant launched their new summer menu last month, which features an array of light, delicious dishes perfect for Guangzhou’s sweltering summer heat. Seafood features prominently on the menu: stir fried razor clams with tofu and chili sauce offers diners a zesty palate smack with an eclectic mouthfeel, while the delightful steamed egg white with crab meat, crab roe and Chinese yellow wine delivers a rich, light taste. Tea 5’s summer menu is available for both lunch and dinner seatings until the end of August.

WHAT’S ON WAIMAI

Cai Mingwei One of Wuhan’s most celebrated culinary creations, reganmian, or ‘hot-dry noodles’ in English, is a soupless noodle dish that typically features soy sauce, sesame paste, pickled veggies, chives and chili oil. Among our favorite of the Middle Kingdom’s myriad noodle offerings, good reganmian is admittedly difficult to find in South China. Enter Cai Mingwei: a chain of nofrills Wuhan noodle shops that dish out authentic, lip-smackin’-good bowls of reganmian. Six different types of reganmian grace the menu, with variations ranging from the standard (vegetarian, RMB13) to the meaty (ground beef, RMB22) to the Cantonese-inspired (ca siu pork, RMB19). Also on offer: flavor-packed kimchi and pork guotie (RMB13), which are pan-fried to give the outer skin a light crispiness.

Among Cai Mingwei’s unique culinary delights is the humijiu (RMB9), a sweet, soupy porridge with tangyuan (sticky rice balls) and a subtle, boozy aftertaste (rice wine is an ingredient in the dish). We have to applaud the fine, noodleloving folks at Cai Mingwei for their excellent delivery setup: noodles come in a cardboard bowl, while the sauces and other condiments come in separate containers. This allows you to add the soy sauce and sesame paste to the noodles upon arrival and prevents the noodles and sauce from clumping together while being transported from the shop.

Price: RMB20 Good for: tasty noodles, booze-infused food Search for: Cai Mingwei 蔡明纬 Available on: Meituan, Eleme

SPONSORED

THE ROSÉ REVOLUTION

Once regarded as a sweet drink fit only for an unsophisticated palate, rosé has seen a huge spike in global popularity in the last 10 years. This phenomenon is partly attributable to the pink drink’s reputation as a fashionably premium, yet versatile and affordable product. The other driver was wine producers turning their focus to rosé by planting particular grapes in order to make a premium pink, and no longer seeing rosé as a by-product of red wine. Fueled by newfound popularity, we have seen a wave of exciting styles for consumers to choose from. Rosé is a whole new wine category to be discovered, from the classic dry ‘Provence’ style originating in France, to the aromatic, fruity style we see from New Zealand, with so many options in between. Rosé also provides the perfect solution to those of you who are normally red wine drinkers but find them too heavy during the hot and humid Guangzhou summer. It’s time for everyone to embrace a little pink! Join the new wave of wine drinkers and find one that suits your style.

The Ned Pinot Rosé, NZ Made from a combination of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, this wine echoes both the stone fruit notes of Pinot Gris and the red berries aroma of Pinot Noir. Powerful fruit-driven notes are elegantly balanced by hints of citrus. This is a perfect stand-alone wine to be enjoyed over a summer afternoon, as well as an excellent pairing for grain salads, fried fish, seafood pastas and even steak!

Asara Pinotage Rosé

Made with 100 percent Pinotage grapes from Stellenbosch, South Africa, this wine shows wild berry, candy floss and melon aromas on the nose. The palate is fresh and full, with juicy red berries, honeydew and limy zest. Crispy red fruits linger in the aftertaste. This wine pairs beautifully with seafood and fish, as well as meat dishes, and is an ideal partner for seafood salads, cold cuts and Cantonese-style BBQ pork. Where to find these wines: Social&Co offers The Ned Pinot Rosé and Fuel French Restaurant the Asara Pinotage Rosé. You can order a wider range of Rosé wines for home delivery from www.thewinepeople.cn

PRETTY IN PINK Enjoy 10% discount on our special Pretty in Pink promotion. 990 RMB for ONE mixed case of 6 wines, including home delivery Please scan the QR code to get in touch with us.

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E AT & DR INK | F E AT UR E

PICTURE PERFECT Five Patios Perfect for Summer in Guangzhou By Matthew Bossons

It's time to take advantage of this excellent (read: super hot) weather and take every opportunity to be outside (or under the nearest AC unit, your call). Here's a list of our top picks for al fresco dining and drinking spots in Guangzhou, because food and booze taste even better in the open air.

Roof Top Bar Located on the roof of LN Hotel Five, with a view of the riverside and striking Haizhu Bridge, this relaxing, al fresco bar offers front-row seats to one of the most picturesque nightscapes around.

LN Hotel Five, 277 Yanjiang Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District 越 秀区沿江中路277号岭南五号酒店 (8931 0505)

Mercato A new arrival on Guangzhou’s dynamic F&B scene, Mercato is as classy as it comes, whether you seek a lively atmosphere by the bar or an intimate meal under the city lights. Take your dinner al fresco or enjoy stunning post-dinner views of Zhujiang New Town from the spacious open-air patio. Shop 802, 8/F, K11 Art Mall, 6 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城珠江东路6号 K11购物艺术中心8楼802商铺 (6681 8086)

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F E AT UR E | E AT & DR INK

Morton’s Grille Perched on the fifth and sixth floors of International Grand City, just outside Liede station, Morton’s Grille treats visitors to breathtaking views of the Pearl River, Canton Tower and the cityscape beyond. Book an outdoor table in advance to make the most of your romantic splurge.

Shop L505 and L603, IGC Mall, 222 Xingming Lu, Tianhe District 天河区兴民路222号天汇广场五层505号和六 层603号 (8708 5888)

The Roof Bar The best kind of bar is a rooftop bar, and the best kind of drinks are drinks with a view. It’s what Instagram was made for – not those pseudo-artsy shots of Sunday brunch. Trendy, imported swills like Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo Chardonnay (RMB360) and Yamazaki 12 Year (RMB1,580) are on offer here, as are vintage wines and champagnes – all at prices one would expect to pay in such a swish establishment. 70/F, Park Hyatt Guangzhou, 16 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城华夏路16号广州柏悦酒店70层 (3769 1234)

Sky Bar Nothing beats panoramic views and booze, it’s a fact. And that’s why we love the Langham Place’s Sky Bar so much: vintage wines, cocktails and commanding views of the (often hazy) night sky. Additionally, this open-air establishment offers sunset gazing, swanky lighting and groovy beats. 4/F, Langham Place, Guangzhou, 638 Xin'gang Dong Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区新港东路638号广州南丰朗豪酒店4楼

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

DRUNK LOU LAN

Uyghur Fare in an Urban Setting By Tristin Zhang

The Place The lifeless remains of the ancient Kingdom of Loulan, located in Xinjiang’s Tarim Basin, are no place for drunken revelry. But inside Drunk Lou Lan restaurant, which is housed on the fifth floor of GTLand Spring Plaza, cracking a couple of ice-cold Xinjiang beers is a matter of course. Dressed in traditional Uyghur garb, female receptionists greet diners before leading them to their seats. The overall decor leaves something to be desired, with inexpensive plastic grape vines dangling from the ceiling – crude symbolism of the grape producing region. There is also a mural of the old Silk Road, which is arguably the only aesthetically-

SUPIN

Made for LOHAS By Tristin Zhang

The Place Sure, Shamian Island is home to some impressive architecture, but the gray, European-style building facades can quickly begin to blur together after wandering the area for a halfhour. That’s why we’re so impressed by Supin, a new cafe we stumbled upon during a recent stroll of the neighborhood. Facing north across the canal that separates the historic island from Liwan, Supin

pleasing design element in Drunk Lou Lan.

The Food

Topping the recommended list of specials is the ‘naang pit grilled lamb chops’ (RMB98/288). A mixture of pepper, salt, cumin and flour is applied to the boney portions of lamb before they are baked on the inner wall of a clay oven that’s also used to bake naang. When removed from the oven, the lamb chops have a crisp, golden skin. Eaten with a blend of ground red peppers and cumin, this lamb dish will sate any carnivore’s appetite. Another recommended dish is the popular ‘hand grasped lamb’ (RMB38/118/288), a popular steamed mutton dish consumed in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Tibet that comes with a mixed sauce of sesame oil, soy sauce and vinegar. Unfortunately for those unable to read Chinese, the menu has no English, with the exception of the ‘recommended specials’ section. For Chinese patrons unfamiliar with Xinjiang fare, questions will abound even when reading the Chinese names of some dishes, and Lou Lan’s staff seem too occupied to explain what’s what. Regardless, say suannai to the waitress and get yourself a cup of appetizing Xinjiang is located in an old mansion that has been spruced up with a mustard-yellow paint job and fresh, white window frames – making it a standout spot. Minimalistic decor and luscious dishes make Supin a vibrant new addition to the selfie and food photo scene of Shamian Island. Aside from the cafe, the building is also home to a florist and boutique shop.

The Food Boasting a farm-to-table approach, Supin guarantees that garden-fresh, organic produce is used in the preparation of its handsome brunch and salad selections. The dedication to freshness is apparent in the strangely named ‘healthy nut beef and guacamole with beef fruit’ (RMB68): mozzarella, sliced

yogurt (RMB9), which is sweetened by a smidgen of honey, to balance out the lamb grease.

The Vibe

Noisy, Drunk Lou Lan has the vibe of a typical Chinese restaurant but is much cleaner than a Lanzhou-style noodle shop. There are also private rooms on offer, with an additional service fee of RMB10 per person. A balcony for smokers can be found at the far end of the eatery. Price: RMB80-120 Who’s going: after-work white-collars, Northerners Good for: a meaty meal, Xinjiang eats Nearest metro: Zhujiang New Town (GTLand Spring Plaza Exit), 3 minutes

Open daily, 11am-2pm, 5-9.30pm; 5/F, GTLand Spring Plaza, 85 Huacheng Dadao, Tianhe District 天河区花城 大道85号高德置地春广场5楼 (3883 7126)

avocados, beef and tomatoes are layered on a piece of bread, with mayo and guacamole applied in between. This dish is sided by a mixed, green salad and mashed potatoes. We strongly recommend sampling the ‘double flow heart egg tuna salad’ (RMB58), which matches tuna seasoned with black pepper together with baby carrots, poached eggs, cucumbers, yellow peppers, snow peas and lettuce. The flavors are heavenly, bridging the gap between the robust and the delicate. On top of cakes, croissants and pies, hungry patrons may also opt for a hearty pasta. For drinks, the menu offers run-of-the-mill coffees, teas and juices, as well as several rice milk choices.

