It's a Small World After All - Thatsmags.com
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It's a Small World After All
BEHIND CHINA'S
GREAT AMUSEMENT PARK
GOLD RUSH
城市漫步珠三角
英文版 7 月份
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CN 11-5234/GO
China Intercontinental Press
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admission
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The wrap
34 COVER STORY 44 Community
It's a small world after all
Behind China's Great Amusement Park Gold Rush.
childhood vaccination p45
Three to See
art
exhibitions
p27
QUOTE of the issue
“The streaming apps started out with a ‘stream
first, license later’ attitude... Since there was
pretty much no regulation, very little risk of
being successfully sued for infringement,
everyone got away with it.”
Alex Taggart, of Beijing-based music-industry consultancy
Outdustry, weighs in on music streaming in China p30
64 EVENTS
HK MO
July 20-21 July 28-31 July 22-24 July 9-10
The Imperial Ice Stars Madagascar Live Let It Be Carnival of the Animals
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8 CITY
10 Digital Nomads
Traveling the World in
Search of Fast Wi-Fi.
14 Folds within Folds
The Modern Art of Origami.
18 LIFESTYLE
20 Luxury on the Go
A Look at the Travel Habits
of Young Chinese Luxury
Jetsetters.
24 Shades of Cool
The Summer's Essential
Eyewear.
26 ARTS
28 Blood, sweat and
Tears
Surfer Blood: Indie Rock's
Survivors.
32 The Renaissance Man
The Beautiful Mind of
Leonardo da Vinci.
52 EAT &
DRINK
54 The Chosen Buns
Guangzhou's Newest Bakeries
Put to the Test.
58 Ninethirty
Big Flavors on Small Plates.
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Editor's Note
Ah, the heat of summer. The sweltering, smothering, smoldering heat of summer. It’s
July WIN WIN WIN
weather like this that makes one want to escape to island paradises, to far-flung lands
where there’s nothing to do but throw back chilled cervezas and read an improving book
or two. Yet, for those of us who don’t set our clocks by school time, there is no two-month
holiday to savor. It really makes one yearn to chuck in the whole office job malarkey and
take up a life of remote working.
Inspired by these procrastinations, this month’s lead feature is all about the good
life – and by that we mean the life of digital nomads, those lucky individuals who take
full advantage of our Internet-connected world to set up office in a rustic hut (that In Guangzhou, a pair of tickets
miraculously also has high-speed Wi-Fi) and work from wherever they want on the Earth. to indie rockers Surfer Blood
(p28), a pair of tickets to the
That’s not to say they don’t work full time; it’s just that they work full time from the
Gershwin Piano Quartet (p64),
comforts of an adorable coffee shop in rural Philippines or laid-back Thailand. Intrigued? a pair of tickets to a cappella
Inspired? Turn to p10 to discover more about how you could make the dream a reality. Metro Vocal Group (p64), a
For those of us who follow the China zeitgeist, there is one big topic that’s on pair of tickets to Luigi Rubino
everyone’s lips: theme parks. With Disney’s mega new opening in Shanghai and (p64), entry passes for the 2016
homegrown giant Wanda throwing down the gauntlet, there’s plenty to be excited about International Vertical Marathon
for adrenaline junkies chasing the rush of a roller coaster and the refreshing splash of the (p65), a pair of tickets to Ravel
log flume. Summer is typically the time to take advantage of an amusement park, and so opera The Child and the Spells
this month’s cover story is dedicated to just that topic. Turn to p34 for not just in-depth (p66), a pair of tickets to audio-
looks at the Middle Kingdom’s new attractions, but also a rundown of the country’s top visual fairy-tale Rick the Cube
spots for thrills and spills. and the Time Misery (p66), a pair
of tickets to Papa by Theatre de
Got some free time on your hands? Why not take up the art of origami? This month’s
la Feuille (p66), a pair of tickets
photo essay shows how one piece of paper can be transmogrified into something as to puppet show The Star Keeper
detailed as the feathered wings of a bird or the pleated dress of an anime character (p14). by Theatre de l'Oeil (p67), a pair
Perhaps you're a foodie in search of that perfect loaf – with several new bakery openings of tickets to puppet show Battle
in Guangzhou, we’ve ranked all the newcomers so you can target the best ones (p54). In Against Garbage (p67) and a
Shenzhen, on the other hand, cool off with our picks of the chilliest treats in town (p54). pair of tickets to Madagascar
For once, July doesn’t herald the death of stage and sound. Indie rockers Surfer Live (p67).
Blood are playing around China (check out p28 for our interview) at the same time as an
exhibition on the genius of Leonardo da Vinci is opening for several months (p32). In Shenzhen, two pairs of tickets
Stay frosty, PRD. to Surfer Blood (p28) and a pair
of tickets to Sam Ock and J.Han
(p62).
Tom Lee
Editor in Chief To find out how to win one of
our WeChat giveaways, simply
message our official WeChat
(Thats_PRD) with the name of
the prize you would like.
We're Hiring! Urban Family Editor
We’re in the market for a community-minded editor to work across the digital and print
outlets of Urban Family. Working alongside a dedicated and dynamic team, candidates
should have:
◎ Bachelor's degree
◎ Fluent oral and written Mandarin
◎ Excellent oral and written English
communication skills Hourly updates on news, current affairs
◎ Passion, confidence, creativity and and general weirdness from around
interpersonal skills PRD and China.
