The term “middle class” is relative per country. Recently, ADB released a report (Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2010) early this year and mentioned that China’s middle class is numbered at 817 million. The report defined the middle class as those consuming between USD 2 to 20 a day. The middle class is also divided into 3 levels: first class, second class, and third class. Within China’s middle class, 303 million are at the lower level. Once they experience a crisis, it is easy to go back to poverty level.

The concept of “middle class” is pretty broad. If you have a monthly salary of RMB 6,000, that is considered as middle-class salary. Salary is just one of the key indicators. Another is how you compare to the standard of living in Shanghai. Besides Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, Shanghai is probably the closest to being “international” in standards; so it could be the most accurate “middle-class” benchmark. Otherwise, how come many expatriates identify with Shanghai?

Life as a slave–the “middle-class” dream

They are the middle class. House slaves. Car slaves.

Beijing University of Technology and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences published a paper that talks about the social strata construction of people living in Beijing. At least in Beijing, the middle class is composed of more than 40% of the population, numbering around 5.4 million. Their average monthly salary is RMB 5,923.18.

This statistic received various responses: how do you say one is middle class?

China does not really have a generally accepted definition of “middle class”. One could take the average monthly salary of RMB 6,000 as a starting point. But the people who made the report may have their own criteria. I think the starting point is too low.

How the middle class is being “strangled”

China’s so-called middle class is saddled with lots of pressure: house, car, credit card, kids…the establishment of an olive-shaped society seems far-fetched. As mentioned, from the figures above, once the 303 million experience a crisis, they can easily go back to poverty level.

Owning a house

In order to pay for your dream home, you pay off the mortgage around RMB 7,000 monthly from your salary. The rest will go to your basic expenses. Have you saved anything?

In the Fourth Ring Road in Beijing, average price per square meter is RMB 35,000 to 40,000. In order to own at least a 100-square-meter space, one would need at the very least RMB 40,000 to 80,000 annual revenue. And one needs to work nearly 45 years.

This means that if you started working at 20, by the time you turn 60, you still can not afford to buy a small 100-square-meter space.

Daily increase of fuel prices

You make a one-time purchase of a really cheap car, but then the price of fuel is very volatile, increasing almost daily. Even the price for parking is tagged at RMB 15 per hour. You go out and watch a movie at a discounted rate of RMB 40. However, the money you saved you pay for the parking–RMB 45.

Kids’ basic expenses is more expensive than the adults’

As we all know, there are safety concerns with regards to the local products; so we have no choice but to buy imported ones. And of course we have the best hopes for our children, so scrimping on their education is unheard of.

The middle class have their own vanity. Some really insist on buying imported products. So the money you earn locally is spent on the more expensive goods from abroad.

Here are stories of some middle-class Chinese: I earn an annual income of RMB 200,000, but I am not happy at all.

Case No. 1

Because I have a family of my own, I also have my own house and car–make that 2 cars even. Though my annual income is RMB 200,000, life is not happy at all.

Our monthly income is totaled at less than RMB 20,000. Maintaining 2 cars costs RMB 4,000. Food, at the minimum, costs RMB 3,000. And then there are a lot of bills: water, electricity, gas, cable TV, telephone, internet–all of that amounts to around RMB 1,000. The kid’s allowance is RMB 2,000. When I eat and have fun with my friends, that is RMB 1,000 off my pocket. Repair of miscellaneous items that can break down, etc. is pegged at RMB 500. Caring for the elderly at home (because both parents are busy with work) costs RMB 2,000. What’s more, the a-yi’s salary is RMB 2,000. Total expenses is RMB 15,500, with RMB 4,000 remaining. That RMB 4,000 is then set for any unexpected expenses. For example, if the furniture is too old already and can not be repaired anymore, we have to buy new ones. From time to time, there are relatives who needs help financially, so they would “borrow” money from me. What else is left?

Case No. 2

This man was promoted from junior account manager to senior account manager. His annual salary also increased from RMB 4-50,000 to RMB 300,000. Just looking at the salary, he is considered “middle class” already. But it has been 8 years since his promotion and he is still living in a rented apartment in Pudong whom he just considers as a “nest”. “I do not know if you could say I am middle class. This kind of middle class–is this success or failure?”

Case No. 4

Wang Yan went to the United States for her PhD after graduation and worked in a litigation firm in Washington. Her husband (also a graduate student) decided to go back to Beijing, so Wang Yan followed as well. From an “American” lawyer, Wang Yan became a “Chinese” lawyer. Good educational background, decent work, and decent income–Wang Yan accurately depicted China’s “middle class”. But she could not help but laugh, “Me? Middle class? Middle class should at least own some assets. I do not even have a house. What ‘middle class’ are you talking about?”

Wang Yan continues, “In the United States, everyone is so afraid of unemployment. As long as you have work, you have financial security. In China, it definitely is not ok if you do not have work. However, if you have work, you are afraid to go to work due to fierce competition and endless overtime.”

Such is the life of the Chinese middle class. Agree or disagree?