The Vibe

The atmosphere? Let’s just say your leafy, green meal here is enjoyed alongside flower shoppers and a pink, ceramic unicorn. It’s definitely an eclectic spot, but manly-men may want to opt for a pub lunch.

Price: RMB50-100 Who’s going: Shamian explorers, health-conscious folks Good for: brunching, organic salad Nearest metro: Huangsha (Exit F), 10 minutes Open daily, 10am-10pm; Shamian Bei Jie, Shamin Island, Liwan District 荔湾区沙面岛沙面北街 (199 2843 8323)

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

ALAN’S KITCHEN

Deceptively Sophisticated, a la Mall Dining By Lena Gidwani

The Place Hidden away in K11’s basement, Alan’s Kitchen stands out amidst a small sea of eateries, exuding an old-school, rustic, fine dining touch to a casual floor space. It’s cozy, with an expansive open kitchen, exposed brick walls with plenty of polished wood touches, luxurious foliage and dim mood lighting. Whilst we do concur that mall restaurants are usually not ideal for romantic dates and swanky business rendezvous, Alan’s is actually quite refined and boasts some delicious Italian-inspired, Westerncentric fare.

The Food

Helming the kitchen at Alan’s is the awardwinning Alan Yu himself, a Shanghai-born, American-raised executive chef. Yu has served at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as cooktops at some of the most desirable Michelin-starred locations in New York and Washington DC. Currently running Le Rivage and Alan’s Bistro in Shanghai, Alan’s Kitchen is his latest establishment in our humble South. The one page, leather-bound menu is undoubtedly short, but there’s a ‘less is more’ philosophy here. For appetizers, start with the burrata cheese (RMB78), with fresh rocket, grape-

fruit and a light balsamic dressing. Colorful, albeit on the smaller side, this fresh starter comes with a drizzle of crunchy hazelnuts, adding a textural component. Less successful appetizers are the Canadian scallops (RMB98) and the octopus (RMB98), which, oddly, could both do with an additional sprinkling of seasoning. Main courses fare better than the appetizers, and the beef Wellington is one reason to dine here. It seems like a crazy idea for any chef (unless your name is Gordon Ramsay) to pursue, as it’s one of the hardest preparations to pull off. A chunk of tenderloin is covered with Parma ham under a spread of finely chopped mushrooms and then packaged individually in a light puff pastry. Sitting on a buttery bed of potato puree with a rich red wine jus, the meat is well-cooked and the pastry flaky, although a decent touch of seasoning is needed to bring this dish up to snuff. A good order, although it’s yet to be added to be menu, is the American premium rib eye (RMB588). A 500-gram slab can easily feed up to four guests. It arrives divided for us, surrounded by swooshes of red wine jus and artistically presented seasonal vegetables. The arrival of the risotto (RMB128) is an immensely delightful welcome. It wallows in a creamy, black truffle-laden plate, topped with a generous portion of seared foie gras. We’d like to say it’s bliss on a plate, and that you’d ought to apologize to your thighs before indulging in this lush creation. To end the repast, order

Alan’s signature dessert: lemon (RMB36). And yes, it looks just like one too. Crack lightly with a fork and dig in; there’s light mousse, bits of candied lemon and finely chopped mint.

The Vibe

Alan’s Kitchen works a decent treat even though it’s in a mall, making it a fine example of yet another establishment that has sprung upon us with little fanfare. Go on, dig into a beef wellington or truffle risotto, and just remember: keep the salt and pepper shakers close at hand.

Price: RMB300 Who’s going: fans of restaurants like Li Chateau, chilled beef lovers Good for: swanky mall meets, dress-down fine dining Nearest metro: Huacheng Dadao (APM Line), 2 minutes Open daily, 11am to 10pm; B131-132, K11 Mall, 6 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江东路6号K11艺术购物中心B131-132铺 (8758 8563)

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DRAGON & PHOENIX STREET BAR Longfeng Jiedao Rising By Jesse Pottinger

T

ucked away in an unassuming side street, a few blocks east of the popular nighttime hangout Taigucang Wharf, sits a seemingly out of place late-night destination: Dragon & Phoenix Street Bar, fittingly named after the neiborhood it resides in (Longfeng Jiedao). Despite its relatively hidden location, we notice the bar well before reaching the entrance, as the enchanting, pink neon lights lure you away from the otherwise dimly-lit road. A relatively new establishment, Dragon & Phoenix Street Bar has been open for less than six months. At the moment, only the ground floor is in operation, with the second set to open in about two months. There are two beers on tap: Tiger (RMB32/500 milliliters) and Hoegaarden (RMB58/500 milliliters) – both at prices that seem fitting for the more frequented pubs of Zhujiang New Town, but a bit steep for this low-key backstreet bar. Dragon & Phoenix also has a respectable collection of whiskeys. Though the menu lists only 29, the owner tells us that there are over 40 and the shelf behind the bar does seem to 58 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

boast a huge selection (though we couldn’t be bothered to count). Top shelf liquors must be purchased by the bottle, with the rest going for RMB50-65 per glass. Ask the laoban for his favorite and he’ll proudly bring you a bottle of Ardbeg Uigedail. As it is still in the developing stages, there are currently no major meals available for order. And while there is a selection of snacks, they are not particularly cheap: peanuts will put you back RMB18, while offerings like spicy chicken feet, chicken wings, and Japanese-style pizza go for RMB38, and fire beef or six-flavor French fries cost RMB58. Customers are primarily Chinese locals, and while it was quiet inside during our visit, the manager assures us that it was packed for the World Cup final the previous night. The bar hosts live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with rotating musicians playing RnB, jazz and pop – all in English. There’s also four TVs scattered throughout the space, and a private room in the back that can be booked via Dianping, although it’s free to take if it isn’t being used.

If you forgot to clean up before your date, not to worry, the washroom is stocked like a 7 Days Inn, with mouthwash, sanitary pads, Q-tips and toothpicks – all that’s missing is a toothbrush and toothpaste. If you’re looking to get away from the crowded bars of Tianhe and Taojin to relax at a watering hole that’s still flying under the radar, Dragon & Phoenix Street Bar is a safe bet. But if you’re hoping for under the radar prices, we recommend grabbing a couple cans from the closest C-Store and taking a stroll through the lovely surrounding neighborhood before heading inside.

Price: RMB50-65 for whiskey, RMB33-58 for draft beer Who’s going: Haizhu locals, people who got lost on their way to Taigucang Good for: sipping whiskey, escaping the expat bar crowd. Nearest metro: Fenghuang Xincun (Exit A), 10 minutes

Open daily, 6pm-2am; 25 Xinmin Liu Jie, Gexin Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区革新路新民六街25号 (186 6600 7899)


NE W B A R | E AT & DR INK

GUU’S CIGAR AND WHISKY LOUNGE ‘Connoisseuring’ Behind Closed Doors By Lena Gidwani

I

f you manage to track down this discreetly located whisky and cigar lounge, you'll find yourself transported to one of Guangzhou’s most authentic (and inconspicuous) speakeasies. To discover it, you’ll have to pinpoint a slightly rundown, unkempt building that doesn’t look like much at all, except for the uninterrupted, scenic views of the Canton Tower and Chigang Pagoda at its doorstep. In the building’s lobby there’s a medley of oddly placed furniture under naked lightbulbs, and a black sign citing the lounge’s signature. Under it, a slothful guard sits behind a tatty white desk. He won’t bat an eyelid as you wait for the elevator. Look right as you emerge from the lift for yet another sign and a heavy, apartment-like metal door. Ring the black doorbell and wait for approval from the doorkeeper, who will peek out at you through the peephole. Oh, did we mention how to get a drink? You’ll have to get in first, of course, by calling ahead and making a reservation. Another surefire way is by being personally invited to be a member by one of Guu’s 10 shareholders, all of whom are whisky and cigar evangelists as well as topnotch bankers, financiers and/or property men. Membership is free and there are two tiers: black gets you 10 percent off regular menu prices, and gold gets you 20 percent off. Now that you’re in (and if you’re a true connoisseur), your heart may just skip a beat as

you go past the earmarked glass cases and over to the bar. Under the auspices of bartenders in starched white shirts, your preferred poison will have to be either aged, rare or elusive, as you won’t find Johnnies, Jims or Jacks around here. The menu is divided into regions: Speyside, Highlands, Lowlands, Islay, Campbeltown and Islands, following pages with more pours from Japan and Taiwan. The premium likes of Macallan 12 sell at RMB88 per glass or RMB1,780 per bottle, Glenfiddich 30 at RMB500 per glass or RMB8,500 per bottle, or Laphroaig 10 cask strength at RMB320 per glass or RMB4,500 for a bottle. Price wise, it’s strategic, so as to attract the right (read: wellheeled) crowd. Cocktails run upwards of RMB80, and there’s just a smattering of them to tempt. Order a Trinidad Sour (RMB120); the rich and alluring concoction of rye whisky and Angostura bitters is balanced with orgeat (almond syrup) and fresh citrus. Whisky and cigar pairings feature too: the Speyside package comes with four firstclass pours and a Punch at RMB888, or opt for a single tasting, such as Lagavulin 8 with a H.Upmann 46 at RMB320. Private parties are prevalent here and booking out the entire space is possible if spending exceeds RMB20,000 (RMB30,000 on weekends), with fine dining meal sets

catered by Wilber’s. Past the walk-in humidor stocked heavily with the likes of Partagas, Cohibas and Romeo y Julietas, there’s a balance between old and new. The interiors of Guu’s is undoubtedly inspired by the prohibition era; the leather armchairs are glossy and plush, the marbled tables glisten under dim light, mirrors and artistic collectibles hide in seductive corners around the jazz music stage – each detail adding to the lounge’s atmosphere. Beyond the setting, however, is the new: floor to ceiling windows showcase the city in all its modern glory, enveloping a relatively young and snazzy crowd with dough to blow. Head to Guu’s if you want to sink deep into a subtle vibe that is yet to be fully discovered by the common masses. Price: Depends – the older it is, the more it costs. Who’s going: connoisseurs and moneybags, those seeking a private hideaway Good for: distilled collectibles, fulfilling a Winston Churchill reverie Nearest metro: Kecun (Exit B), 10 minutes

