The Chinese dating world is already a highly competitive market, especially because the People’s Republic’s One-Child Policy has resulted in a gender imbalance so large that they now pose serious negative social and economic impacts. When you add the traditional restrictions those who seek life mates place on their search criteria, finding a partner becomes even tougher. To be more specific, with men outnumbering women by the millions in China, there is already a shortage of women to meet the current and future marriage demands. And with men being picky, to conform to social norms and to tradition, despite this reality, they only further narrow their choices in an already strained singles market.

Self-made, single, female billionaires in China also make it tougher on themselves to engage in Chinese dating online and in real life and to find a mate even if the men in China that are of marriageable age outnumber them. Mostly because they will not be the first, or even the second, choice as a marriage partner of any Chinese male bachelor who have an equal or higher status in society as these women do. Finding a life partner with only love as the deciding factor is already hard; with Chinese singles involving so many other ifs, buts, and other catches to the equation, well the situation becomes more of a very difficult mathematical problem of (unlikely) probabilities.

But wait; the problem does not end there. With the recent boom in the Chinese online matchmaking industry, and especially with foreign men entering the Chinese dating market, single women of China are given more choices, causing an even greater disproportion in the number of marriageable men versus the number of marriageable women. In terms of level of difficulty, a Chinese bachelor’s task of finding a mate in China can be compared to completing the twelve labors of Hercules.

For the growing number of successful Chinese women, though, having the opportunity to cast their net wider in international waters (so to speak) is a very good thing. Why should they limit themselves to men from their own culture who do not even consider them suitable partners because of their achievements? These women no longer have to lie about their educational attainments nor hide and give up their other successes and ambitions to find a mate. The future will keep looking better and better for these women; what the future holds for the men, well, their stars should tell them to give their women the appreciation they deserve.

This is not saying that foreign men should leave the women of China alone. After all, all is fair in love, or should be. Sooner or later (for their sake, it should be sooner), Chinese society needs to realize that it cannot continue to exist in the vacuum of its traditional norms; there comes a point where they will have to start making some changes to their time-tested beliefs to keep up with the times. The women have finally started to. Isn’t it keeping with Chinese tradition that the men should lead?

When it comes to the Asian horse collectibles, a very famous horse owes both its unique history and fascinating mythology exclusively to China. Naturally, the type being referenced is the Chinese horse which dates back thousands of years. Its history began during the early times of the Chinese empire. It goes without saying that horses have captured the hearts, even including intimate thoughts, of humans throughout the world. This is due to their grace, power, and beauty. So the love of the horse is no less strong in the experiences of all Asian civilizations than it is anywhere else. However, the symbolism of the Chinese horse remains very dominant in particular.

During China’s very long history, no animal has earned greater respect and reverence as the horse. The Chinese horse itself was domesticated in the area of northeastern China about 5,000 years ago. Since this significant early time, the horse has been an integral figure in the creation, maintenance, and survival of the Middle Kingdom. The animal’s great importance was evident as early as the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC). It is a matter of fact that horses and the vehicles they powered were often placed in the same tombs with their owners at death. This was done so that the horse would be with its military master in the next life. The tradition was so powerful in its influence that later on many ordinary Chinese horsemen were also buried with clay horse sculptures. The graves of the She-si and Ho-nan Provinces have been very populated with horse figures from the T’ang period (618-906 AD).

During the western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771 BC), military power was calculated by the number of war chariots which were available to a particular kingdom. As the empire grew, horses became necessary for maintaining contact with the rest of the empire. After all, travel could not be accomplished without the aid of horses. Horses were also needed for the control of the population by the empire. The will of the Emperor was exercised by his soldiers who rode these magnificent animals to enforce the divine word of the ancient Potentate. They were absolutely essential for transporting valuable goods and produce throughout the vast regions of China. Ordinary people in every place relied upon the horse for the basic necessities of human life. It is interesting to consider what life was really like in such an ancient, nearly forgotten world as this one.

