News Archives - Now Shenzhen

The Top Fighters In Shenzhen: Pro, Semi-pro, and Up-and-coming

John Graham is well-known throughout not only Shenzhen but China for running White Collar Fight Night; an innovative new sporting and social event that allows CEOs, business executives, and other white-collar professionals to show off their boxing prowess while at the same time putting on a wildly entertaining show and raising money for local charities. Participants are given three months to train so that they can put their best foot forward on the night. For more info, check out the official White Collar Fight Night website.

John spoke with Shenzhen Party to give his opinion on the top fighters in Shenzhen. Each earned their place on this list for different reasons and impressed John in different ways.

Sander Kole from Invincible

First, I would put Sander Kole. Sander is a vlogger who came to me earlier this year with an interest in fighting in a WCFN event. I remember meeting him in 901 gym in Shekou for a boxing/sparring session. He was very stiff and uncoordinated. When it came time for sparring, he was running away and throwing wild punches.

I told him his best chance of getting in the ring was to join the Invincible team and get proper pro coach training. I saw his moments and videos of his training and could see he was getting serious and putting his heart into it.

I put him on the card for the July 7^th WCFN event in SZ. I hadn’t seen him in the ring since that 901 session long back and his performance was the best out of anyone in the card. He was extremely confident with carefully timed punches and footwork.

Aleksandr from Boxing Manufacture

Next fighter on the list is Aleksandr. He is based out of Boxing Manufacture gym, where he is a trainer. It is one of Shenzhen’s boxing only gyms.

He is an upcoming pro trainer under Chen, a Chinese ex-pro who runs Boxing Manufacture gym. Aleksandr was a European champion and also a national champion in Ukraine. On August 4^th this year, he won the WBC International Professional Competition in Yunnan.

On September 15^th, he joined the WBC6 pro boxing championship in Zhengzhou and is scheduled for seven more fights in the coming eight months.

Chen Zi Jun from Shen Li Ren He

Next on my list is Chen Zi Jun, a Chinese kickboxing pro. When making this list, I spoke with a good friend of mine, Vaugne Anderson, who been in the fight business in China for many years and is the Marketing Director of Fight Bro gear. He introduced me to Chen Zi Jun.

While ranked as a kickboxer, Anderson said watching how Chen Zi Jun moves he would do exceptionally well in MMA as well. He fights out of Shen Li Ren He fight club and has had 8 fights with 5 wins and 3 losses.

Shark – Invincible

Next up we go back to the amateur community with Shark. Shark is a pilot and won his first amateur boxing fight in the WCFN ring in December 2017. After his fight, he was directly challenged by Oli Overhead who won his fight the same night. Whoever won would be 2-0 in the WCFN ring. In WCFN, if you win 3 fights in a row then we award you with the Golden WCFN belt.

At the July 7^th WCFN Shenzhen event, Shark came in and put on a great show winning against Oli. What impressed me with Shark was his calm attitude and relatively relaxed nature, as well as being able to produce very hard power.

He’s very focused and takes his training seriously even though he’s not pro. It’s very motivating for other working professionals who want to take up a challenge.

Michelle Yu from Invincible

The last one for my list is Michelle Yu. Michelle, a happily married mother of two and fitness fanatic, she had her first amateur fight experience in December of 2017 at the WCFN008 event in the Sheraton ballroom. In attendance to watch her debut were over 80 fans, friends, and family.

Her opponent was Lillian, a fitness coach trainer and also a well-trained fighter. Michelle came out very strong and immediately showed stronger confidence by aggressively pushing forward with simple combos that connected well.

I believe due to her spirit and determination right from the beginning she was able to dominate the first round, which sealed the outcome of the fight. She has since become a great inspiration for aspiring female fighters to take up the challenge and get in the ring and push yourself to greatness.

I will end this article with those highlighted fighters for now, but I’m sure there are many more inspiring and talented male and female fighters in Shenzhen. After hearing feedback, I’ll write a second part to focus on those fighters not mentioned here.

I would like to encourage any and all to keep training, boxing, grappling, kickboxing, or even to try an MMA class. It’s great, empowering fitness that gives you confidence and gets you ready for any challenge that life can throw at you.

Review: Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest music and arts festival

Neo-Soul Legend Erykah Badu Ends Clockenflap On A Triumphant Note As The Festival Announces Dates For 2019

Clockenflap ended with a triumphant flourish on Sunday night as neo-soul legend ERYKAH BADU brought the curtain down on three unforgettable days of music and arts with a show-stopping performance on the Harbourflap Stage. Fans were also treated to world-class performances by US R&B sensation KHALID, The frontman of veteran indie rockers sodagreen and renowned solo artist 吳青峰, Mercury Prize-winning alt-rock heroes WOLF ALICE, UK drum’n’bass pioneer RONI SIZE and raucous London garage rockers THE VACCINES, among many other highlights.

The festival also revealed its dates for next year, announcing that Clockenflap will return to Central Harbourfront on November 22, 23 & 24, 2019.

Known for showcasing a diverse array of established and cutting-edge talent from Hong Kong, Asia and beyond, Clockenflap took fans on a voyage of musical discovery, with memorable sets by Japanese maverick multi-instrumentalist CORNELIUS, Hubei-born, US- raised rapper BOHAN PHOENIX, Brooklyn neo-psychedelia band SUNFLOWER BEAN and many more.

Between musical performances, fans also took time out to explore the eye-popping array of interactive attractions dotted throughout the festival site, including the Clockenflap debut of the MILK MART craft market. Children’s music star NICK COPE and much-loved Hong Kong kids’ entertainers RUMPLE & FRIENDS were the stars of the show at the family area, while Clockenflap favourite SILENT DISCO powered by FWD MAX was as popular as ever, with fans queuing up to dance to the beat of their chosen soundtrack.

Official channels:
Clockenflap.com
facebook.com/clockenflap
instagram.com/clockenflap
weibo.com/clockenflap
twitter.com/clockenflap

Below are some of the best photos selected from Day Three:

ERYKAH BADU shows why she’s the ‘Queen of Neo-soul’ on the Harbourflap Stage

US R&B sensation KHALID brings his smooth vibes to the Harbourflap Stage

Maverick Japanese multi-instrumentalist CORNELIUS rocks the Harbourflap Stage

The frontman of veteran indie rockers sodagreen and renowned solo artist closes the FWD Stage 吳青峰

British indie rockers THE VACCINES tear it up on the FWD Stage

Mercury Prize-winning alt-rockers WOLF ALICE show the FWD Stage why they’re one of the best live acts around

Brooklyn neo-psychedelia outfit SUNFLOWER BEAN wow the FWD Stage

Hubei-born, US-raised rapper BOHAN PHOENIX unites hip-hop fans on the YourMum Stage by Red Bull

Four Ways to Get Diploma Certificate Authentication

As the new policy of State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) for work permit from May 2017, foreigners must provide authentication for diploma certificate (bachelor degree or above) except of some high-level talents (A category).

Today we want to explain what kind of authentication certificate is accepted by SAFEA and how to apply for each kind.

What kind of authentication for diploma certificate is accepted?

Consular authentication for diploma certificate issued by Chinese Embassy/Consulate.
Legalization for diploma certificate issued by Foreign Consulate in China.
Authentication issued by Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange.
Authentication issued by China Higher Education Student Information (CHSI) website (Only for foreigner graduated from a Chinese University)

How to do authentication for each one?

Consular authentication for diploma certificate from China Embassy/Consulate.

There is a little different in different countries. Normal procedure is as below:

Notarization—Legalization—Consular authentication.

E.g. Procedure of Consular authentication in Chinese Embassy in USA:

Ø Step 1 Have your document notarized by a local notary public unless it is an original certified copy/certification issued by a competent Federal/ State/local Office.

Ø Step 2 The document needs further to be authenticated by the Secretary of the State where it is executed. Some states require that the document be certified by the County Clerk first. For Federally issued certifications, skip this step, go directly to Step 3.

Ø Step 3 If one of the Chinese Consulate-Generals holds consular jurisdiction (click to check our service area map) over you state, you may submit your document to that Consulate-General for final legalization; if not, please get your document authenticated by the U. S. State Department before the Chinese Embassy can finally legalize it. (Please note that your legalization application may be rejected by the Embassy/Consulate General that does not hold consular jurisdiction over the state where your document is executed.)

Official service guide is as below:

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/gzrz/rzcx/

Finally, you will get the blue sticker on your diploma certificate notarization from Chinese Embassy in USA like this:

Guides for Chinese Embassies in some other countries:

Official service guide for Chinese Embassy in Canada:

http://ca.china-embassy.org/eng/lsyw/gzrz/rz/

Official service guide for Chinese Embassy in UK:

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsfw/legalization/t1021900.htm

Official service guide for Chinese Embassy in Germany:

http://www.china-botschaft.de/det/lsfw/t1350628.htm

Official website for Chinese Embassy in France:

http://www.amb-chine.fr/fra/

Official service guide for Chinese Embassy in Australia:

http://au.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw_12/Authentication/t1470434.htm

Official service guide for China Embassy in India:

http://in.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/gzrz/t398819.htm

Official website for Chinese Embassy in Russia:

http://ru.china-embassy.org/rus/

Can find service guidelines in Chinese Visa Application Service Center for many countries:

http://www.visaforchina.org/

Which country’s consular authentication can ZIX provide?

Legalization of diploma certificate issued from Foreign Consulates in China.

