That's Shenzhen - December 2019

城市漫步 珠三角英 文版 12 月份

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that’s PRD 《城市漫步》珠江三角洲 英文月刊

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Editor-in-Chief Matthew Bossons 马特 Guangzhou Editor Ryan Gandolfo 甘德发 Shenzhen Editor Phoebe Kut 吉蓁蓁 Senior Staff Writer Tristin Zhang 张岳烽 National Arts Editor Bryan Grogan Contributors Gary Bailer, Ned Kelly, Mia Li, Herlina Liu, Barnaby Lofton, Naomi Lounsbury, Cristina Ng, Valerie Osipov, Jesse Pottinger, Christine Tan, Dominique Wong

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Editor’s Note

DECEMBER 2019

And another one bites the dust: 2019 is just about over and we’ll soon be welcoming a new year on the Gregorian calendar. Prep those resolutions, folks!

In short, 2019 was a hell of year for me, personally; there were lots of grand adventures, new friends and

colleagues and some difficult goodbyes (here’s looking at you, Byron). At That’s, we had some great cover stories

and long-form features over the past 12 months, as well as some fantastic news, sports, lifestyle and arts coverage.

On pages 34-43, we recap the year that was – the highs, the lows and the downright absurd.

Elsewhere in this issue, we provide an introduction to legendary writer Paul French’s newest project – a multi-

episode podcast titled Murders of Old China (page 12). We also have a rad Christmas gift guide (page 20) and an informative Harbin travel guide (page 22) in our Lifestyle section, both of which are worth checking out.

I’d like to wrap this up by thanking everyone that attended our 2019 That’s Food & Drink Awards in

Guangzhou last month, it was an absolute riot and I think I speak on behalf of all my colleagues when I say

that we’re already looking forward to next year’s event. For those of you in Shenzhen: The 2019 edition of the

prestigious awards ceremony will be rolling into town this month, so be sure to snag your tickets quick – before they’re all gone.

Until next month,

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 2019 | SZ | 5

34 COVER STORY

8 CITY

2019 CHINA YEAR IN REVIEW

9 HEAD OF THE PACK

The good, the bad and the ugly.

China’s unicorns dominating the world.

12 MURDERS OF OLD CHINA Author Paul French gives us 12 gruesome crimes in very different times.

20 TIS THE SEASON

54 EVENTS

THE WRAP

16 LIFE & STYLE

SZ

Festive gifts for the holidays.

22 EXPLORE HARBIN

China’s northern frosty city.

DEC 14

Caspian China Tour 2019

26 ARTS

SZ

29 SINO CELEB Meet China’s kung fu genius and actor.

DEC 15

33 MUSIC CORNER

Richard Clayderman

Three homegrown albums this month.

HK

44 EAT & DRINK 46 WE TRY IT

ALL MONTH Bird Watching Festival MO

Baozza: A cheesy pizza snack with Chinese characteristics.

48 THE GOLDEN FORKS

Introducing the Greater Bay Area’s first dining guide.

6 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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CITY

Paul French

Murders of Old China, p12

Lippi Loss P10

8 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Qiushengyu P11

TALES OF THE CITY

HEAD OF THE PACK

China the World Leader for Unicorn Startups

By Ryan Gandolfo

C

hina is home to the most unicorn startups in the world, beating the US with a total of 206. That’s three more than their Western counterpart, according to the Hurun Global Unicorn List 2019.

For those who don’t follow the venture capital industry or have yet to watch HBO comedy series Silicon Valley, here’s the definition of ‘unicorn’ courtesy of Investopedia: “A unicorn is a term used in the venture capital industry to describe a privately held startup company with a value of over USD1 billion.”

Last month, the Hurun Research Institute released the first edition of its Hurun Global Unicorn List, which included 494 startups based in 24 countries and 118 cities. This elite group of startups is “leading a new generation of disruptive technology,” according to Hurun Report Chairman and Chief Researcher Rupert Hoogewerf.

The top three unicorns are in China, with Hangzhou-based Ant Financial in a league of its own with a valuation of USD150 billion. As an affiliate company of the Alibaba group, which just concluded another record-

breaking Singles’ Day, Ant Financial’s main business is online payment app Alipay, which serves more than 1.2 billion users around the world.

Beijing-based companies ByteDance and Didi Chuxing round out the top three, with valuations of USD75 billion and USD55 billion, respectively. Bytedance is perhaps most famous for its viral video-sharing app TikTok (known as Douyin on the Chinese mainland), which launched in September 2016. Aside from TikTok, ByteDance also owns Jinri Toutiao, an AI-powered news aggregation app that has taken measures to “sanitize content” as a result of mounting pressure from China’s cyberspace administration, according to Tech in Asia.

Didi Chuxing, the Chinese company that effectively held off Uber and now dominates China’s car-hailing industry, bought Uber’s business in the PRC in 2016. The company has demonstrated a concerted effort to making their service safer for passengers and drivers after multiple murders involving Didi drivers and passengers were reported last

year. Other notable unicorns that made the top 10 include US-based companies SpaceX, Airbnb, JUUL Labs and WeWork.

Aside from claiming the top unicorns, China also has two of the biggest unicorn investors in Tencent and Alibaba. Both Chinese firms are ranked in the top 10, with Tencent at No. 2 and Alibaba at No. 7. These two companies have invested in a combined 68 unicorns.

The top industries for unicorns include e-commerce, fintech, cloud and AI, which account for 42% of all privately owned billion-dollar startups and 43% of unicorns’ total value. China’s e-commerce industry is robust, with 33 unicorns based in the Middle Kingdom.

The Hurun Research Institute is also known for their annual rich list, which ranks China’s wealthiest individuals by their estimated net worth. This year, Alibaba cofounder Jack Ma ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive year.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 9

THE BUZZ RANDOM NUMBER

96

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

‘Marcello Lippi’ The Italian football coach resigned from the position of the Chinese national team head coach (for the second time this year) six months after taking the job on again. The Lippi-China experiment appears to be done for good after the Chinese side were beaten 2-1 by Syria in a Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier. He threw serious shade at the players on his way out, saying: “For any team, players should give their all once they are on the pitch and execute what the head coach had planned for.” Zaijian, Lippi.

…is how many seconds it took for Alibaba to hit RMB10 billion in sales during Singles’ Day last month. In another record-shattering year, the e-commerce giant concluded what is arguably the world’s biggest online shopping event with RMB268.4 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV). Unfortunately for some online shoppers, they’ll have to wait longer for their orders after a truck containing over 7,000 Singles’ Day express packages burned to a crisp en route to delivery.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Without us to begin with you would still wear rice heads” So said one long-term China expat, Mark Kolars, whose racist comments on LinkedIn went viral on the Chinese internet last month. Aside from his ‘rice heads’ reference (What is a ‘rice head’ and how do you wear it? We have no idea…), the Austrian claimed that China will never reach the benchmark of Europe as a result of “inbreeding for too long.” Kolars, who was working at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing at the time, was kicked out of China, and we cannot imagine he will be invited back anytime soon.

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E D I T E D B Y M A T T H E W B O S S O N S / C I T Y @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M

qiushengyu / qiu shèngyú / 求生欲 noun. the willingness to come up with torturous and innovative ways to please one’s significant other, friends or family members I’m off to my job interview.

Good luck!

But I already used up all my luck the day I met you.

Aw! You’ll nail the interview with such a strong qiushengyu.

W

e all know that the best way to make someone prove his or her love for you is to torture them. A wife makes her husband spend six hours in a mall on a Saturday so she knows how much he loves her. A boyfriend travels to the other side of the city to get the kind of bubble tea his girlfriend likes to please her. You prove your love for your mother by buying six feetwashing machines and returning five of them.

Besides doing things, we also say things to please our loved ones. Any good boyfriend knows to tell his girlfriend that she is the prettiest girl at a party. You won’t hesitate to tell your father he looks the youngest at his high school reunion.

We endure mild torture and tell boldfaced lies in broad daylight to please our loved ones because we won’t be able to live without them and can’t bear to lose them.

Literally meaning “the will to survive,” qiushengyu is the willingness, and often ability, to please those important people in our lives by whatever means possible.

Your qiushengyu can be tested in many ways. Sometimes it’s in the form of a tricky question like: “Who would you save first if your mother and I both fall into a river?”

(Hint: The right answer is “you,” regardless of who you are speaking to, and you must answer in no more than two seconds.)

Sometimes it’s compliment-fishing comments like, “I wonder if last year’s dress will still fit me…” (Correct answer: “You are beautiful no matter what!”) Sometimes it’s straight up torture, like making you sit through a four-hourlong French film.

Those who are very good at pleasing their loved ones are said to have a strong qiushengyu. They know exactly what to say when presented with tricky questions and can answer in a timely fashion. Those who have weak qiushengyu often don’t know the right answer or are unable to say it at the right time. But don’t worry, once you’ve endured enough of this sweet torture by the significant people in your life, your qiushengyu will only get stronger! Mia Li

GENERATION GAP

China’s 5G phone owners are now able to put their devices to work, but prices for data packages are shockingly high. What do you think about 5G technology in China?

XIONG, 40

“Of course, I value new technology such as 5G very much, but still it’s nothing but a tool. It may bring us closer and may separate us more, that’s the point – it’s always up to the human being, the user. In my opinion, 5G is supposed to make communication more open and more effective, bringing greater diversification, tolerance and appreciation, not only between people, but also between nations.

Anyway, my hope is that with the new technology, we’ll have more opportunities to learn how to respect others.”

AMY, 22

“I think 5G will be more popular in the future.

Just like when 3G was updated to 4G, 5G should become very common in the future, but it is not very popular yet. It is only in trial operation in some areas, and it is much more expensive than ordinary 4G. I will not use it now; I will wait for when 5G is standardized and more accessible – then I will use it. I hope that the cost of 5G will not be too expensive in the future.”

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 11

MURDERS CIT Y | F E AT URE

OF OLD CHINA An Audible Original from Paul French

I

t’s way past Midnight in Peking and Shanghai is a City of Devils. The Middle Kingdom has seen its fair share of trouble. In the first half of the 20th century foreigners bludgeoned, shot, stabbed, strangled, poisoned and hatcheted their way through China. A new Audible Original from Paul French (available exclusively through Audible online) contains 12 cases of murder, revenge killings and crimes of passion, in places ranging from the sedate American tennis club of Tianjin to a remote island bay off Hong Kong, the Tibetan borderlands and the Shanghai Badlands. Justice was slanted, rapid and, often, rigged. All of these cases uncover new evidence overlooked, ignored or simply unknown at the time – murderers who got away with it are identified and long-hidden corruption and lies revealed.

You could kill and get away with it in 20th century China for

An American Murderer in Tibet In May 1907, while passing through a village in China’s Yunnan province near the Tibetan frontier, the well-known and wealthy American adventurer Henry N. Demenil killed a Tibetan Buddhist lama by shooting him in the eye. The Demenil case came before the American Court in Shanghai in December 1907 – the firstever case of an American accused of killing a Chinese subject.

But the trial was highly suspect – the judge dispensed with a jury, witnesses were unreliable, evidence was doctored and Demenil’s claim that he had shot to scare the lama away looked untenable when it seems he fired at point blank range into the man’s eye socket. It was a case that tested the limits of foreign justice in China and enraged Chinese seeking equality before the law.

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myriad reasons; the racism of the times, combined with the chaos and political turmoil surrounding the fall of the Qing Dynasty, warlordism, rampant espionage, the Japanese invasion and civil war. Extraordinary times meant extraordinary crimes – rough justice at best, no justice often.

Specially commissioned by Audible, Murders of Old China, written and narrated by Paul French, is a way to understand China’s last century through its crimes, criminals and murder victims. Thanks to Big Data, digitization and document releases in Europe, North America, Russia and China, we can investigate many crimes of old China, sleuthing by hindsight, to know more now than the cops, judges or journalists knew at the time.

Here, French gives us a introduction to 12 gruesome crimes in very different times…

The Death of a Rickshaw Man In 1908, Briton Thomas Stevenson became one of the first white men to stand trial in Shanghai for the murder of a Chinese rickshaw puller. It was a full jury trial, and, if convicted, Stevenson faced the hangman.

After a long night drinking, Stevenson hailed a rickshaw heading into Hongkou. He claimed the rickshaw puller attempted to rob him and that, while fighting, they both fell into a creek. Stevenson claimed he killed the Chinese man in self-defence. Local residents and even the police thought differently. What did happen on the banks of the creek at dawn that August day in 1908? Why did the men fight? How did one of them end up dead?

Trafficked to Her Death In September 1907, a Russian woman was found strangled near what is now Shanghai’s Lu Xun Park, but was then a notorious red light district. The detectives of Shanghai’s Hongkou Police Station knew her to be a sex worker and a trafficked woman. The prime suspects were an Indian man – a known local pimp – and, Meena, the woman’s closest friend. But both the man and woman had an alibi.

When the case came to court, it was about who killed the Russian woman. But other questions also had to be answered – what was the murdered woman’s real name? Where did she come from? And how did she come to be a sex worker in Shanghai?

F E AT URE | CIT Y

The Indiscreet Putnam Weale Bertram Simpson (aka the scurrilous journalist BL Putnam Weale) was hatcheted and shot to death in Tianjin in 1930. There were many who would have liked to kill him – he was an irritant, a thorn in the side of many officials in China, both Chinese and foreign. He was a muckraking journalist who mocked the Chinese government, British diplomats and warlords alike, making numerous enemies.

He could never resist an intrigue and involved himself in the dark machinations of warlord politics. But was his assassination revenge for some prior slights given? For his satirical writing?

Or was it due to his role in the murky world of Chinese warlord politics?

A Strange Shooting in Tai-O In 1918, at a remote police station on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island, a cold-blooded killing by a police constable left a baby without a father and a young mother widowed. Both men worked in Hong Kong’s remotest police station keeping watch for pirates. A Sikh policeman was accused of the murder.

At the time, accusations of lunacy and racial character stereotyping flew about. Later investigations tended to focus on institutional racism in the Hong Kong Police Force.

But now, sleuthing by hindsight and looking at more documents and sources, we can perhaps see deeper causes behind the horrible killing that were overlooked at the time.

A Deadly Dinner in Shanghai’s Gangster Mansion In the early 1930s, the French Concession police, perhaps unwisely, tried to wrestle back control of Frenchtown from the legendary gangster Du Yuesheng.

They thought he had conceded defeat when he invited the leading cops and politicians of the district to a banquet at his mansion. On February 11, 1932, the five men sat down to dinner with Big Eared Du. Within a few days, four of the men present were dead. Accidental food poisoning, Du claimed, but others thought it a determined, and very public attempt to wipe out of all the remaining opposition to his complete control of Shanghai.

Murder in Inner Mongolia

Slain by his Best Friend

Welshman Gareth Jones was a fearless journalist, having exposed the crimes of Stalin, the Nazis and the Japanese militarists. In 1935, Jones headed to remote Inner Mongolia, where he was kidnapped and eventually murdered in cold blood.

His murder could be as simple as bad luck and some opportunistic but deadly Chinese bandits. But perhaps it is a hidden tale of intrigue, espionage and double-dealing. Did they kill Jones on the orders of the Nazis in Berlin, the Soviet secret police in Moscow, or senior Japanese army officers in Tokyo?

In June 1932, 25-year-old American Rodney Heim was found shot dead by the side of the road in the then remote Shanghai district of Hongqiao.

The Shanghai Police immediately sought Heim’s closest friend in Shanghai, New Yorker John Hansen. But Hanson took his own life before the cops could question him.

What, or who, drove one man to cold-bloodedly murder another, a victim who also happened to be his closest friend in Shanghai?

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 13

CIT Y | F E AT URE

The Good Doctor Colbert – Wife Poisoner?

Dr. John Colbert was a well-liked medical professional from Albuquerque living in Tianjin with his much younger – and fourth – wife. He was a WWI veteran and ran an orphanage for poor Chinese kids, but in 1935 he was put on trial for the attempted murder of his wife.

Was Colbert a wife murderer?

Some doctors gave evidence that he was poisoning his wife, but he maintained these were simply medicines to combat exhaustion in the Chinese heat. Questions surfaced about his former wives and, perhaps, the woman he planned to make wife number five.

Just who was John Colbert? Good doctor or wife poisoner?

Who Killed the Baron of Frenchtown?

