That's Guangzhou - December 2018

城市漫步 珠三角英 文版 12 月份

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CRAZY RICH ASIANS Will the Film Be a Hit in China?

DECEMBER 2018

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DAYTRIPPER

MUSICITY

Journey Back in Time at Guangzhou’s Changzhou Island

Soundtracks for China's Major Cities

TRAVEL TO GUIZHOU

CHINA'S TOP 10

Five Ways to Experience the Province

Best Homegrown Albums of 2018

that’s PRD 《城市漫步》珠江三角洲 英文月刊

主管单位 : 中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 Supervised by the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China 主办单位 : 五洲传播出版社 地址 : 北京西城月坛北街 26 号恒华国际商务中心南楼 11 层文化交流中心 11th Floor South Building, Henghua lnternational Business Center, 26 Yuetan North Street, Xicheng District, Beijing http://www.cicc.org.cn 社长 President: 陈陆军 Chen Lujun 期刊部负责人 Supervisor of Magazine Department: 付平 Fu Ping 编辑 Editor: 朱莉莉 Zhu Lili

发行 Circulation: 李若琳 Li Ruolin

Editor-in-Chief Matthew Bossons 马特 Guangzhou Editor Ryan Gandolfo Shenzhen Editor Bryan Grogan Senior Staff Writer Tristin Zhang 张岳烽 Staff Writer Jonathan Zhong 钟云帆 National Arts Editor Sarah Forman Contributors Sarah Forman, Ned Kelly, Mia Li, Kheng Swe Lim, Erica Martin, Dominic Ngai, Bridget O'Donnell

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Distribution across the Pearl River Delta: 63,000 copies

Editor's Note

DECEMBER 2018

It’s been one hell of a year to say the least, particularly for those of us based in China. We’ve seen ‘The Tweeter in Chief’ launch a trade war between the world’s two leading economic powers, Fan Bingbing disappear and then

reappear (with a major fine to pay) and a record-breaking Singles’ Day haul for Alibaba. Locally, Shenzhen and surrounding areas were hammered by Typhoon Mangkhut and Guangzhou got its first-ever Michelin Guide and lost

its place at the top of China’s pedestal of football greatness. For this month’s cover story (page 35), we invite you to take a walk down memory lane with us and look back at the good – and the bad – of 2018!

In our City section, we look at Crazy Rich Asians’ long-awaited China release (page 12) and tell you which

Guangdong city has the highest percentage of singles in the workplace (page 9).

Also in this issue, we give you five reasons to visit the backwater province of Guizhou (page 22), offer our top

10 Chinese albums of the year (page 30) and suggest some awesome Christmas gifts (page 18).

On a personal note, this month marks my 12th issue as editor-in-chief of That’s PRD. I’d like to finish this

editor’s note with a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed over the last year and to my superiors for allowing us to chase the stories we want to write!

From all of us at That’s PRD, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Matthew Bossons Editor-in-Chief

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

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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2018 | GZ | 5

35 COVER STORY

8 CITY

2018 CHINA’S YEAR IN REVIEW

9 I’M SINGLE AND I KNOW IT

From Fan Bingbing’s tax evasion scandal to the rise of ChinaUS trade war tensions, 2018 will likely go down in history as one of the most action-packed years in the past decade.

Guangdong leads the nation for singles in the workplace.

12 CRAZY OR NOT? Will Crazy Rich Asians’

success translate in China?

15 SARAH ARMSTRONG Founder and designer of Pinyin Press.

17 DAYTRIPPER Journey back in time at Changzhou Island.

56 EVENTS

THE WRAP

14 LIFE & STYLE

GZ

DEC 1-9 Guangzhou Jazz Festival

GZ

24 ARTS 27 SINO CELEB Five fast facts about Cui Yongyuan.

DEC 6-16

32 MODERN & MONOCHROME

Chicago the Musical

Abstraction from South Korea.

HK

46 EAT & DRINK 47 BOTTOMS UP!

DEC 15-16 Creamfields MO

Boxing Cat Brewery’s Contender Extra Pale Ale.

53 KEEPIN’ IT KIMCHI

A culinary journey through Guangzhou’s ‘Little Korea.’

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DEC 15

Macau International Parade

CITY

AI News Anchor P10 8 | GZ | DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Crazy or Not

Will Crazy Rich Asians’ success translate in China? p12

Urban Dictionary P11

TALES OF THE CITY

I’M SINGLE AND I KNOW IT

Guangdong Leads the Nation for Singles in the Workplace

By Matthew Bossons

T

he Pearl River Delta is a hotbed for working singles, according to a recent survey cited by Guangdong Radio and Television (GRT), with Dongguan, Shenzhen and Guangzhou leading the nation for unattached people in the work place.

According to the report, workplaces in Dongguan boast 74 percent single people, while Shenzhen and Guangzhou have 64 percent and 63 percent respectively.

A quick (and entirely unscientific) survey of our Guangzhou That's office turned up seven singles and nine individuals who are either married or in a relationship – a 44 percent single rate.

“Maybe their social circles are limited,” speculated one Guangzhou resident when asked by GRT why there are so many

singles in the city. “They could be focusing on their careers or have high standards for partners.” All plausible explanations, by our assessment.

The study also found that 30 percent of singles only earn RMB3,000-6,000 monthly, according to GRT, but that 28 percent wouldn’t pause for thought when it comes to buying luxury goods. It’s suggested in the GRT broadcast that younger people in the Pearl River Delta are placing more importance on ‘living quality’ and worry that racing into a relationship may limit quality of life. (Because we all know how important designer bags and shoes are to living a happy and comfortable life…).

The statistics are just the latest in a growing pile of evidence that young

Chinese people are not as keen on marriage as their parents and grandparents were before them. According to Sixth Tone, there were more than 200 million single adults in China in 2016 and the rate of divorce is on the rise – with the country’s annual divorce rate increasing for the past 14 years straight.

Sixth Tone notes that while “young people have greater freedom to choose a partner” they also have more freedom “to leave them if things don’t work out.”

So, single reader, what does this mean for you? If you’re ‘single and looking’ you might wanna sign off Tantan for a couple minutes and take a look around your office – your special someone might be closer than you think.

Want to learn more about dating in the PRC? Meet the contemporary faces of modern-day romance in China in our ‘Lonely Hearts Club: Tales of 21st Century Love in China’ series by scanning the QR code.

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THE BUZZ RANDOM NUMBER

6,609

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

China’s AI News Anchor

– the number of music videos removed from KTVs across China Last month, a hashtag that translates to ‘6,000 songs taken down from KTV’ went viral on Weibo, prompting many to worry that one of China’s favorite recreational activities might suffer a major blow. The hashtag, which had gained over 380 million views at press time, came about after a notification was issued by China Audio-Video Copyright Association (CAVCA) on October 22 urging KTV operators across the country to remove 6,609 music videos from their systems due to copyright issues. Among the listed songs are fan-favorites such as ‘Ten Years’ by Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, ‘Bubble’ by fellow Hong Kong musician GEM and ‘Listen to the Ocean’ by Taiwan-born singer A-Mei. Scan the code to see some of the songs that were removed.

China’s Xinhua news agency and Beijingbased search engine Sogou unveiled the latest innovation in the constantly growing artificial intelligence (AI) field. An AIintegrated virtual TV anchor debuted at the World Internet Conference in Zhejiang province on November 7, drawing a lot of attention from around the world. The TV character, which did not provide any name, was created from video clips of human hosts and speech synthesis. According to Xinhua, the ‘male’ news anchor is “the world’s first artificial intelligence news anchor,” whose voice and appearance were modeled after Zhang Zhao, a human anchor who works at the news agency (that must have been weird to watch). Scan the code to watch the AI anchor introduce ‘himself.’

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“To my real fans in Shanghai... I will be back next time... with a better partner.” ... So said rap superstar Nicki Minaj in a video to fans after her no-show at the Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) Festival last month. Minaj had flown all the way to Shanghai for the event but never took to the stage, much to the disappointment of her Chinese fans, some of whom waited around for the singer for two hours. The lead-up to the event was marred by rumors regarding the authenticity of DWP China’s operation. Days before the event an image surfaced online claiming that the music festival was an “unauthorized use of DWP trademark” and that “DWP as a brand has no association with the event.” Read more about the fiasco by scanning the QR code.

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

Aidou / ài dòu / 爱豆 noun. Idol, a celebrity, usually an entertainer that one approves of and supports at high cost My aidou is the most handsome of all.

He is such a shallow human being. Nothing but a pretty face. At least my aidou has talent.

He has to be, born with an ugly face.

Get out.

Just admit it: Singles’ Day was not long ago and you are already thinking about what to get for Double 12 Day. You open your Taobao app and check for price drops on goodies in your shopping cart wish list on the subway. You look at the Feiyue brand canvas shoes in your cart and wonder if they sufficiently convey how hip you are or if they are passe now. China has finally arrived at a fully consumer society where everyone obsesses over which products best represent their distinguished tastes and what statement each purchase makes about them.

Consumerism and our endless need to express individuality via products gave rise to the idol economy, where we showcase our personality through what kind of culture and entertainment we consume.

When you are done choosing jackets and shoes that best represent you, you must also choose an aidou.

It could be Kris Wu if you are edgy (but still glamorous), or Jungkook if you are hardworking and sweet, or the Backstreet Boys if you never got over the early 2000s.

Since your aidou choice accounts for a considerable portion of your individuality, you must be ready to defend and fight for them at all costs. You shall spend thousands of yuan on concert tickets and merchandise

to make sure your aidou stays successful. You shall wait for hours at the airport when your aidou arrives to make sure they have the biggest welcome crowd, because their reputation is on the line. If he or she endorses a line of products, you must buy the entire line and boycott any product their rival endorses, because nothing is more humiliating and unacceptable than your aidou being beaten by rivals. Since your aidou represents your taste, value and most importantly, your aesthetic, their success is your success, and their failure is your failure.

This competitive nature is where the aidou economy can get ugly. Fans of one aidou self-organize in the hundreds or even thousands to attack fans of another aidou on social media. Aidou's Weibo accounts, Baidu Tieba and Wiki pages often become battlegrounds where fans fight with negative comments, ugly photos of aidou's and mean memes. Offline, family gatherings over the holiday season are often ruined by fans of different aidou's refusing to be under the same roof.

Because we are human, we will always need new ways to say “I'm different from everyone else.” Our aidou will have to bear the burden of expressing our individualities for us beyond haircuts and outfits. Mia Li

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CIT Y | F E AT URE

CRAZY OR NOT Will Crazy Rich Asians’ Success Translate in China?

By Dominic Ngai

Adapted from Kevin Kwan’s 2013 novel of the same name, Crazy Rich Asians was this summer’s surprise box office smash hit in North America, earning praise for being the first Hollywood studio production to feature a predominantly Asian cast since 1993’s Joy Luck Club. Just two months after its debut, the film had already become the US’s top-grossing romantic comedy in a decade (sixth highest of all-time), cashing in nearly USD174 million domestically as of mid-November.

As the film gears up for its theatrical release on the Chinese mainland, we speak with a couple of Chinese pop culture and history experts about the impact Crazy Rich Asians has had in the West, and whether that will translate to audiences in China.

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F E AT URE | CIT Y

Chinese, But Not Really Chinese

I

t’s a Cinderella story as old as time. Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a young Americanborn Chinese NYU professor, travels to Singapore with her longtime boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) for his cousin’s wedding and to meet the family, only to discover they’re one of the wealthiest clans of the island nation.

From then on, the movie is a visual feast that combines all the typical rom-com trappings, along with a healthy dose of family drama. Filled with conflicts fueled by generational, cultural and socioeconomic differences, scenes are spiced up with a generous sprinkle of Singapore’s dazzling modern cityscape and the fabulous lifestyles of the ultra-rich.

But what makes Crazy Rich Asians stand out from other rom-coms for scholars like University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Professor Shelly Chan is the novelty factor of its ‘authentic cultural content’ that can only be achieved with a predominantly Western-born Asian cast and crew. The Hong Kong-born Canadian historian specializing in the Chinese diaspora (people of Chinese descent who live outside of Greater China) is particularly interested in the film’s discussions around the impact of the mass Chinese overseas migration during the 19th and 20th centuries.

“Some of the conflicts stem from the polarization of Chinese identity and culture as a result of these departures and the subsequent returns of these immigrants (and their descendants),” Chan tells us. Throughout most of the film, Rachel, who was born and raised in the US, finds it difficult to win the approval of Nick’s Singaporean-Chinese elders – namely his mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) – who are portrayed as the guardians of traditional culture and family values. While only scratching the surface of the issue, the inner struggles of Asian-American cultural identity are put out into the open by Crazy

Rich Asians through the lens of its female protagonist.

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, writer Jenn Fang calls the film a watershed moment. For decades, actors of Asian descent have been depicted as racial stereotypes in American TV series and films, a criticism that has consistently been voiced inside and outside of Hollywood. The story of Rachel, in particular, serves as an anchor for Fang to relate to her own experience of trying to navigate between the worlds of being both Chinese and American. “Crazy Rich Asians is a rare example of Asian Americans taking the reins to tell a story completely from our own perspective,” she wrote. “It succeeds by drawing inspiration from our real lives.”

Which begs the question – will a film that’s largely based on the complexity of Westernized Chinese identity be a hit in China?

Lost in Translation?

When Song Geng saw Crazy Rich Asians in Hong Kong over the summer, there were only about a dozen people in the movie theater.

The much-hyped romantic comedy is the city’s 23rd highest grossing film of 2018 thus far, according to Box Office Mojo, earning just around USD2 million between late August and mid-October – a meager showing considering the movie’s critical and commercial triumph in North America.

Song, an associate professor at University of Hong Kong’s School of Chinese Studies, personally enjoyed the movie. Having written extensively about the portrayal of Asian men in mainstream media and pop culture, he praises the film for creating nuanced and multi-layered characters for the actors and actresses to play. However, he’s not very optimistic about its box office earnings on the Chinese mainland.

“My first impression of Crazy Rich Asians was that it’s a film about Chinese people, but China is basically absent in this world. I think

many mainland Chinese audiences might find it hard to identify with these characters.

It’s quite an awkward position to be in (for the film),” Song says. The lack of big name cast members, coupled with the fact that it isn’t the kind of big budget action hero flick that normally performs well here, he adds, might further hinder its success in the Middle Kingdom.

Elsewhere in Asia, Crazy Rich Asians also drew some criticisms after its release. While it scored points for promoting racial diversity in Hollywood, Singaporean audiences accused the film of doing the exact opposite with its representation of their country – where the film is set – by focusing on just its Chinese residents and virtually ignoring the Malay and Indian ethnic groups who make up nearly a quarter of the country’s total population.

But perhaps another telling sign of whether the film would be well-received in China can be found on Douban, the Chinese version of Rotten Tomatoes, where the film received an average rating of 3.5 stars and nearly 8,600 reviews before it even officially came out in theaters. One of the most popular reviews came from user ‘yvetterowe,’ who expressed her disapproval of the film, calling it a “General Tso’s chicken-style film about Asians” and signing off with an eye-rolling emoji.

Responding to all the negative reviews, user ‘yangcongxixi’ sums up his thoughts (and ours) quite nicely: “The film is quite loud and funny, and they used a lot of Chinese classic pop songs from different eras as the background music. I feel like I was in a supermarket in Chinatown somewhere. But I think a lot of people have missed the point. It’s not a movie about Asians or their identity… It’s just a comedy about rich people.”

Crazy Rich Asians is now in major theaters across China.

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LIFE

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

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

&

STYLE Basic Geometry

Designing a board game cafe with nature-inspired shapes, p20

China X-Mas Gifts P18 1 4 | | GGZZ | | DDEECCEEMMBBEERR 22001 188 | | WWWWWW. .TTHHAATTSSMMAAGGSS. .CCOOMM

Gorgeous Guizhou P22

SPOTLIGHT

SARAH ARMSTRONG Founder and Designer of Pinyin Press

Interview by Dominic Ngai, photo by Gráinne Quinlan

Inspired by her love of Chinese culture and design, Sarah Armstrong founded her own label Pinyin Press in 2014. Since then, the Scottish textile designer has created a line of apparel, homeware and gift items featuring local cultural symbols such as lucky cats, baozi, dumplings, dandan noodles and more.

