2. 2 weeks to expo
and counting!
Yes, we’re excited about the Expo! And now that we Not only that, we also want to keep readers in touch
are back again after being quiet for a while, Luan with the mainstream culture that plays a big part in
Dun would like to first and foremost wish everyone a Chinese life.
prosperous year of the Tiger, Rawwrrr!
Our feature designer of this month is Momo Wu, who is
Although it’s April and the festive season is way over, China all about simplicity. She uses fluorescent light to bounce
never ceases to evolve - interestingly and chaotically. This shadows off of Chinese craft paper which then creates a
is why Luan Dun continues to dig up interesting events simple brown and white effect.
happening all over China that will help readers understand
the society more through the eyes of locals. We hope you enjoy this month’s Luan Dun!
3. Let’s kick off our April issue with a little tribute to the
Blue Tooth Paste. What? You don’t know what BTP is? Turn
to the next page to find out!
4. Hello! I am tHe
blue tootH paste aka
sHangHaI expo mascot - HaI bao
海宝 [hăi băo] = Sea BaBy
5. Country first
family seCond
“Thanking your parents is not a
problem, but thanking your country
should be priority.”
At the Womens 1,500 meters short-track speed race finals, However Zhou Yang was criticized by the State Sports General
the only Chinese competitor broke the Olympic record and Administration deputy director Yu Zaiqing on the CPPCC (The
won the Olympic gold medal. After the race, reporters asked Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) session.
her, “What does it mean to be the Olympic champion?” Zhou “Thanking your parents is not a problem, but thanking your
Yang replied, “After having won the gold medal and broken country should be the priority, your must put the country first,
the world record, many things will change, I will become more don’t just thank your parents and leave it as that.”
confident and will ultimately be able to help my parents live a
better life.” These words touched many viewers.
6. China debates
1usd = 6.8RMB
the need for a
500 rmb note
The CPPCC (The Chinese People’s Political Consultative go through, we’re fearful of its unintended consequences
Conference) might be over, but people are still debating on transportation. Taxis find it difficult enough to break 100
some of the more outrageous proposals considered by RMB bills, so we can only imagine the expletives we’d hear
the committee. And the most recent issue to put Chinese when we dig out a 500 RMB bill.
netizen’s into a typing hysteria is a proposal to increase
the largest Renminbi denomination from 100 RMB to 500 Among other concerns brought up by netizen: issues of
RMB. Chen, Chairman of the board at Hong Kong Yu RMB counterfeiting (if you get a fake 500 RMB bill you lose
Zhen Holding Group Co Ltd, is quoted as saying, “Cash much more than with a 100 RMB bill), robbery and the
denominations are too small for the significant increasing need for labor intensive jobs (there are enough people to
cash transactions in our society, which is a waste of time for refill the ATM machines frequently, so why cut jobs?).
the financial institution and the people.”
Anyone who’s ever tried to put a deposit on an apartment
knows the uneasy feeling of rolling up to the contract
meeting with a backpack full of cash, but if this was ever to
7. i hate
mushrooms!!!
Recently, a post on local BBS revealed a middle school in that according to Article 37 of the Chinese Constitution under
Dong Guan, Guangdong Province, forcing all female students “Personal freedom of the People’s Republic of China citizens
to undergo the Mushroom haircut. The intention of this was so shall be inviolable”, hair is part of the human body, so is
that students did not have to fuss about their hair and were able illegal for the school to enforce such rule over their students.
to focus more on their studies. Another reason: it would keep
other male students from distraction. What happens next is yet to be known, but we have a question:
Why the Mushroom haircut?
