 Cautions for Employment in China
We’ve fielded many questions from persons and companies wishing to work in China or place private contract employees within China asking for advice on how to go about doing so in a successful manner. There are many potential pitfalls that may await you in your attempt to gain employment in China, but nothing that can’t be overcome with an ounce of precaution and foresight... READ MORE |
 Business Groups in Shanghai and San Francisco Join Forces
Businesses organizations in San Francisco and Shanghai have joined forces. San Francisco's Bay Area Council and a similar organization in Shanghai, the Yangtze Council, signed a pact to promote business and investment opportunities in both regions. The groups will focus on the development of information technology, biotechnology, transportation industries, and alternative energy...READ MORE |
 Foreign Companies in China Face New Challenges
Foreign businesses in China have new challenges to face as authorities are raising taxes and tightening controls on mergers and acquisitions and real estate dealings. Both small and big companies have experienced failure in China, including Avon and Carlyle, and late last year, Warner Bros. pulled out of its China joint venture to build movie theaters...READ MORE |
 Continental Revives Airline with the Help of Few Million Shanghainese
Last week I reported that American Airlines would be offering non-stop service between Chicago and Shanghai. Now, Continental Airlines is hoping to service Shanghai as well; an effort that would not only give consumers choice but might bring Continental out of the red...READ MORE |
 Shanghai's Historic Peace Hotel Undergoing Major Renovations
Shanghai's historic Peace Hotel has closed for renovations and is expected to remain closed for the next two years while construction work is completed. Jinjiang International Hotel Management, the owner of the hotel, has signed a deal with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and the Swiss watchmaker Swatch to do the renovations...READ MORE |
 McDonalds and KFC Under Fire in China
McDonalds and KFC have come under fire in China for underpaying their part-time employees. Labor bureaus in the Guangdong province began an investigation upon hearing that McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Hut (which is owned by Yum Brands Inc., the same company that owns KFC) are paying their part-time employess less than the minimum wage of 7.5 RMB (97 cents) an hour...READ MORE |
 US to Fight Piracy in China
The Bush administration is close to filing a formal complaint against China at the World Trade Organization, saying that China has failed to prosecute most of the people involved in selling bootlegged copies of American music and movies. Many people within the business and entertainment industries are growing impatient with the lack of movement against China, and the United States is finally prepared to take action...READ MORE |
 Ford to Show Off at Auto Show Shanghai
The Ford Motor Company plans to display 52 cars at this year's Auto Show Shanghai. This is the 12th annual show in Shanghai, and the 4th consecutive year that Ford has been in attendance. The show opens to the public on April 22...READ MORE |
College Fund Demanded by Collection Scammer
Throughout the entire heritage of Perplexing Times, we’ve never, ever, ever run a slam article about anyone ever, under any circumstances. It’s not that we don’t experience frustrations in life, we do, it’s more a matter of principal. Unless your business infringes directly on our ability to do what we do, we ain’t going to say boo about it… today we have to say boo, because it just got personal...
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 RMB Counterfeiters Captured
Zhang Jiguo and Liang Qi stand accused of purchasing the counterfeit RMB with 60,000 yuan (7400 USD) within south China’s Guangdong Province on January 2, 2006, wrapping the counterfeit bills and sending them on to Shanghai where Zhang would pass the bills on to Liang. The two men were caught during the exchange with Diao Zhongiun being taken into custody thereafter. Shanghai police were able to retrieve the counterfeit funds, preventing the distribution of the fraudulent bills...READ MORE |
 Plaza 66 to Become Home to Tiffany and Co.
Tiffany & Co. announced plans today to open a 700-square-foot store in Shanghai’s prestigious luxury shopping center Plaza 66 this fall; it will be the city’s second store. The new store will offer an array of renowned Tiffany & Co. collections including the diamonds that have established Tiffany’s as a premier jeweler...READ MORE |
 China Enters Aviation Market with New Jet
A new Chinese regional jet, the ARJ-21 (which stands for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century), is being assembled at the Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory in Shanghai. The plane was developed by the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), and production began in 2002. It is expected to be finished by the end of the year. The ARJ-21 will give China a presence in the aviation market, which up until now has been dominated by foreign companies such as Boeing and Airbus...READ MORE |
 Starbucks Coming to a City Near You
Starbucks entered the Chinese market in the late 1990s by partnering with mainland and Taiwanese food and beverage companies. The US company currently has 165 stores across 18 mainland Chinese cities, about 120 of which lie in the capital or around Shanghai. And now they are embarking on an expansion into the second-tier markets the medium sized cities offer...READ MORE |
 Dell Markets PCs to Masses
Dell Computers has developed a new computer specifically for users in China, where more than 90 percent of the population does not own computers... READ MORE |
 Micron Opens New Facility in China
Micron Technology, Inc. has opened a new manufacturing facility in Xi’an, China, the company's first in China. Micron has another factory located in Singapore. The Xi'an will be used to test and package DRAM, NAND flash memory and image sensors... READ MORE |
 How to Order Your Big Mac
When all else fails and you’re so hungry you could eat at McDonalds, the easy thing to do is surrender, go in and order your Big Mac, fries, coke and any other such fatty delights of home that may please you. But what do you do if they don’t speak English and your Chinese is limited to “hello” and “thank you”? Just use the picture menu...READ MORE |
 Scam Watch - Ridiculously Cheap, Identical Hotel Room
I was an uncommonly frugal traveler on my first trip to China, so when I looked at hotel rates, I shopped, compared, chose the best one and booked it… only to find out I was using the lowest rated provider on the web and paying just as much as I would have to any of their competitors. I got suckered by an artificial exchange rate...READ MORE |
 Think Bank of America China is Bank of America, America? Think Again
Walking down the streets of Shanghai you’ll see many signs of home. McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC and yes, even Bank of America. But if you are thinking this might have any connection beyond the name to the Bank of America you know from back home, think again. It’s an entirely separate entity ruled by very, very different guidelines.... READ MORE |