Just before the brand celebrates its fifth anniversary next year, Armstrong reflects on some of her favorite designs and reveals her future plans for the label.

You came to Shanghai in 2009 and started Pinyin Press in 2014. What inspired you to start the brand?

When I was looking for gifts and designs to send to friends and family, I realized that there was an opportunity in the marketplace for localized Chinese design. After working for some luxury brands in China, I also wanted to create products that were at an accessible price point and available to all. Through Pinyin Press, I sought to create designs that would communicate my own personal experiences and appreciation of the culture and to tell a story of everyday life here.

Any special meaning behind the name Pinyin Press?

Zhou Youguang invented Pinyin in the late 1950s, and he described it as “a bridge between China and the rest of the world.” For foreigners living in China, Zhou offered a simple piece of wisdom, “Do something to help bridge understanding between China’s ancient civilization and the modern world.”

I created Pinyin Press to tell my story of life in China and to help connect others to the culture.

Looking back, what have been the most challenging aspects about starting and running your own brand in China? What have been the most satisfying?

Manufacturing and quality control in China are often challenges and it’s something that

“I created Pinyin Press to tell my story of life in China and to help connect others to the culture” I’m stringent about. One of the most satisfying aspects is bringing a product to fruition and discovering how customers relate to a particular motif or icon through shared experiences in China.

What are some of your favorite designs?

The Cricket design is one of my all-time favorites – it was produced in a limited quantity on mugs, serving trays and children’s clothing. I liked it because it has a light touch and perhaps more subtle references to China.

I also love the symbolism of the golden dumplings and the fun element of the lucky cat design.

Is there anything that you love about Chinese culture that you wanted to turn into a product but haven’t yet?

I’m often drawn to elements of good fortune, so I’d like to create some new products around auspicious cultural elements. I’d also like to create more localized designs, celebrating specialties of different regions or regional dishes. As a designer who specializes in textiles, there’s nothing more satisfying than designing a great new print pattern – I’d love to extend the collection to wallpapers, soft furnishings and cushions. I’m also looking to relaunch our baby and kids accessories collection next spring, too.

Pinyin Press will turn five in 2019. Any celebrations planned for the special occasion?

For the fifth anniversary, I’m looking to revisit some of the original designs from the first collection and create some new products that are as fun as my first Pinyin designs. I’ve recently created personalized wedding favors and VIP gifting services, so I’d like to expand in these areas, too. I’d also love to collaborate with other home accessories brands on a capsule collection. Pinyin Press now has retail partners in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Singapore, and has customers in Nanjing, Tianjin, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. So I’m looking to continue to expand the business to new cities, too.

It’ll also be your 10th anniversary in Shanghai. What’s next for you?

I moved to Shanghai for a one-year adventure, and 10 years on, I’m still enjoying it, and this is where I consider home. Next year, I plan to visit rural parts of China and would love to work with local craftspeople in different regions on a personal design project.

Find out more on pinyinpress.com.

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STYLE RADAR COVET

DOE x Mickey Mouse’s 90th Birthday Collection Disney partnered with Shanghaiborn label DOE to release a collection of sportswear items to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday.

Featuring hockey jerseys, gym sacks and stadium scarves, all products include a logo of the iconic character’s face with the Shanghai skyline incorporated in it. The sleeves and back of the jerseys also have the number 28 on them, a reference to Mickey’s birth year of 1928. > doeshanghai.com

COVET

Alexander Wang x adidas Originals Season 4 Shortly after his Uniqlo heat-tech collaboration dropped in early November, Alexander Wang’s newest 18-piece collection with adidas Originals was revealed just weeks later. As the fourth collaboration between the two brands, ‘Season 4’ is divided into three subcollections: ‘Photocopy’ (Wang’s take on soccer jerseys), ‘Disjoin’ (pieces focusing on new takes on adidas’ three stripes and trefoil logos) and ‘AW Essentials’ (reinterpretation of classic

sportswear silhouettes with new materials).

Available at select retailers of both labels and their official websites. > alexanderwang.com

OVERHEARD

“Apes don’t fight with apes” To celebrate the eighth anniversary of launching on the Chinese mainland, BAPE released a limited capsule collection under the name ‘Apes don’t fight with apes.’ The phrase is derived from “Chinese don’t fight with Chinese,” a slogan that was used during WWII calling for members of the Communist and Kuomintang parties to join forces and fight the Japanese invaders. > bape.com

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

DAYTRIPPER

Changzhou Island

S

et on a beautiful strip of land within the meandering Pearl River, Changzhou Island offers city dwellers the chance to unwind and relax while exploring a fascinating piece of South China’s rich history.

Formerly the location of the Huangpu Military Academy, which was founded by the iconic Sun Yat-sen, the island is just a short 10-minute ferry ride away from Guangzhou’s Yuzhu Wharf.

Originally known to English speakers as Dane’s Island, Changzhou is easy to traverse by bicycle or on foot and boasts a number of interesting spots that are worth a visit, including Zhongshan Park, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Museum and several temples and shrines.

When we arrive on a hot Saturday morning, we opt to rent a four-wheel cart to cover more ground. A cruise down one of the island’s main thoroughfares, Jinzhou Bei Lu, introduces the architecturally-inclined visitor to some unique buildings and, for us, rekindles memories of Haikou’s famous Qilou Arcades.

From there, we make our way over to Zhongshan Park, which is easily identified by the large statue of Sun Yat-sen situated at the park’s entrance. A large pond takes up a majority of the park’s real estate, and small children and elderly folks amble around its edge, pointing out fish and other aquatic creatures.

Just outside the park, a group of fisherman enjoy afternoon tea beside a canal; nearby a fleet of fishing rods wait for a bite.

We set off from Zhongshan Park to explore the other side of Changzhou Island, which features an old burial ground for Western pioneers and traders.

The graveyard is unquestion-

ably unique in Guangzhou, with exquisite tombstones featuring the details of deceased Spanish, English, Irish, American and Dutch visitors to Old Canton, among other nationalities. When leaving the merchant cemetery, we ask an elderly man resting near our four-wheeler if the graveyard is authentic. “There aren’t any bodies in those tombs,” he replies. (We can neither confirm nor refute the man’s claim).

Next, we turn our cart back towards the island’s main town and spend the remainder of our time on Changzhou wandering the main settlement’s quaint neighborhoods. The area is full of friendly faces and worthy of exploration.

As the sun begins to set on the island, we make our way to the port to catch a ferry back to urban Guangzhou, which is visible off in the distance. Changzhou is packed with unique scenery and historic sites, so much so, in fact, that it’s hard to see it all in just one day. As such, we recommend arriving at the island as early as possible to get a head start on your adventure. RG

How to get there: From Guangzhou: North of the Pearl River: take Metro Line 5 to Yuzhu Station, hop on a taxi cart (RMB5, several carts will be parked outside the station) to Yuzhu Wharf and cross the river via ferry (RMB1, payable by cash or metro card).

South of the river: take Metro Line 4 to Higher Education Mega Center North, leave through exit D and take bus No.383 to the center of Changzhou.

From Shenzhen: Catch the train to Guangzhou South Railway Station and then take Metro Line 7 to Higher Education Mega Center South Station. From there, transfer to Metro Line 4 Higher Education Mega Center North Station, leave through exit D and take bus No.383 to the center of Changzhou.

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LIFE & STYLE | FASHION

Choose from China’s Indie Lifestyle Labels Compiled by Dominic Ngai

AWU North Star Necklace RMB450 Made with sterling silver, the North Star necklace will safely guide you home to where your heart belongs. awustudio.com

Kate Wood Florence Sandalwood Watch RMB988 This watch pairs beautiful deep green sandalwood with a rose blush face to create a warm, feminine touch. Also available in men’s or unisex models. katewood.com

Plastered 8 Beijing Knit Hat or Scarf RMB128 Stay warm with these winter essentials from Plastered 8 and check out other Beijing-inspired design products from their WeChat store.

WeChat ID: ckt8tshirts

Lu Ming Tang Christmas Gift Box RMB780 The French designer label’s newest Christmas gift set includes the signature creme de Marie, miraculous detox paste, green tea dew and a MUMU pouch. lumingtang.com.cn

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FASHION | LIFE & STYLE

RJ Clothing Tailored Cotton Flannel Shirts RMB580 Made with 100 percent Italian cotton flannel, RJ Clothing’s latest shirt collection brings a diverse range of colors and patterns to your wardrobe while keeping you warm.

Pinyin Press Baozi/Lucky Cat Christmas Stockings RMB90 If you’re heading back home for the holidays then these Chinese-inspired Christmas stockings by Pinyin Press would be the perfect gift for friends and family.

WeChat ID: Pinyinpress

WeChat ID: RJClothing

Indigo Living Amethyst Bottle Stopper RMB290 Using the famous purple stone that is known for its properties to clear one’s mind, this bottle stopper makes for an elegant gift for your tasteful friends. indigo-living.cn

Si6Do1 Christmas Gift Set RMB375 With a mulled wine package (four bottles), cotton Christmas stocking, and handmade ‘Gingerman’ candle made with essential oils of orange, cinnamon and ginger, this gift box will surely get you in the holiday mood.

WeChat ID: Si6Do1

Lings Candles Christmas Gift Box RMB298 This fragrant gift box includes three of the brand’s signature scented candles, all made from imported essential oils. thmart.com.cn

Pawnstar Christmas Sweaters from RMB249 These vintage woolen Christmas sweaters made in Japan or Italy are great icebreakers at parties during this time of the year. And who knows, you might even find the love of your life at one of those, just like Bridget Jones did. pawnstar.mogujie.com

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LIFE & STYLE | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

BASIC GEOMETRY Designing a Board Game Cafe with Nature-Inspired Shapes Words by Dominic Ngai, photos by Chen Hao

Project name: Dishan Space Location: Songjiang District, Shanghai Area: 450 square meters Design company: PUJU Design The brief: Featuring a teashop and seating areas catering to board game enthusiasts, Dishan Space in Songjiang was once an old residential building constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The area surrounding the building has since undergone major renovations and now houses a series of small F&B and retail concepts. Drawing inspiration from the neighborhood’s past, PUJU Design incorporated leftover materials from the old structures into this project.

Find our more at pujudesign.com

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The ground floor features soft pink, pastel yellow and light blue as its main color schemes. The lounge-style furniture adds a warmer, cozier vibe to the space.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN | LIFE & STYLE

Dishan Space’s minimalistic facade features geometric shapes that are inspired by nature.

Upon walking through the triangular entrance, visitors are greeted with a gray-colored stone wall built with materials recycled from the old site.

The design of the upper floor is more in line with the minimalist ethos of Dishan Space’s exterior.

Here, you’ll find more functional seating and an overall black-and-white color scheme.

Bird’s eye view of the ground floor space.

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

GORGEOUS GUIZHOU

Five Ways to Experience ‘China’s Green Corridor’

By Matthew Bossons

H

ome to a vibrant array of peoples and cultures, Guizhou is one of China’s poorest and least developed provinces. As a result, it is regularly mentioned when speaking about the Middle Kingdom’s offbeat travel destinations. However, the province offers the intrepid traveler a wealth of culinary delights, stunning natural scenery and cultural experiences to rival just about anywhere within the PRC’s borders. Here, we share five reasons you need to visit Guizhou, “China’s green corridor.”

Meet the People

Guizhou is often touted as one of China’s most ethnically diverse regions, with more that 37 percent of the province’s population made up of people classified as members of an ethnic minority group. A visit here offers ample opportunities to engage with and learn about the region’s diverse peoples. In the southeast of Guizhou, near the border with Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, reside the Dong minority group, who are famous for their elaborate, covered ‘wind and rain bridges’ and their beautiful songs. One of China’s largest and oldest ethnic minorities, the Miao, also call Guizhou home. They tend to reside in the province’s mountainous regions and are renowned for their intricate silver jewelry.

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Search for E.T.

Hit the Trail

Mankind’s search for intelligent life in the universe has a powerful tool in Guizhou province: the Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, otherwise known as FAST. Set in a remote mountain valley in Pingtang county, this massive telescope (the largest of its kind in the world) can be accessed by bus from a nearby space museum and planetarium. While the aforementioned museum is a tad tacky and, well, boring by Western standards, the massive telescope itself is a sight to behold. Visitors can walk up to its rim via a series of well-maintained staircases in approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

As a mountainous region, Guizhou offers outdoor enthusiasts no shortage of phenomenal hiking opportunities. Our favorite is the Pingtang Tiankeng Geopark, which is located about an hour’s drive from FAST. Traveling on the park’s boardwalks, you’ll get to see various caves (some of which can be explored!), cliffs and the occasional snake along the way, and eventually arrive at the edge of a massive sinkhole. Hiking in Pingtang Tiankeng Geopark is manageable for people of all ages, and the trail is dotted with restrooms in case ‘nature calls.’

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

Get Your Face Wet Experience the raw power of nature at Huangguoshu Waterfall, one of East Asia’s largest waterfalls and the largest in China.

A 74-meter drop on the Baishui River, Huangguoshu Waterfall and the wall of mist it creates make for phenomenal photos.

Located near the city of Anshun, the karst landscape that surrounds the waterfall is known for its abundance of caves. Most interesting among them is a 134-meter-long ‘hidden cave’ known as Shuiliandong, or WaterCurtain Cave. The geological formation shares its name with the home of Sun Wukong from

the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and lies concealed behind the cascading water of Huangguoshu Waterfall.

Feel the Burn

No trip to Guizhou would be complete without sampling the region’s most celebrated export: Moutai. Referred to by CNN as China’s “de facto national liquor,” Moutai is a brand of baijiu distilled from fermented sorghum.

While you can find this boozy elixir across China, a trip to its home turf allows for a visit to the Moutai distillery, which offers tours and tastings.

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ARTS

Coming to a Theater Near You P26 24 | GZ | DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

If Walls Could Sing

The mini-program unlocking soundtracks for China’s biggest cities, p28

10 China Albums of 2018 P30

DRUMROLL

ZAK DYCHTWALD Author of Young China Interview by Ryan Gandolfo

There are dozens of self-proclaimed ‘China experts’ who speak in generalities regarding one of the world’s fastest-changing countries. Zak Dychtwald, author of Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World, takes the China narrative directly from the source: young Chinese people. Since the book’s release in early 2018, Dychtwald has been busy sharing his insights into China’s emerging identity, culture, economy and politics at various conferences around the world. We caught up with the rising author for an inside look at his work.

Young China features chapters such as ‘How to Eat Your Parents,’ ‘Organ-Stealing Prostitutes’ and ‘A Leftover Woman.’ What was your thought process in coming up with these names?

I wanted the book to be a fun read for people who have never been interested much in China. My biggest fear – and something I found myself doing about midway through the writing process – was writing something academic that only a handful of already China-smart people would read.

My goal with the book was to humanize China, to make it more approachable, and to close the understanding gap between the West and China. The people who I really wanted to reach are those who wouldn’t make the effort to understand China to begin with unless it was embedded within a rich and engaging narrative. ‘Organ-Stealing Prostitutes,’ for example, is really about the stereotypes and misconceptions consistently leveled against Chinese people, but I’m not sure I’d read a chapter titled “stereotypes and misconceptions consistently…” I’m a big believer that the most potent type of learning is engaging as well.

Which topics in your book give the most accurate insight into where China is headed?

No one has ever asked me this before, but one of them is the chapter on China’s massive

“My goal with the book was to humanize China, to make it more approachable”

cultural shift from ‘eating bitter’ to eating hot pot, and all of the associated lifestyle changes that go along with that. Ultimately, I believe that China will be influencing the way that our world spins, that there will be more ‘Easternization,’ and it all begins with figuring out the consumption behaviors of Chinese millennials.

