On 12/10/07, David Meiklejohn wrote: > > > Xiaofan (who does not drink to drink beer and seldom > > drink wine) > > That's typical for Chinese people, though. Not really. I think beer consumption is getting higher and higher. And QingDao beer is quite good according to some Germans. Wine plays an important part in Chinese lives and has a long history. Just like such daily necessities as rice, salt and oil, liquor also has a close relationship with Chinese people's lives. According to some scholars, China is one of the countries with the longest history of making liquor. Many Chinese prefer liquor. I do not. And this is good for me, in Singapore, beer/wine/liquer are extermely expensive and that is a good thing for society anyway. > I find when I visit Shanghai > that the locals are only happy in bars when they're singing, not caring > much for wine and beer, while the "western" bars are full of imported > wines and beers. Forgive me, but "Great Wall" wine is terrible... > There's just no tradition of (grape) wine in China (nor beer). It's quite > an odd feeling to go and visit Shanghai, and find the wine menus > consisting of French, Chilean and familiar Australian wines... > Great Wall grape wine is not good. I know that... Rice based wine/liquor is good. Qing Dao beer is quite good even according to some Germans. But I think it is anyway found by Germans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsingtao_Brewery Xiaofan -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist