Editor-in-Chief: Ziv Glikman Managing Editor: David Mark Arnold VP Events: Billy Lam Art Director: Joe Zhu Social Media Coordinator: Jone Zheng 06-07 Sales Assistant: Cathy Chan CHINA SPLASH Photography: Gabriel Wong / Lai Derong / CURRENT HAPPENINGS FROM Laureen Luo ALL AROUND CHINA Marketing Coordinator: Winnie Lee WeChat Editor: Zoe Yang Intern: Helen Zhang Sales Associates: Suri Chung / Claire Kee Contributors: Jeremiah Jenne / Carlos Ottery / Warrick El-Mahassni / Lulu Luxe / Alix Robinson / 08-10 Michael Kelly / Julie Axelsson / Fruzsina Karolyi / SCENES Daniel Liang / Giliam Johan Winckler / Tracy Lu WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY? 11 OP-ED CHINESE ENTRY EXAMS GROW MORE CRAZY BY THE DAY 16-21 12 A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE VOLUME 146: SEPT 17 PLAY IF YOU’VE GOT A DOG, DON’T MISS THIS PLACE 32-33 SEEN SOMETHING INTERESTING? THE MAPS Contact us at: +86 769 2234 7730 (Mon–Fri, 9:30 am - 6 pm) 14 Send us a message: TRAVEL Letters to the Editor: [email protected] 34 LIVING HERE AND THERE, Ads & Subscriptions: [email protected] WHAT DO YOU CALL HOME? WHERE TO PARTYHERE Events Submission: [email protected] THE BEST OF WHAT’S HAPPENING Directory Listings: [email protected] IN DONGGUAN THIS MONTH Find us on social media: WeChat: HEREDongguan Facebook.com/HEREDongguan 16-21 Twitter: @HEREDongguan INTO THE WILD Youtube.com/HEREDongguan 38 THE GARDEN CITY HAS A LOT TO HEREDG.COM OFFER. GO VISIT A PARK TODAY. BUSINESS STAY CURRENT WITH CHINA’S LEGAL & BUSINESS TRENDS 京工商广登字: 20160004 HERE! Dongguan uses only original material. 22-31 Letters to the editor may be edited before publishing. Our publication is produced for and by Dongguan’s MEGAPIXEL international community and reffllects its diverse characteristics. 39 FEATURING ONLY THE BEST Views and opinions expressed in this publication belong to IMAGES OF DONGGUANERS WHAT DO THEY KNOW? the contributor and are not necessarily those of the publisher. DISCOVERING THE HEROES OF All rights reserved to HERE! Dongguan. DG, ONE MONTH AT A TIME Always recycle this magazine. 50 CLASSIFIEDS 51 WELL READ NEW STORIES. NEW WRITERS. EVERY MONTH. 52 CLASS ACT THE ONLY GUIDE NEEDED TO EXCEL AT TEACHING 53 GLITTERBOMB CAREFUL, LULU IS WATCHING 41 45 YOUR EVERY MOVE SOMETHING TO EAT A BIT OF GRAPES & HOPS GETTING STUFFED AT A FRESH MONTHLY WINE AND BEER 54 RESTAURANT EACH MONTH REVIEWS BY ALEC FORSYTH WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH... INVESTIGATING AND EXPLAINING 43 48 THE ODDITIES OF CHINA SOMETHING TO DRINK HOTEL HAPPENING STAY HYDRATED AND CHECK OUT GO FORMAL AT THESE 55 A NEW BAR THIS WEEKEND FEATURED HOTEL SPECIALS WAY BACK WHEN TIME TRAVELING TO THE PRD OF YESTERDAY 56 EXPATRIATED THE JOYS AND STRUGGLES OF 12 BEING AN EXPAT IN CHINA PLAY www.heredg.com » September 2017 3 EDITOR’S SAY LETTER OF 12 YEARS HERE! THE MONTH Hello there, t’s been 12 successful years of the HERE! brand in our great city of Dongguan. To I once cooperated with Carlos and be exact, it’s been 12 years and one month, as the first HERE! Dongguan was out HEREDG (January 2016, op-ed column), on August 1st, 2005 (and every month since!). Throughout the years we’ve had our but I know Carlos left a while ago. Thus, I’m ups and downs, many good employees who helped improve our output, dozens writing to the “general” address. of foreign and local writers, and a few dear editors. But one thing has stayed the same I have another “article” for the same spot, all these years: I am always HERE! However, without the tremendous help of so many would you be interested? If so, I could also people, I wouldn’t be able to do even 10 percent of what’s been done and for that I’m supply the accompanying graphic art. very thankful. Please see attached word file, I look forward Back 12 years ago, the English information industry was very to your feedback. small in China. When we came out for the first time, our Claudio Boggia future readers were thirsty for anything that they could actually recognize and read. The English-speaking locals were thrilled to see something that reminded them of Hey Claudio, home and especially, some comprehensible information One of our favorite things is for past writers about the city’s history and culture. It may also surprise to check-in and say hello after a short break. you to know that some of our biggest fans are locals It’s even better when they are still interested to who love seeing their city becoming more and more contribute to our community. Of course, we’d international. love to get you in again. Please don’t wait so long before saying hi