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S treet Chic
Lifestyle / PRD Fashion
Written by : text by Sammi Zhou, Photos by Tim Huang
71 days ago
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S treet Chic
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As is the case for most expats in Guangzhou, you may find you have very limited choices
when it comes to fitted clothes. Quite a few foreigners have told me that they seldom
buy clothes here, and when they do, they go to the boutiques on Huale Lu only if it is
really necessary. I have been to the shops on Huale Lu, and they mainly sell a selection of largesized
T-shirts and jeans with no decoration or style whatsoever. Clothes are hung or piled up
helter-skelter. What is the worse is that they also look second-hand.
Well, you don't have to worry about it any more. A few select shops have opened in Guangzhou
in the past few years. They have impressive selections of stylish, brand-name clothing in the
sizes you need. These products are mostly either selected overseas or designed by local designers.
Selling genuine goods, those shops are a tribute to the acute tastes of their bosses, which
becomes apparent when talking to them, as their ideas concerning fa ... ... |
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A Stroll Down Lizhiwan Lu
Feature / Cover Story
Written by : Christine Laskowski
71 days ago
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| Historically, Xiguan or "Old Guangzhou," located in
Liwan District has been the center of the city's antiques
and handicrafts industry. Many streets in the
district, such as Yuansheng Xijie and Changshou Lu,
have been firmly established in the jade trade since as far back
as the Qing dynasty. However, as the reputation of the district hasgrown
and businesses have expanded over the years, so too has
the demand for additional space.
In response to this, the government of Liwan District, in 1996,
decided to build the Xiguan Curio Center, located on a short
stretch of Lizhiwan Lu. In contrast to the surrounding bazaar
streets, the aim of the center is to provide a special trading zone
for certified antique dealers and handicraftsmen.
The large wooden gate, with a poem inscribed in traditional
characters on the center panel, marks the entrance to the Xiguan
Curio Center. Stepping through, it does feel like a step back in
time -- the red-tiled pagod ... ... |
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Horse Riding
Lifestyle / Fitness
Written by : Sammi Zhou
71 days ago
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Horse Riding
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Not long ago, the Olympic equestrian competition wrapped up in Hong Kong. The
coordination between the rider and the horse, and the elegance of the sport are what
I've always found alluring. I think of the one riding a horse as a nobleman or a fierce
knight.
But let's not talk about my romanticism- let's talk about the physical advantages of horse
riding. Mr. Ao of the Guangzhou Yingzi Equestrian Club informed me that according to a recent
study, a 10 minute horse ride has a physical effect that is 100,000 times that of massage,
while a 30 minute ride is the equivalent of jogging 2.5 km. That is to say, horse riding is an
all-round aerobic exercise. Moreover, horses trot in a quadruple rhythm, which can massage
the entire body. This rhythmic vibration can better relax our muscles and relieve pain in our
shoulders and waist. Furthermore, the lower half of our body is pressed flat against the horse
while it is moving. It can help shape our belly, hips and legs ... ... |
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Customs for the w ould-be mothers
Lifestyle / Local Customs
Written by : text by Lena Gidwani, Image by Zoe Pan
71 days ago
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Customs for the w ould-be mothers
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In China, once a woman announces her pregnancy, celebrations
will abound! A girl? A boy? Oh, as long as its healthy!
As pregnancy poses many risks to the health of both the
mother and the baby, this statement often means a call to
action as much as it is a sincere wish. In Chinese culture, many
customs and superstitions surround the state of pregnancy and
post-partum care. They function to protect the pregnant woman and
newborn child from "malign influences," and to avert problems with
pregnancy and birthing such as miscarriages and stillbirth. With
the one-child policy in full force, its better to be safe than sorry, as
the old adage goes.
So if you're interested in appeasing those Chinese in-laws, or
simply want to understand why yourself or your partner can't use
glue or eat crab during the pregnancy, here's your foolproof guide.
PRE-NATAL PRECAUTIONS:
Do not use sharp objects, i.e. scissors and knives, on the bed because
it can resu ... ... |
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An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
Art+Culture / Books of the Month
Written by : Ernest White
71 days ago
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An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
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AUTHOR : Karyn L. Lai AVAILABLE : Now
Chinese philosophy continues to exert a profound
influence on modern China, in ways that are often little understood
by visitors from abroad. Fortunately, help is at hand, for
while Karyn L. Lai's introductory guide to Chinese philosophy is
intended as an undergraduate textbook, it will also be useful for
waiguoren who want to start exploring the country's culture and
history in more depth. It seems easier, of course, to tackle something
like Daoism when it is repackaged as bite-sized chunks
of self-help wisdom or explained with reference to Winnie the
Pooh, but the advantage of a book like Lai's is its rigour and
scope. Although her explanations are sometimes a little dry
and repetitive, in "An Introduction to Chinese
Philosophy" the author manages very successfully
to outline the most important traditions, from
Confucianism and Daoism to Legalism and Mohism, while locating
them within ... ... |
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The Other Hand
Art+Culture / Books of the Month
Written by : Ernest White
71 days ago
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The Other Hand
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AUTHOR : Chris Cleave AVAILABLE : Now
Chris Cleave's "The Other Hand" is a strange, arresting
book, which is both charming and deeply troubling. Its magic
stems from the way Cleave conjures up two distinctive female
voices, and then switches between them as their unlikely
connection is explained. This connection is also the root of
the book's disturbing side – first and foremost because of the
horrifying scene on an isolated Nigerian beach that initially
brings the two central characters together, and later because
of the terrible ramifications of this unexpected encounter.
