So far winter just feels a bit warmer than previous few. Quite pleasant for entire year thus far. Will get colder next two months like others have chimed in.
I agree with advocates of putting on more clothes in lieu. This could be beneficial from an energy conservation standpoint as well. We're in Spring City after all, not Beijing or Shanghai with their mandatory water heaters.
Unless one is a hermit holed up beside e-fireplace all day, best to cover oneself in comfy Uniqlo Heattech Ultra Warm clothing beneath down jackets. Granted questions of frugality can be further debated for shoppers at this pricey Japanese retail store.
Nonetheless, there's a good reason Uniqlo was the overall top seller on 11/11. Their heat retention fabrics are second to none. Current b&m store-wide sale from 12/7-12/11. Perhaps a bigger b&m sale on 12/12. We'll see.
Don't completely disagree with you either. A few thoughts:
- As a notable INSEAD professor once taught: catchy, visceral titles are needed in our short attention spanned, Ctrl+Alt+Del generation. For better or worse.
- All classes of society may seek out wealth, fascinated by glitz & glamour, yet despises the type of wealthy as prototypically portrayed. 矛盾 dual draw.
- Cinderella story explores world of exaggerated superficiality that awaits our protagonist. Satirizing the "crazy rich" may appeal to the mass audience.
- Disparity of the wealthy & poor has no color lines, preexisting across all nationalities/ethnicity. This theme isn't isolated to just Asians. Predominately non-Asians watched the film in North America.
- Box office hit doesn't necessary equate to film quality, nor cinematic enjoyment by Mainland or overseas Chinese....
- whom, with curiosity, came out to support "the first all Asian cast" Hollywood film.
Yesterday was the grand opening of Kunming's most massive shopping center Joy City (大悦城) on Huancheng South Road. The immense size of this department store reminds me of Bangkok's Central World. Dizzy big.
Many restaurants were half-off, including @Jan's coconut chicken hotpot, another Jibulu, and my favorite among all buffets, 上井 (ShangJing)...
上井 is an exquisite Japanese cuisine where you sit-at-table and order from a big menu. Haagen dazs ice creams are also all-you-can-eat. I prefer this place over all 5-star hotel buffets in Kunming. Perhaps like yesterday, lunch & dinner may also cost <150rmb today after 50% off.
Definitely recommend 上井 if you're a fan of Japanese food. They have several chains throughout the city. First 10 patrons every Tuesdays @5pm also enjoy half price.
Fruits as well, for example 3 dragon fruits for 10 rmb at the fruit vendors in Shilin Street. Market prices in Chenggong obviously take into account low student budgets.
I forgot to include those delicious calamari/squids in my aforementioned 28 yuan buffets.
Yesterday was my first time scouting Chenggong District. @Cahzriel is right, air quality is much better here than in inner city, Spaciously desolate, local businesses should be relieved college students will be returning en masse around March 4th through the 10th.
Absent in forum discussions, and not specifically mentioned by Jared Foxhall nor by Patrick Scally/Benjamin Campbell in the other Chenggong article, is Shilin Street Barbecue City, Shilin Street (仕林街) is a landmark of eateries stretching an entire block of nearly half a kilometer.
Highly recommended are the 28 yuan per person spicy Chongqing-flavored DIY stir fry buffets near the south end of Shilin Street (bordering JingMing S. Road). All-you-can-eat shrimps, clams, fish (for pescatarians like myself), marinated meats, and large selections of veggies cooked on a giant pan at your table for only 28rmb is nonexistent in KM city center.
Listed by @Philou, Shilin Street is ~600 meters southeast of KRT station YiKang South Rd. (谊康南路) C Exit, or ~600 meters northeast of University Town (大学城) KRT station B Exit:
Just a heads up, passengers on the KRT train en route to Kunming South Railway Station may have to get off and switch at Chunrong Jie (春融街) for the university town stations. This juncture may be confusing for first-timers.
