Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with china Questions tagged with 'china' at Ask MetaFilter. Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:50:46 -0800 Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:50:46 -0800 en-us 60 Need image reference for Chinese business/office interior I'm in need of some image reference for Chinese business interiors, with an emphasis on decor vs. architecture. I'm being tasked with altering an existing interior to heavily imply that the location is in China, but..<br> 1) Chinese culture and decor are way out of my wheelhouse.<br> 2) Google image searches seem to turn up masses of people looking for "an Asian aesthetic," vs. actual Chinese interiors, and of course don't point out subtle things that I might miss, as regards subtle customs and potential mis-steps.<br> <br> The business might best be described as a startup, with under 100 employees, and a physical product.<br> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, either by way of descriptive words here, or links.,2014:site.273033 Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:50:46 -0800 Jack Karaoke How can I lock an extension cord into another extension cord? I want to lock <a href="">these two</a> (white to yellow) extension cords together so that nobody can unplug them unless they have a key. I have an ebike that needs a significant amount of time to charge. I have run a cord out my window (down 6 stories) and many people use it to charge their bikes. I don't care, I don't pay for electricity. The only bad part is that they sometimes unplug my cord in order to plug theirs in, even though the white wire leads to a 8-outlet power strip. My bike requires around 8 or 10 hours of charge to get a full charge, and my plans today are now ruined because it seems my bike didn't actually charge over night even though I plugged it in around 9pm.<br> <br> I really think that the best solution is to somehow lock the power bar and the yellow extension cord together with some kind of padlock, so that nobody can unplug it on me. It is coming from my window, and I could unplug the power at any time, so I think I have the right to do that. Things that I can't/won't do include:<br> - take the bike or battery inside. the bike is too big, and I don't know how to disconnect the battery (I can't even see it, it's deep inside the bike)<br> - unplug the cord when I'm not using it - it doesn't really solve the problem as they'll still unplug my bike<br> - write a note and post it outside explaining/talk to the people involved - I'm in China, my Chinese isn't great, I don't know the people, and honestly a note would be ignored<br> <br> So how can I lock the two extension cords together? If I just put a padlock on the two cords, you could still pull the plug out of the socket, so I'm at a loss. Any other suggestions are welcome but I'd really like to know how to lock the cords together.,2014:site.272569 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:33:38 -0800 sarae Solvents on china? Can you help me get burnt plastic off fine china? After Thanksgiving, all our nice china (Royal Doulton, if that's relevant) was washed and put in its storage (essentially <a href="">this stuff</a>), but we never got around to putting it away, so there it sat on the stove. Then last night as I was removing dinner from the oven, I inadvertently turned on a burner without noticing; we sat down for dinner, and a minute later my wife says "what's that smell?" and we look up to see a china storage container smoking and starting to melt.<br> <br> Fortunately, we got to it before anything actually caught fire; I managed to get the smoke stains off most of the dishes pretty easily with soap and water. But the bottom dish, the one that was in contact with the burner, is a mess - there's burnt black melted plastic all over it.<br> <br> I got a lot of it off with a razor blade, and I've been soaking it all day in soapy water and will go after it with a blade again this evening, but my question is, if that doesn't remove the charred black gunk, what will?<br> <br> Is it safe to use a solvent like Goo Gone on fine china? The china's white, there's no pattern or inlay or design on the burned part except the logo, which I really don't care about - I mostly just want to erase my mistake. But I don't really have a way to test whether solvents will hurt the china, so I thought I'd ask the hivemind.,2014:site.272559 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 14:46:58 -0800 pdb Going to Shanghai for a week! Excited! But a little nervous. I’m going with my friend who is doing stuff for her PhD. She will be at the university all day and I will be on my own. I need some reassurance about a few things. 