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ability to work under pressure FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
◎ Must be a team player
This is a new position that is ideal for facebook.com/thatsonline
someone with the ambition to put their
mark on a growing product. If interested, twitter.com/thatsonline
please send your CV, cover letter and two
writing samples to youtube.com/thatsonline
tomlee@urbanatomy.com with the
gplus.to/thatsonline
subject 'UF Editor.’
www.thatsmags.com
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w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 7
CITY
Ed i t e d by B r i d g e t O ’ D o n n e l l / c i t y @ u r b a n a t o m y. c o m
scan the qR code with the that's app when you see it on an article to find more
multimedia, photos and videos related to the feature you are reading. Genius, eh?
t h e bu z z
DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? quote of the month
Jeb Corliss, AKA the 'Human Arrow'
There are a lot of spectacular ways to experience the Great Wall
but this one might just take the cake. Jeb Corliss, also known as the
'Human Arrow,' flew over the Great Wall on Sunday, successfully com-
pleting his signature stunt. The American base-jumper and skydiver
performed his daring act over a section of the Chinese landmark in
Tianjin. Dressed in a wingsuit, Corliss jumped out of a helicopter
from roughly 1.83 kilometers in the air. He managed to glide precisely
through the sky at a speed of 193 kilometers per hour and
nail a small, fist-sized target that hung over the Great Wall. Corliss, 40, has performed similar stunts "We saw a beer
around the world, jumping from iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Space Needle
in Seattle, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala bottle filled
Lumpur.
with black
explosive
RANDOM NUMBER powder
rolling
towards us
with a lit fuse."
An eyewitness described the ex-
plosion at Pudong International
Airport last month to That’s.
The traveler was standing in the
check-in line when two home-
made explosives detonated, in-
juring five. The terrifying scene
29
unfolded on June 12 at around
2.20pm after a man grabbed a
beer bottle with explosives and
hurled it towards a ticketing
counter at Check-in Area C in
Terminal Two. The man then
took out a knife and attempted
China Ranked World’s th to kill himself by slashing his
throat. He was taken away
by police and sent to the in-
Most Stressed-Out Country tensive care unit. Authorities
stepped up security measures
at both Pudong and Hongqiao
Bloomberg recently published a global rankings table comparing “stress ratings” for 74 different Airports following the incident.
countries using data on environmental factors and living conditions, rather than interviews or Police said the bomber was a
psychological questionnaires. The final results actually indicate “how stressed people in these 29-year-old migrant worker
countries will predictably be,” and not “how stressed people in these countries claim to be.” from Guizhou with a bad online
Seven factors are equally considered (homicide rates, GDP per capita, income inequality, corruption percep- gambling habit and wrote on
tion, unemployment, urban air pollution and life expectancy) and countries were ranked from one to 74, with WeChat that he was “prepar-
one being the most stressed and 74 being the least stressed. China placed close to the middle at 29th. The ing to do something
most stressed country was Nigeria, while the least stressed country was Norway (other Scandinavian states completely crazy”
came in at the bottom of the list as well). Japan, the UK and the US placed 60th, 56th and 54th, respectively. that he would not
survive.
8 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mTOP STORIES INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHT
PRD Thanks to @nadia_s_23 for tagging
#thatsprd. Tag your picture on Insta-
• Shenzhen Police Issue Warn-
ing to Unregistered Expats the gram for a chance to be featured on
our feed.
The letter states expats must register with
the Shekou Police Department or face an
RMB2,000 fine.
month
• Zhuhai Ranked China's 'Most
Livable' City
on
Thats
For the third year in a row, the southern Chinese
city came top in the quality-of-life stakes.
• Shenzhen Airport Worker
Assaulted by Angry Customer
mags.
A sign from the airport counter was used
to inflict some serious damage.
• Ozone Pollution on the Rise in VIDEO OF THE MONTH
com
Guangdong
All major cities are now issuing regular air
Expat Rebukes Queue Jump-
pollution warnings and forecasts. ers in Three Chinese Dialects
A foreigner in Wuhan recently confronted
• Dongguan's First Metro Line
a pair of queue jumpers and reasoned
The line, dubbed Line R2, runs southwest
from Dongguan Railway Station to them out of line.
Humen.
NATIONAL
COMMENT OF THE MONTh
• Breaking: Explosion at
Shanghai Pudong Airport's T2
Several were injured in the detonation.
Only RMB500
• Infographic: The Languages fine???
Spoken in China
The country has a LOT of languages and
Ridiculous. A
dialects.
man forecefully
• Sir Ian McKellen Spotted at
Shanghai's Marriage Market struck a small
The Lord of the Rings actor was in town
for the Shanghai International Film
woman
Festival.
• No, China Has Not Banned
violently. She
Interracial Marriage should take him
Unless Singapore are going to the moon...
• Explainer: All You Need to
to court
Know About the Gaokao
China's high-stakes, high-pressure User Melanie on ‘Shenzhen Airport Worker Follow
college entrance exam, explained. Assaulted by Angry Customer’ T hat’s PR D
on WeChat
w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 9ci t y | Fe at ure
DIGITAL
NOMADS
TRAVELING THE
WORLD IN SEARCH
OF FAST WI-FI
by Terence Collins and Natallia Slimani
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”
– Lao Tzu
HOW TO GET STARTED
Y
our morning starts with a relaxing swim in the ocean and a stroll
down a sandy beach. You have a lazy breakfast that flows into Have a passport, a saleable skill and an itch to
escape the office? Then you have the qualifications
brunch before heading over to your office: a hammock swinging
to be a digital nomad – a term, by the way, many re-
between two palm trees. You open your laptop, take a sip of fresh mote workers dislike; but it’s the sign the press has
hung on them, and it has stuck.
coconut juice and look back on the times where you had to be at the office
So, what exactly is a digital nomad? Put simply,
by 9 – without a single drop of nostalgia. someone who makes their living online, thus allow-
ing them to enjoy an itinerant, gypsy lifestyle, work-
Sounds like a dream, doesn't it?
ing anywhere in the world. Estimates indicate that
Ever since the book Eat, Pray, Love made it into the mass consciousness, over 90 percent of those currently choosing this
modus operandi are men.
many a high-level professional has closed his or her eyes in a fancy top-floor
Without a good Internet connection, digital
office and imagined what it might be like to drop the suit and briefcase for the nomads are dead in the water. One person we spoke
to had to leave China because of its web restrictions
adventure of a lifetime.