Open daily, 6pm-late; Room 901, Zhenhua Business Center, 234 Yijing Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区艺景路 234号振华商务中心901号 (1810 264 7113) WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 59


Dua Lipa China Tour Dream Pop/R&B

Steve Barakatt Piano

HEAR Mouse on the Keys

Post-rock

Japanese post-rock band Mouse on the Keys is touring China with their brandnew, critically acclaimed album Tres. The band, formed in 2006, is a blend of minimally phrased piano and dynamic drumming. With music that infuses elements of jazz, funk, post-rock and electronic music, Mouse on the Keys fits into a genre entirely of their own. On this China trip, the band will be backed up by amazing visuals to give audiences an exciting and explosive live performance. Mon Aug 30, 8.30pm; RMB120 presale, RMB150 at the door. Mao Livehouse, 1/F, Zhongzhou Trading Center, Huizhan Nan Wu Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区会展南五路中州交易中 心1楼 (newnoise.cn)

Quebecker Steve Barakatt was born to a family of Lebanese origin and exposed to piano at the age of four. A versatile pianist, Barakatt has performed in countless venues across the world. Orchestras he has collaborated with in his threedecade-long career include Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Sun Aug 12, 3pm; RMB80-280. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路 1号广州大剧院 (3839 2888, gzdjy.org)

win! UK superstar singer-songwriter Dua Lipa is bringing her much-anticipated China debut tour to Guangzhou this September. As the most streamed female artist on Spotify, her soulful single ‘Be the One’ reached the top 10 on music charts in a dozen European countries. Later on in her career, Lipa broke the record in the US for Billboard’s longest run on the Pop Songs Chart at 42 weeks. Reserve your tickets for the British songstress’ live Guangzhou concert this September. Tue Sep 11, 8pm; RMB380-980. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, 259 Dongfeng Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区东风中路259号中山纪念堂 (en.damai.cn)

Satoshi Gogo Guitar

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

H Zettrio Instrumental Munich Boys Choir

Seasoned Japanese guitarist Satoshi Gogo released his first album when he was only 16 years old, after winning the Morris Fingerpicking Contest – a famous guitar competition in Japan. Gogo is touring China with his latest album, Shipmates, and he’s scheduled to perform for Guangzhou’s guitar lovers this month at T:union. Sun Aug 12, 7.30am; RMB99 standee, RMB199 rear rows, RMB299 front rows, RMB399 VIP. T:union, 361-365 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Yuexiu District 越秀区广州大道中361-365号东 方花苑1层凸空间 (showstart.com)

The Münchner Knabenchor (Munich Boys Choir) was founded by conductor Ralf Ludewig so that the citizens of Munich could witness a boys’ choir composed of the city’s own youth. Inspired by the child on the City of Munich’s coat of arms, many young boys joined the choir – embarking on a prestigious musical adventure. Since its inception, the group has performed many a show and even participated in the production of the famous stage show Magic Flute. Sun Aug 12, 8pm; RMB100-580. Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Lu, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District 越秀区二沙岛晴波路33号星海音乐厅 (247tickets.com)

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Japan’s instrumental band H Zettrio – keyboards, drums and an acoustic bass – is gifted at creating light-hearted music in a humorous fashion. The trio colors their noses before each show to give them a clownish quality, livening up their comical live performances, which, on most occasions, see both grown-ups and children clap along, laugh or dance. Sun Aug 26, 7-8.30pm; RMB120 presale, RMB150 at the door. Mao Livehouse, 1/F, Zhongzhou Trading Center, Huizhan Nan Wu Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区会展南五路中州交易中 心1楼 (showstart.com)


Tamaryn Shoegaze/

Darkwave

New Zealand-born but now based in the US, Tamaryn mixes up genres to create music that gets under your skin. In three studio albums, she’s woven dream pop, shoegaze, post-punk, gothic rock, synth-pop and electronic sounds to produce something entirely her own. She’ll be joined by dream pop/shoegaze newcomer Pocari Sweet, which recently came together in Guangzhou. Sat Aug 11, 7.30-9pm; RMB120 presale, RMB150 at the door. 191 Space, 191 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Yuexiu District 越秀区广州大道中191 号 (showstart.com)

Liquid Oxygen Can Neo metal

Liquid Oxygen Can is deemed the most ‘Eastern’ band of all the Chinese neoclassical metal bands: their sound is infused with musical elements of oriental nations such as the dagu, a large drum played with two sticks. Over their career, which spans 17 years, the seven-member rock band have established themselves as a banner of heavy metal and rock and roll in the Middle Kingdom. This month, check out their concert in Guangzhou as they tour with their latest album Call to Arms. Sat Aug 18, 8.30-10pm; RMB100. SD Livehouse, Building No. 7, Huacheng Wangshi Creative Area, 132 Gongye Dadao Bei, Haizhu District 海珠区工业大道 北132号花城往事创意园7栋 (showstart.com)

Scraps of Tape Indie

rock

Uniquely gloomy temperament, unconventional song structure and unrestrained arrangement make Scraps of Tape out of the ordinary when compared with other indie rock bands in Sweden. Touring China with their latest album The Will to Burn, which comprises merely six tracks (which took form next to a cracking fire in an old schoolhouse, allegedly), the Swedish band is set for an electrifying performance in Guangzhou. Mon Aug 6, 8.30pm; RMB80 presale, RMB100 at the door. SD Livehouse, Building No. 7, Huacheng Wangshi Creative Area, 132 Gongye Dadao Bei, Haizhu District 海珠区工业大道北 132号花城往事创意园7栋 (showstart. com)

Geneva Brass Quintet

DoubleBeats

Classical Music

Percussion

Consisting of two award-wining talents – Ni Fan of China and Germany’s Lukas Böhm, this young duo is the first percussion ensemble in chamber music worldwide. Artistically supervised by renowned Chinese percussionist Li Biao, DoubleBeats is staging a performance in Guangzhou this month with the company of Li’s percussion band. Sat Aug 25, 3pm; RMB80-380. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路 1号广州大剧院 (3839 2888, gzdjy.org)

win! We have one pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before August 22 with the subject ‘DoubleBeats’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

Five Swiss virtuoso chamber musicians, with their uncompromising aptitude for brass instruments, came together to form the Geneva Brass Quintet after graduating from the Geneva Conservatory. With a repertoire that is eclectic in style and period, the quintet have displayed their passion to audiences at various festivals and concert halls. This month, liven up with GBQ’s brisk music as they commence another tour through the Middle Kingdom. Sun Aug 26, 3pm; RMB80-280. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天 河区珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (3839 2888, gzdjy.org)

win! We have one pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before August 23 with the subject ‘Geneva’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

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Cats the Musical

SEE

Dark Circus by Stereoptik Audiovisual show

Kinky Boots Musical

Based on true events, Kinky Boots is a celebration of friendship, telling the story of a shoe factory owner struggling to save his business and a beautiful cabaret performer with some wild ideas. The duo eventually partners to creates a line of stilettos, the likes of which the world has never seen. Dazzling, sassy and uplifting, this big-hearted hit is based on the eponymous British film, which was released in 2005. With rocking scores by one of America’s earliest female icons – singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper – the musical rendition of Kinky Boots has garnered many an accolade, including the Tony Award for Best Original Score and countless other ‘Best Musical’ awards. Tue-Sun Aug 9-19, 2.30pm/7.30pm; RMB180-980. Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区 珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (247tickets. com)

Cats is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history. Since its premiere, it has been presented in over 30 countries, translated into 15 languages and seen by over 73 million people worldwide. With “timeless music, spectacular sets and a superb cast” (Daily Mirror), breathtaking choreography and, of course, the unforgettable song ‘Memory,’ it is a magical musical like no other. Tue-Sun Aug 30-Sep 16, 2.30pm/7.30pm, RMB280-1,380. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (3839 2888, gzdjy.org)

win!

Telling stories with sand, ink, paper and a healthy dose of imagination, French visual artists Jean-Baptiste Maillet and Romain Bermond create something magical for theater audiences. The duo utilizes shadows, objects and puppets, silent films, fairy tales and cartoons in their performances, which are accompanied by improvised music. Dark Circus is Millet and Bermond’s first scripted performance. Tue-Wed Aug 14-15, 7.30pm; RMB80380. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区 珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (3839 2888, gzdjy.org)

win! We have one pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before August 12 with the subject ‘Dark Circus’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

Dinosaur Zoo Live Interactive stage

We have one pair of tickets to this show to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before August 7 with the subject ‘Boots' and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

JOF Art Exhibition

A collection of artwork by Australian painter Justin Ole Fischer (JOF) is on display at Blue Seaweed, an artsy cafe in Dongshankou. The Australian artist, poet and designer is the executive curator of Art Canton, an international-grade art exhibition. Daily ongoing, noon-10pm; free entry. Blue Seaweed Art Cafe, 7 Yijun Lu, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District 越 秀区东山口均益路七号蓝藻咖啡艺术 荟 (8765 0960) 62 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Guiding you on an awe-inspiring tour through prehistoric Australia, Dinosaur Zoo Live is the opportune occasion to observe, meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazingly lifelike dinosaurs and other creatures. Produced by Australian theater troupe Erth, the show is brought to life by a team of skilled performers and puppeteers, and designed with the help of professional paleontologists. Dinosaur Zoo Live promises to thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations. Sat-Sun Aug 25-26, 10.30am/3.30pm; RMB100-450. Guangdong Performing Arts Center Theater, 1229 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Tianhe District 天河区广州大道中1229号广东 演艺中心剧院 (damai.cn)