Need to confirm with Foreign Consulates in China, some consulates can provide diploma certificate legalization services.

Authentication issued by Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE).

Can get diploma certificate authentication for most countries’ universities, but it takes longer time to get authentication for some universities or can’t get authentication if university doesn’t give feedback or applicant can’t provide other supplement materials.

Which website to apply?

http://renzheng.cscse.edu.cn/Login.aspx

What documents are needed?

1.A two-inch or one-inch digital color photo;

2.The Diploma certificate color scan;

3.The color scan of passport photo page;

4.The Declaration Statement with signature;

5.Information Form (for filling online system);

6.Academic transcript of university (not a must)

How long can get Authentication Certificate?

Canada, USA, Sino foreign cooperation Universities: 10 working days

UK, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore: 15 working days

Other countries: 20 working days.

May take longer time because of different universities. And sometimes applicant needs to contact university directly to let them reply.

Authentication Sample :

Authentication issued by China Higher Education Student Information (CHSI) website (Only for foreigner graduating from a Chinese University)

Which website to apply?

https://my.chsi.com.cn/archive/index.jsp

Steps to apply online authentication certificate:

(1)Use a China mobile phone number to register an account first.

(2) Login in and select “在线验证报告“ and press “申请”:

(3)Press the right lower buton ”查看“.

(4) Close the pop-up “职业调查“ window

(5) Press Button”申请“.

(6) Adjust to 180 days and press “ 申请“.

(7). Close the pop-up “职业调查“ window。

（8） Press “查看“

（9）Press print to print or save as PDF file.

It’s a 180 days validity. So, can do this when you prepare all other documents for notification letter of work permit. Otherwise you need to extend the validity if it expires.

Authentication Sample :

Question: Which embassy should I apply consular authentication if I am an American, but I graduated from a UK university?

Answer: Apply in Chinese embassy in UK.

Question: Do I need to take both original Diploma Certificate and original diploma certificate authentication?

Better to take both because sometimes Foreign Experts Bureau checked both.

Welcome to entrust us to do consular authentication for diploma certificate or non-criminal records.

Contact: Olivia

Shenzhen ZIX Consulting Co., Ltd

Shenzhen Creative Human Resource Management Co., Ltd.

Address: Room 18NO, Block B, Fortune Plaza, No. 7002, Shennan Road, Futian District, Shenzhen.

Tel: 0755-32871512

Email: sales@zixtr.com

Mobile (WeChat): 13684991963

Skype: olivialcr

Company Public Account: ZixConsulting

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge To Open Next Tuesday

Video from：South China Morning Post

It’s set to become the world’s longest sea crossing, completely revolutionize the way people travel between Macau and Hong Kong, and be a giant step forward in the government’s Greater Bay area project, but the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HKZMB) has been a long time coming. Despite some delays and controversy, the bridge is set to open next Tuesday. Shenzhen Party went to work to discover the details about the seemingly imminent unveiling.

What is the bridge?

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, or HKZMB for short, is a sea crossing that links the Mainland China via Zhuhai with Macau and Hong Kong. The bridge stretches a whopping 55 kilometers (34 miles), making it the longest sea crossing in the world.

The HKZMB has been plagued by its fair share of issues over the years. It was originally meant to be opened by 2016, but a series of controversies involving accidents on the bridge, overspending of budgets, and investigations into corruption has caused it to be delayed until now. But when looking past the setbacks, it’s exciting to see the new opportunities the bridge will bring to the region.

Previously, travelers had to take the ferry to travel directly between Hong Kong and Zhuhai or Macau, or travel indirectly by vehicle north through Shenzhen, across the Pearl River Delta, and south again. Now, with the opening of the HKZMB, travelers can travel directly by car, taxi, or bus. The impact of this cannot be overstated.

Travel times are about to be reduced massively. While before it would take 3 to 4 hours to travel by car from Macau or Zhuhai to Hong Kong, with the HKZMB it will only take 30 minutes.

Also, the HKZMB is open 24 hours. Unlike a number of the other borders between Hong Kong and Mainland China, travelers are free to cross whenever they need.

Interestingly, and perhaps most importantly, the bridge is cheaper than taking a ferry. Speaking of which…

How much does it cost?

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Authority recently released information on the toll prices for the sea crossing. More information is inspected once the bridge is officially opened and it should be noted that the information is still subject to change.

Vehicle type	Cost (per vehicle)
Shuttle Bus	RMB300
Cross-Border Coach	RMB200
Car/Taxi	RMB150
Cargo Truck	RMB115
Ordinary Truck	RMB60

When is it opening?

Now, that has been the million (Hong Kong) dollar question for the past couple of years.

The bridge was meant to open back in 2016, but there have been several setbacks that have seen the project delayed until now. We’ve heard rough dates for the opening before, only to be disappointed later.

But this time seems to be different, with the government confirming a set opening date of Tuesday October 23rd. Check back regularly with Shenzhen Party for more news when the bridge opens and also tips on how to use the bridge.

All Photos from: http://www.hzmb.org; http://www.hzmb.hk/

Influences of China New IIT Law on Aliens

Amendment to China Individual Income Tax Law was officially approved on August 31, 2018 and will be implemented from January 1, 2019.

Main modifications are as below:

Resident individual’s definition.

Foreigners who have a residence or reside in China mainland for more than 183 days in a tax year will be classified as resident taxpayers, that is, individual income tax shall be levied on comprehensive individual income both from China or abroad.

Non-resident individuals are those who have no residence and reside in China for less than 183 days in a tax year. They should pay their tax on the income they receive just in China mainland in accordance with the law.

Tax year means the Gregorian calendar year from January 1 to December 31.

But for some exceptions, such as whether retaining “five-year exception tax rule” as before, same taxpayer to become a tax resident in two countries or regions at same time, tax paid in the source of income country is higher than that of China,

In view of the complexity of the taxpayer’s actual situation, we will make specific analysis and judgment after new IIT law’s implementation regulations and specific provisions are carried out in the near future.

Individual incomes are divided into three categories.
Comprehensive incomes: (1) wage and salary (2) remuneration (3) author’s remuneration (4) royalties.
(5) Business income
Other incomes: (6) Income from interest, dividends and bonuses. (7) Income from the lease of property. (8) Income from the conveyance of property. (9) Contingent income.

Resident individuals shall calculate by tax year on a consolidated basis the individual income tax, and non-resident individuals shall calculate by itemization on a monthly or transaction-by-transaction basis the individual income tax, on the income obtained in category 1.

III. New IIT Tax rates and new threshold.

Threshold for wages and salaries will be raised to RMB5,000/month (old law: Threshold is RMB3500 for Chinese and RMB4800 for Alien) and new IIT table I and new IIT table II have been finalized from Oct 1, 2018.

Tax Tables for Category 1(Comprehensive incomes)

Old IIT Rate Table
Grade	Monthly Taxable Income Amount (RMB)	Tax Rate	Quick Deduction
1	≤1500	3%	0
2	1500.01 to 4500	10%	105
3	4500.01 to 9000	20%	555
4	9000.01 to 35,000	25%	1005
5	35000.01 to 55000	30%	2755
6	55000.01 to 80000	35%	5505
7	>80000	45%	13505


New IIT Rate Table I (applicable to comprehensive income)
Grade	Monthly Taxable Income Amount (RMB)	Tax Rate	Quick Deduction
1	≤3000	3%	0
2	3000.01 to 12000	10%	210
3	12000.01 to 25000	20%	1410
4	25000.01 to 35000	25%	2660
5	35000.01 to 55000	30%	4410
6	55000.01 to 80000	35%	7160
7	>80000	45%	15160

Remarks:
1. Monthly Taxable Income Amount=Monthly Pre-tax Income-Allowed deductions (social insurance personal parts, housing fund personal parts, etc.)-5000
2. IIT Rate Table I is applicable to comprehensive income, comprehensive income refers to four incomes (salary, remuneration, author’s remuneration, royalties).

Individual Income Tax Calculation Formula:

Taxable income =Pre-tax salary income -social insurance personal part-housing fund personal part- threshold
Individual Income Tax = Taxable income*Tax rate – quick deduction

How much more can get after Oct 1, 2018?

E.g.: Foreigner’s Pre-tax salary is RMB20,000, social insurance personal part is RMB2011.

IIT of Sep= (20000-2011-4800) *25%-1005=2292.25

Net Salary of Sep=20000-2011-2292.25=15696.75

IIT of Oct= (20000-2011-5000) *20%-1410=1187.80

Net Salary of Oct=20000-2011-1187.80=16801.20

Can get RMB1104.45(2292.25-1187.20) more per month.

Comparison table for different salaries

Monthly Salary 33048RMB is the salary standard for category B for alien’s work permit (IIT is 4352RMB). Monthly Salary 49572RMB is the salary standard for category A for alien’s work permit in Shenzhen

(IIT is 8961.6RMB).

Business Income’s Tax Rate Table

New IIT Rate Table II (applicable to business income)
Grade	Annual Taxable Income Amount (RMB)	Tax Rate	Quick Deduction
1	≤30000	3%	0
2	30000.01 to 90000	10%	1500
3	90000.01 to 300000	20%	10500
4	300000.01 to 500000	25%	40500
5	>500000	30%	65500

Remarks:

The annual taxable income refers to the total amount of income in each tax year in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of this Law after deducing the cost, expenses and losses. Other incomes‘ tax rate is 20%。

IV Annual Settlement and Payment for Resident Individuals

IIT for comprehensive income including wages and salaries obtained by foreign resident taxpayers is changed to annual settlement; Therefore, on the basis of the withholding tax paid to the tax authorities, foreign resident taxpayers are likely to need to settle the settlement and reimbursement of taxes from March 1 to June 30 of the following year. Detailed withholding method for advancement shall be formulated by the tax department of the State Council.

