Cup of Cha
This is China

If you’re reading this from somewhere outside of China, you may be unaware that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. That is probably because you hate the Chinese people and your concerted ignorance is a carefully designed plot to insult the world’s largest population. Or possibly, [...]

Continue reading “60 is the New 5000” »

Riots in Tibet last year. Riots in Xinjiang this year.
There is one lesson that we can learn from all of this:  Old people are dangerous.  Incited youths listen to and heed the words of virtually anyone the age of their grandparents. Young people are not motivated by ethnic hatred, lack of jobs or the perception [...]

Continue reading “Chinese Government Fears Old People” »

When I heard that the new Guns N’ Roses album is entitled Chinese Democracy, it got me wondering what, exactly, the point to the title was. Now, I think we should start with the premise that these fellows aren’t very deep thinkers. I’m not trying to hate on Slash or Axl Rose, but they did [...]

Continue reading “What’s up with Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy”?” »

Last day of the Olympics and I have handball gold medal tickets.  I love handball, it’s fast paced, I understand the checking rules that leave me bemused with basketball and it’s in the Olympic Green.  The sun is shining and the trip to the Green is pleasant enough.  I have heard so much about the [...]

Continue reading “One Man, One Dream.” »

Today I feel good about myself. I know you’re probably thinking, “But Josh, you must wake up every morning with a superiority complex!” True, but today is especially good. No, not because my blog was recently ranked #17 in Beijing among expats aged 22-26.
Yesterday CoSport, the official ticketer for the 29th Summer Olympiad, put the [...]

Continue reading “Office Olympic Ticket Rush” »

The Beijing magazine City Weekend, until fairly recently, was considered the weakest of the three listings/English magazine in Beijing. But then Time Out got shut down and That’s Beijing became The Beijinger, confusing some during the adjustment period. So suddenly City Weekend had an opening to make it’s pitch for the top spot.
It’s a nice [...]

Continue reading “Day in the Life of…Lazy Expats” »

I love Beijing, but every city can improve somewhat, right? New York could have bigger apartments. Atlanta could have fewer strip clubs. Salt Lake City could have more. Every city is different. But here are a few public policy choices that could help Beijing:
1. Mandate that all restaurants have more than four copies of the [...]

Continue reading “Unique Improvements to Beijing” »

Recently the government released eight things Chinese shouldn’t ask foreigners. Well, we at Cup of Cha have put together eight things visitors to the Beijing Olympics shouldn’t ask Chinese people:

When it says “duck’s blood” on the menu, what is it really? (And why is blood solid?)
Why does Taiwan (ie, Chinese Taipei) have its own flag [...]

Continue reading “Eight Things Olympics Visitors Shouldn’t Ask” »

In China, all too often, criticizing any aspect of Chinese society or the government is taken as an affront to the entire country. On my blog I pretty much say whatever I want, but in my personal interactions I try to be a little more cautious. Nevertheless, it also strikes me as bizarre that talking [...]

Continue reading “When Can One Criticize China?” »

One of my readers who is apparently trying to sell Olympics tickets online sent me an odd e-mail he received from a potential buyer, which tried to draw an ethnic pride to get a good price:
Beijing Friends,
I am Ethnic Chinese born in China.
I live in America at the moment.
I need help from other Ethnic Chinese, [...]

Continue reading “You Scratch My Han Back” »