A dynamic metropolis, international melting pot, or an eternally sleepless city... there are plenty of titles to choose from when describing Shanghai. So with everything moving along at a lightning-fast pace with no time to even stop for a breather, is it any wonder why you're exhausted?! With the 7 day national holiday coming up, why not take the time away from the New Year celebrations to just relax, and enjoy a spot of casual reading. But first you need something to fill your shelves up, right? So where should I start from you might ask? There are a number of places to purchase books in English and other languages whilst you reside in Shanghai. Many of the larger international hotels have small bookstores in their lobbies, while there are also a number of independent bookstores offering a wide range of selections. Should you find yourself unable to navigate your way through the crowded streets, or maybe just can't find a store with anything you fancy, why not have a look at what we recommend to help you get what you want.
If you’ve been around Shanghai or lived in China for a while, chances are you’ve noticed it – the all too common white expat male who seems to have a fascination with all things Asian: Asian culture, Asian food, Asian language, and most notably, Asian women. If you haven’t noticed this phenomenon already, try doing a little research for yourself. Dive into the “
If you are moving your family to Shanghai, you will need to find a way to send your children to school. Luckily, Shanghai has a wide range. Costs vary -- some are very expensive compared to what you may be used to in your home country. I also know of several expats who are doing home-schooling or use the local Chinese school system. These alternative options are detailed at the end of this article. But first, here is a bit of information on international-style (read private) schools:
It is said that long time ago, in the Hetao Area of the Yellow River, there were neither bridges nor...
As October 15, 2009 marks the 200-day countdown for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, Shanghai Media Group's International Channel Shanghai (ICS) launches a campaign called "Write It Right" to help correct incorrectly translated English signs in Shanghai's public areas. This campaign aims to improve the English signs and billboards in Shanghai to help visitors to the Expo, as well as to further improve the city's image.
When you think of Martial Arts, the first form that comes to mind in China is Chinese Kung fu. And while the art of Kung fu is a respectable one, there are many other forms out there. The most current form on the scene and all over the world and throughout Asia is called Mixed Martial Arts or MMA.
I've never met a GM in China who hired a Chinese local because she had an MBA degree; though I have met GMs that have encouraged local staff to obtain an MBA to broaden their knowledge of how their patron-company works and improve the local's chances for eventually taking over the top position in the foreign-invested company. I recently told a journalist in an interview for the China Economic Review (July 2009 issue) that the expat managers in the manufacturing sector in China have a deep distrust of new hires with MBA degrees, due to what I call "expectation mismatch": the GM expects the new hire to do a specific job and the MBA-holder believes the specific job is to tell the GM how to run his company. Down-to-earth nuts-and-bolts types do not take kindly to that sort of attitude; and the further away from Shanghai an operation is placed the less welcome MBAs seem to be.