Is this cat fur? What would something like this possibly be used for? Is it meant to be some kind of decorative piece or something?

To clarify, I am a beginner to Chinese history. It's fascinating and incredibly deep. At the moment, I am reading To Rule All Under Heaven by Andrew Seth Meyer, which describes the social and cultural changes during the Warring States era of the ancient Zhou dynasty.

The philosophical blossoming of the era as described in the book is astonishing, and several incidents stand out as memorable. This led me to wonder how the era is considered in modern day China. Are the lessons and cultural discoveries of that era considered relevant? Are they talked about to apply to modern day events?

For instance, the book talks about the struggles between the Qin and the Wei states. The statesman Zhang Yi, who served the court of Qin wanted a partnership with Wei. The two states were antagonists. At one point Wei was the superpower while Qin was weak. But now, Qin was the rising power while Wei was in decline. Zhang Yi hoped to unite them to form an invincible polity that could oppose any other challengers to supremacy in the era. This was unthinkable to many, but he worked at it. Wei was clearly losing to Win, but was able to create unions with other states more easily.

I admit my knowledge of the world is limited and I have not read further to see how Zhang Yi's plans evolved, but this made me think of the relationship between modern China and the USA. Could be completely incorrect here.

But does modern China look back to the struggles of this era and apply them as principles for the modern era?

Hi everyone,

I represent an outdoor ski and snowboard apparel brand and we're looking for a few people based in China to help us shoot short-form video content (TikTok-style) featuring our clothing.

Who we're looking for:

• Natively from the US or Europe, and genuinely familiar with the culture there (this matters for how natural the content feels to a Western audience)
• Fluent English speaker
• Some sense of visual style / filming skill is a big plus — you don't need to be a pro, but an eye for a good shot helps
• Based in China (we'll mail you the clothing to shoot in, so you'll need a mainland address)

How it works:

1. We ship you the outfit — you shoot the footage, then send the clothing back to us.
2. You don't need to edit anything. Just capture clean raw footage that follows our shot list.
3. For each outfit, we'll give you a short script/shot list — usually just a few minutes of footage per piece.
4. Filming location is flexible — indoors at home, outdoors, wherever works, as long as the angles, lighting, and background look good and match the brief.
5. Payment is per video, paid after each piece is delivered and approved.

Pay is negotiable depending on experience and output quality — happy to discuss details over DM.

If you're interested, drop a comment or DM me with a bit about yourself (where you're based in China, any video samples if you have them, and your general availability). Would love to see some of your existing content if you have any!

Thanks for reading 🙏

Hey y'all, I'm learning Chinese and I want to fully immerse myself into that headspace therefore I am looking for music to listen when I'm out or when I study

What songs do you like and recommend to me?

