That's Magazine October Issue

It's the Return of the

After Macao Opened Its Borders to Foreigners on the Chinese Mainland, That’s Traveled to the City to See What’s Changed

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董事长 President : 董青 Dong Qing

总编辑 General in Chief : 井水清 Jing Shuiqing 主编 Editor-in-Chief : 关宏 Guan Hong 责任编辑 Executive Editor : 朱莉莉 Zhu Lili 发行 Circulation : 李若琳 Li Ruolin

Editor-in-Chief Lars James Hamer Nation Editor Alistair Baker-Brian

Arts and Life Editor James East Business and Tech Editor Leigh Bromby Family Editor Mike Sheron Contributors Joshua Cawthorpe, Mike Fox

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Editor’s Note

A city steeped in both Portuguese and Chinese culture, a gambling haven with beautiful food, beaches and architecture; Macao opened its borders to foreigners on the Chinese mainland at the end of August.

In this month’s cover story, we traveled to Macao shortly after its land border with the Chinese mainland opened to us laowai. We investigated the changes since we last journeyed there over three years ago, exploring casinos, tourist hot spots, beaches, hiking trails and some of the best eateries in town.

From one border crossing to another. In this month’s The Nation feature, Alistair Baker-Brian recounts a recent visit to Luohu Commercial City, an indoor market on the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The market used to be a thriving commercial hub but how has the border closure between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong affected business?

Elsewhere in the mag, Ned Kelly sits down with Tural Hasanov, a mixologist from Baku, Azerbaijan, and the author of Distilled, the first of five books planned for his series entitled My Encyclopedia of Beverages.

And finally, Joshua Cawthorpe examines the benefits foreign medical students can gain from learning their practice in the Middle Kingdom, as opposed to in their home country. This feature follows the journey of two medical students, one from Niger and one from India, who came to China to study but stayed to fight and become respected doctors in their respective hospitals.

Best Regards,

Lars Hamer Editor-in-Chief

28 COVER STORY

IT’S THE RETURN OF THE MAC

THE

The First Monkeypox Case on the Chinese Mainland

By Alistair Baker-Brian

SinceMay 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported in countries where the disease is not endemic, as well as in several endemic countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Over the last few months, the disease moved closer and closer to the Chinese mainland and eventually landed in Chongqing in September.

On June 20, a man who had traveled from Germany to Taipei, Taiwan showed symptoms including a fever, a sore throat, muscle pain, a skin rash and swollen lymph nodes.

On June 24, the case was confirmed to be monkeypox.

On September 6, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also confirmed a case of monkeypox. The

individual had entered Hong Kong on a flight from the Philippines.

During hotel quarantine in the city, the individual also showed the aforementioned symptoms of a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash.

Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection Controller, Dr. Edwin Tsui said that imported cases of monkeypox would be monitored in order to limit the spread of the disease.

Tsui added that a 21-day quarantine period would be imposed on close contacts.

Back in August, some users in an online chat group claimed that a case of monkeypox had been discovered in the Qiantan area of Shanghai. However, authorities later confirmed that this was

merely a rumor.

What couldn’t be dismissed as a rumor was news from Chongqing on Friday, September 16. An inbound traveler to the southwest municipality tested positive for monkeypox while in quarantine – the first case of the virus on the Chinese mainland.

The individual is reported to be a Chinese national who had recently spent time in Germany and Spain.

The case led Wu Zunyou – Chief Expert of Epidemiology at China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention – to state five key pieces of advice on how to protect oneself against the virus.

The suggestion not to “have direct skin-to-skin contact with foreigners” raised a few eyebrows. This was later modified to “Do not have close skin-toskin contact with foreigners who have recently (within the last three weeks) come from a monkeypox epidemic area outside China and may be infected with the disease.”

The WHO notes that most confirmed cases of monkeypox have a “travel history… to countries in Europe and North America, rather than West or Central Africa where the monkeypox virus is endemic.”

The WHO further states that humanto-human transmission usually results from physical contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects.

Vaccines used during the campaign to eradicate smallpox have proved effective in protecting against monkeypox. Newer vaccines have since been developed, one of which has been approved for the prevention of monkeypox.

The ‘7+3’ policy (seven days of centralized quarantine followed by three days of ‘health monitoring’ at home) remains in place for anyone entering the Chinese mainland from elsewhere. With this in mind, we could be safe from monkeypox for a while.

As if one virus wasn’t enough.

Man Plays Video Games for 441 Hours Straight

We’ve all heard of video game addiction, but playing the same game for 441 consecutive hours? That’s something else.

An individual surnamed Xu had been active on an unnamed gaming platform for 441 hours, or around 18 days, seemingly without a break. After Xu found his account had been locked by the platform, he lodged an appeal.

After it was clear Xu would not be getting access to his account anytime soon, he took the case to court.

He argued that because he spent a total of around RMB10,000 on one particular game, it was unfair for the platform to lock his account. However, the gaming platform argued Xu was breaking the rules by using some kind of automatic programming to play the game on his behalf.

Other than the 18 consecutive days of gameplay, the platform point ed to two other instances in which Xu had played for eight days and 12 days straight. They said that this did not constitute normal human behavior.

The Beijing Fourth Intermediate Court ruled that the gaming platform was entitled to lock Xu’s account, stating that the length of time for which Xu’s account was constantly active on given occasions defied “the laws of human physiology.”

Our advice to Xu? Maybe get your nose in a good book for a few days.

BIG NEWS

‘0+3’

That’s the new policy implemented by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government for those arriving in the territory from abroad or from the Chinese mainland.

At a press conference on Friday, September 23, Chief Executive John Lee announced hotel quarantine will be scrapped for arrivals to the city. Instead, those traveling to Hong Kong will need to undergo three days of ‘health monitoring.’

During this time, individuals can travel and partake in any activities in the city, except for those which don’t require a mask – including visiting bars, restaurants, gyms, etc.

Twenty-four hours before departing for or leaving Hong Kong, individuals will need to undergo a nucleic acid test. Individuals must undergo further rapid

antigen tests upon arrival and during the 3-day ‘health monitoring’ period.

The measures come as Hong Kong prepares to hold a financial summit and the Rugby Sevens – both of which are scheduled for November and expected to attract overseas visitors.

FEEL GOOD FACTOR

Sibling Love

The first day at a new school is rarely easy, especially for children of primary school age.

On September 7, a viral video on China’s social media platform Weibo showed a young girl in Jinhua city, Zhejiang province who had just started primary school.

With unfamiliar surroundings, the young girl was understandably scared and could be seen sobbing as she ate her lunch.

However, she was comforted by her older broth er, who sat next to her and could be seen feeding her lunch with his arm around her.

The hashtag related to the video received around 900 million views on Weibo, with many netizens commenting on how kind-hearted the older brother was.

Do you remember how you felt on your first day of primary school?

CHINESE CORNER

As the weather cools down, it’s the perfect time to go hiking. Here is some key hiking vocabulary.

01. TRAIL

徒步路线 túbù lùxiàn hiking trail

02. TREKKING POLE

徒步手杖 túbù shǒuzhàng trekking pole

03. HIKING FOOTWEAR

徒步鞋 túbù xié hiking shoes 登山鞋 dēngshān xié climbing boots

04. BACKPACK

(徒步) 背包 (túbù) bēibāo (hiking) backpack

05. WATER BOTTLE

水瓶 shuǐpíng water bottle

06. MOSQUITO REPELLENT

驱蚊喷雾 qūwén pēnwù mosquito repellent spray

07. SUNSCREEN

防晒霜 fángshàishuāng sunscreen

Business on The Border

Shenzhen’s Luohu Commercial City is Rather Quiet These Days

By Alistair Baker-Brian

The

border between Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is steeped in symbolism from China’s Reform and Opening Up era.

If you’ve studied anything to do with modern China, you’ll have no doubt heard somethling like: “from a small fishing village to an urban metropolis,” to describe Shenzhen.

This symbolism is borne out at Luohu Port – Shenzhen’s busiest land border crossing point with Hong Kong before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walk along Renmin South Road on the east side of the main immigration hall, gaze across the barbed wire fence, and you’ll see the rolling green hills of Hong Kong’s New Territories. Look closely enough and you’ll even spot a small and unkempt graveyard on the nearest hillside.

There was a time when the Shenzhen side of the border looked like this – green, rural and full of those fishing villages we hear so much about.

That time has long gone.

The creation of Shenzhen as a Special Economic Zone catalyzed the city’s development on an unprecedented scale, as many sought opportunities from the growing economic powerhouse of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Prior to COVID-19, Luohu Port very much felt like it was at the forefront of this growth.

The area is a transportation hub –encompassing Shenzhen Railway Station and Luohu Coach Station – as well as a land border crossing with Hong Kong.

According to the Office of Port of Entry and Exit of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, Luohu Port is

Shenzhen’s largest capacity port, which used to rank third in the whole of China in terms of the number of border crossings.

The 18,000 square-meter immigration hall was constructed in January 1984 and opened in 1986. Until recently, the port had around 400,000 people crossing daily between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Some estimates even put that number as high as 600,000 during public holidays.

The port links Luohu station on Shenzhen Metro Line 1, with its namesake of Lo Wu station on the Hong Kong side.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent travel restrictions between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, there’s been one vital ingredient missing at Luohu Port.

The immigration hall is closed –

Luohu Commercial City. Image via That’s/Alistair Baker-Brian

meaning the number of those crossing the border has gone from around 400,000 per day to zero.

The effects of the closure are immediately evident during our visit to Luohu Port in late August 2022.

Shenzhen Railway Station and Luohu Coach Station are still abuzz with passengers coming and going. But head further towards the immigration hall and the crowds thin out.

It’s not only the border crossing point that feels somewhat deserted. As we climb the steps above the Coach Station, we see Luohu Commercial City on the left.

A middle-aged Chinese man with a smile on his face approaches us and walks by our side.

“Hello. Shopping?” he says in English with a noticeable Guangdong accent.

He then proceeds to name over and over some of the items he sells, invariably designer bags, watches, shoes, jewelry, etc.

The man is from Shantou city in the easternmost corner of Guangdong province. Along with his family members, he runs several small stores located inside Luohu Commercial City.

As he walks us inside, he explains

in a mixture of English and Mandarin the effects COVID-19 has had on his business – a business that has always relied on vast numbers of people crossing the border.

We walk through the entrance to Luohu Commercial City where a lone employee sits at a desk and checks our health codes. We are about to be introduced to Luohu Port’s new ghost town.

A ‘Shopping Heaven’ of Days Gone By

There was probably a time when Luohu Commercial City felt like the future.

Having opened in 1994, the 7-floor indoor market contains around 1,280 shops. According to the Baike page on the Commercial City, the occupancy rate was around 99% prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commercial City has often been referred to as “Hong Kong People’s Shopping Heaven” – attracting swathes of Hong Kong residents across the border, in many cases for a one-day shopping trip.

