Steven (of LLW and Sinobytes renown) sent me an e-mail yesterday that has been make its way from Chinese inbox to Chinese inbox in an expedient fashion. I thought it was hilarious, and a some what rare opportunity to get a peek at the Chinese taking the piss at their own expense. Below is not the complete e-mail with photos, but the majority of it — organized into slightly more coherent groupings. By far my favourite is the photo captioned “上海资源丰富，请随便享用” — the first image in the “Water Fountains” section. Let it never be said that the Chinese are devoid of sarcasm. 主题: 对不起,我们丢脸了 / Subject: Sorry, we’ve lost face. See the images, with explanations, after the jump.

Steven (of LLW and Sinobytes renown) sent me an e-mail yesterday that has been make its way from Chinese inbox to Chinese inbox in an expedient fashion. I thought it was hilarious, and a some what rare opportunity to get a peek at the Chinese taking the piss at their own expense. Below is not the complete e-mail with photos, but the majority of it — organized into slightly more coherent groupings.

By far my favourite is the photo captioned “上海资源丰富，请随便享用” — the first image in the “Water Fountains” section. Let it never be said that the Chinese are devoid of sarcasm.

主题: 对不起,我们丢脸了 / Subject: Sorry, we’ve lost face.

Crowds



4月20日上午，约20万人入园参观。结果人潮拥挤，迫使中国馆内的许多场馆停止参观。当时好象只有澳大利亚馆依然开放，于是无奈的观众都集中到此馆排队，排队长度有5~600米。突然间大家一拥往前奔跑，原来此馆也经受不住人多的压力，只好关闭。澳大利亚馆内工作人员在门口不断向等候者道歉解释…… / On the morning of April 20th, about 200,000 people visited the Expo grounds. The resulting crowds forced the China pavilion’s venues to close. At that time it appeared only the Australian pavilion was still open. With no other option the visitors got in line at the pavilion, creating a 5-600m long queue. Suddenly the crowd pushed forward, and because the pavilion could not accommodate the crowd, they also closed. The Australian pavilion representative continuously apologized to the waiting crowd…



2010.4.20上海世博会第一天试运行，迎来大批人流，很多馆都还在最后冲刺没开门迎客，使得少数试运行的展馆门口人山人海。德国馆吃不消了，仿佛被人潮吓坏了，直接贴出了“德国馆，关了”。看把德国人给逼的。。。 / 2010.4.20 For the Shanghai Expo trial run, a large crowd showed up, but many pavilions were still under preparations and so not open. This forced the visitors to the gates of the only open pavilions. The German pavilion, unable to accommodate the masses, quickly put up “Closed” signs. Look what “we’ve” forced the Germans to do.

Shanghai Welcomes You



排会儿队不算什么 / It’s no big deal to wait in line



看着祖国的强盛， 我自豪！ / To see the homeland flourish, I feel proud!



几个月，一闭眼就过去了 / Several months, close your eyes and it’ll pass.



受点委屈没什么， 上海人能屈能伸！ / A little discomfort is nothing, Shanghai people are adaptable!



欢迎全国人民来上海！ / Welcome everyone from across the country to come to Shanghai!



我们准备好了！ / We are ready!



上海准备好了,上海欢迎你,我觉得用这个眼神特别能表达现在的心情 / Shanghai is ready, Shanghai welcomes you, I think these eyes express the current mood.

On Photo: 上海欢迎你 / Shanghai Welcomes You

Food Services



世博园内48元套餐，有点儿强大。 / Expo Meal Set – 48 RMB — it’s a bit much.



橙汁+咖喱鸡肉饭+60元人民币 / 60 RMB for a plate of curry chicken and an orange juice.



大家不要急 每个人都有的 不要挤啊~啊！~~~~ / Everyone don’t rush. Everyone will have some. Don’t squeeze. Ah!



不贵的 南翔的n倍。。。人傻钱多 速来 / Not expensive, only N-times more than Nan Xiang [a famous Shanghai xiaolongbao restaurant]. Rich idiots come quick.



正宗“台湾”香肠 / authentic “Taiwan” sausage

On Photo: 15元一根的香肠，5元的矿泉水 / 15 RMB per sausage, 5 RMB per bottle of mineral water



绿色 无污染 纯天然 无激素 无苏丹红 无三鹿 无避孕药 无糖精 无转基因的塑料碗”石锅饭”‘ / Green, pollution-free, natural, no hormone, no Sudan Red [food colouring], no Sanlu [melamine contaminated milk], no birth control pills, no saccharin [artificial sweetener], not genetically modified plastic bowl “stone pot”

On Photo 1: 我妈妈吃的是 “韩国美食–石锅拌饭” 55元 / My mom ate this “Korean food — Bibimbap” 55 RMB

On Photo 2: 但是我很纠结，为虾米和我们平时在外面吃吃的差那么多呢？ / But I am very confused, why is this shrimp so much worse than what we usually get elsewhere



38块的“炒面”。。。这是炒面还是泔脚拌面？ / 38 RMB “fried noodles” … is this fried noodles or swill?

Water Fountains



上海资源丰富，请随便享用 / Shanghai is full of resources, please help yourself



这是喝水的家伙 不是垃圾桶 / This is for drinking water, it’s not a garbage bin



五千年的“文明”古国！在党的“教育和关怀”。2010等你来 / A 5,000 year “civilized” ancient country! Under Communist Party “teaching and care.” 2010 we’re waiting for you.



sb园区里的饮水处。。。看了你还敢用吗？ 阿姨是无辜的 错不符合国情 / The Expo water fountain … after you see this, do you dare still use it? It’s not Auntie’s fault, it doesn’t reflect the country’s conditions.



这不是sb会的厕所 是游泳池的消毒池 / This is not an Expo toilet, it’s a disinfectant swimming pool. [not 100% on this — the Chinese is a bit wonky]

Cultural Differences



很好 很舒服 | 我感觉很不好 / Her: Very good, very comfortable. Him: I feel terrible.

Excited?



保守估计 正式开园后人流量是试开园的两倍 / Conservative estimates put attendance at twice what the trial run saw.