Your book has garnered a fair amount of attention from Chinese media and social circles. How has your subject audience (young Chinese people) responded to your book?

I’m shocked and amazed that the book has not only not been totally ignored, but the media and relevant China and book pundits have been far kinder with their coverage than I anticipated. The response in China has been far more nuanced. In general, the response has been quite positive and appreciative. I say appreciative because there is a lot of frustration within China of how the country is covered

by Western media.

Of course, there are a smattering of the “how can you claim to understand and synthesize 5,000 years of history and cultural evolution” comments.

What type of projects is your think tank, Young China Group, currently working on?

economic and political outcomes. One of the projects that is getting a lot of traction involves the future of technology – expectations, hopes and dreams – across 10 different countries. The idea is not just to cover China, but also to contextualize the country within an emerging millennial mindset.

We understand you are fluent in Mandarin. What advice would you give to someone trying to learn the Chinese language or culture?

I had no knack for language my whole life. So before coming to China, I did a lot of research on the best methods for ‘language acquisition.’ The best way I have ever heard my philosophy summarized is in this line from language learning blogger, Khatzumoto of All Japanese All the Time: “You don’t learn a language, you get used to it.”

The trick is to change your mental diet.

All of the music and podcasts you listen to, TV and movies you watch, conversations with friends and roommates, should all be conducted in your target language. The idea is to create enough mental churn where your brain feels like you have to learn Chinese to decode the world around you. It is about creating what I think of as subconscious churn.

Young China is available on amazon.com

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COLL AGE WHAT’S NEW

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU

Aquaman

Rap of...Rock?

DECEMBER 7

DC comics and Warner Brothers are joining forces to bring Aquaman to China’s silver screens.

When his half-brother, King of Atlantis, decides it’s time for the underwater nation to take their rightful place, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) is the only one who can stop him by reclaiming his right to the throne. In an impending war between land and sea, only Aquaman can unite the two and save the millions of lives at stake in an impressive deep-sea spectacle.

DECEMBER 31

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

This sophomore film from director Bi Gan is a mystery-noir that made waves at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year when audiences were instructed to put on 3D glasses an hour into it. With impressively long takes and a mixed viewing experience, this accessible art feature set in Guizhou features cinematography and scenes that will delight any Asiaphile in a story about the haunting affects of loss and regret.

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The success of reality TV show Rap of China has inspired the birth of two new web series – Summer of Bands and RAVE. With big-name streaming partners like Tencent and iQiyi, both shows will be pitting bands and DJs against each other for the spotlight, creating opportunities for less popularized genres to elevate their status and accessibility across China.

Summer of Bands has partnered with three of the largest indie labels in the country, and RAVE will see Norwegian EDM star Alan Walker as the special presenter. While it’s unclear whether these will be the next reality show worth raving about, they are definitely providing a big platform to highlight up-and-coming artists of lesser-known genres.

HAO BU HAO

Hao Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, My Neighbor Totoro will be screened for the first time in China on December 14. Available in both Japanese and Chinese, the nationwide theatrical release will open the film up to a wider audience while still satiating the purists who grew up with the classic animation. While productions from the Mitaka-based Studio Ghibli have never been shown in Chinese theaters before, fans of the famous director Hayao Miyazaki will be excited to hear that they’re in talks with Chinese partners and looking to bring more productions to the Middle Kingdom. Here’s to taking these hand-drawn features, in all their detail, to a bigger and better stage (screen).

Bu Hao

Billionaire actress Zhao Wei is accused of having leveraged her fame to mislead investors and the market about her company’s finances during an acquisition two years ago. After failure to follow through on the purchase in late 2016, the company she controlled, Tibet Longwei, has been under scrutiny for disrupting normal market operations. As a result, the Shanghai Stock Exchange in late November banned her and her husband from taking on key positions in any listed companies for the next five years. Looks like she and Fan Bingbing have strayed from the straight and narrow since their time on My Fair Princess.

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

SINO CELEB

Five Fast Facts About Cui Yongyuan You used to see Cui Yongyuan, also known as Xiao Cui, on television a lot. A famous CCTV talk show host back in the 1990s, Cui was most recently in headlines for his involvement in the Fan Bingbing tax evasion scandal, which rocked the Chinese entertainment industry earlier this year. Here are five things you should know about ‘China’s conscience.’

Talk with Xiao Cui The nickname Xiao Cui originates from a highly regarded talk show which aired back in 2004 and covered a wide range of topics. The name of that show? Talk with Xiao Cui.

Noodle Shop Proprietor At his alma mater, Communication University of China, Cui owns a noodle shop that supports underprivileged students.

Depression Before 2004, Cui made a name for himself through hosting the hit TV show Tell It As It Is. Unfortunately, due to depression, he had to step down from the position and hand over hosting duties to a female colleague. The plot of the movie Cell Phone, which starred Fan Bingbing, bears a shocking resemblance to Cui’s situation: in the film Fan’s character takes over a TV program after the host – whom she is sexually involved with – steps down. Naturally, rumors about Cui arose after the film’s release.

Yin-Yang Contracts This year, Cui leaked images on Weibo of a yin-yang contract associated with megastar Fan Bingbing. A yin-yang contract, in a nutshell, is two contracts with differing payment amounts – a method of evading taxes. The revelation resulted in massive controversy and legal issues for Fan. Genetically Modified Food Critic In 2013, Cui engaged in an online battle against popular science writer Fang Zouzi, who is an advocate for genetically modified food. Cui accused Fang of fraud and the online exchange lasted for three years. Cui has claimed he received death threats during the years-long argument.

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ARTS | MUSIC

IF WALLS COULD SING The Mini-Program Unlocking Soundtracks for Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen

By Sarah Forman

M

usic is a well-known point of connection for cultures, groups and individuals – a language that brings us together whether that’s via traditions, shared experiences or taste. But in our day-to-day, it often keeps us from the noise of the surrounding city or the conversations that can be overheard at bus stops and on sidewalks.

With headphones in, we often tune out the world around us, but for Musicity, their objective is to do the exact opposite.

In 2010, British DJ and producer Nick Luscombe founded the company in the hope of creating a new space for music in the public art sphere. At the time, physical works were popping up all over the city in response to the architectural and natural landscape, and Luscombe believed he could translate that same principle to sound. He invited musicians to write songs for specific buildings that could only be unlocked at the physical space it was written for – download 28 | GZ | DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

the app, allow it to access your location, and you in turn get access to the track. Over time, you can uncover a full album, and whether or not the buildings remain, you always have access to what once was. Earlier this year, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen made it onto Luscombe’s project list, and until the end of December you can visit different sites and unlock a new kind of metropolitan soundtrack via a WeChat mini-program. With 21 locations in total, the buildings include everything from the Baitasi Hutong Gallery and the Serpentine Pavilion in the capital, to Sinan Books and the 1933 Shanghai building, all the way to newer developments like the southern coastal city’s Tencent Seafront Towers, Design Society museum building and one of the last remaining fishing harbors in Shekou. Old and new alike, they vary greatly in style, surroundings and historical context, comprising a variety as diverse as the developing urban areas.

“Translating a building into music… a physical structure, it’s not easy to do,” Han Han, the front man for Duck Fight Goose tells us. A prominent figure in the experimental rock and electronic scene, Han Han was one of four locally-based artists on the Shanghai project, writing and recording the song ‘Metamorphosis’ in response to the West Bund Art and Design Center. The fourminute, 25-second song is filled with metallic reverberations like one might hear within the hollowed out, former aircraft manufacturing plant. About a minute in, a melodic, modified piano-like sound introduces something that feels much more like a story or traditional narrative, albeit a futuristic one. While grounded in the physical space, there’s something open and fluid about the song, suggesting a story with no fixed plot or particular setting – where the building itself is the only concrete character. The West Bund Art and Design Center’s landscape is constantly shift-

MUSIC | ARTS

ing, as are its contents, a concept that can be felt in the instability of ‘Metamorphosis.’ But the perpetual development of the area was not unique to Han Han’s specific task.

The theme ‘Urban Regeneration’ serves as an umbrella over all three of the cities, inspired by the constant changes and repurposing of their

respective histories. It’s for this reason Luscombe partnered with the British Council here in China to orchestrate the project. “The Chinese musicians are based in the city in which they’re writing and producing, and in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, there is one building whose music was composed by both a Chinese musician and one from the UK, where they had to work together on the track,” a representative from the British Council explains.

While many of the tracks veer towards electronic soundscapes, there are clear distinctions between them – whether that comes from Abi Wade’s cello or Zhang Meng’s traditional sheng wind instrument. The variation in representation and the collaborative process that took place within each city doesn’t set out to define the buildings or their roles within

the space, but to offer a possible look at what they once felt and looked like from a group of people who took the time to put it to sound. Beijing was once known exclusively for its hutongs, temples and palaces, but has since become a skyline integrated with mirrored office buildings and architectural feats like the Beijing National Stadium. Shanghai’s developing West Bund arts district has seen many large industrial spaces converted into galleries and museums, like the Power Station of Art. Shenzhen, as the newest metropolis, is a city of constant, consistent growth. Each illustrates unique and vastly different metropolitan narratives in China’s rolling history, and while these buildings might not always be there, the musical memory of them in the fall of 2018 will remain.

To learn more visit musicityglobal.com

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ARTS | MUSIC

CHINA MUSIC CORNER

Top 10 Homegrown Albums of 2018

By Erica Martin and Sarah Forman

Uncertain Worlds by Ttechmak Shanghai-based trumpeter Ttechmak dropped this cosmic release in January. The album continues his exploration of jazz rhythms blended with electronic music, featuring cameos from a wide array of local musicians. JZ Club regulars Lawrence Ku, Alec Haavik and Nick McBride perform on the record, plus a special guest appearance by JZ founder Ren Yuqing on bass in ‘Compassion Dance.’ Producer and hip hop DJ Wordy lends his talent to the especially smooth track ‘Fantasy Revisited.’ The album starts off with jazz fusion, but a dark and haunting interlude, ‘Trumpet in a Blender,’ transitions into the catchy, melancholy highlight, ‘Self-Delusion in Dark Green.’ ‘Moonflowers’ and ‘Compassion Dance’ are also standouts.

Listen here: www.xiami.com/album/2103464973

OVERSEAS by Bohan Phoenix Quickly becoming one of the most notable Chinese rappers, Phoenix has been gaining traction in China and the US simultaneously. A defter touch defines the EP, our favorite of his thus far, as Phoenix flexes his skills at switching effortlessly between rapping in English and Mandarin to wax about his background and identity, especially over a delicate piano on the title track.

‘Falling’ featuring Masiwei of Higher Brothers has a lighthearted and funky beat, while the slow burn ‘Fuck Trap’ features introspective lyrics like “too foreign for here too foreign for home, too torn to choose,” and mentioning his single mother. The album shines thanks to beats that are both simple and unusual, and this allows Phoenix’s insightful lyrics to stand out.

Listen here: bohanphoenix.bandcamp.com/album/overseas-ep

Dragon Town by YoungQueenz Between Higher Brothers and the aforementioned Bohan Phoenix, Chengdu has rapidly become synonymous with the best of Chinese hip hop. This EP by Hong Kong’s YoungQueenz, however, proves that other regions also have much to offer. The founder of a crew called WILD$TYLE, the grill-sporting rapper draws inspiration from both ’90s gangsta rap and Japanese anime, channeling Hong Kong’s futuristic cityscape and switching between Cantonese and English in his gruff, almost DMX-like vocals. YoungQueenz explained in an interview with Neocha that he makes a point of working with up-and-coming producers on his beats and featuring other rappers, with almost every song on DragonTown featuring another member of YoungQueenz’s crew.

Listen here: soundcloud.com/youngqueenz/sets/ep-dragon-town-ep

Nein or Gas Mus by Nein or Gas Mus Qiii Snacks Records stays close to home with the self-titled debut EP of Guangzhou trio Nein or Gas Mus. A reflexively self-aware take on emo mixed with math rock, the five-song EP is both playful and emotionally affecting, in part thanks to the wry, fried-sounding female vocals. The opener track, ‘thin ice’ is the strongest, a bittersweet and contemplative math rock track, followed by the bouncier, more upbeat ‘1st.’ The trio already has a solid following in Guangzhou, and they describe their songs as having “a good BGM to cry along to while counting the beats.”

The album art by Nichi is a great indicator of the tone of the music.

Listen here: qiiisnacksrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nein-or-gas-mus

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MUSIC | ARTS

She Came Back from the Square by Hiperson The follow-up to Hiperson’s 2015 debut, No Need for Another History, sees the Chengdu band exploring new wavelengths, trading in their complex post-punk for a startlingly raw and stripped-back sound. Album producer and guitarist Ji Yi’nan whittled away any unnecessary trappings, embracing the potency of simple chords and allowing for frontwoman Chen Sijiang’s commanding vocal presence to shine bright. Chen, who writes all the band’s lyrics, took inspiration from everyday interactions like a chat with her Uber driver (‘He’s as Proud as My Teacher’), imbuing these quotidian moments with emotional resonance. The album’s vulnerable, powerful centerpiece ‘The History’ builds into neurotic crescendo thanks to a shrieking, distorted saxophone in its final moments, which give way to the lovely a cappella track ‘Ceramics.’

Listen here: http://downloads.maybemars.org/album/she-came-back-from-the-square

Monster KaR Vol. 3 by Monster KaR ‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Monster KaR Airlines’ are the opening lines of Monster KaR Vol. 3, which give a good indication of the serene weirdness of the trip ahead from this Guangzhou-based band. They’ve labeled themselves on Xiami as ‘hallucinogenic pop,’ and they do manage to convey a psychedelic and lightheaded feeling without relying on the more in-your-face noise guitar of psych rock. This is most successful on the dizzying track ‘Fight Club,’ largely thanks to the breathy, eerie vocals. Monster KaR explore other genres on the album as well, like a sweetly retro R&B on the melancholy ‘In Brown’ and ‘Don’t Leave Me When I’m Alone,’ which sports a soulful beat and some boy-girl spoken word interludes that feel especially ’90s.

Listen here: www.xiami.com/play?ids=/song/playlist/id/1803202269

Elusive Magic by Panic Worm Ruby Eyes Records released the debut album from Panic Worm, a plucky Wuhan-based five-piece dealing in energetic post punk. The band half-jokingly imply they are the offspring of “the once famous Wuhan punk movement” of the late ’90s and 2000s, which birthed the likes of SMZB and later AV Okubo. Having opened for The Cribs when they passed through earlier this year, 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.

Listen here: panicworm.bandcamp.com

Self-titled EP by Peach Illusion While they may have met at Xiamen University, O.o and C.c of Peach Illusion put together their first album an ocean apart. This bedroom dream-pop gem was written, recorded and mixed while one was in Singapore and the other in Shanghai. Painting pictures as seen through rose-colored glasses, the duo has reunited and settled in Shanghai, with plans to work on a few artistic projects and a second album. Their urban sweetener aura and adorable pastel photo shoots are in and of themselves a reason to add them to your playlist, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for two of Shanghai’s newest residents.

Listen here: svbkvlt.bandcamp.com/album/sky-singing

Flow West to You by 白百Endless White While the Xi’an-based band has been around since 2015, they’ve swapped out a few of the original members, making for a new four-piece outfit that is really cementing their sound. Their shoegazey guitars, high-pitched vocals, and frenetic power chords make for a 10-track dreamy kind of heartbreak. The indie rock band’s most recent album is more focused with a stronger production value to back it up, with Zhang Wanyi’s vocals being featured more prominently than ever before.

