The world's largest dam is located in China

Flooding in central China feels the strength of the world's largest dam - Three Gorges. It is reported that it now to the limit - resets 70,000 cubic meters of water per second. This is a record. However, the water level every hour only grows. The consequences, according to the engineers, can be disastrous, especially considering that the flooding in the area have already left homeless tens of thousands of people and caused material damage to millions of yuan. Evacuate had about a million people.

Chinese Demolition Failed

The footage, taken on December 30, 2009, shows a 22-floor residential building being demolished in the city of Liuzhou, China. Instead of crumbling into a contained heap of rubble, half of the building crashes sideways to the ground, the other half is left still standing but leaning to the side.

Luckily there are no other buildings next to it, otherwise sure many people will be killed in this "Failed" demolition project, which was caused by technical reasons.

Learning the Business Customs in China

Many professional expats are looking to China for a new home. Many graduate from top-notch schools and cannot find their dream job in their home country, so they look to the East. Before considering such a move, you should familiarize yourself with some of the common business customs in China. Keep in mind that many of these customs are taken more seriously with older generations than with younger ones.

One key factor is that Chinese people often won’t like to do business with people they do not knowwork through an intermediary. This person should be a good representative to vouch for the legitimacy of your company. personally. It is a good idea, and sometimes completely necessary, to

If you are going on a business trip to China, you should also send out some materials about your company translated into Chinese describing its history, facts and figures, prior to your departure. The Chinese company will often use other intermediaries to send information back and ask further questions. You’ll be able to build business relationships through time, but you must be patient and willing to put up with a load of bureaucracy. Patience is an important value in China, reflected by the business world.

Inspired by Confucianism, Chinese society is still very hierarchical, and this is true in the business world. A person’s rank in the company is taken very seriously, and you should be aware of this when communicating with others. High-ranking officials in the company are meant to be communicated with very formally. The business world and the social world usually do not mix. Do not discuss business matters outside of their proper environment.

In terms of meetings, you should make appointments well in advance, perhaps 4-8 weeks, in writing. If you have yet to meet someone from the company personally, you should have an intermediary arrange an introductory session. Arrive at Chinese business meetings either on time or a little early. Chinese people take being late seriously. Every Chinese business person will probably have an agenda with what they attempt to discuss. You should send them your company’s agenda prior to this meeting session, so they can have a heads up as to if they need to prepare anything (such as an overhead projector). You’ll have to be patient when listening to other people, as they may ramble on for a while.

Expect people’s cell phones to go off during the meeting too. At the table, you’ll probably be escorted to a designated seat. The seats are arranged in rank order, and seniors sit opposing other seniors. If you are not fluent in Chinese, you should bring an interpreter to help you out. If you are using a power point with images, you should try to keep them in black and white, because colors sometimes have certain implications that you did not intend.

If the business meeting involves negotiation, have the most senior person of your company take care of this. It is unlikely that a decision will be reached right away; be patient.

In terms of clothing, business attire is conservative and dark. Men should wear conservative suits. Women should wear either conservative suits or dresses that go up to the neck line and flat shoes. Try not to wear bright colors.

If you are going to exchange business cards, this process is done after introductions. Have one side of your business card translated into Chinese, in simplified characters. Your business card should include your personal title. When handing it to a Chinese person, hold it in both hands, with the Chinese side facing them.

The Most Famous Gardens in China

China’s tradition of beautiful garden design extends over more than 3,000 years. Historically, there were three main garden types: palace gardens, temple gardens and scholar gardens. These each had a religious or symbolic role. In addition to these main types, there are three others: the vegetable garden, the domestic courtyard, and the hunting park, although no examples of the ancient hunting parks survive.

There are many, many examples of incredible gardens in China. Four of the most famous gardens include two scholar gardens and two imperial palace gardens: the Humble Administrator’s Garden (in Suzhou), the Garden for Lingering (in Suzhou), the Imperial Summer Palace (in Beijing), and the Imperial Mountain Resort (in Chengde).

The Humble Administrator’s Garden This garden has three parts, each with very different characteristics: The Eastern Garden, The Western Garden and The Central Garden. The Eastern Garden has beautiful pavilions; elegant bridges over clear pools and streams, small island hills creating miniature replicas of landscapes. Elegant corridors connect the pathways and pavilions. The Western Garden has the many famous pavilions and the Central Garden is designed with many scenes around the Surging Wave Pond. Within the pond three islands recreate the scenery of the fairy islands of the east sea. UNESCO declared the Humble Administrator’s Garden a World Heritage Site in 1997.

The Garden for Lingering Originally a private scholar garden, the Garden for Lingering is well known for the beauty and variety of its buildings. The central area of the garden is the essence of the whole complex. This part was the original Lingering Garden while the other three were added during the Qing Dynasty. In 1997, the garden was recorded the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The Imperial Summer Palace This is the largest and best-preserved Imperial Garden still in existence in the world. This garden is a fascinating example of the combination of landscape and traditional Chinese art of gardening to create a harmonious, beautiful garden. UNESCO listed this garden as a World Heritage site in 1998.

Imperial Mountain Resort The Mountain Resort took 89 years to complete, beginning in 1703. A vast complex of palaces and other buildings, it covers almost 6 km², which is almost half of Chengde’s urban area. The buildings have been constructed in various architectural styles; all are sympathetic to the surrounding landscape, blending in harmoniously with lakes, pasture and forests. The 72 Scenic Spots, as named by the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors. Are what has made the Mountain Resort most. Many of these scenic spots are copies of famous gardens in Southern China. In 1994 the Mountain Resort was added to UNESCOs list of World Heritage sites.

China has a fascinating history of beautiful garden design and there are many examples all around china of gardens worth visiting. The main areas where excellent examples of Chinese gardens can be found are Suzhou, Hangzhou and Beijing. As an expat living in China you will find these famous gardens quite busy at times, but visit them and other gardens during off peak periods and you will find quiet places for contemplation and relaxation.