Shanghai may be part of the top 50 most expensive cities to live in the world, but it is not the most expensive city in China to get married. And it is not Beijing either. China’s capital may have placed only 55 in ECA International’s cost of living ranking as compared to Shanghai which placed 46th, however it is said to rank second in the expensive-to-get-married-city scale in China.

Getting Married In Shanghai

1. Decent housing (80 square meters and above) with an average price of RMB 20,100 per square meter; RMB 20,100 x 80 = RMB 1,608,000.

2. Renovation and interior design for a 100-square-meter floor area; RMB 150,000.

3. Household appliances and furniture; RMB 100,000 (though some women get this in the form of dowry).

4. An ordinary car; RMB 100,000.

5. Wedding banquet with 25 tables in an average-star hotel; RMB 1,000 x 25 = RMB 25,000. Subtract to that the RMB 1,200 average wedding money (hongbao) you will get per table. You get to at least keep RMB 1,200 x 25 =  RMB 5,000.

6. Honeymoon to Hong Kong or Macau with the main destination to Hainan; RMB 6,000 travel expenses per person thus for both husband and wife- RMB 6,000 x 2 = RMB 12,000.

7. Courting stage for 2 years. This includes going out on dates, buying of gifts, entertainment, travel, giving of gifts to girlfriend’s parents. Average of RMB 1,800 per month. So for 2 years- RMB 1,800 x 12 months x 2 years = RMB 43,200.

In summary, total cost is RMB 1,608,000 + RMB 150,000 + RMB 100,000 + RMB 100,000 – RMB 5,000 + RMB 12,000 + RMB 43, 200 = RMB 2,008,200.

Getting Married In Beijing

1. Decent housing near the 6th Ring Road (80 square meters and above) with an average price of RMB 20,000 per square meter; RMB 20,100 x 80 = RMB 1,600,000. In Beijing, prices of real estate inside the ring road are considerably higher than other parts of town.

2. Renovation and interior design for a 100-square-meter floor area; RMB 150,000.

3. Household appliances and furniture; RMB 80,000 (though some women get this in the form of dowry).

4. Standard car; RMB 120,000. (The Hyundai Elantra is preferred.)

5. Wedding banquet with 200 guests (20 tables) in a 4-star hotel; RMB 200 x 200 = RMB 40,000. Subtract to that the RMB 2,000 average wedding money (hongbao) you will get per table. And you just break even.

6. Honeymoon. Beijingers refused to go to Hong Kong or Macau or Hainan. Instead, they will go to Australia or Europe or the Maldives spending around RMB 10,000 per person. So total honeymoon trip will cost around RMB 30,000.

7.  Courting stage for 2 years. This includes going out on dates, buying of gifts, entertainment, travel, giving of gifts to girlfriend’s parents. Average of RMB 2,000 per month. So for 2 years- RMB 2,000 x 12 months x 2 years = RMB 48,000.

In summary, total cost is RMB 1,600,000 + RMB 150,000 + RMB 80,000 + RMB 120,000 + RMB 30,000 + RMB 48,000 = RMB 2,028,000.

Getting Married In Shenzhen

The most expensive is said to be in Shenzhen. However, this information might not be so true anymore if we based it on housing prices alone (given the housing crisis in China). Before, the price per square meter can reach up to RMB 22,300. But the property prices in Shenzhen (just north of Hong Kong) have dropped sharply in the last couple of months which is the largest property decline across China.

Anyway, what do you think of the figures above? How realistic are they? Is getting married in China a not so realistic option?

In the past 3 years, the average age of first-time house buyers in the United Kingdom rose from 33 to 37 years of age. In Japan and Germany, it is 42 years old; while it is 30 years old in the United States. However in a report released by the China Everbright Bank and a real estate research firm, those applying for housing loans in Beijing have an average age of 27 years old which is younger as compared to developed countries.

So that they could own a house, many Chinese do not mind working almost half of their lives just to pay off the bank loans. Owning a house in China is not just for residential purposes. It is now considered a marriage prerequisite and shows one’s financial capability. Other than that, it reflects on the unrealistic urgency of young people agonized by material desire and the shaky housing system in China.

As Li Daokui, professor at Tsinghua University and a member of the Chinese central bank’s monetary policy committee, says, “It is more than [just] a bubble problem,” Li says. “When prices go up, many people, especially young people, become very anxious. It is a social problem.”

Here are the reasons why the Chinese young people rush to buy houses–

Because of marriage? Kids? To take advantage of early housing prices? To feel more secure?

If you cannot buy at the age of 27, then the more you cannot afford by the age of 40.

If the young Beijinger at 27 years old is not able to afford a house, then the more he can not afford one once he reaches the age of 40; because our income will never catch up with the rising house prices. The reason people living in developed countries are only able to buy houses by the time they turned 40 is because their housing prices are very stable. Da Bing, netizen

If you do not have a house, how can your kids get a hukou?

Is there sense to always compare with foreign countries? People from other countries can move locations freely without need of a hukou. In Beijing, if you do not have a house, you do not have a hukou. How can your kids study then? Mama79, netizen

One of the marriage requirements of women is a house.