Listen here: endlesswhite.bandcamp.com/album/flow-west-to-you

Disorientalism by Cruel Buddhist With a lo-fi Christmas album under his belt, Cruel Buddhist is no stranger to songs built to rack up the streams, and Disorientalism isn’t any different. This seven-track release features seamless transitions, well-timed glitches and synth-strained strings. Instrumental hip hop and low-sitting beats are perfect for a late-night bike ride, or as a slightly disorienting soundtrack for studying. It’s a good kind of weird that lands somewhere between the softer side of Flying Lotus and the less aggressive side of Adult Swim. With sparingly used distorted lyrics pulled from other media samples, this Shanghai-based producer has continued to solidify his place in the lo-fi funk rolodex.

Listen here: cruelbuddhist.bandcamp.com/album/disorientalism

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ARTS | GALLERY

By Sarah Forman

Abstraction from South Korea

MODERN & MONOCHROME W

hen one thinks of abstraction, Western artists and the narrative surrounding them for many are often first in the mental queue. While artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian and Jackson Pollack tend to be front and center, there are a number of Asian institutions that are looking to change that.

This past March, Parkview Art in Hong Kong put on the inaugural show of Beijing Abstract featuring a lineup that includes Mao Lizi, Ma Kelu, Tan Ping, Meng Luding, Yuan Zo, Ma Shuqing, Li Di and Feng Lianhong.

While this exhibition was the first of its kind for China, other East Asian countries have a longer-standing history of abstract practices. The Gutai movement in Japan is one of the most notable, with its violent, body-centric creative process. Another is the Mono-ha, which explores the relationship between natural and industrial materials. In South Korea, Dansaekhwa has been the predominant post-war modern movement, and a comprehensive exhibition of over 100 seminal works is now on view for the first time in China.

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GALLERY | ARTS

Enter the main hall of the Powerlong Museum and you’ll find yourself surrounded by large canvases sporting vibrant, monochrome palettes, but this time last year, one could expect to see few, if any, South Korean works in the PRC. Shanghai’s main art fairs in November 2017 were devoid of regional artworks due to an unofficial embargo on cultural products from the nation, in a response to perceived nuclear threats and concerns about China’s national security. What wasn’t known at the time was that a resolution was already in the works, as reported

by The Art Newspaper in December 2017, and today, one of the largest collections of South Korea’s formative movement is being shown at the new museum in Shanghai’s Minhang District, in tandem with permanent exhibitions of famous Chinese ink painters like Qi Bashi and Zhang Daqian.

The show ‘Korean Abstract Art: Kim Whan-Ki and Dansaekhwa’ builds a his-

torical framework around the late artist’s works, illustrating the movement’s development after World War II and the Korean War. In what is literally translated into the word ‘monochrome,’ repetitive, geometric, single or dual-colored works have come to characterize the Dansaekhwa genre.

Artist Kim Whan-Ki was born in 1913 on the island of Anjwado and left Korea at the age of 19 to spend his late-teens and early 20s studying in Japan. Upon his return, Kim became heavily involved with the literary circles in the city, which would go on to have an incredible impact on his work. While establishing an increasing interest in traditional Korean art, he adopted the vocabulary and medium of Western modernism, turning increasingly to oil paint and abstraction. Kim sought to develop a style and practice that was inherently Eastern, building his work around Korean concepts and materials. With an attention towards meditation and minimalism, his practice would go on to shape the trajectory of Dansaekhwa.

Elsewhere in the show, artists like Kwon Young-Woo and Chung Chang-Sup made works that revolved around hanji (traditional Korean paper). While Kwon found different ways of approaching the material – tearing, layering and puncturing – Chung’s focus was on the materials used to make the product, transforming components of it with elements like water, which were then molded into shapes and abstract compositions.

Park Seo-Bo’s later practice also utilized hanji, where he’d use his hands and tools to create straight lines and geometric shapes

on canvas from the wet, malleable material.

This focus on a Korean product made from natural materials connects the spiritual ideas of a relationship with the non-artificial world and the meditative practice of repetition, an East Asian motivation applied to the Western concept that was abstraction in art.

In the exhibition catalogue, curator Wang Chunjie writes, “Dansaekhwa provides a reinterpretation of the deeply ingrained spiritual values of Korean culture and Western abstract art, and has already created a profound legacy within the Korean art historical context through decades of development and experimentation.”

While Dansaekhwa is inherently a Korean movement, the boundaries are not discrete when it comes to the discourse around it. Kim was heavily influenced by his time studying in Japan, and artist Lee Ufan was an influential figure in the Monoha movement abroad. When it comes to constructing and re-writing historical art narratives, understanding the relationships between countries and continents is becoming increasingly important, as the Executive Administrator of Powerlong Culture Wendy Xu advocates. In bringing this exhibition to China, she hopes it will “prompt research on not only Dansaekhwa but also on the arts of Asia as a whole that are founded on the oriental spirit and context, and furthermore catalyze the discovery and exploration of the aesthetical significance of East Asian traditional cultures.”

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2018| GZ | 33

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34 | GZ | DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

From Fan Bingbing’s tax evasion scandal to the rise of China-US trade war tensions, 2018 will likely go down in history as one of the most action-packed years in the past decade. Over the next few pages, our team has put together a list of this year’s most unforgettable stories in news, sports, arts, fashion and food. Scan the QR code for full coverage of our Year in Review series.

By C For ristina ma n a Ng, D nd Ma omini tthe c w B Ngai, S oss ons arah

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7 BIGGEST NEWS STORIES OF 2018 ON THATSMAGS.COM

Severe ‘Ice’ Storm

Fan Bingbing was already one of China’s biggest celebrities, but the 37-year-old star made international headlines this summer for her sudden disappearance following tax evasion accusations from former TV presenter Cui Yongyuan. After investigations by the Tax Bureau were completed, Fan was issued a whopping RMB884 million fine in October, and the actress has since apologized for her actions.

Bridging the Gap

After nine years of construction, the 55-kilometer-long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge finally opened to the public on October 24. As the world’s longest oceancrossing bridge, commuters can travel from Hong Kong International Airport to Zhuhai by car in just 45 minutes.

Trade War Tensions 36

Since the largest trade war in history began in July, China and the US have slapped tariffs on billions of dollars worth of products made in each other’s countries. This has affected the prices of everything from Californian wine and fresh fruit to stainless steel and aluminum.

Security Measures

Following several unfortunate incidents across the country involving Didi Chuxing drivers, China’s largest car-hailing app rolled out a series of security functions to ensure the safety of passengers and its employees. These include a panic button, automatic audio recording for all rides, as well as a function that allows passengers to block unpleasant drivers and vice versa.

Ma Out

In September, Alibaba cofounder and billionaire Jack Ma announced he’ll be stepping down as the ecommerce company’s executive chairman next year. Under his 12-month succession plan, Ma will hand the reins over to current CEO Daniel Zhang by September 10, 2019.

Family Trip Gone Viral

A Chinese family’s trip to Sweden in September became an international incident when they were denied an early check-in at a Stockholm hostel, and the police were called after an altercation. A video of the Zeng family screaming and being removed from the property by law enforcement went viral, and the incident was mocked by a Swedish comedy show. China later demanded an apology, and its embassy in Sweden issued a travel warning for Chinese tourists following the dramatic affair.

Elon Musk Eats Jianbing

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was spotted eating a jianbing with his posse on the streets of Shanghai in July (confirming that he is indeed NOT a robot). In addition to enjoying local street food, Musk attended the inauguration of China’s first Tesla factory and met with government officials in Beijing during his weeklong visit. We’d say it was a productive trip.

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Novak Djokovic

Djokovic took home the 2018 Shanghai Rolex Masters title, defeating Borna Coric in a 6-3, 6-4 victory. This is the Serbian tennis star’s fourth time taking the top honors at the Shanghai tournament.

Shanghai SIPG

Shanghai SIPG won their first ever Chinese Super League title, a thrilling 5-4 win against seven-time defending CSL Champions Guangzhou Evergrande, making it the icing on the cake for the winners. Serious plaudits go to winger Wu Lei, whose unprecedented 27 goals in 30 games not only made him the first domestic player to be CSL Top Scorer since Li Jinyu all the way back in 2007, but also 2018 CSL Player of the Season to boot.

Wu Dajing

Despite the Chinese team’s disappointing showing at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, short track speed skater Wu Dajing won China’s only gold medal at the Games in the Men’s 500-meter race, while setting a new world record for the event.

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GOOD YEAR Jimmer Fredette Last month, the 29-year-old Shanghai Sharks point guard had the game of his career, scoring 75 points – 40 of which were achieved in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, opponent Beijing Beikong’s Pierre Jackson managed to turn the game around with a three-pointer in the final seconds, resulting in a 137-136 win for Beikong.

Nick Kyrgios

Aussie tennis star/manchild Nick Kyrgios threw his annual temper tantrum at the Shanghai Rolex Masters for the fourth year in a row. This time, he got into a verbal argument with the umpire during the match, in which Kyrgios would go on to lose, resulting in his ‘shocking’ first-round exit.

Guangzhou Evergrande

After seven years of winning everything, and we mean everything (seven Chinese Super Leagues, four Chinese Super Cups, two Chinese FA Cups and two AFC Champions Leagues), this year Guangzhou won…

NOTHING. Will Manager Fabio Cannavaro survive being the first man not to fill the trophy cabinet in eight years? Watch this space…

BAD YEAR Lin Dan

Diego Tardelli

The Shandong Luneng player from Brazil (left) received a RMB40,000 fine for rubbing his face while the Chinese national anthem was playing before his team’s match with Shanghai SIPG. Perhaps victory in the FA Cup can bring an about-face in his fortunes?

With two Olympic gold medals and five World Championship titles under his belt, the 35-year-old badminton star suffered nine first round defeats in 2018. Sports commentators are speculating if ‘Super Dan’ will be able to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Games if his performance continues to decline.

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December The Victoria and Albert Museum in London opened Design Society at the end of 2017 in Shenzhen. Eight years in the making, it serves as the first dedicated design museum in the city, and the firstever gallery to explore China’s Reform and Opening period.

ART HAPPENINGS OF 2018 January April The Sichuan capital saw its first edition of the Art Chengdu International Contemporary Art Fair. With 32 galleries on view, the city’s permanent art spaces also stepped up for the occasion in what The Art Newspaper referred to as the city’s first “unofficial art week.”

Hong Kong’s 24-floor art and lifestyle building H Queen’s opens its first major galleries. David Zwirner from New York led the charge, followed

by Hauser & Wirth, Pearl Lam Galleries and Pace Gallery.

The 250,000-square foot Powerlong Art Museum opened in Shanghai, exhibiting works by famous ink painters like Guan Liang, Zhu Qizhan, Zhang Daqian and Qi Bashi.

May

August

The trio behind Shanghai’s Art021 launched Beijing’s newest fair, JINGART. Kelly Ying, David Chau and Bao Yifeng pioneered the takeover of the Beijing Fun space, with a few major international galleries participating in the PRC’s capital for the very first time.

Amidst sweeps of redevelopment in Beijing, Ai Weiwei’s studio was among a number of casualties in the Zuoyou Arts District.

The studio’s lease on the former car-part factory had expired the year before, and many buildings in the neighborhood had already been demolished.

40

Hong Kong’s Central Police Station transformed into the Tai Kwun Center for Heritage Arts, and opened its doors to the public. With 16 heritage buildings plus two new structures housing galleries, it is one of the largest conservation projects and creative hubs in the city – set to host six to eight annual art exhibitions annually.

June Shanghai saw the inaugural Museum 2050 symposium at the Long Museum West Bund, exploring the future of institutional models in China. Speakers from all over the world came to engage with local industry leaders and young professionals, discussing issues like responsibility, authentication, the role of art in lifestyle branding and new market engagement.

INBOUND / OUTBOUND 2018 saw China as part of a much larger conversation – good and bad – with homegrown artists making their mark abroad and a new wave of international productions sweeping the nation.

INBOUND Rent: The 1996 Broadway musical made waves upon its debut, cataloging the lives of struggling artists and the AIDS pandemic in New York City. The 20th anniversary world tour made multiple stops in China, where renditions of the iconic ‘Seasons of Love’ could be heard throughout.

Chicago: Sex,

jazz and murder hit Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou this year with the six-time Tony Award-winning musical, Chicago.

Fake Murakami and Kusama:

Stomp: A lighter,

plastic bags, plastic tubes and dozens of unlikely objects took stages by storm when Stomp rolled through.

In a comedic, innovative whirlwind, dancers made music out of anything they could get their hands on, including the kitchen sink.

Mariah Carey: The queen of Christmas stopped over multiple times this year – first for shows in Shanghai and Shenzhen in October, then on a second trip for Alibaba’s Singles’ Day Gala.

A nationwide tour of Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama’s art made several stops in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Changsha and Shanghai before the artists’ legal teams stepped in to shut it down. Turns out, it wasn’t their work after all.

Real Murakami: The real Takashi Murakami made an appearance alongside his work at this year’s Art021 in Shanghai.

Not long afterwards, he announced his first solo show at Shanghai’s Galerie Perrotin outpost and another at the new Tai Kwun museum in Hong Kong for 2019.

OUTBOUND Superstar:

Kris Who?: Kris

Chinese pop star G.E.M. (Get Everybody Moving) was the model for Stan Lee’s last Marvel superhero.

The character, named Jewel, is a world-touring star by day, superhero by night, and was released shortly before the comic guru passed away in November.

Wu infuriated Ariana Grande fans when his album Antares knocked her out of the iTunes top spot in the US. While there’s been some controversy as to whether Wu’s immense fan base intentionally displaced her, Billboard subsequently disqualified Wu from their top 100 after being unable to verify why and how the star was seeing such high sales.

Rap Queen:

Literary Legend:

19-year-old Rap of China finalist Lexie Liu was signed to NewYork based record label 88rising. There she’ll join other Asian hip hop legends-inthe-making Rich Brian, Keith Ape and Higher Brothers.

Sci-fi author Liu Cixin joins the likes of Margaret Atwood as an honoree at the Arthur C. Clarke Awards.

Liu’s famous novel The Three-Body Problem has reached international acclaim, with Amazon in talks to produce a USD1 billion dollar television series based on the book.

Decked in Degrees: On May

Sucky Sweden: CD REV member Pissy released a diss track after video of a Chinese family being forcibly removed from a hotel in Sweden surfaced online. Titled ‘Hey Sweden,’ it goes on to ridicule the Scandinavian country asking “where the f*ck is your civilization” and threatening to stop using Swedish brands like IKEA.

24, Wong Kar-wai received an honorary doctor’s degree in Arts from Harvard University, making him the first Asian filmmaker to receive the acknowledgement.

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FASHION ICON Lao Gan Ma

It might already be one of the most beloved chili sauces in the world, and has a dedicated Facebook fanpage with 2,500 members, but Lao Gan Ma became an (unexpected) overnight style sensation during New York Fashion Week in September. As one of the souvenirs of the Tmall China Day event, the Guizhou-based label’s logo featuring the face of Lao Gan Ma founder Tao Huabi was printed onto some bright red hoodies and sold at an Opening Ceremony pop-up store on Broadway Street. Actor-wrestler John Cena even gave the sauce a raving endorsement in fluent Mandarin later that month.

5 WEIRD LOOKS FROM THIS YEAR’S FASHION Either WEEKS wearing

too much for a beach party or too little for a day at the farm.

When your face turns blue because you’re wearing too much blue.

This Spidermaninspired dress would make Mary Jane jealous.

Our 4-yearold niece’s DIY princess look isn’t so flattering for a grown-up.

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MAKING HEADLINES (Another) Record

Breaking Singles’ Day Regardless of consumers’ relationship statuses, November 11 Singles’ Day has become an occasion for people in China to do some serious online shopping.

Snatching up everything from daily commodities and electronics to hairy crabs and Land Rover SUVs, this year’s total sales reached a whopping RMB213.5 billion, a 27 percent increase from 2017. A-listers like Mariah Carey and Jay Chou made an appearance at the Singles’ Day Gala, too!