Foreign non-resident individuals who obtain wages earned are only allowed to be deducted by 5,000RMB per month, and special deductions and additional deductions are not allowed.

V Special deductions and Special additional deductions

For a foreign resident taxpayer, annual threshold is RMB 60,000 in each tax year and will be allowed to deduct some special deduction, special additional deduction and other legally deducted allowances.

Special deductions are including social insurance and housing fund personal parts, etc.;

Special additional deductions are including child education expenses, continuing education expenses, serious medical care costs, housing loan interest and housing rent, and expenses for raising the elderly, etc.

The specific scope, standards and implementation steps shall be determined by the State Council and reported to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for record).

The current allowed exempted allowances (like housing rent, meals, traffic fees, laundry expenses, children education expenses, language training expenses, etc.) applicable to non-resident foreign taxpayers may be not exempted anymore.

VI China’s international tax avoidance network opened after CRS officially landed.

China conducted the first CRS financial information exchange on September 1. The revised individual income tax law first established anti-tax avoidance clauses, which will give the Chinese tax authorities a strong legal basis.

How are the criteria and scope of special additional deductions defined? What are the refund procedures for annual settlement and payment? Are tax-free allowances, five-year rules applicable to foreign non-resident individuals retained or phased out?

The implementation regulations, specific regulations and supporting measures will be announced in the near future.

We will continuously focus on the newest regulations and will post on our public account. Please follow us closely for newest news!

Welcome to entrust us to do social insurance, payroll and individual Income Tax declaration services for foreigners.

Contact: Olivia

Shenzhen ZIX Consulting Co., Ltd

Shenzhen Creative Human Resource Management Co., Ltd.

Address: Room 18NO, Block B, Fortune Plaza, No. 7002, Shennan Road, Futian District, Shenzhen.

Tel: 0755-32871512

Email: sales@zixtr.com

Mobile (WeChat): 13684991963

Skype: olivialcr

Company Public Account: ZixConsulting

Singer Champion Jessie J Celebrates Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen’S 1st Anniversary Event

Hard Rock International is excited to have Jessie J with us and celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen. Following her unprecedented victory on Hunan TV’s smash hit show Singer earlier this year, the unveiled tour cities include Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Beijing, Chengdu, Changsha, Wuxi, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Tianjin and Shanghai.

Hard Rock International (HRI) is announced to be the title sponsor of the Jessie J Shenzhen Concert tonight on September 12, 2018, held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center starting at 20:30. Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen team have been very excited to serve her as the host hotel for Jessie J and her team during their time in the city. In the afternoon, the 1 year anniversary started with a fabulous Red Carpet walk among Jessie and VIPs from hotel group, followered by a VIP and Fan Meet & Greet, memorabilia dedication by the artist and the famous Hard Rock Guitar Smash to celebrate the 1^st Anniversary of Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen and Hard Rock Hotels continued expansion in China. Future Hard Rock Hotel openings in China will include Haikou and Dalian in 2019-2020. Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of Mission Hills and Vice Chairman Mr. Tenniel Chu were also invited to the ceremony and witnessed our moment with all attractions from media and fans.

“Hard Rock is excited to bring a different music experience to China as part of our one year celebration of Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen,” said Dale Hipsh, senior vice president of Hard Rock Hotels. “As a brand, we strive to offer our guests experiences that rock, and this VIP event is one example of how we are doing just that.”

This “Made for Music” theme for the event is inspired by Hard Rock Hotel’s Brand DNA, celebrating all genres of music from British Pop Rock to local Chinese R&B. Another guest performer is J. Sheon – a rising star under the Sony Music Label presented to our guests with his well-known songs “You’ll Never Know” and “Tiancai” after the Hard Rock Guitar Smash, fulfilled all the guests with unforgettable music experience during the whole event.

For more information or to book a stay, please visit hardrockhotelshenzhen.com

About Jessie J

It’s been eight years since Jessie J burst onto the scene with smash hits ‘Do It Like a Dude’ and ‘Price Tag,’’, the latter topping the charts in 19 countries worldwide. She’s since gone on to perform at some of the biggest venues and festivals across the globe, collecting an enormous array of awards and collaborating with the likes of Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj in the process.

Earlier this year, Jessie won the hearts of Chinese fans across the country and sparked an explosion of headlines around the globe as she became the first European artist to triumph on Singer, one of China’s biggest music contests. Having never finished outside the top three over the course of the TV show, Jessie scooped the title after wowing audiences with her pitch-perfect delivery and down-to-earth personality – both of which she’ll now be bringing to the live stage in China. The announcement of Jessie J’s concert in Mainland China comes hot on the heels of the release of her fourth studio album, entitled R.O.S.E., which came with an epic four-part rollout: R.O.S.E. (Realisations) came out May 22, R.O.S.E (Obsessions) on May 23, R.O.S.E. (Sex) May 24, and R.O.S.E. (Empowerment) on May 25.

About Hard Rock International

With venues in 74 countries, including 185 cafes, 25 hotels and 12 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Atlantic City, Bali, Cancun, Daytona Beach, Ibiza, Las Vegas, and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include, Maldives, Manila, Malaga, Georgetown, Fortaleza, Casablanca and Chengdu. New Hard Rock Hotel, Casino or Hotel-Casino projects include Atlanta, Berlin, Budapest, Desaru Coast, Dublin, London, Los Cabos, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Dalian and Haikou in China. For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com.

About Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen

Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen blends pop culture and premium hospitality and is a host of world-class leisure, dining and entertainment options, offering a luxury stay for modern travelers who are seeking a reprieve from traditional accommodations. Throughout the property, guests may explore an impressive selection of over 160 rare and valuable memorabilia on display. Carefully chosen from Hard Rock’s world-famous, 80,000+ piece collection, each prized piece celebrates legendary music icons from around the world. The 258 rooms and suites feature a creative mix of music-inspired décor and modern style. A range of high-end accommodations, including Studio Suites, Rock Royalty Studio Suites and the Rock Star Suite®, provide the ultimate all-access pass to a luxury VIP experience, as well as stunning views of the surrounding resort landscape. While music soothes the soul, food satisfies the senses and Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen boasts four dining destinations. Travelers can choose from the signature Hard Rock Cafe, rooftop pool bar M.C. Frida, The Cake Shop, GMT+8 Lobby Lounge or browse the all-day offerings at Sessions. Other facilities include the Body Rock® fitness center, Rock Shop® and Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club™ for budding little rock stars. Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen also features more than 1,000 square meters of event and meeting facilities. Located in the famed Mission Hills Centreville, Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen offers convenient access to the world’s largest golf course and close proximity to an extensive range of leisure, wellness and entertainment offerings. Hard Rock Hotel is located 45 minutes from Shenzhen Bao’An International Airport and 35 minutes from the city center.

Place Name: 深圳硬石酒店 Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen

Place Address: NO.9 Mission Hills Road, Shenzhen, China

深圳市龙华新区观澜高尔夫大道9号

Website: Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen’s Website

Place Phone: +86 (755) 3395 2888

New Tax Laws for Foreigners in China

This post is originally found here: https://www.globalfromasia.com/china-global-tax/

China is the world’s largest manufacturer and it has the second largest economy next to the United States. For this reason, China plays an important role in the global economy. Unsurprisingly, many expats relocate to China for business purposes. China’s financial capital is very attractive that many expats move in for incredible opportunities. From a survey conducted by HSBC, an expat in China earns $170,970 average gross personal income per annum, compared to the global average expat income of $99,900. Interesting, right? However, taxation in China is very complex that many expats find it difficult to comprehend. Just recently, a draft amendment to the Individual Income Tax Law was proposed and expats will surely be affected when the basket of changes take effect. What’s in the draft law? And what are the new tax laws coming for expats in china? Read on to learn more.

China’s Draft Amendment to the Individual Income Tax Law

1. Revision on determining tax residency status. Foreign nationals who have physical presence in China for at least 183 days would become liable for Individual Income Tax (IIT), unlike before when non-residents have one full year year before he/she be subject to IIT. Its purpose is basically to protect national tax rights and interests. Whether the income is sourced inside China or not, the tax residency status will be based on how long an individual resided in the country.

2. New tax system, rates, taxable income brackets

Current IIT Law		Draft Amendment
Categories	Tax Rates	Categories	Tax Rates
Income from wages and salaries	3%-45% 7 brackets of progressive tax rates	Comprehensive income	– 3%-45% 7 brackets of progressive tax rates – Adjusting the taxable income brackets of lower tax rates (i.e., 3%, 10%, 20% and 25%) – Taxable income brackets of higher tax rates unchanged (i.e., 30%, 35% and 45%)
Income derived from remuneration for personal services	20%- 40% 3 brackets of progressive tax rates
Income derived from remuneration for manuscripts	20%
Income derived from royalties	20%
Income derived from production and business operations by individual industrial and commercial households	5%-35% 5 brackets of progressive tax rates	Business operation income	5%-35% 5 brackets of progressive tax rates – The minimum threshold applicable to 35% tax rate increased to RMB 500,000
Income derived from contractual or leasing operations of enterprises or institutions	5%-35% 5 brackets of progressive tax rates	Category removed with relevant income incorporated into comprehensive income or business operation income respectively
Income from interest, dividends and bonuses	20%	Unchanged
Income from lease of property
Income from transfer of property
Contingent income
Other income

Source: PwC Global

3. Anti-avoidance Rule. Anti-tax avoidance rule was introduced in the draft law – wherein authorities are strengthening tax collection especially to individuals having cross border transactions and tax plans. Its main purpose is to avoid multinationals to transfer or move profits to affiliates in low-tax havens and to tighten the IIT’s overall application and enforcement.