Mid-Autumn Artistry by The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou

Langham Master Mooncakes

TA S T E Mandarin Oriental Mooncakes

Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou is proudly launching a scrumptious collection of mooncakes for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Priced at RMB288 per box, the hotel’s four-piece mooncake set boasts Cantonese-style crust pastries with three flavors of stuffing. For RMB588 per box, you can snatch a six-piece set, which comes with traditional mooncakes and a select bottle of wine. Like previous years, there will also be a selection of limited edition chocolate mooncakes, which are handmade by the hotel’s dessert chef and priced at RMB368 for four. For more information, call 3808 8886. Daily until Sep 24, 8am-8pm. Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou, 389Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District 天河区天河路389号 广州文华东方酒店 (3808 8886)

The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou, in partnership with Xiaochuang Art Studio, presents exquisitely designed mooncake gift boxes to celebrate this year’s MidAutumn Festival. The dessert packaging is inspired by the vibrant jewelry collection Maritime Silk Road, which is designed by Zhang Xiaochuang, an artist and jewelry designer from Guangzhou. The blue boxes are meant to symbolize the sea and to present the message that “the moon shines bright over the sea, and we share the same moment regardless of where you are.” Prices start from RMB268. Daily until Sep 24. The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou, 3 Xing’an Lu, Tianhe District 天河区兴安路3号广州富力丽思 卡尔顿酒店 (3813 6638)

Ming Court at Langham Place, Guangzhou is offering three mooncake sets prepared by the hotel’s best chefs. Each of the three packages (priced at RMB298/308) come in a beautiful, flower-pattern adorned jewelry box and feature high-quality pastries made from secret, in-house recipes. Daily Aug 15-Sept 24, noon-8pm. Ming Court, 3/F, Langham Place, Guangzhou, 638 Xin’gang Dong Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区新港东路638 号广州南丰朗豪酒店三楼明阁 (8916 3588)

Celebrating 33 Years of LN Garden Hotel

Summer Family Menu at G Restaurant

5-kuai Beer Happy Hour

Roof Top Bar at LN Hotel Five is excited to announce the return of its most popular offer: ‘Give Me 5.’ Boasting a relaxing ambience and beautiful panoramic views of the Pearl River, Roof Top Bar is the perfect retreat to spend a laid-back evening. On the 5th, 15th and 25th of the month, choose from a selection of five bottled beer brands, each priced at only RMB5, or enjoy a free flow of house wine at RMB55 per person during happy hour (5.30-9.30pm). Call 8931 0505 for more information and reservations. Aug 5/15/25, 5.30-9.30pm. Roof Top Bar, LN Hotel Five, Guangzhou, 277 Yanjiang Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区沿江中路277号广州岭南五号酒店 (8931 0505)

This month, on the occasion of its 33rd anniversary, LN Garden Hotel is offering Guangzhouers month-long specials at its fine dining restaurants. Dine at Carousel and enjoy free flow of red and white house wine for two people for only RMB82.8 (in addition to dining costs). Moreover, guests born in August can enjoy one buffet meal for free when dining in at Carousel (minimum four diners per table), or one complimentary bottle of red or white house wine and a delicious birthday cake at Lobby Lounge on bills over RMB300 (per table). For reservations, call 189 2625 8505. Daily all month. LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区环市东路368号 广州花园酒店 (189 2625 8505)

Enjoy the splendor of summer this month by indulging in G Restaurant’s new ‘family sharing menu’! Specially prepared by Executive Chef David Jean Marteau of Grand Hyatt Guangzhou and his team, this is the perfect meal to share with your loved ones during Guangzhou’s hot summer months. All month except for Aug 17; noon2.30pm, 6-10pm. RMB688 plus 15 percent for 3 persons. G Restaurant, Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, 12 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路 12号广州富力君悦大酒店 (8396 1234)

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DO TEDxXiguan 2018 Conference We are living in an age that values speed, opulence and success. Life in Guangzhou, one of the biggest cities in China, is emblematic of that. We want it all and we want it now. But at what cost? Our reality demands a new set of very real questions; TEDxXiguan chooses to spend time exploring them. At this year’s edition of TEDxXiguan, speakers include anthropologist Gordon Mathews, advocate Yi’ou Wang, photographer and artist Stefen Chow and executive business coach Mette Pausgaard. If time is precious, what price will we ultimately pay if we do not spend it wisely? Ponder the question nowhere else but at TEDxXiguan. To reserve your ticket, scan the QR code. Sun Aug 26, 9am-6pm; RMB368. LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区环市东路368号广州花园酒店 (tedxxiguan.com)

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HONG KONG & MACAU CALENDAR HK

AUG 15 WED

Why Don't We: The Invitation Tour, 8pm; HKD490. Music Zone @ E-max, (livenation.hk) The boy-est of America’s new boy bands visits Hong Kong as part of their first world tour, touting hits like ‘Trust Fund Baby’ and ‘Why Don’t We.’ They’ve swept YouTube with their combo of infectious beats, autotuned hooks and awshucks dimples. Now it’s time to see if they can deliver IRL.

AUG 25-26 Radwimps Asia Live Tour, 8pm; HKD780-980. Star Hall, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre(hkticketing.com) These genre-hopping rock darlings were building steam since their 2003 debut, but after composing the soundtrack to Your Name the band became a household name in Japan. The 2016 body-swapping anime captivated the country, with the Radwimps’ score helping it become the second-best selling ever. Hear the band as they take their blend of emo/post-punk/funk rock on the road.

AUG 17-26 FRI-SUN

SAT-SUN

Mozart’s The Magic Flute, 7.30pm; HKD100-380. Hong Kong City Hall, Concert Hall (operahongkong.org) Get lost again in the fairy-tale love between Prince Tamino and Pamina, star-crossed by the machinations of her mother, the Queen of the Night. Her brilliant aria bursts to life with all its famous force and magic, all the more pronounced in this simple, semistaged presentation.

MO

AUG 24

AUG 23-26

FRI

THU-SUN

Feast of Hungry Ghosts, all day; free. Throughout Macau. Celebrated across Central Asia, the Feast of Hungry Ghosts takes place during the seventh month of every Lunar New Year. Buddhist and Taoist legend states that during this time, late ancestors and forgotten spirits briefly return to Earth from the afterlife to visit their living relatives – and they are hungry. It is tradition for families to prepare large meals and provide clothing for their lost loved ones to bring back to the realm beyond. You will also see incense being burned all over the city, along with small paper objects, to appease the souls of the dead and bless them in their journey onward.

AUG 4-5, 11-26 DAILY

Macau International Mime Festival 2018, times vary; MOP120 per show, two shows for MOP192 (20 percent off), all four shows for MOP336 (30 percent off). CANU Theatre, Old Court Building 2nd Floor (macauticket.com) When you think of mimes, your mind may conjure the image of the white-faced man trapped in an imaginary box, but the genre of performance art is far broader than that caricature suggests. The inaugural 2018 festival aims to highlight the wide range of artistic expressions that miming encompasses, with four unique performances by artists from England, France, Brazil, Japan and Macau showcasing magic, pantomime, clowns and marionettes. There will also be two workshops for miming and card magic, a movie session and a weeklong master class from world famous clown master Philippe Gaulier.

AUG 16-19

THROUGH AUG 18

THU-SUN

FRI-SUN ALICE (in Wonderland), 2.30pm and 7.30pm; HK$280-780. Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Yuen Long Theatre (hkballet.com) The Hong Kong Ballet bursts into summer with a spectacular reimagining of Lewis Caroll’s classic. With a thrilling score from the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, explosively creative choreography from Septime Webre and costumes to match, this extravagant new Alice expands the fantasy to something truly marvelous.

AUG 22 WED

Witness For The Prosecution, 8pm and 3pm Sunday matinee; HKD280780. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (hkticketing.com) Three of Hong Kong’s most famous actors – Carina Lau, Paul Chun and Tse Kwan Ho – star in one of Agatha Christie’s most suspenseful mysteries. When a wealthy older woman is killed, suspicion turns to the married man set to inherit her fortune. But as his wife agrees to testify against him, hoping to save him with her perjury, the secrets begin to unravel, leaving the courtroom stunned. Note: this performance is entirely in Cantonese.

World Animation Festival, various screening times; screenings: MOP60, workshops: MOP200. CinemathequePassion (cinematheque-passion.mo) For over two weeks, the World Animation Festival will be showing 14 incredible animations in Macau, as well as offering two-hour workshops where visitors can learn how to create a basic animation. The festival is divided into four categories: the Bright Series, Dark Series, China’s Hit Series and Director-in Focus – where the four most famous films by the late animation master Satoshi Kon will be screened for audiences. Among the other films are a number of award-nominated and award-winning productions, including the latest hit film by Wes Anderson – Isle of Dogs.

Theatresports 2018, 7.45pm; MOP100. Macau Cultural Centre (macauticket.com) The theatresports concept began in Alberta in 1977, and has since ballooned into a worldwide theatrical genre. The show involves two competing teams going head-tohead in an improvisational comedy battle. Each side takes turns acting out skits based on suggestions from the audience, and in the end a winner is decided. Theatresports shows are sure to be full of laughs – there’s a reason they’ve become internationally popular – and, due to their improvisational nature, each show is guaranteed to be different from the last!

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HOTEL NEWS NEWS Marco Polo Lingnan Tiandi Foshan Appoints Michael Loh as Director of Restaurants, Bars and Events

Langham Place, Guangzhou Appoints Chau Oi Fong as Chinese Executive Chef

Mr. Michael Loh has recently been appointed director of RB&E for Marco Polo’s Lingnan Tiani Foshan location. Formerly director of RB&E for the hotel’s Shenzhen branch, the Monash University graduate brings over 15 years of experience in hospitality management to his new position. Having worked in Hong Kong for 10 years, and collaborated with several Michelin-starred chefs, Loh is poised to maximize the hotels profits and quality of service, while also offering creative new dining experiences to Foshan’s food lovers.