Getting your hair cut a certain way in Chinese middle schools
isn’t something new, but it may be the first time students have
fought against school authority through the Internet referring
to legal documents for support. With that, they’ve unwittingly
received media attention. In the post, students pointed out
8. inside China’s
new gay
faCebook Clone
Those behind the Great Firewall have had to accept that Personal, yes, but these questions don’t say much specifically
Facebook is not going to be their main form of social about the gay community in China that the site is serving. A
networking. However this is China, and no Facebook just means telling question though appears later: “Will you get married?”
there’s a market for unblocked Facebook clones (think www. China doesn’t recognize gay marriage, so it seems a bit odd
renren.com). And if you’re gay in China there’s a brand new to include it. But this question hits a sensitive issue within the
option: Feizan.com (Chinese only). LGBT community here. Many gay men (and women) in China
are expected to marry someone of the opposite sex for social
Although not the first gay-friendly site of its kind in China (Gay. reasons, regardless of their sexual orientation. Although this is
com beat it to the punch), Feizan is clear in its intentions. Zhao more common in the older generation, the practice is still far
writes, from Shanghai Daily, “Feizan also requires users to reveal from obsolete.
their sexual orientations, outing status, role in relationships
(striker or goalkeeper)... and whether you are circumcised.”
Clearly, this is an all-male clubhouse.
9. speCial foCus
reCession enCourages
superstition
A man holding patron saint’s statue made a curtsey in the direction Gas mask is essential for staying in the cloud of smokes.
of the temple.
February 18th, which is the 5th day of the Chinese lunar calendar, marks the birthday
of the Chinese God of Wealth, 财神爷 [cai shen ye]. At least 550,000 people from
all over China were seen queuing up by Guiyuan Temple of Wuhan City before
dawn to burn incense as a way to welcome The God of wealth, as well as praying
for blessings for the upcoming year.
People from all over China started to queue up in front of Guiyuan Temple from 7pm
the night before, waiting to serve Cai Shen Ye. Roads leading to the pinnacle were
brimming with tourists by midnight. The crowd became so uncontrollable that guards
and police had to be present, and the incense fumes became so unbearable that
masks were needed. Local media believed that the recession is behind the booming
worship for the God of Wealth.
10. speCial foCus
who dares haCk
the China Central
television?
On February 15th, which is the second day of the Chinese many netizens believed that the hacker was upset by the
New Year, several netizens reported that they could not Gala because it placed too many soft ads in-between the
login to cctv.com and that the homepage of CCTV was program which is supposed to entertain the whole country
covered by an image of a Western woman’s behind. The for the one time in a year. The reporter then contacted a
page didn’t fully recover until 20:20 of that day. No official few employees of CCTV, all of whom replied “on vacation,
comment from the website thus far. don’t know about it”.
According to the reporter, he wanted to login in cctv.com In fact, it is not the first time cctv.com has been hacked.
at 20:05 to watch the Vancouver Olympic Games, only On January 30th, some “unhealthy videos” were posted on
to find a picture with a Western woman’s derrière. He Xing Bo Ke, one of cctv.com’s video channels, but removed
was not alone; many netizens had already discovered the 2 hours later. The comment then was “our IT department
problem and posted it on a few BBS. The content that got doesn’t work on weekends, plus nobody reported about
hacked might seem irrelevant to the Spring Festival Gala this, it’s probably just a joke.”
hosted by CCTV on Chu Xi (Spring Festival’s Eve), however,
11.
12. esCape from
beiJing
shanghai &
guangZhou
北上广 [běi shàng guǎng] refers to the three “super” cities Beijing, Shanghai
and Guangzhou with financial, political, and cultural privileges celebrated by the
younger generation of China.
However, the extremely high and unreasonable price of real estate, the strict ID
registration system and great pressures in life and work are now forcing younger
Chinese to leave these super cities to seek lower-paid jobs in order to secure a
more relaxed lifestyle and better life quality in smaller towns.
13. Child slave
To be or not to be…A child slave, or 孩奴 [hái nú], “I used to think I could have a baby young and the
that is the question. After 30 years of economic grandparents can raise it, so I could have a young
reform, the conflict between traditional concept of person’s life again,” says Li, an expectant mother.
child-bearing and the harsh reality of life has made “But now, I’m afraid I’d have to sacrifice everything
young post 80s Chinese couples reconsider the for my child.”
thought of bearing offspring.