4. Additional special expense deductions including children’s education, major illness medical expenses, continued education and housing loan interest and rent. Its purpose is to reduce the amount of income subject to income tax therefore raising the taxpayers’ income and boosting household consumption.

5. Tougher stance on foreign companies. Foreign companies should pay special attention to changes affecting the timing of the tax levy on foreign employees, foreign labor costs, contract profitability, and budgeting requirements, as well as the rippling effects they have on withholding and tax equalizations.

6. New Tax Brackets that would benefit middle and low-income groups.

Current Bracket (RMB)	Proposed Bracket (RMB)	IIT Rate	Effect
< 1,500	<3,000	3%	Widened
1,500 – 4,500	3,000 – 12,000	10%	Widened
4,500 – 9,000	12,000 – 25,000	20%	Widened
9,000 – 35,000	25,000 – 35,000	25%	Narrowed
35,000 – 55,000	35,000 – 55,000	30%	Unchanged
55,000 – 80,000	55,000 – 80,000	35%	Unchanged
> 80,000	> 80,000	45%	Unchanged

Source: China Briefing

Apparently, high-income earners don’t really benefit so much from this amendment. So, basically, if an expat in China earns USD170,970 average gross personal income per annum or around 95,000RMB per month, no matter where that income was sourced and regardless of where the payment is made, he/she would be subject to 45% IIT tax.

China is indeed a booming economy with unending opportunities. The proposed tax reform simply relieves the tax burden of small and medium sized enterprises as well as middle and low-income individuals while optimizing the business environment through higher consumption.

Disclaimer: if you’re an expat in China, it’s best to consult a taxation specialist in China to help you more understand the country’s upcoming overall tax amendment that is expected to take effect on January 2019.

Super-Fast Train To Hong Kong Ticket Sales Started on Monday, 10th September

High-Speed Rail Opens on 23/9

Online ticket sales will start at noon on Monday, 10th September. You may also click here to learn more about the High-Speed Rail ticket advance ticketing arrangement.

The 26km High-Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) runs from West Kowloon and connects Hong Kongfv with the Mainland’s 25,000km national high-speed rail network. Whether it is for business or leisure, you can explore more destinations with the reliable and comfortable High-Speed Rail service.

Speedy: Running at 200km/h in the Hong Kong Section and up to 350km/h in the Mainland Section, High-Speed Rail is the fastest cross-boundary land transport in Hong Kong.

Direct: Connecting Hong Kong with 44 Mainland stations without interchange.

Reliable: Punctual and less affected by traffic conditions.

Caring: A wide range of station and shopping facilities at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station plus different classes of travel and on-board facilities offer you a hassle-free journey.

Video from CGTN Live: Travel to Hong Kong on a high-speed train

High Speed Rail connects Hong Kong with 44 destinations in the Mainland without interchange. Advance ticketing is available by phases from selected ticketing channels between 10 and 22 September.

High Speed Rail Timetable and Fare Charts:

Short-haul train timetable

Long-haul train timetable

Implemented Fare Charts in HKD

Advance Ticketing Special Arrangement:

Date	Hong Kong West Kowloon Station 08:00 – 19:00	Tele-ticketing 12:00 – 19:00	Online Ticketing 12:00 – 23:00
Date	Hong Kong West Kowloon Station 08:00 – 19:00	Tele-ticketing 12:00 – 19:00	Online Ticketing 12:00 – 23:00	10/9	Tickets for 23/9 – 2/10

Date	Hong Kong West Kowloon Station 08:00 – 19:00	Tele-ticketing 08:00 – 19:00	Online Ticketing 06:00 – 23:00
Date	Hong Kong West Kowloon Station 08:00 – 19:00	Tele-ticketing 08:00 – 19:00	Online Ticketing 06:00 – 23:00	11 – 22/9	Tickets for 23/9 and dates within 28 days from day of purchase	Tickets for 23/9 and dates within 30 days from day of purchase
11/9	23/9 – 8/10 tickets	23/9 – 10/10 tickets
12/9	23/9 – 9/10 tickets	23/9 – 11/10 tickets
13/9	23/9 – 10/10 tickets	23/9 – 12/10 tickets
14/9	23/9 – 11/10 tickets	23/9 – 13/10 tickets
15/9	23/9 – 12/10 tickets	23/9 – 14/10 tickets
16/9	23/9 – 13/10 tickets	23/9 – 15/10 tickets
17/9	23/9 – 14/10 tickets	23/9 – 16/10 tickets
18/9	23/9 – 15/10 tickets	23/9 – 17/10 tickets
19/9	23/9 – 16/10 tickets	23/9 – 18/10 tickets
20/9	Not available	23/9 – 19/10 tickets
21/9		23/9 – 20/10 tickets
22/9		23/9 – 21/10 tickets

Enter Hong Kong West Kowloon Station via Exit D2 of Austin Station on the West Rail Line during the advance ticketing period

Remarks:

Real-name ticketing applies. Hong Kong residents can use their Home Return Permit to buy tickets.
For purchase at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, the person who purchases the tickets must be one of the travellers. Please bring along the original personal identity document of all travellers.
Each person is entitled to purchase a maximum of 8 tickets in each transaction during the advance ticketing period.
Ticket collection service is available at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station between 17 and 19 September if you wish to collect tickets purchased online or from tele-ticketing before the service commissioning day. Please bring along the original personal identity document of all travellers.
During the advance ticketing period, the latest ticket status will be announced on www.mtr.com.hk/highspeed and High-Speed Rail Mobile App.
Please note that online ticketing supports desktop PC or laptop PC with selected browsers (Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox).
Mainland Domestic Tickets (journeys starting and ending at Mainland stations) are also available at the dedicated counters operated by the authorised agent at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.
The above service hours of ticketing channels are special arrangements during the advance ticketing period. Please visit the website for details of each of the ticketing channels upon service commissioning.

Ticketing Information

Hong Kong Ticketing Channels

Mainland Domestic Tickets are for the journeys starting and ending at Mainland stations. For example, a journey from Hong Kong to Xi’an requires a “Hong Kong –Zhengzhoudong” Cross Boundary Ticket and a “Zhengzhou – Xi’anbei” Mainland Domestic Ticket. Mainland Domestic Ticket is available at ticketing counters operated by China Railway (Hong Kong) Holdings Ltd. at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Tickets will be issued upon purchase. Ticket alteration and refund services are also available. For alteration, handling fee applies at HKD20 per ticket.

Fares	Handling Fee per Ticket
Below RMB200	HKD10
RMB200 to below RMB300	HKD20
RMB300 and above	HKD30

Remark: Ticket alteration and refund arrangements of Mainland Domestic Ticket are different from the Cross Boundary Ticket. Please visit www.12306.cn for details.

Passengers travelling on the High Speed Rail shall comply with the requirements under applicable laws and regulations (including Hong Kong laws or Mainland China laws) and the Conditions of Issue of Tickets. Cross-boundary passengers shall comply with the Rules for Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail Cross-Boundary Passenger Transport, and all notices posted at stations or MTR website. Non-cross-boundary passengers shall comply with the Mainland Regulations for Transportation of Railway Passengers and all relevant rules and regulations, and all notices posted at stations or Mainland China 12306 website (www.12306.cn).

Mainland Ticketing Channels

Mainland Domestic Tickets can be purchased via the following the Mainland ticketing channels. Click here for more information.

12306 website and mobile app
Telephone booking
Ticketing counters at the train stations
Ticket agents
Ticket machines at the train stations or designated locations

About Hong Kong West Kowloon Station

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is conveniently located next to the West Kowloon Cultural District. Its unique architecture and beautiful landscape make it a new hotspot for visits and photos.

Architectural elements:

The giant curtain wall comprises over 4,000 irregular glass panels to maximize daylight and conserve energy.
The curved ceiling is made of over 8,000 tonnes of steel which is almost the weight of the Eiffel Tower.
The spectacular structure of the station is supported by nine sets of massive columns of different heights. The tallest one rises 45m in height from Level B3 up to the curved ceiling.
There are 3 hectares of public space outside the station including the Green Plaza and Sky Corridor. You can enjoy the stunning views of the Victoria Harbour by walking along the Sky Corridor to the rooftop of the station.
Creative artworks in the station enrich your journey.

The original article form : https://www.highspeed.mtr.com.hk

Latest Immigration Updates China Mainland & HongKong

CHINA – Upcoming Change to Work Permit Renewal Deadline

The State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs (SAFEA) has announced that, effective 28 February 2018, all work permit renewal applications nationwide will have to be submitted at least 30 working days before the expiry date.

Those who fail to comply with this new deadline will be denied renewal, and will have to apply for a new work permit.

Currently, there is no national rule establishing a deadline for work permit renewal application submissions.

Work Permit Renewal

It is recommended to allow two to three months for the processing of work permit renewal applications, and to allow additional time for the preparation of required documents.

For renewal applications, non-criminal record certificates and proof of work experience are not required. Other requirements are the same as for initial applications.