On July 13, Langham Place, Guangzhou announced the appointment of Chau Oi Fong as the hotel’s new chief executive chef. With 25 years of industry experience preparing outstanding Cantonese cuisine, the Hong Kong native will continue to ensure that Langham Place’s Michelin-starred cuisine at Ming Court, and offerings at the hotel’s Chinese banquets, remain of an unparalleled quality.

Langham Place, Guangzhou Partners with EarthCheck In order to provide the best possible environmental and social sustainability practices for its business, Langham Place, Guangzhou announced a new partnership with EarthCheck, the world-leading provider in environmental benchmarking and certification. The Hotel’s Senior Director of Engineering will act as the EarthCheck coordinator, ensuring that all future programs between the two companies are rolled out successfully.

PROMOTIONS Enjoy Foodie Fun this Summer at Holiday Inn Guangzhou Airport Zone Celebrate summer vacation at Holiday Inn Guangzhou Airport Zone and enjoy heavy buffet discounts at Fresco Western Restaurant and a fabulous children’s cooking class. Originally priced at RMB188, the buffet dinner at Fresco All-Day Dining Restaurant costs only RMB128 per student (holding a valid student card) and RMB93 per child (under 1.4 meters tall). Conveniently located near a number of tourist sites, the Holiday Inn Guangzhou Airport Zone is the perfect place for you and your loved ones to celebrate summer! Holiday Inn Guangzhou Airport Zone, 11 Jingu Bei Lu, Huadu District 花都区金 谷北路11号广州富力空港假日酒店 (3691 6888)

Vito Romeo Appointed Managing Director of Rosewood Sanya

Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe Celebrates its 6th Anniversary

The luxurious Rosewood Sanya, which opened last August, officially has a new managing director: Mr. Vito Romeo. A native Italian, Mr. Romeo has more than 30 years’ hospitality experience and has held senior hotel manager positions all over the world, most recently as general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu and previously at ShangriLa Bosphorus Istanbul and Shangri-La Vancouver. Aside from being well traveled, Mr. Romeo loves architecture, golf, cooking and collecting cookbooks, and passionately follows Juventus Football Club.

June 16 marked the six-year anniversary of Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe. Since its inception, the hotel has earned a reputation for its topnotch service, with prime accommodation and catering, and the ability to care for both business and leisure travelers. Last year, it was awarded Tripadvisor’s 2017 certificate of excellence, in addition to being nominated by the World Tourism Awards as Asia’s Leading City Hotel 2018 and China’s Leading City Hotel 2018.

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LN Hotel Five Third Anniversary Celebrations Celebrate LN Hotel Five's third anniversary this month with a relaxing staycation at the hotel's executive room, starting from RMB888 (plus surcharge and tax) per room per night. Also included in the room cost: two complimentary tickets to the evening Pearl River Cruise, so that you can take in the gorgeous nightscape of Guangzhou. Guests enjoy a 30 percent discount on authentic Cantonese delicacies at Tea 5 restaurant and on signature cocktails at Roof Top Bar (per room, per day). For reservations, call 8931 0505. Book before August 31 to enjoy the above-mentioned perks. LN Hotel Five, 277 Yanjiang Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District 越秀区沿江中路277号岭南 五号酒店 (8931 0505)


TRAVEL DEALS Find Your Perfect Summer Holiday with Zhuhai Chimelong's Kids Passport This summer, the Zhuhai Chimelong hotels complex has launched the Chimelong Kids Camp, offering an exciting lineup of new experiences for visitors. Guests who book a three-day, two-night package will receive a passport for their children during the stay, providing access to 18 different fun-filled activities, including a dolphin science class, floriculture workshop and cooking workshop. Children who can accomplish all the designated tasks will be awarded a complimentary buffet voucher for any of the three themed hotels. Prepare to have a blast! A unique and memorable summer holiday experience for both parents and children starts here. For reservations, call 0756-299 8888 or add Chimelong on WeChat (ID:CLhengqinbayhotel). Fuxiang Bay, Hengqin New District, Zhuhai 珠海市横琴新区富祥湾 (0756299 8888)

Fabulous Family Escape at Rosewood Sanya Spend days lounging and playing on pristine white sand beaches and splashing in the tropical waters of Haitang Bay, and nights blissfully relaxing in an Ocean View Room or Suite. Wake-up each morning to a sumptuous complimentary breakfast for two adults and one child and feast on the finest flavors of the island with a RMB1,000 dining credit. Looking to rejuvenate and relax? No problem: you can revitalize your mind and body with a complimentary 30-minute massage and 20 percent discount on all additional treatments at Sense, A Rosewood Spa. Special children’s welcome amenities and complimentary kids’ activities at The Breakers, a RMB300 laundry credit and one-way airport transfers round out this amazing family-tailored escape. This promotion is valid until August 31. Rosewood Sanya, 6 Haitang North Road, Haitang District, Sanya 三亚市海棠 区海棠北路6号三亚保利瑰丽酒店 (0898-8871 6666, rosewoodhotels.com)

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LISTINGS FOOD & DRINK 1920 Restaurant 1) 4/F, 1 Jianshe Liu Malu, Yuexiu District; 2) Shops 67, 69, 72 & 76, The Canton Place, Qingfeng Jie, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (8388 1142); Shop MW01-03, 05, Central Zone, Mall of the World, 89 Huacheng Dadao, Tianhe District (8709 6033) 1920 咖啡厅 1) 建设六马路一号前幢 4 楼 ; 2) 天河区珠江新城清风街 48 号广粤天地 67, 69, 72, 76 号铺 ; 3) 天河区花城大道 89 号花城汇 MW01-03, 05 商铺 Aroma Bistro Shop 117, 1/F, Voka Street, 460 Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District (185 0200 1416) 天河区天河北路460号沃凯街首层 117铺

ensured that the food delivers to both local and foreign palates. Enjoy a gratifying meal, with a menu that boasts a wide range of appetizers, soups, pastas and both meaty and marine-filled mains. On the occasion of The Eating Table's 2-year anniversary this past October, Michelin-starred chef Michel Portos has crafted a series of appetizing dishes for this winter. Shop 401, 4/F, GTLand Winter Plaza, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新 城高德置地冬广场4楼401室 (8398 0860)

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383 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (2808 6333) 宝莱纳 , 天河区天河路 383 号太古汇广场 L307 Rebel Rebel 42 Tiyu Dong Lu, Tianhe District (8520 1579) 天河区体育东路42号

Ricci Creative Eats Shop 015B, G/F, Popark Mall, No.63 Linhe Zhong Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China (Across the street from IKEA) (3809 6330) 天河区林和中路 63 号东方宝泰购物广场首层(宜 家家居对面)

Buongiorno 1) 3/F, Yi An Plaza, 33 Jianshe Liu Malu, Yuexiu District (8363 3587); 2) A7, Xinshijie Haoyuan Diyi Ju, 168 Dongcheng Nan Lu, Dongguan (0769 2339 6499) 邦奴意大利餐厅 1) 越秀区建设六马路宜安广场3楼; 2) 东莞市东城南路 168 号新世界豪圆第一居 A7 号

Element Fresh 1) Shop L302, TaiKoo Hui, 383 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (3808 8506); 2) G/F, 42 Qingfeng Jie, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3828 8482) 新元素 , 1) 天河区天河路 383 号太古汇广场 L302 店 ; 2) 天河区珠江新城清风街 42 号首层 Happy Monk 1) Back of Yi’an Plaza, Jianshe Wu Malu, Yuexiu District (8376 5597) ; 2) No. 109, 7Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3877 8679); 3) Outdoor Plaza, Happy Valley Mall, 36 Machang Lu, Tianhe District (3832 5317) 1) 越秀区建设五马路宜安广场后门 ; 2) 天河区珠江 新城兴盛路 7 号 109 号铺 ; 3) 天河区珠江新城马场 路 36 号太阳新天地户外广场 Join the Bravo Mug Club to enjoy the following benefits: 1) points earned on every RMB1 spent at Bravo; 2) an exclusive pint glass; 3) four E-vouchers that can be redeemed for house brewed beer; and so much more! Annual membership costs RMB288. Visit Bravo for more details. Bravo Shop 114-115, 6 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江 新城华就路6号114-115铺 The Brew Sports Bar & Grill 1) Unit 9-11, Huanan Country Garden, Panyu Dadao (across the road from Chimelong Theme Park), Panyu District (3482 0401); 2) West Section, Bao Lin Yuan, Huaxun Jie, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3408 9549); 3) Shop 11-13, Yuhai Food Street, 1 Jianshe Liu Malu, Yuexiu District (8382 8299) 1) 番禺区番禺大道华南碧桂园碧华商业2街9-11 号; 2) 天河区珠江新城华讯街保林苑西区加拿大布 鲁咖啡馆, 近发展中心; 3) 越秀区建设六马路誉海食 街11-13号铺 The Eating Table With seats for more than 200 diners to explore gastronomy at a less frenetic pace, The Eating Table's warm, alluring design enlivens the senses. The owner, who spent years in Melbourne, has

Hooley’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 1)101, 8 Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3886 2675); 2)Section 2, Yijia Yuan, 7 Xingzhongdao, Zhongshan 1)爱尔兰西餐酒吧, 天河区珠江新城兴盛路8号101; 2) 中山市兴中道7号颐嘉苑2卡 In·Side·Out By Threedrops 3/F, 10 Xietianli, Lingnan Tiandi, Chancheng District, Foshan (0757-8203 1400, 189 885 25470) 佛山市禅城区岭南天地协天里10号3楼T

Shami House 2/F, Zhao Qing Da Sha, 304 Huanshi Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District (8355 3012 / 8355 3091) 莎 米 屋 , 越 秀 区 环 市 中 路 304 号 肇 庆 大 厦 2 楼

