Blog | Sherpa's Blog (EN)

2023, Wed

Jun

07 #Episode 2 Incredible Sherpa: The Mountain Guides.

By: David A.Howard

During this year’s May Day holiday, #Mount Everest is still congested at 2am# topped the trending list. Although the description may be exaggerated, the long queues of climbers waiting to ascend Mount Everest have still gathered curiosity and emotions among the public.

今年五一，#珠穆朗玛峰凌晨两点还在堵#冲上热搜第一。虽然描述有点夸张，但是排起长队的珠峰攀登者，还是引起了外界的好奇和感慨。

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first human ascent of Mount Everest, and it has been 20 years since Chinese mountaineers began climbing the mountain. May is the start of the annual climbing season for Mount Everest, and an increasing number of people are attempting to climb the mountain every year. This endeavor is not only a physical fitness challenge, it’s also become an industry.

一般商业登山团攀登珠穆朗玛峰的方法，是由低到高设立营地，存放数周所需的补给，让客人有最大机会成功登顶，政府不允许空运装备上山，建设营地的材料都靠人力搬上去，负责这些工作的都是夏尔巴人。如：

At the beginning of the mountaineering season, Sherpa porters start to go to Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5,300 meters to deliver supplies for climbers. At the same time, they clean up the gravel and ice on the platform of the base camp before the arrival of customers, so as to facilitate the construction of camps and tents.

登山季开始，夏尔巴挑夫就开始前往海拔5300米的珠峰大本营为登山客运送物资给养，同时他们要在客户到来之前清理大本营平台上的碎石、冰块，便于修建营地和帐篷。

In addition, Sherpas have to be responsible for everything climbers need – including building toilets and shelters for eating.

除此之外，夏尔巴人还得像保姆一样负责登山客的方方面面，比如修筑厕所、餐厅。

After the client reaches the base camp, the Sherpas will take the client for about 20 days of adaptive training, and also pave the way to the summit.‍

在客户达到大本营后，夏尔巴人就要带着客户进行20天左右的适应性训练，并在客户冲顶之前铺好登峰之路。

Sherpas are renowned for their ability to carry huge loads on behalf of Western climbing teams.

Paving the road before climbing to the summit is not an easy task – it’s more like a battle squad in a war. Paving the road involves solving dangers for the main force in advance, building bridges when encountering pits, laying safety ropes, and looking for all risks in advance.

进行登顶之前的铺路，与其说是铺，更像战争中的敢死队一样，为主力部队提前解决危险，遇坑搭桥、铺设安全绳，用命排查一切风险。

Sherpa, shown after scaling Everest for the 23rd time, completed a record 24th climb.

Next, let’s look at the conditions of each section. This mountaineer can climb up to 2 times during their stay, while the Sherpa may have to do the same ascent 20-30 times.

接下来看看各路段的情况，这条登山客一次攀登者最多走2次，而夏尔巴人可能要走20-30次的攀登之路，且登山客是在有夏尔巴人“探路”的情况下走的，而夏尔巴人却是在“探索”中行走。

On the summit of Mount Everest, the Sherpas have sacrificed so much, but why should they bear it?

那我们提到珠峰攀登，不得不提到常居在喜马拉雅山区的夏尔巴人呀。上一期我们讲到什么是夏尔巴人，那本期我们来讲讲夏尔巴人在攀登珠穆朗玛峰中的协助作用吧！在登顶珠峰这，夏尔巴人付出的牺牲太多太多，但是为什么还要去承受？

Most Sherpas have no other livelihood activities, and mountaineering is the most profitable activity in the region. At the same time, mountaineering is also an important part of Nepal’s economy. Mountaineering companies hope to charge guests who want to climb to the top $100,000, while Sherpa guides only earn $5,000 for a two-month expedition, but this is already a remote area and that payment is ten times the average annual salary. Many Sherpas who climbed the mountain said: “I climbed the mountain so that my children would not have to climb the mountain in the future.” It is great to climb the peak bravely for the sake of dreams, but its more noble to live it with all your might.

