Culture and History

Free China Expat Culture Book Download

Sept. 30 – China Expat, China Briefing’s sister site covering all things concerning the interaction between overseas expatriates and Chinese culture, celebrates 10 years of existence this year and has released a complimentary book – “China Expat – A Decade of Writing: 2001-2011” – with a selection of articles contributed to the title over the past decade. The book is launched today both as a anniversary gift to China expats home and abroad, and also to celebrate China’s National Day, which falls on October 1.

“China Expat – A Decade of Writing: 2001-2011” brings together a collection of the published work of four well known expats for the first time in one volume. With articles taken from the archives of the original China Expat magazine, and more recently the online blog from the past 10 years, this collection will provide memories of days gone by, provoke exclamations of “I didn’t know that!” and inspire today’s generation of expats to get out, about and explore. In an age when blogs are mainly blah, the China Expat articles within will provoke, provide food for thought, and raise a wry smile.
Continue reading →

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China National Day Holiday 2011

Sept. 30 – Businesses and individuals involved with China should be aware that the full week commencing Saturday October 1st until Friday October 7th is a government-mandated national holiday across China. Offices reopen on Saturday, October 8th. During this period it will be difficult to expect immediate replies to emails and to arrange meetings. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and History | Tagged China Expat, China National Holiday, National Day | Leave a comment

Meet China Briefing

Sept. 29 – China Briefing has been publishing China business law, tax, compliance and operational material about doing business in China since 1999. It is one of the longest running China business web sites, with a daily regulatory news service, a popular monthly magazine focusing on the technical legal and financial issues foreign investors face, and a well-received series of technical and regional guides to China which are distributed worldwide by Springer, the academic publishing house. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Culture and History | Tagged About Us, China Briefing Staff, Christian Fleming, Eunice Ku, Julia Gu, Samantha Jones, Vivian Ni | Leave a comment

Increased Expat Costs in China Will Relocate Many to India

More cash in pocket will make India a preferred destination for expatriate entrepreneurs

By Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Sept. 14 – As I deplane from the Cathay Pacific flight, I am pleased to note it has arrived 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Walking through the brightly lit, air conditioned airport towards arrivals, I am whisked along by fast moving passenger walkways, noticing the HSBC, Avis, DHL and Crowne Plaza corporate advertising all along the walls. Down the escalators, and immediately in front is immigration. I am steered to an empty booth, while the line of immigration officials waiting to check documents stretches all the way down an enormous hall.

An official checks my visa, smiles, and waves me through. Walking through a vast emporium of duty-free items, I get towards the arrivals hall. The walls are lined with local art, statues and paintings; this is clearly an affluent city. I obtain a complimentary trolley cart, await my bags, and after five minutes the conveyor belt starts moving. I’m lucky – my suitcase is one of the first. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Culture and History, FDI and Foreign Trade, Markets | 1 Comment

China-U.S. Economies: The White House Chef Speaks

Op-ed Commentary: Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Sept. 5 – Ever since China became mainstream financial news, commentary about China and the United States, and in particular any feasible combination of the two has been the subject of intense debate, much of it off the wall and ill-informed. The legions of American commentators, for example, who sit in their offices back home, visit China once or twice a year and are then lauded as “experts” is remarkable. The same can be said in reverse. According to many, China is about to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy (true, but sometime closer to 2050) and will be the most powerful country in the world (highly debatable, and dependent upon how one measures the concept of power). Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and History, Economy and Politics | 5 Comments

Why the Peony Pavilion Matters for China Business

Op-Ed Commentary:Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Sept. 1 – The Peony Pavilion, a Chinese ballet, has been the opening dance event of this year’s Edinburgh Festival and, despite some initial hawkish comments about hosting a ballet from a country whose human rights are not respected, it has for the most part been a spectacular and very well-received production. The story itself dates from a Chinese classic play of the same title, written by China’s equivalent of Shakespeare, Tang Xianzu in 1598. (Had intercontinental air travel existed at that time, they may well have collaborated. The Bard wrote “Much Ado About Nothing” that same year) Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and History | 2 Comments

A Business Guide to Western China – Local Markets and Exotic Exports

A complete overview of the trade dynamics and foreign investment opportunities from Xi’an to Xinjiang, and from Mongolia to Tibet.

Op-ed Commentary: Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Aug. 26 – China’s western regions have long held a fascination for many. The route of the ancient Silk Road, the mysteries of the orient, huge deserts, enormous mountains, a collision of religious, language and numerous tribal cultures, creating an enigmatic region not short of romance, mystery and intrigue. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Central China, Culture and History, Economy and Politics, FDI and Foreign Trade, Markets, South China, West China | Leave a comment

The China Alternative – Laos

The China Alternative is our series covering other manufacturing destinations in emerging Asia that may start to compete with China in terms of labor costs, infrastructure and operational capacity. In this issue we look at Laos.

By Simon Sheung

Aug. 18 – On December 9, 2010, the people of Laos celebrated the official opening of the Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Dam. Currently the largest of its kind in Laos, the dam was built on the Nam Theun River, and is capable of generating up to 1,070 megawatts of electricity, 95 percent of which will be exported to Thailand. The project is expected to generate US$2 billion in revenue over a 25-year period, and will play a key role in accumulating funds for the Laotian government’s National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy. In many ways, the successful opening of the Nam Theun 2 is a testament to Laos’ path towards greater socioeconomic development, and highlights its transition from a country wrought by political struggles to an emerging economic force in Southeast Asia. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and History, FDI and Foreign Trade, Markets, The China Alternative | Leave a comment