Even if it says that the average age of people who buy houses is 27, it does mean that those 30 years and above do not need to buy a house. It just shows that the demand is greatest for those 27 years of age. Do you know why? It is because of the pressure of marriage. The women will demand a house to live in. In the United States and Europe, there is no such marriage prerequisite. sun-yuepingso, netizen

If you do not buy a house early on, even renting at a later time might not be affordable anymore.

In China, housing prices double a year. So at 27 if you do not pool your and your parents’ money to buy a house, by the time you reach 72, even with your grandparents’ money you cannot form the down payment. wxy690so, netizen

People abroad have sufficient low-cost housing.

In China, there is none. Moreover, what kind of house can the 27-year-old Chinese buy? One-bedroom-one-living-room can only be considered as an apartment, not a house. 42-year-old Americans who buy villas–that is a house. Majority of Chinese can not afford to buy a house in their lifetime. zhangfengyu, netizen

If you have a house, you would not feel so anxious.

The saying before is “as long as you have food, you would not feel so anxious”. This time, “as long as you have a house, you would not feel so anxious.” Coming from someone like me who is from another province, even having a small house gives me peace of mind. Sisi, netizen

What does this attitude of young people reflect in the society?

An abnormality in the community? Something wrong with their thinking? Flaws in the housing system?

If the husband does not have a house, it is very embarrassing for the wife.

Nowadays, marriage in China has turned into a circus of materialism. This is a huge change in Chinese society. No matter how confident a woman is, if her boyfriend or husband does not have a house, it will cause her to lose face. Shanghai University of Political Science Women’s Studies Center Director Chen Xiaomin

Buying a house for marriage purposes is an abnormal social phenomenon.

Even in high-income communities, most will only consider buying a house after the age of 35. Young people now are impulsive decision-makers. China-ECapital CEO Wang Ran

What is the cost of prematurely buying a house?

Buying a house too early could affect one’s personal development.

Most young people have planned out their careers. But once they buy a house, their plans could change. I have seen many young people turn down a lot of opportunities, because they have tackled the first steps into acquiring a house of their own. Finance commentator Wu Qilun

Getting a housing loan affects not just one generation.

Says the Chief Economist of the National Bureau of Statistics of China–

House prices in Beijing are absolutely ridiculous. When a young couple purchases a house, parents and grandparents from both sides need to help out. The collective effort of four families is required to support a young family’s decision to buy a house. Three generations of savings are thus exhausted in buying a single house.

How can we prevent young people not to worry too much about this?

The government should pay attention to this issue.

By controlling the housing prices, young people would not feel the pressure of buying early on and thus engage in panic-buying. Thus, this would also lead to a healthy development in the Beijing real estate market. Homelink Vice President Lin Qian

Germany provides a good model.

In Germany, 42% of people own their houses; while 58% rent them. 77% of the young Germans live in rented places. The German government also encourage their people to build their own houses so as to break the monopoly engaged by housing developers.  The housing prices in Germany has not changed in 10 years. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Industrial Economics researcher Cao Jianhai

(The Party: The Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers, by Richard McGregor, 273pp)

It’s depressing to realize how 273 tiny pages can raise the ire of the humongous Chinese Communist Party and kick up such a colossal domestic fuss, yet veteran journalist Richard McGregor‘s latest work of investigative prose succeeded in doing exactly that.

Going deep behind Zhongnanhai “enemy lines” in a way few foreign scribblers or Zhongguotong — those cliched “Old China Hands” — would ever dare to (on fear of reprisals from PRC authorities), McGregor serves up a red hot zinger of an indictment on the inner-workings of China’s Big Red Machine, the party tugging the levers of power inside the authoritarian capitalist country.

The book is the work of more than a decade of silent toil and research by the relentless Australian, a journalist who traveled to and fro between the PRC, Hong Kong, and his native Land of Oz, with family in tow, as he compiled interview after painstaking off-the-record interview for this comprehensive tell-all.

To be sure, The Party‘s already been banned across China; yet, then again, we fully expected it would be and, come to think of it, doesn’t it kind of add to its cachet in a very Zhao Ziyang-esque sort of way (let us know in the comments below!).

What kind of illicit treasures can be found inside this latest oeuvre of CCP criticism, you ask? What in tarnation is so taboo, you want to know? I mean, what exactly is the Central Committee so goshdarn afraid of?

All good starting questions…

McGregor — like other so-called “China experts” — knows several of the answers. All of this tracks back to that “sum of all fears” for the Chinese Communist Party: the fear of losing total control of the state apparatus and helplessly witnessing as the nation-state reverts back into the pre-revolutionary Armageddon-like times which reigned supreme during Chiang’s rule.

The CCP, oddly enough, permits practically anything and everything that doesn’t directly clash with its interests or harm its preeminent position within Chinese society.

