Archive for the ‘Claire Li’ Category
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008
In mid-June, media transnational Bertelsmann AG announced that it would close all of its 36 bookstores across China (called Beijing 21st Century Book), by the end of July. Then at the end of June, the company further announced that it was closing down its book club business in China, ...
Posted in Claire Li, Consumer | No Comments »
Friday, June 27th, 2008
It’s almost been one month since the government implemented new policies limiting the use of plastic bags, in order to reduce pollution. But as far as I can tell, it doesn’t seem to be having any effect yet.
I go to the supermarket almost every day and have ...
Posted in Claire Li, Consumer, environment | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Having been away from my hometown for four years, I have no idea how much money I should give for a good friend of mine who is getting married there.
In the most expensive Chinese city, Shanghai, if a colleague invites you to their wedding, the hongbao, or red envelope full ...
Posted in Claire Li, social issues, trends | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
Online spending in China last year totaled RMB 59.4 billion. Of that, 43.3 billion alone was spent on Chinese online retailer Taobao.com. For comparison, Taobao points out that gross profits for international grocery chain Carrefour last year were 24.8 billion – that is, people are spending more through an online ...
Posted in Claire Li, internet, Consumer | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
During my last trip to Beijing, my wallet was surprisingly swollen with paper money of one jiao, five jiao, and one yuan denomination. This is totally different than in Shanghai, where I get one-yuan paper money now and then, rarely see paper one-jiao notes, and can’t even remember when ...
Posted in Claire Li, RMB, trends | No Comments »
Friday, March 21st, 2008
My Taiwanese friend who used to be based in Shanghai came up from Hong Kong, where she is now living, to visit me recently. She told me last night that all her Taiwanese friends in town are heading back to Taiwan for the vote this Saturday.
“Wait, do they go back ...
Posted in Claire Li, politics | 2 Comments »
Friday, March 21st, 2008
Every week, I receive at least ten junk text messages offering me mortgages, cheap air tickets, and fake graduation diploma. Others notify me that I’ve just won some award, offer to kill my enemies or sell me guns. The latest one, which I received just 30 minutes ago, concerns a ...
Posted in Claire Li, Consumer | No Comments »
Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Since March 10th, four Shanghai museums and memorials have been made free to the public. Visitors to the Shanghai Museum reached 5,900/day on the first day, double the previous level, and this weekend the Shanghai Museum is expected to see a record number or visitors. Most of the visitors on ...
Posted in Shanghai, Claire Li, social issues | No Comments »