It is not going too far to say that ancient China’s very survival depended upon its own equestrian prowess. Beginning around the 4th century BC and going forward from this point in time, China’s greatest and most fierce military threats came from nomadic invaders from the north and west. Ancient battles in the Middle Kingdom were very violent and bloody. Horses fought side by side with their masters to the bitter end. However, by the time of the Han Dynasty the Chinese were forced, although quite reluctantly, to abandon the war chariot as a military weapon. In its place came the mounted soldier, who also required a mighty horse to go into heated battle and often be killed. This new tactic came about to better face the nomadic threat in the most efficient and modern way possible. Conversely, from the Xiongnu to the Mongols and Manchus, the northern nomadic tribesmen fielded some of the most impressive mounted soldiers the world would ever see. At the same time, this was a constant thorn in the side of the Chinese who had to use similar tactics in warfare to fight off the skilled tribesmen who were hungry for conquest!

The horse also played an important role in the mythology of early China. This animal was closely associated with the Chinese dragon. Both were thought to be capable of flight in order to carry their brave riders to the “home of the immortals.” The horse then became the symbol of immortality, power, and honor. The ability to fly has always been closely linked to survival throughout all of China’s history. Therefore, a horse that could fly to the realm of the immortals must be able to survive forever!

The practical importance of the horse has diminished in the era people today refer to as “modern China.” Even so, the mythological spirit of the horse still runs deeply throughout much of Chinese art, decor, and culture. In 1995, it was estimated that the population of horses in China exceeded 11 million. Twenty six distinct breeds were included in this estimate. Since this is the case a Chinese horse collectible would make an excellent addition to any Asian home decorating scheme. The Chinese horse of Asia has a universal appeal without any doubt!

When I first came to England, I was very confused when people asked me how many meals per day do Chinese people usually have. I would simply reply: “obviously three, but don’t you have the same?”.

Later on I found out that I wasn’t right. Of course, different cultures have different eating habits (in Spain, people usually eat five times a day). Don’t even mention how different each meal could be.

Realizing the differences in terms of food culture between China and Western countries is probably what first made me aware of cultural identity issues. I have been thinking of writing about this for a long time.

The bold statement “three meals per day in Chinese culture” is really not precise, especially considering how many different ethnic groups and different regions there are in China. People belonging to different ethnic groups or living in different areas have slightly different eating habits.

For example, in the very south of China, people would usually have an additional meal in the very late evening, after supper. But in the North, we usually have three meals: breakfast between 6.30am-7.30am (depending on people’s work schedule), lunch at 12pm to 1pm, and dinner around 7pm.

Common Chinese breakfast in Northern provinces could consist of congee with pickles, soya milk with ‘Youtiao’ (a kind of fried pastry), or Chinese steamed ‘bread’. In restaurants that open in the morning for breakfast, you can also get noodles or ‘bao zi’ (steamed bread with fillings).

Lunch normally involves proper dishes and comes with stable food like rice. In Northern provinces, pastries with different fillings are also very common buys for lunch. Students could take lunch boxes and working people would either go home or eat in small restaurants. In any case, lunch is commonly followed by a short nap.

I read an article somewhere a while ago about German businessmen having meetings with Chinese in Shanghai. At 12pm, Chinese people would stand up and said, “it’s lunch time now, let’s go to have lunch, we can keep on talking on the dining table.” Germans were very surprised, because they were in the middle of a meeting. This shows how important food is in Chinese culture.

Dinner is normally prepared properly at home, although, nowadays, with lots of family run restaurants at very reasonable price, people have started buying food or dining out often. Home cooked dinner normally involves a meat or fish dish, and several vegetable dishes.

There is another saying in Chinese: “walking 100 steps after dinner can make you live till 99 years old”. Although this is obviously a metaphor, in China you will see crowds of people having a stroll in the streets or gardens around 7.30pm or 8pm, right after dinner.

