The Nanfang / Blog

Guangdong Has China’s Very Own Celebrity Rehab Center

Posted: 06/27/2014 9:46 am

huizhou drug rehab When celebrity Chinese TV writer Ning Caishen, aka Chen Wanning and creator of the popular TV comedy My Own Swordsman (武林外传), and director Zhang Yuan were both caught doing drugs, we figured that they may soon be going to rehab to clean themselves up. Fortunately there’s a place that caters to people just like them: the rich, powerful, and famous — and addicted to drugs.

After news of the two celebrity arrests broke yesterday, Yangcheng Evening News reported that Huizhou “conveniently” houses one of the most luxurious rehab centers for celebrities, entrepreneurs and government officials, the Huizhou Luofushan Patient’s Rehabilitation Center.

Founded in 1992 and boasting a European-style resort decor, the center charges up to RMB 68,000 for a 20 day stay, and includes meals, medication and most importantly, privacy. Because let’s be honest, for celebrities, officials or cash-strapped entrepreneurs, a drug scandal is probably not the kind of attention they want to attract.

huizhou drug rehab

To meet the needs of its high-end clientele, the owner of the rehab center spent RMB 30 million on its renovation in 2013 to turn it into “the most luxurious rehab center” in the Pearl River Delta. Offering a limited 70 king-sized beds with TV and air conditioning, the center charges a minimum of RMB 7,000 per day including meals and medication, the report said.

READ: Drug Crimes by Foreigners in China Up 17%,
Guangdong a Particular Problem

Some of the patients at the rehab center consider it another stop on the party train. Patient Zhang Long (a pseudonym), told a reporter in 2013 while smoking a cigarette:

We’re not allowed to hit the bars or go hang out with our friends. Instead, all we can do is talk with fellow patients about our our “glory days”. I used to be somebody important, made a lot of money, had a lot of friends. Right now, they’re still probably still having fun.

June 26 marked the symbolically-important “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”. With a high-profile crackdown on drugs currently making the rounds in China, Zhang Yuan and Ning Caishen could be expecting company.

We could soon have a Chinese version of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.

Here are some more photos of the Huizhou rehab center:

huizhou drug rehabhuizhou drug rehab

READ: Drug Sting At Hotel in Guangzhou Nets 10 Foreigners

huizhou drug rehab

huizhou drug rehabhuizhou drug rehab

READ: Drug-Riddled Guangdong Town Presents Challenge to Police

huizhou drug rehabhuizhou drug rehab

Related:

Photos: huizhou.home77

Haohao

Revamped Highway to Connect Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Huizhou

Posted: 06/10/2014 4:41 pm

A revamped highway designed to improve transportation across Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Huizhou will officially open tomorrow, reports Southern Metropolis Daily.

The former Shenzhen-Huizhou 3A and 3B roads have been optimized into the “Shenzhen-Huizhou 3 Line”.

The Shenzhen-Huizhou 3 Line will connect the main traffic artery at Ruyi Road, Longgang District in Shenzhen with Longfeng Boulevard in Fenggang, Dongguan as well as integrating itself from Huiyang, Huizhou all the way to coastal areas on the east side of Shenzhen that include Kuiyong/Kwai Chung, Dapeng, Nan’ao, and Pingshan.

The highway will connect a large number of passenger transfer stations. They include: Qiuchangbai Bus Terminal in Huiyang, Kengzi Street Office, Guohuikang in Pingshan, Wuzhoulong, Shimao Department Store, Longgan Central Bus Terminal, Huangge Cuifan, Yantian Customs, Pinghu Bus Terminal, Foxconn, Huawei, Vanke City, Sakata Private Market, Meilin Joint Inspection Station, and Shenzhen North Station.

Also opening tomorrow will be the “Shenzhen-Huizhou 3 Line Seaside Line”. This new highway will serve Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Huizhou and five surrounding counties, and is integrated with current Shenzhen transportation routes.

Photo: Dongguan Times 

Haohao

Old Man Beaten to Death on Camera by Two Men in Huizhou

Posted: 06/6/2014 9:45 am

A garbage recycler in his 60s was beaten to death by two men in a residential building in Huizhou. No one came to the man’s assistance despite the presence of a security camera and security guards watching the feed.

