Category Archives: Newspapers

Dating 101: change majors?

Posted on 2011-03-14 by Ralph Jennings

Meeting members of the opposite sex of course doesn’t just challenge the youth of China. But a bouquet of social pressures that start from childhood nip off most of the nation’s female-initiated romances before they bud: you’re too young for a boyfriend (mom talking), we sent you to college for education not messing around (parents talking), women appear too “easy” if they make a move (society talking) and you’re not good enough for the rich, handsome, charismatic guy who everyone else has eyes on (society again).

Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Dating 101: change majors?

Beijing’s hidden ads in Taiwan media

Posted on 2011-01-21 by Ralph Jennings

China is attacking Taiwan with a new war of words. But it’s not the ballistic, missile-rattling rhetoric of years past. Now it’s the sweet oily stuff of the post-2008 cross-Strait detente era: flattering words from Beijing, about Beijing, disguised in Taiwan’s media as straight hard news coverage.

Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Beijing’s hidden ads in Taiwan media

Real English fluency: just for fools?

Posted on 2011-01-17 by Ralph Jennings

Why study English in China vexes the masses who study for years without mastery. It baffles foreigners in China who find it hard to communicate even with college grads who have studied the language for more than a decade. This despondent letter from a cynical Chinese guy teaching English to fellow country people suggests that mastery isn’t the point. Language study is about memorizing just enough of it to pass standardized tests, and teaching means taking whatever steps needed to get there.

Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Real English fluency: just for fools?

A Nanjing without news kiosks

Posted on 2010-11-02 by Joel Martinsen

A Nanjing newsstand (see story #11 ) Nanjing has decided that news kiosks are a blight on the city. Erected on the roadway, they create yet another unnecessary obstacle to the growing number of cars on the streets. Moved to … Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Nanjing without news kiosks

High price of a free lunch when parents treat

Posted on 2010-10-20 by Ralph Jennings

Ralph Jennings is a journalist and long time resident of China. He currently lives in Taipei. From mid-2000 to 2006, he had an advice column in the 21st Century weekly newspaper in which he answered letters from thousands of students and young professionals. Below is a letter from the archive, with an introduction by Jennings

Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on High price of a free lunch when parents treat

Hu Zhong, first generation paperboy turned CEO, dies aged 41

Posted on 2010-08-09 by Alice Xin Liu

Paper Tiger Limited founder Hu Zhong (胡忠) was stabbed to death in a car park on July 9. He was CEO of the newspaper and magazine distribution company that later developed malls and websites for online book and magazine shopping as well as other similar services.

The Beijing News called him a first generation paperboy (中国第一代报童) and his death is suspected to be revenge-motivated, though the police are still investigating. The Beijing News ran an obituary on Sunday August 8.

Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Hu Zhong, first generation paperboy turned CEO, dies aged 41

It’s summer — time to get circumcised!

Posted on 2010-07-09 by Joel Martinsen

Parents in Hangzhou are having their sons circumcised to beat the heat.

Continue reading →

Posted in Health care and pharmaceuticals, Newspapers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on It’s summer — time to get circumcised!

Beef market in China

Posted on 2010-07-02 by Ralph Jennings

There’s a different kind of meat market in China. Female mate shoppers check out not only a man’s looks, humor and signs that he’ll treat her well. They also look for a bit of beef, as in where’s-the-beef. That means a man’s potential to earn money. Existing personal wealth is part of the cow. Future earning potential is another, or as advice column letter writer N.D. puts it, “achievements.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , | Comments Off on Beef market in China

The most lovable: Chinese soldiers in the Korean War

Posted on 2010-06-25 by Alice Xin Liu

An official newspaper marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

Continue reading →

Posted in Newspapers | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The most lovable: Chinese soldiers in the Korean War

Welcome to the i-Party

Posted on 2010-06-08 by Joel Martinsen

The Communication University of China’s branch of the Communist Party launches a cell phone newspaper: 中传机关手机党报, or i-Party.

Continue reading →

Posted in Internet, Mobile phone and wireless, Newspapers | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Welcome to the i-Party