Hong Kong resident Jamie Chau

On the first floor of a virtually empty Luohu Commercial City. Image via That’s/Alistair Baker-Brian

Luohu Port immigration hall. Image via That’s/Alistair Baker-Brian

is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Sydney in Australia; he’s researching how intellectuals rethought Hong Kong’s relationship with the Chinese mainland and colonial reality in the mid-20th century.

He tells That’s about his memories of traveling to Luohu during his childhood and during his time as a university student.

“Luohu became a place where my classmates and I would go to buy books because they were much cheaper than in Hong Kong,” Chau says.

“Many Hong Kong people would go there for dental services, massages, etc.

“When I started university in the early 2010s, Luohu was a place we would often travel to. It was a convenient meeting point for many affordable organized tours of the Chinese mainland. Meanwhile, youngsters would go there for shopping or just to spend the weekend.”

Chau acknowledges the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Luohu, especially on Luohu

Commercial City.

However, he also suggests that there has been a longer-term trend for Hong Kongers of his generation to favor border-crossing points located in more modern and trendier areas of Shenzhen – including Futian Port in Futian district and Shenzhen Bay Port in Nanshan district.

“Now, we find Luohu quite oldfashioned. Qianhaiwan (located near Shenzhen Bay Port in Nanshan district) and Futian are more modern.”

Whether authorities agree with Chau that Luohu is old-fashioned is unclear. However, when it comes to Luohu Commercial City, they agree that the indoor market needs reform.

An article entitled ‘Goodbye to the Notorious Market’ was published by SINA News in January 2022.

In this case, the “notoriety” stemmed from the market’s reputation for counterfeit goods.

The Office of the National Leading Group on the Fight Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting announced they had made progress in tackling the problem, as Luohu Commercial City was removed from one of the Office’s blacklists.

A significant change, other than the lack of border crossers, perhaps.

The (Almost) Abandoned City

Our new friend from Shantou, who spoke to That’s using the pseudonym Alec, leads us inside Luohu Commercial City.

In the central area of the market on the first floor, barely any customers can be seen. Instead, all we hear are the shouts and screams of young children –presumably those of parents running businesses in the market – chasing each other up and down the stairs, as well as going

up and down in the elevator – one giant indoor play area.

Alec takes us to one of his stores on the second floor, where we’re greeted by his heavily-pregnant sister-in-law.

The shelves are stacked with designer bags (some of which look like they’re made from reused raincoats), watches, ornate-looking ball-point pens and much more.

Alec’s sister-in-law reiterates to us the woes of doing business during the pandemic. Out of pity, we agree to make a few purchases.

We test some of the ball-point pens, scrawling some simplified Chinese characters onto a piece of paper.

“One pen for RMB100,” she tells me. We buy four, and get one for free.

We then agree to buy one of the bags which looks like it once kept someone dry during Guangdong’s rainy season. And, finally, another female family member comes in from a store across the hall and measures us up for a belt.

The sister-in-law punches a few numbers into a calculator.

“Total of RMB920. Just give me RMB900.”

After we walk away with our bag of goods, the same family member who measured us up for the belts invites us to look at jewelry, watches and shoes. We politely decline, saving our WeChat wallets from another beating.

Pens purchased from Alec's store. Image via That’s/Alistair Baker-Brian

Commercial City. Image via That’s/Alistair Baker-Brian

THE

We bid farewell to Alec and his family members and take a stroll around other parts of the market.

Many stores still have items stocked on the shelves, despite closure – perhaps because the owners one day hope to return and do business. We walk past stores stocked with tea, teapots, jade statues, everyday items and a few abandoned eateries that have seen better days.

Outside of the entrance to the building, an English-language sign reads ‘Welcome To Luohu Commercial City.’ Below it is another sign in Chinese that says, ‘Create a model civilized city. Build a modern and civilized city’ – an attempt, perhaps, to help the Commercial City shed its “notorious” reputation.

We stay in touch with Alec over the next few days, asking him where he sources his products from, and what it was like doing business in Luohu Commercial City prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a little awkward for me to answer these questions,” he replies. We can only speculate as to why, but he did tell us that he believes that around 90%

of stores in Luohu Commercial City have closed.

Alec has stuck with it out of necessity as it is his only form of income.

As we exit Luohu Commercial City and make our way towards the metro station, the Shenzhen summer sun beats down hard. The backdrop of the clear blue sky and the green Hong Kong hills, combined with the immigration hall in the foreground, makes for a pleasant last look at Luohu Port.

Just before we enter the metro, like a scene from Ground Hog Day, another man approaches. “Hello, shopping?” he asks.

We tell him we are leaving but agree to take his business card. On it, store owner Awen has printed pictures of designer bags and watches, as well as Luis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Chanel and Dior logos.

It reads in poor English, “Best Quality: handbag, watches, wallet, belts, argent, pen, neckties and so excellent.”

Awen smiles and says to me in Chinese, “Come next time.”

Will there be a “next time?” And, if there is, what will have become of Luohu Commercial City? Will a reopening of the border crossing reignite the “shopping heaven” of the past? Or will shoppers have moved on to trendier areas of Shenzhen like Futian and Qianhaiwan?

We wait and see what lies ahead.

Nearby the entrance to Luohu Commercial City. The sign in Chinese reads, ‘Create a model civilized city. Build a modern and civilized city.’ Image via That’s/Alistair Baker-Brian

Three New Podcasts from Paul French

Kidnapping, Opium Smuggling & Gender Bending Femme Fatales

Interview by Ned Kelly

Paul French, the author of New York Times bestseller Midnight in Peking and Old Shanghai gangland epic City of Devils, is back with a new podcast, Carry on Kidnapping.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

“We’re heading back to 1932, to northern China, to a chaotic time when poverty, war and desperation led to an epidemic of kidnapping by local bandits eager to secure large ransoms.

“It was a pretty good business – fam ilies, businesses, governments usually paid up. Hostages were usually terrified.

“But it didn’t work like that when a bandit from the Manchurian hills kidnapped Englishwoman Muriel ‘Tinko’ Pawley – she was a handful, they were forced to take her three dogs along, newspaper readers as far away as London demanded her release and she constantly demanded more soap!

“Kidnapping Tinko Pawley was a big mistake for the bandit leader who thought she’d be easy money. Instead – she turned out to be his worst night mare.”

Listen to Paul French reading all four episodes of Carry on Kidnapping by scanning the QR code below:

And if you like that, you’ll probably like...

Paul French’s The Lady from Hong Kong

The year is 1939, and a curious tale unfurls after a mysterious woman, going by the name Seto Gin, is busted smuggling several dozen tins of opium into San Francisco.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

“Paul French reads the first four-part adaptation (for Morning Brew) of his Post Magazine article ‘The Lady from Hong Kong’ – “the best Hollywood movie of the 1940s never made.”

“It’s a tale of a woman who called herself Seto Gin who arrived in San Francisco from Hong Kong in January 1939 with several dozen tins of opium hidden in her luggage.

“Her story, and why she took the risk to smuggle so much dope into America, is the story of ‘The Lady from Hong Kong.’”

Listen to ‘The Lady from Hong Kong’ by scanning the QR code below:

recount that she donned both Chinese qipao and Western dresses, letting her raven hair flow loose.

“Shura had added an incredibly mas sive layer of confusion and obfuscation to anyone looking by changing gender. Switching for anonymity, for commercial gain or criminal advantage, for love, for a whim.

Paul French’s Peking Noir

You should also check out French’s Peking Noir, a drama that sees him on the trail of the enigmatic Shura Giraldi, a mysterious and mercurial legend of the Beijing Badlands.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

“Shura Giraldi was handsome and beautiful; Shura was kind and good, Shura was exploitative and evil. Shura was just another struggling White Russian refugee trying to get by in 1930s China; Shura was the heart and brains of a gang that ran clubs, sex workers, illicit booze and drugs, when not robbing banks and stealing gems to fence in Shanghai. Shura loved ballet and cabaret, creating the Shura Giraldi Dance Troupe that topped the bill at all the best Peking nightclubs.

“Shura is sometimes presented as male and sometimes as female. When passing as a man Shura bound her breasts tightly and wore a sharply tailored suit; when she was a woman she wore startlingly colored robes. Witnesses

“Paul French is a historian and writer who focuses on China in the first half of the 20th century. He’s been on Shura’s trail for 15 years, digging through the paper records and archives in half a dozen countries in an attempt to get to grips with the enigma that was Shura. This story, a product of that tireless research, is full of truths, but like an old jigsaw brought down from the attic after decades, there are many pieces missing. So we’re using drama, written by Sarah Wooley, to conjure and join the dots of Shura’s story, and go in search of lost life and a forgotten world.

“The search will take us from a Russia in violent revolution, to the chaos of the mass emigration of the White Russians, to the crowded hutongs of Peking; from that city’s nightclubs and cabarets to the casinos of Shanghai; from a China wracked by rampaging warlords, invaded by Japan, and then fighting its own civil war that culminated in its own revolution.

“Shura saw it all; Shura lived through it all; Shura, in part, explains it all.”

Listen to Peking Noir by scanning the QR code below:

Peking Noir is also available on Spotify and iTunes.

All images via Paul French

OVERHEARD

…said Li Jiaqi regarding a surprise name change on September 1 which caught fans of the actress off guard.

Some netizens speculated that it might be to distance herself from her screen name Ramu Yoko ( 辣目 洋子 ) as it is considered a Japanesesounding name in the month after the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in 1945.

However, that same day renowned Chinese screenwriter Wang Hailin posted on Weibo that the National Radio and Television Administration had instructed those in the industry to use only their Chinese names and ditch foreign monikers.

Wang’s claims have not been verified as of press time and, within days, the former vice chairman of the China TV Drama Screenwriters Working Committee and the China Film Literatur Society was embroiled in accusations of tax evasion and his social media presence was subse quently wiped from the internet.

COVET

Retro Regalia

In July 2015, two recently graduated designers got together and launched WANGREENxCHENCLEAN.

The theme of their autumn and winter collection that year was inspired by revolutionary posters of the Great Leap Forward and their designs continue to enshrine a unique blend of vintage conservatism and bold feminine exhibitionism.

Many of the designs feature graphic prints of retro scenes ranging from women playing mahjong to what resembles 80s swimwear advertisements.

One piece that stood out to us was this tracksuit with protruding circles under each arm emblazoned with the aforementioned beachgoers and the words “fashionable darling” in English and Chinese ( 美人髦 時 ).

It’s an ultra-creative and elegant rendition of the classic school uniform. The top and bottom pieces are sold separately for RMB938.6 and RMB378.1 respectively.

> Scan the QR code to view the product on Taobao

UNDER THE LENS

Rocketing to the Top

Released nationwide on July 29, the sci-fi comedy Moon Man surpassed the RMB3 billion mark as of September 15. The film already smashed box office records when it grossed RMB1 billion in just two days and 18 hours, as per Yicai Global. Analysts believe the film is appealing to a wider Chinese audience as it has exceptional special effects and high overall production value while showcasing a very acute representation of modern Chinese society, in addition to the classical elements of Chinese comedy films.