The tragic incident took place on May 28 after 10:40pm in the hallway leading to the garage. Two men, who had arguments over garbage collection with the old man, ran into the victim in the hallway and left nothing to explanation by immediately beating him. Even when the old man collapsed onto the ground, the two men are still seen kicking him, Guangdong TV reported.

All three men were collecting garbage and plastic bottles for money in the building.

The old man as seen in the video was almost powerless: cornered into the end of the hallway by the two menacing and much-younger men, the old man did not strike back at all. According to the security camera footage, the beating lasted at least a minute and a half. When the old man’s family arrived on the scene, he was found lying on the ground with his head covered in blood, and blood dripping from his mouth and nose. When the doctors arrived, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

What most angered Ms Deng, the victim’s daughter, is the fact the assault was fully recorded by a CCTV camera located right above the hallway where the beating happened. It was watched by the security guards, but no one had come to stop the violence. When interviewed for the TV report, one of the security guards claimed they stopped the two suspects outside of the hallway after the beating, and called for police and medical assistance.

The two men were arrested by the police.

Home page and content page images: Guangdong TV

Haohao

Cute Girl Kills, Dismembers Cat Because She’s Angry at Her Parents

Posted: 05/29/2014 6:36 pm

li pingping cat killer animal abuse cruelty outrage

[This story contains content that some readers may find upsetting and disturbing]

This is Li Pingping. She lives in Huizhou, Guangdong. Pingping cruelly killed and dismembered a cat and then shared it on Weibo (uncensored photos here, here and here—DO NOT CLICK, you don’t need to see them, just know that they are extremely cruel and horrific)li pingping cat killer animal abuse cruelty outrage

The pictures of her cruelly tortured and dead cat were posted online along with these words:

This is [what I did to] the ‘Duke’ that I raised myself. It’s the hatred that I have for those men and women sons of bitches, what [I feel] for my father and that cheap cunt

Li wanted to express anger with her family, especially towards her father and stepmother. But she didn’t get any sympathy online. Instead, people called her “insane” and “out of her mind”.

Li had only had the cat for two weeks before she brutally killed it. She also showed no remorse.

li pingping cat killer animal abuse cruelty outrage

I was drunk that night, and then afterwards I wanted to help give it a bath! It wasn’t intentional!!!! I’m very regretful over it!

 

A lot of things that don’t happen to us is that which we don’t personally experience, and so we can’t easily determine for ourselves who is right, and who is wrong. Many people would not consider being empathetic. If I was him/her and in that kind of environment, what would I do?

Finally on May 26, after having deleted all of her Weibo content right up to the beginning of May, Li posted a letter on her account. It says:

On May 23, I did something that I am very regretful of: I took my little cat’s life. This raised a tempest online and for two days I wasn’t able to eat or sleep. That’s right, netizens criticized and schooled me until I got afraid all over. My restless heart and morality now bears the burden of this guilt. Misfortune to my family and incidents brought on by alcohol have led to this reckless action. These past three days I’ve read the comments made by other users, and then my heart became even more afraid, and so I sank to become even more self-critical. Right now, I realize that the actions that I can’t take back are evil. Not only have I harmed Duke, but I have trespassed upon the humanity by which people treat animals! I have decided not to run away (from my problems), I have to face head-on the mistakes I have made. And so I say to Duke and to society: I’m sorry, I was wrong!

We’re not sure what to make of his letter, so we’ll try to remember Duke in the best way that she was treated under Li’s care: on its very first day with Li back on May 10.

li pingping cat killer

李萍萍let_go:
Decided to get a cat! My own kitty! Hee hee! [sleepyface.emo] Good night!

Photos: Weibo (1, 2)

Haohao

Rain Continues to Fall Mercilessly on the PRD, Shenzhen Issues Red Alert [UPDATE]

Posted: 05/20/2014 2:21 pm

UPDATE 2: 4:22pm, May 2014. A post from the Shenzhen police Weibo tells us the areas facing the highest risk from the storm are the districts of Bao’an, Longgang, Longhua, Guangming New Town, Pingshan New Town, and Dapeng New Town. Police tells everyone to be vigilant and exert cautionshenzhen red alert rain weather

UPDATE 1: 3:06pm, May 20, 2014. Shenzhen has just issued a red alert weather warning. As a result, protocol states that middle and elementary schools are now closed, workers are discouraged from going to work, and delays are to be expected for public transportation.