Action Items

· Work permit holders and their employers are advised to note the expiry date of their work permits and other immigration documents, and to begin the renewal process two to three months before expiry.

HONG KONG – Visitor Status Now Permits Delivery of Speeches and Presentations

Effective immediately, foreign nationals entering Hong Kong as visitors are allowed to attend an event to give speeches and presentations without obtaining a separate employment permit, under certain conditions.

Conditions

· The duration of the event must be no longer than seven days.

· The visitor must not be remunerated for speaking or presenting at the event (other than reimbursement for accommodation, travel, meals and other expenses relating to the event).

· The visitor can only attend one event to deliver speeches or presentations during each permitted period of stay.

Visitor Status

Nationals of about 170 countries and territories may visit Hong Kong without a visa/entry permit for a period ranging from seven days to 180 days. Other nationals must obtain a visit visa to enter Hong Kong.

Persons in Hong Kong with visitor status may not take any paid or unpaid employment, establish or join any business or become a student.

Apart from the new permission to give speeches as above, visitors may engage in the following business-related activities:

· concluding contracts or submitting tenders;

· examining or supervising the installation/packaging of goods or equipment;

· participating in exhibitions or trade fairs (except selling goods or supplying services direct to the public, or constructing exhibition booths);

· settling compensation or other civil proceedings;

· participating in product orientation; and

· attending short-term seminars or other business meetings.

Action Item

· Companies sending employees to Hong Kong for any business-related activity should always consult an immigration specialist to confirm whether the proposed activity is allowed as a visitor, or whether an employment visa is required.

For more:

We connect，share and make it Easy for you

New Standards of Work Permit for Foreigners

The calculation standard based on average monthly salary for foreigner to get a work permit will be adjusted to 8262RMB from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 in Shenzhen. Every city will adjust average monthly salary in July every year.In accordance with the regulation of “Notice of State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security on the full implementation of the work permit institution for foreigners coming to China”, foreigner must meet the classification criteria when applying work permit in China. As mentioned in our previous article“Criteria (Category A, B,C) for Foreigners Employed in China”, there are two criteria for category A and category B are based on foreigner’s average monthly salary.As mentioned in our previous article“Criteria (Category A, B, C) for Foreigners Employed in China”, there are two criteria for category A and category B based on foreigner’s average monthly salary.

1.Salary Standard for Category A

Foreign talents whose average monthly salary is 6 times or higher than the local average monthly salary of the previous year.Foreigner’s average monthly salary is 49,572RMB or above can be classified to Category A in Shenzhen.There are some convenience measures for foreigners of Category A to apply work permit.Contact us for details.

2.Salary Standard for Category B

Skilled talents with qualification certificates and with monthly salary is 4 times or higher than the local average monthly salary of the previous year.Average monthly salary is 33,040RMB or above can be classified to Category B in Shenzhen.Can ignore this standard if you have a bachelor degree and more than two years’ relevant work experience.Contact us for working visa solutions without a bachelor degree.

Other cities standards for your reference:

Please contact us for more details.

Contact: OliviaShenzhen ZIX Consulting Co., LtdEmail: sales@zixtr.com Skype: olivialcrMobile (WeChat): 13684991963

Public Account: ZixConsulting

Address: Room 18NO, Block B, Fortune Plaza, No. 7002, Shennan Road, Futian District, Shenzhen.

You may want to know:

Friendly Reminders for Foreigners in SZ

Social Insurance Details for foreigners in Shenzhen

How to Get a Chinese Visa

Types of Visa’s in Mainland China

Super-Fast Train To Hong Kong Opening Soon

Video from CGTN Live: Travel to Hong Kong on a high-speed train

Photo from http://www.mtr.com.hk

Travel between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is about to be revolutionized with the opening of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). Beginning from Sunday September 23^rd, travelers from Shenzhen will be able to take a train from Futian station to West Kowloon in Hong Kong in just 14 minutes.

Photo from Wikicommon

Until now, travelers typically either crossed the border on foot at Luohu and took the long subway journey, bought a ticket for a bus at Shenzhen Bay, crossed by car at Huanggang, or traveled by ferry in Shekou. The new XRL is about to change all that.

Where does the XRL go and how long does it take?

The XRL will stop at 7 stations, six of which are in Mainland China and one in Hong Kong. Below is a list of the stations and how long they take to reach starting in Hong Kong.

West Kowloon – Station of departure
Futian – 14 mins
Shenzhen North – 23 mins
Guangming – To be confirmed
Humen – 30 mins
Qingsheng – To be confirmed
Guangzhou South – 48 mins

Photo: Wikicommons

How much are tickets and how can I buy them?

Tickets for the XRL will be available at all departure stations. For Mainland China, keep checking Ctrip for when online ticket purchases become available. For Hong Kong, refer to the MTR official website. Below is a list of the ticket prices.

West Kowloon – Station of departure
Futian – HKD80
Shenzhen North – HKD90
Guangming – To be confirmed
Humen – HKD210
Qingsheng – To be confirmed
Guangzhou South – HKD280

Where do I pass through immigration control? Is it the same as other SZ-HK Borders?

No, it’s not, and that actually has been the source of a lot of controversy during the development and construction of the XRL. For the first time, a joint checkpoint will be in operation at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border.

This development has been prominent in the local news in recent years as the public and politicians alike consider the ramifications of such a move. For the everyday travelers, however, the joint checkpoint has the potential to severely cut down on the time spent going through immigration and customs.

Not only does the XRL stand to be faster than any other travel option to Hong Kong, it will also likely have the quickest immigration and customs check too.

Is it convenient to reach other areas of Hong Kong from West Kowloon station?

Of course, it depends where you want to go, but generally speaking, the West Kowloon station is conveniently located and well-linked with other transport in Hong Kong.

To get to Central, first you need to take the walk bridge to Kowloon station. From there, take the Tung Chung line to Hong Kong station and walk from Hong Kong station to Central. Estimated travel time from West Kowloon station, including walking, is 30 – 40 minutes.

To get to Hong Kong International Airport, take the walk bridge again to Kowloon station. From there, take the Airport Express line to Airport. Estimated travel time from West Kowloon station, including walking, is 40 – 50 minutes.

Can I use the XRL to travel to other parts of Mainland China?

*Source of information: Transport and Housing Bureau

You can, and although it does not change much for most in that respect, it does make certain journeys more convenient for some people living in Shenzhen. For example, those living near Futian no longer need to travel to Shenzhen North or Luohu to take the train to Dongguan or Guangzhou.

Now, they can take the XRL train and be in Dongguan in about 16 minutes and Guangzhou in 34 minutes. From there, travelers can carry onto the rest of the country using the extensive high speed network in Mainland China.

The next step in improving Hong Kong and Mainland travel links

Regardless, the XRL is a major step forward in bringing Hong Kong closer to the Mainland. With the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge ready to open later this year and the Sha Tin to Central line coming by 2021, it’s never been easier to travel to Hong Kong from Guangdong.

All eyes in the region will turn to West Kowloon Station at 7 AM on Sunday September 23^rd as the GZ-SZ-HK High-Speed Rail Link goes on its maiden journey. It will not be long before plenty of residents in Shenzhen will be using it to head into Hong Kong.

Written by Rory Lawless

Celebrating An Expat Institution For Women In Shenzhen

For many expats, what makes or breaks a move to a new country is the community they meet there. One cannot underestimate the importance of having a friend to go to the bar for a drink or to grab a coffee during the day. It can make a world of difference if you know some people you can ask for help or advice, be it finding where to buy the food they like from back home or to take them to the hospital after an accident.

If someone is fortunate enough to find this sense of community when they move to a strange new place, then they are more likely to stay longer and start to feel like they have a found a home away from home. It’s that same sense of community that the Shenzhen Women’s International Club (SWIC) has been providing to the ladies of our city for over 30 years.

We sat down with President Yvette Taylor and Programs Chair Christyne Holmes for a coffee and a chat to find out more about what SWIC is about and what it offers to the expat women in the local community.

“It started in 1986. It was just a few ladies who met in somebody’s lounge in Jingshan. Two years ago we did quite a few big events to celebrate the 30 years. There are no original members left, but we do have some photos,” explained Yvette.

Christyne had heard about what it was like back when SWIC started. “At that time, in the Shekou area, there were a lot of oil and gas companies, so my guess would be that it came out of that. There were a lot of expat ladies, or expat families, that were living here, and they don’t really know how to communicate locally. They didn’t speak Chinese. They had just moved here. That time, wasn’t like it is now.”

SWIC has come on leaps and bounds since it was first formed, but it fundamentally represents the same values. Their mission statement can be found in their leaflets, but Christyne sums it up well during our chat.

“I think our goal with SWIC is to offer the gals support. These women are the anchors for their husbands and kids and they feel like they are running around, taking care of and solving all the problems. Grocery shopping alone can be a challenge in a new country where you don’t speak the language. Any additional special needs can make acclimation and adjustment even more difficult. I like to think of it as a soft place to land. You can come here and ask whatever questions. You can vent. You can get rejuvenated. Then we put you back out there.”

“We recently had an event and some of the new ladies were really struggling. If you’ve never been to Asia before, it is a culture shock. So we are there for them if they want someone to chat to,” added Yvette.

The group has grown tremendously over the years, which is reflected in the original name of Shekou Women’s International Club being changed to the Shenzhen Women’s International Club it is today. The amount and variety of activities now held offer members something interesting to do every day during the week.