H

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All Smile - Dr. Lu Int'l Dental Clinic Rm 603-604, 6/F, Metro Plaza, 183 Tianhe Bei Lu (24-hour hotline: 8755 3380). Mon-Sat 9am6pm (other times by appointment) 大都会牙科,天河北路183号大都会广场六楼 603-604 Bellaire Medical Center Rm 302D, Fuli Park, 28 Machang Lu (3891 0511/ 24-hr 152 1881 8990), Bellaireclinic.com 贝利尔诊所, 天河区珠江新城马场路富力公园28 商业区302D Deron Dental 3905-3909/F, Tianying Plaza East Tower, No.222 Xingming Lu, Tianhe (3886 4821,www.kaiyiyk.com) 德隆齿科诊所,广州市天河区兴民路 222 号天盈广 场东塔 39 楼 3905-3909 Dr. Sherily Xiao Master of Medicine. 20 years of TCM & Acupuncture & Massage & Physiotherapy Experience. Only for appointment. Fulai Garden, 23 Xi Liu Xiang, Shuiyin Zhi Jie, Shuiyin Lu, Yuexiu District(Tel: 137 1052 6617; E-mail: xiaoshuilan@hotmail. com) 越秀区水阴路水阴直街西六巷23号福莱花园

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

Paulaner Bräuhaus L307, 3/F, TaiKoo Hui,

The Tavern Sports Bar Traditional English style bar that fosters a cosy intimate atmosphere. Both Taverns offer an extensive menu of Western favorites and different theme nights throughout the whole week. 1) Poly 108, 6 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (8550 3038); 2) On the right side of the Huanan Country Garden, Yingbin Lu, Panyu District (3482 4882, www.tavernchina.com) 致盛 1) 天河区珠江新城华就路 6 号保利 108 公馆 ; 2) 番禺区迎宾路华南碧桂园大门右侧

HEALTH Slow Life An organic, health-conscious Western restaurant that excels in Spanish cuisine, Slow Life aims to be a place where guests can take a break from their busy schedules to visit with friends and family over a feast of delicious fusion dishes. Shop 107, 1/F, Gaozhi Dasha, 120 Huangpu Dadao Xi, Tianhe District 天河区黄埔大道西120号高志大厦首层107铺 (3788 7173, 3788 7172)

M9 Restaurant Lounge Shop 112, 9 Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3802 0171)

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

Sultan Restaurant Turkish BBQ 1) 1-3/F, 367 Huanshi Dong Lu, between Baiyun Hotel and Friendship Store, Yuexiu District (8349 4170, 8349 4171); 2) Shop 102 & 114, Zhonghai Jinghui Huating, 31 Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, TianHe District(3801 5002) 1)苏坦土耳其烧烤餐厅, 越 秀区环市东路367号1-3楼(白云宾馆与友谊商店夹 位处); 2)广州市天河区珠江新城兴盛路31号中海璟 晖华庭二期商铺102 & 114

Summer House Directly behind the Marriage House, Xietian Li, Lingnan Tiandi, Chancheng District, Foshan (133 9223 6374, www.summerhouse.com.cn) 佛山市 禅城区岭南天地协天里(嫁娶屋正后面)粤天地 112-116号铺

Eur Am Medical & Dental Center 1/F, North Tower, Ocean Pearl Bldg, 19 Huali Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng (3758 5328, 24hr urgent care: 137 1041 3347, www. eurammedicalcenter.com) 广州康辰医疗 , 珠江新城华利路 19 号远洋明珠大厦 北座首层 Guangzhou Narcotics Anonymous Meetings: Monday 6.30pm and Friday 7pm. (For help: 188 9857 0042 (French, Chinese & English), 133 3287 0750 (Persian), 185 8876 4470 (Eng-


lish), www.nachina.com) H&H Dental Center 1/F, Mingmen Building, 4 Huacheng Dadao, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3808 0700, 3808 0729; 24-hour hotline: 139 2516 2826; Email: hnhdental@163.com) H&H 牙科中心(嘉茜医疗门诊 ), 天河区珠江新城 花城大道 4 号名门大厦正门首层 iBorn Clinic Rm 2202-2203, Qiaoxin Kingold Century, 62 Jinsui Lu, Tianhe District ( 3736 2020/ 24-hr 3736 2110) 爱博恩综合门诊 天河区珠江新城金穗路侨鑫金融 中心2202-2203 iBorn Women’s & Children's Hospital No.6 Longkou Dong Lu, Tianhe District (2811 6375/185 2018 8335) 广州爱博恩妇产医院 , 天河区龙口东路 6 号 Sing Health Medical 2 Xian Cun Rd, Zhu Jiang New City, Tian He District, Guangzhou, Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, SatSun 9am-3pm, Tel:3739 2500 Open Every Day 广州新宁门诊, 天河区 珠江新城 冼村路 2 号 United Family Guangzhou Clinic 1/F, Annex Bldg, PICC Bldg, 301 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong (4008 919 191, 24-hr urgent care: 8710 6060) 广州越秀和睦家门诊部 , 广州大道中 301 号人保大 厦南塔副楼首层

LIFESTYLE Guangdong Int’l Volunteer Expatriate Service (GIVES) Contact Rosaline Yam (8778 2778; givescn@ yahoo.com) www.gives.cn Guangzhou Women’s Int’l Club (GWIC) For contact information, visit www.gwic.org SO’ O LK (Hair Salon) 1) G/F, 545 Binjiang Dong Lu, Haizhu District (3425 7429); 2) Shop 103A, World Trade Centre, 371-375 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District (8760 6299); 3) Shop101, 712 Binjiang Dong Lu, Haizhu District (8419 1022); 4) Shop101, Fuli Edinburgh Apartment, 2 Huali Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District(3826 3718); 5) Shop 15 2/F, Chateau Star River Hotel, Yingbin Lu, Panyu District(3479 0641); 6) Shop81-82, G/F, New City Plaza, Olympic Garden, Luoxi New Town, Panyu District(3452 1826); 7) Shop 21, Agile Phase II, Fenghuang Bei Lu, Huadu District(3692 8686) 苏豪路易士,嘉玛发廊,1) 天河区天河北路 366 号都市华庭 13 铺 ; 2) 越秀区环市东路 371-375 号 世界贸易中心首层 103A; 3) 海珠区滨江东路 712 号 101 铺 ; 4) 天河区珠江新城华利路 2 号富力爱 丁堡公寓 101 铺 ; 5) 番禺区迎宾路星河湾酒店 2 楼 15 号铺 ; 6) 番禺区洛溪新城奥园城市花园首层 81-82 号铺 ; 7) 花都区凤凰北路雅居乐二期 21 号 铺 True Pilates China Studio provides Pilates & Gyrotonic lessons for everyone. Add: 503-12 Huajiu Road, Zhujiang New Town (South of GZ American Consulate) www.truepilateschina.com 18620076022 珠江新城华就路 12 号 503

EDUCATION

Guangzhou Merchant Hill, Dongyi Lu, Panyu District (3925 5321, www.cisgz.com) 广州加拿大人国际学校,番禺区东艺路招商金山谷 Canadian Internatioanal Kindergarten Agile Garden, Yinbin Lu, Panyu District (8456 6551). 加拿大国际幼儿园,番禺区迎宾路雅居乐花园 Canton Global Academy 4 Chuangjia Road, Jinshazhou, Baiyun District, Guagnzhou (180 2401 1757) 广州寰宇外籍人员子女学校 , 广州市白云区金沙洲 创佳路 4 号 Clifford School International International Building, Clifford School, Clifford Estates, Shiguang Lu, Panyu District (8471 8273; 8471 1441; 8471 1694) 祈福英语实验学校,番禺区市广路

he Lu, Tianhe District (6108 8888) 广州正佳广场万豪酒店,天河区天河路 228 号 Langham Place Guangzhou 638 Xingang Dong Lu, Haizhu District(8916 3388) 广州南丰朗豪酒店 , 海珠区新港东路 638 号 LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou 368, Huanshi Dong Lu (8333 8989, www.thegardenhotel. com.cn) LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District 广州花园酒店 , 越秀区环市东路 368 号花园酒 店 (8333 8989) LN Hotel Five, Guangzhou 277 Yanjiang Zhong Lu, Yuexiu District (8931 0505) 广州岭南五号酒店,越秀区沿江中路 277 号 Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou 389 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (3808 8888) 广州文华东方酒店 , 天河区天河路 389 号

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

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

Guangzhou Nanfang International School No. 1, Yucuiyuan North, Yinglong Lu, Longdong, Tianhe District (3886 6952, 3886 3606, Fax: 3886 3680, www.gnischina.org) 广州南方外籍人员子女学校,天河区龙洞迎龙路 瑜翠园北一号

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

ISA International School Guangzhou Block C2-2, 128 Yuancun Siheng Lu, Tianhe District (8890 0909, info@isaschool.com) 广 州爱莎国际学校, 天河区员村四横路128号红专厂 创意园C2-2 Stone Eden Nursery School A316, Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District (8852 6503, info@ stoneedennursery.com) 英诺儿英国早托 , 天河区珠江西路 1 号广州大剧院 A316 The British School of Guangzhou 983-3 Tonghe Lu, Baiyun District (8709 4788) 广州 英国学校, 白云区同和路983-3 Trinity International Kindergarten 663 Huacheng Dadao, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (8558 3287) 圣心国际幼稚园, 天河区珠江新城花城大道663号 Utahloy Int’l School www.utahloy.com 1) 800 Shatai Bei Lu, Baiyun District (8720 2019, fax 8704 4296); 2) Sanjiang Town, Zeng Cheng (8291 4691 fax: 8291 3303) 广州誉德莱国际学校,1) 白云区沙太北路 800 号 ;2) 增城三江镇

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

American International School of Guangzhou (AISG) 1) 3 Yanyu Nan Lu, Ersha Island (8735 3393); 2) 19,Kexiang Road Luogang District,Science Park, Guangzhou (3213 5555) 1) 广州美国人 ,二沙岛烟雨南路 3 号 ; 2) 广州罗 岗区科翔路 19 号

Conrad Guangzhou 222 Xingmin Lu, Tianhe District (3739 2222) 广州康莱德酒店,天河区兴民路222号

Canadian Foreign Language School Cambridgshire Garden, Panyu District (39191868 ext. 0) 广州市番禺区剑桥郡加拿达外国语学校,广州市番 禺区剑桥郡花园

Grand Hyatt Guangzhou 12, Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (8396 1234 www.guangzhou.grand.hyatt.com) 广州富力君悦大酒店 , 天河区珠江新城珠江西路 12 号

