Shanghai China Snippets http://www.chinasnippets.com Observations about living in Shanghai and China in general Thu, 08 May 2008 15:23:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 en Google and Kingsoft Launch Free Chinese Dictionary http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/google-kingsoft-chinese-dictionary/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/google-kingsoft-chinese-dictionary/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 15:23:21 +0000 Shanghai Chinese Multi Media http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/google-kingsoft-chinese-dictionary/ Google and Kingsoft launched today a free Chinese-English-Chinese dictionary.

Now go and read the Chinese bbs yourself to really find out what’s going on in China.

If you install it on a non-Chinese operating system you probably see a lot of weird symbols (not Chinese but more machine language like), on the first page of the install, tick the box (you probably agree of giving away your privacy to Kingsoft and Google and whoever else is listening in) and then continue with clicking wherever it shows a (n) on a button.

You can download it here.

t/t (Twitter Tip) to Tangos for referring me to the Sina article with the link to the download.

Here’s a screen shot.

Google Kingsoft Chinese dictionary

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/google-kingsoft-chinese-dictionary/feed/ China Olympic Torch Relay on Google Maps http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-route-china/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-route-china/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 06:24:37 +0000 Shanghai China Olympics http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-route-china/ Just noticed that Google maps is keeping track of the torch relay.

China Olympic Torch Relay Map

Check here for yourself.

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-route-china/feed/ Olympic Flame On Top of the Everest http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-flame-everest/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-flame-everest/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 05:53:02 +0000 Shanghai China Olympics http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-flame-everest/ The torch has made it to the top of the Mount Qomolangma/Mount Everest and was ignited by Norbu Zhamdu at 9:18am May 8.

Olympic Flame Mount Everest

It’s the first time the torch went that high. Let’s hope the rest of the journey will be in the same spirit.

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/08/olympic-torch-flame-everest/feed/ Shanghai Photo of the Week - 1 http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/04/shanghai-photo-of-the-week-1/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/04/shanghai-photo-of-the-week-1/#comments Sun, 04 May 2008 04:04:42 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Life http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/04/shanghai-photo-of-the-week-1/ A new Sunday series with a photo of the week, taken from Shanghai Daily Photos.

Rabbit Art to be seen in the Ju’Roshine Life Art Space (169 Jinxian Lu, near Maoming Lu)

Rabbit Art

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/04/shanghai-photo-of-the-week-1/feed/ Element Fresh Dots And Staff Toilets http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/03/element-fresh-dots/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/03/element-fresh-dots/#comments Sun, 04 May 2008 03:58:58 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Restaurants http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/03/element-fresh-dots/ The place is close, Nanjing Lu, the coffee is getting more expensive every time (regular Yunnan brew from 12 Rmb to 16 Rmb) but the terrace makes up for that.

There’s just one thing that keeps amazing me, and this is based on 4 years of research.

Every time I go to the bathroom it’s occupied. And every time it’s one of the staffers. Now I understand that staffers also need moments of rest and quietness and I wholly endorse that but please give them their own toilets.

Element Fresh Spring Day

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/03/element-fresh-dots/feed/ ZonaEuropa’s Title Tag Changed to EastSpitjWestNorth http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/02/zonaeuropa-title-tag/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/02/zonaeuropa-title-tag/#comments Fri, 02 May 2008 14:47:35 +0000 Shanghai Chinese Multi Media http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/02/zonaeuropa-title-tag/ Update

Mystery solved, it was a typo and it has been corrected, see comment by ESWN.

While getting updated on the latest in China I visited the always very informative EastSouthWestNorth blog to read the translated essay by Huangfu Ping.

Zonaeuropa title tag

Suffering slightly from professional deformation I didn’t start reading the text of the article right away but looked first at the top left corner where the title tag is displayed.

EastSpitjWestNorth, it reads. Is it a typo, was it hacked or something else?

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/05/02/zonaeuropa-title-tag/feed/ David Braid and Matt Brubeck Go Listen To Jazz http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/26/jazz-shanghai/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/26/jazz-shanghai/#comments Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:22:40 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Life http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/26/jazz-shanghai/ Just a very quick post before I’m off to Maneo for some brunch.

Last night we went to the show of David Braid and Matt Brubeck.

This afternoon they play in the Glamour Bar. If you like great jazz that borders classical music I suggest you to go.