***

As Dongguan issued a rain alert earlier today and the forecast calls for precipitation to last until Friday, the mounting costs of a this past week’s torrential rain is estimated at RMB 205 million and at least two fatalities.

The Guangdong Provincial Ministry of Civil Affairs has reported the storm and flooding is responsible for two deaths and one missing person. The victims include an eight-month pregnant woman who was washed away in a landslide when it destroyed her home in Pingshan New District, Shenzhen.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs reports the rain has affected a large area of Guangdong since it began on May 15 including the six cities of Shenzhen, Shaoguan, Meizhou, Shanwei, Qingyuan, and Yunfu. Twelve counties and 52 villages have also been hit by flooding of varying degrees.

As of 5pm on May 19, Guangdong had a total of 100,200 people affected by the storm, in which 17,800 people were evacuated. 131 buildings have collapsed, and 6,300 square kilometers of crops have been affected.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou was hit hard with rain on Sunday before noon when 50mm fell within an hour. An accumulation of 400mm was recorded in Tianhe District and caused a 3km-long traffic jam.

The rain in Huizhou has affected some 10,000 residents and is said to have caused eight landslides. 428mm of precipitation was recorded in the 24 hour period before 6am on May 18.

A weather forecast for Guangzhou says that rain will continue everyday this week until Friday, but that lightning will cease after today.

Photo: Al Jazeera, Shenzhen Police via Weibo

Haohao

Huizhou Floods After 4 Hours of Torrential Rain [PHOTOS]

Posted: 05/16/2014 8:53 pm

huizhou flooding rain fall guangdongHeavy rain in the city of Huizhou caused flooding throughout the city after four hours of continued precipitation this afternoon, reported Guangzhou Daily.

Cars at E’ling Bridge were reported to be submerged up to their rooftops as traffic and public transportation were affected.

Firefighters attempting to pump out flooded areas were no match for the influx of rain water. Many parents took children out of school as a precaution.

huizhou flooding rain fall guangdonghuizhou flooding rain fall guangdonghuizhou flooding rain fall guangdonghuizhou flooding rain fall guangdonghuizhou flooding rain fall guangdonghuizhou flooding rain fall guangdonghuizhou flooding rain fall guangdongPhotos: Guangzhou Daily via Weibo, Shenzhen Police via Weibo

Haohao

Zhuhai Most Livable City in China, PRD Cities Among Most Competitive

Posted: 05/14/2014 12:03 pm

zhuhai balconyZhuhai readers of the Nanfang may have trouble reading this on their balconies as the glare of the sun reflects off a shining ocean of topaz, but here goes: you live in the most livable city in China.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) has released a report that put Zhuhai ahead of Hong Kong for the first time as China’s most livable city. Rounding out the top three on the list is Haikou in Hainan Province; fellow Pearl River Delta city Shenzhen came in at the number six position.

Compiled from a list of 294 cities, the CASS determines the ranking based upon factors such as house price-to-income ratio, environment and ecology.

In another CASS report that ranks cities in terms of competitiveness, Hong Kong ranks first in China as determined by its living conditions, city harmony, cultural competitiveness, and its ability to be economically competitive.

As if to make up for not being represented enough on the previous list, PRD cities are all over this one: Shenzhen is named as the second most competitive city in China while Guangzhou is listed at number five, Foshan at number nine, and Macau at number ten.

Zhuhai was recently named at the top of a list of Chinese cities with the best air quality in a report made by the Environmental Protection Agency. Along with Shenzhen, Zhuhai was listed among six cities to score a perfect 100% record of clean days during the entire year.

But then, it may be a given that local residents know their air quality is sublime. The breeze is so crisp in Zhuhai that they flew the world’s largest kite there, and then did it again this year as though to subtly hint that such a record can’t be bested in the limpid, stale smog of the north.

Telling someone to “go fly a kite” may not be construed as a testament to urban air quality, so we’re told by the WSJ of the other reasons why Zhuhai is China’s most livable city:

Factors such as a large proportion of college students, a variety of dining and shopping venues and ample green space gave the city its edge, says Ni Pengfei, the director of the academy’s Center for City and Competitiveness.