This is the reason why, for instance, visitors to China can observe such things as LGBT bars in the ‘jing, yet no organized national gay pride parade exists for China. This is also the reason why Chinese citizens are legally permitted to freely practice their chosen form of religion…provided they link up with one of China’s wholly (holy?) state-sponsored places of worship, be it a church, a mosque, or a Buddhist shrine. Say you’re a Roman Catholic? No problemo, provided you don’t recognize the Pontiff as your spiritual shogun with the lone direct hookup to the Man Upstairs. A proud and practicing Muslim? Cool beans, so long as you don’t buy into the drivel Rebiya Khadeer has been popularizing in the Western mass media. And, oh yeah, you can’t be a member of that group with its first initial before the letter “G.”

The basic “silent agreement” between the State and these various religious acolytes is that all must avoid demonstrating for greater faith-based openness in that Big Square which sprawls out in front of the Forbidden City — yeah, that one. Or else!

Crazy Eights:

McGregor unfurls his argument in eight exquisite chapters. He deems these to be the eight key areas in which the CCP’s influence pervades Chinese society. In order:

1. The CCP’s relationship towards the Chinese State.
2. The CCP’s capitalist leanings in the wake of the Deng-era (aka, “China Inc.”).
3. The CCP’s iron-fisted control of its personnel files.
4. The CCP’s relationship towards the People Liberation Army (PLA).
5. The CCP’s total dominance by “The (notorious) Shanghai Gang.”
6. The CCP’s relationship with towns and regions far away from Beijing.
7. The CCP’s capitalist shell surrounding its so-called “socialist” core.
8. Tombstone:  The book which revealed the true death toll from Mao’s Great Leap Forward (>30 million citizens).

Salient Points:

Rather than supply a detailed breakdown of all eight chapters — thereby ruining the fun for you, dear reader, as you track down your illicit copy of The Party — why don’t I summarize what you can expect to find in each, thereby whetting your chops for the bigger feast to come?

1. The CCP’s relationship towards the Chinese State: Nothing that happens in China occurs without the CCP’s blessing. Any organization, body, association, business, and/or any dealing with any foreign power — either in the Southeast Asian region or internationally — always occurs via the CCP’s direct intervention. Party membership is coveted by business types as it affords them access and needed connections. The Party bills itself as the preeminent force preventing China from teetering back into Century of Humiliation-like anarchy. Like an octopus, and in emulation of Lenin’s dictates about the Communist Party of the Soviet Union being everywhere at all times, the CCP penetrates every facet of Chinese society.
2. The CCP’s capitalist leanings in the wake of the Deng-era (aka, “China Inc.”): Being accepted into the CCP’s ranks is no mere ideological progression. Rather, it’s a step up the ladder of corporate and commercial success in China. Former State-owned enterprises that were gradually privatized are still run by a silent cabal of Party loyalists who duly take their instructions from on high in Beijing, despite any decisions these firms’ various boards of directors or CEOs might make regarding the strategic direction of the company they preside over. The Party always has final say. And a company director can always be overruled by the most senior Party member on the board. CEOs carrying membership also receive the coveted “red hotline” in their offices, the direct line from Beijing. Their phone numbers are so exclusive, that they’re limited to just four digits. And when that red box rings, you better pick up.
3. The CCP’s iron-fisted control of its personnel files: Being in total command of information flows is also a key CCP characteristic: all the better to avoid unexpected media leaks or to parties with an aim to toppling the CCP’s legitimacy via a coup. Personnel files are fiercely guarded in Beijing-area buildings that don’t even carry distinctive visitor-friendly markings on the outside. The merits and demerits of its several thousand members — hand-written on paper cards — still remains one of the nation’s most fiercely guarded secrets. The Party uses these cards to award concessions, favors, or privileges or to dole out punishment to its adherents and members.
4. The CCP’s relationship towards the People Liberation Army (PLA): The PLA exists solely to safeguard the Party, not the Chinese people and neither the integrity of the Chinese state. Believe me when I tell you these various strapping youths are expressly recruited for their stature and capacity to intimidate. I witnessed with my own eyes how these Tiananmen Guards strike fear into thousands of onlookers because at whose behest they serve (i.e. the Party’s). The PLA remains the Party’s vanguard force, tasked with protecting the Party from all threats both from within and from without.
5. The CCP’s total dominance by “The (notorious) Shanghai Gang:” Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin was the exemplar of the might of Shanghai politics in the Communist Party’s upper ranks. Once he become President back in October 1992, Jiang moved quickly to entrench Shanghai’s position amongst the capital’s power elites. Shanghai went from being the bastard child of the new People’s Republic — the city most despised by the Communist Party for all it represented during the interwar period — to a thriving, thoroughly-modern colossus. It’s no mere coincidence that Shanghai and its gorgeous Bund views are the most recognizable thing about China outside of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.
6. The CCP’s relationship with towns and regions far away from Beijing: The infamous Sanlu (“Three Deers”) melamine scandal, in which a form of plastic was added in lieu of protein to bolster the consistency of this company’s milk is a recent example of this. Regional Party members seek to leverage their power within rural Party fiefdoms strictly for gain. It’s what one anonymous Chinese blogger called the “black-collar class: their cars are black. Their income is hidden. Their life is hidden. Their work is hidden. Everything about them is hidden, like a man wearing black, standing in the black of the night.” A ranking compiled by most popular Chinese portal sina.com of the numbers of people seeking information about particular government jobs revealed that “…of the top ten government bodies which received the most expressions of interest for positions, eight were provincial tax bureaux, topped by Guangdong, all of them along the prosperous coast; and two were customs bureaux of Shanghai and Shenzhen. The bottom ten which attracted the least interest, were all provincial statistics bureaux.” With Beijing so far from the regions, who notices when things go awry until it’s too late?
7. The CCP’s capitalist shell surrounding its so-called “socialist” core: The Party in 2010 isn’t the same Party of Mao. In fact, today’s CCP bears little resemblance to the revolutionary mass organization which won the hearts of WWII-weary Chinese citizens back in the late 1940s. This is a more business-oriented party. Fully corrupt. Swayed by profit. Droning on fulsomely about its socialist roots and leanings, meanwhile it erects ever-larger, ever more luxurious, and ever-megalomaniacal infrastructure projects across the breadth of China. Now that the government is flush with cash, it’s begun spending on the population: roads and hospitals, for instance, yet this is a relatively recent phenomenon.
8. Tombstone:  The book which revealed the true death toll from Mao’s Great Leap Forward (>30 million citizens): Tombstone: Yang Jisheng‘s account of the true death toll from the Great Leap Forward. A fitting end for The Party because of how it handily summarizes the main themes of the previous chapters: the CCP’s rigid control of information as it forged data about the Great Leap. How the regions were quick to avail themselves of their distance from Beijing to falsely report only information Beijing wanted to hear. How the Party sought to silence those who has the power to knock it off its pedestal. Yet this intrepid Xinhua journalist — yes, an insider! — devoted fifteen years of his life to meticulously notate over one thousand pages of stats from regional bureaus as the core material for his book. McGregor cites the (only Hong Kong, for now) publication of Tombstone as an example of how the Party appears to be morphing over time. Yang’s heretical work would have surely been destroyed — with Yang himself likely imprisoned or killed by the state — more twenty years ago. Does this seemingly permissive act hold out future promise for the Chinese Communist Party? McGregor appears to want his readers to decide.