Canadian International School of

Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe 228 Tian-

DoubleTree by Hilton Guangzhou 391 Dongfeng Lu, Yuexiu District (2833 7215; 2833 2888) 广州希尔顿逸林酒店 , 越秀区东风路 391 号

Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich 988 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Tianhe District (3883 8888) 广州圣丰索菲特大酒店, 天河区广州大道中988号. www.sofitel.com The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou 3, Xing’an Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (3813 6688, www.ritzcarlton.com) 广州富力丽思卡尔 顿酒店, 天河区珠江新城兴安路3号 W Guangzhou 26 Xiancun Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (6628 6628) 广州 W 酒店 , 天河区珠江新城冼村路 26 号 White Swan Hotel 1 Shamian Nan Jie, Liwan District (8188 6968) 白天鹅宾馆 , 荔湾区沙面南街 1 号

CONSULATES Argentina 2405, Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (3888 0328, cguan@ mrecic.gov.ar) 阿根廷共和国领事馆 , 天河区天河路 208 号粤海天 河城大厦 2405 单元 Brazil Rm 1403, 10 Huaxia Lu, R&F Center, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (02083652236; cg. cantao.itamaraty.gov.br) 巴西驻广州总领事馆 , 珠江新城华夏路 10 号富力 中心 1403 室 Australia 12/F, Zhujiang New City, Development Centre, 3 Linjiang Lu (Tel: 3814 0111; Fax: 3814 0112) www.guangzhou.china. embassy.gov.au 澳大利亚领事馆,临江路 3 号珠江新城发展中心 12 楼 Belgium Room 0702, 7/F, R & F Center, Unit 2, 10 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (Tel: 3877 2351; Fax: 3877 2353) 天河区珠江新城华夏路 10 号富力中心 7 楼 0702 室 Cambodia Rm 802, The Garden Hotel (Tower), Huangshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8333 8999 - 805; Fax: 8365 2361) 柬埔寨领事馆,环市东路花园酒店大楼 808 室 Canada 26/F, Tower 1, Taikoo Hui, 385 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 8611 6100, Fax: 8667 2401) www.guangzhou.gc.ca 加拿大领事馆,天河区天河路 385 号太古汇一座 26 楼 Colombia Unit 12, 36/F No 5, Zhujiang West Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou (8883 4826, cguangzhou@cancilleria.gov.co) 哥伦比亚驻广州总领事馆,珠江西路 5 号广州国际 金融中心主塔写字楼 36 层 12 单元 Cuba Rm 2411, West Tower, Huapu Plaza, 13 Huaming Lu, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 2238 2603 / 2238 2604; Fax: 2238 2605) 珠江新城华明路 13 号华普广场西塔 2411 Denmark Rm 1578, China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel, 122 Liuhua Lu (Tel: 8666 0795; Fax:

8667 0315) 丹麦领事馆,流花路 122 号中国大酒店写字楼 1578 室  Ecuador Room 1801, R&F Building, 10 Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 3892 7650; Fax: 3892 7550) 厄瓜多尔共和国驻广州领事馆,珠江新城华夏路 10 号富力中心 1801 室 France Rm 1901-1907, Central Tower (Kaihua International Center), 5 Xiancun Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (www. consulfrance-canton.org; Tel: 2829 2000; Fax: 2829 2001) 法国驻广州总领事馆,天河区珠江新城冼村路 5 号凯华国际中心 1901-1907 室 Germany 14/F Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 8313 0000; Fax: 8516 8133) www.kanton.diplo.de 德国领事馆,天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 14 楼 Greece Rm 2105, HNA Building, 8 Linhe Zhong Lu (Tel: 8550 1114; Fax: 8550 1450; grgencon.guan@mfa.gr) 希腊领事馆 , 林和中路 8 号海航大厦 2105 室 India 14/F, Haichuan Dasha, 8 Linhe Zhong Lu, Tianhe District (8550 1501-05) 印度领事馆,天河区林和中路 8 号海船大厦 14 楼 Indonesia Rm 1201-1223, 2/F, West Building, Dong Fang Hotel, 120 Liuhua Lu (Tel: 8601 8772; fax 8601 8773; kjrigz@public.guangzhou. gd.cn) 印度尼西亚领事馆,流花路 120 号东方宾馆西座 2 楼 1201-1223 室 Israel 19/F, Development Center, 3 Linjiang Dadao, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (8513 0509) 以色列领事馆,天河区珠江新城临江大道 3 号发 展中心 19 楼 . Guangzhou.mfa.gov.il Italy Rm 1403, International Finance Place (IFP), 8, Huaxia Lu, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 3839 6225; Fax: 8550 6370) 意大利领事馆,珠江新城华夏路 8 号合景国际金融 广场 14 楼 1403 室 Japan 1/F, East Tower, The Garden Hotel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8334 3009; Fax: 8333 8972) www.guangzhou.cn.emb-japan. go.jp 日本领事馆,环市东路 368 号花园酒店东塔 1 楼 Korea (Republic) 18 Youlin Lu, Chigang Consulate Area, Haizhu District (Tel: 2919 2999; fax 2919 2980; Guangzhou@mofat.go.kr) 韩国领事馆,海珠区赤岗领事馆区友邻路 18 号 Kuwait 10A-10D, Nanyazhonghe Plaza, 57 Lingjiang Dadao, Zhujiang New Town (Tel: 3807 8070; Fax: 3807 8007). 科威特国总领事馆,珠江新城临江大道 57 号南雅 中和广场 10A-10D Malaysia Rm 1915-1918, 19/F, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu ((Tel: 3877 0765; Fax: 3877 2320) 马来西亚领事馆,天河北路 233 号中信广场 19 楼 1915-1918 室 Mexico Rm2001, Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Bei Lu (Tel: 2208 1540; Fax: 2208 1539) 墨西哥领事馆,天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 20 楼 01 单元 Netherlands 34/F, Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe Bei Lu (Tel: 3813 2200; Fax: 3813 2299) www.hollandinchina.org 荷兰领事馆,天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 34 楼 New Zealand Rm C1055, Office Tower, China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel, 122 Liuhua Lu (Tel: 8667 0253; Fax: 8666 6420; Guangzhou@ nzte.govt.nz) www.nzte.govt.nz 新西兰领事馆,流花路 122 号中国大酒店商业大 厦 1055 室 Norway Suite 1802, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu (3811 3188 Fax: 3811 3199) 挪威领事馆,天河北路 233 号中信广场 180 室 Peru Unit 01 on 32/F 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe (Tel: 6184 6244; Fax: 6631 1804) 秘鲁驻广州总领事馆,珠江西路5号广州国际金融 中心主塔写字楼32层01单元 Philippines Rm 706-712 Guangdong Int’l Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8331 1461; Fax: 8333 0573) www.guangzhoupcg.org 菲律宾领事馆,环市东路 339 号广东国际大酒店 主楼 706-712 室

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 69


LISTINGS

Poland 63 Shamian Da Jie (Tel: 8121 9993; Fax: 8121 9995) 波兰领事馆,沙面大街 63 号

Turkey Rm. 23A, Development Center Building, 3 Linjiang Dadao, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3785 3466, bkesmen@mfa.gov.tr) 天河区珠江新城临江大道 3 号发展中心 23A

Singapore Unit 2418, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu (Tel: 3891 2345; Fax: 3891 2933) 新加坡领事馆,天河北路 233 中信广场 2418 室

United States 43 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (Tel: 3814 5000) http://guangzhou-ch.usembassy-china. org.cn/   美国领事馆,天河区珠江新城华就路 43 号

Spain Rm 501/507/508 5/F, R&F Center, 10 Huaxia Lu, Pearl River New City (Tel: 3892 7185 / 3892 8909; Fax: 3892 7197). www.maec.es/consulados/canton 西班牙驻广州总领事馆,珠江新城华夏路 10 号 富力中心 5 楼 501/507/508 室

Vietnam 2/F, Hua Xia Hotel, Haizhou Square, Qiaoguang Lu (Tel: 8330 5911; Fax: 8330 5915) 越南领事馆,侨光路华沙大酒店 B 座 2 楼北部

Switzerland 27/F, Kingold Century, 62 Jinsui Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (Tel: 3833 0450; Fax: 3833 0453) 瑞士领事馆,天河区珠江新城金穗路 62 号侨鑫 国际金融中心 27 层

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Thailand Rm M07, 2/F, Garden Hotel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8385 8988; Fax: 8388 9567) 泰国领事馆,环市东路 368 号花园酒店 2 楼 M07 室

American Chamber of Commerce Suite 1801, Guangzhou International Sourcing Center, 8 Pazhou Dadao Dong, Haizhu District (Tel: 8335 1476; Fax: 8332 1642; amcham@amcham-sunthchina.org) www. amcham-southchina.org 美国商会,海珠区琶洲大道东 8 号广州国际采购 中心 1801 室

The Russian Federation 26/A, Development Centre, 3 Linjiang Dadao, Zhujiang New Town (8518 5001 Fax: 8518 5099 (office)/ 8518 5088(visa section)) 俄罗斯联邦驻广州总领事馆 , 珠江新城临江大道 3 号发展中心 26/A

Australian Chamber of Commerce Rm1714 -15, Main Tower, Guangdong International Building, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 2237 2866; Fax: 8319 0765; mail@austcham-southchina.org). www. austcham-southchina.org 澳洲商会,环市东路 339 号广东国际大厦主楼 1714 – 15 室 BenCham, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) Chamber of Commerce in China, Pearl River Delta, Floor 34, 208 Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu (155 2118 2708 ). 荷比卢商会 , 天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 34 楼 www.bencham.org British Chamber of Commerce Unit 2201B, International Financial Center, 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District ( Tel: 8331 5013; Fax: 8331 5016; events@britchamgd. com) 英国商会,天河区珠江西路 5 号国际金融中心 2201B European Union Chamber of Commerce Rm 2817, Tower A, Shine Plaza, 9 Linhe Xi Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 3801 0269; Fax: 3801 0275) 中国欧盟商会,天河区林和西路9 号耀中广场A塔2817室 French Chamber of Commerce in South China (CCIFC) Room 802, 8/F, Leatop Plaza, 32 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Zhujiang