Baron Reginald d’Auxion de Ruffe was a Paris-born aristocrat who lived in an elegant villa in the heart of Shanghai’s French Concession. On a June morning in 1941, as he climbed the stairs to his office on Jingling Lu, two Chinese men shot him three times in the back and then fled.

There were wild rumours about the Baron and his many enemies: that his execution could have been arranged by a high-ranking Frenchman with whom he had had a business dispute; that his assassination was linked to his fascist politics or his racy private life.

So, who did order the killing of the Baron – a business rival, a political rival or a jealous lover?

14 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

The Sikh They Couldn’t Hang There was no doubt about who killed the Sikh Shanghai policeman Bawa Singh – he was found hacked to death with a chopper by his fellow policeman (but no relation) Atma Singh in a police station bathroom. Atma was sentenced to hang for murder and sent to the city’s Ward Road Jail in Tilanqiao, known as the ‘Shanghai Bastille.’ Atma had the noose around his neck and dropped through the trapdoor to the end of the rope… which then snapped! He woke up some time later in the prison hospital.

What had happened? A genuine error by two very experienced hangmen?

A sympathetic Sikh prison warder weakening the rope? Had the rope been cut?

Was it divine intervention? And what now to do with Atma Singh – hang him again?

The Death of A Shanghai Gold Dealer The war was over; Shanghai liberated, the Japanese defeated. But around Shanghai the Chinese Civil War was raging and the city full of American army GIs and the remnants of the gangsters that had infested the city before the war. It was 1947, but the Badlands of Shanghai still had a few more years to run. What became known in 1947 as ‘The Gold Bar Murder Case’ was indicative of the times.

It seemed obvious that two men – one British, one American – murdered a Chinese gold dealer out in the western suburbs. But in court, each man accused the other of the killing. Meanwhile the gold itself had not been recovered. Who was the murderer? And what happened to the victim’s Shanghai gold?

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LIFE

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

Explore China: Harbin

Discover the Frosty Capital City of China’s Heilongjiang Province, p22

&

STYLE

Foldable Sauna P18 16 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Holiday Gifts P20

SPOTLIGHT

JOHN LOW

Co-Founder and Principal at Laguarda.Low

By Phoebe Kut

Despite the advent of the ‘Age of E-Commerce,’ physical commercial and retail developments in China continue to thrive.

With projects from Guangzhou to Dalian and everywhere in between, Laguarda.Low is an international architecture firm that is no stranger to rapid development in China. We sat down with John Low, co-founder and principal at Laguarda.Low, to chat about some of his major projects in Shenzhen and the cultural differences of working in the East versus the West.

Can you tell us how the firm initially entered the Chinese market?

Prior to making the move to China, I was working in Japan for over 10 years. Japan will be one of the first countries to go through a demographic shift; there’s a larger elderly population, so there will be a limit to growth.

Around the 2000s, China was starting to pick up. Naturally, it was a good move, so that was sort of the impetus. In the last 10 years, close to 70% of our projects are in China, but we still stay global with projects in Brazil, Japan and Europe.

What was Shenzhen like 20 years ago?

Back then, obviously, it wasn’t as developed; Nanshan was filled with a lot of old residential buildings. Shenzhen as a city has grown a lot; it’s probably one of the fastest-growing cities. We were really fortunate that Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) hired us for OCT Harbour. The project first started as a competition; OCT had previously worked with other foreign international firms and in the end it was down to us and another Spanish firm competing for the job. We won and, as they say, the rest is history.

Which project in China has been your favorite so far?

That’s kind of like asking a parent who is your favorite son or daughter. But, I would say the one with the most social impact is OCT Harbour. That was a project where I was the principal, and I worked on it for well over five years, from beginning until completion.

How long does a project usually take from start to finish?

It depends on the scale. For example, OCT Harbour was a fairly significant project.

The lake itself was man-made and had to be excavated, and it’s over six meters deep. I remember when I visited the site seeing all the workers scattered across it like ants – it was a huge undertaking.

There is more room for innovation in China.

Developers are much more open-minded, experimental and aggressive compared to developers in the US, Europe or Japan. Projects in the West have much less margin for error; as the market is very fixed, developers cannot afford to take as much risk. Additionally, people in China are very innovative – when presented with a problem they always try to find a solution. Whereas in the West, we will be told something is too difficult and cannot be completed.

Could you touch upon some exciting projects that are in the works right now?

Our next biggest project is Hongshan 6979, which is a major transport-oriented development (TOD), meaning it is built next to a major metro system. Hongshan 6979 in itself is a little city, so it is quite exciting. It’s a new neighborhood and over 300,000 square meters, a huge project. It will open in December of this year. The other major project is the Bao’an waterfront project, perhaps opening next year or the year after. With these largescale projects, we’d like to think we’re positively contributing to the daily lives of people.

To visit the Laguarda.Low website scan the QR code

Your firm has various international projects; what is something interesting or different about the ones in China?

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 17

STYLE RADAR HOT ON TAOBAO

Foldable Sauna

TAP THAT APP

Everyone deserves a spa day. Fortunately for folks with less kuai to spend on spa packages at the ritzy hotels around town, they can ‘spa’ it up at home with this foldable sauna. This in-home sweat box is your one-stop shop for decompressing after an exhausting day or expelling toxins after a long night of boozing. And best of all, it’s easy to fold up so you don’t have to sacrifice much space in that humble abode of yours.

Although the product appears to be geared towards women, technically anyone can sweat it out in this single-person sauna (if you can fit, of course). The foldable sauna also has a two-person model, but instead of two people hopping in, one person can only insert their legs into the hot box.

Think it looks ridiculous? Yes, we agree, but over 40,000 of these home saunas have been purchased in the last month alone (and that’s just from one of many similar product listings). One aspect of this goofylooking sauna that seems to have a leg up on the competition is the hand zipper – letting you sweat and text at the same time.

So, if you’re thinking of what to get your partner or friend for the holidays, nothing says ‘I value you as a person’ like giving them a sauna – so we’ve been told.

We all have a friend who has lived in China for years but whose Chinese level maxes out at ‘bu yao.’ They sign up for lessons, but then back out due to a heavy workload. Or receive tutoring from a native speaker, but then start a relationship with said tutor and then things don’t pan out – learning nothing but a new curse word or two as they walk out the door.

The language-learning struggle is real, but it doesn’t have to be. While there’s an abundance of apps for learning Chinese, Memrise is a particularly fun learning tool.

The app helps build your Chinese vocabulary with user-generated flash cards that include short and clear video pronunciation from native speakers.

But instead of speeding through flash cards and taking on massive chunks of this very complex language, the app takes a methodical approach, with built-in review sets after you’ve just taken in a sizeable dose of putonghua. Memrise also has a grammar feature – still in beta – to help tie together all the new words and phrases that users are learning.

> The foldable sauna is available on Taobao from RMB199-279 (Search ‘汗蒸箱家用单人蒸袋’ on Taobao to shop.)

Memrise

While Memrise is a freemium app (meaning some features require a subscription), users have a lot to gain without spending a dime. Set up a profile and get your friends involved for some healthy language-learning competition. The app also offers courses in more than 15 other languages, in case you need to xiuxi from Mandarin. > Memrise is available on iOS and Android devices.

Visit memrise.com to learn more

UNDER THE LENS

Designed for Success Zurita, a Shanghai-based sustainable fashion brand, has launched a new campaign that stays true to its philosophy of ‘making fashion human(e) again.’ Their new campaign features various women with disabilities, beautifully modeling the ensembles. The campaign was shot at the Inclusion Factory, China’s first manufacturing company dedicated to the employment and training of people with intellectual disabilities. As such, 25% of campaign proceeds will be donated back to the factory.

The idea behind the campaign is that ‘we are designed for success.’ Zurita further explains, “We all worried our parents at some point, we all had that awful teacher who told us we would never be who we wanted to be, we all have failed at some point. And yet we keep trying. That self-improving nature, that fight, makes us alike.” The post garnered over 10,000 views, and responses from the WeChat community were overwhelmingly positive. > wearezurita.com

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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 19

LIFE & STYLE | FASHION

n o as e S e Tis th of Giving

s fro m Th oughtfu l Holida y Gift Loca l Designers Compiled by Phoebe Kut

Kate Wood

Shanghai Men’s Wood Watch RMB1,088 A wooden watch can add a touch of traditional elegance to your wrist for your next festive family gathering.

Scan QR Code to purchase.

French Dragon

Big Mug RMB290 Perfect for the lady laoban in your life.

Scan QR code to order.

Esna Home

Natural Soy Wax Candle RMB331 Esnabox’s 100% natural soy wax candle will have your space filled with the cozy scents of sandalwood, chestnut, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Scan QR code to purchase.

20 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Pinyin Press

Baozi Bobble Hat RMB105 Make someone smile with this adorable baozi-patterned toque.

Scan QR code to order.

FASHION | LIFE & STYLE

Loop Swim Boomi

Kids Organic Moso Bamboo Toothbrush RMB37 Keep cavities out of sight this holiday for the lil’ ones.

Scan QR code to purchase.

Coral Loop Bikini Top RMB450 top, RMB450 bottom Hey, maybe you’ll be heading to a hot destination this holiday, so suit up.

Follow Loop Swim on WeChat, shop via their mini program.

de shanghai

Enamel Cups RMB78 These enamel cups decorated with vintage Shanghai fabric prints are perfect for sipping peppermint hot chocolate.

To shop, scan QR code with the Taobao app.

Happy Socks

Christmas Socks RMB89 for a pair Let your personality shine with some funky Christmas socks!

To shop, scan QR code with the Taobao app.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 21

HARBIN

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

T

he capital of China’s Heilongjiang province, Harbin was founded in 1898 with the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway.

Since then, the city has evolved from a small rural settlement on the Songhua River into one of the largest cities in Northeast China. Nicknamed ‘the pearl on the swan’s neck’ due to the shape of Heilongjiang resembling a swan, Harbin is blessed with dry and freezing-cold winters, making it an ideal winter destination. This is largely thanks to the city’s annual ice festival: a months-long extravaganza featuring giant, lit up ice sculptures.

One of the four largest ice festivals in the world, Harbin’s iteration is a must-see for sheer spectacle alone. But there’s plenty more to the ‘Ice City’ than, well, ice. For example, locally brewed Harbin beer and music (the city is home to China’s oldest symphony), or hearty Dongbei food alongside European cuisine. Indeed, the city encompasses a curious mix of cultures, with Russian and Jewish heritage featuring prominently.

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These influences are evident from the streets – which wind in typical meandering European fashion – to the table, where local Harbinstyle smoked savory red sausage is more akin to a mild German style than Chinese.

Aesthetically, the city boasts formidable historic architecture, ranging from temples, churches (including the famous Russian Orthodox Church of St. Sophia) and synagogues. These mark Harbin’s Daoli district, a popular tourist spot. Meanwhile, those looking for quiet and authentic Chinese culture can visit ‘Old Harbin’ in Daowai district.

Yet there’s something undeniably modern about Harbin. Take a look at the sculptural Harbin Opera House and Grand Theater. Better – or at least higher – yet, hop on Harbin’s Ferris wheel for views of the whole city (just remember to bring your coat and an extra pair of gloves). For more to see, taste and do in the ‘Ice City,’ check out the pages that follow.

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

SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

Laochujia This third-generation-owned restaurant is a favorite of Harbin locals and visitors alike.

Its specialty dish, guobaorou (deep fried pork cutlet with sweet and sour sauce), is a popular Dongbei dish that’s made special by an old family recipe that’s been passed down through generations. The menu features pictures alongside each meal and visitors can order from a tablet – a great hack for non-Chinese readers and speakers. > 318 Youyi Lu, Daoli 道里区友谊路 318 号

Portman Western Style Restaurant

Russian influences permeate Harbin culture. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the city’s food. Enter Portman. One of the oldest – and most loved – Russian restaurants in Harbin, Portman’s offerings have expanded to include fusion dishes.

However, the guanniu/guanxia/ guanyang (beef/shrimp/lamb) and borscht are both outstanding choices for a taste of Russia.

Located in central Harbin, Saint Sophia Cathedral is a former Russian Orthodox Church and prime example of NeoByzantine architecture in China.

Founded in 1907, the crossshaped cathedral stands at 53.3 meters tall and covers over 721 square meters in area. A striking green dome tops the main center hall, while four different tent roofs surround the center dome. After periods of expansion, closure and restoration, the church now serves as an art gallery, showcasing the city’s architectural developments. A large musical fountain sits in front of the church, providing a pretty scene for photo opportunities. The church – hailed as the largest Orthodox Church in the Far East – looks especially majestic at night under bright lights and a dark sky.

Dongfang Dumpling King Dumplings are a classic Dongbei food and Dongfang Dumpling King is the most prolific – and arguably, tastiest – dumpling joint in Harbin. Dumplings are made to order, with flavors ranging from classic (sanxian, pork, sea cucumber and scallop) to the more adventurous (songhua jitui, chicken leg wrapped in thousand-year egg). > Various locations

Looking for more expert guides to China’s biggest cities and hottest destinations?

Scan the QR code now to purchase our Explore China travel guide, which offers insider tips, detailed city guides and awesome day trips.

> 12 Xidazhi Jie, Nangang 南岗区西大 直街 12 号

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 23

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

HARBIN INTERNATIONAL ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL

T

he glittering ice-jewel in Harbin’s metaphorical ice-crown, Harbin’s annual months-long ice and snow sculpture festival is not to be missed. Attracting millions of visitors, both local and international, the festival comprises astounding ice sculpture exhibits that are jaw-dropping in both size and artistry.

Taking place across multiple venues, the festival has a different theme every year and is the largest of its kind in the world, boasting the world’s biggest ice sculptures. Marvel at life-sized buildings and dreamy castles and enjoy the snow sports on offer, like sledding and ice-skating. Be sure to visit at night – when you can view the structures lit up in multi-color by thousands of colorful LED lights fitted inside each sculpture.

Established in 1985, the festival’s exhibits are crafted by ice sculpture experts from all around the world. As such, the festival is not only a place of wonder but also an opportunity for cultural exchange.

The three major venues are Sun Island, Ice and Snow World and Zhaolin Park.

Sun Island houses the Snow Sculpture 24 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Exposition and the world’s largest indoor ice and snow art museum.

Ice and Snow World was built in 1999 and is a massive ice architecture park. Its design was inspired by world-famous architecture such as the pyramids of Egypt, as well as traditional Chinese tales.

Last but not least, Zhaolin Park is a mustvisit for its beautiful ice lanterns, which are made by carving and decorating piled up snow. A multitude of objects are carved from the ice, like European-style churches, gardens, fantastical creatures and waterfalls.

The festival typically takes place from the end of December to the end of February.

Accordingly, the weather is cold – scratch that, freezing – at temperatures ranging between -25 and -10 degrees Celsius – so it pays to bundle up. Thermals, a warm coat and wind jacket, thick boots, gloves, scarf, earflaps and a wooly hat are all par for the course.

Altogether, the ice festival ensures that Harbin is enveloped in a magical cloak of joy during the coldest months of the year. It’s a spectacle that must be seen up close to fully

appreciate its magnificence.

Tips: If the festival falls within Chinese New Year period, it’s likely the parks will be extremely crowded and accommodation hard to come by – and expensive. Tickets must be purchased for each venue of the festival, with different prices for different tickets (free up to RMB330). Zhaolin Park offers tickets at a discounted price in the morning and early afternoon, but note that this is arguably not the best time to view the ice lanterns.

How to Get There The festival is spread across different venues, with each easily accessible via bus or taxi. During the festival, special buses run across the city, shepherding tourists to each venue. To save time getting around and for more privacy, try hiring a private driver.

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ARTS

New Movies P28 26 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

In The Open

American Post Rock Band Caspian on Taking Chances, p32

Camping Out P30

New China Albums P33

DRUMROLL

TASCHEN

Peter Leong Talks About the Renowned Art Book Publisher’s Mainland Expansion

By Bryan Grogan

Globally renowned art book publisher Taschen launched their Chinese mainland operations at 2019’s West Bund Art & Design fair in Shanghai. The launch comes with an e-commerce site, which will act as a means for Taschen to explore the reaction to its books on the mainland. The launch also coincided with Taschen’s latest collaboration with David Hockney, a new picture book with drawings made using an iPhone and an iPad. We caught up with Taschen Asia’s General Manager Peter Leong to talk a bit more about Taschen’s expansion into the Chinese mainland and what this will mean for the company’s Asian output.

