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Hi Jian Shuo,

Topic suggested: bi-lingual schools for children of expatriates, without the high costs of international schools. You being single and still child-less, you may not have direct experience searching for schools but perhaps your friends or readers could post suggestions on good local bilingual schools in Shanghai.

Other suggested topic: good local hospitals or medical centers to go to, again without the high cost of expatriate medical centers.

He is married, not single.

I like to hear about people's thoughts on the currency exchange rates between the USD and the Chinese Yuan. The rate was at Y8.28 to $1 the last time I visited. It is Y7.90 to $1 today. Do people still hold on to dollars like what I remember from the 1980s?

Wang JianShuo, I am curious as to why Chinese feel they have to use a Western name, even in China. My wife is Wang ChunMei, but is known as Cindy here in the UK. Her reason is that Westerners find Chinese names difficult. This may be so, but why the need for a Western name in China? I hope you find this a worthy topic. I look forward to hearing your view.

Best place to eat for locals.

few topics

best International school at the cheapest prices ...

why shanghai is considered one of top expensive city in Asia, when since China is not Sh shall be more cheaper...

Pollution, from the latest report, either by satellite sulfur and CO2 cheks, as from water testing, and mycrodust test, SH is after BJ one fo the most polluted metropolis on earth, any discussion to indicate how to help and prevent pollution for a better enviroment for every body ?

SH car plate, the outrages prices, till when the auction will go on ?

Dine and Wine.. where best Chinese ( Si Chuan, Cantonese, etc) food, Western ( pls avoid junk, food such papa jhons, mkdonald, pizza hut or similar they just rubbish items sold as food, that make only bad to human body and mistify the understanding of western food)

Shanghai Universities, Fudan e more which one the best

SH Man Power, why there is seriosu shortage of qualified man power in the middle and lower level

more next time

some movies, books and so on.

More tech stuff! :)

Thanks everyone. These are all very interesting topics. I will pickup a topic one by one in the future. After I have an entry about the topic, I will post links to it in the comment.

Jian Shuo

Good morning :)

I'm curious about how to get information on Shanghai buses. Each time I go there, I get lost trying to ride the bus, because the map only has random bus numbers on it, not routes. Is there a central guide or book for reference that I can buy?

Thanks a million!

What use English name in China?

Of course, you are right, there is no functional need. It's a fashion, stupid :-)

Anything western is still considered fashion, and it will probably remain so for the next 2-3 decades.

Those cool dudes in American movies would surely reinforce this "fashion".

why use English name in china?

the English name is easy to remember for the foreign people .

chinese name is pronunced difficult.

shirley

Why do Asians have western names?

First, a lot of asians (especially) are also Christians, hence their western names. e.g. In countries like India and Phillipines, Christians even have western names as their last name. Second, when Chinese are abroad, its just easier to have western names coz we don't want people to massacre our names. Finally, when Asians have western names at home, we VERY rarely use it among ourselves. Its only for foreigners and again see above reason why.

I have to dispute that.

Chinese celebrity such as Yao Ming, Zhang Ziyi etc, do you think English speaking Caucasian have any difficulty to pronounce their names? or do you see any government official carries a Christian name when addressing the foreign dignatories. It is due to many Chinese are too 'shy' to put forward their Chinese name especially when they try to subculture into Western society.

How often do you see a Japanese bears a Western name? because they have deep respect of their culture and heritage.

lol Stephen, first you should change your name. Second, you think caucasians pronounces Zhang Ziyi's name correctly??? You may be right, people are shy thats because when you are in Rome, do as the Romans do. Chinese is not easy to pronounce for Caucasians than say Indian names and Japanese name. You will be shy too if everyone distorts your name and call it something completely different. Take the example of Polish, Czechs etc in Russia. They have all changed their names to make it easy for local Americans to pronounce.

Interesting discussion. I think if I am ever so fortunate as to be able to visit Shanghai, I will have to ask Jian Shuo to suggest a good Chinese name for me to use while I am traveling in your country! :-)

My suggestions

- Intl schools in Shanghai ( Why so costly?, procedure to set up a new one etc). As suggested by many others

- A review of http://live.shanghaidaily.com/

- How to electronic goods on-line?

- How to get a credit card? ( with english statement :-)

- How to get and use GPS in english in Shanghai? Does shanghai have an english GPS map?

- How to check the mobile usage points and encash the same for new phones!!!

more later

:-)

Loks

TAXI SAFETY

SOME TAXIS TELL US TO FASTEN SEATBELTS, BUT THE BUCKLE BELT HAS BEEN PUSHED DOWN UNDER THE SEAT IN THE BACK OF THE TAXI.

THE POINT I MAKE IS THIS......

WHY DO THE TAXI COMPANIES & DRIVERS MAKE THIS DECISION REGARDING OUR SAFETY? LEAVE THE SEATBELT AS IT IS AND LET US MAKE OUR DECISION.