“If you think the name is hard to remember, just call me Little Spicy,”

@im_akimov

Ten years ago, Valery Akimov went to study Chinese during his university’s sum mer break. He chose to spend a month in Dalian as he had traveled there in 2004. He was astounded at how the city had evolved and by how safe and comfortable he felt being there. It was then that he chose to officially move to China.

“I always liked photography,” Akimov tells That’s. “During my childhood, my father would let me use his film cameras. In 2013, I studied at Jinan University and worked as a Russian-Chinese translator at the same time. With the first bit of money I earned, I bought a used Canon D500 and a portrait lens — I was incredibly happy. For me, photography has always been a way to disconnect from the outside world by concentrating on the process, you can say it’s a form of meditation. Even now it remains my favorite hobby.

Akimov believes the formula for a good photo is simple, you should have enough time to slow down, put aside all thoughts and feelings and just be ready to see the beauty of this world. Beauty can be seen anywhere and especially in a person. A photographer just needs to have a desire to establish a connection with this world, with the environment. When this is achieved, the contrasts, lines, colors, mood and light become noticeable. This means that the photographer was able to convey his state, the mood of thought through the picture. The main thing is the ability to convey and feel another person even without words.

CITY SNAPSHOT

From Wierd to Wonderful

How One Beijing Musician Pushes Boundaries in Performance

By Mike Fox

Weall remember a time when we were young and someone of the older generation, usually a grandparent, would snarl and turn their nose up at “the racket young people listen to today.” Since picking up a guitar 17 years ago, Beijing-based Dann Gaymer has been trying to bring out the inner grandparent in all of us.

Through various projects, characters and disguises, the 35-year-old has toured China and the world and always showcased a passion for his unique beliefs on performance. Whilst understanding not everyone will be onboard with his creations. What he always wants from an audience is a reaction, not appreciation.

“If they don’t like it, they're still going to be thinking and talking about it,” Gaymer tells That’s. “My raison d’etre for all of this is to show people a different way the world can be. It might sound a little bit pretentious, but I like messing with how people might perceive how a

certain genre should be.”

Pretentious it may be, but Gaymer’s personality is anything but. A down-toEarth and warm fellow, away from the stage the Englishman is an ‘everyday sort of bloke.’ However, if you were to see him perform or catch him on the street without knowing him, you would have an entirely different perception of him.

His long dreadlocked head of hair features a strategically placed bandanna that covers the shaven top. An odd and deliberate look, it only adds to the performative weirdness. So much is the commitment to the unconventional style, that he even uses our conversation as an opportunity to paint his nails in preparation for a DJ set at a local bar later in the evening. This approach is not an act for the stage, Gaymer believes the biggest performance is the one he gives for everyday life.

“I concluded a while ago that real life

for me felt like I was wearing a costume on stage. I still feel that way,” he says smiling admiringly at his neatly painted cuticles. “I feel in day-to-day life that I’m wearing a mask in a performance where I am trying to conform because I must. That’s fine, I don’t complain about that. I have to play along to be a somewhat functional human being and be able to pay my rent. When I'm on a stage I feel alive.”

Perhaps Gaymer’s most famous venture is one that goes by the name of Guiguisuisui. Much like his hairstyle, it’s a rather bizarre blend of styles and started growing in 2014. With a blues base, it incorporates rock, electro and even a bit of disco.

At first, it consisted of the man himself, a couple of guitars (one of which was made from an old skateboard), a heavy range of effects pedals, a couple of backing tracks and a few elaborate costume changes. It was a process that was as much about

Gaymer and his trademark harmonica which has served him well in many projects. Image via 新雨

Guiguisuisui in there unusual attire. Image via Dann Gaymer

storytelling as it was about music. That story extended into his personal life when his now ex-wife joined to make a duo that played on a global stage.

“Initially when she joined, we were just doing the same kind of stuff I'd been doing before. Then she came a little bit more to the forefront because she could sing more melodically than I could. She was also a visual artist, so she could do more of that kind of stuff. It was a balance between brutal male energy, even though I'm not a very masculine dude off stage. When I’m on stage I'd project that energy, so she gave it a softer influence.

“We went to Europe four times and did some amazing shows in Cambodia and Thailand. There was a really fun techno festival in Poland where we performed in a tent. That performance attracted a lot of people and ended up being for those who needed a safe space, if you understand my meaning.”

Despite starting life as a one-

man show, there are no plans to revert Guiguisuisui to its original format following the couple’s divorce. Ultimately, it was an experience made better with the inclusion of his former partner and he says to go solo with that project again would be a step backward.

“There might be room to pick it up down the line, but I definitely need some space away from it. When my ex left Beijing, she left a lot of her costumes behind. She was like ‘you can find another female singer to take my place.’ I might one day, but it's not quite as easy as that because it was so interwoven in our relationship.”

Since the mutual separation, Gaymer has immersed himself in a whole host of different ventures. Loooooongish Cat sees him get behind the DJ decks to provide a cacophony of electric sounds while wearing a giant cartoon cat head. Considering his previous form when it comes to choosing costumes and quirky accessories, it's surprising that this idea

Dann Gaymer painting his nails during our interview. Image via That's/Mike Fox

Gaymer rocking the skateboard guitar

is actually a stunt to take attention away from him.

“The influence for the cat’s head came from when I was working in South Korea for a couple of British performance artists. They had a project called Tiger and Bear and it was based on the Korean creation myth Ungnyeo, which is about a tiger and bear who live together. The artists would turn up to performance festivals or art gallery openings with one wearing a bear’s head and the other wearing a tiger’s head and they would just do nothing. That was the performance. They'd just stand around drinking, that was the whole point. People were still so intrigued by them because they had these giant anthropomorphic animal heads. I thought I’ll just do that. I'm not performing. There's nothing to look at, look at the cat head."

More recently he was asked to front Beijing garage punk outfit Ravages!. The band is a far cry from his usual cosplaying antics but that didn’t mean there wasn’t room for character building. The group has a high-energy, fast-paced yet old-school sound with a distinctive keyboard element adding a touch of carnival horror. Gaymer’s persona with his three other cohorts here is more down-to-earth than his other myth and surrealist-inspired ventures, but frankly, it’s still pretty nuts, as drummer Ryan Etzcorn explains.

“Gaymer entered Ravages! and on the very first downbeat of the first song at his first show, he somehow mutated into some kind of fallen Baptist tent revival preacher who’d gone over to the dark side. We hardly recognized him. He can enter different characters with different acts. He performs in a way that feels unmatched in Beijing.”

With all the fanfare of performance experimentation involved with most of his music, it’s kind of fitting that the other band he plays in is just a straightup hard rock trio with no gimmicks, consisting of two of his oldest friends in China.

Peachy Carnahan has built a reputation for being loud, thanks in

part to guitar player Gil Brunhoeffer. For the past year, he and Gaymer have written music together with a more straightforward approach and the results are noisy.

“For Peachy it worked out to be a ‘happy accident’. We have all known each other for years and worked together on various projects; but never together as a band. It was really just a case of setting aside time each week to flesh ideas out and not let them fall into the background. Because we have

played music together for so long, the process sped up. Being a three piece helps as well.”

All of this is down to a simple love of audience engagement. We live in a world where people try so hard to be different that they end up being as disingenuous as the mainstream they claim to despise. Gaymer is the antidote to this and if his niche became notorious, nothing would make him happier.

“If someone asked me when the weirdness started, I'd say it was 35 years

Gaymer characteristically terrorising his band mates as well as the audience . Image via 新雨

Gaymer playing with Ravages! at 24D space in Beijing. Image via 新雨

ago when I came out of the womb,” laughs Gaymer. “As a performer, I’ve always felt a kind of freedom and liberation from wearing a costume. I step outside myself and feel more open to performing more freely. My first degree was in anthropology, and we did a lot of performance art. I still draw from some of those influences. It’s like everything in my life; if something interests me, then I’ll pursue it.”

Gaymer continues to prove that when performance art is done with honesty, integrity and talent it has to be admired, no matter the level of audience enjoyment. A high-school teacher in Beijing by day, he will be heading back to the UK next year, bringing an end to his 12-year stay.

“People don’t have to like what I’m doing but if I can just help people to see that there are always many different paths in performance then my mission is complete,” he remarks sentimentally. “I was given opportunities to watch things where I had no clue a musical performance could be done like that, and it just completely re-wired my brain

about what’s possible. So, to the 80% of people who don’t like what I do, you’re welcome.”

The over-the-top nature of what he’s tried to accomplish is like that of a professional wrestler who’s undertaken many gimmicks but remained the same person inside as the world around them changes. The key difference with Gaymer is that there is nothing fake about the end product.

Gaymer in full DJ mode with his giant Loooooongish Cat head. Image via Nan Guazi 南瓜子

Gaymer and his long-standing skateboard guitar. Image via 新雨

Galley

BUSINESS NEWS

Pigging Out

Does the UK’s New Prime Minister Signal Good Times for China’s Pork Industry?

By Lars James Hamer

LizTruss was elected by her peers to be the new leader of Britain’s right-wing Conservative Party, and thus replaced the outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who resigned amongst growing mistrust from members of parliament, to become the new PM on September 6.

In 2014, Truss, then secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs delivered a speech in which she said, “We import two-thirds of our cheese. This. Is. A. Disgrace.”

She then waffled on about how children in the UK should be eating British pears and the same apples that fell on Isaac Newton’s head.

Truss also spoke of how she would travel to Beijing to open up new pork markets, a statement that was at first met with silence and then a smattering of applause.

According to the China Research Group (CRG) by 2020 China was buying 50% of British pork exports, around 200,000 tonnes.

China is the world's largest pork consumer and cuts of pig account for half of the country’s meat consumption.

Many piggy pieces that the West exports to China are much more popular in the Middle Kingdom than they are in America and Europe, such as offal and pig’s feet.

In 2018 the UK exported its largest ever amount (2,000 straws) of frozen boar semen to China.

China imports pig sperm from coun tries like the UK, Ireland and Denmark to boost its number of Chinese pork breeding stock.

In December 2021, pork exports to China slowed to 6,600 tonnes, just under half the amount the previous year (11,400 tonnes).

The reduction in global exports of pig meat was partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as China banned pork imports in response to the global health crisis.

However, will Truss fall on her pork sword when it comes to China? Maybe not. The new Prime Minister was quoted in Reuters as saying, "Countries must play by the rules and that includes China,” when speaking in reference to the country’s growing military power.

TECH

Hot Water

Delivery company Shunfeng found themselves in a spot of hot water after losing a brand-new iPhone 13 Pro Max, which a woman had purchased for RMB11,000.

Ms. Xia in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, said she bought a new, un opened iPhone 13 Pro Max in March to send to her family in Jiangsu province.

When her family did not receive the goods, which she sent via Shunfeng, the company informed her that the iPhone had been lost.

Unfortunately for Ms. Xia, she didn’t choose the correct insurance package to cover the full cost of the lost phone and was only entitled to an RMB1,000 rebate.

Ms. Xia told Chinese state media that she believes the phone was stolen by staff at Shunfeng after it never made it to one of their dispatch depots.

The story shot to the top of Weibo’s trending list with over 240 million views on the first day.

