How can I get a wedding dress custom-made in either Beijing or Quinhuangdao, China? I'll be there for a few weeks and I have a few questions about how this might be possible.
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posted by andreapandrea
on Apr 25, 2012 -
3 answers
Robe found in a thrift store with a label that says "Longevity" and "Hangzhou China" along with Chinese characters I cannot translate - Can anyone help me find more information about it?
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posted by Julnyes
on Apr 18, 2012 -
3 answers
How can I call an american telephone number (landline or cell) from an iPhone that 1. Has only wireless, and 2. Is behind the Chinese firewall?
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posted by Rinku
on Apr 15, 2012 -
5 answers
another thirty-something with only a bachelor's degree uncertain about what to do career-wise. Also uncertain as to what transferable skill(s) to highlight, if any, were I to apply for a job. What should I do with myself? (longgggggggggggg, slightly snowflake-y post ahead)
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posted by ditto75
on Mar 20, 2012 -
17 answers
Is there a China-based Amazon-style shopping website that I use to send a gift to someone in Shanghai? One that I can use from the US and is in English?
thanks!!
posted by Bwithh
on Mar 12, 2012 -
3 answers
In Chinese culture 88 is considered to be an auspicious number. Are there any special presents, food, or activities that are considered particularly appropriate for an 88th birthday?
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posted by Jabberwocky
on Feb 21, 2012 -
4 answers
To what extent do cultural values affect foreign policy making between U.S. and China?
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posted by espada0
on Feb 14, 2012 -
11 answers
Has anyone used one of those combination ECG/pulse oximeter/electronic stethoscopes that seem to be flooding eBay from various Chinese distributors?
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posted by greatgefilte
on Feb 10, 2012 -
1 answer
Suppose you had to defend the thesis that the 21st Century is going to be the Chinese Century, in the way that the 20th Century is often referred to as the American Century. What arguments would you muster to support that claim?
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posted by slappy_pinchbottom
on Jan 27, 2012 -
11 answers
How many hours of labor do you estimate it takes to produce a high-quality Chinese
cloisonne vase, 12 inches tall? A couple of these vases are owned by the school that I teach at, and I would love to be able to tell my students a ballpark figure of how much effort goes into producing these luxury goods--from making the metal base, to adding wire lines, to filling it with enamel, to firing, to final polishing. Our vases are polished to a high gloss, and they have an intricate geometric pattern in the background. There is no area in the background with a gap of more than 2 mm. The foreground consists of well-rendered flowers and foliage. Any thoughts about such objects would be most appreciated.
posted by mortaddams
on Jan 25, 2012 -
5 answers
What are good history books covering Japanese militarism in the first half of the 20th century?
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posted by jeremias
on Jan 16, 2012 -
5 answers
A question about a mural supposedly painted by a man from China at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
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posted by typewriter
on Dec 13, 2011 -
7 answers
You're in Hong Kong on 12/13 January. You want to take someone out for a fun night. Where do you go and what do you do? Definitions of fun and budget are inside.
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posted by girlgenius
on Nov 30, 2011 -
11 answers
I'm going to be in Shenzhen for five days week after next, Monday-Friday. Travelling with my husband who will be working on the Wednesday and Thursday. What should we see and do, and what tips do you have for a culturally ignorant foreign female exploring Shenzhen solo?
posted by tracicle
on Nov 23, 2011 -
4 answers
I'd like to re-read the Chinese classical novel
Dream of the Red Chamber (
The Story of the Stone), but I'd like to know more about the world it's set in first. What are some recommendations for books about daily life and clothing during the Qing dynasty, particularly during the 1700s?
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posted by shirobara
on Nov 16, 2011 -
4 answers
Does anyone remember a big pink-, blue-, and white-striped shopping bag popular in developing countries in the '80s/'90s? It felt like waxed straw, or something Tyvek-y. It had handles, and was often big enough to cover a whole suitcase.
