Would love to take part in this - am in BJ for pretty much all of august - would be great to meet people that seem to have so much good advice to give about Beijing.

Also anything that involves booze is a plus.

Let's try to settle on a date. I seem to be in BJ around 2/3 of the time these days and my schedule is flexible enough that I have the ability to commit to specific dates ~2 weeks out (all days of the week in play). However, since that is not the case for some of the rest, I would appreciate if someone else took the lead in this respect. That having been said, I will throw out 8/6 as a (new) starting point.

China Ambassadors "China Mega DO"
Spring 2012

3 nights Beijing
2 nights Shanghai

High Speed Rail Experience
........


SO TRUE
China vs. America: Which Is the Developing Country?

Recently I flew from Los Angeles to China to attend a corporate board-of-directors meeting in Shanghai, as well as customer and government visits there and in Beijing. After the trip was over, in thinking about the United States and China, it was not clear to me which is the developed, and which is the developing, country........

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...googlenews_wsj

Why not October? Better weather, and we'd all get a chance to meet one of our most frequent posters (who is setting off on a 17 day trip).

But, I don't think a "mega do" is in our cards; do you realize that those "mega do" people hire professional speakers to attend those things, and that there is a strong preference for "no visa required" countries? I think it's best if we stick to the "gathering" idea.

On second thought, iirc I saw a "Shanghai Do" thread several months ago. If that actually happens, I will try to attend... and bring all those worthy up to the capital for some real cultural experiences.

In the meantime, if any of you guys simply want to get together and banter, I am game.

under the "community board" there is a thread for a 2011 China Do. Date selected is 11-14 November in Shanghai.

I expressed an interest in showing up, however, elderly Mom has travel preference for Taiwan this fall. I would be her companion and our plans are still unsettled. ... wait and see.

Why not October? Better weather, and we'd all get a chance to meet one of our most frequent posters (who is setting off on a 17 day trip).

October does have the best weather, but not enough time to plan a Mega-DO.

But, I don't think a "mega do" is in our cards; do you realize that those "mega do" people hire professional speakers to attend those things,

Gary Locke would be about a 5 minute cab ride away from where the FT
members would be staying.

there is a strong preference for "no visa required" countries?

A lot will be using miles to get free tickets, so it costs $140 for
a visa...thats incidental.

I was listening to some online radio the other day from the US, and the host just visited Beijing. His exact words, "Beijing shouts capitalism while America does not." I think he was taken aback from all the high rises and bank buildings.

I was chatting with some of my expat friends about this same topic a few days ago. IMO, in 1978, America was 1000 times "better" than China, whereas now it's only 10 times better. Basically, �美国的月亮比较圆� remains applicable. Without exception, my foreign guests are always eager to return to their home countries after their exhausting trips to China

While the gap is closing fast, issues like "free speech" and "clean air" will continue to keep the USA in the lead, even if only by a hair, for the foreseeable future.

IMHO a "DO" either in Beijing or Shanghai, possibly inbetween is only possible at a venue where someone knows the hosts personally.

China doesn't work like Europe or the US and even tangible commercial gains might not be enough to ensure a smooth gathering if no strong guanxi present.

Therefore, although my Chinese "home" is in the Yangtze delta and grudgingly also in Shanghai, I'd opt for Beijing if f.ex moondog could pull a few strings there...There is such a huge difference in China if the personal relationship comes into play.

Just moved to Beijing this week, and still putting up in the JW Marriott while everything gets sorted out - would love to meet up with other FTers anytime

Makes sense, not easy to see when the sky is filled with fly ash.

This is very true, if you are only visiting Shanghai, Beijing and other big cities on your trips to China and being catered on around town as a Microsoft VP surely is. If he were to venture into the countryside or to cities like Liaoyang or Yinchuan I'm sure that he'd be happy to be able to return to the USA.

China is getting much better, and I'm happy to be moving back after a 1 year hiatus in the states, but people who compare China favorably with the US or Europe generally only visit the tier one cities when the country of China has 900 million people living in some pretty harsh, albeit greatly improving, conditions.

The author of the article also seems to be tacitly arguing that a dictatorship that puts out 5 year plans may be better than what we've got in the US. We are messed up here, but I think we should be looking to places like Canada and Germany for answers on how to restore our political system rather than China.

Since I'm back in China soon and interested to meet some people from this forum I'm excited about this proposed get together...

Even in the countryside. I doubt you would see what's common
on the streets of downtown LA.

http://media.nowpublic.net/images//c...9673bfff38.jpg

A popular tourist destination:

Skid Row is the nation's homeless capital with 4,000 people wandering the 50-square block area, located in Downtown. People are forced to camp outside in dirty tents and cardboard boxes as shelters are overflowing

Even for the royals

Hey, still remember this from the dinner we had at that Indian restaurant in Jing An. Most of my Chinese friends don't think this is true, though there is a hidden concession to it as well.

If this is an issue, I have no problem at all exploiting my relationship with the Cap Ren. It doesn't matter if we have 2 people or 200.

I'm thinking we should choose a date during Susie's BJ stay (mid October).