1. Lungs: I have a history of chest infections but last major incident (hospitalised for pneumonia) was about 5 years ago. I’m not hugely worried but want to be careful. I have a box of 3M N95 disposable masks and am taking all possibly needed meds with me (asthma inhalers, prednisone &amp; antbiotics). <br> <br> Can someone tell me how bad the air really is? I’ve looked at the <a href="">numbers online</a> but what do they really mean? At what number should I stay inside/not walk around much? <br> <br> 2. Staying in touch: I know I can’t facebook. Would Dropbox a good way for me to send pictures to my husband and kids? I am using iPhone4, iOS6. Deliberately not upgrading to iOS7/8 for variety of reasons. <br> <br> 3. Money: When I’ve been to Europe, I’ve always just moved money into my credit card online so it’s in +credit. Then while I am away, I pay for things with credit card or used ATMs to get cash. Will I be able to do the same in China? <br> <br> 4. I’ve never haggled. Tips and reassurance. There was an old Ask that suggested I look on taobao to get an idea of what locals pay for stuff so I’ve been doing that this morning. What else can help making shopping fun and easy? I don’t want to feel harassed and pressured to buy stuff. I want to look like a pro. <br> <br> 5. Yes, I’m going to eat everything. EVERYTHING. <br> <br> 6. Any other tips? I’m already planning on the obvious (Bund, Fuxing park, urban planning museum, shopping). I like art, architecture &amp; food. Very happy walking. Staying on Fenyang Road in French Concession. I don't speak any Chinese.<br> <br> Thank you!,2014:site.272289 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 22:16:34 -0800 stellathon Shanghai and Seoul in December This December I'm going to Shanghai and possibly Seoul. I'd love your tips for museums, restaurants, hotels, and more! I'll be staying in Ningbo, China, at the end of December and plan to do at least a day trip to Shanghai and hopefully a weekend trip to Seoul. Thanks to <a href="">your help</a> earlier this year, I feel well-prepared with general advice as a first-time visitor to China. Now I'd like to hear specifics, like <strong>your favorite three tourist tips for Shanghai and/or Seoul</strong>. <br> <br> *Yes, I know it's so short -- <em>too short</em> -- but it's what PTO allows and a start for my first trip to Asia. I hope to return one day but would like to at least see both locations in case I don't. (I was excited to see they're just two-hours apart by plane.) <br> <br> My main goal is spending time with my brother in Ningbo, who may have work. Therefore, super basic and low-key activities such as going to a favorite grocery store will be appreciated as much as famous museums and the like. As a schoolteacher myself, I'd <em>love</em> to visit a school but doubt it would be possible with such limited time and a personal contact.<br> <br> Thank you very much!,2014:site.270689 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 19:05:29 -0800 smorgasbord Help Me Identify This Pakistani Counterterrorism Expert I'm looking for the identity of <a href="">this</a> Pakistani counterterrorism expert. In <a href="">this</a> [YT] documentary, the Chinese transliteration of his name appears as 古尼‧伊纳亚特‧欧拉‧罕‧尼亚文. Any ideas?,2014:site.269971 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:50:31 -0800 klue Can I get a virtual phone number in China? I want something like a Skype-in number for China. Not Hong Kong. Like Shanghai or Beijing ideally. It would be great if it called me on my laptop (i.e. not just a callforwarding service) I have a friend over there who can't afford to call out. That possible?,2014:site.269954 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 03:25:00 -0800 vizsla what are some steps that I can take towards my ideal career set-up? I have an idea of what I think would be my ideal career set up (involving social, ethnographic and/or market research in China) , but am not too clear on the next steps to take. Can you help? Recently it dawned on me that there is a career situation I would love to have. It goes like this:<br> <br> I travel to/live in China for several months (no more than half the year) where I interview various Chinese people on a certain cultural or lifestyle topic (perhaps for ethnographic, social or market research). I then translate and write up a report (s) about my interviews and research- this part does not have to be done in China, so I could return to the U.S. to do it, or perhaps another country. This would be done independently, something like a freelance or contract basis (i.e. I wouldn't be working in a corporate office environment and having 9-5 office hours, but I don't have a problem with collaborating with others or writing the reports for clients).