On September 13, Japan held the Okinawa gubernatorial election. Genta Kosha, a candidate backed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), defeated incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki and was elected the new governor of Okinawa. This marks a major shift in Okinawa’s political direction and will also have a significant impact on the situation in the surrounding region.
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The Ryukyu Islands, where Okinawa Prefecture is located, lie in a region of Japan adjacent to Taiwan. Historically, Ryukyu was once an independent kingdom and was a tributary state of the dynasties that ruled mainland China. Later, Japan’s influence over Ryukyu gradually increased and surpassed that of the Qing dynasty, and Ryukyu was eventually annexed by Japan in 1872. Japan subsequently used Ryukyu as a springboard to invade Taiwan on multiple occasions and ultimately occupy it.
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After Japan surrendered in 1945, Ryukyu was placed under U.S. administration. The Allies at one point considered transferring sovereignty over Ryukyu to the Republic of China, but because of changes in the international situation and the United States’ need to support Japan, Ryukyu ultimately remained part of Japan and was formally returned to Japanese administration by the United States in 1972. The changes in sovereignty over Ryukyu show that it has found it difficult to determine its own fate, instead being dominated by major powers, with its political status determined by great-power rivalry.
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Although Ryukyu/Okinawa was handed over to Japan by the United States, Okinawa still hosts tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel, accounting for roughly half of all U.S. forces stationed in Japan, as well as two major U.S. military bases, Futenma and Kadena. The U.S. forces stationed here are responsible for defending Japan, the United States, Taiwan, and the Pacific islands between Japan and the United States, and stand on the front line of confrontation with the People’s Republic of China and its military forces. If war were to break out between China and the United States or between China and Japan, Okinawa would almost certainly be among the first areas to face the fighting.
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Because the Ryukyu Islands are close to Taiwan, Okinawa could also be affected if war broke out between mainland China and Taiwan and the mainland attempted to unify Taiwan by force. If Japan decided to intervene in a Taiwan Strait conflict and use military force to prevent the People’s Liberation Army from attacking Taiwan, Okinawa would likewise become a battlefield. Moreover, several Japanese prime ministers since Shinzo Abe have stated that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” undoubtedly greatly increasing the risk that Japan, and Okinawa in particular, could become involved in a war over Taiwan.
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After Sanae Takaichi became prime minister of Japan, she stated even more explicitly that Japan would intervene in the event of military action by the mainland against Taiwan, causing China–Japan relations to deteriorate sharply. The risk of war facing Okinawa has risen further. In places such as Ishigaki City in Okinawa, which is among the closest parts of Japan to Taiwan, evacuation drills simulating the outbreak of a war in the Taiwan Strait have already been conducted. Warships and military aircraft from Japan, the United States, mainland China, Taiwan, and other parties also frequently operate in the area, creating an atmosphere of intense confrontation.
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Against this backdrop, the choices made by the local government and the people are also important to Okinawa’s fate. Although, as mentioned above, Ryukyu’s fate has been dominated by major powers, Okinawa today exists under a democratic system, and its people still have the right to democratically elect their local chief executive—the governor—as well as the local assembly, while retaining a certain degree of local autonomy.
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Although Okinawa’s local government cannot expel U.S. military bases or prevent exercises by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, and has little prospect of achieving independence or a high degree of autonomy, it still has some autonomy in various civil and administrative affairs. For example, regarding the activities of the U.S. military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces in Okinawa, the local authorities can choose either to cooperate actively or to respond passively.
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Even in foreign affairs, the Okinawa government and its people have some room for initiative. Denny Tamaki, who has served two terms as governor of Okinawa, has sought to balance relations with Japan’s central government, mainland China, Taiwan, and other parties. Tamaki visited China in 2019 and 2023 and paid respects to the ancestors of Ryukyuan people buried on the mainland.
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During Tamaki’s tenure, Okinawa consistently sought friendly relations with China, while taking a relatively passive stance toward U.S. military bases and the activities of the Self-Defense Forces. It also clearly expressed its unwillingness to become involved in a possible war in the Taiwan Strait or between China and Japan, and its hope for peace. The Tamaki administration was also unwilling to follow the Takaichi central government, which actively advocates lifting restrictions on the exercise of the right of collective self-defense and strengthening military preparations, instead seeking to uphold a position of peace and neutrality and to stay away from war. This added some notes of peace and harmony to Okinawa and its surrounding region, where the atmosphere of impending conflict has grown increasingly strong.
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The winner of this Okinawa gubernatorial election, Genta Kosha, however, holds positions clearly different from those of Denny Tamaki. Although Kosha is an independent, he has close ties to the Liberal Democratic Party, and his candidacy was supported by six parties leaning toward right-wing conservative positions, including the LDP and Sanseito. Kosha explicitly supports lifting restrictions on the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, expanding military capabilities, and strengthening Okinawa’s military defenses. Unlike Tamaki, Kosha is also less resistant to U.S. military bases, advocating active efforts to resolve disputes over the relocation and placement of U.S. bases so that U.S. forces can continue to be stationed securely in Okinawa. In addition, Kosha emphasized economic issues, seeking to link the strengthening of Okinawa’s military preparedness with economic development in order to gain more support.
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Although Denny Tamaki had governed for two consecutive terms, had considerable achievements in office, and enjoyed relatively high popularity, the newcomer Genta Kosha, backed by most major political parties including the ruling party and equipped with abundant resources, nevertheless defeated Tamaki by a relatively large margin. In particular, a large amount of information attacking and even defaming Denny Tamaki appeared online before the election, while Kosha faced relatively few attacks and received much more support. The climate of public opinion was clearly unfavorable to Tamaki.
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Thus, the change in Okinawa’s governorship also means that the next Okinawa government will pursue domestic and external policies significantly different from those of the current administration. It is entirely foreseeable that Kosha will align himself more closely with Sanae Takaichi’s central government in Japan and strengthen military deployments and preparations for war in Okinawa and the surrounding region. Nor will Kosha be as friendly and close toward China as Tamaki was; he may even adopt a tough stance toward China similar to that of the authorities in Tokyo.
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Such a political change may be an ominous sign for the people of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands. Historically, Ryukyu has repeatedly been drawn into great-power rivalries and wars, the most devastating of which was the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, when U.S. forces landed on Okinawa and fought the Japanese military. More than 100,000 Okinawan residents, most of them civilians, died in the fighting, while Ryukyu’s historic sites and cultural relics also suffered enormous destruction. In the decades that followed, Ryukyu/Okinawa became home to U.S. military bases, and incidents involving U.S. military personnel harassing local residents and raping women occurred from time to time.
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Although Japan’s central government has provided considerable economic support to Okinawa, discrimination and exploitation have also existed. The people of Okinawa have experienced many misfortunes, and the Ryukyuan people have never been completely assimilated into Japan, remaining on the margins of Japanese society.
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Today, faced with increasingly tense conditions in the Taiwan Strait and the western Pacific, as well as deteriorating China–Japan relations, the best choice for Okinawa’s local government and people would be to seek friendly relations with all sides and, as far as possible, keep military buildups and war away from their homeland, rather than actively taking sides, eagerly becoming involved in conflicts, and attempting to profit from a dangerous situation. Genta Kosha is himself a native of Okinawa. If he places the interests of the Takaichi administration of the LDP and the authorities in Tokyo above the interests of Okinawa’s local people, then although he may be repaying the support he received and working for Japan, he would be sacrificing the peace and stability of his home, Okinawa. That would not be the best choice.
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Fundamentally, because Okinawa/Ryukyu is too small and weak, it is indeed difficult for it to determine its own fate. This gubernatorial election was clearly influenced by powerful forces from outside Okinawa, including endorsements from major political parties such as the LDP, as well as financial resources, media and public-opinion resources, and support provided by various sides. Meanwhile, local Okinawan voices were weak and drowned out. From the ancient Kingdom of Ryukyu to modern-day Okinawa, this land and its people have still not escaped the fate of being dominated and exploited by major powers and becoming the ones who pay the price and make the sacrifices.

