Hao Hao ReportThe best China news and blog posts

John Pomfret points out that it is soccer which really matters to Chinese sports fans, not the Olympics.

John at Sinosplice sums up the excitement of living in China by sharing a story about visiting New York City for Millennium New Year's.

"The main lobby was magnificent, and it was swarming with commuters. It was at this point that Dave told us about his game.

?This is how you play,? he told us. ?Just run, and don?t stop. Keep changing directions so that you don?t hit anyone. It?s a blast!?

?Wait, what?? I started. But Dave had already shot off straight into the crowd. Alex and I quickly followed suit."

John, of Sinosplice/Chinesepod/ChinaBlogList fame, has hit the big time. Watch out Da Shan, John's more likable and (according to his limited female readership-and mom) much more handsome.

On his own blog John hits on a point about profiles like this and how Chinese English-language media are always gunning to get us laowai "in a corner" and interview us. I applaud John for getting in a good quote or two that don't just "sell up" China and Chinese culture.

5 Non-Signs of Things to Come

Why is it that artists have to die in order for their greatness to be recognized? Pan Yuliang is one such artist who's work is now being exhibited at the China National Art Gallery in Beijing.

The first post of a series of interviews we're doing at Lost Laowai focusing on prolific bloggers in the English-language China blogsphere. To start things off we turned to blogger and ChinesePod host John Pasden.

John over at Sinosplice hasn't found the solution to the YouTube block, but he's got a pretty darn good alternative - Stage6. According to John, though it doesn't have the numbers, Stage6 does have higher quality and faster download times.

Check out the post for a few links to some Stage6 videos about China.

I have a feeling those who in favor of free trade, which does bring a heavy benefit to China and has helped sustain its burgeoning economy, will be supporting John McCain this November. If Obama does end up being protectionist, it won’t help China.

Blogger Matthew Stinson gets some advice from Sinosplice's John Pasden and fellow Shanghai expat Micah Sittig on some must-see and must-do things when visiting Shanghai for the first time.