– Google, Facebook and Twitter are blocked – and
For some, it was more than a passing fancy, and many of those who slow network speeds. He found it almost impossible
to communicate with his clients around the world.
used to contemplate traveling the world with a laptop have actually gone
Perhaps you were planning to run off to a
and done just that. Faster Internet speeds, compact gadgetry and a more secluded beach to begin your new desk-free life?
Think again. If the Wi-Fi is sub-par, you’re sunk.
widespread understanding of online capabilities have all played their part.
All serious remote workers we spoke to said
Whether they call themselves digital nomads, telecommuters or freelancers a great work area other than your home or neigh-
borhood coffee shops was a must-have. Enter co-
(new terms are being coined as we speak), the number of people riding the
working spaces. A recent development, co-working
wave of progressive technological advances is growing. In fact, three out of spaces have emerged as places for great Wi-Fi, a
comfortable, high-tech environment and socializing
five North American workers recently surveyed stated that they can (and are
with the tribe. Pay a monthly fee and you never
willing to) work remotely. know who you may meet and what possibilities
might emerge – either working for someone or col-
But wait. Before you hand in that notice, there are quite a few things to
laborating with them.
think about. The biggest problem is often how to finance the
1 0 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mWHERE TO GO
Wi-Fi and cost of living will be your guid-
ing stars to nomadic bliss. Of course, there is
no dismissing the emotional component – you
may simply have strong feelings for this or
that spot on the globe.
One first-rate resource to help you make
an informed decision is Nomad List (no-
madlist.com). Founded four years ago by a
digital nomad who found necessary informa-
tion on cities, visa, Wi-Fi speed, climate and
other details scarce, he set out to gather it
himself. Initially crowdsourcing facts and
presenting them in an Excel spreadsheet, the
demand and success morphed his basic site
into a little pearl that’s now recognized as
the de facto Wikipedia for parsing all a city’s
variables, in order to decide whether to stake
your digital claim to Sao Paulo, Shenzhen,
Barcelona or any of the other 100-plus cities
he showcases.
With that said, certain cities have become
particularly popular in the digital nomad com-
munity. Quite unexpectedly, the very best one
is just a three-hour flight away.
Chiang Mai, Thailand – The
Number-One Destination
for Digital Nomads
Here are a few places that Where Bangkok offers buzz, nightlife
and excitement, Chiang Mai gives you nature,
vagabond dream. Even if you
can help in finding your a more relaxed lifestyle and great outdoor
have a very useful skill, such first contract: sports. Nestled in the mountains up north,
427 miles from Thailand’s capital, it’s the
as a Ruby on Rails developer,
• AngelList – AL zeroes in on a great employ- country’s second largest city and an outdoors-
you’ll need to hook up with a
ment sector, the startup market, which is generally man’s Mecca. You can enjoy hiking, biking,
paying client who will recog-
open to remote, contract positions. In fact, its tagline kayaking and a variety of other invigorating
nize and reward your abilities.
says 18,335 of the world’s best startups are hiring pursuits. Those who live here have emigrated
The solution is market-
on AngelList. The site has great search capability and from fast-paced, high-octane metropolises for
ing – SALES and marketing.
prides itself on complete transparency, with remu- a quieter, more laid-back experience.
Cringe, horror, you mean I
neration details revealed for each job. Angel.co Nomad List named it the number-one
have to sell? Afraid so. Unless
• Problogger – Founder Darren Rouse is a re- destination for digital nomads. Why? Because
you’ve negotiated a move
spected, veteran blogger who offers great tips for pro- it tops the charts for cost of living, climate,
from permanent employee to
moting yourself and finding freelance jobs, not just as Internet speed, low crime and access to fellow
contractor with your present
writers/bloggers, but in a variety of other marketing- remote workers. In addition to its 300-plus
employer (that’s the perfect
type jobs as well. He has an active job board which Buddhist temples, low-priced massages and
combination), you’ll need to
is updated daily. Take a peek and you’ll find hiring over 400 restaurants, it has one of the world’s
match your skills with some-
employers ranging from startups to established, re- best co-working facilities, Punspace. The
one who needs them. You
spected Internet companies. Jobs.problogger.net company hosts two well-furnished locations,
need the hunger of a starv-
• Remoteok – Hundreds of jobs here, mostly in
ing man and the drive of a
high-tech companies, many of them start-ups. With a
Nanshan District cabbie.
very clean interface and easy-to-search database that
Although many nomads
allows users to filter results by type, you can find re-
fear and abhor selling, the
sults by location, pay range and whether the job can
successful realize it’s essen-
be done remotely. Remoteok.io
tial. It’s also a talent that’s not
• Meetup – A great resource for networking and
difficult to learn, and you can
finding job opportunities. Meetups are available in
find help. In fact, the digital
most major cities throughout the world and bring
nomad movement has gained
together people who share common interests. Simply
such proportions that a size-
search for nomad, tech, marketing or job gather-
able support ecosystem has
ings in your city. For instance, the site lists both a
emerged to make this vital
Guangzhou Remote Workers meetup and an Internet
component easier.
Startups meetup in Shenzhen. Meetup.com
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restaurants on-site, 24/7 access and blazing-fast Wi-Fi for a
mere 3,500 baht (RMB650) per month.
According to one of Punspace’s early members, Bibi
Shand, a 51-year-old Lithuanian mobile app developer,
Chiang Mai is beloved for good reason. “I’ve been here, off
and on, for almost five years. Chiang Mai is the best price
performer in Asia, offers the best restaurants and attracts
an intriguing international crowd of tourists, professional
gypsies and guest lecturers at Chiang Mai University. I love
its unpretentious, New Age feel. It helps me balance my hec-
tic work life. I hesitate to sing this city’s praises too loudly. I
don’t want to see it get ruined.”
Shand also notes that Chiang Mai’s proximity to
Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries makes travel
easy and inexpensive.