Could you tell us a bit more about Taschen and give us some background both on the company’s history and its relationship with China?

The company is headquartered in Cologne and Los Angeles and has regional offices in Berlin, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Milan, New York and Paris. Taschen is co-managed

by Benedikt Taschen and his eldest daughter, Marlene Taschen. We’ve had a regional office in Hong Kong since 2005 to focus on working with our book distribution partners in the region. In June 2018, we opened a dedicated Taschen store in Hong Kong. It’s a shop with an objective to continue developing our presence and positioning in Asia.

How long have you been planning to get into the mainland market, and why did now seem like the right time to launch?

Given the increasing interest in Taschen from Chinese buyers at other art fairs, our participation in the West Bund Art & Design in Shanghai is a natural progression, and we are all very excited about being able to interact more with the local art communities here.

When we opened the Hong Kong office in 2005, our global retail structure was not as developed as it is today. The combination of both the store and the office has proved to be essential to exploring new collaborations and business opportunities. The timing now was simply right and things fell into place.

In the past, Taschen has been criticized for its Basic Art Series focusing too much on male artists, while the series tends to revolve around European and Western artists. Should expansion to China be seen as

a sign that Taschen will be placing a larger focus on Asian and Asia-based artists?

Absolutely. Although Taschen originated in Europe and many of our titles are therefore focused more on European art, we are developing a more global vision, especially under the new leadership of Marlene Taschen. Hong Kong was our first store in Asia, and we hope to have more of a dialogue with Asian artists with our presence here. Taschen, through our collaborations with artists and photographers, sees this as the perfect time and place to continue our work as cultural ambassadors with the growing interest in art both locally and regionally.

Can you talk about the scope of Chinese mainland operations? What do you have planned for the coming months and years in terms of specifically Chinese projects?

I think it’s a very exciting start for Taschen this year, with our first participation at a China art fair as well as the opening of our Taschen-dedicated Tmall shop and WeChat.

A physical store is definitely on our radar, though we would need further time to study.

weeks ago at the Musee D’Orsay, and there was an exhibition of a Chinese artist named Yan Pei-Ming. In this globalization of art, Chinese artists are finally getting the recognition they deserve, slowly but surely.

Being a brand that specializes in visual art and creativity, it makes sense that Taschen has built a reputation, obviously, for being aesthetically very pleasing. Can you talk a bit about how you will leverage social media to expand the brand in China?

Through our Tmall shop, we feel it is important for us to introduce the full extent of our program. This shop, together with our WeChat channel, will be invaluable in that both these channels allow for a direct dialogue with customers and with the local community. The insights shared permit us to adapt our way of doing things in any specific market, but also shape our company as a whole: We get new sources of inspiration for our editorial program and a fresh push to think bigger and broader.

Scan the QR code to access the Taschen Taobao store.

While this certainly could be seen as an economic move, in terms of entering a generally lucrative market, it can also be seen as a move closer to the Chinese art world. How important are Chinese artists today?

The Chinese art market began to grow on an international scale in the last 10 years. There is an increased interest in contemporary Chinese art that is being reflected in museum and gallery programs. I was in Paris two WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 27

COLL AGE

See the QR codes on this page? Scan them with the That's App when you see them to find more multimedia, photos and videos related to the feature you are reading. Genius, eh? Download the That's App at www.thatsmags.com/app

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU

TRANSCRIBED

“I like Taylor as much as you, and I look forward to seeing her in China again” DEC 13

Downton Abbey The smash-hit British TV series movie spinoff comes to Chinese cinemas this month. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith and many of our favorite members of the Crawley family and staff, the film takes place in 1927 with the impending visit of the British king and queen to the family’s estate. Tensions break out between the Crawleys and the royal family’s party over things like inheritance issues (aka rich people problems), as well as the presence of an assassin.

DEC 13

Jumanji: The Next Level With largely the same cast as the first Jumanji reboot, but with notable additions like Awkwafina, Danny Glover and Danny DeVito, Jumanji: The Next Level sees Spencer and friends (and family) enter the world of Jumanji once more. With new tasks and new avatars, this sequel to the fun family adventure film will see the crew attempt to defeat and escape from the game forever.

28 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Taiwanese host Andy Chen apologized to Taylor Swift fans on Weibo for what some were calling ‘咸猪手’ or ‘salty pig hand,’ a Chinese term which has been used to describe sexual harassment. Chen was criticized for getting handsy with the pop singer, with netizens also taking aim at the fact that the host kept interrupting Swift as she talked. His reported shoddy effort at translating for the performer didn’t go unnoticed either.

HAO BU HAO

Hao November was a big month for art museum openings.

UCCA Center announced their plans to expand into Shanghai, with a museum in the city’s Jing’an district proposed for early 2021. Elsewhere, the developers of 798 Art Zone in Beijing are joining forces with France’s National Picasso Museum and the Giacometti Foundation to open a space dedicated to the two artists from 2020 to 2025. Staying on the topic of France, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, was present to launch Shanghai’s new West Bund Art Museum, which will team up with the Parisian cultural center, Centre Pompidou, for five years.

Bu Hao

Jay Chou may well be the biggest music star in China, lord forgive us. Recently his star power caused a lawsuit between music streaming giants Tencent and Netease, as the latter was sued by Tencent for infringing on their copyrights of 178 of the pop singer’s songs. Netease was reportedly forced to pay out RMB850,000 as a result. Not a huge amount for a company reportedly worth USD9.8 billion at the end of the 2018 fiscal year, but this story is concerning considering Tencent’s continued monopolization of music copyrights, and the power that tech companies have within the music industry.

E D I T E D B Y B R Y A N G R O G A N / A R T S @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M

SINO CELEB

Wu Jing

‘Kung Fu Kid’ Having started practicing kung fu at a young age, Wu won multiple titles at various martial arts competitions throughout the 1980s, for which he was eulogized as ‘Kung Fu Kid.’

Multiple Injuries Like many action movie stars, Wu has endured countless ‘boo-boos’ during filming. Among his worst injuries, his right eye was wounded once from an explosive and one of his arms bears a scar left by an axe.

His Son Is… Never Mind!

Wu’s firstborn arrived in 2014, and was named Wu Suowei, which translates as ‘never mind’ in English.

From Chinese box office smash Wolf Warrior 2, which he directed and starred in, to the highly-acclaimed sci-fi The Wandering Earth, Wu Jing has really nailed it with his movie choices. The Beijingborn actor is a kung fu genius who entered the world of martial arts at 6 years old and started acting in action films and on TV in his early 20s. Here are five facts about the versatile Chinese actor.

Soft Power Paladin Since the success of the Wolf Warrior series and The Wandering Earth, Wu has appeared in many other patriotic films such as My People, My Country and The Climbers.

China’s No. 1 Celebrity This August, Wu topped Forbes’ China Celebrity 100 list, which takes personal performance and influence in each person’s industry into account.

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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 29

ARTS | MUSIC

CAMPING CAMPING OUT OUT Eating Music Founder Cookie Zhang Talks About the Patient Development of the Shanghai Label

By Bryan Grogan

I

n late August or early September of this year, you might have stumbled across a bedraggled group of young producers playing with kendamas, the classic Japanese ball and string game, in Shanghai. An ominous sight for sure, a bit like a scene from Walter Hill’s film The Warriors, with baggy pants and untucked sweaters as far as the eye could see.

The kendama, which is known as the antithesis to video games, is a simple, wooden toy that challenges you to land a ball on a cupped hammer or crosspiece. It turned out to be a fitting representation of 2019’s Eating Music Camp, as the crew of attendees eschewed traditional mobile phone games and the chaos of urban living, during their twoweek sojourn to the countryside.

In deepest Pudong, nine students linked

30 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

up with friends and mentors from Eating Music over the course of two weeks to experiment, form personal connections and learn about music from one another. The camp is a novel idea, much different from the usual business meetups that accompany label negotiations.

As Eating Music founder Cookie Zhang puts it, “Lots of people don’t really understand why we do this. For me, it’s a good way to meet new artists, but the most important part is to be with musicians together, so we can get to know each other very quickly. After that we can talk about more cooperation with my label. I think that’s a very good way to start.”

The second annual Eating Music Camp resulted in at least one new artist signing for

the label (Sdewdent), as well as a few upcoming releases from the producers who were in attendance. Another by-product of the two weeks in the countryside is the label’s new Campilation Vol. 2 release. The album provides a platform for the young artists to dabble with different sounds, collaborate with new people and to release their music into the world. These are all principles that are very important to Zhang when dealing with young artists.

“Our artists are still growing; they’re not superstars. They’re still experimenting with their music, so I want to give them space to grow in that way,” she tells us, speaking about her approach to the label’s signees. “I don’t want to attract too much attention to our releases, because that will cause more stress.

I don’t want to release music by people very fast, so that they will have many fans very quickly and earn lots of money in one day.”

Zhang’s musical pedigree is well known in Shanghai. She started Daily Vinyl with her business partner Endy Chen five years ago, before the vinyl boom took off in China. That platform allowed the pair of music-obsessed record collectors to sell vinyl while also expanding into hosting events, distributing and pressing vinyl for other artists. It also informed Zhang of the need to create a label that really solidified both the Daily Vinyl sound and her own musical preferences.

“After some time, I realized that more and

MUSIC | ARTS

more new stores were opening that were similar to ours. We still thought that Daily Vinyl was special, and we knew it was based on our own taste, but to other people it’s just a store,” she says, describing the thought process which led to the founding of Eating Music. “Once I realized that, I began to think that we needed to change. I wanted to build something of our own creation, based on what we want to show to people, that will express our musical taste. So I thought, starting a label is a good choice.”

The label, which specializes in a mixture of soul, funk, instrumental hip hop, lo-fi hip hop, boombap and everything in between, took off in 2018, with a flurry of records by the likes of Taiwan producer Kool Klone, alternative jazz crew Little Happiness Group and prolific Shanghai-based beatmaker Cruel Buddhist.

“I think building a label is harder than building a record store. With a record store, you can learn from what people purchase, and learn what people like by talking to your customers, but a label can’t learn from anyone else,” Zhang says, adding, “You need to create your own style. You can’t think about whether people will like your music before you make a release.”

It was in the aftermath of Eating Music’s first camp, however, that the label scored its biggest releases, with Jiafeng, StrawberryPapa and Knopha all contributing records to the crew’s growing discography.

The latter of those three, Nothing Nil by Xiamen producer extraordinaire Knopha, was a notable hit. “I imagined that the Knopha release would be successful, because, after listening to it, I believed that many people would like it. It’s not a release just for our Chinese fans, it’s the kind of release that can be enjoyed worldwide,” Zhang

says. “We started with 300 copies for that, and we sold out pretty quickly. After a month, we did a reissue and made another 200 copies, and that also sold out.”

The release represents, in a way, the interesting approach taken by Cookie Zhang to new music. While on the one hand, albums by the likes of Knopha and Jiafeng have helped the label grow fast within China music circles, Zhang is adamant about not rushing the label’s young producers to be world-beaters, preferring instead to allow them to grow at their own pace.

Her relationship with more established artists helps give Eating Music’s younger pro-

ducers room to breathe and to grow.

Her eye is set on the long game rather than short term success. “The first step is to really know each other and to trust each other, so these musicians can learn the way I think and why I do certain things,” she says.

“Then, maybe they will decide to stay with me for a long time. That relationship lasts longer than a business relationship.”

For more on Eating Music Label’s release, scan the QR code.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 31

A R T S | FMI UL M SIC

IN THE OPEN

American Post Rock Band Caspian on Capturing Vulnerability and Taking Chances

By Cristina Ng

F

ormed all the way back in 2003, Caspian made key connections fast. Some of their earliest performances saw them supporting Japanese post rock legends Mono.

Since then, they have played alongside the likes of God is an Astronaut and This Will Destroy You, and have solidified themselves, after four fantastic studio albums, as one of the best post rock bands in the world.

The band are no strangers to their fans in China, having come through the Middle Kingdom on three previous occasions. We linked up with the band’s guitarist, keyboardist and synthesizer player Philip Jamieson to talk about their experiences in China, their new album and their ever-evolving sound.

Having toured in China previously, what have you learnt about the country?

China is a culturally emerging country and it’s been wonderful to see people permitted to open up more and more to Western music and the live concert experience. When we first showed up in China in 2011, we got the sense that American bands coming over and being expressive onstage was a very recent phenomenon, and to see it grow with each subsequent visit is exciting. I usually describe the Chinese [people] as very friendly, curious and openminded. They are always a joy to perform for, and equally wonderful whenever we get to meet and talk to people, which we hope to do more of in December.

Fans had to wait three years for your last studio album, Dust and Disquiet, and have been waiting four years now for its follow up. What has the band been doing in that time?

We took a hiatus for a year following our final show for the Dust and Disquiet tour, which 32 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

actually happened to be in Beijing. We all decided that it would probably be a good idea to take an emotional inventory that was essentially 14 years overdue. We had never taken a real break and after the very long and emotionally involved process of writing, recording and touring an album like Dust and Disquiet, it felt like the appropriate time to step back and take some time for ourselves.

Back in May, you told fans on Reddit that you would be in the studio for an entire month after four separate, week-long full band recording sessions. How has your time in the studio increased or decreased throughout the course of your career?

This studio recording experience was very unique for us since we spent the first week entirely devoted to developing the songs more with an outside producer and collaborating with someone outside of the band, in this case Will Yip. We brought Will about 80 minutes of music and he suggested edits, changes, different approaches to melodies, chords and song structure.

Once that week was finished we had whittled it all down to about 70 minutes and we then spent three weeks recording everything.

To work with an outside influence that we all trusted was essential to this album sounding the way it does. We really, really wanted to get over our possessiveness and sense of selfimportance with this collection of songs and be more open to outside opinions. That was ultimately a very liberating experience for us.

Dust & Disquiet was a departure from the instrumental sound you are known for, with commentary focusing on the use of some vocals on the track ‘Echo and Abyss.’ Will there be lyrics on the forthcoming album?

Yes, absolutely. We have two songs on this new album that feature clear, articulated vocals and we are all really excited about it. One features our friend Kyle from Pianos Become The Teeth, and the other was my first actual vocal performance (besides ‘Gone In Bloom and Bough,’ which was fairly processed and effected.

It was extremely vulnerable to open up vocally and come out from behind the curtain, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I simply felt like I had a period of my life that demanded to somehow be articulated lyrically, and I feel good about capturing it, warts and all.

You’ve been touring extensively this year through the US, Asia and Europe.

Have you been testing the new material?

We have performed one of the songs on the album live for the last year simply because we just love performing it live and it makes everything feel fresh and robust.

This summer in Europe, we introduced people to another new song every night that we felt rounded out the set dynamically, and is also a hell of a lot of fun to play for people. In China, we’ll be playing even more new songs from the album and premiering two or three brand new songs that have never been performed for anyone yet.

Sat Dec 14, 8.30pm; RMB120 presale. B10 Live, North side of Building C2, North Area, OCT-Loft, Xiangshan Dong Jie, Nanshan District 南山区香山东 街华侨城创意文化园北区C2栋北侧 (showstart.com)

Sun Dec 15, 8.30pm; RMB220 presale, RMB260 at the door. T:union, 361-365 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong,Yuexiu District 越秀区广州大道中361-365号东 方花苑1层凸空间 (newnoise.cn)

CHINA MUSIC CORNER

ALBUMS | ARTS

Three New Homegrown Albums on Our Radar This Month

By Bryan Grogan

Little Dragon Palace by Linfeng Shanghai producer Linfeng returns with a stellar conceptual release, Little Dragon Palace via label JADECRAFT. Based around Western ideas of China, Linfeng packages a lot of mystique that regularly goes hand-in-hand with Hollywood depictions of the Middle Kingdom for a record that is full of intricate musical ideas beautifully realized. ‘Little Dragon Palace’ employs twanging electric guitars and prodding drum beats for a scenic depiction of this seemingly secretive palace. Notice, throughout, how song names play on cliches of China, such as ‘Fan in Chinatown,’ ‘Bamboo Dialogue’ and ‘Smog.’ ‘Sid’s Magic Sid’ is one of the more entertaining song titles we’ve come across in a while. The track resides in shadows, with insidious beats playing out a sense of magic realism (a genre of literature often associated with cultural otherness around the world). The conceptuality of the record reminds us of everything from Howie Lee to Herman Hesse’s Steppenwolf, David Lynch films and the books of Eileen Chang. The album closes with ‘Smog’ and ‘Love Me Like This,’ the first of which varies a bit from the romantic Eastern ideas previous songs summon, trending more towards downbeat and atmospheric electronica a la Four Tet in 2009. ‘Love Me Like This’ has a tropical lo-fi vibe which brushes us off, pats us on the head and sends us back into the world.