It is difficult to talk about what happens in "The Other
Hand" without spoiling the
story, but Cleave exhibits a masterful control over his
narrative. He also creates two engaging
and utterly convincing characters in the shape of Little
Bee, the teenager who flees her Nigerian village to become
trapped in immigration limbo in the UK, ... ... |
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Bright Shiny Morning
Art+Culture / Books of the Month
Written by : Ernest White
71 days ago
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Bright Shiny Morning
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AUTHOR : James Frey AVAILABLE : Now
However much some people like it, plenty of others will moan
about "Bright Shiny Morning". Some of the book's detractors
will slag it off simply because it's written by James Frey, the
man who shocked the literary world – and Oprah – when it
was revealed that his harrowing memoir, "A Million Little Pieces",
wasn't entirely truthful. Others who don't object to the author
himself will instead object to the way he writes, with this, his epic
of Los Angeles, featuring prose so painfully hip it will have
some people reaching for pharmaceutical relief. Undeniably,
plenty of those who moan about "Bright Shiny Morning" will
have good reason to do so. And yet, almost inexplicably, there's
still something rather wonderful about it.
Whatever this wonderfulness might be, it's certainly not Frey's
style. His writing is unique only if you belong to a library that
stopped co ... ... |
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Sound that Shatters Glass
Art+Culture / Performance
Written by : Frank Booth and Kate
71 days ago
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Lucas Abela's earliest memory was "going through the windshield
of the family car with my Mom and Dad."
It's no surprise then, that his stunningly original noisecapes,
involving contact mics and effects pedals are produced through an
act of annihilation- glass and body. Lucas smashes and bites the
glass into tiny fragments, then walks over them barefoot to reach his
spit and blood-soaked audience. "Justice Yeldham and the Dynamic
Ribbon Device" is the name of his act and he has performed in basements,
hallways, clubs and festivals all over the world. During his
last visit to the PRD, he sprayed blood all over Babyface. This month
marks the return of "Justice Yeldham" to Guangzhou as part of his
Asian Tour.
Noise as a genre has been spreading all over the world in the last
decade. Cassette tape labels are more often seen than CD's or LP's.
During the mid 1990s in the U.S., labels like Hanson Records, RRR
and American Tape ... ... |
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A Grammy treat
Art+Culture / Performance
Written by : Shane Qin
71 days ago
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A Grammy treat
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This October, audiences in Guangzhou can either groove to head-spinning
Nordic electronic beats, or visit the Xinghai Concert Hall to enjoy a world-class
symphony concert by violinist Hilary Hahn, conductor Bramwell Tovey and the
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
At the age of 28, Grammy Award winner Hilary Hahn is one of the most sought-after
artists on the international concert circuit, and was named "America's Best Young
Classical Musician" by Time Magazine in 2001.
The Virginia-born violinist started playing music at a tender age and has studied
under the guidance of renowned music teachers. Taking additional elective courses in
languages, literature and drama helped Hahn form her innovative interpretations and
thoughtful musicianship.
Hahn now records exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon and has so far released
four albums, all of which have received much critical acclaim and spent weeks on the
Billboard Top Ten list.
Previously, Hahn made fi ... ... |
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Sounds of passion
Art+Culture / Performance
Written by : Shane Qin
71 days ago
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Sounds of passion
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Born in Lyons, France in 1963, Juan Carmona, considered "one of the most creative
guitarists of the new flamenco generation", has always been proud of
being a descendent of the guitar playing Habichuelas dynasty of Granada, Spain.
Carmona started playing music at the age of 10 after receiving his first guitar
from his father, and his virtuosity quickly became apparent to professional musicians.
Later, Carmona studied at the prestigious National Conservatory of Music in Paris,
where he obtained his degree. At age 26, he became the first professor of flamenco
guitar holding a state-awarded diploma.
Yet to achieve genuine recognition for his art, Carmona decided to visit the land
of his ancestors at Jerez de la Frontera in Andalucía – the cradle of flamenco music.
For more than eight years Carmona rubbed elbows with an array of great artists in
flamenco, all the while immersing himself in their incredible talent.
His constant endeavor w ... ... |
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