On September 13, Shunfeng made Weibo’s trending list again. This time after losing a 20-gram piece of gold worth RMB8,000 but only compensating the individual, who was sending the gold 23 kilometers across the city of Hangzhou, RMB2,000.

ToBuyorNottoBuy

Technology blogger @ 科技新一 who has over 6 million followers on Weibo recently took to the platform to say: “Some fans asked me ‘the Huawei Mate 50 only has 4G, but costs more than RMB5,000, will you still buy it?’ My answer is: of course! I must buy it, even if it only has 3G. I buy Huawei phones, not for their internet connectivity, but to support Huawei. I would buy it even if it was a house brick.”

The man was quickly blasted by netizens for letting patriotism get in the way of an objective review, while others believed the post was an advertisement that he hadn’t declared.

Netizens were so convinced it was an ad that Weibo’s customer service even commented on the thread, saying they were investigating the matter.

科技新一 replied to Weibo saying that he hadn’t received any money for the post and jokingly asked Huawei if they could pay him for the free publicity.

Huawei launched its Mate 50 series on September 6, beating Apple to the launch of the iPhone 14 series by one day.

The iPhone 14 will retail from RMB5999 on the Chinese mainland and is 5G compatible. If Huawei fans want 5G, they should opt for the Mate 50 Pro, available for the same price as the iPhone 14.

DigitalDevelopments

Virtual mooncakes were a surprise addition to last month’s Mid-Autumn Festival as NFT mooncake gift boxes circulated on Chinese social media.

A post on Weibo from Wave Labs art studio read, “Blockchain air mooncakes contain zero sugar, zero fat and zero calories.”

If you’re thinking about the impact a mooncake can have on your waistline (some of the cakes pack a whopping 800 calories) digital ones might be the way to go.

The NFTs were a hit among netizens, selling out long before the festival even began,

In the real cake world, data released by Statista shows that the majority of Chinese consumers (33.3%) spend between RMB200-299 on their mooncakes.

At the other end of the scale, 3.7% of people will fork out over RMB500, that’s RMB1.6 per calorie or 33.3 bowls of noodles in your standard hand-pulled noodle joint.

Galley Gadgets

just moved to China or you’ve just moved into a new apartment and you’re shocked to see it. Sitting there in all its glory, a black shiny dishwasher. You open it up and see there’s lots of space, you could not wash the dishes for days and still look like a respectable person. You load it up, confused about where the tablet goes, you just throw it in, switch it on and go about your day.

You’ve

Can you smell burning? Is someone have a fire outside? Are they burning plastic? It stinks. The smoke is getting in my house. Is it coming from my kitchen? Is my dishwasher on fire? And then you realize, that’s no dishwasher at all. It’s a sterilizer and it’s melted your plastic Ikea chopping board and the disposable forks you keep because you like to do your bit for the environment (what about not using them at all?).

Well, the sterilizer might just be a glorified storage unit for the cooking utensils you never use after that fateful day, but you can still get the dishwasher you always dreamed of.

Taobao has an abundance of table-top dishwashers, but of course, we selected the one that is “chosen by champions.”

The DZC dishwasher retails on Taobao for RMB899 and is able to wash the dishes used by eight people at one time and will dry and disinfect.

In just 19-minutes, using 1 to 1.5 liters of water you can have clean dishes, a respectable kitchen and be the envy of all your dishwasher-missing mates.

But just how lazy are you? If the answer is very, the DZC Q8 can even wash your fruits and vegetables.

Worried about the added cost to your water bill? The company claims that one wash will add RMB0.02 at most to your monthly bill.

Tural Hasanov’s Encyclopedia of Beverages

The Award-Winning Mixologist’s First Book

Interview by Ned Kelly

Originally from Baku, Azerbaijan, mixologist Tural Hasanov’s illustrious career in the hospitality industry has seen him win many awards – including the 2020 Mixologist of the Year at the That’s Shanghai Food & Drink Awards.

Currently working as a Director of Beverage for the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, Hasanov has now turned his hand to writing, and just published his first book, Distilled, the first installment of five in his My Encyclopedia of Beverages series.

We caught up with him to find out more.

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you first get into bartending?

I still remember my first visit to a bar; a small establishment run by an old gentleman in the old town in Baku – and my first cocktail – an old fashioned.

When I saw that gentleman making the old fashioned and when I had a sip I realized this is what I was going to do for the rest of my life.

What was your next move?

I studied in an international bartender’s school in Kyiv, Ukraine, then started as an on-call bartender for an events company working with worldfamous DJs.

I then moved on to an exclusive private bar in Bahrain, a remote and tiny island in the Maldives, and many hotels in the Middle East, including being the bar manager of Atmosphere on the 123rd floor of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai, the highest bar in the world.

I had everything, but I needed a new challenge. So when I got an offer from Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, I said ‘why not?’

Congratulations on the book – it is beautiful. What first made you want to write it?

Actually, I was working on a project to have training materials that would cover the entire liquid program for bartenders around the world. So I started taking all the possible training courses, reading every book that I could get my hands on and doing extensive research.

My research grew so big that I had to divide it into categories, such as distilled spirits, fermented beverages, modified liqueurs, cocktails and so on.

So I decided to turn it into a book series, written by a professional in easyto-understand language, by someone who has been there.

There is a whole lot of interesting knowledge in there – how did you do your research?

First, I built the structure for the book and then started to research each part separately.

Distilled took me almost two years to complete. I read a lot of books written by great people and science documents by university professors.

The illustrations and images are also great. How did you source them?

One of the most challenging parts was the illustrations. I knew what I wanted but could not explain or find out how to get them made.

All the illustrations are hand-drawn, so I had to draw what I had in my mind and share it with the illustrator who would try to draw it in a professional way.

It took three months to get what I wanted.

The book covers science, history, myths and good old-fashioned barman knowhow. How did you go about striking a balance?

As mentioned, the main purpose was to have that balance when I started. Obviously, there are books with more detail written by great people.

What I wanted to do is make a book that you can read and have all the necessary information to become knowledgeable about distillation and distilled spirits.

The book is very accessible. Who is your target audience – strictly fellow professionals? Or are you hoping to reach a wider audience too?

The main beneficiary is definitely professionals who understand the industry. However, it is written in a simple way, and any distillation and spirits enthusiast would find something very interesting in it.

The book is packed full of fascinating facts. Do you have a favorite to impress people with?

The distillation and post-distillation chapters are very interesting ones; who was the first person to ever distill, who is the father of alembic and what happens inside the barrel when nobody is watching.

Also, the fact about an enzyme called ADH4, which breaks down the alcohol in the human body and its rate of doing it.

An interesting – if maybe disappointing – fact, is that the first mention of and probably the origin of vodka, is not in Russia, but Poland.

The book really takes the reader on a journey around the world.

As we know, there are six main distilled spirit categories and all the other spirits from around the world we usually include in one of those categories.

I wanted to give them more of a stage, separate them as a culture and recognize the important role distilled spirits play around the world.

The book also delves into the charac ters behind some of the world’s most famous spirits and spirit brands. Which historical characters featured would you like to enjoy a night drinking with?

From the living legends, I would be honored to have a dram with Dr. Jim Beveridge, who I believe is a massive contributor to blended Scotch. Then Don Facundo Bacardi, at his distillery.

As for a great gin and tonic session, I would have that with the master distillers behind Hendrick’s.

Oh, and definitely an evening with

Jose Antonio de Cuervo, who put the tequila in the world market for us to enjoy.

If you were to be washed up on a de sert island with a case of one spirit, which would it be?

It is very difficult to choose, to be honest. I prefer different spirits based on my mood and the occasion. But because I’m on an island, I think there is one spirit that comes to mind… Singing ‘yo ho ho and a bottle of rum’ – Treasure Island by Robert Lewis Stevenson, 1883.

And if you could only drink one cocktail for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Old fashioned. Definitely. It was my first cocktail – I go back in time whenever I take a sip of a good old fashioned.

You mentioned that this is the first in a series – why did you choose to start with Distilled?

Distillation was the first thing I wanted to cover no matter what I was going to write about. It is a simple process, but it requires a master distiller to precisely cut heads, tails and hearts. It is a process that has man and nature working together.

Tell us about the other books planned for the series.

As you can see from the subtitle –My Encyclopedia of Beverages – it is a series that will form an encyclopedia

that will cover any liquid that a human can consume without harm.

The second book, on which I am working at the moment, is called Fermented, and is about fermentation and fermented beverages; the third will be called Modified and be about liqueurs, amaros, vermouths and fortified wines; the fourth will be Mixed, about cocktails; and the fifth and last will be about nonalcoholic beverages such as water, tea, coffee, soft drinks – I’m still working on the title for that one!

To buy a copy of Tural Hasanov’s Distilled: My Encyclopedia of Beverages scan the QR code below:

Christ the Redeemer at Our Lady of Sorrow's Church. Image via That's/Lars Hamer

After Macao Opened Its Borders to Foreigners on the Chinese Mainland, That’s Traveled to the City to See What’s Changed

By Lars James Hamer

Large wooden beams tower above us as we navigate our way through abandoned steel girders and old ship parts. Directly ahead, through a sea of overgrown trees and deeper into the ship factory, is the abandoned dock where, over 100 years ago, just-built ships would begin their first journey out to sea.

Shipyards were part of an industry that began in the 1850s and peaked a century later from 1950-80. The industry mainly focused on building fishing vessels used around Hong Kong and the coastlines of the Chinese mainland. When shipyards on the Chinese mainland began building boats made from metal sourced at a cheaper price than their Macao counterparts, the industry in the SAR dwindled before disappearing after 2006.

Storks with eyes fixed on the sea ahead stand motionless like gargoyles as we delve deeper into the shipyard, but the wailing of shipyard dogs appears to be getting closer. Suddenly, a mut appears behind a gate and barks excitedly. He looks friendly enough, so we continue advancing. Out of nowhere, he is joined by his pack and they watch us with increasing intensity. One dog, with gnarly scars across his nose, darts to the left, heading toward the entrance we just passed through. We don’t want to panic the dogs by running ourselves, so we slowly back away and when out of sight, turn on our heels and head back inside the coffee shop from whence we came.

汉记咖啡 (hanji kafei) is a coffee shop owned by an old kung-fu master who used to work in the same abandoned shipyard that sits next door. The man’s left arm was seriously injured when working in the yard and he still bares the scars today. The injury left him unable to work in the shipyard but in order to stay close to home, he opened the coffee shop right next door, serving food and beverages to the workers.

When the shipyard closed, the coffee shop became a popular spot for both tourists and locals, not only because of its rustic environment and traditional Macao snacks of pork buns and ham and cheese toast but also because of their special ‘hand-beaten coffee.’

Hand-beaten coffee is a blend of instant coffee, milk and sugar which the old kung-fu master whips with a spoon in a glass exactly 400 times. The result is a foamy, smooth dark coffee with a perfect bitter-sweet blend.

汉记咖啡 is located in the southern village of Coloane. It's a sunny Saturday morning when we head to the coffee shop for breakfast. The hike we've planned will take us through the shipyard and into the village center before following the road along the coast to Black Sand Beach and ending at Our Lady of Sorrow’s Church.