<br> <br> I believe I have the skill set/experience for this- 9 years spent working and studying in Mainland China, fluent Mandarin, and several years' experience as a translator and now interpreter. I enjoy talking to people, especially one-on-one. I also am decent at writing and enjoy it. I have a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology.<br> <br> What I am not sure of is how I could look into this, where I would look, how to apply, etc. I know that people do this kind of research for graduate degrees, but I don't really want to enroll in a whole program and take classes in order to be able to do this work- but if you think applying for a graduate degree is the best way, feel free to let me know.<br> <br> Otherwise, if any MeFites can think of companies, institutions, organizations, fellowships, etc, etc, to contact, or any other methods or ways to be able to do this kind of work, hopefully in the context of the situation I outlined above, I would be very grateful!,2014:site.269095 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:51:56 -0800 bearette Expat filter:How to ship small items to China from America? As the title says, I want to be able to ship small items to China for my personal use without bothering my family members. Is there some service available? If not, how would I go about finding someone? As the title says, I want to be able to ship small items to China for my personal use without bothering my family members Who aren't really able to do it. For example, I want to order MCT oil from Amazon and get it shipped to Chin, also supplements, some personal electronic equipment etc. Just random bits of Western convenience is like bike shorts etc. Whatever I would normally get from Amazon but I find too difficult to get here. <br> <br> What's the best way to do this if I don't have someone that can do it for me back in the states? Is there some service available? If not, how would I go about finding someone? Craigslist? I'm a bit of a loss about how to do it.,2014:site.268498 Mon, 15 Sep 2014 08:18:11 -0800 chinabound Will an Rx for antidepressants in China cause future visa probs? I live and work in China, and for the past few years have been struggling with some personal issues. So far I've been soldiering through, but I'm just about ready to go talk to a doctor/psychiatrist about whether or not I should try a course of antidepressants. My concern now is that I believe mental health issues are a factor in visa decisions in China, but I don't know if this would extend to a limited term course of antidepressants or if it's only for more serious conditions. Does anyone know if a record of antidepressant prescriptions could affect future visa renewals -- either my current annual work visa/residence permit renewals or make it more difficult some years down the road if I switch employers or leave China and come back and need a new work visa?<br> <br> If I were doing this outside of China the only medical information the consulate would see would be provided by me or by the health checkup people so this wouldn't be an issue. In this case though I'll be seeing a doctor in China and the prescription will be filled here so this will be in my local medical record. I'm not sure if antidepressant prescriptions get reported back to the government or not.<br> <br> Does anyone have any insight or experience with this?,2014:site.267072 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 19:21:15 -0800 duoshao What is the symbol in this geoglyph? <a href="">This geoglyph</a> appears in Jiayuguan province, near the western end of the Great Wall of China. It appears to be made out of planted trees. What does it mean?,2014:site.266639 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:01:37 -0800 Johnny Wallflower Helping non-wealthy friends get a US tourist visa What can I do to help non-wealthy Chinese friends get a US tourist visa? We have some friends in China who we would like to come to our wedding next year. We have been friends for about 6 years, have attended their weddings in China, have an ongoing friendship with their entire family, etc. <br> <br> They need a visa to travel to the US and from <a href="">this website</a>, it looks like they need proof of funds to cover expenses while in the US. They do not have these funds. These people are not wealthy and we would be helping them with the cost of plane tickets and providing a place for them to stay while they're in the US. They have no intention to stay in the US: English is non-existent; they have very young children that will remain in China; they have small retail businesses in their hometown that they run themselves; they care for their parents and grandparents who will remain in China. We just want them to visit for about a week to attend our wedding and meet our families. Also, they're