Scan the QR code to listen:

Xun Dao Jianzhi Shige Yishupin by Wayne’s So Sad Taiwanese punksters Wayne’s So Sad return in 2019 with a powerful new record, just a couple of years removed from their previous effort Haishi Ou’er Xiangyao Weida. The artwork and the album title itself play on the band’s self-deprecating humor, portraying the album as a work of art (tongue-in-cheek of course). Despite the joke, there’s a reason the band have gained a cult following, both in Taiwan and further afield. The intro sets the scene for the record, with dissonant feedback and drumbeats playing before ‘Ruguo Ta Likai Ni, Ni Hui Bu Hui Feng Diao A’ takes the tempo up a notch. Guitar sounds swirl against a backdrop of the old punk/Greek tragedy cliche – a choral backing vocal section. ‘Fuxinde Jiaohui’ threatens to take the intensity down a notch before turning everything up again, with the guitars and vocals speeding across a tightrope to form a plateau of sound that threatens to fall at any moment. ‘Xia Yibu Jiewang,’ which was released as a single earlier this year, is a departure from the preceding songs, slowing down considerably and introducing woodblocks and a reflective atmosphere. The title track provides the outro, with the band channeling the guttural blues vocal stylings reminiscent of Minutemen and The Gaslight Anthem (a very different pair of bands).

Scan the QR code to listen:

AI (love) by Yadae It’s been three long years since CLVB ZVKVNFT, Duck Fight Goose’s most recent record, came out on D Force Records. In that time a lot has changed. For one, the group has decided to change their name to Yadae, the Chinese pinyin representation of their previous English name. Their new record, AI (love), also comes via a new label, Merrie Records, who recently received funding from ONES Ventures and have big plans for 2020 (more on that at a later date). Yadae here seem wistful, worn-out and exhausted by years of exploring the future, posthumanism and cyborg-listening habits. While the name of the album (AI - artificial intelligence?) initially summons more of what we would expect from 33EMYBW and Han Han, the duo assure us the record is, rather, about love. ‘Shanghai Rain’ opens the proceedings with laidback piano beats and staccato synthesizers, with Han Han’s vocals reverberating in space immeasurable. We’re immediately led to believe that this is comfort. ‘Mixed Reality’ is like a babbling brook of romantic vocals and xylophone keys. ‘Silver Wilderness’ builds on the first two songs, picking up the intensity with more vocals from Han Han as well as more obvious emotional climbs and drops. We finish on ‘The Dark,’ a stunningly enjoyable seven-minute track, which again begins with piano keys and includes lyrics like “Ni bu shi zhongyao,” or “You’re not important.” It’s the culmination of a gorgeous, addictive four-track record.

Scan the QR code to listen:

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 33

Top News sto HUAWEI POSTS NYE TWEET VIA IPHONE The year got off to an amusing start for tech watchers. Huawei lost some serious credibility after publishing a New Year’s Eve post on Twitter using an iPhone. The post, which was made by the company’s official Twitter account at 11.31pm on December 31, wished everyone a happy new year and gave their resolution for 2019: “To give you more reasons to connect to those you care about.” Directly under the video in the right-hand corner read ‘via Twitter for iPhone,’ an automated message that is displayed whenever content is posted through the social media platform’s iOS app. The internet promptly blew up. Oops.

By the That’s Team

The good, the bad and the ugly.

The weird and the wacky. As is the That’s tradition, we’ve compiled this year’s most unforgettable stories in news, sports, arts, fashion and food.

CLONED POLICE DOG REPORTS FOR DUTY Eight-month-old Kunxun passed the police’s dog assessment trial in August. What makes it something to woof about? Kunxun was cloned from a 7-yearold police dog, Huahuangma, a Kunming wolfdog described as an “outstanding canine detective” and celebrated for helping to solve 12 murders and 20 other criminal cases (if you’re gonna clone, clone from the Sherlock Holmes of hounds, right?). And as if that was not cool enough, the Kunming wolfdog breed is the result of selective interbreeding between a wild wolf and domesticated dog in China in the 1950s for military and police use. Criminals – beware of the dog!

WATER PARK TSUNAMI

COVER STORY

Swimmers in Northeast China’s Jilin province saw their lives flash (and splash) before their eyes in July when a colossal swell crashed through a crowded wave pool at a local water park. As the video went viral, rumors circulated that a drunk old wave machine operator “hit the wrong switch.” Whatever the cause, 44 people were injured, with seven hospitalized for injuries ranging from fractured ribs to a broken foot.

Fortunately, nobody was killed as a result of the incident, the horror of which you can relive by scanning the QR code.

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TOP GEAR

ories of 2019 HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHINA The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was observed with a series of ceremonial events, including the largest military parade in Chinese history on National Day, October 1. All the big guns were out in Beijing; former General Secretaries of the Communist Party Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin were in attendance, Premier Li Keqiang was official master of ceremonies for the parade and President Xi Jinping addressed the nation before inspecting the formations along Chang’an Avenue. Shengri kuaile Zhongguo!

A viral video showed a white car precariously perched upon a concrete barrier in the middle of an elevated highway in Shanghai. The scene was so bizarre that passing drivers couldn’t help but record the spectacle and wonder how the car got there. It turns out it was the result of a drunk driver’s sudden acceleration, causing his car to climb onto the barrier.

Luckily, the driver was the only person to suffer slight injuries. Watch the bizarre video by scanning the QR code.

COSTCO CARNAGE Anticipation ran high when Costco announced they would open their first China warehouse in Shanghai earlier this year. And, when it opened its doors on August 27, people went wild. Quite literally. By 11am, there were so many people at the store – snarling and snatching at products like their lives depended on it – that workers started regulating the number of shoppers allowed inside, forcing many to wait in line for up to two hours just to get in. By 11.29am, members (tens of thousands of people signed up) received a message warning them to avoid visiting the outlet. And by 2.13pm, Costco was forced to shut up shop.

THROWING COINS INTO PLANE ENGINES In February, a 28-year-old man was kicked off a plane in Anqing for throwing coins in an aircraft engine. In March, two female passengers were detained in Jinan for the same superstitious and perilous behavior. In April, a man was caught in the act in Wuhan after his mother told him to do it for good luck for his daughter’s first flight.

The list goes on… but why? It’s rumored that the coin-tossing superstition is borrowed from the Western tradition of throwing coins into fountains. How exactly the jump was made to coins in aircraft engines is not clear, but what is apparent is that a number of misguided Chinese air travelers believe throwing a circular piece of metal into a jet engine will bring good luck (rather than premature death).

CHINA OPENS 5G FOR COMMERCIAL USE China’s three main mobile carriers began offering 5G mobile services to the public this fall. The lightning-speed service arrived for consumers just months after China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom were granted commercial 5G licenses by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. China will be among the first in the world to provide the technology for mobile phone users. Carriers in South Korea and the US have already launched 5G services; however, industry executives have said China is gunning for nationwide coverage in 2020.

Scan the QR code for our full 2019 China Year in Review Series, which will be published throughout December

COVER STORY

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COVER UP

Kim K Perfume In 2018, Kim Kardashian West quite literally bared all for her new fragrance line. The perfume bottle for KKW Body certainly doesn’t leave much to the imagination, as it is a mold of her body. This year, Chinese beauty bloggers had a bit of fun with the bottle on social media and e-commerce site Xiaohongshu. The fashion KOLs covered up the cheeky bottles, adorning them with ribbons and other textiles.

5 BEVERAGE-INSPIRED

FASHION LOOKS FROM DESIGNER YANG YANG

We’re kinda loving this Victoria’s Secret vibe inspired by Wahaha water.

Chinese Redbull’s distinct yellow can has been turned into a dramatic canary-colored coat.

COVER STORY

Tea π looks like the friendly girlnext-door – she’s sporty and chic.

See the Nongfu bottle as a purse?

The detail!

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Coca-Cola is definitely an edgy fashionista.

Scan the QR code for our full 2019 China Year in Review Series, which will be published throughout December

COVER STORY

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IN DAZED GETS A CHINA EDITION British style and culture publication Dazed partnered with Nanjing-based streetwear guru and media platform Yoho! to launch a Chinese edition of the influential magazine. Dazed China brings focus to the cultural exchange between the two indie content creators and China’s young trendsetters.

FENTY BEAUTY LANDS IN CHINA Riri fans were blessed when Fenty Beauty dropped in September, hitting the shelves of various stores across Hong Kong, Macao and South Korea. The wildly popular cosmetics line has been praised for its inclusivity of a wide range of skin tones, which can be summed up by the brand’s motto, ‘Beauty for All.’

CRAZY COLLABS Earlier this year, Uniqlo released a collection with American artist and designer Kaws, and as expected, Chinese shoppers went bonkers. Another cool team-up came from candy brand White Rabbit and perfume creators Scent Library, who debuted an entire line of sweet skincare products.

OUT

FOREVER 21 CLOSURES

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ZARA FRECKLE-GATE

A promotion for Zara’s new line of lipsticks caused controversy in February. The series of close-ups of model Li Jingwen’s ‘natural’ look was meant to draw attention to the lipstick, but her freckles distracted Chinese netizens. While some saw them as Zara’s deliberate attempt to make Asian women look ugly, others applauded the authenticity showcased in these photos, adding that Li’s freckles are actually quite cute.

Earlier this year, Forever 21’s Chinese website announced that the retailer would be ceasing its online operations.

Shortly after, Tmall and JD.com released statements that the affordable, trendsavvy clothing store would also be taken off their respective platforms.

Additionally, Forever 21 had already closed several of its stores in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Hangzhou.

BEIJING BIKINI BAN

VOGUE INSTA BEAUTY

Vogue came under fire in March after posting a picture of Gao Qizhen, a Shanghai-born model whose looks challenge the conventional standards of beauty, on Instagram. One popular fashion blog on WeChat, called Shiliupo Baogao, wrote that netizens were up in arms over how some Western fashion brands are ‘uglifying’ Chinese people through ‘beauty bullying,’ a form of discrimination where Westerners inflict their own ideas of beauty onto Chinese people.

This summer, Jinan authorities began cracking down on the trending phenomenon of the ‘Beijing bikini,’ where men roll up their T-shirts to expose their bellies, citing that it was uncivilized to the point of lowering the image of the city.

HIGH-FASHION T-SHIRT SCANDALS Another hot scandal this summer involved several designer brands: Versace, Coach and Givenchy all went viral on Weibo after releasing similar T-shirts with offensive design errors that undermine the ‘One China’ policy.

CANCELATIONS CRAIG DAVID

First, let’s re-rewind all the way back to February when the ‘7 Days’ singer filled us in on visa-related issues that forced him to cancel his Shanghai and Beijing dates. Alas, the crowd never had the chance to say Bo Selecta.

SCANDALS FAN BINGBING AND GAVIN GAO SCRUBBED FROM TV SERIES ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Quentin Tarantino has had a rough go of things in China, and 2019 was no different.

His depiction of Bruce Lee stirred controversy among the martial artist’s family and loyal fans, which eventually led to the Chinese release of his ninth film being pulled from cinemas.

GANG OF FOUR

Often called China’s most famous foreigner, Dashan, or Mark Rowswell, has enjoyed overwhelming fame in the Middle Kingdom. His pristine image was dealt a blow this year after the comedian posted images of himself wearing blackface on Twitter. In both his Twitter apology and in a statement emailed to That’s, Rowswell asserted that he and his friends donned black makeup to emulate their heroes and role models.

Workers at a hospital in Jiangsu province were caught attempting to sell medical products that had been used

by Singaporean Mandopop singer JJ Lin. Disturbingly, a WeChat post offered up items like a drip bag and syringe.

The workers were promptly suspended from their roles.

DOUYIN DEATH

CONCRETE & GRASS

The Splitworks-run festival made the proactive decision to cancel its 2019 iteration to respect the celebrations of the PRC’s 70th anniversary.

The beloved festival will return again next year, we hope, for more underground, alternative music vibes.

COVER STORY

DASHAN DEBACLE

JJ LIN MEDICAL WASTE

While we might have expected this band’s tour to be canceled due to their Cultural Revolutionrelated name, in fact it was guitarist and founding member of the band Andy Gill’s severe chest infection that caused the band to cancel their China shows. They rescheduled and eventually rocked out in China.

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After being mired in a tax evasion scandal for much of 2018, Fan Bingbing’s return to our screens was cut short after the creators of TV series The Legend of Ba Qing, announced that they would spend around RMB60 million to erase the X-Men: Days of Future Past star, as well as fellow controversial actor, Gavin Gao. Gao was accused of raping a woman in Australia in March 2018.

A 14-year-old girl in Shandong named Zhou Zhe died after she tried to mimic a popular Douyin stunt, whereby video blogger Zhou Xiaohui made popcorn using a soda can and an alcohol burner. The girl and her friend, 12-year-old Xiao Yu, were unsupervised while attempting to remake the video, causing Zhou Zhe’s death and severe injuries to Xiao Yu.

ZHAO LIXIN A number of celebrities were ‘canceled’ this year for questionable behavior, including entertainers Roy Wang (smoking in a Beijing restaurant) and Yico Zeng (causing an airport ruckus). Perhaps most noteworthy was Chinese-Swedish actor Zhao Lixin’s comments about Japan’s invasion of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The actor’s comments seemed to downplay atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre, and led to his Weibo account being closed.

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COLLABORATIONS JIA ZHANGKE X MOMO

Momo the dating app may well be a place where notions of romance and love wither, but Momo Pictures, sponsors of Jia Zhangke’s Pingyao International Film Festival (PYIFF), are seeking to make a big splash. The celebrated filmmaker announced at this year’s version of PYIFF that he will executive produce The Best is Yet to Come, a co-production with Momo Pictures and his own film company, Fabula Entertainment.

DISNEY X TENCENT

Ahead of the final release in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Disney and Tencent’s China Literature announced plans to team up to develop a new Chinese online novel, as well as release 40 e-books based around the classic franchise.

Optimism is strong for the new online novel, with a popular Middle Kingdom novelist drafted in to make a Disney book with Chinese characteristics.

SVBKVLT X NYEGE NYEGE TAPES

Celebrated Kenyan producer Slikback came to China in April with Shanghai label SVBKVLT. He eventually teamed up with the label for a pair of releases.

The first was called Slip A and featured contributions from Slikback, 33EMYBW, Osheyack and Yen Tech, while the second, called Slip B, saw Slikback team with SVBKVLT producer Hyph11E. The two labels linked up again at Nyege Nyege Festival and later at Unsound Krakow.

MARVEL X NETEASE

UCCA X MUSÉE NATIONAL PICASSOPARIS (MNPP)

Beijing went bezerk for China’s biggest ever Picasso exhibition at UCCA earlier this year. Working together with Musée national Picasso-Paris (MnPP), the exhibition meant big ticket sales for the continuously expanding UCCA. In the aftermath of the exhibition’s success, it was announced that a Picasso and Alberto Giacometti-themed museum will soon open in the capital.

It was announced that Marvel Studios and NetEase will partner up to bring original content such as video games, comics and TV shows to China, broadening the already wide appeal that Marvel enjoys in the Middle Kingdom. That news came before Marvel announced the cast of their upcoming film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which caused much controversy online after one of the characters was deemed to resemble Dr. Fu Manchu, generally perceived as a racist stereotype.

COVER STORY

Scan the QR code for our full 2019 China Year in Review Series, which will be published throughout December

WU LEI

Chinese international Wu Lei made the move from Shanghai SIPG to Espanyol at the beginning of the year.

And the 27-year-old made his mark, scoring a dramatic goal in the last game of the 2018/19 season that sealed the Barcelona team’s place in the Europa League, and secured them European football for the first time in over a decade. Wu then made history by becoming the first Chinese national to score in the main stages of European competition, by scoring in an Espanyol 2-0 away win against CSKA Moscow in the Europa League. Jiayou!