Luxury Acquisitions

In February, Chinese conglomerates Shandong Ruyi and Fosun Group announced their successful bids to claim controlling shares for Swiss luxury brand Bally and France’s oldest couture label Lanvin, respectively. This follows a string of similar deals that were completed in 2017, including the acquisitions of Baccarat, Vivienne Tam and Karl Lagerfeld. May the shopping spree continue in 2019.

Shifting Media

Dolce & Gabbana in

While Vogue has recently announced the inaugural issue of its Hong Kong edition next spring, several top fashion and lifestyle publications on the mainland, including the Chinese editions of Harper’s Bazaar, GQ and InStyle, have all seen management and editorial personnel changes in recent months. Industry analysts say this is another sign of the volatile outlook for China’s media and fashion industries.

Dolce & Gabbana’s Shanghai show was abruptly canceled following a PR nightmare of epic proportions. In a threepart promo video for the event, a Chinese woman was seen struggling to enjoy Italian food with chopsticks. Many viewers were less than impressed, and after calls for boycott, the clips were pulled from the brand’s Weibo and WeChat. The saga continued when an Instagram user leaked screenshots of his DMs with Stefano Gabbana, where the designer called China “the country of (turd emoji)” among other things (Gabbana later claimed his account was hacked). After the incident, many Chinese celebrities declared they will never work with the brand again.

Landscape

Hot Water (Again)

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

This year saw the usual comings and goings of high-profile foreign brands.

Entries Taking “wearing your feelings on your sleeve” quite literally.

Canada Goose entered China with two stores in Beijing and Hong Kong over the fall.

Brexits

Freitag from Switzerland also set up their first Chinese brick-and-mortar outlet in Shanghai.

Topshop terminated their four-year-long partnership with Beijing’s ecommerce platform ShangPin (and along with that their plans for dozens of stores across the mainland).

New Look is expected to close all of its 120 shops in China by the end of the year due to poor sales performance.

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IN MEMORIAM

A Tribute to the Guangzhou Restaurants and Bars We Lost This Year If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Guangzhou’s F&B scene, that lesson would be: do not get too attached. Case in point, 2018 is the year in which some of the city’s oldest institutions went down proving that in this city, anything can happen.

TOP TRENDS

A look at the hottest F&B trends of 2018.

Speakeasies A ‘speakeasy boom’ of sorts happened this year, as we welcomed a number of hot new spots to drink in secret, including Whispers in Panyu, Spin in Tianhe and Guu’s in Haizhu, among others. Another popular Guangzhou speakeasy, Hope & Sesame, was also the recipient of numerous awards at the national level.

McCawley’s Well, there’s still always McCawley’s in Shenzhen…

The Brew Bar & Bistro

A Canadian classic gone, reborn as a Mexican canteen.

Wantok

A sad year for discerning caffeine addicts in Tianhe.

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About Bagel

We mourn the loss of our favorite shop for round, dense and chewy bread.

(Continued) Experimental Snacking Throughout the past year we had the pleasure of sampling chili snickers, chicken-wing flavored oreos and, dare we say it, wasabiflavored Lays chips, all of which were quite the delight.

2018 GUANGZHOU F&B THERMOMETER Hot In-N-Out Burger hosting their first-ever Guangzhou pop-up restaurant in October.

Michelin finally honoring the home of Cantonese food with the June debut of Michelin Guide Guangzhou 2018.

Poke bowls making a splash in our city’s F&B scene, with the arrival of Poke Remix and Kigo Poke.

American chain Domino’s Pizza finally launching in Guangzhou.

Reusable Straws

The closure of second floors at

While we still have a long way to go in Guangzhou, a number of prominent F&B venues ditched plastic straws in 2018, including The Happy Monk, Revolucion Cocktail and Social&Co.

Zhujiang New Town. (Although

a number of popular spots in several have reopened, thankfully).

The closure of some classic F&B venues, including The Brew and McCawleys. RIP. Legislation allowing trout to be labelled and sold as salmon.

Cold

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FOOD, DRINK

& EVENTS IN GUANGZHOU

Oldie but Goodie P48 46 | GZ | DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM 46 | GZ DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Keepin’ It Kimchi

A journey through Guangzhou’s Little Korea, p50

Tatenokawa P54

BEER OF THE MONTH

BOTTOMS UP!

Boxing Cat Brewery’s Contender Extra Pale Ale

By Ryan Gandolfo

‘Beer of the Month’ is a regular series where our editors sample a unique craft beer. This month, our Guangzhou editorial team sampled Boxing Cat’s Contender Extra Pale Ale!

W

hile bolder flavors and new brewing techniques are being integrated into the world’s unofficial favorite beverage, some brews manage to balance the fine line between adventure and familiarity. This month, we embraced the lightly-hopped Contender Extra Pale Ale, an award-winning beer

by Boxing Cat Brewery, which was founded in Shanghai back in 2008.

Contender Extra Pale Ale, a bronze medal winner of the 2013 International Beer Competition, is brewed using mosaic hops, which provide the smooth and sessionable beer with citrusy, pineapplelike notes accompanied by a mildly-hoppy aftertaste. Well balanced, this sud is also the perfect companion for a range

of meaty meals, including meat pie, meatballs or a thick, greasy burger.

Sitting at or above 4.9 percent alcohol by volume, this beer is enjoyable not just for the avid craft beer drinker but also for someone relatively new to small-batch brews.

We first sampled the Contender Extra Pale Ale last month at our favorite local watering hole, where a wicked happy hour deal was underway: two bottles of the awardwinning beverage for the price of one, RMB50 (prices will undoubtedly vary, depending on where you might find yourself on any given night). Other pub patrons were also partaking in the deal, and by all accounts the bevvy is a hit!

Contender Extra Pale Ale can be found in select pubs and bottle shops in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, in addition to on Taobao.

Snag a 12-pack on Taobao for RMB149.

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GRAPE VINE THE SCANDALOUS SCOOP

We’re digging:

female-focused culinary event Heel’s Kitchen at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou (page 59); the upcoming Guangzhou Quiz Cup, which will be held next month between the top teams from trivia nights at Ginstar, Tristan’s, Rebel Rebel and Taphouse; Guangzhou’s Korean food street in Baiyun (page 50); and the launch of Michelin’s first-ever global Cantonese guide in Guangzhou last month!

We’re done with:

queuing to pay the cashier for beer at Commune in Liede (table service please!); Turkish restaurants going up in flames (looking at you, Bosphorus); and ‘rat fights’ at one of our favorite Xiaobei haunts.

OLDIE BUT GOODIE

Pho Kim Saigon Open for two and a half years in the basement of the IFC building, Pho Kim Saigon has built a name for itself amongst Guangzhou’s pho-natics due to it’s superior taste and consistent, reliable quality.

The IFC branch of Pho Kim Saigon is the first on the Chinese mainland, and takes its name and menu items from the chain’s inaugural location, which opened in Strasbourg, France back in 2000.

On our visit, we sit with the restaurant’s quality control watchdog, Mr. Wei. The 65-seat restaurant is abuzz during our visit and Wei tells us that the shop has a devout following.

“We regularly serve 200 people during the daily one-and-a-half-hour lunch rush,” he says. “We see a lot of return customers.”

Wei recommends we sample the ‘special beef pho’ (RMB38) and the ‘three-treasure rice’ (RMB48), both of which arrive at our table hot and fast (it took staff no longer than three minutes to have our food on the table!).

The pho arrives in a large bowl, with the surface of the beef- and noodle-laden soup sprinkled generously with fresh spring onions. The perfectly-executed bone broth is delicate with a refined richness and

stands in stark contrast to the oft-greasy pho broths found at some of Guangzhou’s back alley Vietnamese noodle purveyors.

“We want to offer the authentic taste,” Wong Kin Fung, proprietor of Pho Kim Saigon, tells us. Members of our editorial team who’ve spent time in ‘Nam are in agreement: the taste is true to the dish’s Southeast Asian roots.

The three-treasure rice comes with lemongrass-grilled chicken and pork, a mini omelette, veggies and, as you’d expect, rice. The meat is tender and juicy, while the omelette, which offers a unique mouthfeel and mellow taste, is an unexpected highlight.

If you purchase the three-treasure rice from the all-day combo menu, you can enjoy the dish with a drink or dessert for only RMB52. Side dishes are an additional RMB15, and include chicken wings and spring rolls.

Overall, a lunch or dinner here does not disappoint, checking all the right boxes with its swift service, reasonable price point and stellar edibles.

Price: RMB40-70 Nearest Metro: Zhujiang New Town (Exit B2), 10 minutes’ walk

Open daily, 10am-10pm; Shop B110, B/F, IFC, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天

河区珠江新城广州国际金融中心国金天地负一层

B110铺

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

WHAT’S ON WAIMAI

Xiaoqi Yangguo Okonomiyaki, translated into ‘what you like, grilled,’ is a classic Japanese pancake-like dish that has stolen the hearts of countless tourists who’ve traveled to the Pacific island nation. The pancake has been around, in some form or another, since before World War II. After the war, more ingredients began to be added and ultimately became the bossed-up okonomiyaki that we know and love today.

This month, we’re completely enamored by Xiaoqi Yangguo’s ‘navy okonomiyaki’ (RMB18). This grilled pancake comes loaded with delectable ingredients, including shrimp, octopus and cabbage, grilled into an egg and flour mixture, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, cheese (extra RMB2) and curry (extra RMB3). The combination will turn even the weariest taste-

testers into fans of the new grub.

We admit, any dish with octopus and cabbage could be enough to turn some folks away, but believe us when we say this dish is well worth the order. We’d recommend ordering a couple different okonomiyaki selections and sharing them amongst friends or colleagues. The ‘air force okonomiyaki’ (RMB18) skips the seafood and goes straight for succulent chicken and duck meat. Whichever way you chose to order, remember to place an order for fried chicken or octopus balls to make your waimai the talk of the office.

Price: RMB15-35 Good for: sharing an exotic dish, lunchtime pancakes Search for: Xiaoqi Yangguo 小崎洋果 Available on: Meituan, Ele.me

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E AT & DR INK | F E AT UR E

KEEPIN’ IT KIMCHI A Journey Through Guangzhou’s Little Korea

By Ryan Gandolfo

As a district, Baiyun is full of surprises. While the area directly north of Yuexiu may not be celebrated for its proximity to Canton’s F&B hotspots, you’d be wrong to say the district lacks good eats. There is one particular spot in Baiyun where the lights burn just as bright as any of the city center haunts.

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W

e’re talking about Little Korea on Yuanjing Lu. While you may or may not have been privy to this unique strip, Baiyun’s ‘Korean Food Street’ is an area to which you’ve got to pay a visit. The origin of Little Korea dates back to the beginning of the 21st century (depending on who you ask) and the area is home to a fairly sizable Korean population to this day.

While it’s not the most organized row of restaurants, supermarkets and cafes, all of which serve up the peninsula’s authentic cuisine, each time you go you’re bound to find something new and delicious. We’ll give you the lowdown on this foodies’ paradise as we peruse everything from mouthwatering Korean barbeque and finger-licking-good Korean fried chicken to the many sweet treats filling the street’s cafes.

We join the queue at Quanzhou Jia, a particularly popping Korean BBQ haven that is easily the most crowded of several prominent self-cooking eateries on an electric Friday night.

While waiting to order our food, we struck up a conversation with a waitress, hoping to learn more about their K-BBQ joint. “Well, the owner of this restaurant is Korean, but he speaks fluent Chinese so, fortunately, I don’t have to make any attempt in communicating in Korean,” she laughed before adding our order. “Actually, a lot of our customers are Chinese, but each night there are small circles of Korean people coming to eat,” she said while awkwardly pointing out two tables of Korean expats.

With the restaurant abuzz with sizzling meats and chatter, the waitress brought out

what seemed like a hundred small dishes, known in Korean as banchan. The side dishes, ranging from soybean sprouts and potato salad to radish kimchi and plain old kimchi, excellently complement the copious portions of meat. You can go straight for the protein or wrap it in a fresh leaf of lettuce, adding an extra crunch.

No more than 100 meters down the road from Quanzhou Jia sits a quiet but constantly busy Korean fried chicken joint. Don’t be confused by the sign outside that reads OK Fried Chicken, this place will knock your socks off with their selection of juicy, bone-in, crispy edibles. The shop is run by a middle-aged man and woman, who make quite the duo, taking orders both inside the small shop and via Meituan. Take your pick of original spicy and sweet garlic sauces as well as the shop’s own special tangy glaze (which we highly recommend). Although food is always best shared with friends and family, this deep fried chicken is arguably too tasty to part with.

At this point, we’ve only just scratched the surface of the Korean cuisine offerings on and around Yuanjing Lu. More of these authentic foreign eateries and cafes are tucked away beyond plain sight. Hidden behind the KFC along the main road is where you’ll find a nice row of restaurants, cafes and bars to extend your foodie excursion.

The walls around here are painted with

F E AT UR E | E AT & DR INK

colorful characters, contending with the restaurant signage for visual supremacy.

One spot we really took a liking to is Yu Lou Meng, a boutique dessert cafe offering an assortment of baked goods, drinks and bingsu, a popular Korean shaved ice dessert. The cold treat is perfect in the summer (so, ideal all year-round in Guangzhou) and comes with a variety of toppings, including fruit, red beans and condensed milk. You can order yourself a heaping portion of mango, matcha, oreo, strawberry and, of course, durian shaved ice. It’s a fan favorite, with most patrons waiting impatiently for their ice dessert to magically appear before them. If you lack a sweet tooth, you can also walk across the alley to Caffe Bene, Korea’s best-known coffeehouse chain, for a broader list of tasty options.

If you do decide to trek on out here, beer drinkers should feel obliged to grab a can of Korean Cass beer, either at one of the local bars or for walking and talking. While the two-block radius won’t bring you back to your travels in Seoul, the atmosphere is certainly unique to the rest of Guangzhou.

Scan the QR code for listing information for the eateries and cafes mentioned in this article.

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

FEI FEI LIU

It’s Just Another Day in Shrimp Paste Paradise

By Kheng Swe Lim

The Place Fei Fei Liu, or ‘Fat Fat Durian’ in English, serves Malaysian and Singaporean-style comfort food. The lines are long and the flavors adapted to the Cantonese palate, lacking sufficient levels of the fermented aroma found in maritime Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, if you want to relive the culinary memories of your last vacation down South, you could do much worse.

The Food

The menu shows a clear understanding of the

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food found in Singapore and Malaysia. The flavors, though, suggest that the cooks have not eaten the real thing, and are merely following a recipe. The restaurant specializes in whole roasted durian, which we do not order on our visit.

First comes the long beans in sambal belacan, aka shrimp paste (RMB29). While the beans are cooked to tender perfection, they unfortunately lack the pungent-y sweetness we expect from the dish. Next is the sambal fried chicken (RMB25), which comes lathered with too much batter and, despite its name, no hint of sambal.

The meal begins looking up with the arrival of our mains. The nasi lemak (RMB36), or rice with coconut milk, is steamed to aldente perfection, colored a striking shade of blue (sometimes seen in Malaysia) and accompanied by decent sambal and roast peanuts. The dish’s excellence, though, is marred by a lack of fried anchovies and the inclusion of a piece of heavily-battered chicken. The Singapore-style char kuay teow (RMB36), otherwise known in English as the fried rice noodles, is sweetish and appropriately greasy, tasting like the real thing.

The laksa, while made with the right spices, is all-too-reminiscent of instant laksa mixes you get in Singaporean supermarkets.

In a fit of gluttony, we order a chicken curry baked in a bread shell (RMB55). The chicken is juicy but the sauce too sweet, though credit must be given for the inclusion of ‘curry leaves’ – essential to all authentic

Southeast Asian curries.

To wash it all down, we order cendol (RMB22) – a classic iced dessert of short green rice noodles. While we are impressed at the inclusion of sea coconut, the drink has too little palm sugar for the amount of coconut milk used.

(Please note: All ordering is done through WeChat, which requires either reading knowledge of Chinese or strong familiarity with the dishes’ appearance).

