News
Taxi Strike Update
On the afternoon of April 18, about 50 taxi drivers gathered in front of the Dongguan Traffic and Transportation Bureau to demand a reduction in the monthly taxi rent. Saying they will strike until the RMB 8,000 fee drops by 2,000. In a statement released by the city government, these 50 drivers are already back […]
In the Local Media: April 2014
Tiger Business Police from Zhanjiang City in Southwest Guangdong raided a house in Leizhou where a tiger was being slaughtered. Arrests of 15 people were made on the night of March 14, and while trying to evade capture one perished in a fall. Leizhou is known to run a black market for tiger meat and […]
Breathe Freely
Holding three sessions on the Saturday of March 9, Dr. Poon Wai Kwong instructed around 60 Dongguaners in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The service was provided free through cooperation with HERE! Dongguan, Global Doctor, PALS Family Restaurant and the Dongguan Dragons Baseball Club to benefit the city and raise awareness of the life saving techniques. […]
Faster Data Arrives
Four months ago the magazine reported that 4G service wouldn’t be commercially available until June, but China’s three telecommunication companies have constructed enough LTE infrastructure to provide the service ahead of schedule. As the first operator to offer the new network, China Telecom released a list consisting of about 100 4G-available cities that includes Dongguan. […]
Around Town
Out of the Park
So, I am living up in Fujian province and about to move down to Dongguan. My son is playing baseball in Xiamen, and we are travelling an hour and a half each way for him to play. We are moving to Dongguan and I figure we can try to play some baseball there. This was […]
Revealing Habits
Having been raised Catholic, it’s probably a shame that I haven’t been to confession in about 12 years. To tell you the truth, I’d love to confess something right now. I’m a hoarder, and I’m not even good at recycling. In fact, I’m pretty bad at it. I also don’t eat enough vegetables. Even though […]
Local Subsidies
Three decades of development have bestowed prosperity on the land of Dongguan. Across the nation of China the city and its people, even through recent economic woes, have been stereotyped as abundantly wealthy. Word of mouth has spread the idea that simply being a village resident leads to a share in the wealth. Privileges include […]
Deco Playhouse: Ibiza’s Craft Brew
Where to go to get a good beer? How about a trip to the middle of nowhere to an oasis beside a lake? Ibiza’s super chic and crazy art deco design with Iron Man sticking out of the wall and teddy bears in the corner make it the perfect sort of place for local women […]
Interests
Minimizing the Risk: Falsely Issued Invoices in China
In June of last year, news broke that China’s official import and export totals had been grossly inflated via invoice fraud, with actual estimates half those of official figures. In response, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) promptly began cracking down on fake and falsely issued invoices and initiated tighter oversight, especially in China’s […]
Dongguan Q & A: Business Answers
Q: Why is Dongguan often referred to as the “world’s factory?” A: Beginning in the late 1970s, manufacturing enterprises from Hong Kong and Taiwan were attracted to Dongguan by its proximity to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and also by its abundant supply of cheap labor and land. Along with the relocation wave, massive capital […]
Spring Botanists Guide: Spot the Flora, Feel the Warmth
Spring, the season of growth and renewal, grows flowers to cheer us up after the short Dongguan winter. In the eastern subtropic monsoon region, the moderate climate and abundant sunshine gives us a good environment for blooming growth. HERE! we have a brief introduction of spring flowers in Dongguan, as well as the places where […]
A Fleet of Interpreters: Tripper App Review
Tripper, the world’s local assistant, as their slogan says, is for when you are in a foreign country and need help. Connecting to the app through a cellular plan, your smart phone’s data package or Wi-Fi, operators are available within moments. Mostly, the operators help with interpretation, but they offer other services. You can get […]
Living Here
Half the Battle: What to Ask Your Garden about Pesticides
Mosquitoes and cockroaches are a big problem in many areas in China and many residential complexes have pesticide spray schemes to help control insects. While pesticides can be used safely with adequate methods of control, residents should take precautions by making enquiries to safeguard from exposure. Management from each apartment garden or housing development will […]
Model Mandarin: Modern Speak
Top Tip: Quiz Game Learning to read Chinese characters can be scary, but the guys over at Skritter have managed to make it seem more fun than frightening. The software, available for phone and computer, allows users to try their hand at writing characters, an excellent way to drill them into long term memory. Rather […]
Town Guide: Xiegang
HISTORY Silver Bottle Mountain, in Xiegang Town, at 898 meters is the tallest mountain in Dongguan. The mountain is named so because from a distance it looks like a bottle. The town defines itself by the mountain and a lot of the town’s history is wrapped in the mythology of the mountain. There is a […]
Buying Second Hand: A Used Furniture Directory
Spring cleaning; the end of the school year; a deceptively uncomfortable couch. These are all legitimate reasons to yank the amalgamations of particle board, staples and pleather outside to beat the dust and the living sense out of furniture that is provided by benevolent landlords throughout the prefecture of Dongguan. If permanence is not officially […]
Other Recent Posts
Elevator QR Code
To avoid all the scary accidents caused by out-of-control elevators, a new supervising system has been applied to almost 70,000 elevators around the city since June 2013. The QR codes have appeared on the green and yellow safety labels beside the door. By scanning it, registered information such as the name of the elevator company […]
Skating Trophy
The ice rink on the third floor of Nancheng’s One Mall was tensely heated with competitive spirit, while accommodating short track speed skaters from five countries. The ISU World Development Trophy 2014 was organized by Hong Kong Skating Unions and is officially recognized by the International Skating Union. The event consisted of a five day […]
Batou Business Struggles
Business in the stylish Batou Village, a nightlife destination built in old Wanjiang, seems gloomy this spring, normally the area’s peak season. After months of slack business, seven bar owners relinquished their contracts in March, marking a shuffling in this small village loaded with more than 70 bars. “Now we hardly make ends meet,” said […]
Take a Hike
With 14 sq. kilometers of vegetation and a fresh water lake spreading across 8 sq. kilometers, the Songshan Lake Science and Technology Industrial Park is an ideal location for cycling and hiking. An annual hiking event, the Songshan Innovation Cup, has for four years successfully publicized a low-carbon, eco-friendly lifestyle. This year, about 2,000 participants […]