Muslim, which I imagine could cause some issues (though they are the Hui minority, which does not have the same history of issues with either the Chinese or American governments as the Uighurs do, for instance; see <a href="">this article</a>). <br> <br> These people are basically like family to us, and we have pictures of us with them and their family going back 6 years. <br> <br> Is there any possibility of them getting a US visa? What can/should we do to help?,2014:site.266408 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 07:19:33 -0800 msbrauer How can I provide a VPN connection for someone in China Hi Everyone I would like to help a friend in China access Bloomberg, Youtube and a few other sites unaccessible from China. I have a few spare computers, can use Linux, Mac etc. Any ideas? I thought about Remote Desktop but perhaps a VPN solution will be better. Thanks! BB,2014:site.265883 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:18:24 -0800 bright77blue Gift to Chinese employee in non-tipping culture: how? Our cleaning lady is taking her first holiday in a decade to visit her family. I was planning on giving her a cash present in lieu of the money she would have earned at our place, but I don't think she understands tips and I don't want her to feel further obliged to us. This has been a problem in the past because she has very strong views on hard work and duty &amp;c. How should I present the idea (and money) to her in a culturally appropriate way? Am I just overthinking this?,2014:site.265253 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 18:10:02 -0800 ICanHazQuestion Visiting China for the first time Ni hao! I will be visiting China for the first time this December. Please share your advice and anecdotes! I will spend a week over Christmas visiting a family member studying in Ningbo, China. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to experience China firsthand, however short. This will be my first time in Asia; I'm an American with extensive European travel experience. The family member speaks Mandarin (not yet Cantonese, sadly) and is quite familiar with Chinese culture so I know I'll have a good guide when I get there. <br> <br> I would appreciate hearing <strong>any and all personal stories and advice</strong>, both general and specific -- places to go, things to do (or not do!), how to pack, cultural comparisons, blogs and books to read, gift ideas, phrases to memorize, things to keep in mind, and more. I love anticipating and preparing for travel, and with your help, I'll be off to a good start. Xie xie -- thanks!,2014:site.265187 Tue, 15 Jul 2014 16:06:41 -0800 smorgasbord Lesson plan ideas for the last few days of school (in China) Exams are done, grades are submitted, and we still have class? Yeah, I have up to 6 45-minute periods left with my grade 10 and 11 students next week that I would rather not fill with nothing but movies. I need ideas for something else to do with ~35 Chinese teenagers. The students have relatively good English, but I'm not an English teacher and I don't really want to get into total ESL stuff as I expect they'll do that in their English class. They're in an international program, so keep in mind that they've got 4-6 foreign teachers trying to entertain them for four days, so simply showing movies is going to get old really fast.<br> <br> I was thinking of something Canadian/American culture related, but other than making food, I can't think of much. Restrictions: I don't want to spend too much money (therefore cooking might not be ideal, and we don't really have the facilities anyway), I move to their classrooms so too much physical set up is unrealistic, and I don't want to spend hours doing prep work as I'm burned out after my first year.<br> <br> Most class periods are actually double 45-minute periods, so 1.5 hours, but there are a couple single periods too.<br> <br> I'll take any suggestions you have!,2014:site.263550 Sat, 14 Jun 2014 00:38:43 -0800 sarae What stuff can only be bought in China ? Hello, I'll be leaving China soon and I want to bring back some stuff that you can only find in Beijing (China). I already bought a lot of things from Xiaomi for example. Do you know anything else ? Have a good day ! P.S : no food,2014:site.262826 Sun, 01 Jun 2014 01:53:52 -0800 vayan Funny/Inspirational/Work-Appropriate Pictures for Chinese Colleagues I lead a monthly teleconference with a small team of colleagues in China, and would like to kick off each session with a funny or inspirational image or quote. Help me find something that doesn't get lost in translation! I am new to this role, and thought it would be fun to start each of our monthly meetings with something funny or inspiring, and of course work-appropriate. I struggled to find something the first month, and ended up sharing <a href="">this drawing of an elephant on a trapeze</a>. I heard them chuckle, so I think they liked it. It was cute, inoffensive, and my boss and I worked it into a discussion about a) staying positive in the face of change, and b) people's optimism that the work they send the China team will be completed without issue, despite not always providing all necessary information up front.