Upon leaving the shipyard we follow the road to the center of Coloane and stop at various other coffee shops. Most importantly, we pay a visit to Lord Stow’s Bakery, renowned for making the

Coffee, Boats and Black Sand Beach

An industrial yard in Macao. Image via That's/Lars Hamer

best egg tarts in Macao and even boasting Michelin status.

We arrive at Black Sand Beach at around 2pm on Saturday, which happens to be 中秋节 (Mid-Autumn Festival). A recurring theme throughout our stay in Macao is the perceived emptiness of the famous city. Even during this holiday at peak sunbathing time, there is only a handful of people lining the beach.

Despite opening up to foreigners less than a month earlier and being accessible to Chinese nationals for over a year, everywhere we visited (from casinos to St Paul's Cathedral, from beaches to the city center) the large crowds we were met with when we last visited three years ago has shrunk to a small gathering of people at best.

Black Sand Beach is famous for, you guessed it, black sand. It proved a welcome change to beaches

on the Chinese mainland, where security guards rigorously control where you can and can’t swim and what constitutes fun.

We hung around the beach sipping from coconuts, enjoying the freedom of unrestricted internet access while sunbathing before heading to Our Lady of Sorrow’s Church.

The building itself is a tent-shaped church with a statue of a crucified Jesus Christ hanging from the top. The village used to be an old leper colony, built in 1966 for use by female leprosy patients.

The walk from 汉记咖啡 is a 45-minute trek that allows you to journey through the ancient village of Coloane, before following the road along the coast to Black Sand Beach. To get to Our Lady of Sorrow’s Church, we followed a road that took us through local villages and Macao’s industrial areas. We saw an abundance of

scrap metal yards and factories juxtaposed against extravagant beach houses.

This hiking route is a perfect way to see old Macao and its ties to Portuguese history while also taking in its industrial underbelly.

Another yard in Macao's industrial area. Image via That's/Lars Hamer

Deep inside the abandoned shipyard. Image via That's/ Lars Hamer

The entrance to the abandoned shipyard. Image via That's/Lars Hamer

Dragon Portuguese Cuisine

Dragon Portuguese Cuisine. Image via That's/Lars Hamer

As a former Portuguese colony, Macao is an amalgamation of Chinese and Portuguese buildings, culture and more importantly, food.

As our stay in the SAR is coming to an end, we find a quiet restaurant located down a small alley next to St Paul’s Cathedral to take in some Portuguese delicacies.

We arrive just after 6pm, just as the restaurant staff are waking up from their siesta. We haven’t booked a table so we are taken upstairs to a quiet room, accompanied only

plenty of options, from Portuguese classics such as Piri-Piri chicken and cured ham alongside some options such as fried rice to cater to Asian tastes. But for us, when in Rome...

We call over the waitress and embarrassingly ask for a recommendation in Cantonese before she explains in an American English accent that she is from the Philippines. She recommends we go for the baked chicken in coconut milk, with a side of pastéis de bacalhau and of course, a bottle of Sagres, Portugal’s favorite beer.

As we sip on our beer and wait for our food, the restaurant slowly begins filling up. To our right, the waitress begins pushing two tables together and a man, his wife and their son sit down. Not long after, their daughter and her boyfriend arrive and we realize we are witnessing the young man meeting

his girlfriend's parents for the first time.

After a few sips of the wine, the family seems to loosen up in their conversation. Many more families fill the tables around us.

The room fills with the sound of laughter and now it is the various families and friends, not the TV, that is drawing our attention. We appear to be in a restaurant enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike.

The pastéis de bacalhau reminds us why we are here and we begin to tuck in. The small, deep-fried treats are stuffed with dry salted cod, mashed potatoes, onions, parsley, eggs and a variety of spices. The crispy and savory dish perfectly compliments our smooth Sagres.

Our baked chicken comes in a steaming clay pot, filled with thick and creamy yellow coconut milk that smothers an array of vegetables and chicken that falls off the bone as you pick at it. We even saved a couple of pastéis de bacalhau for soaking up the remainder of the leftover juices.

Dining out in Macao is generally a little more expensive than on the mainland. This meal however, despite being only two dishes, was more than enough for two people and cost us MOP258.

If you hold off on the egg tarts before going, the restaurant also has a serving of classic desserts, such as Toucinho do Céu and serradura, the ideal way to see off a long weekend.

Tourism

Welast traveled to Macao in 2019 when no one had even heard of COVID-19. At that time, it was just a normal weekend but the streets were packed with tourists and you couldn’t move without bumping into someone at St Paul’s Cathedral. Now, there is only a smattering of people posing for selfies at the ancient ruin.

Macao’s casinos were a major pulling power for tourism on the island, previously attracting hordes of tourists from the Chinese mainland. When we visit the casino located on the ground floor of the Venetian Hotel, again the number of tourists we are accustomed to has fallen dramatically.

Lines of empty tables run through the casino and the once abuzz slot machines are a ghost town, with one or two lonely ayi robotically pushing their coins into the slot.

Casino revenue dropped significantly following the outbreak of COVID-19, with annual revenue in 2020 at MOP61.05 billion (USD7.5 billion) (down from MOP361.7 billion in 2013). In 2021, annual revenue picked up slightly at MOP87.6 billion (USD10.8 billion).

In July 2022, all casinos were shut in Macao following an outbreak of COVID-19.

In an attempt to recoup lost revenue, hotels in the city, even the most luxurious, have drastically slashed their prices to attract more people

from the mainland (one night in the Venetian cost us RMB500) to come, spend money and gamble.

Also, as we mentioned before, beaches around the coast and the city’s hottest tourist attractions were almost empty, allowing us a rare moment of peace and the ability to truly take in their beauty in what was once a bustling city.

With all this in mind, could now be the best time to go to Macao?

A local man and his newspaper and magazine stall, one of the few left in the city. Image via Thats/Lars Hamer

St Paul's Cathedral, barely a person in sight. Image via That's/ Lars Hamer

Woman posing at St Paul's. Image via That's/Lars Hamer

Our Lady of Sorrow's Church

READING CORNER

Peter’s Chair

By Ezra Jack Keats Ages 3-7

This book tells the story of a young boy coming to terms with the transition to brotherdom and the realization that he will need to share his space, both literally and figuratively. As he watches the furniture in his house being painted pink, he fears that his favorite chair will be the next victim. This is a great book that explores the feelings a child might have when welcoming a younger sibling into their home.

Tuck Everlasting

By Natalie Babbitt Ages 10 and up

Winnie Foster is a ten-year-old girl who yearns to discover what’s outside the fence of her home. Exploring her family’s small forest one day, she comes across Jesse Tuck and the fresh-water spring that, after he and his family drank from it, turned them immortal. This story explores the unexpected travesties of eternal life as well as a wide swathe of relatable character arcs.

CLASS CLOWN

Takeaway Tantrum

A video emerged online of a security guard at Wuhan Institute of Engineering and Technology throwing a temper tantrum about takeaway food being left outside the gate which he was monitoring.

In the video, the security guard can be seen picking up a number of deliveries that were neatly placed on the ground near the campus entrance and hurling them several meters away.

At the time of the incident, the school was under strict epidemic prevention and control measures and students had been discouraged from leaving the campus or ordering takeaways.

The security guard tried to rationalize his behavior by saying that the takea way looked bad and smelled unpleasant if uncollected. Despite campus security’s justification for the outburst, the university agreed to compensate the students for the mangled meals.

ECO HOME

Autumn Ambience

Autumn is a time that represents fond memories of family gatherings and warm reunions for many around the world, but that atmosphere can be elusive for those living far from loved ones. Moreover, we’ve never heard the crackling of a fireplace on the 34th floor of a Chinese high rise.

For a safe alternative to find that nostalgic ambience, why not bring home an electric LED fire. Just add water and plug in this toaster-sized device to let a curtain of steam rise over your glowing plastic embers and ignite the fire in your loins.

This romantic reading lamp will soothe the soul of any homesick laowai hailing from north of the 40th parallel.

Book recommendations from That’s editorial team.

Physician Factory

Investigating the Viability of Becoming a Doctor in China

By Joshua Cawthorpe

Chinahas established itself as a popular choice for doctors, aspiring and practicing, to pursue and expand their medical education. The country has a growing number of world class medical institutions as well as state-of-the-art technologies and preferable admission policies.

One of the main attractive qualities is the combined Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) undergraduate degree. The program is considered a fast-track way to doctordom as it only takes five years in China compared to other countries with longer programs and other undergraduate prerequisites. Another reason for many is the lower tuition cost and reasonable cost of living, especially when compared to medical universities in the US, Canada or Germany. The country also offers a multitude of scholarship opportunities for students from around the globe.

Unfortunately, acquiring an MBBS is by no means a shortcut to becoming a practicing doctor. Graduates are still required to pass a medical licensing exam in their home countries in order to practice medicine. The option to stay in China and pursue a higher level of medical degree can open career pathways but it also has another major benefit. China’s staggering 1.425 billion people ensures a constant supply of patients in all fields of medicine with all manner of rare and curious maladies.

This month, we spoke with two doctors to discuss their experience of medical education in the Middle Kingdom.

Plentiful Patients

Dan Lawali graduated from Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey in his home country of Niger in 2018. He was fortunate enough to be granted a special scholarship to complete his master's degree through a bilateral government cooperation initiative between China and Niger.

“In my country we have a lack of ophthalmologists — I don’t think we even have 50. The main reason I chose medicine wasn’t about earning money or finding a better life, but rather I felt Niger has a need and I wanted to find a useful way to help my country. When I realized there was a shortage in this field and that some people needed to go out of the country to Morocco or Algeria for things like cataract surgery, I chose it as my specialization.“

He began eyeing China as a way to broaden his medical horizons in order to better serve his country in the future. His theory was that, due to the enormous size of the Chinese population and the abundance of myopia therein, he would gain a vast and valuable skillset to become an able and experienced ophthalmologist. “One of the things that lead me to China was that, even on television, I realized that everyone in China wears glasses.” Lawali laughs, adding, “as an ophthalmologist it’s good

for me if everyone has eye problems.”

The prevalence of myopia across East and Southeast Asia is well documented. Some studies found as many as 80% of students to be myopic after 12 years of schooling. A common thread between East Asian countries is notably highpressure school systems. The enormous burden of homework for students, especially in early grades compared with other countries, results in very little time spent outside. Furthermore, abundant homework means excessive ‘near work’ — short focal distance reading and writing.

Time spent outdoors plays a measurable role in reducing myopia in young people. Research published on PubMed reveals that clinical trials in China demonstrated a 25-50% reduction in myopia observed over a three year period when students spent two hours doing daily outdoor physical activity. Tests done on mice suggest that exposure to sunlight releases dopamine in the retina which then inhibits axial elongation, the anatomical event which leads to myopia.

National Health Commission data reports that myopia among children is at nearly 54% and that figure climbs to 81% for high school students and 90% by university. By comparison,

Kaiser Permanente data from the US suggested a nationwide prevalence of childhood myopia of just 36%. That average sits between 41% in urban areas and less than 16% in rural areas. According to South China Morning Post, China’s smaller cities have higher rates of myopia than larger cities — a predicament attributed to lacking resources for diagnosis and treatment in more remote areas.