Hangzhou is a city blessed with immense natural beauty and a rich historical heritage. It is also the capital of the Zhejiang Province of China. Apart from being a tourist attraction, the city is also an important hub for economic activity. It has been called the “Cultural State”, the “Tea Capital” and the “Town of Fish and Rice”. The city lies along the Qiantang River in the delta region of Yang-Tze-Kiang.

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH) is a reputable hospital in Hangzhou and is considered one of the best hospitals in the eastern region of China. This is the first hospital in mainland China to be accredited by the Joint Commission International. The hospital is a major healthcare provider in Hangzhou and has a 1200 bed capacity. The hospital offers excellent services and receives a large number of foreign patients annually. To facilitate the treatment and stay of the visiting patients the hospital has an International Service Clinic which is staffed by bilingual nurses and primary care physicians.

An important hospital for the city, Hangzhou City Hospital is equipped with latest medical technology. The hospital is a complete healthcare institution which covers the entire range of medical needs for the whole family. The hospital is well maintained and the services received at this hospital are excellent. Due to its reputation and its team of skilled doctors, the hospital receives a large number of patients from within the city. The hospital can be found at Hangzhou Xiasha Gaosha Business Source Street 1227 and can be contacted by telephone at + 86-571-56611999.

For visitors who do not speak Chinese, the North American International Hospital of Hangzhou (NAIHH) is a good choice because of the numerous doctors who speak English due to their training in Western countries. This hospital is very close to Wushan Square. The hospital offers treatment for a wide range of medical issues, but is particularly focused on family medicine. The hospital offers services both night and day and all available services are of top-notch quality. For the benefit of its foreign patients, the hospital has centers in numerous countries. These centers offer assistance to all aspects of the visiting patients treatment and stay. The hospital can be reached at the following number: +86 571 87780120.

The Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine is a hospital focused on women’s health issues. The hospital is affiliated with the Zhejiang University and so carries out research in many medical fields, while also imparting education and offering consultation on family planning issues. The medical care services rendered by the hospital focus on obstetrics and gynecology. The hospital has the latest medical technology and is the leading hospital in China for women’s health issues.

China is famous for its traditional medicine therapies and for patients wanting to try traditional healing therapies the Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ideal choice. The hospital has been operational since 1952 and is a complete medical care facility providing treatment, rehabilitation, health care, education and carrying out scientific research. The hospital receives a lot of foreigners both as patients and students.

In May 2010, the Shanghai World Expo opened its doors to the public. Of all the exhibits that represent countries from all around the world, none is quite as impressive in size and content as the China Pavilion. As the host of Expo 2010, China has created a monument to their people and their progress that is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the entire event.

The first thing that strikes visitors is the sheer scope and scale of the pavilion. The main building, painted the same brilliant red of the Forbidden City, is three times as tall as any other structure at the exposition and houses over 15,000 square meters of exhibition space. Dubbed as “The Crown of the East,” it is constructed in the traditional Chinese Dougong architectural style which dates back more than 2,000 years.

The central feature of this design consists of a series of massive interlocking wooden brackets that are layered in an elaborate system of columns and crossbeams. The six layer roof is comprised of 56 mammoth brackets that represent the 56 ethnic minorities living in China. Requiring more than two years for completion, the unique pavilion forms the shape of a huge oriental crown that symbolizes traditional Chinese culture.

The core theme of the exhibit, Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development, encompasses a comprehensive blend of historic achievements and modern technological advancement. Through the use of everything from ancient artifacts to state-of-the-art video, the pavilion tells the story of the Chinese enthusiasm for building better cities and planning for the future.

Inside the China Pavilion, visitors are welcome to discover the rich and varied elements of Chinese urban culture. One of the most promoted features is an animated enlargement of Zhang Zeduan’s famous 700 year old painting, “Along the River During Qingming Festival”. The cheerful scene represents the quest for urban planning that encourages social gathering and cultural development.

