<![CDATA[Comments on: Counterfeit Money and Driving in China]]> Dear Amber, we give you tips on how to spot counterfeit bills in China. Also, what's driving like on the mean streets of China? We hear right from a brave soul who takes on the streets of Shanghai, map in hand and GPS-free. Come leave your experiences too in the comments section!]]> 2008-11-07 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Well done Amber;with the recent Intermediate lesson on Counterfeit money I thought most things would have been already discussed in the comments section.But not at all;it was still very interesting and entertaining.Rip..oh yeah ;it was real ;too bad.I wonder if they'd accept it if the note was taped back together.Probably not the vendors by the sounds of it ;but the banks would have to you'd think.

Very funny re offering a 20kuai bribe for a 10 kuai fine.lol.yeah;good deal.I love the way you ask all the relevent questions that we'd want answered when you discuss a topic.Can't get enough of this show.

]]> Well done Amber;with the recent Intermediate lesson on Counterfeit money I thought most things would have been already discussed in the comments section.But not at all;it was still very interesting and entertaining.Rip..oh yeah ;it was real ;too bad.I wonder if they'd accept it if the note was taped back together.Probably not the vendors by the sounds of it ;but the banks would have to you'd think.

Very funny re offering a 20kuai bribe for a 10 kuai fine.lol.yeah;good deal.I love the way you ask all the relevent questions that we'd want answered when you discuss a topic.Can't get enough of this show.

]]> <![CDATA[By: architpol]]> One thing I found interesting about driving in China is that there is a visible timer to countdown the wait at Red Lights.  This gives those already anxious drivers an even better opportunity to jump the red when it gets close to zero.  That can lead to bad things when the other guys are of course trying to get through the "yellow" at the last second.

]]> One thing I found interesting about driving in China is that there is a visible timer to countdown the wait at Red Lights.  This gives those already anxious drivers an even better opportunity to jump the red when it gets close to zero.  That can lead to bad things when the other guys are of course trying to get through the "yellow" at the last second.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> architpol,

That reminds me of the pedestrian walk signals at lights in Taiwan.It would also give a countdown and as it got closer to zero the animation of the person walking would get faster.Very funny.Had to hurry if you wanted to avoid being a live version of frogger.

]]> architpol,

That reminds me of the pedestrian walk signals at lights in Taiwan.It would also give a countdown and as it got closer to zero the animation of the person walking would get faster.Very funny.Had to hurry if you wanted to avoid being a live version of frogger.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> I found a vid of Taiwan pedestrian lights:

]]> I found a vid of Taiwan pedestrian lights:

]]> <![CDATA[By: jimoya]]> 淮海路 (Huai hai3 lu4) in Shanghai.

signboards in Shanghai

 

 

 

]]> 淮海路 (Huai hai3 lu4) in Shanghai.

signboards in Shanghai

 

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[By: laodie]]> The raised printing on chinese bills is from the same process used to print US currency. The process is called intaglio ( 凹版, ao1 ban3). Use Google to get an explaination. Newer bills all have intaglio features. For example, the ten yuan bill has 12 marks shaped like hocky sticks to the right of Mao's portrait. The 100 yuan bill has circular dots, almost like the bing on a Mah Jhong pai. All of the bills have raised printing on collar of Mao's jacket. Most taxi drivers can feel these features in the dark. They only have to turn on the light for older bills.

I always save the 发票 fa1piao3 from the taxi. The one time I received a counterfeit 50 yuan note from a driver, the concierge at my hotel called the company and got my bill replaced. Of course, the hotel has some clout with the taxi companies. It did not hurt that the company involved was 大众 da4 zhong4. I've always thought of them as the best taxi company in Shanghai.

]]> The raised printing on chinese bills is from the same process used to print US currency. The process is called intaglio ( 凹版, ao1 ban3). Use Google to get an explaination. Newer bills all have intaglio features. For example, the ten yuan bill has 12 marks shaped like hocky sticks to the right of Mao's portrait. The 100 yuan bill has circular dots, almost like the bing on a Mah Jhong pai. All of the bills have raised printing on collar of Mao's jacket. Most taxi drivers can feel these features in the dark. They only have to turn on the light for older bills.

I always save the 发票 fa1piao3 from the taxi. The one time I received a counterfeit 50 yuan note from a driver, the concierge at my hotel called the company and got my bill replaced. Of course, the hotel has some clout with the taxi companies. It did not hurt that the company involved was 大众 da4 zhong4. I've always thought of them as the best taxi company in Shanghai.

]]> <![CDATA[By: tony104]]> Great info on what to look for in counterfeit money.  I am planning to visit China in the near future.  Hopefully I will not get any fake money but at least now I have a better idea what to look for

]]> Great info on what to look for in counterfeit money.  I am planning to visit China in the near future.  Hopefully I will not get any fake money but at least now I have a better idea what to look for

]]> <![CDATA[By: xuchen]]> Amber，

I feel your pain about the coins and paper issue in Beijing, I have stopped in Beijing before just for a few hours. Wanted to buy some snacks and was turned down due to "coinage".. *sigh*..

Tracy,

It was interesting hearing your story about driving in China. Do you speak Chinese? Are you Chinese? It sounds like you handled all of those situations in a native Chinese fashion. Also, I know if a foreigner is in a traffic accident they can expect to get completly creamed by fines and charges, even from the police. It sounds like you escaped unharmed? What is your secret?

-许尘

]]> Amber，

I feel your pain about the coins and paper issue in Beijing, I have stopped in Beijing before just for a few hours. Wanted to buy some snacks and was turned down due to "coinage".. *sigh*..

Tracy,

It was interesting hearing your story about driving in China. Do you speak Chinese? Are you Chinese? It sounds like you handled all of those situations in a native Chinese fashion. Also, I know if a foreigner is in a traffic accident they can expect to get completly creamed by fines and charges, even from the police. It sounds like you escaped unharmed? What is your secret?

-许尘

]]> <![CDATA[By: maoxian]]> Tracy was a great guest (another cute Canadian?) and gave a highly accurate account of driving here, especially the part about getting road rage, "um, yeah, you know, occasionally... like every time I drive."  :-)  

]]> Tracy was a great guest (another cute Canadian?) and gave a highly accurate account of driving here, especially the part about getting road rage, "um, yeah, you know, occasionally... like every time I drive."  :-)  

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Talking of crime and also putting things through the wash reminds me of a funny scene from "Two hands" the Aussie black comedy that shot Heath Ledger onto the national stage.It's a long clip so I'll just give the url which is:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=DWFqULMIy7s

or just click here.

The part of the scene I'm referring to starts at 8m 20secs.

]]> Talking of crime and also putting things through the wash reminds me of a funny scene from "Two hands" the Aussie black comedy that shot Heath Ledger onto the national stage.It's a long clip so I'll just give the url which is:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=DWFqULMIy7s

or just click here.

The part of the scene I'm referring to starts at 8m 20secs.

]]>