Not so refined behaviour..

Hi folks..

It is going to be China National day on 1st Oct, which is also known as the golden week for the Chinese.

Most of the companies rest 1 whole week during 1st Oct, this year the week is from 29th Sept to 5th Oct. Most expats take this time to go back home, and most locals will travel and go for holidays. The average locals will travel within China, while the slightly richer ones will go overseas for holidays.

One of the thing you have to accept in China when you are here is their "not so refined" behaviour. It was a culture shock for me when I see people lying around to sleep, spitting, talking loudly on the train... these are behaviors you have to learn to accept.

China, being such a big country, have a lot of rural areas where the people are not so cultured. Everyday, a lot of people from the rural areas come to big cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing to find work, look for job, relatives etc. Therefore, when they arrive here, they bring along a lot of their habits.

Sleeping/lying around:-

Spitting:-

I know many of you will feel "Yucks!" I couldnt accept it initially too...

But after some time.. you will get used to it..

Have fun during your golden week!

Bad/Improper English

Hi friends! Let's talk a little on the standard of English in China.
Being China, most Chinese only know Chinese or Pu Tong Hua, and they speak and understand very little English.
Therefore, you see improper English everywhere in China, including Guangzhou of course.
When the Chinese attend school, English is actually a subject but not a language to them.
All their lessons are conducted in Chinese.
Unless you go to high end restuarant/pubs, dont expect too much good English around here.

Below are some pictures I took around my areas, Im sure there are much much more...

Let me share a joke on this...

One English tourist went to a shop in China to buy a digital camera. But, since the camera is really cheap, he is afraid that it may spoil easily and there is no guaranty on quality. He went to the shopkeeper to ask for assurance. The Chinese shopkeeper pointed at a sign outside his shop that says, " Guaranty No Spoil". So, the English man bought the camera, but after a few tries, it broke down. He went back to the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper told him,"hello, China read from right to left"

Heehee..

Take care!!

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Hi all, this Sunday is the Mid Autumn festival, 15th Aug on the lunar calendar.

Since it falls on a Sunday, the officials here have delcared the following Monday as a public holiday. It is a celebration of togetherness.

This is the day where the Chinese believe that the moon is the roundest of the year.

So, on that evening, remember to look up to the sky to see the moon!

The Chinese celebrate the day by eating mooncakes, and children like to bring laterns around.

The decoration at the place where I am staying:-

The story goes about the festival came from the legend of Hou Yi and Chang E.

There are a few versions of the story but the main outline is that Hou Yi, a cruel king found the elixir of life. Chang E, his wife did not want him to be immortal as she did not want the people to suffer. Therefore, she took the elixir and flew to the moon. There are also some versions about Hou Yi who before becoming a king was an archer who shot down 9 out of 10 suns.

Therefore, there are some people who told me that it was the American who first went to the moon and planted the American flag there.

Nah.. that's not true.. because, the Chinese Chang E was there way before him! Heh..

I will be in Shanghai the whole of next week... Happy Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoy your long weekend!

Yuan Xiang Coffee

Hi folks! It's quite hot in Guangzhou now... but sometimes it get better when there are rains. Drink more water yah..

For Singaporeans and Malaysians... Good News!!

I found our local food in Guangzhou.

The coffee shop is called Yuan Xiang which is located at Citic Plaza (back street)

I think they have another 2nd outlet at Tian He district

I got to know the boss who is a Singaporean during the National day dinner..

And I went to his coffee shop a few times to try different types of food.. like Curry Chicken, Chicken rice, Nasi Lemak, Laksa, Kaya toast.

The teh tarik is not bad.

Overall, I guess it is not 100% close.. but at least 60-70% there.. It should be the closest you can get here..

A set meal cost about RMB20-25

Take care!

Networking in Guangzhou

Hi friends, I hope your weekend was great. I had a busy weekend.

Being a Singaporean, I joined the GZ Singapore Club which held a Singapore National Day dinner last Saturday at Westin. At the dinner, I met a lot of Singaporeans who are working here in Guangzhou. FYI - Singapore National Day is on 9th Aug, but Im not sure why did they only have the dinner until end Aug, probably because of the Olympics...