THESE SMALL POINTS REMIND ME THAT CHINA IS STILL A DEVELOPING COUNTRY, A FACT WHICH I OFTEN FORGET WHILST IN THIS SPLENDID CITY.

PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN FORWARD MY OPINION TO A TAXI COMPANY

Foreign Consulates in China

Chengdu

United States of America

Add: 4 Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu, Chengdu, Sichuan

Tel: 028-5583992

Dalian

Japan

Add: 6 Bao He Street, Zhongshan Ward

Tel: 0411-2712005-7

Guangzhou

Australia

Add: Room 1401, Level 14, Main Building, Gitac Plaza, 339 Huan Shi Dong Road

Tel: 020-83312738

Canada

Add: China Hotel Office Tower, Suite 1563/4, Liu Hua Lu, 510015

Tel: 020-86660569

Japan

Add: Garden Tower, Garden Ho Tel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, 510064

Tel: 020-83343009/3090

Poland

Add: 63 Shamian Dajie, 510130

Tel: 020-88862872

United States of America

Add: 1 South Shamian Street, 510016

Tel: 020-86677842

Qingdao

Korea

Add: Huiguan Dynasty Hotel, 3/F, Nanhai Road #9, 266003

Tel: 0532-2888900

Shanghai

Australia

Add: Suite 401, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, 200031

Tel: 021-62798098

Austria

Add: Qihua Bldg, 1375 Huaihai Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64712572

Brazil

Add: 10B, Qihua Bldg, 1375 Huaihai Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64370110

Canada

Add: American International Center, West Tower, Suite 604, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, 200040

Tel: 021-62798400

Chile

Add: Rm. 305A, Equatorial Hotel, Yanan Lu

Tel: 021-62494933

Cuba

Add: Rm. 501, 55 Loushanguan Lu

Tel: 021-62753078

Denmark

Add: 701 Shanghai Int'l Trade Center, 2200 Yanan Xi Lu

Tel: 021-62090500

France

Add: Rm. 2008, 20/F, 205 Maoming Nan Lu

Tel: 021-64723631

Germany

Add: 181 Yong Fun Lu

Tel: 021-64336951

India

Add: Rm. 1008, Shanghai Int'l Trade Center, 2200 Yanan Lu

Tel: 021-62758885

Iran

Add: Rm. 1110, Jindu Bldg, 277 Wuxing Lu

Tel: 021-64721389

Italy

Add: 127 Wuyi Lu

Tel: 021-62524373

Japan

Add: 1517 Huaihai Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64336639

Korea

Add: 4F, Shanghai Int'l Trade Center, 2200 Yanan Lu

Tel: 021-62196417

Mexico

Add: 20B, Qihua Bldg, 1375 Huaihai Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64379585

Norway

Add: 8A Qi Hua Tower, 1375 Huaihai Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64712986

Poland

Add: 618 Jianguo Xi Lu

Tel: 021-64339228

Russia

Add: 20 Huangpu Lu

Tel: 021-63242682

Singapore

Add: 400 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64334150

Sweden

Add: 6A Qi Hua Tower, 1375 Huaihai Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64741311

Swiss

Add: 302, West Tower, Sun Plaza, 88 Xianxia Lu

Tel: 021-62700519

Thai

Add: 7 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Wai tan

Tel: 021-63219371

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Add: 3/F Shanghai Center, Nanjing Xi Lu

Tel: 021-62797650

United States of America

Add: 1469 Huai Hai Zhong Lu

Tel: 021-64336880

Shenyang

Japan

Add: 50 Shishi Wei Lu, He Ping Qu, Shenyang, Liaoning

Tel: 024-3227490

United States of America

Add: No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110003

Tel: 3221198

http://www.china-tour.cn/China_Travel_Essentials/Foreign_Consulates_In_China.htm

Traveling in China during Chinese New Year.

I will visit Shanghai soon. Can you give me some information where to buy some baby clothes and other stuff ??

Can you please tell me if the Chinese food in the USA is at all like the kind you eat back in China? I thought I have heard that US Chinese food is not as realistic.

Thanks..........Christine

maybe you can write a bit about air polution in shanghai, as now many foreigners are coming to working there, and of course would like to obtain the information. Hope this help.

maybe more information about shanghai historical sites.

Hi there,

I am an expat in Shanghai who just moved here and have enjoyed reading your blog.

Is there any dried seafood market in Shanghai (preferably in Pudong) or is it just me that I am unable to find any dried seafood market/shop that carries stuff like bird's nest, dried scallops or even dried shrimps /anchovies for cooking. Is there a wholesale centre or a place that you know of?

It seems like people whom i asked all replied that there aren't many seafood imports that they know of.

Thanks for your help on this.

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Best places to eat local food and western food! Make a comparison! Food always works :)

Another one - immigration topics or insurance ones!

Cheers and good Luck!

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