The Shenzhener Blog

Who is a Shenzhener?

• A French factory manager who spends half of his time in the Hong Kong office, and half here in Shenzhen
• An office girl from Hubei who left her family to seek her fortune in the South
• A Filipina writer working in a corporate environment
• A university art professor from Beijing
• A retired Canadian school teacher who came here to see something different
• A recent university graduate from Australia here to learn the ins-and-outs of international trade
• A German teaching in a middle school
• An American planning to travel here on business

In short, YOU are a Shenzhener! Click "Read More" for more about this blog, as well as our contact information and Shenzhen weather.

Ranajit said it best:

Due to unforeseen, nay, plain unimaginable circumstances, the Christmas Party at the Grammy Bar will be held on Dec 22 from 7 PM, not on Dec 23 from 6.30 PM as planned. Please note the change in your schedule.

That's PRD (formerly That's Guangzhou) has expanded its Shenzhen coverage. Since May of this year, you can find a SZ pull-out section in the magazine with a calendar, and information on art, music, dining, nightlife, health, education, and more. These seem only to be available in the print edition (available in most Starbucks, among other places; subscriptions also available).

But the features! They are available both in print and online. As a public service, The Shenzhener calls to your attention this month's Shenzhen-related articles:

• Reclaiming the River: A glimpse inside the Shenzhen River cleaning campaign
  
• Smells Like Green Spirit: Chengdu's green channel shines on (played at Shenzhen's True Colors club)
  
• Operatic For the People: SZ's Cantonese opera clubs

Here's a list of all the features (not all Shenzhen-related) in That's PRD since the revamping earlier this year.

Our new friend Christopher Ritzau manages the Ying Yu Tong Coffee Shop near Nanshan Book City. Last night, at the Mid-Week Evening Club, he spoke to us about something very special that he's been doing. Here's a little follow-up note he sent us:

Coming to China has been a wonderful cultural experience for me.  I've learned many things about China's culture but not as much as I have about the human aspect of those I occassionally see at the Bao'An orphanage.

Originally, I was asked to be a teaching assistant at the orphanage.  Now, I just arrive to play with the kids as I realize they need something more than a structured classroom environment.

If you know of anyone willing to teach at least two hours per week, or if you would like to volunteer either at the Bao'An orphanage or the Mei Lin orphanage, I would like to meet you.

Please stop by anytime at my coffee shop near Nan Shan Book City.  It is directly behind Hai Ya Department Store, between Parsons Music & Wall Street English.  The bus stop is Hai Ya Bai Huo, on Bus 72 from Window of the World Station. The store phone is 2642 2504. Xie Xie!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls:

The Mid-Week Evening Club's Christmas Party details are now online at

http://www.thelaughingbuddha.org/lb/christmas2006.htm

NOTE THE CHANGE OF TIME AND DATE:

NOW FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, AT 7 P.M.

Come join the FUN!

The Shenzhener is more of a "tea man." Nevertheless, having run across this while searching for something else, we felt we'd better share it with you:

A list--in English--of every Starbucks in Shenzhen...thirteen at this point in time...

Our friend Helen wrote about this in today's Shenzhen Daily. Lotus Hill Park is easy to get to--right across from the north exits of Shao Nian Gong on Metro Line 4. We're going to take a look this week!

ON the northwestern slope of Lotus Hill, in an area untrodden by tourists, lies the 758-year-old tomb of Huang Motang, the ancestor of the Huangs of Xiasha Village, Shangmeilin Village in Futian and Shanghe Village in Bao’an, as well as Mai Po Village in New Territories, Hong Kong. ... (Read the rest)

Here's a tip for the Errenzhuan performance happening nightly at the Shenzhen + Futian theaters.

Note to expats: You've probably seen a million bars like U-Bar, but trust me, you've never seen something quite like Errenzhuan. The shows, which take place every evening from 8.30 PM at the Shenzhen Theater and Futian Theater, have much to offer: controlled histrionics, thumping music, hilarious mimicry, nifty acrobatics and comic dialogue, as performed by 5 sets of couples. The main problem is that it is entirely in Chinese, so if you're a little weak in that department, you might want to take a Chinese companion along. Or maybe not: the sheer energy of the show, the slapstick humour and the raucous musical performances transcend language barriers. The performers are different every night but I'm told the show is of a very high quality regardless, and at only 50 RMB a ticket it should be well worth it. Not to mention the chance to discover a cultural side of China you might be missing out on.

Shenzhen Theater (深圳戏院)
1 Xinyuan Road, Dongmen (东门新园路1号)
Buses:1, 3, 5, 59, 69, 82, 102, 103, 106, 113, 203, 211, 351, 369
Metro: Lao Jie Station (Old Street Station 老街站), Exit A
Tel: 8217-5808

Futian Theater (福田影剧院)
3006 Fuqiang Road, Futian District (福田区福强路3006号)
Buses: 4, 26, 47, 71, 76, 80, 103A, 225, 312, 317, 339, 362, 364, 367, 375, 377
Tel: 8380-6259

Ami's Dance Workshop has a Latin & Salsa Dance Party every Saturday from 2:30-5:30 p.m.  The price is 10 RMB per person (including one bottle of water).

For more information (including handy "bus tips") visit Ami's homepage at http://www.latindancesz.com/English.htm

Location
南山区后海大道育德佳园8号旁, 后海民间瓦罐汤对面, 育德佳园幼儿园三楼

Second floor, Yu De Jia Yuan Children Garden, Hou Hai Road, Nan Shan District
Tel：2664 4212

The Shenzhener has two left feet. Nevertheless, we're excited to learn that salsa dancing has a dynamic presence in Shenzhen!

Salsa Shenzhen's goal is "to keep the salsa community together in Shenzhen city by offering fun, good music, social events, promotions, lessons, parties and much much more."

Take a look at their home page, and read about their next event on December 1st.

Salsasz.com...bringing salsa to Shenzhen