The displays cover thousands of years of urban culture, bringing many of China’s most precious national treasures together in one place. Among the most anticipated of these are the Terracotta Warriors collection and the Qinling bronze chariots. Other famous artifacts include the drum of Marquis Yi of Zeng and the Ming Dynasty Qiu Ying manuscripts, along with numerous stone carvings and bronze sculptures.

For the tens of thousands of guests who visit the China Pavilion daily, the exhibit offers the opportunity to share the Chinese vision of future urban evolution. At the same time, visitors experience it all in a glorious setting that celebrates China’s magnificent past achievements and contributions to human society.

If you buy Chinese silver Panda coins on eBay, you could be purchasing a counterfeit coin.Many Panda coins listed on eBay are fake. Nearly half are suspicious looking.

I rarely encounter fake rare American coins on eBay, but fake Pandas are common.

I bought some counterfeit pandas directly from China a few years ago and now know what to look for in a fake. They’re easy to spot when you know what to look for.

The fakes are so well done, I’d swear the China Mint has a night shift going specifically producing fake versions of their own highly regarded silver coins. My coins were in capsules and even mint plastic envelopes. They looked for all the world like they were real.

I’m not sure what made me test one for authenticity, but I got a wild hair and proceeded to remove the capsule from the plastic pouch and then the coin from the capsule.

The first thing I did was give it the ring test. That’s where you balance the coin on the tip of your finger and tap the edge with a Paper Mate pen. It should give a high pitched, sustained tinggg. This one didn’t. It just went thud.

I got out another panda coin I know to be real and gave it the ring test. It rang pleasingly. Then I compared the two coins and noticed the suspect coin was probably 20% thicker than the real version.

The final convicting test was to cut it in half with a hack saw. The interior metal was a dark grey with a silver plating over it. I tried to contact the China distributor, but they ignored my request for a refund.

What makes me think the China Mint might be producing the fakes as well as the real version of their panda coin? The fakes resemble the real ones in every detail except one: the capsule that protects them.

Remember, I said the fake pandas are thicker than their real counterpart? In order for them to weigh the same amount, and have the same outer case dimensions, there must be some extra room in the mint capsule for a thicker coin. And there is!

You see, the genuine Chinese panda case has three tiny nibs on the capsule to support the thinner coin. The fake coins don’t have these three little nibs. Want to see how many fakes are on eBay? Look for the three little nibs on the capsule.

When I’m interested in a silver panda coin where I don’t see the nibs, I contact the seller and ask them to check the coin with the ring test. I almost invariably get a response like “I know the coin is real. I’m not going to test it for you.” Or, I get no answer at all.

I feel like buying the coins and doing the test myself and then reporting it to eBay, if they turn out to be fake. Suddenly reality hits me. It’s a losing battle. It’s my word against the seller’s.

The seller can always claim I switched their real coin for a fake, just so I could accuse them of selling counterfeit coins on eBay. Selling counterfeit coins on eBay is strictly against eBay policy and will get you banned from ever selling on eBay again.

I can’t single handedly stop the sale of fake coins on eBay, but I can educate potential buyers who will listen, and not bid on counterfeit coins. I rarely encounter a counterfeit Morgan or Peace dollar on eBay, but there’s a profusion of fake pandas for sale there.

While getting out fake and real Panda coins to photograph, I also noticed counterfeit Pandas don’t age as well as their real counterparts. For photographs of these coins graphically showing the difference between real and fake, go to: http://heritagecoingallery.com/2014/07/20/are-you-aware-of-the-profusion-of-fake-1-oz-chinese-silver-panda-coins-on-ebay/

Fine china dishes are gorgeous. They are richly designed, easy on the touch and add ambiance and sophistication to every meal, formal as well as informal. What holds people back from using china dishes more often is the hassle involved in cleaning them afterward. Simply put, it is a big pain in the neck. Once upon a time, bone china plates could only be washed by hand, which takes time and leads to breakage, but people were okay with that. But in our hectic, busy lifestyle, who has time to spend an hour nightly washing the dishes? And so the china remains in the cabinet, taken out only on for important events where nothing less will do.