In recent years, China has focused a number of public health policies on combatting myopia. These range from increased vision testing among students to mandating reduced screen time for youth and policies to limit after-school tutoring and it’s resultant additional ‘near work.’

The Ministry of Education and the National Health Commission have developed indicators to evaluate the performance of local governments in rolling out the Five-year Plan of Eye Health. Bold targets have also been set with a 2030 timeline to reduce the incidence of myopia among primary students to under 38% and curtail it in middle and high school to below 60% and 70%, respectively, as per the PRC State Council’s official website.

Lawali says he attends nearly 40 surgeries over the course of a weekend and this is exactly the exposure he expected from his training in a Chinese hospital. Lawali gets to experience the whole spectrum of ocular disease — from cataracts to late-stage infections and a number of examples that are so technical we won’t even try to transcribe them.

Foot in the Door

Dr. Vikalp Jadav Vadathya, who often goes by Dr. Neil, came to China in October 2007 to begin his MBBS. He was accepted into Norman Bethune Medical College at Jilin University which ranks among the top ten medical programs in China and the top 500 in the world. Coming from India, Vadathya admits that scholarship opportunities are very difficult to capture as all the top students are vying for sometimes just one position for an Indian student on scholarship.

Vadathya tells That’s about his desire as a young man to leave India to study abroad, see the world and make something of his life. At the time, he knew that Australia, China and Russia were his best options for medical school. “Back then Australia had the ozone hole going on (originally discovered in the 1970s, NASA images from 2005 show the ozone hole covering 27 million square kilometers) so my mom was really scared about that. I knew that Russia would be very cold, so I chose China. Nobody told me that the place I was going to in China was also very cold,” he adds with a chuckle.

Knowing that China is a top choice for aspiring Indian doctors, we asked Vadathya why he didn’t want to stay in his home country for his schooling. “Medical universities in India are actually pretty good and doctors who graduate from them can go and work as doctors in other countries all around the world.

We have a saying in India that if you can finish your master’s degree at a university in India then you don’t have to worry about the MLE — the American medical licensing exam.”

The problem, Vadathya laments, is that medical university enrolment in India is governed largely by the ‘caste system.’ There are sometimes very few seats for a specific caste at any given university and the competition is fierce. According to Vadathya, undergraduate students need to work very hard for several years just for a chance at acceptance into India’s medical universities. “I felt that those years were very precious to me and medical knowledge is accessible anywhere in the world so why not leave and not waste that time.”

According to the BBC, India’s ‘caste system’ is one of the oldest surviving forms of systemic segregation in the modern world. It is derived from ancient Hindu law and consists of tiered categories based on ethnic background which weigh heavily on which jobs are available to each group.

Back in 2007, the MBBS was a longer program that combined the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and a subsequent master's program. He chose to specialize in Otolaryngology — the surgical specialty focused on the ears, nose and throat. All together the program took almost nine years and Vadathya graduated in 2016 in a graduating class of 580 students.

If Vadathya had only completed the MBBS in China then he would have to pass the Medical Council of India eligibility test. Then he would need to complete an internship program before starting to work in India or applying for an International Medical License. The system within China has evolved in recent years and Vadathya is currently guiding a number of doctoral students to complete their education in China as they can now do their internships at Chinese hospitals and apply for medical licenses directly, an option that wasn’t there in 2016. He adds, “I think this is our duty as seniors to help juniors and give them a better future.”

Eyes On the Prize

Of more than 400 medical universities to choose from, only 45 offer the MBBS program fully in English. Furthermore, all English MBBS programs require Chinese language courses although some do not require students to pass the HSK exam to graduate.

Lawali is doing his residency training at Guangdong Province People’s Hospital and was required to complete the Chinese language requirements as part of his Masters degree.

“I’ve only been studying Chinese for about 8 months and so one obstacle is I am not yet able to fill out the surgery reports in Chinese. Normally you have to study Chinese for one year before you go to the hospital. Nonetheless, I started my residency at the hospital a few months earlier than expected because I suggested to my supervisor that the language skills I was acquiring would be learned faster when applied to the actual setting of a working hospital.”

Lawali describes how he dove into the hospital atmosphere with an eagerness to master the necessary skills of communication. He laughs as

he remembers how he would take his phone to try and translate the patient records and understand everyone’s diagnosis and the steps being taken. However, as his speaking ability improved, he began strolling through the ward and asking the attending physicians and surgeons about each patient in each bed. After a few months of this, they began letting him get his hands dirty (so to speak) in the surgery theaters.

“My supervisor often says, ‘If I have Lawali as my assistant in surgery then I already feel like the surgery is successful.’ He knows I’m not able to write the surgical record but he knows I can explain the prognosis to the patient, the procedure of the surgery and how to do the post-surgery care.”

“As for the draping, sterilizing, anaesthesia and so on, I have already mastered these skills. I am able to get along really well with my coworkers which is very special as a foreigner in my situation. Trust is really important in the surgery room so I really took the time to be respectful and learn the way that all

the nurses and surgeons expect things to be done.”

We ask Lawali if the need for doctors makes it easy for nonChinese graduates to find positions in healthcare. Despite the need for doctors, he says it’s not particularly common. He only knows a small handful of foreigners who work in Chinese hospitals and they, like him, worked very hard to impress their supervisors in order to carve out those opportunities.

Despite the shorter time commitment of a Chinese MBBS being a major attraction, it can prove to be a disadvantage when it comes time to finding a job. Lawali says he has friends who did the five-year MBBS program and returned to Niger and were subsequently unable to find work.

“It’s unfair,” decries Lawali. “In my country, you study medicine for seven or eight years. By the second year you start going to the hospital to learn nursing, draping, suturing, etc. By the third and fourth years you are in the hospital every day applying the things you have learned in real time. Near the end of the program every trainee will be sent for a six month stint in a rural area where there is a real shortage of doctors and you really have to do everything. Once you graduate then you will do an internship for another 12 years. This is why when people study in China or Cuba and come back, they are quite lost. When a country has a lack of doctors then it has to build doctors who can actually do the job they will be required to do.”

Lawali explains that the Chinese system leans on specialization. International students who go through the MBBS program in China and then go back to their country of origin might never have actually worked in a hospital, let alone an under-equipped bush hospital. It is through the second phase of medical education where students in China earn their stripes.

The initial phase of the MBBS program was similar for Vadathya back in 2007 as well. “The first six months were focused on learning Chinese and it was all very basic education. I took it upon myself to go and sit in on the senior level lectures so that I could start

Chinese language courses are required for all MBBS students. Image via @Margueritacherry/ Weibo

learning the real skills of a doctor right away. As an international student, the professors don’t really know who you are until you go and talk to them. So I would go and listen to the senior lessons and ask questions, then go back to my first-year classes. They told us we couldn’t go into the hospital until the fourth year of our program and those hands-on classes would only be once or twice a month. I was able to go in my second year because I knew all of the doctors already.”

He laughs as he recounts that, once the doctors took a liking to him, he used to pack his things and sleep in the staff rooms of the hospital. “I wanted to see every surgery and I was very curious about learning practical knowledge.”

Despite his rigorous enthusiasm and high marks, the policies in his graduating year prevented him from staying in China. Even as recently as 2016, he tells us that foreigners were not yet allowed to work as doctors in China with the exception of private hospitals. The perceived lack of opportunity caused him to return to Delhi to begin working as a fully accredited doctor.

“When I was working in Delhi, I realized that there were a lot of Chinese people traveling to India for a variety of treatments. One of his patients was impressed by his professionalism and his demeanour and suggested that he come back to China to work for the organization in which he is now a General Manager.

Vadathya returned to China in 2018, the same year as Lawali, and worked as a doctor for one and a half years until his hard work was acknowledged and he was promoted to hospital director.

“I came to China as a doctor but then I got promoted to director and now I’m the general manager — but it’s not the same as being a doctor. When you’re a doctor, you’re tired and you have to work so many extra hours. But when a patient takes your hand and says 'thank you,' that feeling is different and it makes you feel so happy inside.”

The Hippocratic Oath

Lawali repeatedly mentions how lucky he is to have found himself in such a supportive and welcoming work environment. He considers it a second home and says he nearly always goes in on the weekends as that’s when the most surgeries take place, despite those being his days off. His hospital often tells him that he should stay there as a resident surgeon when his program finishes next year. If he took the job he could bring his family to China and he knows that the technology he has access to allows him to help patients and perform surgeries in ways that will be beyond the capabilities of a hospital in Niger.

Nonetheless, Lawali always planned on taking his knowledge home and, when asked how old his son is, he shifts uncomfortably and admits that he has never hugged his son. His wife was pregnant when he came to China to begin the program and, shortly thereafter, the pandemic made it impossible for him to return without losing his placement.

“I miss my family and the atmosphere of my country. Even if I have a job at a really good hospital, I think I will need to go home.”

We asked Vadathya if he held any desire to return to India to be a doctor.

“I am Indian and I love my country but China has shown me a new life and things I didn’t know I could become. As long as I have the opportunity to work in China, I will appreciate that opportunity.”

Lawali and Vadathya both paint a clear picture that the opportunities they captured came from adamant overachieving. Nevertheless, if you're committed to doing a master's degree in China as well, the Chinese MBBS seems both time and cost effective. Most importantly perhaps, the vastness of China's ageing populace means your likely to find a living sample of every ailment in your medical textbooks. Both doctors also exemplify the changing landscape of medicine in China and abundant opportunities therein.

Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland

A perfect family-friendly staycation

Ifthere is a more stunning hotel in China than the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, we are yet to stay in it. A bold work of architectural design, it is built into the cliffs of a decommissioned quarry, and has been hailed as one of the 10 modern architectural wonders of the world.

Located in Sheshan, around 45 minutes from downtown Shanghai, it also happens to be extremely family-friendly – perfect at a time when COVID-19 and school rules advise us not to leave the city limits.

First off is the sheer fun of the place; only two floors are above ground, the other 15 stories plunge 88 meters into the quarry, beneath a lake… and below. That’s right, there are underwater suites featuring in-room aquariums!

Book early if you want one of those, they get snapped up well in advance. Still, if you miss out on sleeping submersed, the above water rooms all enjoy a spectacular view of the quarry, and are designed to emphasize the waterfall and rock wall elements.

The quarry-view balcony becomes useful come

nightfall, when each evening a stunning lightshow takes place, with lasers being shot through a huge water feature to create scenes to mesmerizing effect. I-Max eat your heart out – this show is worth the room rate on its own.

On the dining front, delight the kids by heading down to Mr. Fisher. A specialty seafood restaurant located one floor below water level, the dining room is enveloped in a sea of water creatures – from sharks to stingrays – swimming in a 10-metre-deep custom built aquarium. Head there at the weekend and you might even catch a glimpse of a mermaid!