The dinner was great, manage to meet up with a lot Singaporeans, exchange a lot of namecards.
We are even thinking of organising a weekly soccer game soon.

The only negative thing was the host, who is the chairman of the club was obviously drunk towards the end of the dinner and was talking some nonsense... made a fool of himself.. heh..






















Therefore, if you are an expat, I will strongly suggest you to get into such clubs and associations where you find your fellow country people. You will click with one another instantly.
Most expats, when they first arrived are real lonely people - I have been through it myself. Unless you come with your family.. if not, you are really going to be real lonely, having dinner alone, shopping alone.. etc...

If you are from Singapore, you can join GZ Singapore Club: www.gzsingclub.com/
and/or SingCham: http://www.singcham.com.cn/

I'm sure if you are of other nationalities.. there will be other clubs.. Example:- my Swiss boss is the president of SwissCham..

Have fun and take care!

China Personal Income Tax

Hi all, let's talk about the personal Income tax in China for expats like us.

Comparing to Singapore, it is really high!!

The first RMB4800 is non-taxable and there are 9 levels in China income tax:-

Level Monthly Income Tax Rate % Deduction

1) RMB500 or less

Tax Rate 5%

Deduction 0

2) RMB501 to 2000

Tax Rate 10%

Deduction RMB25

3) RMB2001 to 5000

Tax Rate 15%

Deduction RMB125

4) RMB5001 to 20000

Tax Rate 20%

Deduction RMB375

5) RMB20001 to 40000

Tax Rate 25%

Deduction RMB1375

6) RMB40001 to 60000

Tax Rate 30%

Deduction RMB3375

7) RMB60001 to 80000

Tax Rate 35%

Deduction RMB6375

8) RMB80001 to 100000

Tax Rate 40%

Deduction RMB10375

9) RMB100001 above Tax

Rate 45%

Deduction RMB15375

so for example, if my income is RMB18000/month

That is level 4
Tax Rate 20%
Deduction RMB375

This is how i will calculate my taxes:-

RMB18000 - RMB4800 = RMB13200 x 20% = 2640 - 375 = RMB2265

Take for another person income is RMB 65000/month
That is level 7

Tax Rate 35%
Deduction RMB6375

This is how his taxes will be:-

RMB65000 - RMB4800 = RMB60200 x 35% = RMB21070 - 6375 = RMB14695

The above information is correct at the time of publishing

More information can be found at http://de2.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/bilateralvisits/200603/20060301721962.html?

The Chinese government has made it easier to calculate your taxes with the below site, just key in your monthly income:-

http://www.xm-l-tax.gov.cn/taxcalculator/psntaxcalc_e.do

Taxes are so high!!

That's all!!

Guangzhou Church

Hi there! How is your weekend coming along?

It is typhoon weekend for me in Guangzhou.
Fortunately, there was only some rain and strong winds here.
Guangzhou is not too much affected, unlike HongKong and other parts of south China.



I just came back from Guangzhou International Christian Fellowship (GICF), a church for expatriates near my home. About 15 mins walk.


Chinese locals are not allowed to enter the church. Please do not be mistaken that we are discriminating the Chinese nationals, but this is required by the law of China.
Freedom of worship is limited in the communist state. One of the church leader was questioned by the local authories when some Chinese locals sneaked into the church.
If the church is caught on the same offence again, their license may be revoked.
I believe this is the same everywhere in China, at least it was the same when I was in Shanghai.

The chinese has their own church which the services are conducted in chinese. I have been to one in Shanghai, very traditonal type.

Therefore, in order to indentify yourself as a foreigner, especially if you are an Asian (yellow skin) like me, please bring along a photo identity card or passport to enter.
To find out more, GICF website:-
http://www.gicf.net/



GICF meets at Star Hotel (next to Guangzhou East Railway Station), 3rd floor, every Sunday from 10am - 11.30am.
Every Sunday, there are about 300-400 adults worship there.
There is Sunday school for children as well, i understand that GICF has about 100++ children every Sunday.
Come join us if you are interested.


The map (Click to enlarge):-












Some pictures of the church:-