Xincheng, Tianhe District (2916 5535) 天河区珠江新城珠江东路 32 号利通广场 8 层 02 单元 German Chamber of Commerce 1903 Leatop Plaza, 32 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 8755 2353; Fax: 8755 1889; chamber@gz.china.ahk.de) china. ahk.de 天河区珠江东路 32 号利通广场 1903 室 Italian Chamber of Commerce Rm 948, Office Tower, the Garden Hotel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu ( Tel: 8365 2682; Fax: 8365 2983) 意大利商会,环市东路 368 号花园大厦 948 房 www.cameraitacina.com China-Philippines Chamber of Commerce Rm 1613, Main Tower, Guangdong International Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (8331 1888-71613; Fax: 8331 1983; E-mail: cpcc2005@21cn.com) 中国菲律宾商会,环市东路 339 号广东国际大酒 店主楼 1613 室 Spanish Chamber of Commerce Rm. 1305, 13/F, Main Tower, Guangdong International Building, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District (Tel: 3892 7531; Fax: 3892 7127; www.spanishchamber-ch.com) 越秀区环市东路 339 号广东国际大厦主楼 1305 室

CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS SERVICES

4. Landscaping/Indoor Plant 5. Carpet Cleaning 6. Pest Control Tel: (86 20) 2816 5345 Email: guangzhou@centuryrelo.com

ACCOUNTING FIRMS

HiTouch Consulting Leading business and legal solution provider • Company Registration • Tax & Accounting • Intellectual Property • China Visa Tel: (8620) 8355 5515 Website: www.hitouch.com Guangzhou丨Shanghai 丨Yiwu Asiabs & B.string Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai 1) Setting-up HK, BVI and other offshore company 2) Setting-up WFOE, JV, Representative Office in China mainland 3) Accounting, Taxation, HR, Visa & Trading service Tel: 852 8102 2592 /  86 21 58362605       86 10 65637970 Website: www.AsiaBS.com www.Stringbc.com E-mail: info@stringbc.com CENTURY, a Comprehensive Office Services Company 1. Office Relocation, Personal Relocation 2. Second-hand Office Furniture Resell 3. Office Cleaning Services

Harris Corporate Solutions Ltd Guangzhou | Shanghai | Beijing | Hong Kong Established since 1972 • WFOE & Rep. Office Set Up • Accounting & Tax Compliance • Payroll, HR & Visa Solutions • Hong Kong & Offshore Company Registration • Hong Kong & China Bank Account Opening Serving all your business needs for investing in China. Call us for a free consultation. Tel: (86)20-8762 0508 Mobile: 135-703-48815 Email: info.gz@harriscorps.com.cn Romeo Lau & Co. work visa, WFOE, JV, RO, HK company, auditing, car rental,driver license. www.romeolawoffice.com Mobile: 13570993252, 020-38865269, dmc_ canto@yahoo.com

CHURCH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Expatriates welcome! Large group multinational, non-denominational expatriate Christians hold English services Sundays 10.00am to 11.30am. Need foreign citizenship proof. Website: www.gicf.net Tel: 177 2768 5019.

JOBS OFFERED South China HR English Website

70 | GZ | AUGUST 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

(English.job168.com) China's most famous & professional job hunting website 8/F, Nanfang Jingdian Building, No. 198 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 1/F,Huapu Building, No.104 Tianhe Road,Guangzhou (Tel: 85584676) 南方人才网英文站(english.job168.com) 广州市天河路198号南方精典大厦八楼 广州市天河路104号华普大厦西座一楼 Eclipse English Education Native English teachers wanted. Competitive pay with flexible scheduling. Free Chinese classes for employees.Tianhe location. 13902273359 or (020) 38780382 Mrs.Wong The Australian Chamber of Commerce South China is hiring an Events and Communications Manager to facilitate Australia-China business relations through industry event management and China-ready marketing. The Events Coordinator is responsible for the Chamber's events program and related communications. The events program is one of the Chamber's main streams of revenue. For more information, please call the AustCham office at +86 020 22372866 and to apply, please email a 1-2 page CV and 1-page cover letter to asha.forsyth@ austcham-southchina.org.

REAL ESTATE Life Partner provides house leasing, housekeeping and other personalized services to expatriates from Multi Corporations and foreign institutes as well as to individuals. Guangzhou/Foshan/Zhaoqing/Zhengzhou/Wuhan Since 2004 Contact Person: Ellen Pan, Tel: 020-3881 3137, Mobile: 159 1878 3607 Email: panhj@lifepartner.cn Web: www.lifepartner.cn

TRAVEL Free N Easy Travel An International Travel Agency in GZ, offers you the most competitive airfares, best discounted hotels worldwide and great getaway packages. Call our Toll free no.800-830-2353 or Tel 3877 2345 or email us at Guangzhou@ fnetravel.com or visit us at our travel center at 218 Sky Galleria, CITIC PALAZA, 233 Tianhe North Road or check for more details at our website---www .fnetravel .com Turkish Airlines Rm. 6107, Citic Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District (3877 1690, 3877 1691, www.turkishairlines.com)天河区 天河北路233号中信广场6107室

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: +86 20 8363 3735 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 with competitive price! You move, you save! Service hotline: 400-048-9099 Email: info@raycatrans.com Website:www.raycatrans.com


THE WISDOM OF CHINA The Stories of Confucius, Lao Tzu and Mencius For thousands of years, the teachings of great philosophers like Confucius, Lao Tzu and Mencius have had an immense impact on the traditional Chinese values, culture, religion and literature. In this three-part series titled The Wisdom of China, writer Xu Yuanxiang dives into the lives and the works of these legendary historical figures.

Lao Tzu: The Eternal Tao Te Ching By Xu Yuanxiang and Yin Yongjian

In any Taoist temple throughout the country, it is common to see a statue of Lao Tzu with his with grey hair, long beard and droopy ears that extend down to his shoulders. The founder of Taoism is perhaps most famous for his seminal work, Tao Te Ching. The literal translation of the Chinese character ‘Tao’ is ‘a road or path that people walk upon,’ but for Lao Tzu himself, ‘Tao’ is a has a much deeper meaning, and this book aims to enlighten readers on a Chinese classic text that has inspired generations of poets, artists, writers and businessmen.

110mm×185mm 168 pages, RMB53 English Paperback, 100g ISBN 978-7-5085-2769-7

Confucius: A Philosopher for the Ages By Xu Yuanxiang

Is Confucius a sage or just an ordinary person? Where did the Confucianism begin? How does his teachings apply to modern China? What is its influence on the world today? This book will try to provide answers to these questions.

Mencius: A Benevolent Saint for the Ages By Xu Yuanxiang and Zhang Bing

Mencius and Confucius are known as two of the greatest philosophers in Chinese history. Two thousand years after his passing, Mencius’ teachings and ideas continue to have a lasting influence on the Chinese people. Even today, people can be regularly heard to quote the sayings of this man. This book will examine Mencius’ main philosophical concepts and how it impacts today’s society.

110mm×185mm 168 pages, RMB53 English Paperback, 100g ISBN 978-7-5085-2770-3

110mm×185mm 168 pages, RMB53 English Paperback, 100g ISBN 978-7-5085-2768-0

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | AUGUST 2018 | GZ | 71


u

o angzh u G s ’ That

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in Guangzhou. BY DOMINIQUE WONG

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

7.23~8.23

8.24~9.23

9.24~10.23

10.24~11.22

Finally, it’s your time to shine. Throw a massive party at your favorite T i a n h e h o te l , i n v i te yo u r e n t i re WeChat friends list and ugly cry when only two-thirds of them show up. Livestream the entire drama.

It’s going to be a messy month – emotionally that is – in which you may burst into tears for no reason at Chimelong. If this concerns you, cut the porkfloss buns for breakfast and try jianbing instead.

You may be feeling extra carefree thanks to Jupiter’s presence somewhere in your chart. Bring out your inner child by playing ping pong or visiting a zoo – but avoid the gorilla enclosure at all costs.

This is the cheeriest month you will experience all year. Attend every apartment party – you will genuinely enjoy talking to others, though next month you won’t for the life of you remember why.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius 1.21~2.19

Pisces

2.20~3.20

You will suffer social media fatigue. Don’t be ashamed, it happens to the best of the signs. Reach out to friends. Take a long walk on Shamian Island and try really hard not to Instagram the moment.

Yo u m ay e n c o u n t e r a m o n e ta r y windfall this month. Try asking your laoban for a raise or playing the Chinese lottery. Donate your windfall to charity.

Family takes focus. When was the last time you even FaceTimed your parents? Don’t blame your crappy VPN service; blame your lack of filial piety. Take it too far and buy them return tickets to Guangzhou.

It may already be August but it’s never too late to turn all those dreams of yours into reality. Create a ‘Guangzhou Mystics Club’ or enroll in language classes at SYSU – fulfillment awaits.

Aries

Taurus 4.21~5.21

5.22~6.21

6.22~7.22

‘Work hard, play hard’ may be your motto but try taking it easy this month. The stars say you s h o u l d t u r n o ff y o u r We C h a t notifications and swap Party Pier for the architecturally magnificant Guangzhou Library.

Be wary of strangers – especially that person on Line 3 who asks whether you’d like to be a foreign assistant to a Chinese CEO. Give a hard pass, or, not, if you’re into that (the stars don’t judge).

The most important relationship this month is the one you have with yourself – both of yourselves. Treat yourself to a Chinese Valentines Day dinner at Four Seasons and go crazy with Tmall Qixi deals. Feel regret afterwards.

B o t h y o u r fi n a n c i a l a n d b o d i l y affairs require attention. Cash in all your member points around town (especially Wagas – your points here will expire this month) and only spend your RMB on an expensive gym membership.

11.23~12.21

3.21~4.20

A T. TSHMAATGSSM. AC GO SM. C O M 7 2 | AG UZ G| UASUTG 2U0S1T8 2| 0W1 8W |WW. TWH W

12.22~1.20

Gemini

Cancer




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