“Every Tuesday morning 9:30 to 11:30 we have a coffee morning. It’s usually at the Hilton, except for the third Tuesday of every month where we go to the Marco Polo in Futian. At our Hilton coffee we generally have over 50 ladies, on some occasions more than 70. The Marco Polo coffee is popular with a lot of our members that live in Futian and have kids, but we also get a lot from Shekou. Generally, there are 50 ladies there.

There’s also a book club, which meets once a month on a Tuesday evening. Most of the books are, some fiction, some non-fiction, but right now we are reading one about a Chinese wife and American husband bringing up their son in Shanghai,” explained Yvette.

Mothers with young children form a significant percentage of the members in SWIC and they are well taken care of.

“So we have a large Mom’s and Tot’s group. That is a lot of support for those with preschool kids. Every week they make play dates. It’s every Wednesday or Thursday and it’s someone different every week. It alternates between different apartments. They had a big Easter party recently and you wouldn’t believe how many people were there. It was crazy,” recalled Christyne.

Yet that represents just a small fraction of the work SWIC puts in to arrange activities for their members. Christyne gave a breakdown of what happens in a typical week.

“Monday they have the hiking group. Tuesday we have the coffee. Wednesday they play tennis. Thursdays they usually do another hike. Monday and Wednesday they do archery. Friday we do mahjong. And then we sprinkle in other activities along the way. A couple of weeks ago we made dumplings in my house. We had 15 or 16 gals who came to my house for that. At the weekend we are going to the Opium War Museum.”

The women of SWIC also enjoy their parties and members can be sure to have a few large events to be arranged each year.

“We had our farewell lunch on the 22^nd of May. It was a chance to say farewell for the summer and to those who were leaving Shenzhen. That was at the Westin. We had the ballroom there for a late morning lunch with a wonderful buffet and sparkling wine. 90 Ladies attended,” said Yvette.

“Then in September, we will have our welcome breakfast. A way for everyone to get back into the groove,” added Christyne.

Even putting the weekly activities and the great parties aside for one moment, SWIC is worth joining for the great discounts members can enjoy at more than 50 restaurants, bars, shops, spas, and other businesses you are sure to come into contact with during your time in Shenzhen.

“This is worth the cost of the membership alone. Because if you go to McCawley’s and get 5% off then it adds up over time. It adds up pretty quickly,” explained Christyne.

Charity work forms an important part of the work that SWIC does, so those who want to give back to the local community can find a platform to do so at the club. Yvette went into detail about the assistance they provide.

“We support three local charities; Captivating, Promised Land, and Sunshine Academy. We budget at the start of each year and we set out an amount for each charity. That can either be given to them at the end of the year or if they want to use it throughout the year. What we’ve also done this year are three coffees where – they usually cost 50RMB – the members have it free, but then we have a charity bucket. So we’ve raised 3 or 4,000RMB each charity coffee just by doing that.”

SWIC boasts a large membership, but it’s not one that is dominated by any one clique. As is stated as part of their mission statement, ‘there is no typical SWIC member. We are women of all ages, with or without children, working or not working for money, seasoned or first-time expats’.

“We have over 250 members at the moment. There can be up to thirty different nationalities on a bus during a trip,” explained Yvette.

When asked about the makeup of those 250 members, Christyne is keen to express the diversity. “I would say American is probably the largest nationality and then maybe French. Our mahjong group just cracks me up. We have women from Belgium, France, Korea, Japan, America, New Zealand, and Australia.”

“It’s amazing that everyone gets on so well. I don’t know anyone that is cross with one another. In 250 people, I don’t know if there is any bad blood or poor relations. Which is pretty amazing when everybody is from different walks of life,” she added.

Perhaps the best possible note to finish on is to simply leave you with a quote from the SWIC mission statement, which sums up all the good work the women at the club are doing.

‘The purpose of Shenzhen Women’s International Club is to promote social and cultural exchange between the women of the expatriate community in Shekou and throughout Shenzhen. This is done through meetings and activities in the spirit of mutual understanding and friendship.

SWIC provides a focus for social and cultural activities for members and is of particular value to newcomers by serving as a means to meet other expats, find resources, and share tips and information about living in this city.

We are a club run solely by volunteers. To give back to our host country, we continually support local charities through donations, promotion, and active participation.’

To become a member of SWIC, applicants must hold a foreign passport or be a spouse of a foreign passport holder. Membership costs RMB350 per year, with the year beginning in August.

For more information or to inquire about joining SWIC, you can visit their official website or check out their Facebook page. Feel free to send an email to membership@swiconline.com.

Friendly Reminders for Foreigners in SZ

More and more foreigners come to Shenzhen to travel or work, there are some important and basic regulations needed to be observed.

This article is quoted from “深圳出入境”。

Basic Laws and Regulations related with foreigners are as below:

1.Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China

2.Decree of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

3.Employment Management Regulations for Foreigners in China

4.Interim Provisions on the Administration of Foreigners in Guangdong Province

Feel free to contact us if you need full texts of the above regulations or you have any question.

Contact: Olivia
Company Name: Shenzhen ZIX Consulting Co., Ltd
Place Address: Room 18NO, Block B, Fortune Plaza, No. 7002, Shennan Road, Futian District, Shenzhen.
Tel: 0755-32871512
Email: sales@zixtr.com
Mobile(WeChat): 13684991963
Skype: olivialcr

For more: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/XN0xpmiZEo2P82fnm-rE6A

Duke’s at The Langham, Shenzhen Awarded “2018 Best Wine List Southern China” and “2018 Three Glasses” by China’s Wine List of the Year Awards

Duke’s

Duke’s at The Langham, Shenzhen Awarded “2018 Best Wine List Southern China” and “2018 Three Glasses” by China’s Wine List of the Year Awards

August.2018

As a perfect combination of the over 150 years British luxury hotel heritage and the classical oriental elements, The Langham, Shenzhen now extends its unique style into food and beverage, enabling patrons to enjoy the finest cuisines and wines in a crafted ambience of true elegance. In recognition of the high-quality, diverse wine collection, and excellent wine tasting culture, recently, Duke’s at The Langham, Shenzhen won the “2018 Best Wine List Southern China” and “2018 Three Glasses” by China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

The Wine List of the Year Award “set sail” in China in 2013, which was first introduced to recognize and reward restaurants and sommeliers by their enormous investment in time, skill and resources that go into developing the best quality wine lists in any specific country, and to provide a “route map” to the best wine lists for guests.

The judging panel of the 2018 China’s Wine List of the Year Awards was made up of wine professionals and experts worldwide, appraising the wine list with strictest requirements. The wine list of Duke’s, curated by Julia Zhu, Beverage Director of The Langham, Shenzhen, won over the “critics” and brought home the “2018 Best Wine List Southern China” and “2018 Three Glasses” Awards after rounds of intense competition. Duke’s has won multiple major honours of the China’s Wine List of the Year Awards for six consecutive editions since 2013.

Ever since becoming a certified sommelier in 2003 with CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers), Beverage Director of the Langham, Shenzhen-Ms. Julia Zhu, a Chinese-Canadian and well-versed in both Chinese and English, has been working in the wine industry for 13 years. Before joining in the Langham Hospitality Group, Julia used to work as a head sommelier in different world-renowned five-star hotels. Joined The Langham, Shenzhen in 2012, Julia not only shares excellent wines around the world with guests, but also makes a perfect combination of wines, delicacies and the dining atmosphere, to present an enjoyable grand feast for tasting.

The Langham, Shenzhen offers a diverse range of Chinese and Western dining options, of which Duke’s offers a private wine collection featuring over 300 exquisite wines that cater to the tastes and preferences of casual drinkers and wine experts. Pairing with both the Western and Chinese delicacy, the hotel will stimulate your gustatory buds from all around.

“2018 Best Wine List Southern China” “2018 Three Glasses”

About Langham Hospitality Group

As the wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, Langham Hospitality Group encompasses a family of distinctive hotels under the Langham Hotels and Resorts and Cordis Hotels brands with more than 50 projects currently either confirmed or in a developed stage of negotiation from Asia, Europe and North America to the Middle East. The Group takes its name from the legendary Langham in London which was widely recognized as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For 150 years, this flagship hotel has represented sophisticated and gracious hospitality, a philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses across all properties. For more information, please access the website at www.langhamhospitalitygroup.com.

Place Name: Duke’s (The Langham Shenzhen) 爵廊

Place Address: Level 3, The Langham, Shenzhen, 7888 Shennan Boulevard, Futian District, Shenzhen 中国深圳市福田区深南大道7888号, 深圳朗廷酒店, 3层

Website: Duke’s (The Langham Shenzhen)’s Website

Place Phone: 86 (755) 8828 9888 ext.8922

Email: tlszx.dukes@langhamhotels.com

Good News For Startups As WeWork Comes To Shenzhen

Shenzhen’s startup revolution is set to continue to with the announcement that WeWork will unveil a workspace at the start of September.

The American company built its success on providing shared workspaces for freelancers and startups and has spread to 283 locations situated across 75 cities around the world. Now, WeWork has targeted China as a market with massive potential and Shenzhen has been identified as the spot for its newest workspace.

WeWork will be located in Houhai in Nanshan, where it will be in good company surrounded by Chinese tech companies such as Tencent and DJI. The space itself will be made up of three floors with an open deck, lush greenery, and a spiral staircase acting as a centerpiece.