Davao, Philippines – Beach Paradise
The Philippines is known for its large online freelance
– Visa challenges – Some coun-
community – even back in 2013, local freelancers were re-
ported to have made a whopping USD76 million on Elance
PROS tries are more lenient than others,
+ Permanent release from cubi- and some passports have greater
(since rebranded as Upworks). As with Chiang Mai, the main
cle hell – Enough said; if you’ve been cachet. The nomad grapevine can be
attractions are fast Internet, low cost of living and a large
there, you understand how important helpful in learning what’s what in the
English-speaking community.
this is. country you’re in, but you better get
Davao is the place to go those seeking palm trees and
+ Set your own hours – Are you used to border runs; they’re an una-
sandy beaches. With the abundance of small islands and
most productive from 9pm to 4am? voidable part of the dance.
water activities, the Philippines is a paradise for sunbathers,
Have at it. If you can deliver on time – Miss out on family events –
surfers and adrenaline junkies.
and as committed, you can work any Weddings, births, funerals. Life on
“I have tried several places in Asia, but the Philippines is
hours you choose. That’s freedom. the road has many positives, but you
just the right vibe for me,” says Dan Kwatkowski, surfer, blog-
+ Geographic mobility – Live will miss family events when they are
ger and an aspiring startup founder. “Sure, Internet is not
wherever you desire and move when- taking place 10,000 miles away. That
always great – you have to know places. But once you settle
ever your feet get itchy. may be a blessing or not, depending
down, it all falls into place. I can’t imagine my life without a
+ Pick and choose your projects on your point of view. Skype, Google
beach. And Davao is great for that.”
– With in-demand skills and the re- Hangouts and other video chat apps
sources to hear about new opportuni- can greatly reduce the distance.
Shenzhen, China – A Good Place to ties, you can work on a series of short- – No stable home – This may
Startup term, full-time contracts or take on
multiple long-term, part-time ones. We
be an issue or not, depending on
your priorities and life choices. Some
talked to people who’d been in the field nomads find one or two cities they
When you think of a ‘slow’ life and relaxing atmosphere,
a couple of years and found most of fall in love with and migrate between
Shenzhen probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind.
their work comes from referrals. It pays them, proving ‘home’ bears different
However, the city seduces with its international vibe, proxim-
to cultivate contacts and over-deliver. definitions for everyone.
ity to Hong Kong and the ever-growing startup culture. With
+ Meet and work with interest- – Time zone differences – If
an abundance of tech companies looking for talent, Shenzhen
ing people – Follow the example you’re living in Hong Kong and your
serves as a promising jump-off point for your new lifestyle.
of Chad, a Singaporean nomad who Chicago client schedules a 3pm con-
Many of the city’s new tech companies are eager to hire
works with developers in Colombia, ference call, it means you need to be
professionals, but are often not able to offer an attractive full-
Belarus and Romania. “These bright up at 2am. Since many clients are in
time package. This makes for some good negotiating ground
techies are not only my project life- other parts of the world, time zone
and may lead to a stable telecommuting position.
lines, but some become my friends. accommodation is part of the job.
Bill Davis, an IT professional, first journeyed to China all
They’re interesting people with excit-
the way back in 2001. He then found full-time employment
ing lives, and we share a lot.”
with one of the local companies and worked 9-to-6 days for
four years.
“I was eager to learn about China, study the language, CONS CONCLUSION
meet the people, and was actually hoping to put it all into a – Eat what you kill – Some So, are you still planning to write
book later on,” he recalls. “But I soon realized that I was be- nomads love their work but that resignation letter? A nomadic life-
ing naive. Working full time left me with no ‘me’ time, and cringe when selling and style may not be for everyone, but there
traveling during public holidays was a major hassle. It then marketing themselves. That are useful lessons to be learned from the
dawned on me that I would be leaving China without know- spells disaster and could trend. The fact that technology is now letting
ing anything about it.” boomerang you back to us even consider exploring the world with a
The grim realization led Davis to quit his job. He spent the corporate cubicle. laptop is nothing short of amazing. It’s a tempt-
over six months looking for a freelance position and settled Successful nomads use ing idea, one that’s catching on. According to
in Shenzhen. Now, he has several stable clients and enough contacts and networking certain forecasts, by 2035 there will be one bil-
time to see the world. “Shenzhen just has all I need,” he says. to develop relationships lion remote workers. That’s a population larger
“I can easily hop on a train to almost any town in China, and a steady pipeline of than that of Europe, South America or North
plus there is Hong Kong Airport. I can be in Thailand or Bali work. America. And they will all be wireless.
within a few hours.”
1 2 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mci t y | Pho t o E s s ay
Folds within
The Modern Art of Origami
by Tristin Zhang
W
hen the subject of origami is mentioned, most people think of flapping birds
and children’s toys. While that’s certainly where the craft began, it has since
been developed into an intricate and demanding aesthetic form. From mam-
moths, dragons and unicorns to facsimiles of Predator, Yoda and Snoopy, the
modern art of origami has introduced a realm of unlimited possibilities and fragile beauty.
Beyond visual pleasure, its techniques have also been applied in the fields of mathematics
and engineering. For instance, origami has been used to perfect automotive airbag deploy-
ment and space telescopes.
Stretching back to the Tokugawa period (1603-1868) in Japan, origami was originally a
kiddy diversion. The well-known paper crane figure is a classic example; easy to fold and tak-
ing less than five minutes to mold in experienced hands. You would think that for something
which has been around for hundreds of years, everything that could have been done with it
would have been done with it.
However, it was raised to a new level of ingenuity in the last century by Japanese origa-
mist Akira Yoshizawa, who created hundreds of thousands of new models. His most signifi-
cant contribution was ‘wet folding,’ a technique that employs water to make manipulations of
the paper easier. Objects assembled through wet folding have a sculptural finish to them, and
it was this that helped reshape public perceptions of origami as an art form.
Today, with the help of computer programming, origami has developed in a more tech-
nical sense. Using math and engineering principles to formulate crease patterns (based on
which the paper is folded) allows artists to devise complicated human effigies and multi-
1 4 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mFolds
scaled snakes.
Still, the reason for origami’s appeal remains the same as
ever: the inventive way a single sheet of paper can be trans-
formed, by dexterous folding alone, into everything from a
dragon to the grim reaper.