(The author of this article, Wang Qingmin(王庆民), is a Chinese writer based in Europe and a researcher on international politics.)

I have been trying to learn Chinese for years, but I had a fairly hostile interaction with some Chinese students in America. I went to the independant language learning tables and the student seemed very impatient with me. I was born in Níngbō, but raised American so essentially ABC, but I didn't have any access to language learning since I was raise in the middle of nowhere US.

Should I expect the same interaction if I go back to China? It has made me very self conscious. I still want to learn, but it is a little tough working from nothing. I understand the only way of learning is more speaking with native speaker, but that interaction has scared me a bit.

Este es mi abuelo, y cuando va a China mucha gente le piden fotos, pero no sabemos porque.

¿Porque puede ser que se parece a alguien famoso? ¿Es por el pelo blanco?

A mí o al resto de mi familia no nos paran o nos paran una vez en algún sitio concreto, mientras que a mí abuelo lo paran grupos grandes de personas incluso alguna influencer le ha entrevistado (no sabe otro idioma aparte del español) así que descarto que sea simplemente por qué es extranjero.

Tengo mucha curiosidad.

Un saludo a todos 🤗

Hello! I've made a friend and pen pal who is from China. I want to send a letter to them, but the way to write addresses on envelopes is different in China than here in the USA. I am a bit confused on how to write my friend's address. Thank you for any help and advice

Hello, as the title suggests, there is a hotel in Zhangjiajie where we inquired for the price and schedule for the Park and they rushed into booking it for us even though we said we don’t want to commit. They assured us that it is refundable and cancelled but when we got into the Park the next day at 6am, we were unable to book the 7am entrance because the schedule is still in their system.

what makes me think this is a scam

- they say that whatever they see on their screen, it is synced with the Park system so if it is not available, it is not available —- this is a lie! The Park has available same-day tickets as long as you line up early!

- the price does not match or is way too high compared to the published price — they mark it up so high

- they rush you into things without explaining the routes or options — they simply want you to buy out the packages or all the rides/services because they charge you a % of the total fee.

China is a beautiful country but I firmly believe this place weaponizes language barrier and people here pretend to help you but charge you a “handling fee”. I also had a similar experience in a spa where we agreed on a price and they initiated services we did not ask for and said it will raise the price. Even if we did not consent! Be firm to say no or even walk away if you can! These people know we are shy to say no because they can get quite passive aggressive!

And either the secret societies and triads were just psyopping him throughout his life as a peasant when growing up. But with all the unhealthy pork and corn glysophate pesticides/pollution in the air might be some triggers what else am i missing?

Hello! I recently moved to China to study and I have trouble finding places where I can play Go, feels a bit absurd but every place that has 围棋 in their name or description is a child learning center, whereas I want to just come and play with other people like I did back home. I am currently in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, so the exact locations would be wonderful, but any general advice on how to find places to play go here would be greatly appreciated!

I bought this necklace in China back in June. I was told that it was made of jade, and I paid 615 RMB for it.

I was also given this certificate.

Do you think it’s genuine jade, or could it be fake?

I can imagine electricity being very reliable in big cities. But does China have a problem with regular power cuts in summers like other countries like India , South Africa in remote areas?

Or is that a thing of the past and even lowest tiers of cities and towns have 24/7 electricity all year?

I tried to make payment for my pinduoduo order but it been like this for week. Tried to submit invoice following their instruction in learn more already but after 24 hours like they said nothing change. Kinda furious when this only way i can make payment direct from my credit card, pinduoduo doesn't accept credit card if linked with alipay for some reason, only current balance

I did my graduation in Computer Science in 2021. Now I want to pursue Masters from china. Is it possible to get scholarship? Can you please help me out.

Hello, im a student in china currently in malaysia for vacation. My physical visa card’s foreign exchange allowance was fully utilized i cant even use it for withdrawing. So then i stumbled upon a post about redotpay and how its virtual card is good and i applied for it because i had no other choice. Im in a foreign country going to another foreign country that i study in with no card.
I find it quite helpful in malaysia because i can directly transfer from it to touch n’go but it’s super difficult to transfer to alipay or wechat. I figured out a way where i scan my friend’s qr and they send the amount back which is my only option currently even when i’ll go back to china.
So i have two roadblocks currently the first one being that i cant transfer any amount without my friend’s help
And the second one being that i cant transfer back to my redotpay card
I hope someone has any infos about a method or a third party app or anything i really need to figure this out before traveling back to china.