Should You Buy This Book?

Yes! Just don’t get arrested buying it. There’s enough incendiary information contained within its pages to fully indict the Party for its misdeeds, sundry corruptions, and other flagrant recent abuses of power. Short of a few random hardcover copies flitting around Beijing-area indie bookshops, don’t expect to find this on Chinese bookshelves — either in its original English or in translation — anytime soon.

For any aspiring China Hand, amateur Sinologist, or Sinophile, The Party makes for deeply engaging fare.

But for all you vets out there, this book will only serve to reinforce the message you already know that the CCP isn’t a object to be trifled with.

I just came back from Shanghai studying Mandarin in Fudan University. Someone said–you can learn any language from anywhere you are. Like you do not need to go to China to study Mandarin.

True. I actually studied Mandarin in my country before I even knew there is such a place called China.

So why the need to go to China learn Chinese?!

Good question. My friend Allan said it best–

The exposure in terms of listening and reading helps a lot. Also, the very valuable opportunity to practice your speaking skills could not be given credit enough. The setting itself allows one to blossom his Mandarin skills.

And with that, if you are planning to go to China to take up language courses, here are some tips to help you along the way.

What school should I go to? Beijing or Shanghai?

Here we are at it again. Beijing or Shanghai? First, realize that there are other places in China aside from Beijing and Shanghai. Like Harbin or Tianjin.

Purists will say that choosing a good school to enroll in is probably the most important factor to consider as the right learning environment will give you the motivation to continue learning.

Personally, I think there is no difference if you go to whichever university or school. [Unless there are people here who think otherwise, I welcome your comments below!] If you are seriously motivated, I think you can achieve your goals still.

Though I have bias to Fudan University in Shanghai as it is one of the top universities in China last 2008 and 2009. Before going to Fudan, my dream school was Beijing Language and Culture University or BLCU for short. They have the best books for Chinese learning.

One of the most important considerations I have heard was that if the place has a lot of non-Chinese. Because if the place has a lot of non-Chinese (and what’s worst, if they know how to speak English), your opportunities of interacting with the Chinese locals are not a lot.

But then, if you are studying Chinese in China after all, there is 99.99% chance that your classmates are foreigners. [The tolerance factor is because I have met Chinese who actually enrolled in the same language program as I did. But their curriculum was a bit slanted. They might have grew up abroad so that they do not know much hanzi or Chinese characters, etc.]

Another consideration is the weather. Do you like the cold? Whether you will be staying in the first semester or the second semester, you still might catch a few weeks of winter (depending on the area). Fall semester generally starts on September 1st, and ends around just before Chinese New Year. Spring semester starts on March 1st and ends in mid-June. You can check out China.org.cn for their China weather map.

And if you are paying your way to China, you might want to think about the cost of living. Different areas in China have varying costs of living. China Briefing did research on the cost of living in 9 major cities in China for 2009.

Now that we are on the subject of money…

I have heard that the Chinese government offers scholarships. How do I apply?