Zhang Chi is a freelance designer based in Panyu,
Guangzhou. He developed his paper-craft hobby at a young
age. In 2006, through a Chinese bulletin board system called
Tianya Forum, he first learned about the non-cut models of
modern Japanese origami done via wet folding. He has been
practicing the skill ever since.
When Zhang started, people in China were replicating
origami patterns designed and published online by foreign
enthusiasts. Zhang was initially the same, but unlike those
who took pleasure in following in the creases of others, he
was creative and insightful enough to learn how to make his
own templates. The results have been acclaimed by his peers.
Here are some of Zhang’s phenomenal origami models,
all of which required days of complex designing and folding.
w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 1 5cit y | man on the street
Straight to Your Doorstep
Baidu Takeout Deliveryman
by Tristin Zhang
W
hen Google extended its ser- The Jiangxi native is working for a wage of pear clean and professional and that we obey
vices to the field of shopping RMB3,000 per month plus ‘reward earning,’ traffic rules. We are told to never put packages
delivery in America, Baidu’s the amount of which is based on the number on the ground,” Lai remarks. “We are picked
copycat mavens must have of orders accomplished as well as ratings on sometimes, especially by those running
been wondering, “What can we do in China?” from customers and businesses. small businesses in wholesale markets. They
The answer they came up with was takeout. Orders are automatically distributed to are picky and have no courtesy. Some don’t
After raising approximately USD300 mil- him by Baidu’s system, which also sets him even thank you. It’s the worst.”
lion at the end of 2015, the web giant’s O2O a maximum delivery time. If he exceeds the According to Baidu, its delivery service
vessel, Baidu Waimai, set sail into the sea of time, he receives no rewards. “But it only hap- covers over 100 cities and boasts a total of
food delivery service with a fleet of electrical pens with novices,” explains Lai. His work is 30 million registered members in China as of
bikes. recorded in Baidu’s internal app, which is spe- November 2015. For most people, it’s simply
Deliverymen on company velocipedes, at- cifically designed for Baidu Waimai staff. a way to make metropolitan life easier. For
tired in bright red uniforms and hats, shuttle Lai starts his day at 10am and must work Lai Jinbao, it’s a way to explore and adapt to a
to and fro between restaurants, coffee shops eight hours. He receives orders in the app, strange new city.
or bakeries and houses, apartments or of- confirms with the clients, plans out the route
fices through a warren of streets, competing in his mind, picks up the packages, drops
THE DIRTY DETAILS
against time and weather. them off and waits for more orders to come
When Lai Jinbao launched into his first in. “Now I can deliver three or four packages Monthly salary: RMB6,000 (base wage
day as a deliveryman for Baidu Waimai in at a time,” he boasts.
plus incentives)
Guangzhou, it was a mess. “It was confusing. The app keeps his score marked accord-
I wasn’t familiar with routes and locations. ing to the number of five-star ratings received, Days per week: 7 days
I had to refer to the map on my phone and which decides his rank. His rank in return de-
Hours per day: 8
could only do one delivery in a run,” recalls cides the size of reward he can earn per order.
Lai. He is one of 60 Baidu Waimai employees Lai is currently a ‘God’s Rider,’ a title that car-
in the commercially active Taojin area. ries with it an additional 1.8 kuai per order. > man on the street is a monthly feature where we talk to
This is Lai’s first job in Guangzhou, a city “We have a quality-control supervisor someone doing an everyday job, in order to get an insight into
which he has been in for only three months. who takes photos of us to ensure that we ap- the lives of normal chinese people.
1 6 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mw w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 1 7
LIFE & STYLE style radar
TCM and you will often feel relief when
you get off the table at the end of
a session.
Soothing Stress If the source of your stress is
short lived or has already passed,
A little stress is a natural part of life – it mo-
then just a couple treatments
tivates you and warns you of danger. Too
should be enough. However, if
much, however, can make life miserable and
stress is ongoing or extreme, or if
is terrible for your health. Proper stress man-
it has already led to chronic health
agement is one of the basic requirements for
issues, then treatment will take
well-being. When you think of ways to control
longer and will likely include both
it, having acupuncture needles poked into you
acupuncture and herbal medicine.
and then left in place for 30 minutes or drink-
You can use Chinese medicine
ing a murky herbal tea made from boiling a
as an ongoing relaxation tech-
mixture of twigs, roots and minerals may not
nique and to try and reduce the
immediately spring to mind, but both are ac-
likelihood that recurrent stress
tually very relaxing.
will lead to chronic health problems.
Maybe you’re wondering, ‘what’s so bad els and slows your body’s healing and repair
Ultimately, though, if you are regularly
about stress anyway?’ Or maybe you’re some- processes. Left untreated, it increases your
so stressed that your well-being is affected,
one who achieves more when stress is high. risk of chronic health problems like heart
then you probably need to be making some
From a Chinese medical standpoint, stress disease, autoimmune disorders, depression
changes in your daily life. These changes may
causes stagnation in the circulation of energy and gastro-intestinal diseases, and exacer-
be simple time management adjustments,
in your body. This is turn will impair blood bates many pre-existing health problems like
or they may involve more major change
circulation, cause muscle tension, disrupt some asthma, skin conditions, chronic pain and high
like leaving your job, but they should be ad-
organ functions, deplete energy levels and un- blood pressure.
dressed. Otherwise, you may be stuck with
settle emotions. In the short term, stress leads Acupuncture and herbal medicine can
your stress-related symptoms indefinitely.
to a range of unpleasant symptoms like anxiety, help you feel less stressed and address many
poor mental clarity, fatigue, headaches, muscle related health problems. The combination is > jon hanlon is a chinese medical practitioner, raised in the
tension, change in appetite and insomnia. soothing, and for many people the effect is im- us, trained in australia, now healing the sick in Guangzhou.