<br> <br> I'm looking for similarly ambiguous artwork or general inspirational quotes/phrases that we could apply to work situations and that won't be lost on them or unintentionally offensive. Our audience is 5-6 Chinese women in their 20s-30s; their English skills are good, but sometimes it does take a little time to get a point across, so I don't want to use anything too wordy or that requires too much familiarity with American culture. They mostly work on data processing/analysis type tasks, but this doesn't have to be related specifically to the type of work they do.,2014:site.262572 Tue, 27 May 2014 10:52:57 -0800 LolaGeek The China Study - Nutritional and reading recommendations The China Study and associated diet was recommended by my physician this morning. I am looking for your advice both nutritionally and educationally, as I'm very open to this after the last few weeks. This morning, my physician leaned hard on me regarding the China Study and the associated diet. I was motivated to set this appointment because of some likely gallstone issues the last few weeks, and I'm quite open to ideas and changes. I've also been moving this way somewhat slowly, so I think this is the push I need.<br> <br> I am looking for help in a few areas:<br> -What books, websites, articles or communities do you recommend about The China Study and the heavy plant based diet associated with it? My goal is to transition to this diet. I understand it is vegetarian so resources there are welcome, too.<br> -She recommended a few supplements I need your advice on. The fact that supplements are unregulated (even though I believe the FDA is more reactionary than preventative) concerns me. What brands or trade groups do you recommend for fish oil and B12?<br> -What vegetable protein powder brands do you use? I'm open to hemp, spirulina and anything else (I know that the whole diet of what I eat is an important part of my protein intake, too, so I'm not looking to go overboard on protein here but I want to hear what brands of protein powder you use).<br> <br> Also, any advice or personal stories on the transition you made to this diet will be welcomed, too.<br> <br> (yes, I noticed previous AskMeFi questions related to these topics, but the most important was 8 years old).,2014:site.261149 Wed, 30 Apr 2014 10:11:23 -0800 glaucon Great firewall, 2014 Hi, Looks like I will be spending a good while in China and I'd love to read your recent experiences with VPNs, general internet use there. (I noted a question about this from almost two years ago, with lots of people speaking well of witopia, can believe things have changed.) I'll be in Chongqing, for what that's worth. Thank you for taking a moment to help me.,2014:site.260737 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 17:34:19 -0800 ambient2 Shipping a set of china to internationally My mother is giving me her china. She and the china are in the US. The destination is Australia. Can you recommend a shipping company that specializes in international shipping of fragile items like this who will come pack it all up for her? If you don't have specific recommendations, are there things to look for/ask about when I talk to shipping companies? Are there other issues I should consider?,2014:site.259483 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 03:22:16 -0800 olinerd Need a goofy/ironic variation on a "China" gift for our 20th anniversary 4 years ago, I posted <a href="">this question</a>, about coming up with weird interpretations of "traditional" anniversary gifts, and y'all came up with some brilliant answers. I ended up going with the "periodic table" idea, which we continued through our 17th, 18th, and 19th anniversaries. Our 20th anniversary is May 1, and now I need a twist on the theme of "China." To recap the background of my previous question:<br> <br> Hubby and I have had a tradition of goofing on "traditional" anniversary gifts; we compete to see who can come up with the most off-the-wall/sarcastic variation. Examples: For the first ("paper") anniversary, I wrote him a love letter on a roll of toilet paper. For the "flowers" anniversary, I got a beautifully wrapped, heavy gift that I opened to find 5-pound bags of wheat, corn, and rye flour. For the "ivory" anniversary, I carved a loving tribute into a bar of Ivory soap; for the 15th, "crystal," anniversary, I had a custom stained-glass piece made, with 15 tiny crystals embedded in the leading.