大多夏尔巴人没有其他谋生活动，登山是最赚钱的活动。同时登山也是尼泊尔经济的重要一环，登山公司希望向希望登顶的客人收费十万美元，而夏尔巴向导协助一趟两个月的远征客只赚五千美元，但这已经是偏远地区年薪十倍。很多登山的夏尔巴人表示：“我登山，是为了孩子以后可以不登山”。为了梦想勇攀高峰，固然伟大。但是和梦想一样高贵的，是倾尽所有去生活。

However, the New York Times cited data from the Himalayan Database showing that from 1905 to the spring of 2022, 315 climbers died on Mount Everest, nearly one-third of whom were Sherpas. They need to be recognized for their heroic work and sacrifices. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

但是《纽约时报》援引Himalayan Database的数据显示，从 1905 年到 2022 年春季有315名攀登者葬身珠峰，其中近三分之一是夏尔巴协作。获得同等的荣誉。同样是攀登珠峰。让我们不得不佩服。

Photo resource from CNN.com

Locations: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou

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2023, Sat

Jun

03 美食界瑰宝：干式熟成牛肉Dry-Aged Beef: A Culinary Marvel

By: David A.Howard

你真的会品肉吗？如果是的话，让我们一起潜入干式熟成牛肉的世界吧！干式熟成牛肉以其独特的风味和嫩度而闻名，是烹饪界的瑰宝。但它到底是什么？好吧，这是一个高质量的牛切肉，是上等肋骨或着说是厚重的战斧，被妥善存储在一个受控的环境中，让天然酶分解肌肉纤维，从而增强风味和质地。

Are you a true meat connoisseur? If so, let’s dive into the world of dry-aged beef! Dry-aged beef is a culinary gem known for its exceptional flavor and tenderness. But what exactly is it? Well, it’s a process where high-quality cuts of beef, such as the prime rib or the majestic tomahawk, are carefully stored in a controlled environment for an extended period, allowing natural enzymes to break down the muscle fibers, resulting in enhanced flavor and texture.

现在，让我们来谈谈令人垂涎的地方。独特的风味是干式熟成牛肉的形成初期就开始有了。随着牛肉的老化，它会产生丰富而复杂的味道，有坚果味、泥土味，有时甚至略带甜味。它能刺激你的味蕾，让你意犹未尽。

Now, let’s talk about the mouthwatering benefits. Flavor enhancement is at the forefront of dry-aged beef. As the beef ages, it develops rich and complex flavors, taking on a nutty, earthy, and sometimes even slightly sweet profile. It’s an experience that tantalizes the taste buds and leaves you wanting more.

且慢，让我们了解一些常见的误解。您可能听说过有关霉菌和表面修整的问题。虽然霉菌确实可以在外表上形成，但不要害怕！霉菌是自然老化过程的一部分，可以通过巧妙的修剪去除，露出下面完全老化的肉。

But hold on a second—let’s address some common misconceptions. You might have heard concerns about mold and surface trimming. While it’s true that mold can form on the exterior, fear not! The mold is part of the natural aging process and is removed by skillful trimming, revealing the perfectly aged meat beneath.

说到烹饪用途，干式熟成牛肉在各种烹饪方法中能大放异彩。无论你是选择在烤架上烧烤，还是在烤箱里烤，尽情地享用多汁的牛排，肯定会很棒。还等什么呢？在我们的平台上在线订购，购买最好的干式熟成牛肉，开始一场轰轰烈烈的烹饪，将您的用餐体验提升一个档次。准备好品尝只有干式熟成牛肉才有的肉质和风味吧！

When it comes to culinary uses, dry-aged beef shines in various cooking methods. Whether you choose to sear it on a hot grill, roast it in the oven, or indulge in a juicy steak, the result is sure to be sublime. So why wait? Shop online on our platform to buy the finest dry-aged beef and embark on a culinary adventure that will elevate your dining experiences to new heights. Get ready to savor the succulence and flavor that only dry-aged beef can deliver!