If stress persists for longer periods, it mediate. The treatment rebalances the flow of you can contact him for a booking on 185 0202 5594 or jon@
weakens your immunity, affects hormone lev- qi through the energy pathways of your body, guangzhouacupuncture.com
20 minutes, so don’t let any of those excuses
Fitness hold you back! The worst-case scenario is that
you’ll maintain your current fitness level.
Staying Steadfast through Three to four rounds of the following:
Summer － 1 minute jogging on the spot
－ 15 squats
Just because we hit the summer months,
－ 20 deadbugs
that doesn’t mean we should stop training.
－ 25 jumping jacks
Unfortunately, it does for a lot of you out
－ 30 mountain climbers
there. When we’re in the holiday mindset,
－ 20 prisoner walking lunges
the excuses start piling up. “There’s no gym.”
－ 10 push-ups
“I’m too busy visiting all my family.” “I have
－ 5 tuck jumps
so much to get done while I’m back home.”
“Relax we’re on holiday, let’s just go to the
If the exercises are unfamiliar, WeChat
beach.” I could name a thousand other rea-
KaraK2Fit and I will personally walk you
sons that I hear from my clients year after
through it. Contact me throughout the sum-
year. You may be fooling yourself, but you’re
mer and let me know how you’re doing. I’ll
not fooling me! In the end though, we only have one body.
happily give you feedback, modifications, ku-
I’ve spent the last several months battling So do you want to live healthily, feel good and
dos or all of the above.
my own health issues. This humbling experi- look good? This should be an easy question to
Now, what’s your excuse? Meiyou. Go
ence has taught me never to take my body answer ‘yes’ to! And if you said ‘no,’ I strongly
train!
and health for granted, but it also makes it suggest you think about why.
even less believable when people neglect their With that little tangent complete, here’s > Kara wutzke is a fitness trainer who offers boot camps and
bodies. We all have 24 hours in a day. We all the deal. Because I care about you and your individual classes in Guangzhou, as well as running the K2fit
have busy lives. We all have our own mental health, I have a program set up for you to do challenge, a 10-week guided fitness competition for those
or physical obstacles, whether they are big or wherever you are. Find just 20 minutes per who want to tone up or slim down. she can be contacted by
small. And all of these things are relevant. day and get it done. We both know you have emailing k2fit.gz@gmail.com or through wechat iD: KaraK2fit
1 8 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mDaytripper
Humen Opium War Museum
Dongguan’s reputation is a somewhat murky Though his actions inadvertently led to
one. In the plus column, it is a powerful man- China’s invasion by Western forces, today he
ufacturing base, a beacon of productivity in is lauded for his uncompromising morals and
the region. On the other hand, it also houses true patriotism.
one of the largest, emptiest shopping malls Stepping off the bus at the memo-
in the world, a classic hubristic construction. rial park, the atmosphere is surprisingly
Even more memorably, the city remains a peaceful. A large open area greets you with
offers a few other attractions, like the Sea
byword all over the country for prostitution, monuments, walkways and the first major
Battle Museum, Keyuan Garden (created in
even though the industry has been strongly highlight of your trip: a flower-filled lake
1850 during the Qing Dynasty), Shajiao Fort
curtailed by repeated police raids. in the shade of tall trees. Most visitors take
and more morsels to satiate your craving for
But long before its modern-day noto- their time here, snapping photos and stroll-
local history. NS
riety as a sex haven, Dongguan was famed ing around the water. As you walk further, a
throughout the land for a different illicit row of cannons greets you at the entrance to > 113 jiefang lu, humen, Dongguan 东莞市虎门镇解放路113号
activity: drug smuggling. In fact, it was here the museum. (0769-8551 2065)
that the fuse was lit for one of the most ex- Unlike most local museums, the Lin Zexu
plosive events of Chinese history, the Opium Memorial uses clear, well-worded (though
Wars. at times direct and even harsh) English de-
Located in Humen, a town within the scriptions, and by the time you make it to the How to Get There
borders of Dongguan city, the Opium War third-floor exhibition hall, you will have all From Shenzhen there are two options.
Museum is a reminder of those controver- the dates and names you need, accompanied Take a bus from Luohu Bus Station to
sial conflicts. Also known as the Lin Zexu by plenty of visuals. Humen Bus Station, then take a city bus
Memorial Museum, it is dedicated to the The exhibition is centered on the spring (3A) or taxi to the museum. Alternatively,
man who stood firm in the face of the foreign of 1839, when massive amounts of opium go to Shenzhen North Railway Station,
powers pedaling their mind-numbing wares. were destroyed – a crackdown led and initi- take a high-speed train to Humen Railway
ated by Lin Zexu, Chinese scholar and official Station and take a taxi to the museum.
for the Qing Dynasty. Both journeys take a total of about
The museum’s galleries don’t go into two hours from the city center. From
too much detail describing the actual Opium Guangzhou, take a 20-minute train from
Wars, instead focusing on the occurrences the South Railway Station to Humen
leading up to them and how local lifestyle Railway Station, then a 20-minute taxi to
was affected by colonial activity and the the museum. Entry is free.
opium trade.
Unless you plan on spending the whole > Daytripper is a monthly column that aims to help people
day within the museum’s modest walls, you get the most out of their PRD experience by proposing fun
will also have time to explore Humen. The excursions that can be made in a single day to explore the
small factory town is unexpectedly green and local culture and nature of the region.
w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 1 9life & st yle | s
f ea a
l tounr e
Luxury
on the Go
A Look at the Travel Habits of
Young Chinese Luxury Jetsetters
By Dominic Ngai
2 0 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mT O
he image of various inappropriate or n May 30, hundreds gathered
at the Shanghai Exhibition
Centre for the International
uncivilized (bu wenming) behaviors in Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)
Asia 2016 – a four-day exhibition and
public may have once been the stereotype conference attended by high-end hotel
brands, travel agencies and media from
designated to Chinese travelers, but the around the globe. On the stage was Hurun
Report chairman and chief researcher
times are a-changin’ as a young generation of jetsetters Rupert Hoogewerf, who addressed the au-
dience with a discussion on “why China’s
from the Middle Kingdom become much more Gen Y is driving global luxury” at the
opening forum.
internationally minded and economically powerful. The topic was chosen in association
with the release of the ‘Chinese Luxury
Traveler 2016’ report by his company
and Marriott International that same
week, which sheds light on the travel
habits of high net worth adults from
12 first- and second-tier cities born
after 1980, who spend an average of
RMB420,000 on travel per household
each year. Research was conducted on
525 individuals who fit the requirements,
surveying them on their favorite travel
destinations, hotel and airline prefer-
ences, overseas consumption patterns,
sources for travel recommendations and
more.