Zhuhai: China’s answer to Fort Lauderdale. “Spring Break” will finally receive the proper Western meaning it has been lacking all along.

Related:

Photo: typepad

Haohao

Negotiations, Chinese-Style: Huizhou Man Threatens Suicide with Noose Around Neck

Posted: 04/29/2014 4:32 pm

boluo cow farmer jumper attempted suicide attention

Ye Deming climbed to the top of a 50m high crane yesterday at 9.30am to complain the road to his illegal farm in Luoyang township, Boluo county near Huizhou was blocked. Ye’s cows are starving from not getting any food for eight days.

After negotiations with city representatives, Ye came down from the crane on his own volition at 12.05pm, and was taken into custody.

A representative for Boluo county said Ye’s farm is in an illegal zone, is full of contaminants, and has received numerous complaints from residents.

Guangdong province has been the location for many people that have sought to gain attention for their grievances through the use of attempted suicide, usually from a tall location from which many people can see you. The Guangzhou government recently passed a law that would harshly penalize such “petition jumpers“ who usually act this way out of desperation from being denied justice from a justice system.

Photo: Nandu

Haohao

Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Zhongshan: Chinese Cities With Cleanest Air

Posted: 04/29/2014 12:45 pm

zhuhai airResidents of the Pearl River Delta have long known this, but here’s the news to make it official: some of the cleanest cities in China to live are located right here in the PRD.

A report released by the Environmental Protection Ministry has named the Guangdong municipalities of Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Huizhou, and Zhongshan in a list of cities in China that have the best air quality.

The March report is a current list made of 74 cities in China that include areas of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei tri-provincial area; the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl river delta, and also first-tier cities and provincial capitals around the country.

While other Chinese cities around the country only had an average of 62.3% of days in a year that conformed with environmental safety standards, Shenzhen and Zhuhai were among six cities to have a perfect 100% record of clean days during the entire year.

You can probably breathe the difference yourself, but here’s the statistical breakdown: The PRD had an average last year of 87.4% of days that conformed to environmental air quality regulations, while the average of days last year that exceeded environmental standards was 12.6%. The Pearl River Delta only had an average of “seriously polluted” days at 0.4%, and had none whatsoever of “very serious” days.

Breathe easy: The PRD is doing great when compared with only 35.1% of days that conformed to environmental standards for the tri-provincial area of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei.

If it worries you upon hearing the leading cause of death in Guangzhou is lung cancer, here’s the full list of China’s cleanest cities to which you can make your move:

  1. Haikou, Hainan Province
  2. Lhasa, Tibet Automonous Region
  3. Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province
  4. Zhuhai, Guangdong Province
  5. Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
  6. Huizhou, Guangdong Province
  7. Guiyang, Guizhou Province
  8. Nanchang, Jiangxi Province
  9. Zhongshan, Guangdong Province
  10. Nanning, Guangxi Province

Photo: CNR

Haohao

Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou to Share Extended Subway Network

Posted: 04/14/2014 3:26 pm

The proposed inter-provincial transportation system announced last year that will connect the three cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou is promising to provide trips of only 60 minutes in length to commuters riding two trains under ideal circumstances.

The Guangdong Provincial Transportation Department announced its proposal up for ratification on April 11 that will unify the separate cities of the Pearl River Delta into a singular urban amalgamation. The proposal also outlines how a trip from one transportation hub to another should only take 30 minutes, and how the network will be extensive enough to allow commuters to walk to any downtown core area from a subway station in just 15 minutes.

Scheduled to be completed in 2030, the ambitious plan will see Shenzhen establish two subway lines to Huizhou, and another three to Dongguan.  The entire subway network will consist of three north-south lines, four east-west lines, and a subsidiary line in addition to new road and railway network that would see commuters travelling from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in one hour’s time.

Things do sound good in theory, though we’ve seen that things put into practice aren’t as ideal. The Shenzhen-Xiamen high-speed rail which broke down in a tunnel recently was touted to last only three hours, whereas it now journeys for four. Still, commuters are able at present to enjoy features like surfing free internet to pass the time as others drop the gloves, their civility  or a diamond deuce.

Photo: Nandu

Haohao
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