Our Space

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GASTRONOMY By Frank Hossack Ice Cream & Oyster Platter is (Probably) not what You Think

Still on that subject, a trip to the bathroom is a must for any diner. Immaculately clean and very retro, with wrought-iron fixtures and wooden toilet seats. Oyster Bistro is located at 2A, 102 Hubin Lu 湖滨 路湖滨公寓2A栋一层102号. Tel: 86190977 /

17702510977.

RETAIL By Frank Hossack The Cheapest; Most Expensive! We Sure Have it all in Nanjing!

Stuff can sure cost a pretty penny in China, but it can also be darned cheap. In one of the Middle Kingdom’s greatest dichotomies, international brand names manufacture in China because it’s cheap, then sell it out the back at prices which make your eyes water. Forgetting the handbags, let’s talk about the stuff that matters. A litre of halfway-decent milk in Nanjing goes for more than ¥20, three times more than in the UK. What else do “laowai” like? Bread. That could be ¥3 per SLICE in Nanjing, thank you very much. I can get a whole loaf for that (granted, not a particularly good loaf) from Tesco in the UK. You like Sushi? Be prepared to fork out as much as ¥13 for one tiny rice-encrusted treat. And that’s not even from a restaurant. On to the heavyweights. The top pieces of real estate in Nanjing now command a price of ¥80,000 per square metre. That’s right, a “modest” 100 square-metre apartment in Nanjing can now set you back ¥8 million. In most other countries, that’s going to buy you a sizeable castle. And its accompanying super yacht, stable of horses and Instagram account. But so goes the #1 mantra in China; if it’s not expensive, it’s rubbish. Time for a return to reality, via a short, sharp, slap across the face. Bringing us to Hotmaxx, where, by and large, brand-name everyday products are literally half the price of elsewhere. According to the Hotmaxx website, on which they certainly haven’t wasted any of their scant profit, the discount retailer was founded in February, 2020, to provide consumers with a “cool shopping experience”, where “surprises always happen”.

Second that. How about a standard pack of baby wipes for ¥4.2; Recommended Retail Price (RRP) ¥12.9? Or a 1.25-litre bottle of orange juice for ¥5.0; RRP ¥12? At the vinous end of things, a bottle of the ever-reliable, Casillero del Diablo, is only ¥49.9; a can of Korea’s preferred beer, Cass, only ¥3.1, less than a third of elsewhere. Then there are the instant noodles. At Hotmaxx, get a pack of Canton beef-flavour noodles for ¥1.9; RRP ¥4.5. We’ve not seen things that cheap since the International Supermarket Instant Noodle Price War from the turn of the century, when a pack of plain curry-flavour noodles could be had for 2 UK Pence (¥0.2).

Yep, stuff can sure be expensive in China. And how on Earth retailers such as Hotmaxx can possibly turn a profit is beyond us. Enjoy while the moment lasts.

Hotmaxx has 20+ locations in Nanjing. Find one near you by searching “Hotmaxx” in English on the Dianping APP.

St John’s has acquired a new plot of land for “Forest School”, a 20-minute walk from their Jiangning campus, where, once a week, children spend a half day exploring nature, being inspired by nature and yes, eaten by nature too. City life can get a bit too comfy for our little ones, so this precious time outdoors reminds us of our connection with the planet, where we came from and how you need to beware of snakes in the “nature loo”!

S t Jo h n’s Co l l e g e S c h o o l Na n j i n g

12 May, 2022

The Parents’ Association based out of The British School of Nanjing kicked off the summer with a day trip to Jubaoshan Park in Nanjing’s Qixia District. There, in cooperation with Plesios Kayak club, some of the approximately 70 people attending tried their hand at kayaking, the younger ones took to the jungle gum, while everyone enjoyed a delicious picnic.

B S N P a r e n t s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n

5 June, 2022

Nanjing International School celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2022 in a ceremony that recognised the culmination of their learning journeys at NIS and the transition into the next stage of their lives. Many Class of 2022 graduates have been accepted into their choice of top colleges and universities around the world, while others have chosen to enjoy a gap year before moving into higher education.

The class of 2022 at the British School of Nanjing celebrated their graduation on Saturday 4 June with a formal dinner and dance at the Kempinski Hotel. All will be heading off to universities around the world and took the opportunity to say goodbye in style!