ELKESON

Brazilian-born striker Elkeson, known in China as Ai Kesen, became the first player of non-Chinese heritage to play for the Chinese national team. The Guangzhou Evergrande striker scored twice on his debut in a 5-0 win over the Maldives in a World Cup qualifier, just a month after becoming a Chinese citizen. Elkeson was the second naturalized citizen to play for the national team after Beijing Guo’an’s half-British, half-Chinese Nico Yennaris, now known as Li Ke. The pair is believed to be the vanguard of a new generation of naturalized talent in the Chinese national team, with Brazilians Ricardo Goulart, Alan and Fernandinho all expected to follow suit.

GOOD YEAR

JEREMY LIN

Linsanity has hit China, with former NBA superstar Jeremy Lin having joined the Beijing Ducks. And he was dubbed “the face of the Chinese Basketball Association” before he had even scored a point.

Lin has been considering feeling the Asia love for some time now, stating in the summer, “About five years ago, I began to consider whether I should play basketball in Asia, because every year when I visit the region, I see so many fans.” So can Lin inspire the team named after the juiciest meat in all the land to the CBA title? He scored 25 points as he led the Ducks to victory in his first CBA game… we say watch this space.

GUANGDONG SOUTHERN TIGERS ZHANG WEILI

COVER STORY

Forty-two seconds was all it took Hebei-born Zhang Weili to make history, dethroning strawweight champion Jessica Andrade and becoming China’s first UFC champion. After losing her first official MMA fight, Zhang’s victory over Andrade was her 20th consecutive win. The newly crowned champ took to Weibo, saying “I did it. The belt is in China.

Thank you everyone for all the support. I love you all.” We love you too, Zhang!

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After finishing the regular season with a leaguebest 42-4 record, the Guangdong Southern Tigers annihilated their competition in the playoffs without losing a single game. First up for the Dongguan-based team was a quarterfinals matchup against the Jiangsu Dragons who were dispatched 3-0 in a five-game series with a point differential of over 30 points on average. In the semifinals, the Tigers faced provincial rivals Shenzhen Leopards, who also proved to be no match: 4-0. After advancing to the CBA finals for their 14th appearance, the Southern Tigers were more than capable of handling the Xinjiang Flying Dragons, winning the first three games by 10 or more points. The team completed their third playoff sweep after winning game four 103-98 for their 9th CBA Title.

China’s first women’s 4x100m final in 22 years ended in tears at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, with quite possibly the worst baton pass (or non-pass) in history. With the team in the running for a medal going into the final leg of the relay final, Kong Lingwei failed to pass the baton to Ge Manqi in the correct zone.

While every other nation was sprinting to the finish line, the pair instead ran backwards to the change zone to try again. They eventually did pass the baton over to finish in 1:05:97, almost 25 seconds behind the gold medal-winning Jamaica team in 41:45. China were initially praised for going back to finish the race because the top eight teams were guaranteed a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics next summer. But insult was added to injury when it later transpired that they were disqualified for “passing the baton outside the takeover zone,” leaving the ladies in tears on the track.

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COVER STORY

CHINA WOMEN’S 4X100M TEAM

Scan the QR code for our full 2019 China Year in Review Series, which will be published throughout December

CHINA BASKETBALL AT FIBA

Head of the Chinese Basketball Association and former China basketball superstar Yao Ming’s face said it all as China lost to Venezuela by a score of 72-59 to crash out of the FIBA World Cup on home soil and at the first hurdle. The result, coupled with defeat to Poland, left fans in tears and the Chinese team contesting 1732 classification spots against Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria and South Korea. Ah well, time to focus on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

FABIO CANNAVARO

After seven years of Guangzhou Evergrande winning everything (seven Chinese Super Leagues, four Chinese Super Cups, two Chinese FA Cups and two AFC Champions Leagues), Fabio Cannavaro took over the team in 2018 and won… NOTHING. Oh well, surely the Italian would put it right in 2019. First up, he resigned as China coach after just two games in charge – losses to the mighty Thailand and Uzbekistan. He then carried that form over to Evergrande; defeat to Shanghai SIPG in the FA Cup was followed by a disastrous run of just one win in nine games that saw them squander a commanding CSL lead and get knocked out of the AFC Champions League.

BAD YEAR

NBA MARCELLO LIPPI

Italian World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi said arrivederci to the China National team not once, but twice in 2019. The former Guangzhou Evergrande boss first resigned in January after China lost 3-0 to Iran in the AFC Asian Cup. Brought back in after the disastrously short reign of compatriot Fabio Cannavaro (see above), Lippi managed just four competitive games – wins against the Maldives and Guam, a draw against the Philippines and a nailin-the-coffin 2-1 defeat to Syria. “When we encountered stronger teams like the Philippines and Syria, we could not play our own football,” Lippi said on his departure.

Stronger teams like the Philippines and Syria, eh?

It all kicked off when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted improper remarks regarding Hong Kong.

In response to comments made soon after by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Chinese broadcaster CCTV decided to temporarily suspend the broadcasts of NBA preseason games and investigate all cooperation with the NBA. A number of high profile Chinese celebrities and companies also came out in opposition to Morey’s tweet and Silver’s comments, with online stores such as JD.com and Taobao removing Houston Rockets merchandise.

2019 CHINA

F&B

THERMOMETER HOT - Plant-based OmniPork burst onto the scene with menu items at Grand Hyatt Beijing and Wagas stores nationwide (including sister brands LOKAL, Funk & Kale and Baker & Spice). Expect the alternative protein at Taco Bell and Tsui Wah next.

- Homegrown Luckin Coffee’s rapid growth resulted in the chain matching Starbucks store-for-store in November 2019.

- A documentary highlighting Chaoshan (in eastern Guangdong province) fare called Flavorful Origins hit Netflix. Chinese morning meals also got some love with the inaugural World Jianbing Day and the Tencent/Haixia TV documentary Breakfast in China.

- Shake Shack continued its expansion into China with two new stores in Shanghai and the announcement of the first Beijing location – due in 2020.

STRANGEBREWS Throughout China the craft brewing revolution is going strong. As a result, we sample and review a lot of unique beers. While it’s always nice to crack open a cold one, some suds are better than others. Here are a few of our 2019 favorites, in no particular order.

- Michelin Guides launched its first Beijing edition in November.

- The Chairman in Hong Kong and Shanghai’s Ultraviolet were the only China eateries featured on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019. Similarly, Shanghai bars Speak Low and Sober Company were the only two China entries on the World’s Best Bars 2019.

- In a surprise announcement, popular Shanghai F&B hub Zhang Court venues were told to move out. Since then, Logan’s Punch, Oji Cocktail & Whisky and Tomatito have been the only ones to resurface. Down south, redevelopment forced 150,000 tenants out of Baishizhou in Shenzhen, taking a wealth of local restaurants and bars out in the process.

COVER STORY

- China’s pig population has been ravaged

by African swine fever, leading to rising pork prices this year.

COLD

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21 Jag: Hops Typhoon American Pale Ale This is a fun and flavorful beer by the brewmasters at Zhuhaibased 21 Jag. After cracking open a cold one, a hoppy scent fills the air and hits your nostrils like a lightning-fast jab from ol’ Floyd Mayweather. The wellbalanced APA has floral hints followed by a hoppy and bitter aftertaste.

Strand Brewing: Wuyang IPA Nothing tells you you’re drinking beer faster than a hoppy kick to the mouth. If this is a mantra you can get behind, David Strand, one of Guangzhou’s pioneering brewers of craft suds, has a palate-kicking Wuyang IPA with a clean malt profile along with notes of citrus and pine that you have to try.

Shangri-La Highland Craft Brewery: Fat Dolma This number will take you on a wild and flavorful ride to the Himalayas.

At 8.2% ABV, Fat Dolma is a goldencolored beer that boasts a malt and honey aroma and succeeds at being both heavy-hitting and smooth at the same time. Capped off with a sweetish aftertaste, thanks in large part to the hints of banana and mango, this beauty of a beer is highly sessionable.

Master Gao: Baby Jasmine Lager The brewery is headed up by the master himself, Gao Yan, who has been hailed by many as one of the founding fathers of China’s fast-growing craft beer scene. His Baby Jasmine Tea Lager offers a complex herbal slash hoppy taste that has us hooked. Floral hints, courtesy of jasmine tea, keep things interesting.

Yong Master: Cha Caan Teng Gose According to Conde Nast Traveler, Young Master kickstarted the Hong Kong craft brewing revolution back in 2013. Their Cha Chaan Teng Gose combines the tartness of lime with the salty, mid-range alcohol level of a gose, creating a refreshing, delicious brew that tastes something like a cider.

Scan the QR code for our full 2019 China Year in Review Series, which will be published throughout December

WE TRIED IT Off-Beat Snacks and Beverages We subject ourselves to a lot of wacky food and beverages for the benefit of our readers, and this year did not disappoint. Read on to see which ones have been seared into our mental hall of fame (and shame) for eternity.

HOT

Coca-Cola Chicken Wings “For what they are – an unusual fast food-soft drink fusion – McDonald’s Coca-Cola chicken wings are tasty and you should definitely give them a try.”

-Jesse Pottinger

Lychee Rose Oreos “The taste is best summed up like this: Imagine a couple of plump red roses evaporating in your mouth, releasing a flavor so prevailing that it overpowers the chocolate biscuits.“ -Naomi Lounsbury

MEH

Coca-Cola Apple “Coca-Cola Apple has a pleasant – yet not overpowering – apple flavor, and has a similar flavor balance to Coca-Cola Vanilla or Coca-Cola Cherry.”

-Barnaby Lofton

NBeer Bloody Mary “It’s good and certainly unique, but fails to truly capture the bold flavors that a Bloody Mary often exhibits.”

-Matthew Bossons

NOT

Black Fanta

Lemon Snickers

“The first thing that hits you is the smell, which is that of artificial banana used in bubble gum and children’s medicine. On the tongue, the flavor is one of synthetic sweetness followed by a hint of... orange(?!) in the aftertaste.”

-Ned Kelly

“This was hate at first bite, and then it got worse. The overly sweet white chocolate shell has a lemon-like flavor best compared to dish soap. The caramel and nut filling is the same as the normal, better Snickers, but it doesn’t save the day.”

-Cristina Ng

COVER STORY

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FOOD, DRINK

& EVENTS

We Try It

Baozza: A Cheesy Pizza Snack with Chinese Characteristics, p46

IN SHENZHEN

The Golden Forks P48 44 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Auvers P53

From Beyond the Wall

By Matthew Bossons

Winter is almost here, which means Christmas, New Year’s, Spring Festival and a whole host of other holidays are upon us. If done right, these celebrations have the potential to descend into an unhinged onslaught of boozy fun with friends and family – which means you need to stock up on beer.

P

resumably brewed with the power of fire and ice, NBeer’s ‘Winter’s Coming Weizenbock’ is a beverage fit for a Westerosi king, with a pleasant 25 IBU and 8% ABV. It’s also a beverage that will make your nerdier friends envious and – for the night, anyway – you the king of the keep (read: barbecue stall outside your friend Dave’s apartment).

Lightly hazy and amber in color, this beverage delivers a sweetish flavor coupled with malty notes and an elusive spicy taste that just barely makes itself known on the ol’ palate. It’s tasty, sessionable and – most

importantly – different from other Chinese beers we’ve sampled of late.

It’s also strong (strong enough for Tyrion Lannister, by our assessment), which is a massive bonus.

Not convinced this brew is worthy of your time and hard-earned dollars?

Well, rest assured that it’s not just us squawking on about this beverage like a pack of ravens: NBeer’s Winter’s Coming Weizenbock managed to pick up not one but two awards at the 2019 World Beer Awards.

For those that are new to this column or China’s craft beer scene

in general, NBeer is a Beijing-based brewery known for bold experimentation (Bloody Mary beer, anyone?), quality suds and rad can designs (the Winter’s Coming Weizenbock included). In South China, the company has a brewpub located in Shenzhen’s popular OCT-Loft area.

You can purchase NBeer’s Winter’s Coming Weizenbock for RMB150 per six-pack on Taobao

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 45

BEER OF THE MONTH

NBEER’S WINTER’S COMING WEIZENBOCK

GRAPE VINE THE SCANDALOUS SCOOP

WE TRY IT

We’re digging:

Baozza

Baia Burger Concept in Shekou offering Starfield artificial meat burgers on the menu; the huge turnout at the fifth annual Electric City Shenzhen Craft Beer Fest; George & Dragon’s new location in Sea World; the opening of One Avenue mall in the Shenzhen CBD, which has over 25 different F&B outlets; Voisin Organique’s grand re-opening at UpperHills; and a happy belated birthday to Life on Mars, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in late October.

We’re done with:

The closure of Trafalgar in Shuiwei and Jolly Rogers Bar in Shekou; the closure of the Coco Park branch of Baia Burger Concept, which will be moving to a new location and reopening in February 2020; and the fake alcohol ring busted in Zhongshan.

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While folks in Shanghai and Beijing can pop in for a fresh and gooey baozza anytime, the rest of China has been deprived of the cheesy pizza snack with Chinese characteristics. However, in October, Baozza announced that their Westernstyle baozi were available for nationwide shipping, much to our delight. We seized the opportunity to give them a try, sampling the pepperoni and margherita baozza, although other flavors include roast duck and spinach cheese.

On the box, you’ll see five main ways to cook baozza – steam, bake, pan fry, deep fry and, of course, microwave. We opted to nuke ’em for simplicity (and speed). While we must admit that it’s difficult to replicate that freshness of a storebought baozza when shipping the beloved snack 2,000 kilometers away, nearly our entire office thought that the snack was a winner. What does it taste like? Well, each baozza is essentially a mini calzone albeit with a softer, mantou shell.

Who’s eating them: baozi bosses, pizza players Price: RMB44 for two boxes (each box contains two bao; shipping not included)

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

BREAKING BITE

It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere...

More than half a year in development, Teqo has completely revamped their menu for an updated take on Mexi-fusion fare (you’ll even find some Filipino-inspired dishes on the menu). Using only fresh, never-frozen ingredients, the taqueria has streamlined the prices of their tacos (RMB55 for three) and offers 12 delicious options. We suggest sampling the corn elote with cilantro crema, the Baja-style fish with citrus aioli or the Taco Bell-style taco with ground beef and cheese. If you’re looking for a larger meal, Teqo also makes a mean Mexican burger (RMB98) featuring Australian beef and a mouthwatering grilled carne asada steak (RMB168). To round off your meal, try a tasting flight of tequila or mescal, or one of Teqo’s handcrafted cocktails, all of which are made with in-house ingredients. This is the perfect hangout in the Futian CBD to share food with friends and grab a margarita after a long day of work.

Open daily, 10am-midnight. Shop FL1018, Central Walk Shopping Mall, Fuhua Lu, Futian District 福田 区福华路怡景中心(城北大门停车场出口)FL1018铺 (189 2844 8542)

WIN! Free Tickets to the That’s Food & Drink Awards in Shenzhen Our biggest party of the year, the 2019 awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 19 at the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen.

Themed ‘A Galaxy Far, Far Away,’ all the city’s movers and shakers will be there (and presumably dressed up as iconic Star Wars characters, like Han Solo, Kylo Ren or the iconic Darth Vader). The event will feature free flow beer and wine, as well as a delightful selection of high-quality edibles provided by the culinary Jedi at the Hard Rock. Come for the food and booze but be sure to stay for the awards, entertainment and lucky draw – which is sure to be the highlight of the night! We will be giving away an array of amazing prizes, including five-star hotel vouchers and dining packages at some of Shenzhen’s hottest F&B spots. To win free tickets, scan the QR code below.

Thu Dec 19, 6.30pm. Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, 9 Guanlan Gao'erfu Dadao, Longhua New District 龙华新 区观澜高尔夫大道9号 (3395 2888)

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E AT & DR INK | F E AT UR E

THE GOLDEN FORKS Introducing the Greater Bay Area’s First Dining Guide

F

ollowing on the massive success of the third edition of our Explore China travel guide, we’ve decided to turn our attention to a new project… We’ve heard, we’ve listened and we’re responding: You want a food guide by local experts, a guide that looks beyond Cantonese food to examine the amazing range of world cuisines available in the Greater Bay Area – and now we’re delivering with our first-ever foodie guide book: The Golden Forks: A Greater Bay Area Dining Guide 2019-2020.