The announcement comes at the perfect time in Shenzhen with more and more startups popping up seemingly every day. WeWork will be able to offer a platform to work for these entrepreneurs and also freelancers as well as smaller companies and even divisions of large corporations.

Keep checking this space for more information as WeWork prepares to launch in September.

Address: China Construction Steel Structure Building, 3331 Zhongxin Lu, Nanshan, Shenzhen (南山区中心路3331号中建钢构大厦)

The Market Café Honoured At The 8th Annual China Hotel Awards – Best Buffet Restaurant

Grand Hyatt Guangzhou is very delighted to announce that The Market Café was awarded “The 8^th Annual China Hotel Awards – Best Buffet Restaurant” by Lifestyle Magazine.

As the leading lifestyle magazine focuses on hospitality industry and luxury brands, Lifestyle Magazine is positioned for consumers with high income, high quality and high living standard. this is the 8th year it successfully held its China Hotel Awards, the result of more than 200 hotels participated and selected by key influencers and travel critics.

About The Market Café

Conveniently located on the 22nd floor of the office tower and accessible from the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou hotel’s Sky Lobby, The Market Café is a buffet restaurant offering Western and Asian cuisines from eight live cooking stations. With a casual yet modern ambience, diners can choose from fresh seasonal ingredients and enjoy delicacies from an open kitchen. The restaurant is nestled in Huacheng Square, in Guangzhou’s new central business district, featuring panoramic views as a backdrop for a pleasant buffet dining experience.

About Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

Grand Hyatt Guangzhou is a five-star luxury hotel located in the new center of Guangzhou, China — the central business district of Pearl River New City. Located on the 22nd floor, the hotel’s Sky Lobby offers panoramic views of Huacheng Square. Grand Hyatt Guangzhou features 350 guestrooms and five restaurants and bars, including Cantonese cuisine at The Penthouse, buffet-style dining at The Market Cafe and authentic western food at G Restaurant. Experience a luxury five-star hotel stay in Guangzhou with our rooftop O Spa and fitness center. Meeting and wedding planners can choose from more than 1,600 square metres of exceptional function space, including a Grand Ballroom, six meeting rooms and a sophisticated business center.

Hotel Name: Grand Hyatt Guangzhou 广州富力君悦大酒店

Place Address: 12 Zhujiang W. Rd, Pearl River New City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 广州市天河区珠江新城珠江西路12号

Place Phone: 020 8396 1234

E-mail: guangzhou.grand@hyatt.com

Website: Grand Hyatt Guangzhou’s Website

Shangri-la Hotel, Shenzhen Launches “Plastic Bag Free Day” Campaign To End Plastic Pollution

Shangri-La Hotel, Shenzhen launched this year’s “Plastic Bag Free Day” campaign under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”. The hotel encouraged people to take a critical look at themselves in relation to single-use plastic, and make real efforts to break their dependency on disposable plastic.

On the day, the hotel invited Ms. Lu Sha, a famous local sand-painting artist to work with special kids form Yuan Ping and Ren Ai special education schools, as well as the hotel guests, to paint on the reusable shopping bags in the lobby. A total of 120 shopping bags were used, which spread 16 square metres. Guests and kids involved in the painting campaign received a complimented shopping bag each. By doing this, the hotel hopes to focus on fundamentally changing people’s attitude and behaviour about plastics and creating a catalyst for a significant reduction in plastic pollution.

Ms. Lu Sha, Hotel Resident Manager and Media Friends

In addition, the hotel worked with local community volunteers to build up a pop-up booth at Luohu train station which advocated the decreased use of plastic packages. Citizens could also get a complimentary shopping bag by sharing their attitude and actions with their friends through social media channels. In the meantime, the hotel staff dormitory became a battle around the area were encouraged to control and diminish plastic pollution to reduce, reuse, reuse, recycle and remove plastics.

Campaign at Luohu Station

Campaign at Dormitory

Join Shangri-la Hotel, Shenzhen “Plastic Bag Free Day” Campaign to End Plastic Pollution

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently operates over 100 hotels with a room inventory of over 41,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Australia, Bahrain, mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. For more information, please visit www.shangri-la.com.

Place Name: Shangri-La Hotel, Shenzhen 深圳香格里拉大酒店

Place Address: East Side, Railway Station, Jianshe Road, Shenzhen 深圳市罗湖区建设路1002号

Place Phone: 0755-8233 0888

Website: www.shangri-la.com

Local Comedy Stands Up At SZN COMEDY Open Mic Night

I’m at my first stand up comedy open mic night in Shenzhen. A small, respectable-looking Chinese woman takes to the stage to do a set. I’ll be honest with you. She wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I imagined the type of people performing.

Within a minute, she’s made more dirty jokes than I can keep track of and she’s doing an impression of oral sex on stage. Half the audience bursts out laughing while the other half don’t know where to look. Either way, she has got our attention.

Provocative local comic, Alice, gets a reaction from the Open Mic crowd.

By the time she has walked off stage, she’s left us with one of the raunchiest sets I’ve seen live. As I was going to find out that night, that’s what the Open Mic Night organized by SZN COMEDY from Eastern Liberty is all about. It’s about providing local comics a platform to perform, giving audiences an alternative to the party scene, and ultimately, connecting those audiences with these comics in a meaningful way.

Earlier that night, I sat down with Mr. Ryan from SZN COMEDY, which organizes these open mic nights as well as monthly shows. Through our chat and the night that followed, I was introduced to an exciting and burgeoning scene in Shenzhen.

Mr. Ryan warms up the audience at a show at the Hilton Futian.

Whenever a new scene emerges in a city, it’s curious to know what pushed the people involved to make it happen. For Mr. Ryan, he couldn’t believe that a city like Shenzhen didn’t already have a comedy community.

“I was going down there to Hong Kong once a month for a while for an open mic, but I started thinking why a city like Shenzhen didn’t have something like this. I did a bit of research and found out that people had tried to do one-off shows every now and then, but there wasn’t any sort of stable organization that the comedians can count on being there.”

Looking around the open mic show that evening, the scene seemed well developed. Mr. Ryan was laidback as the venue gradually filled up with regulars who greeted him as they passed us at the bar. There was a relaxed vibe and everyone seemed comfortable in their own skin. In the very beginning, as Mr. Ryan recalls, it was somewhat more hectic.

The crowd reacts well to an Open Mic set.

“Back in 2016. Our first show was Cinco De Mayo in Frankie’s, Nanshan actually, and they gave us the opportunity to use that space. It was a free show and so everyone was really excited for comedy and it was Cinco De Mayo so it was some party. That day had to be around a hundred people. The crowd was kind of like a wild animal that night. So we learned. We got to control the crowd a little bit.”

Like any good comic, SZN COMEDY took some pointers from that first show and made some adjustments. Mr. Ryan found it made a big difference.

“We started selling tickets to the show in advance so people started becoming a bit more invested in the show. They are not going to just laugh when they are supposed to laugh, but they are not going to just be on their phones all show, because they paid to be there.”

One of the things I was most curious about coming into the show was the makeup of the crowd. I was wondering if it would it be mainly expats or would locals come down to the show too, and beyond that, how did the composition of the audience influence the type of jokes being told.

Shenzhen favorite, Troy Lewis, warms up the crowd.

“I think that’s one of the things that people get excited with our scene. You’re going to see tonight that around half the crowd is Chinese and the other half is expats, and from that half, everyone is from somewhere different. I think that helps a little bit because it keeps everyone fresh, friendly, and open.

I just try to feel the room out when I’m hosting. If it’s mostly expats, foreigners, whatever you want to call them – us – then yeah, you just adjust a little bit. You can add more cultural references, but with Chinese, their laughs might come more from reactions and the expressions on your face and your body language.”

You can see what he means with regards to how different parts of the crowd respond to different material. One American comedian who has come all the way from Hong Kong performs a set of spot-on impressions packed full of pop-culture references. A big chunk of the audience is in stitches, but for others, the references are maybe too obscure. While later another American comedian gets up, this time from Guangzhou. His set is full of energy as he relates his experience of an expat living in China and the other sections of the audience find it easier to connect to what it is he is saying.

SZN COMEDY also run an open mic night at Mambo in Shuiwei on Thursdays.

It’s interesting to talk to Mr. Ryan because while he started out in the scene as a comic traveling to Hong Kong to perform at open mic nights, he no longer sees himself as a comedian per se. For him, it’s more important for SZN COMEDY to provide a platform for local comedians.

“I honestly don’t do sets anymore. Our company focuses on bringing comics and crowds together. I think sometimes that fails because the people that are organizing are trying to be the stars of the show. Right now, everyone that is involved is comfortable because our organization doesn’t run like that. We generally just want to make a good product for the city.

We try to get the word out as much as we can about local comics because that’s really what this scene is about. We really try to grow the scene here with local comics.”

It’s an approach that has helped some local comedians start to make a name for themselves. There are a few comics who started out at open mic that are now doing paid shows in Shenzhen and elsewhere in the PRD area. When you hear Mr. Ryan talk about these guys, you can tell he’s genuinely invested in seeing them be the best comics they can be.

Open Mic at Luna on Sundays welcomes veteran and newcomer comedians alike.

“Troy Lewis is the big up and comer in Shenzhen right now. Recently, he did a show in Shuiwei. Amazing show. High energy. He’s putting in a lot of work and it’s paying off. He was in the Dongguan show we did a few months ago. Dongguan loves Troy Lewis. Just to be able to say he’s part of the Shenzhen scene is great, because we’ve been doing shows together for years now.

