The December issue of That's PRD is out now – paper-and-ink-form citywide, digital and web version at the bottom of this post!
People who think a New York minute is fast have clearly never lived in China. In the blink of an eye another year has gone by, bringing with it all kinds of marvelous and moronic news and events, from the extraordinary mobile phone revolution to a certain 22-year-old swimmer’s magnificent abdominals. With so much taking place all the time, you could be forgiven for forgetting the annum’s biggest headlines. To help jog the little grey cells, we’ve compiled the technology, arts, fashion and sports stories that defined 2015, plus the top online items that sent netizens into a typing frenzy (p12).
For me personally, this year marked the third That’s PRD Food and Drink Awards I’ve had the privilege to preside over. While it’s common to hear the refrain ‘better than ever before,’ this year truly was our most fabulous soiree yet. Everybody who attended the circus-themed ceremony had a blast socializing with the F&B creme de la creme – even those evidencing a mild fear of the roving clowns. Of course, it’s hard to go wrong with free-flow alcohol when you’ve got a ballroom full of heavy (or, more diplomatically, hearty) drinkers. Turn to p43 to discover who took home our coveted accolades under the big top.
Mindfulness. It’s a good subject for the New Year, when we’re meant to ponder our shortcomings in the past 12 months and make plans to fix our foibles. Lest we forget, China is the nation that gave birth to the I Ching, the ultimate self-help book – in another reality, we might all have found ourselves consulting it for daily guidance (at least according to seminal author Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle). Somewhat ironically, the art of introspection is now becoming a very profitable business here, as we reveal on p26.
In addition, this issue we’ve also explored the exotic beaches of tiny island nation Palau (p32), interviewed the band who are uniting modernity and tradition through electric guqin (p38), picked out our Christmas fashion favorites (p30) and careened down a mountain with the man who’s hoping to make downhill biking the next big thing in Guangdong (p52).
I’m often asked by new arrivals to Shenzhen what That’s PRD is all about. As I reflect on that question right now, I’m struck that the easiest way to explain would be to show them this editor’s note. That’s PRD is partly about discussing the dizzying changes taking place in China. It’s also about introducing places to eat and drink and party. Then again, it’s also about musicians and artists, fashion and travel, sports and activities.
In short, we try to strike a balance between numerous different topics, in order to offer the broadest view possible of South China and its many eccentricities and wonders.
Here’s to continuing that mission for many years to come.
> Guangzhou: Download the December issue of That's PRD here, or view it in your browser with Issuu here. To download previous issues, click here.
> Shenzhen: Download the December issue of That's PRD here, or view it in your browser with Issuu here. To download previous issues, click here.
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