Either my phone has given up trying to understand Shenzhen weather or someone is playing a bad prank on me. If you are, stop it. Stop it right now.
A comparison of last week's and this week's weather in Shenzhen
The new Yahoo weather app is beautiful. It's also dreadfully wrong.
It's been pouring rain the last 30 minutes. You wouldn't know it from looking at Yahoo's weather app. Beautiful weather app though.
Drifting in the rain
Golden Port Circuit, Beijing.
Scary
Sinkhole kills one in Shenzhen near my home
Scary
It rained in Shenzhen for three days straight prior to my departure from the city on Wednesday. This is the result:
A massive sinkhole apparently brought on by heavy rain opened up in Shezhen, China, swallowing a security guard alive and causing nearby residents to evacuate. Yang Jiabin, 25, was walking in the Futian district near new construction yesterday afternoon when the ground gave way beneath him, opening into a 26 foot-wide, 52 foot-deep crater; despite the quick arrival of rescue workers, he reportedly died on-scene.
Futian is the district I live in. Scary.
By the way, why does it seem so difficult for foreign journalists to correct spell 'Shenzhen?' Roughly half of the news articles I read about my city misspell its name.
Isn't this supposed to be winter?
I'm in my sandals and shorts today.
Snow on the coast.
Today's Big Stories for January 6, 2012
Snow on the coast.
China's coldest winter, China's tennis winner, the world's longest subway, the world's auto-manufacturing gateway.
1. Brrr! China's Coldest Winter In Decades at New Low
The state-run, English-language China Daily reported Friday that about 1,000 ships were stuck in ice in Laizhou Bay in eastern China's Bohai Sea.
Winter hasn't fully arrived in Shenzhen. Guess most of the cold is being deposited farther north.
2. China's Li beats Zakopalova in Shenzhen final
Chinese star Li Na captured her seventh career title and second on home soil when she beat Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 on Saturday in the Shenzhen Open final.
Missed it.
3. World’s longest subway system boosts China’s public transport push
China on Saturday came out with a new policy to boost usage of public transport, days after the capital, Beijing, put into operation four subway lines — with a combined length of 70 km — whose addition makes the sprawling 16-line Beijing subway system the world’s longest.
The extended Line 10 is a monster. It might not be the most condensed metro system in the world, but boy is it long.
4. China projected to build more cars than Europe in 2013
Financial Times reports China may build more vehicles than
Europe next year for the first time in the history of the automotive industry. All told, manufacturers in China are projected to produce 19.6 million light vehicles this year compared to the 18.3 million slated to be built in Europe.
Interesting.
This might be the bluest sky I've ever seen in China
Today is beautiful. This might not be a big deal in other places around the world, like Italy (I know Luca, I know) but it's a big deal here.
Shixia, Shenzhen
Something tells me it's about to rain
Denver, Colorado
Today's Big Stories for July 23, 2012
Contaminated baby formula, South Chinese Sea island disputes, and Beijing flooding.
1 . Carcinogen Found in Chinese Baby Formula
A month after large batches of Chinese baby formula were found to contain dangerous levels of mercury, state media outlets reported Monday that the authorities have discovered more shipments of contaminated formula, this time poisoned with a cancer-causing toxin.
Chinese babies can't seem to catch a break.
2. China Plans to Put Garrison on Disputed South China Sea Island
China will establish a military garrison on a disputed island in the South China Sea, part of an increased assertiveness in the resource-rich waters that’s straining ties with nations in the region and the U.S.
3. Flash Floods Swamp Chinese Capital, Killing 37
A severe rainstorm pounded Beijing on Saturday, flooding roads and low-lying buildings, knocking out power in several neighborhoods and killing 37 people, according to state-media reports. More than 500 flights were canceled or delayed at the Beijing airport, stranding tens of thousands after the heaviest rain in 61 years fell on the Chinese capital. By Sunday the waters had largely subsided, the rainfall having scoured the city streets and temporarily clearing out Beijing’s notorious air pollution.
Beijing suffers worst rain in 60 years - flooding ensues
I'm glad my father was back in Denver and not in Beijing at the time. At least 37 are dead and thousands displaced. Let's just say residents aren't happy.
How bad was it? There's this from Natalie, a web editor at City Weekend Magazine:
Cut to Saturday morning, when upon waking up I threw open my curtains and was met with some of the worst pollution I’ve seen in months. Because those gross particles are rather heavy, I knew it was only a matter of time before the sky opened up. I got pretty soaked in a brief lunchtime downpour, which led me to stock up on food and retreat to my apartment to wait for the main event.
Starting around 3pm, my neighborhood was absolutely slammed with sheets of rain, howling wind, thunder and lightning. I went into my kitchen to cook dinner around 7:30, and decided to take a peek out the window to see how the street was faring. Answer: not very well. The photo at left (very poor quality, with apologies) is of a car floating by.
Floating
Wow. I lived in Beijing for one year and experienced rain so bad that certain streets started to flood but I don't remember cars floating by.
Japan's only a few hours flight away. Maybe this winter...
Late night BBQ
Was raining last night, so the little BBQ guy by my apartment and his diners moved under the highway overpass.
Shixia, Shenzhen
The streets are starting to flood
Hope I make it home. It's poring rain.
Futian, Shenzhen
Pool (birthday) party in the rain
It's been raining for 4+ hours since I arrived. In Denver, thunder means you get out of the pool as soon as possible. In Shenzhen, apparently thunder means you cheer really loud and keep on swimming. I got out of the pool anyway (Pavlovian response). Maybe it's because there are tall towers everywhere, where as the Denver suburban area is flatter and lightning has a higher chance of striking swimming pools.
Nanshan, Shenzhen
Beautiful Aston Martin DB9 in the rain
Futian, Shenzhen