Miki Tang is currently the lifestyle
director of women’s luxury magazine
Richesse and former fashion and lifestyle
editor for the Chinese editions of Robb
Report, Leon and InStyle. She embodies
the spirit of a young and savvy luxury
traveler. A week after ILTM, we met at
Aunn, one of the hippest cafes in Jing’an –
a location chosen by her.
The media industry veteran is also
the author of Around the World in High
Heels (高跟鞋走地球), a series of travel
guidebooks incorporating Sex and the
City-esque romance story elements set
in popular travel destinations. The first
of the series (on Paris and Seoul) was re-
leased in September 2015 along with her
WeChat subscription account of the same
name, which boasts nearly 100,000 fol-
lowers. A travel video collaboration with
online streaming platform iQiyi.com is in
production, while a silver screen adapta-
tion inspired by her book is planned for a
2017 release.
According to Hurun’s ‘Chinese
w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 2 1life & s t y le | fe at ure
I think there’s a change
in the Chinese attitude
to spending money;
they are more willing
to spend more on an
experience – such as
travel – instead of just
buying actual products
like shoes or handbags
Luxury Traveler 2016’ re- tisers. I’ve always wanted to Michelin-starred restaurants.
port, respondents revealed start my own thing, some- “There are ‘smart’ ways to
that official accounts like thing with an overarching enjoy them, such as visiting at
High Heels and their friends’ theme of qingshe [轻奢, which lunch or ordering their tast-
WeChat moments are their directly translates to ‘light ing menu,” she explains.
major travel information luxury’],” says Tang of the Tang and her peers are
sources (48 and 47 percent, reason why she started High the faces of an emerging mar-
respectively), while tradi- Heels three years ago. ket segment that new hotels
tional media such as TV, She’s referring to the idea want to tap into. According
newspapers, SMS ads and of spreading the gospel of to the Hurun survey, young
cold calls were at the bottom spending money on travel, luxury travelers’ hotel budg-
of the list, used by only 7-22 but doing so in a smart way, ets average RMB3,113 per
percent of respondents. to her target audience: mostly room per night, while France
Gathering recommenda- stylish, financially inde- is listed as the most popular
tions from Tang's work con- pendent and well-educated destination in Europe and
tacts in the fashion industry women. One of her travel phi- one of the top favorite shop-
around the globe, ‘High Heels’ losophies, especially for solo ping destinations among the
focuses more on the trendi- female travelers, is to stay at respondents.
est places in each city where a good hotel even if it means La Reserve Paris, one
the creative types hang out, paying more. of the newest hotels in the
rather than the most obvious, “For example, if I’m going French capital, is located
tourist-y parts of town that somewhere for four nights, I’d next to Champs-Elysees in
she is obliged to report on stay in one of the most iconic the 160-year-old former
when she’s working for some- or signature hotels of the city residence of French states-
one else. for two nights. For the rest man Dike de Morny. Opened
“As an editor, the stories of the trip, I’d move to a con- in February, the property was
that you cover are often lim- temporary, design-focused restored as a chic yet classical
ited by the positioning and boutique hotel, which are 19th-century-style Parisian
style of publication or adver- cheaper.” Another tip is about urban mansion, offering 26
2 2 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o msuites and 14 rooms. business travel destination for
The hotel’s CEO Didier Le young Chinese luxury travelers),
Calvez is confident that their Dream Hotels is gearing up for
offerings will satisfy the in- the grand opening of its Los
creasingly discerning palates Angeles outpost this fall.
of young luxury Chinese trave- Director of Hotel Sales at
lers, who view “personalized Dream Hollywood, Matthew
services,” “unique brand style” Yoakum, is ready and excited to
and “artistic design” (in ad- receive this new generation of
dition to room conditions) as Chinese luxury jetsetters. Their
the most important decision- sister properties in New York
making factors when choosing and Miami have already seen a
a hotel. five to six percent average year-
“La Reserve hotels are fo- on-year increase in the number
cused on the Chinese clientele,” of Chinese visitors.
he tells me. “In Paris, we’re “Dream Hotels have always
able to offer tailor-made and been in the forefront of engag-
on-demand Chinese breakfasts, ing technology. We have the
while our Geneva property has advantage of building a hotel
Tse Fung, an upscale Chinese from scratch, integrating both
restaurant with 19 Cantonese technology and comfort into
chefs working in the kitchen.” the luxury of our property. Not
Le Calvez also adds that only is our hotel ‘China ready,’
La Reserve is fully aware that it’s also ready for the future,”
WeChat is the perfect chan- Yoakum tells me.
nel to communicate with the At this modern-style
Chinese clientele, hence an of- boutique hotel designed to at-
ficial WeChat account is launch- tract a younger audience, iPad Didier Le Calvez,
ing in July. Besides featuring menus created with interac- CEO of La
Reserve Paris
news from its properties, the tive multilingual software that
account will also share lifestyle allows you to have the entire
and wine-related content (the hotel at your fingertips are
owner Michel Reybier has a standard features in all 179
vineyard in Bordeaux) to its fol- rooms. “We have everything
lowers. these young luxury travelers More than 60 percent of the re- “When I first entered the
Halfway across the Atlantic are looking for,” Yoakum adds. spondents in the Hurun survey business, I remember looking at
in the US (the number-one And he’s onto something – cite interactive digital utilities social media platforms (Weibo
as their favorite hotel service, at the time) and everyone was
Matthew Yoakum,
Director of Hotel coming in just behind butlers showing off new clothes and
Sales, Dream (68 percent). accessories they bought during
Hollywood
But it’s not just about the their travels. Over the past few
hardware. Like La Reserve Paris, years, however, on my WeChat
Dream Hollywood has also moments, I’ve noticed people
solicited help from a Shanghai- are now more keen on posting
based PR team to head up their their experiences – the trendy
WeChat account to lure po- cafes or restaurants they’ve been
tential guests from the Middle to or the cool people they’ve met
Kingdom with a soft touch. In along the way,” she says.