Li’s desire to have a baby at a young age as well as
With thousands of people blogging in China’s cyber her concern for her independence and dependence
space, a new group of bloggers have made a name on the tradition family unit is not unique, and the
for themselves by blogging about raising children. debate of where the balance lies has spread online
These young parents who regularly blog about like a cold in a kindergarten.
their children’s daily lives, exchange tips and post
hundreds of cute photos of their toddlers, are divided
about whether they are slaves to their children.
14. naked marriage
Naked Marriage or 裸婚 [luǒ hūn]refers to couples getting than me. I understand he has little money. Besides, I love
married without rings, apartment and cars which is becoming things to be simple. So I agreed,” Zhang says.
more acceptable to young people who want to get married
sooner rather than later. On Jan 6, 2009, the couple took a day off and registered their
marriage. Instead of a banquet, their wedding ceremony was
Zhang Yi, a 28-year-old editor at the fashion magazine a 100-yuan ($15) dinner at a small restaurant where they first
Sunshine, imagined her boyfriend’s proposal like this: In a nice met. When Zhang’s parents asked them for wedding photos,
restaurant, he gets down on his knee, flourishes a diamond she said they had no time for that, as the pair had to work the
ring and asks: “Will you marry me?” She would then scream, next day.
and with tears of joy in her eyes, throw herself into his arms.
Zhang was amused when her friends said she had a “naked
But the reality was totally different. One night at the end of marriage” (luo hun), which is now one of the hottest topics
2008, her boyfriend simply said: “My mother has asked us to among young people in big cities.
register for the marriage certificate as soon as possible.” Zhang
agreed - and that was it. “My husband is two years younger
15.
16. Movie
monga | 艋胛
This Chinese Lunar New Year, Taiwan welcomes to theaters its latest gangster flick, starring pop idol,
Ethan Ruan (阮經天), and actor, Mark Chao (趙又廷).
This movie kills two birds with one stone as without a doubt, MONGA puts Taipei on the
commercial movie map, while also exploring Taipei’s history; something that even the movie’s
young stars were not fully aware of prior to filming. The movie portrays a period in Taiwan’s history
synonymous with the conflicts between rival gangs. This was especially prominent in Wanhua
District, and despite the story being a work of fiction, it is filled with the memories of Niu’s (the
Director) youth.
Set in 1980s Taiwan, after the end of military dictatorship, MONGA centers around five boys who
join a gang because they are tired of being pushed about. As they relish their new social standing,
they soon discover that being gangsters in ‘MONGA’ comes at a price. Other gangs have their
hearts set on the thriving locale. Soon the boys’ world as they know it is thrown upside down.
17. Movie
not without you |
不能没有你
This black-and-white Taiwanese film by Leon Dai, which gained great acclaim at the recent Golden Horse
Awards, tells the simple story based on a true-life incident, where a man took his daughter and perched
themselves precariously at the edge of an overhead bridge over major road traffic, threatening to jump off
because they had been given the short end of the stick from society time and again.
A father’s love for his child is unconditional, a bond that can’t be broken. But sometimes government
bureaucracy can interfere. Li Wu-hisung lives in a harbor zone in Taiwan with his small daughter. He
doesn’t have a job, so he takes on risky tasks on boats to earn money. When he tries to do the right thing
and enroll his daughter in a school, the government decides it’s in the child’s best interest to remove her
from his care. He does everything he can to get her back, leading to a desperate standoff in front of the
media and the world. Based on a true story, it conveys a quest of love that knows no bounds.
18. Movie
little big soldier
大兵小将
Starring the world’s most famous action hero Jackie Chan and one of China’s top pop idol
Wong Lee Hom, LITTLE BIG SOLDIER tells the story of a farmer forced into conscription,
Who is looking to escape the army of the army ever since. His big opportunity arrives when
he stumbles upon a wounded general from an enemy state, and he kidnaps him, intending to
claim credit for the capture, which includes five mu (acres) of land, and most importantly, an
honorable discharge from the army.
19. Music
private Corner
by JaCky Cheung
Jacky Cheung is back, and he invites you to his
“Private Corner”!