Our comprehensive dining and drinking guide is set to inform expats, visitors and locals alike on the myriad of food and beverage options available in the Greater Bay Area. From Turkish and Indian food to Italian, French, Mexican and Americanstyle cuisine, we’ll have you covered in our 150-page perfectly-bound book.

Set to coincide with our 14th annual Food and Drink Awards, The Golden Forks: A Greater Bay Area Dining Guide 2019 -2020 will organize restaurants based on city and district and cover establishments in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Zhuhai.

This month, we are beyond excited to give you a sneak peek at a few of the awesome eateries featured in the book.

Each and every spot was assessed and included for their commitment to service, originality, food quality and presentation, cleanliness and good ambiance.

Qiuda 6 Zaiji

Guangzhou

You can’t visit Guangzhou without experiencing dim sum and Qiuda 6 Zaiji is unquestionably our favorite spot to indulge in the world-famous cuisine.

Helmed by celebrated Cantonese chef Qiu Weiguo, who has served such notable figures as Deng Xiaoping and Queen Elizabeth II, the food here ranges from authentic to experimental and all of it is top quality. The xiaolongbao here are exemplary, as are the xiajiao and shaomai. The real highlight at Qiuda 6 Zaiji, though, is the danmai chashao bao – an in-house specialty perfected by Chef Qiu himself.

523 Binjiang Dong Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区滨江东路523号丘大6仔记 (020-3432 0604)

Westwood Fire&Smoke

Shenzhen

Hailing from Los Angeles, chef and owner Nick Siu took his love for American-style dining and founded the first Westwood location in Hong Kong back in 2010. Westwood specialize in prime rib and demonstrates an expertise with the unofficial ‘king of beef cuts.’

Prime rib is a type of classic roast beef made from the beef rib primal cut, usually roasted bone-in and served with a tasty reduction called au jus, a sauce made from the drippings. Westwood also offers a fisherman’s seafood pasta filled with fresh Alaskan king crab, tiger prawns, mussels, clams and bacon simmering in an umami-rich, no salt added, sauce. Delicious? You betcha.

Shop NL119, Block 2, Nanshan Mix City, Shennan Lu, Nanshan District 南山区深南 大道9668号华润万象天地2栋NL119铺 (8668 7399)

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F E AT UR E | E AT & DR INK

LaBrezza

Zhuhai

Italian fine dining on the 71st floor, LaBrezza checks all the boxes for quintessential views and delectable eats. Their dishes by Chef Michele Tenzone impress fine-food lovers with his expertise in authentic Southern Italian cooking methods paired with high-quality products.

With a rich variety of fresh seafood, fine meats, pasta and more, the culinary team at LaBrezza take diners on a gastronomic experience not easily repeated outside of the Southern European peninsula. The open kitchen and tableside experience are not to be missed, and neither is the wine room – with over 400 labels from some of the world’s most wine-centric countries. The culinary experience is evenly matched by LaBrezza’s finely orchestrated service, making every meal a pure delight.

Area E, 1663 Yinwan Lu, Wanzai, Xiangzhou District 香洲区湾仔银弯路1663号E区 (0756-2999 888)

Looking to snag a copy of The Golden Forks: A Greater Bay Area Dining Guide 2019-2020 ? Order yours today by scanning the QR code!

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

BUFFY DIM SUM Kindergarten Chow

By Phoebe Kut

The Place Every so often, novelty character-themed restaurants barrage our social media, so we decided to check out KK One’s newest Buffy-themed dim sum spot. For those unfamiliar, we’re not talking about Buffy Summers (aka: the ‘vampire slayer’), but an adorable cartoon duck, who also has a male companion named B.Duck. The pair are popular all over Asia, especially among the little ones. Obviously, the novelty is in taking photos of Buffy’s face reimagined as dim sum, but is the food itself any good?

The Food

When at dim sum, one must always order the staples. However, since we were at this kitschy eatery we tried to choose plates which were graced with Buffy’s likeness. We decided upon har gow, siu mai, steamed barbecue pork buns, radish cake, custard buns and some veggies.

Unfortunately, we arrived at the tail end of dim sum at around 2.30pm and they had already sold out of har gow.

Buffy’s head conveniently resembles a bao, so most

steamed bun dishes will feature a fun duck cartoon. For formless dishes, the kitchen seemed to throw in the towel and stuck a little toothpick with a flag of Buffy on it. Taste wise, the dim sum here is average at best, other holes-in-the-wall could easily outdo this place.

The Vibe

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We visit on a Sunday afternoon – prime dim sum hours. The restaurant is loud, chaotic and boisterous, everything a dim sum restaurant should be, but also filled with kids instead of seniors, everywhere you look. If you’re hungover, best to stay away, but if you’re with the family this is a good spot. But will this eatery achieve the hype of similar establishments like the Hello Kittythemed dim sum spot in Hong Kong? Probably not. For now, though, this eatery can stand out

from the pack while slapping an extra fee for sub-par afternoon tea.

Price: RMB80-100 Who’s going: kindergarteners, families Good for: entertaining the kids, parties of less than six Nearest metro: Xiasha (Exit B), 5 minutes’ walk Open daily, 10am-10pm. L222, 2/F, KK One, South Block, Xiasha Cun, Futian District 福田区下沙村KK One商场区2楼 L222号 (8279 7420)

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

MONSTER

Frighteningly Good Eats

By Christine Tan

The Place Longtime friends and high school classmates Ashin, Aniu, and Xiaobai are the fine folks behind one of Shekou’s newest burger joints, Monster. The store is hidden away on an unremarkable street located between Shuiwan and Dongjiaotou stations, far away from the expensive Western fare in expat hub Sea World.

The trio of friends came into this new project with three years of hard-earned experience, gained from the trials and tribulations of opening and running their first restaurant, Burgertalk.

The Food

From the grilled buns to the patty and the toppings, you’ll find yourself salivating before, during and after your burger. These are probably some of the juiciest burgers you’re going to find in Shenzhen and for prices that will make your wallet thank you. We ordered the Hawaiian burger set (RMB65), which comes with a side of fries and a Coca-Cola. If you’re hankering for something boozy, they have a wide selection of imported bottled beers as well.

The Hawaiian burger’s defining feature is a thick Wagyu patty, which is comple-

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mented by bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and perfectly-grilled pineapple. It’s a beast of a burger and it more than satisfied our grumbling, burger-lovin’ stomachs.

Monster’s beef is currently imported from Australia. According to the friendly proprietors, they’ve been hunting around South China for the best meat suppliers for the better half of the past three years and they keenly believe that you’ll taste the difference in every bite.

The Vibe

The owners are all hands on deck, managing and operating the place themselves. They’re serious about the burger biz and have great taste in music (the store’s playlist had us groovin’).

There are a handful of seats in the cozy interior that’s head to toe covered with wood paneling. So, if you’re passionate about wood and meat, you’re really going to enjoy yourself here.

The shop is quite the well-kept secret at the moment, as it’s new and just putting down roots in Shekou. Make sure you grab a bite now before it gets too popular and you’re struggling to get a seat.

Price: RMB65 Who’s going: foodies in the know, Nanshan neighbors, burger and beer aficionados Good for: bangin’ burgers for your buck, craft beer Nearest metro: Dongjiaotou (Exit A), 10 minutes’ walk

Open daily, 10.30am-2am. 123-2 Nanshui Lu, Nanshan District 南山区南水路123-2号怪兽西餐厅 (135 3082 2290)

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

AUVERS

Brunching Beautifully

By Phoebe Kut

The Place Brunch is always a good option whether catching up with friends or recovering from a night out. Auvers is an Australian brunch spot in the Futian CBD that can be found in the new One Avenue shopping mall complex.

With two locations Down Under, the brand gives Shenzheners a glimpse of infamous Australian brunch culture.

According to proprietor Ron, art is the main inspiration behind this cafe-restaurant. Whether the dishes or decor, art plays a vital role in this establishment. As this is the first location outside of Australia, the menu is still undergoing some tweaking to cater to Shenzhen’s palate.

The Food

crispy, squid ink cracker, which adds texture to the dish. Lastly, Auvers does a killer flat white (RMB32) along with plenty of other iced beverage options.

The Vibe

While the space isn’t fully furnished yet, the vibe is casual and friendly.

The restaurant decor is quite minimalist, letting the artistry of the dishes stand out, instead. Everything served looks like something you’d find at a fine dining restaurant, yet the prices are very reasonable for this type of Western-style brunch. As the brunch menu is two pages, there’s definitely more culinary exploration to embark on – we will be back soon!

Price: RMB110 Who’s going: yuppies, foodies Good for: quality brunch, coffee dates Nearest metro: Gangxia (Exit B), 3 minutes’ walk

Open daily, 10am-10pm. L154A, East Block, One Avenue Mall, Fuhua Lu, Futian District 福田区福华路深圳中心One Avenue商场东区L154A (199 2875 1492)

Here, you won’t be finding your run-of-the mill breakfast plates. All dishes are thoughtfully prepared, using sauces made in-house and ingredients that subtly incorporate Asian flavors and ingredients.

We start with the Auvers Smashed Avo (RMB68), which is topped with house-made furikake seasoning and dollops of sweet corn miso sauce (a tasty combination). The Auvers eggs benedict (RMB78) comes with smoky pulled pork, an onsen egg and hollandaise sauce atop a croissant. The flavor profile of this dish is on the sweeter side due to the corn salsa and the sauce from the pulled pork. If you like sweet and savory, then this is your jam.

An interesting dish that you perhaps won’t find at other brunch spots is the salmon terrine (RMB88). The smoked salmon (which was very fresh, no fishy taste or smell) envelops a creamy fennel creme fraiche filling. The best part is crushing up the

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HEAR

Caspian China Tour 2019 Post Rock

DYGL China Tour 2019 Indie Rock

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 as of 2006 (this number is presumably higher now). Come out to hear this distinguished ‘prince of piano’ while he’s in town.

Sun Dec 15, 8pm; RMB836-1,311. Shenzhen Concert Hall, 2016 Fuzhong Yi Lu, Futian District 福田区福中一 路2016号深圳深圳音乐厅 (showstart.com)

New Noise is proud to end this year with an eightdate China tour for American post rock band Caspian, who will be presenting work from their upcoming album. Through passionate songwriting, the band carves through the darkness and allows all to be bathed in light. Even when the band is at their heaviest, there are still feelings of peace and catharsis that hang in the air. Caspian transcend post rock norms to create some unique music that is emotive, well-written and utterly enthralling.

Sat Dec 14, 8.30pm; RMB120 presale. B10 Live, North side of Building C2, North Area, OCT-Loft, Xiangshan Dong Jie, Nanshan District 南山区香山东街华侨城创意文化园北区 C2栋北侧 (showstart.com)

DYGL (pronounced ‘day-glo’) is an indie rock band from Tokyo, Japan. The group formed in 2012 when they were just students, studying at Meiji Gakuin University. In 2015, they self-released their first EP through audiocassette and online formats, which managed to draw the attention of music lovers from all around the world. The youthful four-piece emulate a British sound and have recorded most of their music in New York. They’ve also worked with Albert Hammond Jr. (guitarist of The Strokes). Get ready to experience an unforgettable night, rocking out with DYGL live.

Sat Dec 7, 2pm; RMB150 presale, RMB180 at the door. Hou Live, B112A, KK One Shopping Center, 9289 Binhe Dadao, Futian District 福田区滨河大道9289号KK ONE购物中心负一层 B112A (247tickets.com)

TA S T E

That’s Food & Drinks Awards Our biggest party of the year, this year’s awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 19 at the rockin’ Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen. Themed ‘A Galaxy Far, Far Away,’ all the city’s movers and shakers will be there (and presumably dressed up as iconic Star Wars characters, like Han Solo, Kylo Ren or the iconic Darth Vader). The event will feature free flow beer, bottomless wine and water, as well as a delightful selection of high-quality edibles provided by the culinary Jedi at Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen.

Thu Dec 19, 6.30pm; RMB268. Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, 9 Guanlan Gao'erfu Dadao, Longhua New District 龙华新区观 澜高尔夫大道9号深圳硬石酒店 (thmart.com.cn)

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DO EPAM FinTech Hackathon

EPAM works with established banks, financial services institutions and fintech startups to drive innovative thinking. Join their third annual hackathon and explore ideas on new ways to bank, invest or enable the under-serviced to access financial support. In 24 hours, you will build a mini-program or app prototype related to one of the proposed challenges. If you haven’t been to a hackathon before, do not worry, the event is open to enthusiastic developers, designers and creative people with ideas. Team up in a group of five, meet with industry experts and pitch your ideas all while enjoying free snacks, coffee, refreshments, meals and recreational facilities.

Sat-Sun Dec 7-8, 9am-5pm. Easy Work, 3/F, Fulizhen Building, 1 Kefa Lu, Nanshan District 南山区科发路1号富利臻大厦领感3楼 (eventbrite.hk)

Shenzhen Dragons: Rugby Practice

The Shenzhen Dragons were founded in 2008 and have been a mainstay of the rugby circuit in South China and Shenzhen. The club has both a men’s and women’s team, who train weekly on Tuesday and Thursday, play full contact matches and compete in the best tournaments in the region. The Dragons do their best to foster the social aspect with both playing and non-playing members through dinner and drink socials, as well as group gym sessions and even martial art classes.

This friendly and lively bunch are always open to welcoming newcomers, regardless of age, ability, experience, or background. Training sessions work on various aspects of rugby with touch sessions and technical drills. All training sessions are RMB50 per person and are free for first-timers.

Every Tue and Thu, 8.30-10.30pm; RMB50. Zhonghang Shahe Field, 4018 Qiaoxiang Lu, Nanshan District 南山区侨香路4018号 (Add WeChat ID: adri7581 for more info.)

Mission: Shenzhen Ultimate Frisbee Hat Tournament

The Shenzhen Ultimate Players Association will be hosting its first two-day, seven-a-side ultimate Frisbee hat tournament on December 7-8. It will be played on one of the best grass fields in Shenzhen located at the famed Mission Hills in Longhua district. The theme of the tournament is spy vs. spy and the spies are: 007, Austin Powers, Archer, Ethan Hunt, Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne, Nikita and Solid Snake. Join the WeChat group for regular updates (ID: SZUltimate) and to register for this event.

Sat-Sun Dec 7-8, all day; RMB150. Bromsgrove Mission Hills, 8 Guanlan Gao'erfu Dadao, Longhua New District 龙华新区观澜湖高尔夫大道8号柏朗思观澜湖学校 (Add WeChat ID: SZultimate to register.)

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SEE Evita the Musical

With more than 20 major awards, the original Broadway and West End production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Evita embarks on an international tour this year, directed by legendary Broadway director Hal Prince.

Evita charts the story of Eva Peron, the second wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron, from her humble beginnings to the extraordinary wealth, power and status that ultimately led her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people. Featuring some of the most loved songs in musical theater, including ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,’ ‘On This Night of a Thousand Stars,’ ‘Oh What A Circus,’ ‘You Must Love Me’ and ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall,’ this is one show you do not want to miss.

Wed-Sun Dec 4-8, 7.30pm-9.30pm; RMB380-RMB1,280. Shenzhen Grand Theater, 5018 Shennan Dong Lu, Luohu District 罗湖区深南东路5018号深圳大剧院 (showstart.com)

MKW Bash at the Bay II Wrestling

Middle Kingdom Wrestling returns to Shenzhen on December 14 for MKW Bash at the Bay II! Featuring the best of the best Chinese and international pro wrestlers, including Michael Su, Zombie Dragon, Zeda Zhang, Ray Lyn and Nuwakote Tiger (all members of an elite group known as ‘The Stable’), this bash of bodies is guaranteed to be a memorable evening! Eight jam-packed matches will be featured on the card, including singles men’s and women’s, tag team and multi-man matches. The event will be headlined by a match between MKW world champion Michael Su who will be defending against the unpredictable and undefeated challenger Zombie Dragon! This will be a classic main event pro wrestling match on Chinese soil. Add WeChat ID: mkwrestling for more information and tickets.