I actually thought of applying for this scholarship, but the requirements were just too tedious, and I had trouble coordinating with our country’s embassy on this. But as they say, no pain, no gain. So you might want to read up on the China Scholarship Council.

This scholarship is actually very competitive. A friend recommended that I ask about the local government scholarships instead. Like within Shanghai only. You have to inquire about this directly to your school of choice.

Just some random question–but where do I stay–dorm or apartment?

Tough decision. If you want a no-brainer answer, stay in the school dormitory. But if you want to have more freedom and/or save on cash, an apartment maybe the way to go. Generally, anything for the international student is more expensive. Tuition is more expensive. And dorm accommodations are more expensive too.

How expensive? I mean, come on, Fudan has a special price list for international students.

With an apartment, if you could find (safe) people who can share with you, I think it would be really fun! But dorm life is also another thing. And at least, it is within the campus vicinity.

By the way, Fudan does not have curfew on the foreign students dormitory.

Fudan University Foreign Students Dormitory

Sample room--actually, my room before I accumulated tons of stuff

Or you could always look for an apartment outside.

I thought going to China has a setting which allows me to”blossom my Mandarin skills”? How could I do that with all those English-speaking people around me?

This is a question of discipline. In China, especially if you are learning the language for the first time, your comfort zone would be around your English-speaking peers. You should go out of your way to maximize local interactions which would not be available in your home country. How do you do that?

Look for a language partner.

I found out that it helps if you have at least one language buddy who will meet with you on a regular basis. There are a lot of Chinese who want to improve their English as well so they are eager to pair up with a foreigner.

But if you are going to China on your own, how do you pick a language partner who does not turn out to be an axe murderer? Ask your teacher for referrals. He or she can post an ad in the school’s BBS or forum. And since he/she is a teacher from that school, he/she would know how the BBS culture of that school is. Another thing is, your teacher might personally know a local student who is also looking for a language partner. That is how I met mine.

Join school organizations.

Are you musically talented? Join the school orchestra. My friend did just that. She said that she was the only non-Chinese in the group, and it really helped her speaking skills.

School organizations are excellent venues for you to meet local students. Many recruit at the start of the school year. Again, if you are hesitant, your teacher would be happy to help you.

Have internships. Volunteer your time.

I was really fortunate to have a lot of learning experiences outside class hours. As an intern with HUBS1 and working with Elliott on Expotia (which is the official hotel reservation service provider of Expo 2010), I have interacted with a number of Chinese-speaking individuals. And because I was in Shanghai during the World Expo, I decided to take advantage of the event by volunteering there as well. [In the meantime, why not check out CNReviews' coverage of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo?]

Some of my friends volunteered at a few migrant schools teaching little kids. They found out about this through a school organization.

Basically, you really need to go out of your way to look for opportunities where you can maximize your Chinese education that you cannot easily have when you are back home. Otherwise, what is the point of you going to China when you can simply learn the language from where you are at?

Now that I have decided to learn Chinese, what your top 3 tips?

Allan graciously shared his tips on learning Chinese–

1. Repetition.

Mandarin is one of the most grueling languages to learn in the world. The sheer number of characters with the limited combination of tones could make the language daunting and confusing all at the same time.

But it is possible, well, a billion people could speak it, so why couldn’t I?

So one should really invest time in writing, listening, speaking etc. until it becomes natural to you. The key here is to focus on the basics, and do not try to do too much too soon. Once you master the basics you will make a solid foundation to build upon.

2. Do not be afraid to make mistakes.

There is a common notion that we learn more through our failures rather than our successes. This is also true in Mandarin especially in spoken Chinese. Do not be afraid to make mistakes as this is probably one of the quickest ways to learn. Do not worry about being embarrassed. People will be forgiving especially when they know that you are a foreigner. They would be happy to see you exerting effort in learning the language. It is also by venturing out that you learn plenty of things that the books would not teach you such as daily expressions and more commonly used spoken terms.

3. Do not rely too much on the books.

What I mean here is, books are definitely a valuable asset in learning the language, no doubt about that. I think though you must take the extra step outside the books in learning the language. Keeping a separate notebook for new words that you hear randomly during conversations, class etc. that you feel you can directly use in daily conversations is very helpful. We all have our varying styles of speaking, and our vocabulary are all different. You are the one who knows the kind of words you usually use, hence certain words for me may not be as valuable as it is to you. Thus, whenever you hear words that you deem important, make mental notes or if possible jot them down right away. This will help you develop smoother and more natural conversations, because you are armed with the words that come out naturally from your thought process

I agree with all of them. Let me just add my own top 3 tips.

