Recently, I was traveling with goods friends of mine, John and Cindy Cancelliere. John is a dentist extraordinaire and he was on his way to Spain for discussions on cutting-edge developments in dental implants. Despite my gentle ribbing that holding … Continue reading The Chinese View of Dentistry
Most of the information for writing both of my books, The Wild Wild East and Doing the China Tango, came from interacting with the Chinese people for over a decade. During that time I’ve had a chance to observe and … Continue reading China’s Fondness for Gambling
There are 56 ethnic groups in China. Everyone in China has to register as belonging to one of these ethnic groups. The Han is the largest of these ethnic groups and comprises 92% of China’s populace. The name Han comes … Continue reading Ethnic Groups in China
In Chapter 6 of my book, The Wild Wild East, I mentioned the Mid-Autumn Festival, but didn’t have an opportunity to explain what it was as the chapter had a different focus. Let me do that now. Most people don’t … Continue reading China’s Mid-Autumn Festival
Tipping is an accepted fact of life in most of the world. It’s how we show satisfaction, or dissatisfaction in some cases, with the service we’ve received. To a large extent, this is not true in China. China is basically … Continue reading Tipping in China
Catching a domestic flight in China is usually an eye-opening experience for most foreigners. It starts when you get to the airport, as most domestic airlines won’t let you check in until two hours ahead of time. They also don’t … Continue reading Catching a Domestic Flight in China
English is increasingly becoming a language of the young in China and its influence is transitioning beyond basic communication. English is also influencing Chinese culture, and even the way the young think and act. Today, according to Diane Sawyer on … Continue reading The Influence of the English Language in China
Taxis are everywhere in China. They’re inexpensive and easy to catch. However, as a foreigner, directing them to where you want to go can sometimes be challenging. In Doing the China Tango I mentioned that I frequently traveled within a … Continue reading Catching a Taxi in China
Chinese holidays are both creative and imaginative. Over ten years ago our General Manager in China, Zhang Jingjie, or Maria to those who have worked with her over the years, told her new boss (that would be me) that she … Continue reading Tomb-sweeping Day in China
Traffic congestion in China is getting out of control. As a result, municipal governments are beginning to enact varying methods to restrict the number of cars on the road by assigning an allocation system to the issuance of new license … Continue reading In China, Get Your License Plate First and Then Buy Your Car