Linus Leas is another up and comer. He came onto the Shenzhen scene a few months ago, but his stuff is very fresh. He was the opening act for the Dongguan show as well and the experience he grabbed that night can be applied to all the material he is writing.”

As luck would have it, Leas actually popped into the open mic night later that evening to perform a set and it’s clear to see why Mr. Ryan is so excited about him. Leas is Cambodian-American. As an Asian-looking expat living in China, he’s got a rich amount of material to mine. While hearing about the typical expat experience in China might be a bit too familiar for some, Leas occupies a space which feels much fresher.

Leas’ set is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the evening, but in truth, I had a great time throughout the night. Whether it’s a first-timer getting up on the stage or a comic working on material for their next show, there’s just a really relaxed and positive vibe going on. It’s something that Mr. Ryan touched upon when explaining why they do these open mics.

They offer something for comics working on their set. “There’s always some crowd to perform in front of here. And I think that’s what comedians need. They need reactions from a real crowd. You will see people doing new jokes, fixing old jokes. You can’t do that on a paid show.”

Yet it’s also a safe environment for those who are just starting out. “We try to get that vibe out there. Super relaxed, no pressure. If you don’t want to go on stage, then that’s cool. If you do want to go on stage, then we will kind of help you out.”

Some of the comedians from Open Mic go on to support at paid shows at the Hilton such as the Ben Quinlan show recently.

Meanwhile, it’s about offering something different for the people of Shenzhen. “I think people are trying to find an alternative to that party scene, and that’s kind of what we are. Yeah, we are still at a bar, and yeah, you can still get a drink, but nobody is out there to get drunk. It attracts a certain type of person too. Generally, the people that come here are good people.”

Ultimately, it’s about bringing together foreigners and local Chinese for events and to share something they are all passionate about.

“There’s too many expat-only events or Chinese-only events, and the only other thing that brings these people together are parties. A concert is another one, but how often is that? So in this scene, even if we only get 20 or 25 people, for a crowd for an open mic, it’s cool, because in any other situation that would never happen. So that’s something that we actually try to focus on.”

SZN COMEDY organizes an open mic night every Sunday at LUNA Bar in Shekou and every Thursday at MAMBO in Shuiwei.

SZN COMEDY also hosts regular paid shows. They are typically held twice a month here in Shenzhen. For more info, add wechat: easternliberty86

Langham Mooncakes Beyond Exquisite

Festive indulgences Brought to You by Langham’s Master Chefs

The Mid-Autumn festival is a time for reunions. Families come together to admire the luminosity of the moon, enjoy the lantern shows and share mooncakes. This year, let’s celebrate the legendary tradition with exquisite mooncakes presented by The Langham, Shenzhen.

Langham is renowned for its excellence in Chinese cuisine with T’ang Court, Ming Court and Yat Tung Heen in Hong Kong all awarded with the prestigious and highly coveted Michelin stars. Indulge in a Mid-Autumn feast as Langham’s master chefs bring together a sumptuous collection of mooncakes with their exclusive recipes, presented in a refined jewelry box adorned with an exquisite floral pattern.

Traditional Flair

Always a crowd pleaser during this festive occasion, the simple but moreish White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Double Egg Yolks is a must-have for those who crave a true taste of tradition.

White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Double Egg Yolks (4 pieces) CNY298

Classic Elegance

The much sought-after Mini Custard Mooncake with Egg Yolk is a Langham signature, with the recipe created and perfected by the group’s master chefs. An exemplification of classic artistry, it is bound to impress even the most discerning of connoisseurs.

Mini Custard with Egg Yolk (6 pieces) CNY298

Refined Delights

Crafted using the finest ingredients, the Deluxe Mini Mooncake Assortment is bound to impress aficionados of both classic and modern flavours. This premium collection features the luscious Custard Mooncake with Kumquat and Egg Yolk, the traditional White Lotus Seed Paste Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk, and the delicate Red Bean Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk.

Deluxe Mini Mooncake Assortment (6 pieces) CNY308

For offer details, please call (86) 755 8828 9888 ext.8923.

Langham Mooncakes_White Lotus Seed with Double Egg Yolks Mooncake

(4 pieces/approx. 150g each)

Mini Custard Mooncake with Egg Yolk CNY 298 /Net

(6 pieces/approx. 55g each)

Deluxe Mini Mooncake Assortment CNY 308/Net

Langham Mooncakes_Deluxe Mini Mooncake Assortment

(6 pieces/approx. 55g each)

Place Name: The Langham, Shenzhen 深圳东海朗廷酒店
Place Address: The Langham, 7888 Shennan Boulevard, Futian District, Shenzhen 深圳市福田区深南大道7888号
Website: The Langham, Shenzhen’s Website
Contact Phone: 0755 8828 9888 ext.8923.
Email: tlszx.recruitment@langhamhotels.cpm

A Different Kind Of Fun From ZIP Improv Group

So I’ve found myself at a dinner party. The host seems like a normal enough sort, but then the guests start arriving. The first seems to be only interested in the neck of the host. Matters only become stranger when the next guest arrives. He seems to have a problem with his backside that attempts to suck in all those who are nearby.

Eventually, the host turns to the rest of us watching. “Okay, Simone is a vampire. I guess Aaron’s bum is a black hole.”

The rest of the group clap and cheer enthusiastically. Laura is right.

“Shall we play another game of Dinner Party?” asks someone in the group.

“Let’s do it,” says another and a new host exits the room while the rest brainstorm fresh identities for the guests.

This may seem like an unusual evening for most. For ZIP improv group, however, it’s all part of a normal rehearsal.

Let me rewind for a moment to the start of the evening. I’m there to interview the ZIP improv group. A band of young performers who get together regularly to put on improv shows all round Shenzhen. ZIP has kindly allowed me to join in with one of the rehearsals before an upcoming performance.

While waiting to meet Aaron, the group’s English member, I’m left to wonder what to expect from the rehearsal. I must confess that I did not know a great deal about improv apart from a few episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, but I’d heard great things about ZIP from those who had been to their shows and I was eager to experience it for myself.

I imagined it would be a lot like standup comedy, but what I would come to discover is that there is a great deal more to it than that.

I meet Aaron downstairs on the street and together we head up to his colleague Malone’s apartment where the rehearsal is to be held. It’s your normal apartment, but some adjustments have been made for this evening. A large space had been cleared in the center of the living room that would prove important and there was a white board set up with a list of games that I would learn about later. By the window, I noticed a copy of The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual.

Some of the others have already arrived before Aaron and myself, and it’s not long before the apartment fills up with performers. There’s Malone, our welcoming host, along with his cat. Busy writing games on the whiteboard is Laura with Lost Star and Simone stood either side of her making suggestions. Brandi is preparing to warm up with Steven. Arriving fashionably late are Mario and Steve. Finally, there’s Aaron, the group’s token Brit bringing a welcome dose of English comedy.

At that stage, I do start to wonder if this is going to be awkward. After all, it’s a relatively large group of people standing up in front of each other and basically saying the first thing that comes into their heads. Couldn’t it get a bit embarrassing?

After a couple of beers and a few warm-up games though, everyone is relaxed. The games appear to be there to get people loosened up both with speaking and moving. One game involves a call and response of random noises while another is best summed up as a really intense game of tag.

The group is ready to get started and so I take a seat. Despite it being my first time and it was only a rehearsal, rather than a show, I had a great time.

It was funny. In the same way a standup show is funny. There was a fair share of witty comebacks, great one liners, and surreal improvisations.

But it’s not just funny. It’s also fun, and rather exciting too. It’s that sense that whatever is being said or done in that moment is being so for the very first time. Nothing is rehashed. Everything is original.

Furthermore, it’s fascinating to see these people working together. It’s to see them reacting and riffing with each other in the moment.

The games they play are great at getting the most out of the performers. They help throw up the type of crazy scenarios that improv performers thrive in, which in turn, the audience loves.

One such game is Storyteller. This game involves one performer assuming the role of an author typing out their latest novel. Two other performers are then tasked with acting out and adding to what the author creates, and in turn, the author reacts to how the story pans out. It’s a game full of potential for the performers to creatively tie each other up in.

Another equally widely creative game is That’s Not How You. This game can involve the entire group and begins with two performers acting out a scene. The other performers can tag themselves in at any moment. The aim is for them to take something that is said or done and totally twist the context without changing the actual words or action. This game brings some of the biggest laughs of the evening.

But credit where credit is due. As great as the games are, this is one talented bunch of performers. More so, it’s a cast where each person brings their own personality and style to the games.

What really impresses me, or what I really respect, is how passionate each and every one of them is about ZIP. It’s clear that these are people performing for the love of what they do. It’s heartening to see people pursuing their passion for no other motive other than to promote it to a wider audience.

By the end of the rehearsal, I have went from knowing next to nothing about improv to wishing the session didn’t have to end while eagerly awaiting the next show.

Improv is very much an inclusive experience. The performers are open and friendly, the audience is encouraged to get involved, and there is a feeling that everyone is in on the fun. It’s very infectious.

So what are you waiting for? Get involved with the one of the most fun nights you can have in Shenzhen.

For more details on upcoming shows or if you have any other queries about ZIP Improv, you can contact group member Aaron on WeChat (ID: Azzadoc).

If you’re thinking to yourself ‘Wow, this sounds interesting. I need to check these guys out’, then you are in luck! Don’t miss their upcoming Back to School show September 15th, 20:00 at Feliz Bar & Restaurant, Futian!