6–8 SCENE THE HERE! PEOPLE tribute 10 EDITOR SAY and display 11 BEST OF our favorite material 12–30 CLASSIC MEGA.PIXEL 5 years of photos 24–27 AUGUST 10 32 NEW MEGA.PIXEL IN 34 BUSINESS YOUR ENGLISH GUIDE TO A BUSTLING CITY: VOLUME 61 : AUG 10 AROUND HERE! 35 directory 36-37 DONGGuan CITY MAP 38 HOUJIE TOWNMAP & DG COUNTY MAP 39 EDITOR’S PICKS 41 RESTauranT REVIEW 43 BAR REVIEW 48 DIRECTORY GRAVEYARD 52 CLASSIC COLUMNS scene Fight Club “This is WBC Muaythai’s first major establishment in China”, said Dennis Warner, a WBC U.S. representative who attended the opening. “We’ll be assigning two master trainers from Thailand and all the other trainers are official members of National Thai Boxing Team. Our goal is to develop champions from China throughout the world. We see a lot of potential fighters in China especially in Dongguan.” According to the Honorary Chairman of the Ming Pu kickboxing club, who referred to himself only as Mr. Zhang, there are few reasons why they chose Dongguan as the training venue. “A variety of professional boxing gymnasiums have been already established in Hong Kong and Macau”, he said. “Aside from being near to Hong Kong and Macau, Dongguan has a rapid economic development. Also, we observe that Dongguan people are starting to like kickboxing as a sport and a form of exercise.” Thai kickboxing (also known as Muaythai or Muay Thai) established a Ming Pu kickboxing club offers professional Muaythai training courses. major presence in Dongguan on July 19, when the Dongguan Ming Pu Muaythai originated in Thailand and is referred to as the “Art of Eight Kickboxing Club opened on the border of Guancheng and Dongcheng. Limbs” because it makes use of punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes. The new club is a designated training base of the World Boxing Coun- The club is equipped with training devices which are screened and ap- cil (WBC) Muaythai committee in China. The major part of the grand proved by WBC. All sports equipment devices such as ring, gloves and opening event took place when one of the top female Muaythai boxers sandbags are imported from Thailand. Moreover, the club aims to increase worldwide, Miriam Nakamoto, did a Muaythai demonstration with one and develop students’ teamwork and “society skill.” of the trainers. Nakamoto, who is from Hawaii and represents the United States, is also preparing for a fight with another high ranked fighter, Claire Ming Pu kickboxing club is located on the 3rd floor above a China Telecom Haight from England, on August 21 in Haikou city on Hainan Island. service hall just off Dongcheng West Road, behind ParknShop. For details, (Nakamoto is pictured , center, with two of her championship belts). call 23393556 and 13549355558 or email [email protected]. 106 HERE! DONGGUAN » August 2010 scene Visiting Critic “Actually it only took me a morning dealing with those factory guys,” Oliver told HERE! by email. “The rest of the time I just had fun in Dongguan. It’s a very charming and livable city. First time here, but I love it, will come back for sure.” At the presentation, Oliver introduced an Australian Sparkling wine, Ries- ling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz. Of the Riesling he said “It’s been the vanguard of the dramatic evolution and change of emphasis evident in Australian Riesling, which has been more focused than ever before on structure, texture and minerality.” Of the Shiraz he said, “Proof positive that Australia’s largest winemakers are working as hard as ever to make the country’s leading wine.” Visiting Australian Adam Hart said the discussion was “very well ex- Australian wine critic Jeremy Oliver (not to be confused with “Naked plained. It was presented very well, even to a novice to wine. His expla- Chef” Jamie Oliver) is having his 2011 Australian Wine Annual guide nations when he went through the four wines were very comprehensive, to Australian wine printed at a factory in Dongguan. While visiting but not so evasive so it went beyond the common person.” Dongguan to check on its colors, paper, fonts and aspects of production, The event was sponsored by consulting firm Biz-Care International Oliver led a wine tasting introducing four Australian wines to a group at Ltd, Australian wine importer St. George Wine Merchant Co.. and the the Sofitel Royal Lagoon Ballroom. Guangdong SunRayCave Group. Wine With Mooncake With the season for giving and receiving mooncakes starting again soon, In addition, the hotel is promot- a Pullman Dongguan Forum “wine and mooncake tasting” took place ing their mooncakes in preparation at the hotel on the evening of July 22. “This event is intended for our with the coming Mid-Autumn Fes- long time customers. We want to extend our gratitude for their long tival (sometimes called the “Moon- time support to us”, said Jeff Chen, who is the Beverage Manager of the cake festival”). “We select the best Pullman’s “Carmen’s Bar.” mooncakes from our distributor and we use special packaging ideal The event featured Artisan wines and mooncakes. “Artisan is a French as a gift to family and friends this word referring to the people who dedicate their lives in making wines,” coming holiday”, Chen said. The said ASC Brand Manager Julien Curty. “We have a total of 48 Artisan Mid-Autumn Festival this year will wines available at this bar. These wines are all made under small produc- fall on September 22. tion but with high quality, and they are not very expensive”. HERE! DONGGUAN » AUGUST 2010 7 scene Cooking Up Tex-Mex Music Grammy winners don’t come to Dongguan every day, and the unique Texas music that came to Dongguan July 17 isn’t heard very often at all outside North America. Los Texmaniacs is four guys playing in a style known as “Tejano” or more simply Tex- Mex, for which Los Texmaniacs won the 2010 Grammy Award for “Best Tejano Album.” They performed as part of the “Culture Week- end” series of weekly performances in Guancheng. Max Baca, the group’s founder, called their music “Tex-Mex country polka music – a little bit of everything.” The music has its origins in German-settled areas of Texas, he said, where German polkas were Starting in July, the Hyatt Regency Dongguan has been organizing blended with Mexican styles. cooking classes in which the hotel’s chefs teach how to prepare dishes with common ingredients. The cooking classes are led by Executive A number of steps were taken to familiarize the Chinese audience with Chef Erich Garber from Austria and Copper Grill Chef Martin Robl the music: After the opening number, an M.C. came on stage to in- from Germany. On July 17, the two head chefs prepared French troduce the group and chat through a translator. During each song, recipes – a three course meal consisting of an appetizer of green pea a screen projected the name in Chinese and English, along with brief soup, a main course of herb risotto with pan-fried tiger prawns and information about the song in Chinese. A smoke machine and flashing a dessert of crêpes suzette. The class started at 4:30 p.m., and after multicolored lights provided additional visual interest. “I don’t think about two hours of cooking the participants finished and had a wine they understand what we’re saying, because we were singing in Spanish dinner. and English, but they can feel the beat,” said Baca afterwards. The classes cost RMB 488 plus a 15% service charge, “including all Dongguan was the second-to-last stop on the group’s two-week China the materials needed such as chef’s uniform, recipe, ingredients, cer- tour. They were first approached about a China tour at a music festival tificates and a special wine dinner”, said Public Relations Coordina- in Los Angeles. “We met Jing,” Baca said, referring to their booking tor Scarlet Ma. “The first cooking class we arranged was held on the agent, Jing Qiu Song. “He said, ‘You want to come to China?’ and we 13th of July this year and we are positive to continue this for a long said ‘sure.’ After about 50 emails, here we are.” time. We are inviting students, professionals, housewives and others to join us in this extraordinary experience”, she added. Jing, a native of Beijing, has arranged several China tours for musical acts. “I like this music,” Jing said. “I was in Texas for eight years – in Waco, For more information and future cooking class schedules, contact Hyatt Texas, at Baylor University for five years getting a graduate degree, then in employees Joe Zhang at 13713154431 or Milly Jin at 13925706549. Dallas three years. So I am very familiar with this music.” 1086 HERE! DONGGUAN » AUGUST 2010 the people YOUR ENGLISH GUIDE TO A BUSTLING CITY: VOLUME 61 : AUG 10 These are the Editor-in-Chief Regular Contributors wonderful people Ziv Glikman Andy Cooper Anna-Karin Birath whom without Deputy Editors Arthur Muller we couldn’t have Jenny N. Smith - Special Thanks Austin David done it month Michael Sanderson Britta Wessenfeld Byron Hu after month for Sales & Office Manager Claire Redford the past 5 years. Amy Xu Daniel Tielker A few worked here David Fireman Feature Editor David Hart full-time while Janet Whitfield - Special Thanks Erica Manssour more helped Fazlin Mance through freelance Junior Editors Fernando Munoz contributions for Gregory Lypka Fili An Hilla Ashkenazy Gabriel Barbee long, or short Jennifer Crumbsey periods of time. Staff Writers Johanna Thirkill Some learned a thing Ina Lee Laura Limowa Kris Dayao Lee Talon or two in the proccess Lisa Wilkie and quite a few Graphic Designers Maren Ziechmann thaught us a Dave Dai Michele Rommenswinkel Fan Liu Michelle Pasaoa lesson or two.