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posted by taramosalata
on Nov 2, 2011 -
23 answers
China Valves Technology (ticker: CVVT) has plummeted this year largely due to suspicion of fraudulent activity and reporting practices. I have read generic accusations on various websites, but have not seen anything specific. Then I ran across this article supposedly "redeeming" them. http://seekingalpha.com/article/294624-china-valves-technology-online-due-diligence-indicates-legitimate-structure?source=marketwatch So I thought I would ask the metafilter community if they had any knowledge involving this company. Do you believe that this is a legitimate investment or is it just another Chinese fraud? Thank you for your time and expertise. Have a great day.
posted by gibbsjd77
on Oct 30, 2011 -
11 answers
I want to buy products from Chinese and Indian suppliers to sell on my popular web site. I don’t have any buying experience and I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can. But so far I haven’t been able to find anyone with actual experience who is willing to advise me (and I have tried SCORE). And the advice I’ve found on the net has been too general and often not very credible. I also want to buy merchandise that is a little unusual, like stepper motors and CNC controllers. I’ve used services like DHgate and IndiaMart to identify potential vendors but I have no clue about what to ask and how to word my inquires so I don’t sound completely clueless. At this point I just want to find out if I can buy products at prices that will make selling them worthwhile. And if I do go ahead I want to start with some small orders. Will most manufacturers accept $500 to $1000 orders for items that cost $20-$50? Do you have any other advice you can give me?
posted by someonesomewhere
on Oct 14, 2011 -
4 answers
I have a traditional chinese thermos
like this one with a wooden stopper. How do I get the smell out? My water tastes like wood.
posted by joshwa
on Oct 6, 2011 -
4 answers
(Passed on from an ESL teacher friend of mine, who got the question from one of her students...)
A group of Chinese businessmen will be coming to DC to study at Georgetown. Their company is arranging accommodation on Michigan Ave. NE, and they're 1) worried about safety, and 2) wondering what the area is like.
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posted by theatro
on Sep 28, 2011 -
13 answers
I've read that in the past, the family of an executed prisoner in China later received a bill for the cost of the bullet used in the execution. Is this true?
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posted by EnormousTalkingOnion
on Sep 22, 2011 -
7 answers
How do I buy train tickets for the new high speed train between Shanghai and Beijing? Have you taken the train? Tips?
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posted by meerkatty
on Sep 21, 2011 -
4 answers
I'm working on a project in China at the moment aimed at getting luxury European and North American brands to install themselves at a new five-star hotel and luxury shopping plaza in one of China's many rapidly growing second-tier cities. The location is excellent and the nimiety of demand and feasibility studies we have conducted show this clearly. We need to convince key decision makers not only in Paris, Milan, London and New York but also here in Shanghai. But how to contact the right people?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 20, 2011 -
3 answers
My friend is planning on shaving her head before travelling for a year through Russia/China/Eastern Europe. Will she run into cultural difficulties because of this?
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posted by Silentgoldfish
on Sep 18, 2011 -
15 answers
Visasfilter: for which countries can I obtain a visa for while traveling, as opposed to in my own country? Difficulty: Canadian.
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posted by StoneSpace
on Sep 9, 2011 -
3 answers
What's the absolute best Chinese periodical around? (Wrinkle: 简体字.)
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posted by jweed
on Aug 30, 2011 -
4 answers
My husband and I are taking
this trip in China and Hong Kong (with some extra days on our own in advance in Beijing, and some more afterward in Hong Kong) in October. We're aiming to pack light but I'm starting to plan just what that means, in terms of both clothing and electronics. Can you help?
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posted by bearwife
on Aug 12, 2011 -
11 answers
International phone recommendation, looking to buy an unlocked phone in the US before leaving, what should I look for and what works best?
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posted by melizabeth
on Aug 9, 2011 -
6 answers
Can you suggest the best, most recent articles that give an overview of China's economic foreign policy in Africa?
posted by paradoxflow
on Jul 31, 2011 -
7 answers
What cultural differences from the U.S. that should I be aware of and practice while living in China for a year?
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posted by melizabeth
on Jul 30, 2011 -
12 answers
I'd like to learn a lot more about shipping things. For instance, manufactured goods from China to the US. What is the process? How is the freight billed? How do you take possession of the goods once they arrive? Who insures the freight being shipped?
Is there a good reference for this kind of thing that doesn't pre-suppose familiarity?
posted by mulligan
on Jul 28, 2011 -
6 answers
What is the best way to ship an iPhone from the US to China?
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posted by jef
on Jul 26, 2011 -
7 answers
My mom has a lot of stuff to sell, and she doesn't want the hassle of a do-it-yourself approach. What kind of people should we involve? We're thinking maybe an ebay broker for the small stuff and an estate person for the big stuff. (Or else maybe a place like Sotheby's?) Know any good ones who serve Westchester, NY? How would we find good people?
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posted by daisyace
on Jul 24, 2011 -
9 answers
Applying for a z-visa to teach English in China, what should I know/be aware of as I go through the process?
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posted by melizabeth
on Jul 22, 2011 -
2 answers