again! To the rest of you What I love the most about this job is knowing that we’ve guys, remember, this is your space to expose your helped thousands of people feel a little bit like home when they secret spots, unload frustrations or publish an actually live in a place that is totally and absolutely foreign. Over the years, many read- interesting short story you wrote. Send us your ers (especially new expats) came up to me saying “thank you, this is our bible here.” Over work at [email protected] and we’ll see how time, things have evolved and information in English is becoming limitless and easier to you can fit in the madness. access than ever. Thanks to platforms like WeChat, we are proud to share this “responsi- bility” of information with many other English media outlets in China that are doing an excellent job. You are the HERE! Letter of the Month! Look out for your 300 RMB gift card from Nogogo Online Looking back over the last decade and change, together we’ve been through a lot. Come Grocery. Thanks for your feedback. The Japan-originated stick figure “Orz” representing a guy kneeling and share some memories and join us to celebrate another—our 12th!—year here at our an- bending his head down is often used to show frustration in Internet speak. In niversary pool party, this Saturday, September 9. We would love to see you all! Chinese, “Cha” means tea. Based on the name, are we in for some frustrating tea? While looking over the menu full of names like ”You are not only fat, but also ugly lemon tea” or the menacing “Even working overtime to near-death, Nogogo Online Grocery is your one-stop online grocery stop with over 8000 products from over you still can’t afford this passion 60 countries around the world. Visit nogogo.cn fruit lemon juice,” a sense of brutal Editor-in-Chief for delivery straight to your door. taunting gives way to humor. Ease up, old chap. “I want people to directly face their negative emotions,” said FIND THE Richard Ye, owner of the shop. He previously visited a shop with a similar concept in Shanghai and decided Can you spot the Fake Ad this month? Send FAKE AD people in Dongguan might also appreciate the style. Bucking the typical copy- your entry to [email protected]. One lucky everything standard, he also added his own ideas into the mix. The “milk cover” winner will get one floral arrangement lesson from is made with milk and heavy cream to sometimes cover tea in China. Since black UNKNOWN in One Mall, valued at 268 RMB. can easily represent frustration, Richard adds bamboo charcoal power to blacken the cover. The decoration of the shop is also mostly black. Often, teashops will Congratulations to all those who found last month’s Fake Ad on page 50: Beat the use sugar-free, reduced sugar or normal to intensify the sweetness of the drink. Heat. Nisha Tiwari was last month’s randomly selected winner. She’ll receive three However, at Orz Cha, bitter flavors forcefully take their place. Get your tickets to Palm Valley Water Park, valued at 354 RMB. moody face on this afternoon. Please note, participants can only win one prize within a twelve-month period. Address: Orz Cha, No. 65, Yong Huating, Dongcheng 东城雍华庭65号 4 HERE! DONGGUAN » September 2017 AROUND HERE! T OF THE M EN ON FA V TH ITY CTS E C COME HELP HERE! THE HOME OF SWEET POTATOES CELEBRATE OUR 12TH ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH! Delicious sweet potatoes are everywhere. The “healthy” potato once originated in the Americas, but now can be found in even the most remote parts 12-10 PM. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 of the world. So, how did they make it to China? Thanks to one Dongguan man. AT TANGLA DONGGUAN HOTEL. Chen Yi (陈益), from Humen, traveled to Annan Whether you love to eat or drink, dance, swim (now Vietnam) in 1580 during the Ming Dynasty. or slip ‘n slide, there’s something for everyone There, he was served his first taste of orange-y delight at our annual poolside tradition that has and studied the growth habits and cultivation techniques become Dongguan’s party of the summer. of the root for two years. Bands, performances, countless DG bars and In 1582, he risked death and hid some seeds in a bronze restaurants, and games… This year will be drum to bring back to China. A few Vietnam boats chased after him once they realized his bigger than ever, with more of everything. trick, but luckily for many Chinese dishes today, he escaped. Buy tickets in advance for 40 RMB (80 at Back in his home territory, he still didn’t fully understand the planting process of sweet the door) and receive one free drink.