The Vibe

You won’t find any dusty Southeast Asian antiques or mass-produced batik hanging from the walls. The decor is clean and airy, and the color scheme white and flamingo-pink. Each table comes with selfie-sticks, letting you take pictures of yourself gorging on fried chicken in front of a glass case-enclosing fake flamingos.

A far cry, perhaps, from ordering nasi lemak from a fold-out table in Kuala Lumpur, but as they say: beggars can’t be choosers!

Price: RMB60 Who’s going: homesick Malaysians and Singaporeans Good for: passable Southeast Asian grub, an unpretentious date Nearest metro: Gangding (Exit D), 5 minutes’ walk

Open daily, 11am-3pm, 5-10pm; 3/F, Shanpin Tianhe Mall, 1 Shipai Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区石牌西路1号 尚品天河3楼 (8362 5586)

NE W B A R | E AT & DR INK

COMMUNE

Long Lines for Long Islands

By Matthew Bossons

A

s culinary cosmonauts, there are few things worse than watching a new F&B outlet come so close to hitting the mark, but then faltering and failing in so many ways. While, thankfully, we don’t have to review objectively shitty places too often, every now and then we are unpleasantly surprised by a beautiful new venue’s inability to fulfill the most basic service requirements.

Enter: Commune.

Located in a constantly-changing F&B area across Liede Dadao from Xingsheng Lu, Commune looks fantastic. The beautiful interior makes use of tried-and-true materials such as wood and brick to create a space that feels equal parts library and industrial-chic.

The ground floor features ample seating, a circular-shaped bar for cocktails and mixed drinks and stand-up coolers full of bottled beer. There’s also a huge outdoor patio, that, we learned, becomes quite full from 9pm onwards (on Saturdays, anyway).

An upper floor is available as well, although we didn’t venture up there on our visit.

While we loved the design and ambiance of the place (and the bar’s playlist), the rest of our Commune experience was frustrating at best.

Drink orders here are placed at the cash register, with service staff at the bar only there to seat you and deliver drinks and food.

With only two tills, you may find you wait awhile to place and pay for your drink order.

Once you have decided what you want (either from the beer fridges, the wall of overpriced liquor bottles, or the limited cocktail menu), grab a table and prepare to wait, because your drink won’t be coming anytime soon.

When your beverage of choice does show up, there is a good chance it will be weaker than expected, in a smaller glass than expected and with an excess of plastic straws (very, very wasteful). Our Long Island Ice Tea (RMB48) took close to 20 minutes to arrive at our table and tasted more like real iced tea than an actual alcoholic beverage.

Our Rum Old Fashioned (RMB38) showed up with three huge ice cubes and within minutes boasted a 50-50 alcohol to water ratio: Amateur move, Commune.

One beverage the staff at Commune were unable to completely screw up was a 400-milliliter glass of draft Asahi beer, which came tasting as it should and at a reasonable price (RMB28).

While we could rant on for at least

another 300 or 400 words, we’ll end our complaints with this: unfriendly service staff.

From the girls behind the cash register, to the folks cleaning ashtrays on the patio, to the brutish fella enforcing some unwritten rule about how close chairs must be to the patio tables, at no point did we truly feel welcome.

Frankly put, Commune might be one of the most visually attractive bars in the entire Liede area, but with lackluster drinks and service, it’s hard to justify a return visit.

Price: RMB30-60 Who’s going: folks rightly bored of Xingsheng Lu Good for: getting frustrated Nearest metro: Liede (Exit C), 10 minutes’ walk Open daily, 10am-2am; Shop No. 101-102, 28 Liede Dadao, Tianhe District 天河区猎德大道28号101-102号铺

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

TATENOKAWA

A Sake Brand’s Take on Japanese Fare

By Tristin Zhang

The Place A time-tested sake producer, Tatenokawa is the Château Margaux of Japan’s favorite alcoholic beverage. Tatenokawa, meaning ‘castle brook’ in English, is situated at the base of a mountain range in Japan’s Yamagata prefecture and boasts nearly a 190-year history of sake making. The mission: to create Japan’s foremost sake.

With astute nods to their sake-producing heritage, Tatenokawa’s eponymous, recently opened restaurant in K11 Art Mall offers a fine selection of their ‘rice wine.’

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The eatery’s facade resembles a traditional Japanese home and the entrance is staffed by a Cantonese-speaking usher wearing getas, a pink kimono and welcoming smile.

The dining area, which is blanketed in soothing, yellowish light, is compartmented by wooden screens, while private rooms with zeshiki-style tables and a sushi bar cater to diners’ varying expectations.

The Food

When we visit in mid-November, the restaurant’s menu only offers set meals, but a staffer does mention to us that an a la carte menu will be available to diners by the end of the year.

But don’t let this deter you, as Tatenokawa’s fresh cuts of sashimi and perfectly-roasted mackerel (RMB60) will impress even the pickiest of seafood fans.

We recommend sampling the restaurant’s abundance of kaiseki-style set meals, which come in a number of varieties, including teppanyaki, tempura, sashimi, sushi, roasted fish and more!

Sashimi lovers would be wise to try the ‘assorted banquet meal box’ (RMB228), a meal set focused on the day’s freshest seafood offerings. In addition to generous cuts of salmon, tuna and the like, the set also comes

with a bowl of sushi rice, a sour salad, sesame tofu, steamed tofu with beef, pickled daikon and a bowl of piping hot miso soup. (Other meal sets come with more or less the same formula).

Although the drink list is largely based around sake, wines and soft drinks are also available for purchase. If you do decide to get in on the sake action, be forewarned: it isn’t cheap. (Most sake available here is from Tatenokawa, of course, and the alcohol percentage hovers at around 33 percent. Prices per bottle range from RMB500 to well over RMB2,000).

The Vibe

A low-key ambiance hovers over the dining area, only occasionally broken by bursts of laughter from private booths and Japanese greetings from Tatenokawa’s service staff.

Price: RMB100-200 Who’s going: sake tipplers, mall diners Good for: Japanese meal sets, food porn Nearest metro: Huacheng Dadao (Exit B), 5 minutes’ walk

Open daily, 11.30am-2.30pm, 5-11pm; Shop L313, K11 Art Mall, 6 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Tianhe District 天河 区珠江东路6号K11商场L313铺 (3726 7257, 3847 5351)

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

XI JINGJING BEIJING DUCK RESTAURANT Se-duck-tively Delicious

By Ryan Gandolfo

The Place Located in a residential area near Longkou Xi Lu and Longkou Dong Lu, Xi Jingjing Roasted Duck Restaurant brings Guangzhouers a medley of North China delicacies. Prominently positioned along the bustling Tianhe Bei Lu, passersby would be hard pressed to overlook this restaurant, which is patronized by hungry families and groups of friends queuing up for the oil-heavy food.

The Food

While this eatery does offer an array of celebrated Northern-style dishes, we have to be honest and admit we visited Xi Jingjing for one thing and one thing only: the duck (RMB108 half bird/RMB198 full bird).

The bird carcass arrived at our table

plump and cooked to perfection. Upon digging in, the rich bird meat immediately reminded us of time spent in Hebei, where we often scooped up a roadside roasted duck as a quick and affordable meal.

The waitress was even so kind as to demonstrate how to make a proper wrap, adding a couple slices of cucumber, fresh spring onions, thick and flavorful duck sauce and, of course, duck meat. We found the quality of the meat to be passable, with crispy skin draped over the tender dark cuts. The meat lacked the extra juiciness we’ve come to expect while not being overly dry either.

We also got our hands on the restaurant’s thousand layered beef cakes (RMB32 for six), which provide a nice, savory crunch. Depending on how many people you have, you may want to get two orders of these bad boys. Between the roasted duck and the beef-laden flatbreads, we came away thinking Xi Jingjing provides a

quality Northern-style meal, although you’d still need to catch a plane to sample the real deal.

The Vibe

The restaurant has an elegant design with drop-down lights illuminating each table, while the rest of the dining area remains a shade or two darker. Chatter from tables of families and friends fills the open room and an impressive rock feature in its center imbues the restaurant with a dose of feng shui.

Price: RMB150-250 Who’s going: young families, duck lovers, Good for: a sample of Northern cuisine, a filling meal Nearest metro: Huashi (Exit B), 10 minutes

Open daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9.30pm (Mon-Fri); 11am-9.30pm (Sat-Sun); 1/F, Gold Sea Garden, 614 Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District 天河区天河北路614号金 海花园首层 (8668 8689)

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Pankaj Udhas Ghazal

Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra Classical Music

HEAR National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

Classical Music

Under the baton of conductor Nicola Giuliani, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine will stage a concert at Xinghai Concert Hall this month.

Performances include some of the world’s most famous classical masterpieces.

Sun Dec 30, 8pm; RMB180-880.

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 (concerthall.com.cn, ticket-easy.cn)

Exciting news for the great Indian community in Guangzhou: Pankaj Udhas, India’s Frank Sinatra (but alive), is slated for a performance in town this month. Having sung for many a Hindi film, the prestigious ghazal artist has enjoyed a singing career spanning almost 40 years. A raffle draw will be held at the performance, with prizes ranging from RMB3,000 to RMB10,000. Reserve your seat by contacting NRI China on WeChat (ID: nri-in-china).

Sun Dec 16; RMB250-1,100. Kyle Canton Hotel, 899 Zhongshan Dadao Xi, Tianhe District 天河区中山大道西899号凯尔卡顿大酒店

Since 1966, the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra has been doing one thing and one thing only – recreating the works of the legendary Strauss Orchestra of the days of Johann Strauss I, the initiator of a musical dynasty in the 19th century.

Classic masterpieces such as ‘The Blue Danube,’ ‘Viennese Blood’ and ‘Radetzky March’ comprise the orchestra’s vast repertoire.

Tue Dec 25, 8pm; RMB180-880.

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 (concerthall.com.cn, ticket-easy.cn)

Guangzhou Jazz Festival Werner Bartschi Piano

This Will Destroy You

Experimental Rock

This Will Destroy You is one of the biggest instrumental and experimental rock bands in America. The band played two sold-out China tours in 2013 and 2015 and will finally return with four shows to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their eponymous album. For this special occasion they will play both of their classic albums – Young Mountain and S/T – in full.

Thu Dec 13, 8.30pm; RMB100 presale. 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)

Having organized and played host to Guangzhou Jazz Festival for the past three years, Xinghai Concert Hall, the iconic, glass and concrete structure sitting along the shoreline of Ersha Island, has done a remarkable job boosting the city’s jazz music scene. Now in its fourth year, the nine-day celebration of jazz music will return to Guangzhou this December. Starting from December 1, Xinghai Concert Hall will host nine performances by jazz musicians from China, Germany, Spain and the United States. We suspect this year’s Guangzhou Jazz Festival lineup will once again impress music fans, with performances by Grammy-winning double bassist Ron Carter, Spanish jazz band Jazznesis & Mar and Guangzhou jazzwoman Wang Cong.

Dec 1-9, various times; various prices. 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 (concerthall. com.cn, ticket-easy.cn)

win!

We have tickets to the last concert to give away! Message our official WeChat account (ThatsGuangzhou) before December 7 with the subject ‘Jazz’ and why you should win. Please include your full name and contact number.

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Werner Bartschi’s interpretation of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt is spontaneous, communicative and exciting. Born in Zurich in 1950, his repertoire includes works from the late renaissance to recent times. At Guo Lanying Theater, Bartschi will play a selection of pieces from classical maestros as well as his own compositions.

Fri Dec 21, 8pm; RMB100-200. Guo Lanying Theater, Guangdong Culture and Art Vocational College, 250 Dongyi Lu, Panyu District 番禺区东艺 路250号广东文艺职业学院郭兰英剧院 (damai.cn)

Lisa Ono Bossa Nova Strawberry Music Festival

DO

Annual Aussie Gathering – Christmas White Party

Japanese-Brazilian singer Lisa Ono was born in Sao Paulo and started creating magical sounds with her natural voice and a guitar at the age of 15 before becoming a popular bossa nova singer in Japan. She’s been active on stage in the US, Brazil and various Asian countries. As Xinghai’s New Year gift, Ono’s concert is to grace Guangzhou with a repertoire of melodic songs with a bossa nova touch, such as ‘La vie en Rose’ and ‘Quizas, Quizas, Quizas.’

Wed Jan 2, 8pm; RMB280-1,280. 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 (concerthall.com.cn, ticket-easy.cn)

Richard Clayderman Piano

Clayderman’s distinctive style has earned him superstar status all over the world. He has recorded over 1,300 melodies and clocked up a massive worldwide sales record of approximately 150 million albums as of 2006. Don’t miss the chance to hear this distinguished ‘prince of piano’ while he’s in town.

Thu Jan 3, 8pm; RMB250-1,580. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (gzdjy.org, damai.cn)

Guangzhou’s Aussie community is holding a white-themed Christmas party at LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou this month and you’re invited to partake in the festivities! Expect a Christmas buffet, wine, beer, prizes and more!

Fri Dec 7, 7-10pm; RMB280 members, RMB360 nonmembers. 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

Strawberry Music Festival, taking place at Chimelong Paradise in Panyu, features a vast array of musicians ranging from sought-after hip-hoppers to ethnic singers. Highlight acts include Scottish post-punk band Franz Ferdinand, Taiwanese aboriginal singer Hu Defu and Chaoshan folk band Wutiaoren, among many others.

Sat-Sun Dec 8-9, 2pm; RMB280 presale, RMB360 at the door. Chimelong Paradise Amusement Park, Yingbin Lu, Panyu Dadao, Panyu District 番禺 区番禺大道迎宾路广州长隆欢乐世界 (damai.cn)

Weekly Trivia Night at Ginstar

Every Tuesday evening, Ginstar’s Zhujiang New Town location holds its weekly pub quiz from 8.30pm to 10pm. The trivia covers a wide range of topics and subjects, from current events and pop culture to geography, literature and politics. (Photo, music and connection rounds also feature!). Participating teams stand the chance to win a number of boozy prizes, including a bottle of Fireball, 3 liters of Carlsberg and a bottle of wine! And, as an added bonus, trivia attendees can also enjoy one of Ginstar’s renowned burgers and a pint of beer for only RMB60!

Ongoing Tue, 8.30-10pm; free entry. Ginstar, Shop 103, 1/F, Mingyue Building, 2 Huacheng Lu, Tianhe District 天河区华成路2号名悦大厦1楼103铺星淘客美式休闲 餐吧 (186 6559 0011)

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Swan Lake by Russian State Ballet

Digital Revolution Exhibition

SEE Chicago the Musical

“Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts.” So begins the award-winning musical Chicago, which is scheduled to visit Guangzhou this month. With six Tony Awards, two Oliver Awards, one Grammy, two Bafta and six Academy Awards, Chicago truly is “the sharpest, slickest show on the block.” You can count on this memorable musical to offer the thrills that only come with seeing a Broadway show.

Tue-Sun Dec 6-16, 2.30pm/7.30pm; RMB280-1,180. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路1号广州大剧 院 (gzdjy.org, 247tickets.com)

Over the last 20 years, the Russian State Ballet Theater has remained one of the leading ballet companies in Russia, enjoying international acclaim. Its repertoire includes classical ballets as well as some of the world’s finest examples of modern choreography.

With its elaborate costumes, vivid sets and breathtaking stunts, Swan Lake promises audiences a world-class experience.

Sun Dec 23, 7.30pm; RMB180-880. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (gzdjy.org)

Digital Revolution is an immersive, audiovisual experience exploring digital technologies used in a range of fields since the 1970s. The exhibition explores a world created by a range of artists, filmmakers, architects, designers, musicians and game developers, where the audience is exposed to the history of ever-evolving digital technologies, as well as the impact these technologies had – or are having – on our culture and entertainment.