• Speak Chinese to your classmates. Do not use English. Even when you are just starting to learn, force yourself to speak the language. And you will develop this habit later on. Because of how I look, some of my classmates at first do not know I can speak English. I had 2 classmates–an Italian and a German–who would converse with each other in English–then turn back to me and translate everything in Chinese. I know it is bad, but I actually let them continue (until they found out much later on that I can actually understand everything!). The lesson here is not to trick your classmates into thinking you are some ignorant person but to develop the habit of speaking to everyone in Chinese. Because we started this way, we still use Mandarin with each other even after class.
• Make friends with everyone. There are 5 vital people–the ayi, the dorm security, the street food vendor, the taxi driver, and the bookstore/clothes shop guy (whichever you frequent). They love a good conversation especially when they find out you a student learning their language.
• And when you done with your China stint, watch Chinese shows and movies and listen to Chinese songs. I really like watching Taiwanese soaps even before going to China. I think I have received most of my Mandarin education through here than 10+ years of Chinese schooling! Let me know if you want some recommendations.

So that’s it! If you have tips of your own, please share them in the comments below. And if you have any other questions on learning Chinese in China, let me know.

(Truth to be told, it’s time for the first person.)

My goal: tweet the whole thing out, as I had done at tech events of years gone by — including 2009′s CHINICT. I’m still there tomorrow, so for live tweets of the entire event, follow @DavidFeng and @DavidFengTwo (Twitter can and has locked folks (like me) out who tweet too much over a given period of time). You can also go to techblog86.com or follow @techblog86 for updates — drafts of the tweets sent out in summary form will be posted at the end of every speech, and we’ll go through the cleaning up within the day to make it more legible.

Day 1 saw an upbeat kick-off to the event with Franck Nazikian (@franckn5) interviewing Aigo, who started out by making computer keyboards and is now onto the next-generation personal multimedia player (MP7s, anyone?). The showstealer, though, came in the afternoon, with Dave McClure (@davemcclure) and Mark Suster (@msuster) stealing the spotlight — after all, they came in all the way from America.

Full, complete coverage is available at techblog86: here comes the links for Day 1:

• Morning coverage: Kaixin001, Aigo, Wukong, Exmart, Borqs, Ushi.cn, Tencent

• Afternoon coverage: 3g.cn,Dave McClure, Mark Suster, KookyPanda, PPLive, Yeepay and 360.cn

The interviewers were mainly Franck Nazikian and Jeremy Goldkorn (who also did things in Chinese!). Lara Ferrar did the interview with Kaixin001. And, of course, TechCrunch TV and InformationWeek TV livestreamed the whole thing, as did Sina and local media.

The action continues tomorrow with Kai-Fu Lee kicking things off at 09:00 sharp. Stay tuned to techblog86 for more!

After repeated civil behavior campaigns, bare-chested and pajama-wearing residents are now rarely seen in public. The level of civility has been greatly improved in our community. To correct unfavorable old habits of the Shanghainese, we even opened a community school teaching etiquette.

This reminds me of the overhauling that occurred almost 2 years ago during the Beijing Olympics. There was one essay by Associated Press writer Anita Chang that really struck me up until now. It told of the rush transformation Beijing had in time for the Olympics. Nothing wrong with that definitely. It’s just obvious.

Remember the controversies surrounding China’s biggest event last 2008? 

Controversies make everything so much interesting, don’t you think so?

What people generally would do to look good (and not just China).

Aside from the sudden sprout of the Expo volunteer stations or information booths…

…now this is what they meant when they said there will be a lot of Expo off-site volunteers needed during the World Expo duration.

The sign says “Walk on the left, stand on the right.” For the number of people passing by People’s Square everyday (I myself included), I don’t think people really minded them unless you have all the time in the world.

Security in the metro suddenly tightened too. Before, I could just swift through the entrance/x-ray gates even with my not-so-small bag. But I tried that last week, and the security guard literally blocked his hand in front of me. I could have cried sexual harassment, but no one would have cared or noticed anyway. They were like 5 of them including the lady inspectors.

Still, don’t you think this has potential to be a ringtone for your mobile phone? TIP: You have to repeat this over and over again.

The Beijing Railway Station has also implemented security checks to ensure the safety during the Shanghai World Expo. From today until November 15, packages brought aboard the train are all subject to stringent measures.

It is understood that  items such as knives, hammers, and scissors can not be brought inside the train. This notice was actually posted just yesterday at the entrance of the station. According to the notice, aside from the banned items such as the flammable, explosives, poisonous, corrosives, radioactive, infectious pathogens, firearms, and ammunitions, all kinds of knives like kitchen knives, fruit knives, and even craft knives are not allowed at all. Hammers and other blunt items (long objects?) are also not allowed.

So probably that’s why my umbrella was confiscated when I went to the first day trial-run of the World Expo.

Real names must be used too in all parcels. No fake names. No pen names. No misnomers.

A group of journalists were at the Beijing Railway Station 1pm yesterday and became witnessed  to more than one armed policemen patrolling the area. The notice is also posted in every ticket window in the station. Identity cards and clearances can be randomly checked too.

People clamoring to pose in front of the "Good Han" stone structure

There’s a Chinese saying that goes like this–if you haven’t been to the Great Wall of China, you are not a true Han Chinese.

不到长城非好汉

CORRECTION: Thanks to ChineseinUK for pointing this one out! The meaning of this phrase is actually–

He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.

Because of this, I was really excited to finally be able to visit the Great Wall in Beijing. It was definitely the highlight of my trip. And I seriously felt a high when we got to the area.

It is a myth that the GW is the only manmade structure that can be seen from the moon. The first Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei confirmed that it can not be seen even from space. The GW was built over by 3 dynasties, namely the: Qin, Han, and Ming dynasties.

Qin Shihuang lead the Qin Dynasty in constructing the Great Wall. After the fall of the dynasty, the Han dynasty continued the construction and extended the GW westwards through the Gobi Desert. The Ming Dynasty built the longest GW that we see today. The wall during that time originally spanned 9 provinces and 100 counties.

If you are coming from Beijing, the Great Wall that you will step on is the tourist-packed Badaling 八达岭 area. The other GW sectors are–

Souvenir shops in tourist-packed Badaling.

Juyong Guan 居庸關 (Common Dwelling Pass), 10 km before Badaling

Mutianyu 慕田峪, located at Huairou county 79 km northeast of Beijing

Simatai 司马台, located at Miyun county 140 km north-east of Beijing

Jinshanling 金山岭 (Gold Mountain), located at Ruanping county 50 km from Beijing

Huanghuacheng 黃花城 (Yellow Flower Town), 100 km north of Beijing

Gubeikou 古北口 (Old Northern Entrance), located at Miyun county 20 km northeast of Beijing

Jiankou 箭口(Arrow Entrance), located at Huairou County 73 kilometres north of Beijing

Outside Beijing, the Great Wall can be accessed through–

Shanhaiguan Pass (Mountain and Sea Pass), at Qinhuangdao City of Hebei

Huangyaguan 黃崖關 (Yellow Precipice), 28 km north of Jixian Country, 120 km north of Tianjin

By the way, entrance fees for climbing the Great Wall are as follows:

Entrance fee is 45RMB. For senior citizens and students, it is 25RMB.

You can see the 2008 Beijing Olympics One World, One Dream sign from the Badaling entrance.

And if you want to explore the GW more but are too tired to do so, you could try the sliding car ride for 30RMB! [Yes, I myself was shocked with this one.]

If you plan to climb the Great Wall soon, make sure you have a pair of good rubber shoes for the trekking. The temperature in Beijing around this time is relatively tolerable at 10°C high. The wind is chilly at the top, so it would be nice to have on a light winter jacket.

First off, I’ve heard a lot about the infamous pollution in Beijing. And because of last month’s sandstorm in the northern capital, I was really itching to see for myself the yellow skies of Beijing. Of course that’s another exagerration. The yellow skies, I mean. Because the dusts have cleared away already. And nothing but sunny Beijing welcomed us when we stepped out of the Beijing Railway Station.

This would have been us if the skies have not cleared up soon.

Oh, but the skies do look a bit yellow in this picture. Or probably because I'm just using a cheap camera.

According to our tour guide, because she is a tour guide after all and tour guides are supposed to share information like these, there are 3 things a laowai (or any other foreign person visiting Beijing for the first time so that includes any non-native Beijinger 中国人 as well) should do while in Beijing.

1. Eat Peking duck.

2. Climb the Great Wall of China.

3. Watch Beijing acrobatics and/or opera.

So tourist-y, don’t you think so? However, when further prodded, our tour guide finally broke down and admitted that there’s only one thing you should do in order to experience Beijing. That is to visit the 胡同 (hutong) or alleys in the area. This is an integral part of local life. Because, as so they say (or just me in fact), this is where a Beijinger’s life begins.

I was able to take pictures of old Beijing while walking to our restaurant. But I also see these images in Shanghai all the time.

This is Beijing after all.

I wanted to visit genuine hutongs. Maybe I’ll do that when I go back on my own.

The whole time I was in the city, I was straining my ears trying to hear glimpses of the cute Beijinghua accent which I am trying to replicate in my little universe. Sad to say, many of the people in Beijing (even our tour guide for crying out loud!!!) is not really from Beijing. How did I know? Well, my journalistic instincts got the best of me.

But I still got our tour guide to teach me a few of the terms only Beijingers use. Hehe. So points for her. Thank you, 小胡!

I can’t really say how it is to be a true blue Beijinger by just staying in Beijing for a few days. Except maybe you know, fake a Beijinghua accent. Just splash some 儿’s here and there. And an untrained ear will never know. Hehe. Try that and let me know what happens!

Another thing I like about Beijing is how extremely cheap their public transport is. Just 1RMB for one bus ride–no matter what the distance is! Just how extremely cheap can you get?!

And the metro is ONLY 2RMB!!! Are you dying of cheapness already??? Shanghai’s metro fares are so darn expensive that my fresh top up disappeared in just a few days.

I could live in Beijng, you know. The lifestyle is pretty much laidback. It’s so suburbia that all the time I was thinking, “This is China’s capital?!”

The Peking duck is good too, by the way. Though the fanfare behind it is more for the laowai as roast duck is actually a common thing (at least where I come from). Still, I’m always for oily, succulent duck dishes.

Why do you think the chef needs to come out of his place in the kitchen?

Up next: Climbing the Great Wall.