Just announced... construction of high speed rail from Kunming to Dali is complete. Pending finalization/tests, won't be long now till the new line becomes operational. Travel time will be 2 hours!
Great news! Hong Kong just voted to ban all ivory sales. HK was a major ivory trading hub and a loophole black market for Chinese Mainland buyers.
Persistent anti-ivory campaigns will hopefully diminish ivory demands among Chinese elites, thereby reducing elephant poaching around the world, particularly in Africa. It's estimated ~30,000 elephants are killed by poachers every year.
Shark fin demands/appetite in China supposedly dropped 70% over the years as a result of similar public education from celebrities on social media.
These gentle giants are one one my favorite animals in the world. Too bad I didn't come across any wild elephant migrations during my Xixhuangbanna visit. I wouldn't mind if they bumped round our vehicles like toy cars for a close up encounter.
Btw, props to Kunming's Yuantong Shan Zoo for improving the elephant/lion/bear captivity areas. The skywalk overhead view is an nice addition for visitors. The playful baby elephant was adorable and a must-see.
University life in the not-so-ghost town of Chenggong
Posted byFruits as well, for example 3 dragon fruits for 10 rmb at the fruit vendors in Shilin Street. Market prices in Chenggong obviously take into account low student budgets.
I forgot to include those delicious calamari/squids in my aforementioned 28 yuan buffets.
University life in the not-so-ghost town of Chenggong
Posted byYesterday was my first time scouting Chenggong District. @Cahzriel is right, air quality is much better here than in inner city, Spaciously desolate, local businesses should be relieved college students will be returning en masse around March 4th through the 10th.
Absent in forum discussions, and not specifically mentioned by Jared Foxhall nor by Patrick Scally/Benjamin Campbell in the other Chenggong article, is Shilin Street Barbecue City, Shilin Street (仕林街) is a landmark of eateries stretching an entire block of nearly half a kilometer.
Highly recommended are the 28 yuan per person spicy Chongqing-flavored DIY stir fry buffets near the south end of Shilin Street (bordering JingMing S. Road). All-you-can-eat shrimps, clams, fish (for pescatarians like myself), marinated meats, and large selections of veggies cooked on a giant pan at your table for only 28rmb is nonexistent in KM city center.
Listed by @Philou, Shilin Street is ~600 meters southeast of KRT station YiKang South Rd. (谊康南路) C Exit, or ~600 meters northeast of University Town (大学城) KRT station B Exit:
www.gokunming.com/en/listings/item/33831/shilin_street
Just a heads up, passengers on the KRT train en route to Kunming South Railway Station may have to get off and switch at Chunrong Jie (春融街) for the university town stations. This juncture may be confusing for first-timers.
New high-speed rail line to link Kunming with Dali
Posted byJust announced... construction of high speed rail from Kunming to Dali is complete. Pending finalization/tests, won't be long now till the new line becomes operational. Travel time will be 2 hours!
Visa-less elephant flaunts Yunnan's international border protocols
Posted byGreat news! Hong Kong just voted to ban all ivory sales. HK was a major ivory trading hub and a loophole black market for Chinese Mainland buyers.
Persistent anti-ivory campaigns will hopefully diminish ivory demands among Chinese elites, thereby reducing elephant poaching around the world, particularly in Africa. It's estimated ~30,000 elephants are killed by poachers every year.
Shark fin demands/appetite in China supposedly dropped 70% over the years as a result of similar public education from celebrities on social media.
Visa-less elephant flaunts Yunnan's international border protocols
Posted byThese gentle giants are one one my favorite animals in the world. Too bad I didn't come across any wild elephant migrations during my Xixhuangbanna visit. I wouldn't mind if they bumped round our vehicles like toy cars for a close up encounter.
Btw, props to Kunming's Yuantong Shan Zoo for improving the elephant/lion/bear captivity areas. The skywalk overhead view is an nice addition for visitors. The playful baby elephant was adorable and a must-see.