<br> <br> Now it's time for a twist on a "China" gift. I'm open to anything, and cost is not a major issue -- as long as whatever it is can be presented on May 1. Go nuts, MeFites!<br> <br> (As before, I've anonymized this because I can be recognized by the question, so feel free to use this throwaway email if you want:,2014:site.259398 Fri, 28 Mar 2014 08:52:47 -0800 Anonymous What to know before moving to China? What should I know before moving to China? I'm moving to Beijing in two weeks and all housing/money/visa issues are fully taken care of but I feel like there's something I'm forgetting. What is that one thing you forgot you needed before leaving? Notes: this is not my first time in China. I will be there for a couple months but not nearly long enough to have things shipped to me. I don't speak Chinese but am hoping to learn while there. No food suggestions, I am not paying an extra $50 for a suitcase full of Kraft Mac and cheese. <br> <br> Thanks for any ideas!,2014:site.258997 Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:12:38 -0800 boobjob Recommend me stores known for quality goods Partner &amp; I have decided to vote with our dollar by only purchasing quality long-lasting goods, or going without. We will pay more if the quality is clearly there. Rather than waste time driving from store to store, only to find junk, I'm looking for stores known for quality items. Difficulty Level: Sisyphean... <strong>Nothing made in China.</strong> That's a strict requirement. Also items ought to have a modicum of style.<br> <br> Partner &amp; I went to <a href="">Crate &amp; Barrel</a> for the first time the other day looking at dishes and were pleased with the design &amp; quality of the goods. Prices were a little high but with some digging we could find a nice deal. What other stores would you recommend?<br> <br> Items <strong>can't</strong> be made in China (his <em>strict</em> requirement). We're looking for quality goods - quality of materials, construction and hopefully quality manufacturing practices (labour laws). We're ok with paying somewhat more for quality. We don't have money to burn, so the quality/price tradeoff has to be there. No $1500 Prada bags for me, sadly...<br> <br> We are looking for<br> - kitchen items (plates, glasses, mugs, bowls, baking items, spatulas omg my kingdom for a not made in China spatula)<br> - clothes (mostly men's) and shoes (mens &amp; womens)<br> - household furniture (end tables, book cases, chairs)<br> - bathroom bits<br> - anything else you think of (belts, wallets, bed sheets, you name it)<br> <br> Not looking for single items but <em>entire stores</em> where we could browse and have at least 50% not made in China hit rate.<br> <br> Example stores we've been to:<br> - <strong>Crate &amp; Barrel</strong>: high quality goods made in Portugal, France, Spain &amp; Italy, Indonesia, Thailand. To get a good price you have to wait for a sale but it is possible.<br> - <strong>Whole Foods</strong>: overpriced yuppie goods generally available elsewhere but every now &amp; then there is something worth its price<br> - <strong>Ikea</strong>: is our version of the 'dollar store'; quality is not there but at least there's a chance it's not made in China<br> - <strong>H&amp;M</strong>: quality not great but often has clothes not made in China<br> - <strong>Pier 1</strong>: quality is NOT there however some of their goods are made in Thailand or Indonesia.<br> - <strong>The Brick</strong>: shit quality; I will never go back.<br> - <strong>Home Sense, Home Outfitters, Target</strong>: not a good hit rate for not made in China. &lt;&lt;10% Not worth the drive.<br> <br> I do buy some stuff locally (pottery by local artists).<br> <br> I'm wary of etsy because of quality construction. Plus I'd prefer to shop in person.<br> <br> We're in Toronto, but visit the US semi-regularly, and Europe around once a year (where we fill our boots so to speak).<br> <br> Help me turn "oh honey we don't have X" into a simple shopping experience! What stores have you come across that have a higher hit-rate for quality goods? Or non-China goods? Quality-loving Me-fites, where do you shop?,2014:site.257697 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:18 -0800 St. Peepsburg Tianjin Rose Rock International Finance Center. Progress? Anybody know anything about the Tianjin Rose Rock International Finance Center 罗斯洛克国际金融中心? It looks like it is the first move into China by the Rockefeller family. Anybody know any more than stated on <a href="">this</a> website? Anybody in Tianjin able to tell me if it is actually being built?,2014:site.256646 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 06:32:23 -0800 priorpark17