Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s that time again. Note from Jan 1, 2007 the Chinese consulate or embassy no longer take the renewal (due to the new passport laws taking effect). Here is a link for the Chicago Consulate. Note you need the Adobe reader Simplified Chinese Patch to read the PDF form. BTW, the Nov. 2006 visa bulletin is out, and
Reading Time: < 1 minute The following are some of the proposed new direct flights from US to China. AA is applying for the new direct flight from Dallas (DFW) to Beijing (PEK). Here is the link to sign up for the petition. Northwest is working on the Detroit (DTW) to Shanghai (PVG) route. Here is the link. Last but not least,
Reading Time: < 1 minute Bring the green backs and exchange it at Bank of China or other banks is the common way. They do require the passport though. And sometimes the wait time could be long (I found out Friday is usually bad). But it is not very safe if you have large amount of cash. So I tried
Reading Time: < 1 minute I heard it first from Bill Bishop’s blog. Home Inns (如家), China’s leading budget hotel chain, filed for an IPO about a month ago and is expecting to hit the NASDAQ sometime in September, assuming market conditions hold. A few day ago I got more info From Pacific Epoch Shanghai based hotel chain Home Inn
Reading Time: 2 minutes I saw some of the newest USA exports to China today: SAT (the US college admission test) and NFL (National Football league). At Chicago O’Hale airport, I met a girl who just graduate from high school (middle school in China) and will attend a college in the Mid-west US. She told me she has some friends
Reading Time: < 1 minute In order to stay connected in China, cell phone is a must. For short stay visitors, I believe “pre-paid minutes” or “pay as you go” card is good. There are a few minor things I found out by using China Mobile: 1) Text messaging: it’s much popular here and it’s less expensive compared to phone
Reading Time: < 1 minute Not that I don’t like Shanghai. Not just because Hangzhou has the world famous West Lake. Hangzhou’s size is about right, it has the convenience of the big city and the friendliness of a small city. I think St. Louis is similar in this aspect. There are fewer cars on the street, and people spend less time
Reading Time: < 1 minute I visited my childhood home yesterday. There are lots of change because of economy development. The old gravois road is wider and paved, with side walks and lights. There are no rice field any more. Almost all the lands are used for manufacturing companies or sold to developers. Even the brook by my house is
Reading Time: 2 minutes I used to think Shanghai is very big, until a few days ago I took the taxi from Lu Jia Zhui (the financial district in Pudong) to Jing An Temple in West Nanjing Rd. It’s only 5 km (3 miles) and 15-20 minutes drive during non-rush hour. I remember in mid 90s I walked half that distance on East Nanjing Rd (from YiBai to
Reading Time: < 1 minute I am at Ningbo Beilun, the forefront of opening and economy development of Zhejiang Province, argubally the most dynamic province in China these days. “Zhe Shang”, the business people from Zhejiang province, makes and sells many things you see in Wal-mart: underwear, stationary, toys, small applicance, etc. The scale of economy is enormous: I heard one time
Recent Comments