The good news is that china manufacturers have begun recognizing how much the post-use cleanup hassle has hurt their business and have begun making many more dishwasher safe china patterns.. So there is a good chance that your pattern can be used safely in the dishwasher. The question is how to determine whether your pattern is safe or not.

There are three simple things to do first to help you make the determination that your china is dishwasher safe:

• Check the backstamp (or original box and papers).
• Check the company website or call them.
• Check replacement company sites for discontinued patterns.

Check The Backstamp:

Turn over a piece of your china set, preferably the dinner plate (which usually contains the most information). Many patterns, especially more recent ones will say on it “Dishwasher Safe”. Voila, now you know! If it doesn’t, don’t be discouraged, it still may be dishwasher safe. Continue to the next step.

Contact The Manufacturer.

Begin by visiting the company’s website. If the pattern is still active there will be lots of information about ii, including it’s dishwasher status. If it is a discontinued pattern, there is still a chance that there may be some information available.

If your internet search leads you nowhere, give the company a call. More often then not they’ll be able to help you with active patterns. Discontinued china however, will be more difficult. For help with these patterns, see the next step.

Check Replacement Sites:

Some replacement dishes sites have information on all the older china patterns they carry, including whether or not they’re dishwasher safe. The information found there is usually well researched and can be relied on.

What To Do Next:

If all of the above fails, then we enter the guessing game. There are certain general rules as to what will make it through the dishwasher and what won’t, but remember these are not always applicable, so tread carefully here.

Patterns with metallic trims, gold or platinum, tend to fare the worst in the dishwasher. They can be completely rubbed off after just a few cycles. Heavily decorated patterns should also avoid the dishwasher, since the design can be easily erased. The rule of thumb is, the less design the pattern has the more likely it is to emerge safely from the dishwasher.

It is important to remember that how you use the dishwasher is crucial. Stack them carefully so that they don’t chip or break. Use a mild detergent and avoid lemon-scented products, whose acid will eat at your plates. Lastly, allow the load to cool to room temperature before removing since it is more vulnerable while hot.

Experts agree that china in all circumstances will last longer and look better when washed by hand, even patterns that are certified dishwasher safe by the manufacturer. But don’t let it hold you back from enjoying your beautiful china on a regular basis. If using the dishwasher means using your fine china more often then go for it. Your china may not last as long, but the memories you create at your family meals will last forever.

The Basic Standard for Enterprise Internal Control (“China SOX” or “C-SOX”) was announced in China with great fanfare in the summer of 2008. However, more than a year after the announcement of this new risk management and internal control regulation, there is still confusion in the market over when it goes into effect. This confusion has an impact on the planning and execution of compliance projects for the many companies in China who will be required to adopt China SOX.

There are currently three dates that are considered possible timelines for China SOX adoption. I will list each of them and give the background and drivers for why they might be the actual implementation deadline. Of course, we are still waiting for official confirmation from China’s Ministry of Finance, but it’s worth reviewing what we are hearing from the market. The potential start dates are:

1) 1 July 2009. This was the intended start date when the Basic Standard for Enterprise Internal Control was originally published. And yes, it’s in the past, so we should already know if this was the date by which Chinese companies were supposed to start their C-SOX compliance work. It would make sense for the government to want to stick with their existing schedule to show that they are serious about implementing corporate governance and risk management reforms in the Chinese market.

2) 1 January 2010. Many companies complained when the China SOX regulation was first announced that the regulation was too vague and that the financial crisis required them to focus on other aspects of their business to stay afloat. This put pressure on the regulator to delay the required start date to give companies more breathing room during the economic crisis. It also gave the government additional time to refine the details of the rule and make sure they were clearly articulated to the market.

3) 1 January 2011. Recently, some market analysts have been saying that full implementation of China SOX will not begin until early 2011. They propose that this will give the market enough time to recover from the financial crisis and give the government the time required to publish the C-SOX implementation guidelines (which were promised in late 2008).

