Old China Hands lunch 3 May

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Old China Hands lunch 3 May was on a “normal” day except it was our sixth anniversary. We a total of over 30. We even had our historic group picture taken in front of the restaurant.
We even had our friend from Austria, where he relocated, visiting us. Great to see him again.
Thanks to those who sent more pictures, including of the food.

Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 7 June. Guess what, again a holiday! Dragon Boat Festival! So, again no excuse you have to be at the office or teaching.
My updated list is well over 100. Unfortunately we will lose some of our regulars as they are to move to another country. We will miss them. But we always have new members coming in, so we keep it all well alive!

Didi app disappeared from App Stores

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Who noted?

Didi app disappeared from App Stores for iOS as I discovered.
Indeed I was happily using the English app (that does not show anything about the version) but I am getting the warning that I need to update, see screenshot.
While online the Apple App shop shows the correct app, being “DiDi – Greater China”, available for iPhone, this app is NOT available, in my case on the Belgian Apple Shop. Other DiDi app shown are for other applications such as Didi driver. No Didi car. See screenshot of the Belgian store.
My Chinese friends have the latest version, downloaded from the China Shop (see their screenshot). The app does offer a language choice Chinese or English.

 

Didi Customer Service

I sent a mail to their service and they did reply, see here (slightly edited).

We suggest you could reinstall DiDi app again.
Sorry about the inconvenience brought to you, due to for now, some app stores doesn’t support DiDi app. Our related team are processing this issue.
We suggest you could change your APPLE ID region just for this time, when you donwload and install in China APP STORE, you could change back to previous region.
And changing region of Apple ID method in below:
Tap 【Settings】 –  Tap 【iTunesstore/AppStore】 -Tap【Apple ID】 in above- Tap 【Check Apple ID】 – tap【Country/Region】 – Tap【Change Country or Region> – Choose China – Fill all information needed. Then you can downlod the DiDi-Greater China  APP
The lastest verson of DiDi app is 5.2.48_533, you can check whether your app is the latest one or not.
If not please change your Apple ID into China then you can find the DiDi app in app store. If yes please ignore this tip.
DiDi Customer Service

Now what?

The app still works but for how long?
I already downloaded another app, just in case: “China Taxi”, in English.
I will certainly not do the country change, that is a risky thing. I’ll wait for DiDi to sort things out with Apple.
The weird thing is, why does Apple accept the app on their China Shop and not on others? Cannot be an issue of “technical or security” issues.
I find it strange there is no mention of this on the Internet.

Update 27 November 2020

Oh well, it took some time but the didi app is now dead after updating my iOS to v. 14.2.
And still no new app for didi (cars) on my Belgian Apple store.
I had received an request if I wanted to test a “beta version” a few days ago, did not try it as that normally does not work.
Fortunately I do have the Alipay app in English where I can book didi…
But I miss the didi app, it was working pretty well and I also received alerts on discounts. Now I have to see how that will work with Alipay.

Latest update! February 2021

After my warnings about the Didi app on the iPhone, the app finally crashed. Now the English Didi app is resurrected. Like a miracle! https://www.beijing1980.com/2021/02/18/english-didi-app-is-resurrected/

Update 5 June 2023

See:
In this DiDi app update a review of the saga of this app, so important in China but downloading to your iPhone can be a nightmare. My latest findings

Belgian beer in Beijing updated

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Problems with import

Another Belgian beer in Beijing updated.
Recently the market for Belgian beer in Beijing has been through turbulent times. Sometimes the Belgian exporters are stubborn, don’t follow advice, cut their former channels. Or the Chinese block and destroy containers of beer because of “prohibited content”: that is the little-know acesulfame story. The chambers never look into this. Delirium is suffering and will get worse. Duvel still in some bars and shops but some of my sources are worried about next months import. All very unclear.

Updated list

See https://www.beijing1980.com/belgian-beer/
Bottles added! I will post more updates on Beer in Beijing and beer stories.

Gentse Strop

Ghent, my hometown in Belgium: see the earlier post.
I mentioned the story of Stroppendragers. And the beer Gentse Strop that you can find in Morel’s Restaurant.

See here more details on that story: stroppendragers

Old China Hands lunch 5 April

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Old China Hands lunch 5 April was on Tomb-Sweeping Day (Qingming). And yes, few had an excuse not to attend but some were disoriented and … forgot about the lunch. We a total of 36, with some new faces. First time we had the new price of RMB 110, a sweet deal for our attendees (the normal set lunch price is now RMB 118).

Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 3 May. It is our sixth anniversary! Time flies, some members left, new are joining. If anybody is interested (and qualifies), contact me. Any nationality is welcome but it is for foreign-passport holders with ten years connection with the Middle Kingdom.

Old China Hands lunch 1 March

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Old China Hands lunch 1 March was as always, so nothing special to mention, the total of 32 participants were happy. Chatting, eating, chatting.

Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 5 April. And yes, I know, it’s Tomb Sweeping Day and the the start of a three-day holiday. But not sure many of our friends will be sweeping that day. Let them sweep a nice Belgian dish instead!
As all prices in Beijing have been going up, Morel’s Restaurant finally has had to increase their too-cheap price of RMB 98 for the copious set menu to RMB 118. The new price, still very attractive, is set at RMB 110, only for us!