Source: Swiss Butchery

(https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/zjuOsfjNs

Locations: Shanghai

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2023, Sat

Jun

03 Incredible Sherpas: The Great Mountain Guides-Himalayan Heros

By: David A.Howard

se1

Recently, we‘’ve heard so many people talking and dreaming about summiting Mount Everest. While many people are applauding the heroes who climbed to the top of the mountain, how many people know about the Sherpas who silently paved the way with their lives?

最近一周听过太多人说登顶珠峰的事了，我想有太多人为珠峰英雄鼓掌了，又有多少人知道，默默用生命在前方铺路的夏尔巴人？

se2

-The Sherpa people, whose name in Tibetan means “people from the east,” live on both sides of the Himalayan Mountains, but primarily in Nepal, with a minority scattered throughout China, India, and Bhutan. Their language is Sherpa, but they also use Tibetan script.

夏尔巴人（Sherpa）藏语意为“来自东方的人”，散居在喜马拉雅山两侧，主要在尼泊尔，少数散居于中国、印度和不丹，语言为夏尔巴语，使用藏文。

#Who is Sherpa？

se3

Nowadays, Sherpa has two meanings. One refers to the ethnic group, and the other specifically refers to the Sherpa people who work for mountaineering teams in high-altitude climbing in the Himalayan region.

如今，夏尔巴有两重含义，一重是这个民族，另一重就是特指在喜马拉雅山区高海拔攀登中为登山队工作的夏尔巴人。

In 1953, New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay climbed Mount Everest, standing on top of the world for the first time in human history. Later, more and more climbers came to Nepal to climb Mount Everest and hired local people to transport supplies. They discovered that Sherpa people were not only very strong and polite but also very reliable. Since then, they have been willing to hire Sherpas as companions every time they climb Mount Everest. “I think that’s the moment when Sherpa people became Sherpas. It can be said that it was Mount Everest that made the world know about Sherpas.

1953年，新西兰登山者希拉里和夏尔巴人丹增·诺尔盖向珠峰进发，人类第一次站上世界之巅。后来越来越多的登山者来到尼泊尔境内的珠峰攀登，他们找了当地人帮忙运送物资，发现夏尔巴人不仅非常强壮、有礼貌，还十分靠谱，此后，每次到珠峰他们都愿意请夏尔巴人同行。“我想那就是夏尔巴人开始成为‘夏尔巴人’的时刻。可以说，是珠穆朗玛峰让世界认识了夏尔巴人。

Sherpas have unique physical qualities, amazing lung capacity, and have achieved three “mosts”: the most successful summit of Mount Everest, the most number of anaerobic ascents, and also the most number of casualties on the mountain. It can be said that without Sherpa people, there would be no climbing of Mount Everest.

夏尔巴人体格独特，肺活量惊人，创造了三个“最”，成功攀登珠峰人数最多，无氧登顶人数最多，登珠峰遇难人数也最多。可以说，没有夏尔巴人，就没有珠峰攀登。

Nowadays, many Sherpa people make a living by helping explorers and wealthy people fulfill their dreams of climbing Mount Everest. Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, with an altitude of 8,844.43 meters, is known as a sacred place in the hearts of countless people and the pursuit of many explorers. However, according to data, the ones constantly breaking records of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest are not explorers, but rather Sherpa people.

现在的夏尔巴人有相当一部分人靠帮助探险家和有钱人圆珠峰梦为生。珠穆朗玛峰，世界第一高峰，海拔8844.43米，无数人心中的圣地，众多探险家的执着。但从数据来看，不断刷新登顶珠峰记录的，并不是探险家，而是夏尔巴人。

The fastest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest was a Sherpa, taking only 8 hours and 10 minutes, while a professional climber needs three to four days for the same route. The person who has reached the summit of Mount Everest the most times is also a Sherpa, aged 52, who has summited 26 times.

登顶珠峰最快的是夏尔巴人，用时8小时10分钟。而一个专业的登山者，同样的线路，也需要三到四天。登顶珠峰次数最多的也是夏尔巴人，52岁，26次。

In the eyes of Sherpas, Mount Everest is not a challenge but rather a job. They are the true conquerors of Mount Everest. Understanding the climbing patterns and routes of commercial mountaineering teams can give more insight into the collaborative role of Sherpa people in them. Please look forward to the next story, which will focus on the collaborative role of Sherpas in commercial mountaineering teams!

珠峰在夏尔巴人眼中不是挑战，而是工作，他们是真正征服珠峰的人。了解商业登山队的攀登模式及路线后可能会更多些了解夏尔巴人在其中的协作作用。

下一篇推文请尽情关注夏尔巴人在商业登山队的攀登中的协作作用哦！

Locations: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou

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2023, Thu

Jun

01 Expat Tax Allowance & Subsidy Policies

By: David A.Howard

Expat Tax Allowance & Subsidy Policies

– 外籍人士津贴和补贴优惠政策 –

In 1994, the Ministry of Finance & State Administration of Taxation issued the “Notice of Taxation on Individual Income Tax Policies” (Cai Shui Zi [1994] regarding Implementation of Individual Income Tax Exemptions (Guo Shui Fa [1997] No. 54), which stipulates that the specific allowance and tax exemption for foreign individuals are as follows:

1.Housing subsidies, food subsidies, relocation expenses & laundry;

2.Domestic and overseas business travel subsidies obtained according to reasonable standards;

3.Expenses for family visits, language training, and children’s education, etc.Those items which are considered reasonable by the local taxation authority are temporarily exempted from personal income tax;

In 2018, the Ministry of Finance & State Administration of Taxation issued the “Notice of Convergence of Relevant Preferential Policies After the Amendment of the Individual Income Tax Law” (Caishui [2018] which clarified “China after the revision of the Individual Income Tax Law of the China, there are issues related to the convergence of the tax-free preferential policies for foreign personal allowances and subsidies. The notice stipulates that during the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, foreign individuals who meet the personal conditions of residents can choose to enjoy special breaks on individual income tax for housing subsidies, language training fees, children’s education fees and other subsidies and deductions. They can also choose to enjoy the tax-free preferential policies for subsidies. Once a foreign individual selects the subsidies, they cannot be changed within the current tax year. From January 1, 2022, foreign individuals will no longer enjoy the preferential policy of subsidies, tax exemptions, and should enjoy special additional deductions in accordance with regulations.

Housing subsidies, language training fees, and children’s education allowances are the main allowance items for foreign individuals, which can be regarded as tax-free income and are not included in wages and salaries.

The policy also lists some other subsidies according to the characteristics of foreign personal allowance income, which expands the scope of the policy, such as: food subsidies, relocation expenses, laundry expenses, domestic and foreign travel subsidies, and family visit expenses, which can also be used as Tax-free items that are not included in wages and salaries.

Foreign individuals who meet the conditions of resident individuals refer to foreign individuals who have a residence in China or have lived in China for a total of 183 days in a calendar year. This type of foreign individual is a resident individual. They can choose one of the deduction policies to calculate and pay personal income tax.

Foreign individuals who do not meet the personal requirements of residents refer to foreign individuals who have no domicile in China and have lived in China for less than 183 days during a calendar year. Such foreign individuals are non-resident individuals and cannot enjoy the foreign individual allowance policy.

For non-resident individuals, tax is only levied on income derived from within China, and personal income tax is not levied on income derived from overseas. The implementation of the foreign individual allowance policy has avoided some allowances and subsidies that do not meet the special additional deduction conditions, which have caused additional tax burdens. This policy promotes the introduction of foreign talents, rationally allocates human resources, and promotes the development of the market economy.

Fortunately, in order to further reduce the burden on taxpayers, on December 31, 2021, the last day of the “transition period” involved in the notice, the Ministry of Finance & State Administration of Taxation issued the “Announcement on Continuing the Implementation of Individual Income Tax Preferential Policies such as Allowances and Subsidies for Foreign Nationals” directly extending the implementation period of the foreign individual allowance and subsidy policy to December 31, 2023.