If you want to dine above the watermark, Commune all-day dining transforms the notion of the buffet into an upscale experience, and features a separate children‘s play area. Cai Feng Lou Chinese Restaurant, meanwhile, creates exquisite specialties from Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces and, while upscale, is more than welcoming to families.

You can get up close to all that water, too – kayaks are available to take out on the

lake. The indoor swimming pool, meanwhile, features floor-to-ceiling windows offering a beautiful view of the quarry waterfall.

You can also scale the rock face on a custom made climbing wall. For those brave enough – and we’re proud to say we were – the glass-floor

skywalk winds its way along the sheer cliffs above for a head-spinning thrill.

As well as the two theme parks right on the hotel's doorstep (Wonderland Park and Smurfs Park), nearby attractions include Sheshan National Forest Park, Chenshan Botanical Garden, Tianma Country Club, Guangfulin Park, Shanghai Sculpture Park, Shanghai Happy Valley and more!

More than enough to justify a second visit. And a third. And a… can we just move in, please?

Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, 5888 Chenhua Lu 辰 花路5888号, Songjiang District, Shanghai (6766 1888)

Johnny Kiu General Manager of the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland

Interview by Ned Kelly

Originally from Hong Kong, Johnny Kiu has been working in the hospitality industry for over 36 years, starting his career at the iconic Regent Hong Kong, before gaining a rich experience of high-end hotel brands in Australia, Indonesia and now China. Having spent the last seven years in Shanghai, he joined the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland on July 1, a very meaningful day for all Hong Kong people.

What is it that makes the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, well, such a wonderland?

There are so many stories to tell. The hotel itself is full of miraculous architectural design; the hotel is regarded as one of the top 10 modern architectural wonders of the world.

Back in 2006, Mr. Hui, Chairman of Shimao, found an abandoned quarry pit and wondered if a hotel could be built there. His vision became reality in November, 2018.

We came across many challenges when building the hotel, many of which the team had never encountered before.

The hotel has broken with convention to create a building 88 meters below the horizon and overcome 64 technical problems, including 41 patents completed and 30 authorized, creating a miracle in the history of world architecture.

It took 12 years and RMB2.1 billion to complete this masterpiece.

Describe the nightly water show to someone who has not seen it.

The 15-minute water show takes place everday at 8pm, with a laser light performance and professional sound system on the cliff combining to create a magnificent visual and auditory sensation.

My daughter loved it – as well as the free candy in the room! What other touches do you have that make the hotel family friendly?

The family market is one of our biggest markets during the summer holidays. We renovated a new kids club in February 2022 and this year paddle boarding and rock climbing are very popular – all the kids enjoy them.

We have a room package that gives you access to all of these all day long. It is one of our top selling products.

Go-karting and the Kids Mini Water Park are also two new elements we promoted this summer.

Could you tell us a little bit about the dining options on offer at the hotel?

Commune is an ultra-modern all-day dining restaurant, offering a ‘shared-space’ that transforms a buffet into an upscale experience.

Cai Feng Lou Chinese Restaurant boasts elegant decorations and uses the

freshest of Songjiang's produce from our chef's selected sources. The culinary team here creates exquisite specialties from Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces.

Mr. Fisher Specialty Restaurant offers a variety of fresh and seasonal seafood dishes. Other specialties are made from top-quality ingredients from France, America, Japan and other nations across the world.

The Quarry Bar blends avant-garde creativity with awe-inspiring natural landscapes of the rock quarry. The Quarry Bar presents a space marked with industrial styling and artistic beauty. Our selection of premium Scotch and spirits can be enjoyed on the rocks with the bar’s stone shaped ‘quarry’ ice balls.

There are also many cool attractions nearby the ho tel – what are some of your favorites?

Sheshan National Forest Park, Happy Valley, Maya Water Park, Sheshan International Golf Club, Wonderland Area and the Smurfs Theme Park. The list is endless!

Finally, what can people expect from a stay at Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland?

Because our hotel has many stories to tell, you can expect a unique and unforgettable stay experience that you won't get from other hotels.

Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, 5888 Chenhua Lu 辰 花路5888号, Songjiang District, Shanghai (6766 1888)

LISTINGS

BEIJING

Beijing Kerry Residence

Whether you’re a single business executive or a busy family, Beijing Kerry’s fully- fur nished 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments will feel just like home. As well as enjoying all the comforts of modern living including a well-equipped kitchen, entertainment systems, high-speed broadband and much more residents are just moments away from the Kerry Center’s shopping mall and sports facilities. The rest of the CBD is on your doorstep too.

>1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路1号 (8535 6888, www.beijingkerryresidence. com)

GTC RESIDENCE BEIJING

One of the top residences in Beijing, GTC Residence is located beside the third ring road within a 5 minute walk to subway line 5 and a 10 minute drive to Hou Hai . It is also within reach of the CBD, embassy area, Financial Street and other urban commer cial, shopping and recreation areas. Fully equipped apartments with impeccable qual ity offer you a cozy living space and will meet all of your requirements in terms of room decoration, furniture, electric appliances and more.

A unique sky garden with a practice golf course and barbecue area is a unique sym bol of GTC Residence.

> sales@gtcresidence.com, website: www. gtcresidence.com Tel:56756666

Oak Chateau Beijing

Oak Chateau Beijing has 236 stylish and contemporary fully serviced apartments from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four bedroom suites available, measuring 64 to 260 square me ters. There is a 24-hour guest reception and housekeeping is offered twice a week.

Nestled within the landscaped gardens of the Ocean Express commercial and residen tial complex, Oak Chateau Beijing is close to the Third Embassy Area and shopping and dinning services at the Beijing Lufthansa Center. It is only 19 kilome ters away from the Beijing Capital Airport. >北京市朝阳区东三环霞光里66号远洋新干线

100027

Block D, Ocean Express, 66 Xiaguang Li, Third East Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027, P.R.C

Tel: (86-10) 84465888 Fax: (86-10) 84465999

Email oak.chateau@oakchateau.com Website: www.oakchateau.com

China World Apartments

The newly renovated China World Apartments consists of two high rise 30-storey residential blocks with a total of 412 units ranging from studio to Penthouses, sizes range from 42 to 455 square meters. All apartments have been carefully redesigned with modern interiors, comfortable furnishings, and several added amenities to improve the level of comfort and living experience. All rooms come with a centralized ventilation system, water filtration & softening to further improve overall home comfort. The new Lodge Club features a wide range of facilities such as a newly constructed swimming pool and wading pool, state of art gymnasium, sauna and steam rooms, children's play area, resident's lounge, multi-function rooms and more.

China World Apartments is just minutes away from the Guo Mao subway station and provides easy access to a wide range of retail shops, restaurants, services and amenities at the China World Mall.

>No 1 JianGuoMenWai Avenue Beijing 100004

>Email: apartments@cwtc.com Tel: (010) 65052686

HOTEL NEWS

SHANGHAI

Grand Kempinski Offers Opulent Spanish Flavors and Albero

Grand Kempinski Hotel

Shanghai had its grand opening of the Albero Spanish restaurant on September 22. The menu features an array of tradi tional and innovative dishes using fresh ingredients that include seafood, making it an ideal venue for a family or a friendly gathering for lunch or dinner. Here, you can taste authentic Spanish delicacies: classic Spanish seafood rice, Iberian ham, various tapas and famous Basque desserts. Located on floor 2 of the hotel, the restaurant is just a stone’s throw away from the Huangpu River and in the heart of Shanghai’s bustling Lujiazui Financial District. The unique dining room is decorated in the style of an Andalusian red-tiled house.

The Only McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar in China

This September, The Peninsula Shanghai welcomed motor car enthusiasts with a unique collaboration with McLaren Shanghai Puxi for a special guest experience. Until October 9, The Peninsula Shanghai is offering an exclusive and limited suite package for supercar enthusiasts wishing to experience the world of McLaren. The package includes a two hour city test drive of a McLaren GT with a McLaren driving coach, one hour of exclusive use of the McLaren driving simulator and an 80-minute spa treatment for two.

GUANGZHOU BEIJING

New Guangzhou Marriot Hotel Nansha Officially Opens

Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, announced on August 28 the opening of Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Nansha. The 265-room new hotel is strategically located in Nansha, the city’s only gateway to the sea and the geographical center of the Great Pearl River Delta region. Featuring a modern design that reflected local context, Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Nansha offers elevated culinary experi ences, heartfelt services, and well-thought details at every turn to meet the needs of today’s leisure and business travelers. The exceptional location also puts the hotel in close proximity to Nansha’s distinctive natural wetlands and other places of interest, offering guests a myriad of enriching experiences. The Fisherman’s Wharf at Nansha’s 19th Sea Surge (or 19 Chung) is a popular place amongst residents of Guangzhou for purchasing seafood and enjoying mouth-savoring dishes and convenient cooking services at hole-in-the-wall eateries. Guests may also pay a visit to Nansha Tin Hau Palace, which was built to worship the Goddess of Sea.

Rosewood Guangzhou Hosts Decadent Grand Opening

The grand open ing ceremony of Guangdong Zhi Heng Law Firm Guangzhou Office was held at Rosewood Guangzhou in Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District on September 1st. Established in 1995 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Zhiheng Law Firm is one of the earliest partnership firms in China. Ms. Lin Huiyan, Executive Director of Guangdong Zhiheng (Guangzhou) Law Firm have a speech to Ms. Zheng Qian, Deputy Director of Justice Bureau Guangzhou Tianhe, Mr. Chen Jianbin, Vice President of Guangzhou Lawyers Association, and Mr. Chen Zuoke, Vice President of the New Social Class in Guangzhou Lawyer Industry Branch. Mr. Zhang Shanhua, Vice Secretary of Shenzhen Lawyers Association, and Ms. Chai Yongxia, Executive Director of Guangdong Zhiheng Law Firm attended via video link.

Laihui Coffee Opens On Shamian Island

Laihui Coffee is proud to bring its premium coffee and elegant atmosphere to the stylish promenades of Shamian Island. The Shamian Branch opened on September 9th with a banquet held at the Michelin-starred Jade River restaurant in the White Swan Hotel. The vision of Laihui is to create a space for imaginative minds to convene.

Fangheng Eastern House Serviced Apartment Rings In MidAutumn Festival

Beijing Fangheng Group Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned state-owned enterprise under Beijing Fashion Holdings Co., Ltd. Fangheng Eastern House Serviced Apartment is a private brand apartment under Beijing Fangheng Group, this apartment is located in the area of Chaoyang Sanlitun, with a total of 93 apartments, ranging from luxurious one-bedroom to comfortable three-bedroom. Eastern House Serviced Apartment is an art place where modernity and history meet and a spiritual space that returns to the orien tal artistic conception. Their team is wholeheartedly committed to giving customers the warmth of home with intimate and high-quality service. On the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, in order to thank everyone for their continuous great support for the apartment, Eastern House Serviced Apartment held a long-stay customers appreciation activity.

Avant Garde Event Begins at Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing

Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing invites you to experience the immersive theatre and dining combined culinary journey, starring Le Petit Chef. Le Petit Chef is a creation by the artists of Skullmapping, and was first launched in May 2015. This unique 3D mapping project became an instant internet sensation, racking up millions of views on different social media. From 23 Sep, Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing will bring diners to enjoy this unforgettable experience of delight ful dining and sophisticated theatre. In this 5-course culinary adventure, Le Petit Chef together with culinary team from the hotel will showcase you a delicate journey of whimsical, engaging animation blending with enticing dishes.