My guess? I believe that the Chinese government sees the value in implementing real reforms to the way its companies are governed and manage risks. Most analysts think that China has ridden out the financial crisis well (or at least not been as impacted as many Western countries) and wants to make sure that future crises are averted. This leads me to think that enforcement of the Basic Standard for Enterprise Internal Control will start in January 2010, with companies expected file detailed internal control reports by the end of 2010. Any further delay risks diluting the value and message of this new regulation.

People often inquire the advantages when they are contemplating about master how to speak Chinese. China is actually a rapid developing nation. A growing number of companies are establishing local branches in China. You’ll find growing work chances and career advancement for those who can communicate Chinese. The need for Chinese language expertise is merely going to raise.

To be able to speak well Chinese and the wish to understand more about the particular tradition and also the language allow you to be a perfect candidate working or studying abroad in China. You will find there’s high demand for English speakers in China to teach English.. You could teach students inside a classroom or teacher older individuals hoping to learn English to advance their own career opportunities. Even though speaking Chinese is not required for an ESL instructor, it might provide you with a specific benefit and help to make your journeys within the region less difficult.

If you can fluently communicate Chinese, particularly the typical dialect of Mandarin, makes you an appealing applicant for a number of various work opportunities. China is really a main trading partner with the US, so there are lots of prospects in the commercial world for people who can speak Chinese. Career fields like worldwide affairs and diplomacy possess a high requirement for people who can communicate by using Chinese, as China is grown to be progressively important in the world. Some sectors also require Chinese speakers to help Chinese visitors in foreign nations.

Chinese language and dialects of Chinese are spoken in a variety of nations beyond China, so the fundamental understanding of Chinese language will help you on your vacations. Based on the CIA book, nations, for example, Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand include Chinese as one of their primary languages. The ability to speak a standard language in your country of travel can make your journey simpler and enhance your satisfaction of the nation.

Learning Chinese is becoming popular among other nationalities. It could be indeed very beneficial. It is growing to be one of the most spoken languages and is considered as one of the top 5 listed under United Nations. Learning this language is important because it is the main one being spoken in China. However, that’s not all. It is an advantage to learn this language for several reasons which will be discussed in this article.

Benefits:

1. It’s a language spoken internationally. Mandarin as mentioned earlier is one of the official languages in the U.N. It is now also an official language in other countries such as Singapore. Other countries that this language is spoken are in the Philippines and in Malaysia. Globalization is growing and many are learning language for better communication and business.

2. It provides larger opportunities in employment. Many nations are now expanding their businesses overseas; and other companies are coming into China and hiring those who are fluent in the language. Those fluent in Chinese could also be interpreters and even as teachers. Those fluent can also be tour guides. On top of that, knowing a different language will help enhance any resume.

3. It is easier to cope with studies in China. Students who study in China will not have such a big difficulty coping with classes or adjusting to a new environment in terms of communicating well. China is growing in its academic institutions and is becoming attractive for many foreigners.

4. Those who are in business ventures have an advantage. The Chinese economy is one of the strongest and many people are attracted to Mainland China for its business opportunities. Knowing this language will help ease business communications. Having this language skill will give you an edge in the business competition. China is growing to be one of the biggest markets for consumers. Many products are also being manufactured red in China by companies all over the world.

5. You can gain insights from their perspective. Learning the Chinese culture will allow you to learn practices and perspectives which could aid you as an individual.

Learning Chinese can be done by anyone. Besides Mandarin, another spoken language is Cantonese which is also growing in popularity. There are differences however between the two. A person who speaks Mandarin will not be easily be understood by one who speaks Cantonese. Learn the pros and cons of learning either language when making a decision of which language to learn. There are places where one can learn Cantonese, but since Mandarin is the language that is one of the most widely used one, language centers have been established in China to teach foreigners. Other places that people can learn Chinese is through courses online. Children and adults have the opportunity to learn this widely growing language for the benefits mentioned above.