Tue-Sun until Mar 1, 9.30am-4.30pm; RMB60. Guangdong Science Center, 168 Kepu Lu, Guangzhou University Town, Panyu District 番禺区广州大学 城科普路168号广东科技中心

Mi Carmen Flamenca Flamenco Early Chinese Newspapers in Singapore and Chinese Revolution

TNT Theatre Britain: Macbeth

Founded in 1980 in Britain, TNT Theatre Britain quickly established itself as one of the most renowned touring theater companies in the world. On this visit, the celebrate ensemble will present one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies: the one and only Macbeth.

Fri-Sat Dec 7-8, 7.30pm; RMB100-320.

Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Lu, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District 越秀区二 沙岛晴波路33号星海音乐厅 (concerthall.com.cn, ticket-easy.cn)

Born in a village with traditional flamenco heritage near Seville, Spain, flamenco artist Antonio Andrade grew up among aficionados of this eye-catching art form. Serving as the artistic director of Antonio Andrade Flamenco Company, the Spanish artist has created many successful productions enjoyed by audiences the world over, including this rendition of Carmen.

Wed-Thu Dec 26-27, 8pm; RMB180-680. 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 (concerthall. com.cn, ticket-easy.cn)

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This exhibition traces the development of Chinese newspapers in Singapore from 1880 to 1942. The newspapers on display at the event helped cover the revolutionary events happening in China at the time, and played a vital role in maintaining a cultural tie between Chinese immigrants to Singapore and their homeland.

Tue-Sun until Feb 20, 9am-5pm; free. The Memorial Museum of Genearlissimo Sun Yat-sen’s Mansion, 18 Dongsha Jie,By Fangzhi Lu 海珠 区纺织路东沙街18号孙中山大元帅府 纪念馆

New Year Countdown at the Garden Hotel

TA S T E Heel’s Kitchen Cooking Class/Lunch & Dinner

A cheeky play on Hell’s Kitchen, a popular American reality show hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, Heel’s Kitchen will be the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou’s first-ever female-only culinary event. While men are allowed to attend the event, you won’t find any in the kitchen – all the dishes are prepared by talented female chefs. The culinary event will run from December 7 to 9 and feature an array of different activities and meals for hungry Guangzhouers to enjoy, including daily cooking classes, VIP lunches and dinners and three tantalizing afternoon teas, all helmed by one of seven female Hyatt chefs or a surprise celebrity chef.

Fri-Sun Dec 7-9, various times and prices. 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)

Ring in the new year in style at the Garden Hotel’s lobby lounge, where lively music and three drink and snack packages await. Call 189 2625 8321 for reservation.

Mon Dec 31; packages starting from RMB699. Lobby Lounge, 1/F, 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 8321)

Holiday Season at Mandarin Oriental Alfresco Christmas Set Menu

This holiday season, Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou will offer a variety of Christmas events and promotions for Yuletide revelers to enjoy, including a number of holidaythemed cakes at The Mandarin Cake Shop, a Christmas-y afternoon tea at the Taikoo Lounge and sumptuous feasts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve at Ebony. Call 3080 8888 for more details on holiday promotions.

Afternoon tea at The Taikoo Lounge: RMB428 for two, available daily until Jan 4; Christmas/New Year dinner buffet at Ebony: 6-10.30pm; RMB828 per person, RMB1,188 for two; all prices are subject to a 15 percent service charge.

Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou, 389 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District 天河区天河路 389号广州文化东方酒店 (3080 8888)

Toast the Festive Season

Experience the holiday spirit in a traditional Italian setting with a five-course Christmas set menu accompanied by one complimentary bottle of Prosecco.

Lucky draws will be held throughout the dinner to spice things up. Call 8916 3568 for more information.

Daily Dec 24-Jan 1, 6-10pm; RMB850 for two (early bird price until Dec 20)/RMB998 for two, extra RMB218 per person for wine pairing. Alfresco, 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 (8916 3568)

Toast this festive season in style at LN Hotel Five’s Roof Top Bar, which is set against a backdrop of Guangzhou’s nightscape and now jazzed up by the addition of a house band. Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners for two, coupled by a free flow of house wine, are priced at RMB688 and RMB999 respectively, while a one-night stay plus dinner is also available on New Year’s Eve at RMB1,499.

Mon-Tue Dec 24-25, 7.30-10.30pm; Mon Dec 31, 7.30-10.30pm (free flow of wine until 1.30am). 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)

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HONG KONG & MACAU CALENDAR HK

UNTIL DEC 21

OPEN DAILY (TUESAT)

Christmas spirit this December than with this classic ballet.

Composed by legendary Russian Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and adapted from the story by E.T.A. Hoffman, The Nutcracker tells the tale of Clara, The Nutcracker and their quest to escape the clutches of the evil Mouse King on Christmas Eve.

MO

DEC 2-31 DAILY

DEC 16

DEC 15-16

SUN

SAT/SUN Flavin, Judd, McCracken, Sandback, 11am-7pm. David Zwirner.

David Zwirner presents works by four pioneering artists connected with the minimalist art movement of the post World War II period in the United States. Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, John McCracken and Fred Sandback explored the importance of space, each by wildly different means. Their works will be presented separately, in different rooms so as to highlight their alternating approach to art.

DEC 8-9, 15-16 SAT-SUN

Creamfields, RMB888 early bird 1-day ticket, RMB1,388 early bird 2-day ticket (thmart.com.cn) Creamfields brings together some of the best known house and EDM musicians in the world for two days of high octane fun.

Catch Armin Van Buuren, Alesso, Diplo and more as they take the stage at Asia-World Expo this December. Founded by Cream in 1998, Creamfields has since gone on to become one of the most recognizable names in electronic music today.

Macau Light Festival, 7-10pm. Go to macaotourism.gov.mo for venue info.

Featuring glamorous 3D architectural projections and mapping technology, light installations and various interactive games, this year’s Macau Light Festival is expected to be a hit amongst both tourists and locals alike.

DEC 8 SAT

Stanley Plaza Finnish Christmas Wonder, 12am-8pm. Stanley Plaza.

The Finnish region of Lapland acts as one of the cultural center points for modern Yuletide beliefs and, while that snowy area is half the world away, Stanley Plaza is bringing their own piece of the Scandinavian country to Hong Kong. Catch locally made and imported items at this market, all in the company of the Yule goat and his elven friends.

DEC 14-16, 1923, 25-26 THU-SAT

The Nutcracker, HKD180-1,000; 2.30/7.30pm. Grand Theater, Hong Kong Cultural Center (urbtix.hk) What better way to get into the

Macau International Parade, 3pm; free. Ruins of St. Paul’s (www.icm. gov.mo/macaoparade) As an annual celebration of Macau’s handover to China, Macau International Parade has attracted local artists, residents, tourists and performing groups from around the world since it started in 2011 under the name Parade Through Macau. Showcasing the unique culture of the city, the parade takes the crowd through streets and alleys, bringing song and dance to the city’s historic quarters.

UNTIL DEC 30 DAILY

DEC 31 MON

as a tool for dialogue, aiming to boost cultural exchanges. Event organizers also hope to raise awareness and promote Chinese languages, as well as East Asian and international cinema, while educating the public on the history of cinematography.

Jigsaw International Music Festival, 9pm; MOP880. Cotai Expo Hall, The Venetian Macau (macauticket.com) This month, a number of worldclass DJs will gather at Jigsaw International Music Festival, one of the most dynamic events on the global EDM calendar, for what’s bound to be an electrifying evening. Among them are Quintino, Ummet Ozcan, Carl Nunes, DJ Chozie and DJ Rayray.

DEC 8-14 ALL WEEK Cirque du Soleil, HKD500 (includes free-flow of red and white wine and craft beer for four hours). Mrs. Pound (ticketflap.com) This New Year’s Eve, forgo your local tavern in favor of something a bit more spectacular as Cirque du Soleil returns to Hong Kong.

Known for offering thrills, spills and more than enough excitement, this event will also feature a four-hour free flow of red and white wine, as well as craft beer.

Sit back and watch as performers take on acrobatic and death-defying stunts.

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3rd International Film Festival and Awards, various times; MOP60.

Various locations. For screening schedule, visit iffamacao.com (macauticket.com) The International Film Festival and Awards encourages the use of art

Pop-up Fashion Shop, 10am-8pm.

Macau Fashion Gallery, 47 Rua de S. Roque (macaofashiongallery.com) The Macau Fashion Gallery is hosting a pop-up shop to showcase and sell fashionable clothing and wearable items by six local independent designers: Axoxyxoxs, Gelée, Macon, Soul, Worker Playground and Zics.

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HOTEL NEWS NEWS Justin Baziuk Appointed Director of Culinary Operations of Rosewood Sanya Justin Baziuk has been appointed director of culinary operations for Rosewood Sanya, the only China resort of the ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts brand. Baziuk brings 18 years of experience to this role, having previously worked in his native country of New Zealand, as well as Australia, the UAE and Thailand.

StayWell Holdings and Prince Hotels Inc. Expand The Prince Akatoki Brand to China StayWell Holdings and Prince Hotels Inc. have announced that The Prince Akatoki will open its second property in 2019 in Guangzhou. The brand-new hotel will feature 275 rooms and four dining destinations for guests to the property.

Michelin-Starred Chef Moreno Cedroni at Four Seasons Guangzhou Hotel On November 15, Four Seasons Guangzhou Hotel hosted two-star Michelin chef Moreno Cedroni as part of the 3rd World Week of Italian Cuisine.

At the event, Chef Cedroni presented his own interpretation of succulent Mediterranean fare.

PROMOTIONS The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou Presents Winter Family Stay The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou celebrates the arrival of this festive season by transforming the hotel into a glittery wonderland. Stay in a contemporary classic guest room and receive special benefits for the little ones, such as an adorable festive stuffed bear and a one-of-a-kind baking class. Prices for room packages start from RMB1,688 and are subject to service charges and applicable taxes. For more information, call 3813 6898.

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 6898)

New General Manager at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou Italian native Marco Avitabile has been appointed as the new general manager of Grand Hyatt Guangzhou. A seasoned hotelier with more than 30 years’ experience working in eight countries, Avitabile started his hospitality career as a 16-year-old apprentice in one of Germany’s leading hotels.

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TRAVEL DEALS Fun-filled Offerings from Yinrun Jinjiang Castle Hotel Located in Zhejiang’s Anji county, the five-star Yinrun Jinjiang Castle Hotel and adjacent Hello Kitty Park have won over the hearts of countless visitors. The hotel, which is built to resemble a Europeanstyle castle, boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding area’s stunning natural scenery. Out of the establishments 386 guestrooms, 43 are Hello Kitty inspired. Facilities such as a fitness center, cinema, children’s entertainment center and beauty salon, among others, will make your stay delightful. At RMB2,099, guests can enjoy a two-night stay in a Luxury Room, daily breakfast for two adults and one child (below 1.4-meter in height), one lunch or dinner, as well as two tickets to Hello Kitty Park. For more information, call 0572-552 2888.

Yinrun Jinjiang Castle Hotel, 8 Tianshi Dadao, Anji, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province 浙江省湖州市安吉县天使大道8号安吉银润锦江城堡酒店 (0572-552 2888)

SPONSORED

DISCOVERING DESSERT WINES Despite the fact that dessert wine has been around for centuries, it is a bit of an enigma to all but the most ardent wine lovers. The characteristic sweetness and high alcohol content of dessert wine often bring questions such as “Should it be paired with food?” or “What kind of glass should it be served in?” While these are fair and common questions, the answers truthfully lie in your own personal preferences.

In the world of wine, there is much debate over the definition of a dessert wine. To some, a dessert wine is specifically a sweet wine that is served as an accompaniment to dessert. To others, it is any sweet wine that can be drunk alone, perhaps instead of dessert. To further complicate things, there are many different types of dessert wine broken down into fortified (port and sherry) and unfortified, which includes ice wine, noble rot (botrytis), vine dried, straw dried and naturally sweet.

The beauty of a good dessert wine is the balance of sweetness and acidity and we have selected some good examples to share with you this month:

Asara Vine Dried Sauvignon Blanc

With flavors of pineapple and guava this wine fills the palate and leaves you yearning for more. A fresh, juicy acidity is the perfect counterbalance to the sweet tropical aromas. Best matched with fruity and creamy desserts.

La Bri Naturally Sweet Viognier This wine displays beautiful white peach and floral aromas, balanced by a vivid freshness and a light body. Good match for fresh fruit and ice cream, also enjoyable with goat cheeses and blue cheeses.

Where to find these wines: The Mandarin Oriental Hotel offers the La Bri Viognier on their wine list and you can order the above wines for home delivery at www.thewinepeople.cn The

WINTER WARMER Scan to order

Celebrate the festive season with a case of delightful wines for RMB 750 + free delivery

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CITY SCENES AmCham Winter Ball (Supported by

and

)

Dubbed ‘Journey Through Time,’ this year’s AmCham Winter Ball began with an elegant yet vibrant cocktail mixer in the beautiful and ornate lobby of the LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou. The night whisked attendees through time using the magic of song and dance, from the innovative waltz of the 14th century, to the passionate tango of the 19th century. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the attendance of legendary, Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophonist Kenny G. In the lucky draw, over RMB1 million in round-trip international airfares, hotel stays, dining vouchers and fine wines were given away!

Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (Supported by and

)

Held by CCI France Chine South China at the Four Seasons Guangzhou Hotel on November 15, this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau was the first time the Canton edition of the event has taken the form of a gala dinner. The following day, on November 16, the Shenzhen edition of the wine-centric event was hosted at Shangri-La Hotel, Shenzhen. Close to 500 people attended the Guangzhou dinner, while the Shenzhen event saw around 350 esteemed guests participate, including Javier Gimeno, president of CCI France Chine, and Siv Leng Chuuor, general consul of France in Guangzhou.

Beaujolais Nouveau events are held annually worldwide and are celebrations of not just wine but of delicious edibles, music and French culture.

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2018 Guangzhou British Day (Supported by

and

GIVES Carnival )

(Supported by

)

The 2018 edition of Guangzhou British Day delighted a staggering 4,000 attendees from local and international communities last month, who spent the day enjoying traditional British culture. Organized by the British Chamber of Commerce Guangdong, the event included family-friendly games, British-style performances, British music and food and an exciting lucky draw with dozens of prizes.

The Guangzhou-based Guangdong International Volunteer Expatriate Service (GIVES) is one of the most renowned volunteer groups in the city and has been a prominent charitable force in areas such as education, health and orphan care for more than two decades. At the GIVES Carnival, which took place on November 10, an array of family-friendly activities, performances and games were held to entertain visitors, while a range of food stations specializing in tasty edibles were onsite to keep everyone full and happy. All profits from this event went to Lianzhou Prosthesis Rehabilitation Project.

BSG International Day (Supported by and

The Electric City Festival (Supported by )

)

A fun annual family event, BSG International Day brings everyone together in celebration of the variety of cultures and nationalities within the school and greater Guangzhou community. More than 2,000 guests were invited to the school’s campus for a relaxing day of fun activities, music and prizes, while enjoying great food and drinks. All event proceeds were donated to charity organization Hopeful Hearts.

The Electric City Festival, presented by Bionic Brew, took place on November 9-11 at HALO Place featuring breweries from cities all across China, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, Wuhan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The sold-out event featured a great mix of local and international DJs and we are already eager to attend next year’s event!

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PRD FOCUS L

a Réunion Road Show was held at The Westin Guangzhou on November 13. At the event, attendees were introduced to the exciting tourism options offered by Reunion Island.

A

celebration of Belgium’s King’s Day was observed by The Consulate General of Belgium in Guangzhou and distinguished guests on November 16 at The Canton Place.

I

nvited by The Italian Government Tourist Board, a total of 26 tourism agencies from Italy gathered in Guangzhou on November 20 to introduce the Mediterranean country’s tourism resources to their Chinese counterparts. Lucia Pasqualini, consul general of the Italian consulate in Guangzhou attended the occasion.

G

rand Mercure, a popular upscale brand by AccorHotels, made its Foshan debut last month. The opening helps to address the serious lack of international hospitality brands in the upand-coming city.