Sunday, April 27, 4pm
Incidental Sunday at Glamour Bar
5 on the Bund, 6F - entrance at 20 Guangdong Rd
(021) 6350 9988, 6329 3751
RMB50

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/26/jazz-shanghai/feed/ Starbucks Likes You to Visit Their Website http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/07/starbucks-likes-you-to-visit-their-website/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/07/starbucks-likes-you-to-visit-their-website/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:01:31 +0000 Shanghai Chinese Multi Media http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/07/starbucks-likes-you-to-visit-their-website/ No matter how much I like Starbucks for their 12 rmb coffee of the day, how many people do they expect to type in this URL.

starbucks china ad

Source: ad in Cityweekend (Shanghai expat mag)

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/07/starbucks-likes-you-to-visit-their-website/feed/ Hertz Car Rentals China and Intellectual Property http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/06/hertz-car-rentals-china-and-intellectual-property/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/06/hertz-car-rentals-china-and-intellectual-property/#comments Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:46:19 +0000 Shanghai China Business http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/06/hertz-car-rentals-china-and-intellectual-property/ hertz china ip
The irony. That was my first thought.

Then I checked a later issue of the Shanghai Daily and noticed that the same company is still advertising yet the mentioning of the website address hertz.cc has disappeared.

hertz china competitor

Whether Hertz complained to the Shanghai Daily or the company was contacted by the real Hertz I don’t know.

In the mean time, the domain hertz.cc is still active

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/04/06/hertz-car-rentals-china-and-intellectual-property/feed/ What does a Talking Girl talk about? http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/03/16/talking-girl-for-bar-needed/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/03/16/talking-girl-for-bar-needed/#comments Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:22:13 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Restaurants http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/03/16/talking-girl-for-bar-needed/ waitress shanghai

What does a Talking Girl talk about? And do they have non-talking girls as well?

Crossposted on Shanghai Daily Photos

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/03/16/talking-girl-for-bar-needed/feed/ Civic-consciousness Lessons on Shanghai TV http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/29/civic-consciousness-lessons-on-shanghai-tv/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/29/civic-consciousness-lessons-on-shanghai-tv/#comments Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:17:22 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Life http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/29/civic-consciousness-lessons-on-shanghai-tv/ We’re having dinner at a friend’s place. As seems to be a Chinese must the TV is playing it’s noisy wallpaper role, in this case the SMG cartoon channel as a kid is present. Chopsticking into Chengdu dishes the cartoons are given a break and there’s an public harmony message aired.

The hosts of prominent Shanghai tv shows have participated in a “civic-consciousness” ad.

I see them waiting till subway commuters get off (opposite to barging in the moment the doors open), I see them standing on the right side of the escalator (opposite to blocking the escalator for anyone in a hurry).

Basically I see them applying all kind of forms of civilization that sometimes is hard to find here. It’s done nicely and I agree with the message although it may be slightly Utopian.

After another bite of some tofu I say, “Wouldn’t it be nice if every one in the world behaved like this”.

From the corner of the table the 8 year old son quips, “Never in Shanghai.”

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/29/civic-consciousness-lessons-on-shanghai-tv/feed/ Neo Restaurant Cafe Shanghai http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/28/neo-cafe-shanghai/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/28/neo-cafe-shanghai/#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:39:37 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Restaurants http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/28/neo-restaurant-cafe-shanghai/ neoWandering on Weihai Lu we ran into the neon lights of Neo Cafe.

Drinks

We only had some drinks. Prices are good actually. A Corona for 25 Rmb and a small Tsingtao for the same money. A strawberry slushy was 32 Rmb.

Service

Average. The waitress apparently wasn’t overjoyed with my request for some ice water which she loudly repeated as if had asked for something ridiculous. Other than that reasonably friendly.

Toilets

Didn’t see any toilets from the inside.

Environment

neo restaurantVery neon from what I saw from the terrace. The terrace itself is not really special, being on top of the traffic and uncomfortable plastic chairs. Then again, I must admit, it’s probably not a terrace intended for dining. For a quick drink it’s ok.

Verdict

Hard to say although I wasn’t too impressed with the service. Maybe one day, after reading some more reviews I’ll try their food. I like their logo though.

Totally Spent

Persons: 2
Time:1 hr
Money: 82 Rmb

Address

Neo Cafe
439 Weihai Lu (cross street Maoming Lu)
Tel: + 86 21 6340 1107
Mon-Fri 8am - 12pm
Sat+Sun 10am - 12pm

Other Reviews to average the experiences:

Smartshanghai
City Weekend

You can read here more Shanghai Restaurant Reviews

Disclaimer: All opinions are biased, based on non-existent food knowledge and influenced by the mood of the moment.

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/28/neo-cafe-shanghai/feed/ Beijing Olympic Typos http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/27/beijing-olympic-typos/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/27/beijing-olympic-typos/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:14:20 +0000 Shanghai China Olympics http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/27/beijing-olympic-typos/ Typos happen and I’m sure I have contributed many to this world, most of them online I guess. In many cases it’s just that but in some cases, like important mails for example or titles of articles I try to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Heck, I even re-read important mails to minimize the chance that an annoying mistake finds its way into my writings. It’s matter of quality control and the more important, the more scrutiny is required.