Sat Dec 14, 6pm; RMB80-180. Superface, 3036 Dongbin Lu, Nanshan District 南山区东滨 路3036号 (南油影剧院旁) (ticket.wesai.com)

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M.I.C. Presents: Cinderella Musical

M.I.C. presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella: a musical masterpiece that brings a classic fairytale to life. Don’t miss your chance to see this English showcase event this Christmas. ‘Made in China’ (M.I.C.) is a brand spanking new community showcasing group in Shenzhen. Founded by three expats (Rob Beck, Katie Fogarty and Jen Smith), the group is a family-friendly showcase group in collaboration with DL English. With an extensive backstage team and an acclaimed cast including young performers, expats and locals, this show is set to be perfect family fun! You’ll be swept away by belting Broadway belles, outrageously funny ugly step-sisters and their very own Prince Charming.

Sat Sun Dec 7-8, 7pm (Sat-Sun), 3pm (Sun); RMB60 child, RMB100 adult. International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS), 11 Longyuan Lu, Nanshan District 南山区龙苑路11 号南山国际学校 (247tickets.com)

The World of Marc Chagall Exhibition

Marc Chagall (1887-1985), a talented artist in the history of modern painting, is known for his cubist geometric abstract composition style, heavy ink colors and use of fantasy surrealism. The theme of this exhibition explores Chagall’s depiction of love and incorporates immersive interactive areas that will lead guests to a comprehensive understanding of Chagall’s artistic choices.

Daily until Dec 25, 10am-9.30pm; RMB100 standard. Yealife, L/4, Yantian Holiday Plaza, 9028 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District 南山区深南大道9028号益田假日广场4楼 Yealife 艺术空间 (247tickets.com)

HONG KONG & MACAO CALENDAR HK

UNTIL DEC 8

VARIOUS DATES

Business of Design Week, various times; free entry. Various venues (bodw.com/en) This special weeklong event, which includes over 100 events from November 30 to December 8, is a prime opportunity for those interested in exchanging ideas, networking and exploring new business opportunities. Some of the world’s best design masters and influential business figures will help provide a platform to learn and grow, including workshops, exhibitions and a creative market.

The Business of Design Week runs across Hong Kong, so expect events at Sham Shui Po and Wan Chai, among other locations.

DEC 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 SAT-SUN

You should have no worries when viewing this month’s production of The Lion King in Hong Kong. Fresh in everyone’s heads after its silver screen reincarnation earlier this year, come to AsiaWorld-Expo to see the vast savannahs of Africa on the big stage. And remember – hakuna matata!

DEC 18-JAN 12 VARIOUS DATES

The Lion King, various times; various prices. AsiaWorld-Expo (discoverhongkong.com)

DEC 1-31

Macau Light Festival, 7-10pm; free.

Ruins of Saint Paul’s, Anim’Arte Nam Van Featuring glamorous 3D architectural projection mapping, light installations and various interactive games, this year’s Macau Light Festival allows tourists and locals alike to enjoy mesmerizing sights at two different locations in the historic city.

UNTIL DEC 8

DAILY

DEC 28-29 SAT-SUN

Creamfields Hong Kong 2019, all day; RMB988-1,488. West Kowloon Art Park (247Tickets.com) Remember Clockenflap 2019?

Neither do we, but we’re still holding out hope that this major dance music festival won’t be canceled.

Creamfields Hong Kong 2019 has an uber talented lineup this time around, with DJ Snake, ILLenium and Key4050 leading an A-list group of well-known artists. Pro tip: Don’t buy tickets anywhere other than official ticketing platforms, as this event may suffer a Clockenflap fate.

UNTIL JAN 1 Stanley Plaza Christmas Market 2019, various times; free entry.

Stanley Plaza (linkhk.com) “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” This song was first recorded back in 1963 and is still quoted to this day. But seriously, there’s something purely blissful about Christmas markets, and Stanley Plaza is the place to go in Hong Kong to pick up that Christmas spirit. Check out the festivities, along with an array of festive gifts, treats and deals.

MO International Parade (formerly called Parade Through Macau) has attracted local artists, residents, tourists and performing groups from around the world since its inception in 2011. Showcasing the unique culture of the international city, the parade takes the crowd through its distinct streets and alleys, bringing song and dance to the historical quarters.

ALL MONTH

Bird Watching Festival, various times; various prices. Hong Kong Wetland Park (wetlandpark.gov.hk) This month, flock with the pack to Hong Kong Wetland Park for the Bird Watching Festival happening throughout the month of December. Have a passion for birds that your friend Karen simply doesn’t understand? If so, leave her to Candy Crush and meet new bird enthusiasts as the park is offering workshops, guided walks and other ‘edutainment’ activities. Grow your knowledge of our winged friends by exploring the beautiful wetland reserve.

TUE-SUN

DEC 5-10 DAILY

4th International Film Festival and Awards, Macao, various times; MOP60. Various locations (macauticket.com) The International Film Festival and Awards encourages the use of art as a tool for dialogue to freely share and exchange ideas and learn about different cultures. It also aims to raise awareness and promote the various aspects of Chinese language and East Asian and international cinema, while educating the public on the history of cinematography. A great mix of international films will be screened at various theaters in the city over the course of the festival.

DEC 8 SUN

Macao International Parade, 3pm; free. Ruins of Saint Paul’s As an annual celebration of Macao’s handover to China, Macao

Lingua Franca – Annual Arts Exhibition Between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, 10am-7pm; free admission. Green Townhouses, Avenida do Coronel Mesquita A number of photography and video works by 22 artists from 10 countries and regions will be displayed at Lingua Franca, an exhibition instituted as part of this year’s Macao Arts Festival. Visitors can enjoy these artistic creations in the Portuguese-style Green Townhouses located near the historic district downtown.

DEC 17 TUE

The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macao 2019 Gala Dinner, 7pm; MOP4,888. City of Dreams (cityofdreamsmacau.com) Celebrating the 12th edition of the Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macao, its official partner Melco will be hosting a gala dinner at City of Dreams to offer culinary delights prepared by six renowned chefs and a patissier from two- and three-Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. Foodies can partake in this once-in-a-lifetime dining experience where a sevencourse wine-pairing dinner will be served.

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HOTEL NEWS PROMOTIONS

Perrier Jouët Countdown Party

Traditional Italian Sharing Lunch by Paletto

Ring in the arrival of 2020 up in the clouds with Raffles Shenzhen and Perrier Jouët Champagne. The most exclusive countdown party will see Long Bar transformed into a vibrant atmosphere with a Perrier Jouët Champagne bar serving up special drinks. Join in on the festivities with DJs spinning tunes all night, appetizers and more!

Stefano Nicodemo, head chef at Paletto, has specially crafted a traditional Italian lunch set menu that is great for sharing. On the menu there is Neapolitan-style cod fish and vitello tonnato, paired with refreshing fruit or vegetable juice. Let Paletto Italian Restaurant create memorable moments for you and your loved ones with exquisite Italian culinary art.

71/F, Raffles Shenzhen, T7 One Shenzhen Bay, 3008 Zhongxin Road, Nanshan District 南山区 中心路3008号深圳湾1号T7莱佛士酒店71层 (8666 8666)

Paletto Italian Restaurant, 116 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District 福田区福华三路星河丽思卡尔顿 酒店 (2222 2222)

NEWS

Maserati Afternoon Tea In celebration of their 10th anniversary, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen is partnering with Maserati to present a specially-designed afternoon tea that will only be available at The Lounge until December 31, 2019. Italian flavor is combined with the classic blue and white Maserati colors to create delectable desserts such as tiramisu, garden blueberry Bavarian, ricotta cheese cannoli and gelato bonbons.

In addition, guests can enjoy savory Mediterranean dishes like wagyu mini beef burgers, yellowfin tuna tartar with caviar and foie gras torchon.

The Lounge, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, 1881 Bao’an Nan Lu, Luohu District 罗湖区宝安南路1881 号 (2218 7338) 58 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Wayne Wang Appointed as New Chinese Executive Chef at Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan has appointed Mr. Wayne Wang as executive chef. Chef Wang will be in charge of the Chinese kitchen operations, which includes quality control at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant and culinary offerings during special events. Before joining Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan, Wang worked as Chinese executive chef at Shanghai Kangqiao Marriott Hotel. He has nearly 20 years culinary experience respectively in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Wang specializes in innovative Cantonese and fusion cuisine, he especially enjoys crafting artistic dishes and seeing his visions come to life.

TRAVEL DEALS Enjoy Two Nights at Huangshan Starting from RMB1,488 Anhui’s celebrated Huangshan, known in English as ‘Yellow Mountain,’ is renowned for its stunning scenery and – this time of year – for its lovely autumn leaves. If witnessing the fall colors of Huangshan is on your bucket list, then you’ll be excited by this awesome hotel package on thMart: Spend two nights in the beautiful Huangshan Yeechoi Hotel starting from only RMB1,488. Enjoy a clean and comfortable stay in a double- or twin-bed room, which includes daily replenishments of the complimentary mini bar, buffet breakfasts for two people each day and a complimentary hot springs experience for two people, among other perks.

For more details on this package and booking, scan the QR code.

Two-Night Hainan Resort Stay Starting from Just RMB3,588 Nothing helps cure those winter blues like some fun in the sun on a warm, sandy beach. Jet off this month to beautiful Sanya on Hainan Island to enjoy some well-deserved R&R at the stunning Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Sanya, Hainan. Spend two nights in an ocean-view room for only RMB3,588 and enjoy some awesome benefits, including: daily breakfasts for two adults and two children, high tea for two people and a scuba diving or boat excursion! Additionally, the hotel boasts amenities for kids, including slippers, bath supplies and sand toys.

For more details on this package and booking, scan the QR code.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 59

CITY SCENES British Day 2019 (Supported by

and

)

Held at the Canton Place, this year’s British Day offered attendees an English feast and three raffle rounds, with prizes worth RMB147,000. Participants enjoyed some classic British edibles, including fish-and-chips, as well as Indian, Chinese and Mexican dishes. Proceeds from the event went to support the Hopeful Hearts charity.

Urban Family 2019 Writing Contest (Supported by and

)

Organized by That’s PRD’s sister magazine, Urban Family, this writing contest profiled written work by students aged 6-18 from around the Greater Bay Area. A total of 23 finalists read their work at a live reading party on November 10, an event that was – by all accounts – a rousing success.

Congratulations to our young scribes!

60 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

CITY SCENES The 5th Electric City Shenzhen Craft Beer Fest (Supported by and ) The 5th Electric City Shenzhen Craft Beer Fest, presented by Bionic Brew, took place from November 8 to 10 at HALO Place, hosting 23 breweries from cities all across China. The sold-out event featured a great mix of local and international DJs and we’re already excited to attend next year’s event!

BSG International Day 2019 (Supported by and

Fourth Anniversary of Kanai Japanese Cuisine )

Roughly 2,000 people were invited to BSG for the school’s International Day event, which saw guests enjoy fun activities, music, prizes and great F&B offerings. The event was open to all foreign nationals living in Guangzhou and all funds raised at the event were donated to Hopeful Hearts.

Guangzhou-based Japanese restaurant Kanai celebrated its fourth anniversary on November 15. At the event, the restaurant’s head chef butchered a gigantic, Japan-imported Atlantic bluefin tuna right before invitees’ eyes. Diners at Kanai were treated to free tuna sashimi from November 16 to 30.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 61

PRD FOCUS L

N Garden Hotel, Guangzhou played host to an Oktoberfest celebration from October 14-20, offering attendees a spectacular menu of classic German edibles, beer and Bavarian music.

O

n November 11, InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Center hosted a dinner party to express gratitude to the hotel’s partners.

T

F

rom November 4-9, W Fashion Week’s fourth edition took place at W Guangzhou, where prominent domestic and international brands showcased their trendy new collections.

aikoo Hui in Guangzhou’s Tianhe district hosted an ’80s-themed tree-lighting ceremony on November 22, which was attended by many distinguished members of the community. Until January 1, 2020, Taikoo Hui will host a series of performances, activities and benefits to pay tribute to the 1980s.

62 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

N

ovember 1 saw the Consulate General of Mexico in Guangzhou celebrate the Day of the Dead at Canton Club.

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Winner of a That's Food & Drink Award 2018

OPEN DOOR

ITALIAN

FOOD & DRINK AMERICAN

Element Fresh1) 1/F, Zone B, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (2681 4848) 2) L27/7A, Wongtee Plaza, 118 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8323 7249) 1) 南山区海上世界广 场B区B130-210号 2) 福田区福华三路118号皇庭国 商购物广场L2-7/7A号

Baia Burger Concept 1) 1C-077-078A, 1/F, Shopping Park, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8290 6696) 2) A2303 3/F, Second Building Section A, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (2681 8890) 1) 福田区福华三路购物公园

1楼078A 2) 深圳市南山区蛇口海上世界A区2座3 楼3号

The Butchers Club B101A, PAFC Mall, Ping An Finance Center, 5033 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8272 5669) 福田区益田路5033号平安

金融中心B1， 下沉式广场B101A商铺 （观光厅入口旁 边）

Morton's Grille N901, 9/F, PAFC Mall, Ping An Finance Center, 5033 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8326 8333) 福田区益田路5033号平安

金融中心9楼N901

Hard Rock Cafe Shenzhen 9 Mission Hills Blvd, Longhua New District (3395 2888) 龙华新区观澜高尔夫大道9号www. hardrockhotels.com/shenzhen

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

PAPI Italian Restaurant N702, 7/F, Ping An Finance Center, 5033 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8326 6833) 福田区益田路5033号平安

金融中心7楼N702号

Artisans 1/F, Block A, Poly Cultural Center, Houhaibin Lu, by Haide San Dao (8628 7109) 南山区 保利文化广场A区40号店铺 Alla Torre #101, Area B, Sea World, 1128 Wanghai Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District (2685 1322) 南山区蛇口望海路1128号海上世界B区101 Blue Italian Seafood & Grill Restaurant 3/F, The Venice Raytour Hotel Shenzhen, 9026 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District (2693 6888) 南山区深南大道9026号深圳威尼斯

睿途酒店3楼意大利餐厅

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

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

Oggi Trattoria Pizzeria 3-14 Golden Century Lu, Phase 3, Coastal Rose Garden, Shekou, Nanshan District (2689 0118) 南山区蛇口金世纪路南海玫瑰花园三期金 世纪路3-14号

场2层28铺

PIZZA

CHINESE CANTONESE

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

号商铺

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

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

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

Baia Da Marco Shop #28 Coastal Rose Garden, Shekou, Nanshan District, shenzhen (2681 8849) 南山区蛇口街道望海路南海玫瑰花

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

园（二期）33—36裙楼28

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

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

深南大道和彩田路交汇处大中华IFC四楼

假日广场L2楼22-31号

号铺 2)福田区福华一路中心城FL1015商铺

FRENCH

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

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

Lan Ting 23/F, Hilton Shenzhen Futian, Tower B, Great China IFC, 1003 Shennan lu, Futian District (2130 8888) 福田区深南大 道1003号大中华国际金融中心B座大深圳中华希 尔顿酒店23楼

HYATT REGENCY SHENZHEN AIRPORT Xiang Yue Presents Hakka Cuisine Hakka cuisine originated mainly from the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guangxi. It’s known for its salty, fragrant and umami flavors created from braising, stewing and roasting meat. During this holiday season, Xiang Yue invites you to taste hearty Hakka cuisine prepared by their talented chefs.

