Wacky China - Your Daily Fix of China's Weird News

Video: Backstreet Boys goes to China

OK, just one more silly video... we promise. We just couldn't resist these Chinese guys' version of a certain boy band. Go "Backdorm Boys"!

Today's timewaster: Cute pop video

OK, we're sure that all of you who've been dragged along to sing karaoke in China have all heard this song. But. We're sure you all still need to see this charming anime-style video.

The song's name: Dui mian de nühai kan guoo lai - "The girl opposite me is glancing at me", enjoy!

Chinglish, now in the bathroom

The following examples of proper toilet manners were photographed at the entrance to the mountain Emeishan, outside of Chengdu, Sichuan province. We hope you remember these next time nature calls.

Word.

After the Sichuan erthquake, help for pandas

After all the depressing news we heard about the Sichuan earthquake, (for one, that more than 69.000 people died, for another that donated money goes to building museums and enriching local officials), it's nice to find someone who still tries to do some good out there. And what better way to help the world than to help cute animals?

Here's what happened: when the earthquake overturned houses and roads, the area's bamboo shoots were also buried in the rubble. And if you don't think that sounds like a serious problem, consider this: Pandas eat bamboo. Luckily the local government in Sichuan's Wolong area plans to "move residents out of Wolong and plant more bamboo".

"Wild pandas must store energy before moving to higher altitudes for reproduction between March and July, but most of the bamboo plants in their habitats were buried in the quake, making it difficult for wild pandas to find food," said Zhang Hemin, director of the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in the Wolong nature reserve, quoted in Shanghai Daily.

Well, we can understand why the lack of bamboo is a big deal, as the reserve in Wolong holds about 10 percent of China's entire population of wild pandas. We are also relived to hear that "captive pandas are expected to recover from the trauma of the quake and give birth to more young ones this year". This grim world sure needs more baby pandas.

Photo by Tostie14

In Guangzhou: A heavyweight wedding

From Chinaren's blog page: This week a mass wedding for women on the heavier side was held in Guangzhou, in the beautiful setting of the Pearl River's side. The blushing brides had been recruited from applicants from all over China who wanted to join in the ceremony. The weight requirement for those who wanted to join stipulated that the bride had to weigh at least 150 jin, (about 163 pounds, or as the rest of the world would say: 75 kilos).

The newlyweds said that they had participated in the ceremony to show support for overweight people and help them to get higher self esteem. They also said that being overweight does not make it harder to find love.

We think these curvy girls are supercool. And at least some netizens agree with us, comments from the blog:
"May they be happy!
"That's sad"
"The poor little husbands, how will they manage?"
"What will they do when the husbands are crushed to death?"
"They're very cute, I wish them well!"
"We should wish them well, everyone has the right to pursue a happy life"

Photo from the blog

Video: The amazing discobot

We found this adorable little fellow on Tudo.com. This dancing robot masters break dance as well as morning exercises and can even clap its "hands".

Apparently, the film was shot during "China's Great Robot Competition". Cool.

In Guangzhou: poor but stylish

From Chinaren's blog: The following pictures were taken in Guangzhou, Guandong province. They show a man scrounging through dustbins wearing a rather eccentric outfit, which he seems to have made himself out of material he's found among the garbage. The blogger who posted these photos write: "I really admire his feeling for fashion, to strive against and find solutions to the problems we meet is what makes us human". 

Comments from readers: "Why would a normal person choose to live like that?"

"Guangzhou is very harmonious, so this is perhaps not Guangzhou"

"How did he do that?"

"He's really gifted, he should be a fashion designer"

"The alternative kids should copy his style"

We agree that this guy has skills, and we really like his hair.

Man sentenced for crime that doesn't exist

A man from China's Shandong province has been jailed for defaming a local government. The only tricky part is, no such crime insist. "The crime of 'defaming the government, is a creation by a local court," said He Bing, professor with China University of Political Science and Law quoted in Shanghai Daily.

The man in question, Wu Baoquan, had started protests over land compensation on behalf of a friend from the city of Erdos, in Inner Mongolia. In an all to familiar move, the local government of that region had claimed land from farmers, who were promised other areas and farming facilities as compensation for the lost land. To no one's surprise, the authorities did not do as they had promised. Wu made the story public, by posting what he knew about it online.

After farmers had gathered to protest and gotten brutally dispersed by police, Wu was detained for ten days. After his release, he continued to research and post about what had happened online. This led to his second arrest and a two year sentence for defaming the government of Erdos city.

We're sure that the fact that there really isn't such a crime in the Chinese legal system is a great comfort to Wu. Or not.

Illustration by royblumenthal

Personals in Shanghai: It's a jungle out there

Once in a while, when we feel bored with our life in China, we take a peek at what's going on in Laowailand, that English-speaking expat-inhabited colony centering on pub streaks, gated communities and fancy coffee shops. One of the things the lonely inhabitants of China's Laowailand seek is casual sex...uhm...relationships. And what better way to find it than through ads. We had a look at Enjoy Classifieds personals, to see what's hot on the Shanghai meat market.

 

Waiting for that certain someone

Women seeking men

We must say we like the frank way some of these gals express themselves. For example the signature "looking for licker" who wants a man aged 30-50, who must also "know how to make woman come". (Well, we think that if a guy has reached 30, he ought to know). We were also intrigued by "pallyp" who tells us that she is: "Available to fulfil any fantasies you may have", (wow, even the  one about being an astronaut-superhero-firefighter?)  "Azumi" sets a higher standard: "Finally, sex is not enough, contact me only if you have some eccentric ideas, i am bored by life so i need something new". Hmmm.

Men seeking women

The men, on the other hand, seem a little less demanding, (or perhaps they just expect all women to know how to make them come). "Fallen_angel" only asks for: "a cute girl to shave my head", whereas "french_29" wants a "married woman (chinese or western) wiling to have a discreet relationship". 

Well, we hope they all find what they are looking for. We're off to play superhero-astronaut-firefighters.

Photo by nakuyou

"To serve the people"... or not

A blogger on 163.com brings us the following photos from a tax agency office in Shenyang, Liaoning province. Although a long line of people were waiting at the counters, the office workers took no notice, and remained on a safe distance from the customers. Apparently, these civil servants had more pressing matters to deal with, namely: card games.

"Are they serving the people?" asks the blogger (referring to the slogan 为人民服务, To Serve The People, which is used by many government institutions).

Most of the people who read the piece did not think that this behavior lived up to the slogan. Comments from users:

"I think all government employees are like that, there is so little control of them. If all of them are like this, what should be done about it?"

"Let's get them discharged"

"That's pretty normal, even though they are quite arrogant"

"If these news get out, then sooner or later the government will ban digital cameras"

"Trash"

"Only in China"

"How could our county raise such people?"

Photos from blogger's page