T

ourism Northern Territory held a press conference and luncheon at LN Hotel Five last month, aimed at introducing Guangzhouers to the beautiful scenery of Australia’s outback.

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M

arriott International’s ‘Appreciation Week’ arrived at W Guangzhou on November 12 and was celebrated in grand fashion.

N

ord Anglia Education is set to open a new bilingual school in Foshan! On November 23, a ceremony was held to observe the official announcement.

HE A LT H

THE BEAUTY AND POETRY A Bilingual 2019 Calendar Featuring Famous Chinese Poems

B

ased on The Classic of Poetry, a collection of romantic Chinese poems throughout history translated by Aurora Borealis Prize winner Xu Yuanchong, The Beauty and Poetry is a premium bilingual 2019 calendar featuring both the original Chinese text and Xu’s English versions.

The calendar is an excellent gift idea this holiday season for anyone who has an interest in Chinese history and literary culture. Produced with environmentally friendly materials free of harmful chemicals, the calendar comes with a wooden case that can also double as a smartphone holder, iPad stand or picture frame – a great vessel to hold all the beautiful memories for the upcoming year.

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LISTINGS OPEN DOOR

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

Winner of a That's PRD 2017 Food & Drink Awards

FOOD & DRINK Antidote Restaurant and Bar 39 Qiaoyi Yi Jie, Tianhe Bei Lu, Tianhe District (186 2071 9898) 天河区天河北路侨怡一街 39 号 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

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 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

FUJITSURU KAPPO 藤鹤割烹 Sushi at Its Finest

The Japanese word kappo stands for ‘traditional and sophisticated Japanese cuisine,’ and the high-end Fujisuru Kappo, housed in the ‘higher-end’ Canton Place, specializes in exactly this type of food.

Executive Chef Ito Misuru embarked on his culinary career at a top sushi restaurant in Fukuoka 40 years ago. A decade ago, his gastronomic gallivant through East Asia brought him to China, where he has helmed culinary operations at various restaurants and five-star hotels, including Hotel Nikko Guangzhou.

According to Misuru, he always prepares his edibles using traditional methods to ensure the most authentic dishes. He never, ever compromises to local flavor preferences.

Today, you’ll find Misuru conjuring up magical Japanese flavors at Fujisuru, where he guarantees food freshness through a strict purchasing routine: all seafood is flown in four times a week from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, aka the world’s largest seafood market.

The handwritten chef’s menu attests to Misuru’s commitment to freshness, only featuring in-season ingredients.

Regular kaiseki and teppanyaki sets are on offer and can be enjoyed in the restaurant’s eight private rooms or the chic dining area. Those looking to taste Chef Misuru’s specialties should opt to order omasaka, a Japanese word that roughly translates to ‘I leave it up to you.’ Alternatively, snag a seat at the sushi bar and have the seafood shifu fix you up with some of your favorites.

11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10pm; Shop 82, The Canton Place, 48 Qingfeng Jie, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城清风街48号广粤天地82号铺 (8928 7784) 68 | GZ | DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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）

Slow Life An organic, healthconscious 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; Shop 205, 2/F, Kaihua International Center, 5 Xiancun Lu, Tianhe District 天河区黄埔大道西120号高志大厦首层107铺 (3788 7173, 3788 7172); 天河区冼村路5号凯华国际中心 二楼205铺 (2818 7263) 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

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 Gail’s American Cuisine & Bar Shop 11, 2/F, 6 Xingsheng Lu, Tianhe District (8928 0920, 3759 4226) 天河区兴盛路 6 号尚东君御二楼 11 铺 Happy Monk 1) Back of Yi'an Plaza, Jianshe Wu Malu, Yuexiu District (8376 5597) ; 2) No. 109, 7Xingsheng Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3877 8679); 3) Outdoor Plaza, Happy Valley Mall, 36 Machang Lu, Tianhe District (3832 5317) 1) 越秀区建设五马路宜安广场后门 ; 2) 天河区珠江 新城兴盛路 7 号 109 号铺 ; 3) 天河区珠江新城马场 路 36 号太阳新天地户外广场 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 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 Qing Man Party Restaurant 2/F, B Zone, Party Pier, 118 Modiesha Dajie, Xingang Dong Lu, Haizhu District (8386 6998) 海珠区新港东路磨碟沙大街 118 号琶醍 B 区二楼

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

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 Morgan’s Public House 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

Zapata’s Shop A21 Party Pier, Located in Party Pier, just a stone's throw away from the Canton Fair complex, the hot venue also comes with an outstanding riverside terrace, which is perfect for an evening of drunken merrymaking. Yuejiang Xi Lu, Haizhu District (8977 9596) 海珠区阅江西路珠江啤酒厂琶醍文化区 A21

HEALTH 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 9am-6pm (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

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

Guangzhou Narcotics Anonymous Meetings: Monday 6.30pm and Friday 7pm. (For help: 188 9857 0042 (French, Chinese & English), 133 3287 0750 (Persian), 185 8876 4470 (English), www.nachina.com) 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 Guangzhou United Family Hospital Open 24/7. 24-hr Service Center: 4008 919191, 24-hr Emergency Hotline: (020) 3610 2333 No. 28, Fangyuan Lu, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 广州和睦家医院 广州市海珠区芳园路 28 号

SLOWLIFE KITCHEN ELITE Grilled Australian M4 Wagyu Sirloin

Dr. Sherily Xiao Master of Medicine. 21 years of TCM & Acupuncture & Physiotherapy & Massage 5 years International Clinic Experience. Only for appointment. Nr.132, Taojin Road, Yuexiu District（Tel: 137 1052 6617; E-mail: xiaoshuilan@hotmail.com) 越秀区淘金路132号 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

OPEN DOOR

The expert chef at SlowLife Kitchen Elite selects the finest Australian M4 grainfed Wagyu sirloin, which is served with butter to make the meat especially tender. In December, AmCham members can enjoy the RMB90 discount for every RMB300 spent in our restaurants (available from Monday to Wednesday at our Gaozhi Building branch and all week at our Kaihua International Center location). The discount doesn’t apply for special drinks, dishes and set meals, or on December 24 &25).

Shop 205, 2/F, Kaihua International Center, 5 Xiancun Lu, Tianhe District 88527317 Nail Culture 1. Manicures & Pedicures: We choose imported nail polish from Japan, which boast not only rich and saturated colors, but also a clear and lustrous sheen. It’s also easy to remove; 2. Eyelashes: We choose the highest quality eyelashes to give you a soft, exquisite and comfortable feeling; 3. Hair Removal: We meet the global industry standard for hair removal, choosing the Spanish brand Depileve; 4. Eyebrow tattooing, eyes’ contours tattooing and lip bleaching 1) Shop No. 404, Bldg. 3A, Edinburgh International Apartment, 2 Huali Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3828 9001); 2) Shop No. 102, 15 Jianshe Wu Malu, Yuexiu District (186 2078 1677); No. 231, 2/F, GTLand Winter Plaza, 16 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (3788 9859) 日式高端美甲美睫会所 1) 天河区珠江新城华利路 2 号富力爱丁堡 3A 栋 404 号 ; 2) 越秀区建设五马 路 15 号 102 铺 ; 3) 天河区珠江新城珠江东路 16 号高德置地冬广场二楼 231 铺

X

EDUCATION 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 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 Canadian International School of 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

BRAVO BREWING Stone Brewing Tap Takeover

(Supported by

)

Bravo will host a tap takeover this month, featuring 10 amazing beers from Stone Brewing. Happening on December 16, the event costs RMB150 to attend and includes three beer tokens, which are each redeemable for a glass of beer. In addition to a lucky draw, attendees will also have the chance to rub shoulders with Stone Brewing Cofounder and Executive Chairman Greg Koch. Scan the QR code to reserve your tickets.

Shop 114-115, 6 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 3809 3309

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

Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe 228 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (6108 8888) 广州正佳广场万豪酒店，天河区天河路 228 号

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

385 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District (8931 9600) 新西兰领事馆 , 天河区天河路 385 号太古汇 30 层 3006 室

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

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

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

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 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 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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

Denmark Rm 1578, China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel, 122 Liuhua Lu (Tel: 2829 7300; 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.consulfrancecanton.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

Peru Unit 01 on 32/F 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe (Tel: 6184 6244; Fax: 6631 1804) 秘鲁驻广州总领事馆，珠江西路5号广州国际金融中 心主塔写字楼32层01单元 Philippines Rm 706-712 Guangdong Int’l Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 8331 1461; Fax: 8333 0573) www.guangzhoupcg.org 菲律宾领事馆，环市东路 339 号广东国际大酒店主 楼 706-712 室 Poland 63 Shamian Da Jie (Tel: 8121 9993; Fax: 8121 9995) 波兰领事馆，沙面大街 63 号 Singapore Unit 2418, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe Bei Lu (Tel: 3891 2345; Fax: 3891 2933) 新加坡领事馆，天河北路 233 中信广场 2418 室 Spain Rm 501/507/508 5/F, R&F Center, 10 Huaxia Lu, Pearl River New City (Tel: 3892 7185 / 3892 8909; Fax: 3892 7197). www.maec. es/consulados/canton 西班牙驻广州总领事馆，珠江新城华夏路 10 号富力 中心 5 楼 501/507/508 室 Switzerland 27/F, Kingold Century, 62 Jinsui Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (Tel: 3833 0450; Fax: 3833 0453) 瑞士领事馆，天河区珠江新城金穗路 62 号侨鑫国际 金融中心 27 层 Thailand 36 Youhe Lu, Haizhu District (8385 8988) 泰国领事馆 , 海珠区友和路 36 号 The Russian Federation 26/A, Development Center, 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 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

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

United States 43 Huajiu Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (guangzhou-ch. usembassy-china.org.cn, 3814 5000)

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

Vietnam 6/F, Block A, Huaqiao Building, 8 Qiaoguang Lu, Haizhu District (8330 5910) 越南领事馆 , 海珠区侨光路 8 号华侨大厦 A 座 6 层

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 Suite 3006, 30/F, Taikoo Hui,

美国领事馆，天河区珠江新城华就路43号

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE American Chamber of Commerce Suite 1801, Guangzhou International Sourcing Center, 8 Pazhou Dadao Dong, Haizhu District (Tel: 8335 1476; Fax: 8332 1642; amcham@ amcham-sunthchina.org) www.amchamsouthchina.org 美国商会，海珠区琶洲大道东 8 号广州国际采购中 心 1801 室 Australian Chamber of Commerce Rm1714 -15, Main Tower, Guangdong International Building, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu (Tel: 2237 2866; Fax: 8319 0765; mail@austcham-southchina.org). www.austcham-southchina.org 澳 洲 商 会， 环 市 东 路 339 号 广 东 国 际 大 厦 主 楼 1714 – 15 室 BenCham, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) Chamber of Commerce in China, Pearl River Delta,

Floor 34, 208 Teem Tower, 208 Tianhe Lu (155 2118 2708 ). 荷比卢商会 , 天河路 208 号粤海天河城大厦 34 楼 www.bencham.org British Chamber of Commerce Unit 2201B, International Financial Center, 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District ( Tel: 8331 5013; Fax: 8331 5016; events@britchamgd.com) 英 国 商 会， 天 河 区 珠 江 西 路 5 号 国 际 金 融 中 心 2201B European Union Chamber of Commerce Rm 2817, Tower A, Shine Plaza, 9 Linhe Xi Lu, Tianhe District (Tel: 3801 0269; Fax:

3801 0275) 中国欧盟商会，天河区林和西路 9 号耀中广场 A 塔 2817 室 French Chamber of Commerce in South China (CCIFC) Room 802, 8/F, Leatop Plaza, 32 Zhujiang Dong Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (2916 5535) 天河区珠江新城珠江东路 32 号利通广场 8 层 02 单 元 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

HiTouch Consulting • Hong Kong Company • Company Registration • Tax & Accounting • Trademark & Patent • China Visa Tel: 400-9999-793 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 4. Landscaping/Indoor Plant 5. Carpet Cleaning 6. Pest Control Tel: (86 20) 2816 5345 Email: guangzhou@centuryrelo.com

ACCOUNTING FIRMS

Harris Corporate Solutions Ltd Guangzhou | Shanghai | Beijing | Hong Kong Established since 1972 • WFOE & Rep. Office Set Up • Accounting & Tax Compliance • Payroll, HR & Visa Solutions • Hong Kong & Offshore Company Registration • Hong Kong & China Bank Account Opening Serving all your business needs for investing in China. Call us for a free consultation.

Tel: (86)20-8762 0508 Mobile: 135-703-48815 Email: info.gz@harriscorps.com.cn 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 CANTON GLOBAL ACADEMY (CGA) is an international school in Guangzhou operating the UK National Curriculum.

It is part of the Canadian International Educational Organisation. Currently it has recruited students from Nursery (aged 3 years) to Year 6 (aged 12 years) and the school is growing quickly.

Required for January (or sooner) Fully qualified and experienced Primary Years teachers. Preference will be given to applicants who have knowledge of and experience in teaching the UK National Curriculum Primary programme and to those who may have specialist qualifications for example in ESL, science and Music.

CGA OFFERS *Initial two-year contract *Competitive salary

*Annual flight allowance *International Health insurance *Benefits including accommodation allowance, end of contract bonus Applicants should send a full CV listing two independent educational referees and a letter of application on/by 31 December to Charles Chao, Chief Operations Officer, on charles.chao@cgagz.com from whom further information may be obtained.

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

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

That’s zhou Guang

DECEMBER

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in Guangzhou.

BY DOMINIC NGAI

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius 1.21~2.19

2.20~3.20

A s e c re t a d m i re r w i l l s e n d y o u a present for your birthday and Christmas. If you want to find out who they are, post a photo of the package on your Moments and pay attention to the likes and comments.

You’ve already booked your tickets home for Christmas but still haven’t told your boss yet. Do it over a series of voice messages on the day of your flight, and deal with the consequences upon your return.

You’ll meet a potential love interest at a New Year’s Eve countdown party, but like last time, it turns out they are an exchange student at a local university.

You really have a type, huh?

The cute Ele.me deliveryman you’ve been eyeing hasn’t been around for a while now, so it’s safe to assume that he’s jumped ship. Switch over to Meituan, they’ve got better deals anyway.

Aries

Taurus 4.21~5.21

5.22~6.21

6.22~7.22

In one of those secondhand WeChat groups you’ll finally find that important thing you lost a while ago.

Use the bargaining skills you learned at the fake market and buy it back for less than a quarter of its original price.

You’ve finally decided to book a last-minute ticket back home for the holidays but they’re now way over your budget. Book it anyway and eat RMB15 dumplings for lunch and dinner for the next three months.

Your boss will message you on a Sunday afternoon asking for your whereabouts before you realize that it’s actually Monday. Time flies when you’re in your 20s, right?

One of your Didi drivers this month is hella weird. Not ‘press the panic button’ weird, thankfully, but just like ‘please be reminded that there’s an audio recording of the ride’ kinda weird, you know?

11.23~12.21

3.21~4.20

Leo

12.22~1.20

Virgo

Gemini

Libra

Pisces

Cancer

Scorpio

7.23~8.23

8.24~9.23

9.24~10.23

10.24~11.22

You’ve been too generous (again) with your office secret Santa gift exchange. Haven’t you learned your lesson from the past five years?

Never buy anything that’s not from the Family Mart discount box!

List making is one of your favorite hobbies and this month is all about Christmas gifts for your loved ones.

Turn back to p.18 for some ideas!

Your lease is up at the end of the month and prices in Liede are way out of your range. Time to get over your fear of moving to the south side of the Pearl River and just do it – but be prepared to never socialize with your friends again. No big deal.

You’re singing ‘Last Christmas’ at KTV again this month because it’s been a year since you deleted the person who ‘took your heart and gave it away the very next day’ from your WeChat. Keep tending to your grudges like little pets, little Scorpion!

72 | DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM