I wonder if anyone has been through the process of getting married to a local Chinese peson recently. I'm marrying my Chinese fiancee later this year (in Kunming) and would be interested in any advice/tips about the overall procedure (esp from Brits, as that will be my Embassy etc). Thanks.
I guess I've been really lucky. Four years living in Kunming, taking taxis almost every day, never (knowingly!) cheated. I've found Kunming taxi drivers to be amongst the most pleasant and helpful in China. Never tried to use one whilst bleeding though, to be fair!
"China" means different things to different people. I think some posts here are meaning the country, some the people, some the government, some the culture/habits. To me they have wildly differing levels of love/hate. And, of course, there is good and bad in every population/culture. Do I lose points for not being strident?
Some Chinese people have bad habits. Most don't. And there is definitely a difference between urban and rural levels of "decent behaviour". But the Chinese people also have a lot of admirable traits - patience, adaptibility, hospitality, curiousity, generosity. It's a shame if we forget, or dismiss, the all the positives because of a few people spitting. (My parents recall a campaign in the UK telling people "not to to spit" as recently as the 1960s!).
Want to make it clear that I'm sorta playing Devil's Advocate here and have nothing but respect for Prop Roots goals and work.
But no, learning a lingua franca doesn't logically mean you should abandon your mother-tongue. My question really is whether encouraging the use of a language that almost nobody else speaks is worth the effort? I suspect it is, but I'm not sure I have a convincing argument why. I agree with it being a vital part of a culture - maybe that's a good enough reason in itself? But a similar effort to learn languages which are widely spoken seems to make more sense to me somehow.
Price is now 100RMB for adults, 70RMB for children.
Some of the animal areas are as far as 10+km from the entrance - you can buy a hop on/off bus ticket for 60RMB per person, but there are also clearly marked walkways for those who are full of energy.
Everything inside is pretty expensive - consider bringing a picnic.
Many of the animals are in large outdoor enclosures. Some are caged. The park calls itself a safari, but this is not a "drive your car amongst the animals" thing. It's more like a decent western zoo.
There are places to handle/be photographed with animals, for a fee. Also, some kids amusements.
The animal show is free, but a waste of time (unless you love watching goats, sheep, pigs, horses etc!!).
Good labelling i English thorughout.
Prague cafe used to be my favourite cafe in Wenlin area but I went for lunch there today after a few months away and it's really gone downhill (new owners?). The menu was a photocopy, the food was lacklustre and much more expensive than before, the decor was dull and the service so-so. I won't be back there anytime soon.
It's open! And it's free. And its terrific for kids.
The museum is surprisingly interactive (although only 2/3 of the attractions are working) and modern (VR, simulators, touchscreens, etc). Sadly, no English on any of the displays but the fun is in trying to work out how the exhibits work and what they are supposed to be showing. Well worth a visit.
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Water treatment plants to be installed along Dianchi
发布者Wouldn't it be great if this worked. Anybody confident?
Coke accused of collecting classified information in China
发布者...not April 1st just yet, is it?
Getting Away: Songming's Crystal Palace
发布者Nice. Thank you.
Interview: Dr Anton Lustig
发布者If it's good enough for Google... Thanks @abcdabcd and others. Fascinating topic and interesting/compelling arguments.
Interview: Dr Anton Lustig
发布者Want to make it clear that I'm sorta playing Devil's Advocate here and have nothing but respect for Prop Roots goals and work.
But no, learning a lingua franca doesn't logically mean you should abandon your mother-tongue. My question really is whether encouraging the use of a language that almost nobody else speaks is worth the effort? I suspect it is, but I'm not sure I have a convincing argument why. I agree with it being a vital part of a culture - maybe that's a good enough reason in itself? But a similar effort to learn languages which are widely spoken seems to make more sense to me somehow.