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Bao’an District 宝安区宝安国际机场 (2345 1234 ext. 6378) 64 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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

Din Tai Fung 3/F, MixC, 1881, Bao'an Nan Lu, Luohu District (2598 2779) 罗湖区宝安南 路1881号华润万象城一期3层

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

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

店37楼

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

La Maison Shop 108, Nanhai Rose Garden, 91 Wanghai Lu, Nanshan District (2685 7030) 南山区望海路91号南海玫 瑰花园108号

Taste Moment Restaurant 1st floor, Bldg 1, Block A, 1979 Cultural and Creative Park, 1011 Qiaoxiang Lu, Futian District (8255 6173) 福田区侨香路1011号1979文化生活新领

域A区1栋1层

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

Paulaner Brauhaus 1) C-005, Huanchuan Square, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (2668 7230) 2) 8/F, Shop 801, PAFC Mall,Ping’An Finance Centre, 5033 Yitian Lu, Futian District (8253 5187) 1) 南山区蛇口海上世界环船广场C-005 2)福田区 益田路5033号平安金融中心8楼801

SPANISH

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

OPEN DOORS

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

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

融中心第9楼

Ling Spanish Kitchen 1011 Qiao Xiang Dong Lu, 1979 Cultural Park, Nanshan District (8322 7522) 南山区侨香东路1011号1979

KOREAN

文化新天地B区1层

MIDDLE EASTERN

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

Coco Park L1-B0

Bus Grill Turkish Steakhouse Shop 134, 1/F, Shopping Park B Area, Futian District (158 2044 6962) 福田区购物公园B区134铺 Les 5 Chef's Miznon 143 Laojie, Shekou, Nanshan District (132 5889 0561) 南山蛇

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

海岸曲水湾A-11A

口老街143号

The Istanbul Restaurant 1-22 Huafa Bei Lu, Huaqiangbei Jiedao, Futian District (3309 7180) 福田区华强北街道华发北路1-22号

MEXICAN Teqo FL1018, Yijing Central Walk Shopping Mall, 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District. (18928448542) 福田区福华一路3号怡景 中心城FL1018号铺

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

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

Latina No. 1128, Sea World, Wanghai Lu,

by Nanhai Dadao (2667 7679) 南山区蛇口望 海路1128号海上世界广场C区

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

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

Muine 1) L2-203, Coco Park, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8271 2527) 2) B139 and B139-2, B1/F, Jiufang Shopping Mall, ShennanZhong Lu, Futian District (2681 7828) 3) No. 219, 2/F, Shekou Garden City Center, Nanshan District (2681 7828) 4) B2-017A, King Glory Plaza, Luohu District (2220 3052) 5) RL1094B, Yijing Central Walk Shopping Mall, 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (8273 2993) 6) G-025B, OCT Bay Shopping mall, 13 Baishi Dong Lu, Nanshan District (8671 7326) 1) 福田区福华三路COCO Park L2-203 2) 福田区深南中路华强北九方购物 中心B1层B139 & B139-2 3) 南山区南海大道1086 号花园城中心第2楼219号铺 4) 罗湖区人民南路金 光华广场B2层B2-017A号 5) 福田区福华三路中心 城广场L层RL1094B号 6) 南山区滨海大道2008号 欢乐海岸购物中心G-025B

湖宾馆地下一层

利文化广场A区2楼48-49号商铺

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

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

B26C商铺

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

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

Yes Thai 1) 4/F, KK Shopping Mall, KK Financial Centre, 5016 Shennan Dong Lu,

by Hongbao Lu (2290 0333) 2) 5/F, Costal City, 33 Wenxin Wu Lu, by Haide Yi Dao (8635 9989) 1) 罗湖区深南东路5016号京基百

纳空间购物中心4楼 2) 南山区文心五路33号海岸 城购物中心五楼

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

安金融中心8楼

BUFFETS Café Zen 1/F, Futian Shangri-la Shenzhen, 4088 Yitian lu, Futian District (2151 3825)福田区益田路4088号深圳福田香格 里拉大酒店1层

－L121店

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

8 Baoxing Lu, Bao’an District 宝安区宝兴路8号 (2323 8330)

生活新领域B区

Tang Ben Jia #FL1011, L/F, Yijing Central Walk Shopping Mall, 3 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (8280 1086) 福田区福华一路3号怡景中 Bincho Ya L120-121, Bldg 2, Times Square Excellence, Fuhua Lu, Futian District (8278 2760) 福田区福华路卓越时代广场二期L120

What better way to celebrate the Christmas season than with an elegant ballet-inspired afternoon tea? In collaboration with and inspired by Hefang Jewelry’s latest collection, JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen Bao’an has launched the fabulous Ballerina Hefang Jewelry Afternoon Tea to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. Enjoy a selection of artisanal desserts and pastries with friends and family at The Lounge.

Pho Nam Shop B26C, Link City Passage,

by Fuhua Lu (8255 7048) 福田区连城新天地

吧街西侧三楼

心城广场L楼FL1011号

Ballerina Afternoon Tea with Hefang Jewelry

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

Saffron Indian Restaurant and Bar Floor B1, Jinhu Hotel, 1005 Wenjin Lu, Luohu District (8219 1115) 罗湖区文锦中路1005号锦 Indian Cottage Shop 48-49, 2/F, Area A, Poly Cultural Centre, Wenxin Wu Lu, Nanshan District (8628 7265) 南山区文心五路保

THE LOUNGE AT JW MARRIOTT HOTEL SHENZHEN BAO’ AN

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

酒店32层

PAVILION ALL DAY DINING RESTAURANT Sumptuous Buffet Wonderland Christmastime means family, friends and, of course, food. At Pavilion All Day Dining, all types of holiday dishes are available, including roasted Australian wagyu sirloin, roasted New Zealand leg of lamb with herbs, Christmas turkey, fresh seafood, sushi and sashimi, sinfully delicious desserts and more.

The Christmas Eve buffet dinner will be available on December 24 from 5.30-9.30pm for the price of RMB518 per person or RMB968 for two people.

Reserve your dinner before December 20 to enjoy RMB30 off.

Pavilion All Day Dining Restaurant, 3/F, Courtyard by Marriott Shenzhen Northwest, 6259 Bao’an Dadao, Baoan District 宝安区宝安大道6259号深圳同泰万怡酒店三楼万荟轩全日制餐 厅 (2708 8888 ext.8206) WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 65

OPEN DOORS

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

福田香格里拉大酒店 福田区益田路 4088 号

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

福田区福华三路 138 号

宝安国际机场深圳机场凯悦酒店2层

Café Marco 1/F, Marco Polo Shenzhen, 28 Fuhua Yi Lu, Futian District (3322 7777) 福田区福华一路28号深圳马哥孛罗 好日子酒店1层

Yitian Lu, Futian District (8828 4088).

Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen 138 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8826 8888) Grand Hyatt Shenzhen No.1881 Baoan Nan Lu, Luohu District (8266 1234) www.shenzhen.grand.hyatt.com 罗湖区宝安南路1881号 Hardrock Hotel Shenzhen， Hard Rock Cafe Shenzhen，No.9 Misson Hills Road,Shenzhen，0755-3395 2888 深圳硬石 酒店 观澜高尔夫大道9号

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

Club Viva No. 140, Fuhua Lu, Coco Park, Futian District 福田区福华路城建购物公园140 号 Dazzle Club 3/F, Central Commercial Building, No.88 Fuhua 1st Road, Futian District (2348 1542) 福田区民田路中心商务大厦三楼

THE WESTIN XIAMEN Seasonal Tastes Hearty hot pot made with local farm fare and a special secret sauce is available at The Westin Xiamen’s buffet for the whole month of December.

398 Xianyue Lu, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian Province 福建省厦门市仙岳路398号 (0592 337 8955)

McCawley’s Irish Bar 1) Shop 151-152, Coco Park, Futian District (2531 3599) 2) Shop 118, Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District (2668 4496) 1) 福田区购物公园151152 2) 南山区蛇口海上世界广场118号

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

Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai 1177, Wanghai Lu, Nanshan District

深圳蛇口希尔顿南海酒店 南山区望海路 1177 号 (2162 8888)

Hilton Shenzhen Futian Town B, Great China International Finance Centre, 1003 Shennan Dadao, Futian District (2130 8888) 福田区深南大道1003号大中华国际金融中心B座

JW Marriott Shenzhen No.6005 Shennan Dadao, Futian District. (2269 8888) 福田区深南大道 6005 号

JW Marriott Shenzhen Bao’an 8 Baoxing Lu, Baoan District (2323 8888) 深圳前海华侨城 JW 万豪酒店 宝安区宝兴路 8 号

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

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

路购物公园二楼

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

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

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

巴克楼上

EDUCATION

深圳瑞吉酒店 罗湖区深南东路 5016 号

深圳朗廷酒店 福田区深南大道 7888 号

The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen 116 Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (2222 2222) 福田区福华三路 116 号

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

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

Green Oasis School No. 4030, Shennan Middle Road, Tianmian, Futian District.

(8399 6712) admission@greenoasis.org.cn www.greenoasis.org.cn

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

南山区蛇口公园路82号青少年活动中心

福田区田面村深南中路 4030 号

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

深圳威尼斯睿途酒店 南山区华侨城深南大道 9026 号

9028号-2

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

InterContinental Shenzhen, No. 9009, Shennan Road, Nanshan District 深圳华侨城

南山区龙源路11号

洲际大酒店，南山区深南大道9009号 (3399 3388)

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

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

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

半岛城邦国际幼儿园 南山区蛇口东角头金世纪路1 号半岛城邦一期

WYNDHAM GRAND PLAZA ROYALE YUZHOU XIAMEN Winter Holiday Spend a warm winter holiday at the beautiful Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Yuzhou Xiamen, which overlooks Wuyuan Bay. A great honor, Wyndham was chosen to be the hotel of reception for the stars of the 28th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival. Wyndham is the perfect city retreat and just 5 kilometers away from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Island Ring Boulevard. Guests can also enjoy diverse cuisine at four on-site restaurants.

882 Zhongzhai Lu, Huli District, Xiamen, Fujian Province 福建省厦门市湖里区钟宅路882 (0592 875 2222) 66 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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

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

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

HOTEL Futian Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen No.4088

HEALTH Vista-SK International Medical Center Lvl 4, Bldg 4C, Shenzhen Software Industry Base,Xuefu Lu, Nanshan District (3689 9833) 南山区学府路软件产业基地4栋C座裙楼4层 J&C Dental 4FG, China Economic Trade Building, No.8, Zizu Qilu, Futian District (13418536301) 福田区紫竹七道8号中国经贸 大厦4FG

HarMoniCare Women & Children's Hospital 12018 Shennan Dadao, by Nanshan Dadao (3339 1333) 深圳和美妇儿科医院 南山区深南大 道12018号

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

盛唐大厦1-2层

IMC(International Medical Center) serves the local community and expatriates from all over the world. We are proud to provide private, personalized healthcare for each patient. Our experienced staff from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas provide comprehensive medical services including general and specialty outpatient services, health assessments, inpatient

services and more. Scan QR Code above for more info of IMC. 深圳市福田区海园一路，香港大学深

圳医院国际医疗中心 International Medical Centre，The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, 1, Haiyuan 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen (8691 3388）

OPEN DOORS

HAIR SALONS Shang Hair B2S-001, Coco Park, Fuhua San Lu, Futian District (8887 9899)福田区福华三路星河

Coco Park商场负二楼B2S-001

Toni & Guy 1) S248, The MIXC Shenzhen, Luohu District (2290 9505) 2) 103, Section C, Sea World, Wanghai Lu, by Xinghua Lu, Shekou, Nanshan District (2290 9521) 1) 罗湖区宝安南路 1881号万象城S248商铺 2) 南山区蛇口望海路海上世界C区103店

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

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

French Chamber of Commerce in South China (CCIFC) Room 318, 3/F Chinese Overseas Scholars Venture Building,South section of Hi-tech Industry Park, Nanshan District (Tel: 8632 9602; fax: 8632 9736) www.ccifc.org 南山区科技园南区留学生创业大厦3楼318室 German Chamber of Commerce Room 4A-11, Zone C, Zhong Ke Nano Building Yuexing Liu Lu, Nanshan District (8635 0487) www.china.ahk.de 中国深圳市南山区粤兴六道中科纳能大厦C区4A - 11 The American Chamber of Commerce in South China Rm 208, 2/F Overseas Chinese Scholars Venture Building, southern section of High-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District (Tel: 2658 8342; fax: 2658 8341). www.amcham-southchina.org The British Chamber of Commerce, Shenzhen Sub-Chamber Rm 314, 3/F Overseas Chinese Scholars Venture Building, southern section of High-Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan District (2658 8350). 深圳市南山区高新科技园南区留学生创业大厦3楼314室 Morefoods No1,1F,Building A ,OCEAN city Garden,Shekou New Street, Nanshan District,shenzhen (8827 9078) 深圳市南山区蛇口新街澳城花园A栋一楼1号铺

CLASSIFIEDS 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.

Mobile Game company business development position.

A NASDAQ-listed Shenzhen-based mobile game company. iDreamSky is looking for an expat for one business development position, native English speaker and fluent in Mandarin a must, well versed with mobile games or business negotiation experience a plus.

Responsible for looking for Western games suitable for the Chinese market and contacting the game developers. Our office is located in Nanshan district, Shenzhen. If interested, please send resume to Evan at evan.liang@idreamsky.com.

MOVING & SHIPPING AGS Four Winds is a leading international moving company that offers a full range of relocation, moving and storage services. With our global network of over 300 offices worldwide plus 40 years experience in the moving industry, we know your concerns and have the ability to serve you anywhere in the world.

We are FAIM & ISO 9001-2008 accredited, members of the FAIM and FIDI. Contact us for FREE survey and quotation: Tel: +8620 8363 3735/ +86 139 2277 1676 Email: manager.guangzhou@agsfourwinds.com Website: www.agsfourwinds.com

BLUE ITALIAN GRILL & SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Panfried Goose Liver with Tomato Jam, Lemon Candy & Toasted Brioche Using unique imported ingredients of the highest quality, Blue Italian Grill & Seafood Restaurant serves up delicious pan-fried goose liver (foie gras), which makes for a perfect appetizer. Savory foie gras is contrasted with sweet and tart tomato jam and crispy toasted brioche. Order a glass of refreshing rosé or prosecco to cap off your meal.

9026 Shennan Dadao, Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District 南山区华侨城深南大道9026 号 (2693 6888 ext. 8022)

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | DECEMBER 2019 | SZ | 67

That’s hen Shenz

DECEMBER

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in China.

BY BRYAN GROGAN

Sagittarius 11.23~12.21

You’ve been sitting on a new business idea. The month of your birth is the best time to share it with would-be investors. Stock up on baijiu, Saggy, we’ve got a feeling you’ll be having a lot of business meetings in 2020.

Aries

3.21~4.20 December means plenty of excess energy, Aries. Go figure, you’re not taking the annual pilgrimage back home in 2019, which means no pesky jet lag. Use this energy to paint the town red this Christmas season, but be aware that an old relationship may enter back into your life.

Leo

7.23~8.23 Sure, everyone wants to know the future, but in China, that’s becoming increasingly difficult. Forget about gambling on the next big start-up, and instead devote some time to contemporary art. Expanding your mind by way of Anish Kapoor or Li Binyuan will work wonders in your professional life.

68 | SZ | DECEMBER 2019 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Capricorn 12.22~1.20

This is a month of benevolence for you, Capricorn. Adopt a cat, dog or a turtle, and the universe will reward you for it.

If you go for the latter, here are some name options we recommend: James, Franklin, Bryan.

Taurus 4.21~5.21

You’ve been paying more attention to the news lately and have become deluded into thinking that you should leave Shenzhen for growing economic powerhouse Chengdu. Stop this craziness, spend an evening at your local Sichuan hot pot spot and relax yourself, Taurus.

Virgo

8.24~9.23 In your more dramatic moments, you believe you’ve contributed at least 10% to the waimai boom in China. Put an end to your lunchtime Burger King and fried chicken habits, and start preparing lunch at home. Your wallet, and your waistline, will thank you for it.

Aquarius 1.21~2.19

2019 has come and gone, and your gym membership card has largely lain forlorn on your bedside table. With that, health issues have abounded. Put aside the crispy duck for lunch, eat fruit and a yogurt instead. It’s hard, we know, but it will all be worth it.

Gemini

5.22~6.21 You’re dreading the Alipay annual account statement, which will force you to reevaluate your life choices.

Take the month of December to marginally sort out your finances and set yourself up with good habits for 2020. It’s never too late to be fiscally responsible (we hope).

Libra

9.24~10.23 December is a good creative month for you, Libra. Take some time to figure out what you want to do. The stars may push you towards writing, but don’t do it, there’s no money there. Take a dive into the world of podcasts.

Pisces

2.20~3.20 You’ll start the year believing you want to start a rock band, but it’s more likely that you’ll end up producing music on your computer. Stay inspired by checking out the local underground club scene. With your stellar personality, you’ll make key friends in no time.

Cancer

6.22~7.22 T h e re ’ s o n l y ro o m f o r s o m u c h crabbiness in a relationship, Cancer.

Ensure that your significant other is being honest about their needs. Additionally, decide whether you should drop your study of tarot cards or ancient Taoism. 2020 will be another hectic year and you need to have your priorities in order.

Scorpio

10.24~11.22 In December, you will be passion personified, dear Scorps. This comes at a good time, as you point your nose towards home for the holiday season.

Take the opportunity to meet old friends, lovers and long-lost family members.

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