A Culinary Journey by Chef Ping Launches at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing Culinary influences from many parts of the world feature in Chow Ngan Ping’s style, and his new Mandarin Grill menu showcases a stellar collection of some of his favourite dishes. The much-travelled chef learned from some of the most renowned maestros, adapting and amend ing recipes to develop his own distinctive style. The degustation menu is appropriately called A Culinary Journey and allows Chef Ping to demon strate how his fusion of western techniques and prime local and imported ingredients has created sublime creations such as butter-poached Boston lobster, roasted pigeon with herbs and foie gras and, of course, char coal-grilled Australian Wagyu beef. A starter named Garden illustrates how Chef Ping ingeniously blends China-grown tomatoes, Beijing-made yoghurt and Iberico ham using molecular techiques to produce a delicately-flavoured dish. “Cooking is like music, it’s an art,” says the Hong Kong-born chef “When you make art with your heart, you bring people happiness and people will be touched.” The special menu is available as five, or seven courses at Mandarin Grill.

SCHOOL NEWS SHANGHAI

DSS Launches New German Language Program

With the finishing touches of eye painting, the lions danced in high spirits, the principals of both campuses in Hongqiao and Yangpu announced the start of the new school year.

Dulwich Pudong Launches New Parent Academy

Dulwich Pudong has formally launched its new Parent Academy, further strengthening the partnership between the College and parent community. Research shows very clearly that optimal educational outcomes occur when parents are actively involved in their child’s education.

The Parent Academy brings together a series of seminars and workshops into a curriculum which empowers parents to support their child’s learning journey from DUCKS to Senior School and beyond.

The Parent Academy was launched by Head of College Garry Russell at the Welcome Back Coffee Morning on September 3 under the theme of ‘Unlocking Learning Together.’

Britannica Offer Array of After School Activities

Britannica

International School Shanghai’s After School Activities has kicked off again in full force – they offer more than 140 ASAs, with each child able to pick four from a multitude of choices.

From Robotics to Radio and Podcasting, Cooking Club to Calligraphy, Graphic Novel Writing to Gaelic Football, they ensure your child will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of co-curricular activities outside of the classroom.

Britannica recognizes that encouraging, respecting and nurturing each student’s areas of interest outside of the curriculum plays an important role in their academic development.

Scan the QR code to arrange a bespoke tour of Britannica International School Shanghai.

SSIS Celebrates 26 Years of Excellence

Every year on September 3, the day marks a significant milestone in the history of SSIS and its remarkable community.

With the gathering of all students and staff, they cele brated SSIS’ 26th Birthday.

During the celebration, teachers and student repre sentatives shared their special SSIS memories. It was a special day of honoring the excellence that SSIS has fostered and the school spirit of striving for excellence every day.

Finally back to school, it was great to see all the children and students again! Starting this school year, German School Shanghai (DSS) launched a new program called “German as a Foreign Language (DaF)” to accommodate the chil dren with no or limited German language knowledge to integrate into the German basic education system. The program is available for kindergarten children up to the fourth graders.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations Held at BISS

The September full moon brought a special bit of magic to BISS Early Years this year. The Baby Cubs of the school got together to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Students and teachers greeted each other wearing vibrant Han Fu garments.

Each year group celebrated a bit dif ferently: Pre-Nursery experimented and tasted traditional mooncakes with a mooncake tea party; Nursery pupils created moon-themed art and learned about the legend of the Moon Festival; and Reception students filled the halls with colorful lanterns.

Dulwich Puxi Becomes First School in China to Adopt Curiosity Approach Accreditation

Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi is proud to announce that they are the first school in China to embark on becoming an accredited ‘Curiosity Approach’ setting. With enabling environments, highly qualified and dedicated practitioners, curriculum and programs of learning, they can confidently say our Early Years provision is truly world-class.

Yet they are keen to take this even further. This accreditation will afford the school the recognition it deserves for providing the highest quality of care for all children, whilst nurturing awe and wonder in early childhood; igniting creativity in both children and our educators. Interested parents can attend an upcoming Open Morning to learn more.

Wellington Shanghai Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival With Music

At Wellington College International Shanghai, Mid-Autumn Festival was a fun-filled day of learning. The music de partment put on guzheng performances. Original Mid-Autumn-themed art adorned the walls. Pupils learned about moon phases in the College’s portable planetar ium and competed in a ‘moon relay’ on the football pitch. And, of course, many a mooncake was enjoyed.

GUANGZHOU

UISG Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival

Utahloy International School of Guangzhou’s Mother Tongue Programme students celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival by learning the story behind the holiday and through sharing good wishes to the community in their many languages, including German and Korean. USIG is the only international school in Guangzhou to offer the International Baccalaureate continuum education from Kindergarten to Year 12. They value diversity and operate an inclusive learning environment for all students.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations at SCNUFLS

At the Affiliated Foreign Language School of South China Normal University (SCNUFLS), students celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with multiple activ ities and learned all about this important tradition. The PYP students had a lot of fun in craft activities, storytelling and guessing lantern riddles, while the MYP students made mooncakes out of clay, drew posters and wrote poems around the theme of the festival. We hope that the celebration of various festivals can help the children become more globally minded and embrace the culture of China as well as the world.

DHZH Continues to Excel in Global Examinations

BIS Wishes Everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

To celebrate the traditional Chinese festival for Mid-Autumn, Britannia International School held a series of activities which were intended to help students learn more about Chinese traditional customs through the practical activities. The students wore traditional Chinese costumes and experienced many interesting games. They completed the Dart Game, Dice Game, Ring Throwing Game, Tou-hu Game, Pick-up Beans and Kick the Shuttlecock together. Every student feels Chinese culture while having fun.

Outstanding A-Level Results At The British School Of Guangzhou

Students at the British School of Guangzhou, part of the global Nord Anglia Education family of schools, are celebrating after receiving their long-awaited A-level results. BSG students have achieved incredible results; 59% received A*- A grades, 81% received A*-B and 100% pass rate! It’s worth mentioning that over 80% of students received A* in Further Maths, Physics and Geography. Furthermore, The British School of Guangzhou IGCSE students have achieved exceptional results, with 62% of grades awarded A*- A (8-9) and a 100% pass rate in all subjects taken.

Students from Dulwich International High School Zhuhai celebrate another year of stellar results in their international examinations. They achieved 56% A*-A in IGCSE, while at A-Level the achievement was 60% A*-A. Both these overall percentages far exceed the world’s average among students of the same age group. Furthermore, a total of 304 offers from the world’s prestigious universities have been received from Dulwich Zhuhai’s Class of 2022 by end of August 2022, among which 138 are from the Top 50 uni versities in the QS World University Rankings 2023. These include University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, the University of Hong Kong, the University of Melbourne and University of Toronto.

BEIJING

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration at AISBHope International AISB Hope International students brought Mid-Autumn festival celebration into the classroom! The exciting, hands-on mooncake making activity familiar ized students with the origins and customs of the Mid-Autumn festival and the activity tied in with “respect”, the character trait for the month of September; respect for host-country culture and its people. Through the Mid-Autumn festival celebration, students not only learned how to make mooncakes from scratch and enjoyed yummy mooncakes after the activity, they also formed a deeper understanding of the meaning of harmony and the value of unity in Chinese culture.

That’s

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in China.

By Felizabeth Chan

Libra

9.24~10.23

Venus will snuggle with the Sun in Libra to form a conjunction that has not happened in 150 years. Nobody alive today has lived through a period where Venus commanded this post in the heavens. Avoid excessive pragmatism and be open to the gifts of Venus: love, fun and beauty.

Scorpio

10.24~11.22

Use this time to find bliss in your relationships as Mars will enter retrograde on October 30 and will likely cause you to feel some anxiety and a loss of intimacy with your partner(s). This will similarly affect finances and projects with friends will seem to stall. Take this month to get organized and stabilized.

Sagittarius 11.23~12.21

This is the time to learn new skills and develop new habits. Everybody gets a bit chunky during the winter months so don’t bother trying to diet until after Christmas. Improve yourself in more personal ways. At least you have something to change the subject to when your ayi and in-laws remind you how fat you’ve gotten.

Capricorn

12.22~1.20

Jupiter is in a challenging position to Capricorns until November. Imagine that you are sitting beside a morbidly obese person on an airplane — that’s Jupiter. They didn’t choose to impose on you, neither of you paid for seat selection. Just hang on, you’ll both be disembarking soon.

Aquarius

1.21~2.19

Now is the time for travel and cultural experiences. It’s been nearly three years since we became wary of traveling. This is a big country and it’s well worth exploring. Be hopeful that just enough people will refrain from visiting your destination that the holiday lines will be manageable.

Pisces

2.20~3.20

Budget your money while Mercury is in retrograde. Remember that in China it's perfectly acceptable to wear the same outfit to work every day. Don't let your vanity burn through what little savings you've accumulated.

Aries 3.21~4.20

Your influence and leadership will come into play during the final months of 2022. However, look for more responsibility among your immediate professional or social circle. Nobody wants to watch your livestream, the stars don’t mean that kind of influencer.

Taurus 4.21~5.21

When was the last time you went to the dentist? What about the optometrist? The annual physical you do for your work permit is just a theatrical excuse to drug test you. It’s a wildly unscrupulous examination of your actual health. It’s time to start prioritizing your health.

Gemini 5.22~6.21

Now is the time to repair fractured relationships. Be humble and willing to apologize and you will see that broken bonds become whole again. This does not mean you should text your ex.

Cancer 6.22~7.22

Like your celestial spirit animal, Cancers have a hard outer shell. It takes others a long time to peek inside and see your mystical qualities. This generally results in people thinking your insane, insensitive and self-involved.

Leo 7.23~8.23

If you have a bit of extra cash then spend it on your attractiveness. There was no use wearing perfume or cologne during China’s hottest summer ever. Now that it’s cooling off, focus on looking good and smelling good.

Virgo

8.24~9.23

Emphasize connection and socializing this month — and that doesn’t include your cats. It’s not going to tangibly improve anything in your life but October has nothing special on the horizon for you except smooth sailing in the friendship department.

The beautiful 185-page book contains:

• Historical and geographical facts and points of significance

• Where to stay, eat and drink, with must-try dishes and local delicacies

• Transportation information, airports, railway and road connections

• A shopping guide with tips and local products worth looking out for

UNESCO World Heritage Sites and sacred mountains

• Informative features to help you understand China

• Fun day trips and destinations to visit from major cities

• China’s ethnic minorities and their culture

Chinese characters and pinyin to facilitate travel and communication

Must-have apps, and how to set up a phone and digital payment system

Urbanatomy Media is excited to share the highly anticipated fourth edition of our Explore China travel guide. The latest edition of Explore China offers detailed information on historical sites, scenic spots, local delicacies, activities, transport information and places to stay.