addition to the basic hotel news “I think there’s a change in
and promotions, they’re also the Chinese attitude to spend-
thinking of partnerships with ing money; they are more will-
local KOLs. “We’d like our target ing to spend more on an experi-
audience to see us while swiping ence – such as travel – instead
their WeChat moments, giving of just buying actual products
a broader and more holistic like shoes or handbags,” Tang
communications architecture,” adds.
Yoakum says. With 2016 being the first
Back at Aunn Café in Jing’an, year in history when the num-
Miki Tang’s observations into ber of billionaires in China
China’s emerging travel market surpassed the number in the US
left a lasting impression. Since (according to another study by
starting out as a fashion editor Hurun Report released in early
nine years ago, she’s been trave- 2016), there’s no doubt that all
ling regularly for both business luxury travel providers will be
and leisure – often away from looking at innovative ways to get
home for at least two weeks a slice of this increasingly influ-
each month. ential market.
w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 2 3L i f e & s t y l e | tf ra s
l a vh ei ol n
This Summer’s Essential Eyewear
by Tongfei Zhang & Dominic Ngai
FOR HIM
Kate Wood
RMB688
www.katewoodoriginals.com
Pull&Bear
RMB299
www.pullandbear.cn
Kate Wood
RMB688
www.katewoodoriginals.com
Kate Wood
RMB688
www.katewoodoriginals.com
2 4 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mZara
RMB199
www.zara.cn
Bershka
RMB129
www.bershka.cn
Bershka
RMB99
www.bershka.cn
Kate Wood
RMB688
www.katewoodoriginals.com
La Perla
RMB2,750
www.laperla.com/cn
Pull&Bear
RMB99
www.pullandbear.cn
FOR HER
Sunglasses are
probably the most useful
accessories out there. Too lazy to put
on makeup? Got pandas eyes from working (or
werking) too hard the night before? Or simply want to
spice up your look a little? Just throw on a pair of cool shades and
walk out the door – you’ll feel like a million yuan. True story. So, invest in a few
pairs this summer and look awesome while you’re hungover. Oh wait… Did we mention
that sunglasses are also meant to protect your eyes from blinding UV rays?
w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o m | G Z | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | 2 5ARTS co llag e
Coming to a theater near you What’s New
Bounty Hunters Celebrated abroad, Chinese arthouse king Jia Zhangke is launch-
ing an online platform for short films. Jiascreen will introduce
two new short films a week from first- or second-time directors
around the world. Free for users, Jia plans for the service to be
accessed mainly through WeChat with a goal of reaching one mil-
lion registered users. To be launched at www.jiascreen.com.
july Just 17 years old, A-Bu takes a major leap on his sophomore disc,
1 Butterflies Fly in Pairs. Having covered Coltrane on his debut, the
This new age of Asian cinematic cooperation Beijing-based pianist flexes his post-bop composition chops in this
has never looked more thrilling in this star- new release. Recorded in New York City, he’s backed by stalwarts
studded mainland-Hong Kong-South Korea like saxophonist Antonio Hart and bassist Tom Kennedy. Released by
co-production. South Korean heartthrob Sennheiser Music and is streamable on Xiami.
Lee Min-ho makes his first appearance in a
Chinese film alongside Wallace Chung (The
Continent) and Tang Yan (Farewell for Love).
Director Shin Tae-ra brings the manic touch As one of Modern Sky’s original acts, New Pants have already
that made his 2009 film My Girlfriend Is an established themselves as the Beijing music scene’s dance-pop
Agent a big hit in this story about five young, heart. On their first album in five years, the quartet are beginning
danger-loving strangers who team up to cap- to somewhat act their age. Because of You Life is Hot downplays
ture criminals for rewards. Filmed in China, the rhythmic intensity of their past classics for something more
Thailand and South Korea, Bounty Hunters melancholic (yet melodic). Available at buy.modernsky.com.
used a top Hollywood team for
special effects with promises of
gunfights, car races and parachut- hao bu hao
ing escapades.
Hao
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Great news for video-game nerds.
– Out of the Shadows While the film adaptation of
Warcraft was a box-office flop
in North America (earning only
USD29.9 million), it earned over
USD180 million in less than 10 days
in China. Its streaming video rights
on the mainland were purchased by
PPTV for a whopping USD18 million
july – reportedly twice the price of the
2 previous record holder.
The 1980s hit cartoon series charmed
a new generation with its 2014 reboot,
which became a surprise hit. In the follow-
up, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael and Bu Hao
Leonardo must tap into their collective turtle
Bad news for sci-fi nerds. The
power as they face off against their sworn
much-hyped cinematic adaptation
enemy, Shredder, who is aided by two newly
of Liu Cixin’s pioneering The Three
converted mutants, Bebop and Rocksteady.
Body Problem has been delayed
It’s not just a CGI fest, as Transformers’ Megan
from its summertime release.
Fox and Arrow’s Stephen Amell reprise their
Rumors are running rampant on-
roles as intrepid reporter April O’Neil and
line that the production has gone
corrections officer Casey Jones. The film has
way over budget. Liu has refused
already grossed over USD100 mil-
to comment, but director Kong
lion, topping the American box
Ergou promises the film will hit big
office last month on its opening
screens by next June at the latest.
weekend. Cowabunga!
2 6 | J u ly 2 0 1 6 | G Z | w w w . t h a t s m a g s . c o mYou can also read
