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.

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:
https://www.beijing1980.com/2015/01/30/ghent-my-hometown-in-belgium/

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!

Old China Hands lunch 1 February

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Old China Hands lunch 1 February was again a pleasant surprise. We were worried how to fill the tables but we ended up with a full house. With 39 we were close to beat our record of May 2018 (43). I give up predicting numbers! It seems the “weirder” the date, the more attendants.

We also had the people of UWEE (Union of Western & Eastern Education) to come and make a small video of the (official) specialists we have right now in the SAFEA experts group.

The video was later posted on their website.

A member few of you know…

Indeed our Belgian friend Wilfried does not talk much about all what he does, except singing with me in our KTVs. Here an old article of China Daily I found back. Little has changed for him since then…
18 September 2012 – Body repatriation becomes growing business in country
By Li Yao (China Daily)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-09/18/content_15764037.htm

Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 1 March. As all prices in Beijing have been going up, Morel’s Restaurant finally has to increase their too-cheap price of RMB 98 for the copious set menu. Later I will announce the new price that still will be very attractive.
Beware all non-RSVP: a new clean-up of my e-mail list is coming…