Global village
Beijing
Insider's guide to Bollywood
The Jackie Collins of India's book market proved a big hit this week at Beijing's Bookworm. Shobhaa De entertained visitors with anecdotes about her best-selling stories and all the juicy gossip about Bollywood, the world's biggest film industry.
Iceland's cool connections
Having a business foothold in China is good, but being a member of an association that works in your interests is even better. The Icelandic Business Forum (IBF) is the latest business association to commence operations on the mainland, and will be established today, with an initial membership of some 20 Icelandic companies.
US citizen registration
Travel registration is a free service provided by the US government to its citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. Registration allows Americans to record information about their upcoming trip abroad. The site is https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs or call (010) 6532-3431 weekdays 8am-12pm, 1-5pm.
Dalian, Liaoning
Mushi, mushi mandolins
As a main part of the "Week of Japan" in Dalian recently, a mandolin band from Tokyo gave a performance at the People Culture Club. More than 30 Japanese artists performed showing off their finger plucking skills on the instrument, which originates in Italy and was introduced to Japan hundreds of years ago.
Wuxi, Jiangsu
Taste for beer soup
Wuxi expats were cooking up unusual ways to overcome the city's water shortage after a massive blue-green algal bloom smothered Taihu Lake rendering the city's entire fresh-water supply undrinkable.
Locals have queued at supermarkets to buy supplies of bottled water brought in from neighboring cities. One expat wrote on a Wuxilife.com forum: "I'll go tomorrow to Suzhou or Shanghai to buy water with my truck. Meanwhile we're cooking beer soup."
Kunming
Students dig it
Hundreds of students from more than 20 countries gathered in Yunnan Province for the Kunming International Academy's groundbreaking ceremony for its new expanded campus. More than 400 people, including the entire KIA student body, attended the event as well as diplomatic staff from the Malaysian, Cambodian and Thai consulates in Kunming.
And another thing...
The main man
We all know business cards are essential in China, so it was interesting to hear of an ambitious networker in East China who re-invented his business cards with great success. He is the owner of an import/export business, so could call himself director, general manager, or even owner. However this fellow has opted for "The Main Man". From all accounts, the locals love it.
(China Daily 06/08/2007 page19)
