A career bridge in China

For foreign students like African-American Tristan Hampton, working as an expo volunteer provides the perfect platform to network for jobs in a fiercely competitive environment, while also giving him behind-the-scenes access to hidden facets of Chinese society. "For fresh graduates like me, it's still hard to find jobs. I'm hoping to meet some businessmen and look for potential opportunities,"...

Le Meridien - The first art themed hotel to open in Xiamen

Debuting on 26th January 2010, the Le Meridien Xiamen will be the first art themed hotel located on the mountain park of Xianyue in Xiamen, one of China's cleanest and most beautiful seaport cities on the south-eastern coast of Fujian Province.  "Xiamen is famous for its beautiful views and rich culture which is a perfect match to the brand image of Le Meridien.” said a spokesman of Le Meri...

Enterprising students or everyday scalpers?

Spring Festival is right around the corner, most college students are just finishing up the hell of final exams and are amped to finally travel home for a good rest and that long awaited family reunion. The problem is, tens of millions of Chinese have the same holiday plans. The Chinese Lunar New Year travel season, otherwise known as chunyun (or "the Spring Festival mass transport") is arguabl...

To spend Valentine's Day in Xiamen

Valentine's Day is approaching, day reserved for couples to celebrate their love for one another by giving flowers, candy, sharing a romantic dinner, exchanging gifts or spending a night in some cozy out of the way hotel. Seaview Resort with its luxurious settings can help you to enhance those romantic feel with a touch of French on the night. Seaview Resort, the 5-star hotel in Xiamen...

R&B cafe opens in Xiamen, China

A new cafe, R&B Cafe, is going to open this Saturday on 16th January. The cafe is located opposite the Rainbow Department Store Huiteng Branch. A party for celebrating its opening will be held that night, and special packages will be given to customers that night: 1) WOX card holders can enjoy a glass of free cocktail or beer.2) Every customer can get vouchers with face value doubl...

Where to buy a cell phone in Xiamen, China

As one of the most convenient communication tools, cell phone has become an indispensable part of our daily life. However, the communication systems in some countries may be different than China, so for some foreigners, buying a mobile phone will be their first task in China. So where to buy a mobile phone in Xiamen? Despite the fact that there are many mobile phone stores selling various b...

Marriages in haste as a widow's year looms

Attending my fourth wedding in as many weeks, I was enjoying watching one of my Chinese friends marry the man of her dreams, that, I might add, she had only very recently met and quickly altered her previous stance against co-habitation and life-binding vows, when I began to wonder how so many of my Chinese friends had similarly found their so-called perfect match and decided to marry them all w...

A foreigner's experience in learing mandarin in China

There are three types of foreigner in China; those who visit to learn the language, those work here and pick it up, and those who fail to move beyond the basics. I'm going to stereotype the expat population here a little, from my six years in the country, and say the third group is the largest. Unusually, I would also say this is the group that sticks around, year after year. Following that ...

How to be wary of pickpockets in Xiamen

Pickpocketing is generally a problem in many cities, and Xiamen is not an exception. According to police, most of the pickpocketing cases are committed in the following 14 places in Xiamen. Bus pickpocketing: (14)Xiada Xicun Stop, (4)Taihe Huayuan Stop, (3)Fuhuan Dasha Stop(near SM Shopping Mall), (2)Yueyang Xiaoqu Stop, (6)Caitang Stop, (9)Lundu Stop, (8)Lvcuo Stop(on Lvling Road), (13)Dongfan...

How hard to buy houses for young Chinese

Looking up at a new building for sale, Jin Jian, a fitness trainer in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province turned and left with a sigh. "There's no way I can afford it," The 28-year-old has been dating for sometime but nothing ever developed as women are looking for a man with a decent apartment, said Jin. "Frankly speaking, if I have to buy an apartment, I can't afford to marry," he said. Like Jin,...