Josh from aCupofCha noticed that the English version of the Chinese Olympic Games website lacks this kind of quality control.

The site has 3 versions of the page title.

You have the homepage,
Chinese Olympic website

that reads, “Official Website of the Chinese Olympic Committee“, which is correct.

You have however most of the sub pages,

Olympic Typos
that show, “Offcial Website of the Chinese Olympic Committee“

And you even have pages that say,
Olympic spelling
“Offcial Website of the Chinaese Olympic Committee”“

I have been told numerous times by Chinese that English compared to Chinese is such an easy language. Maybe it is, but typing it correctly may help as well, especially if the whole world will be visiting this website this year.

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/27/beijing-olympic-typos/feed/ Bread Prices - Two Ways of Dealing With It http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/26/bread-prices-portman/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/26/bread-prices-portman/#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:49:28 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Prices http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/26/bread-prices-portman/ Bread Prices - Two Ways of Dealing With It.

The price of almost everything has been going up in China, including the price of grain.

I buy my bread in 2 places and both shops have approached the price increase differently.

In the Portman bakery (inside the City supermarket) the ciabattas have a slightly smaller square cm size, and are half as thick as before. You can almost call it a ciabatta crust. The price is the same, 18 Rmb. For reference sake, the price of the same ciabatta was once 12 Rmb in 2005 in the Portman Bakery

In Paul’s they have decided to increase the price instead of halving the bread. A white bread that previously set you back 18 Rmb now costs you 22 Rmb. An increase of more than 22%.

Personally I prefer Paul’s approach. I have to pay more but at least you can still call it a bread.

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]]> http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/26/bread-prices-portman/feed/ Citizen Cafe Shanghai http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/25/citizen-cafe-shanghai/ http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/25/citizen-cafe-shanghai/#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:36:48 +0000 Shanghai Shanghai Restaurants http://www.chinasnippets.com/2008/02/25/citizen-cafe-shanghai/ citizen cafeChances are you have never walked past the lovely Citizen Cafe as it’s tucked away in a small side street of Shanxi Lu, just before Changle Lu.

Neither did I but as I read about it in one of the local expat magazines it seemed like a nice place to try.

Food

hamburgerI have been there a couple of times now. The menu is, you guess, Western with the burger, the club sandwich etc. Nothing spectacular.

The first time we ordered a reasonable priced bottle of white wine that did the trick for a warm evening on their balcony.

The cheese plate (38 Rmb) unfortunately was rather saddening. Processed slices and some tasteless chunks of what should resemble cheese. The Niçoise Salad (38 Rmb) was not very special and there are better places to get a hamburger (42 Rmb).
To finish things off we ordered their Tiramisu (30 Rmb) which probably came directly from the freezer of the neighborhood store.

The thing is though, it didn’t really matter as the balcony and the wine made up for it.

Drinks

We had a bottle of Bodego Norton White 2006 which was served cool and very drinkable. On other occasions I tasted their coffee (20 Rmb). The blend is Arabica roasters and they serve a big-sized cup.

Service

Service is very friendly. The waitresses are busy, attentive and speak enough English to avoid misunderstandings.

Toilets

flowers on toiletThere are two toilets to be shared by men and women.

Real classical wooden doors but it’s not very spacious.

Luckily it’s clean and I especially liked the flowers.

Environment

The exterior and the interior are so Western it could have been anywhere in the world but luckily it’s in Shanghai.

balcony on jin xian luIt’s a bit grand cafe but then the small version. Downstairs you’ll find couches, upstairs a tables and chairs and a lovely terrace balcony.

Unfortunately the balcony is closed after 22:30 but that’s understandable as the neighbors probably like to get some sleep.

Patrons are young and old, working on their laptop or just sipping a cup of coffee.

Verdict

A great place to idle away, read your paper, have a chat with friends or catch up with some online work (Free Wireless). Prices are reasonable.
During Happy Hour (4 pm to midnight) you can get 30 Rmb drinks.

Totally Spent

Persons: 2
Time:3 hrs
Money: 455 Rmb

Address

Citizen Cafe
222 Jin Xian Rd. (cross street Shanxi Lu)
Tel: + 86 21 6258 1620
Open Daily from 11:00
Website: http://www.citizenshanghai.com/

Other Reviews to average the experiences:

Smartshanghai
City Weekend

You can read here more Shanghai Restaurant Reviews

Disclaimer: All opinions are biased, based on non-existent food knowledge and influenced by the mood of the moment.

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