It has been more than five years since he released his
Cantonese studio album - Life is Like a Dream in 2004,
and no longer content with singing pop songs, the
Canto-pop King has evolved to offer us a new sound.
With a voice like vintage wine, Jacky can always be
counted on to deliver the goods, and his vocals make
a perfect match with the jazz sound of the new album.
Private Corner is made with a discerning audience in
mind, and producer Andrew Tuason ensured the best
sound quality by using only authentic instruments.
20. Music
senses around
by yoga lin
One Million Star (singing competition) first season champion
Yoga Lin enjoyed a dream start to his singing career in 2008,
thanks to his well-received debut album Mystery, and a little
before that the Yoga’s Trick concert tour, which made him
the youngest Taiwan singer to hold a solo concert without
releasing a record. Now, listeners have come to expect more
from this rising star.
Titled Senses Around, the new album is built around the
theme of human communication, and the title of each
song has something to do with the mind or the senses. The
amusing first single “Eat What You See”, written by famous
Hong Kong lyricist Wyman Wong, features a cannibalism
theme with the underlying moral of never judging people
by their looks. Other new songs include “Ear”, “Heart-sore”,
“Hysteria”, and “Empathy”.
21. Music
time flies
by eason Chan
Eason Chan is back in the Hong Kong Coliseum after
opening his Moving on Stage world tour there in 2007.
This time, he is holding 18 shows between March and April
2010, new personal record for the reigning Canto-pop king.
To coincide with the concerts, Eason will release the highly
anticipated new Cantonese mini-album with six new songs,
including the airwave smash “No Man’s Land” and the
second plug “Tourbillion”, both penned by well-known
lyricist Wyman Wong.
22. weB
p1.Cn
P1.CN is a private online club, and membership can only be obtained through
invitations when chosen by their street-snap photographers or invited by your
friends who is already a member of this fashion related SNS.
Although restricted, snapshots taken in nightclubs and on the streets have become
very popular, and pictures are widely copied and posted in other websites, bbs,
blogs and SNS.
p1.cn
23. weB
fashionZine
ChiCsin.Com
FASHIONZINE or 发神经 [fa shen jing] is a webzine created FASHIONZINE’s biggest ambition is to provide a platform for
by a group who called themselves Chic Sin (痴線 [chi seen]). emerging contemporary designers in China. In past issues,
Both of these names share a common meaning: go crazy. Fashionzine introduced Central Saint Martins graduate Vega
This may reveal the creative attitude of ChicSin Group, a non- Wang, Chongqing fashion blogger Pandagugu and worked with
profit group of people that have come together with a shared Chinese photographer Ren Hang.
appreciation of aesthetics. Most of them are rising artist and
editors from leading Chinese lifestyle magazines chicsin.com
As a webzine, FASHIONZINE is a multimedia platform related
but not limited to the following fields: experimental, avant-garde
art and design, fine arts, fashion, photography, music, film, and
pop culture.
24. tv pRogRaM
you are the one
非诚勿扰
Dating shows may lack cachet or artistic value but they never cease to attract an
audience. Since Chinese New Year, Jiangsu TV’s dating show YOu ARE THE ONE
became China’s hottest reality show of the month.
In the show, one male participant is challenged with questions from 24 female
participants, many of which are related to the reality of current social issues like
housing; whether or not to continue living with parents; whether or not to have
children and so on.
This show acts as a platform that allows a generation of young Chinese to express
their views on love and marriage in a modern society. Some of its content may be
provocative and controversial, but all of it is entertaining.
25. tv pRogRaM
upward everyday
天天向上
uPWARD EVERYDAY is one of the most famous talk shows in
Mainland China. It is hosted by famous hosts from Hunan, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.
What makes uPWARD EVERYDAY different from other talk shows
in China is that their purpose is educational, but with an entertaining
approach. The show was produced to educate Chinese audience on
mannerisms, social interaction, succeeding in life and so forth. By doing
so, they invite a wide range of guests from various fields to talk about
their life experience in the most entertaining way.
