2026 Shenzhen International Audio Show SIAS

[Jeromeof]

Here are my photos from Vienna of these new Fosi Audio Mono Blocks V4 and V5:

 

[xanalog]

How many fellow ASR members hail from China?

A New York Times article on a cybersecurity researcher/journalist who came across a dashboard detailing how authorities in China are surveilling foreigners.

gift link

How China Keeps Tabs on Foreigners

An unsecured police dashboard was a rare window into how the authorities track foreigners by collecting and aggregating vast amounts of private data.

www.nytimes.com

 

[dark132]

A New York Times article on a cybersecurity researcher/journalist who came across a dashboard detailing how authorities in China are surveilling foreigners.

gift link

How China Keeps Tabs on Foreigners

An unsecured police dashboard was a rare window into how the authorities track foreigners by collecting and aggregating vast amounts of private data.

www.nytimes.com

There is constant discussion about the excessive number of surveillance cameras in China. Admittedly, China’s protection of personal privacy lags significantly behind Europe’s (though the US is excluded from this comparison, as personal privacy there is a complete joke). However, foreigners visiting China should first take a good look in the mirror and consider what value they hold for the Chinese government; unless you are someone on the level of a defense minister or secretary of state, there is simply no point in surveilling a mere mayor-type figure.

 

[amirm]

Gosh it was a ton of work trying to make a train reservation between Shenzhen and Beijing. 12306.cn, official China Railway site, emails with authentication code never got to me regardless of what email address I picked. And at any rate, it said they only operate certain hours. Trip.com's email verification worked but again, no authentication code. I made the reservation without it but still, disconcerting and super time consuming.

Couldn't get on the train I wanted and had to book an earlier one on top of all this. Grrrr.

 

[xanalog]

At the kind invitation of Shenzhen Audio,

Gosh it was a ton of work trying to make a train reservation between Shenzhen and Beijing. 12306.cn, official China Railway site, emails with authentication code never got to me regardless of what email address I picked. And at any rate, it said they only operate certain hours. Trip.com's email verification worked but again, no authentication code. I made the reservation without it but still, disconcerting and super time consuming.

Couldn't get on the train I wanted and had to book an earlier one on top of all this. Grrrr.

Perhaps the fine people (at Shenzhen Audio) who invited you to attend; would graciously lend an assisting-hand with your travel itinerary.

 

[xanalog]

OT:

{per CLAUDE}It was John Sudworth, a BBC reporter, in Guiyang (capital of Guizhou province, southwestern China) — not Shenzhen.
In December 2017, Sudworth attempted to evade China's AI-powered facial-recognition CCTV network in a staged demonstration, filming himself with a selfie stick while trying to stay hidden.
Chinese police located and captured him in just seven minutes. NewsweekNewsweek
At the time, China had roughly 176 million CCTV cameras nationwide, with plans to add another 450 million by 2020. Newsweek
*Close call on the memory otherwise — right era, right general story (China showing off surveillance muscle to a Western journalist), just BBC/Guiyang

Not to be confused with "surveillance capitalists", at home and elsewhere in the world.
I wonder if wearing a baseball cap (in public) would be allowed in China?

 

[PristineSound]

OT:

Not to be confused with "surveillance capitalists", at home and elsewhere in the world.
I wonder if wearing a baseball cap (in public) would be allowed in China?

If you aren't committing crime or doing anything questionable, public CCTV is nothing to worry about. I wish the US had more, so we can actually catch the car thieves, burglars, pick pocketers, vandalizers and perhaps the even more sinister low lives.

I am going to Italy for summer vacation in a week, I will be guarding my wallet and phone closely, I've seen enough clips of pick pocketers on social media.

 

[Somafunk]

I wish the US had more, so we can actually catch the car thieves, burglars, pick pocketers, vandalizers and perhaps the even more sinister low lives.

Have you read about the scandal/backlash regarding flock surveillance cameras?,

EFF are a worthwhile cause to support

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Defending your rights in the digital world

www.eff.org

Atlas of Surveillance

Documenting Police Tech in Our Communities with Open Source Research

www.atlasofsurveillance.org

 

[SHENZHENAUDIO]

Gosh it was a ton of work trying to make a train reservation between Shenzhen and Beijing. 12306.cn, official China Railway site, emails with authentication code never got to me regardless of what email address I picked. And at any rate, it said they only operate certain hours. Trip.com's email verification worked but again, no authentication code. I made the reservation without it but still, disconcerting and super time consuming.

Couldn't get on the train I wanted and had to book an earlier one on top of all this. Grrrr.

Oh man, that sounds like an absolute ordeal. I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been!
The 12306.cn authentication email issue is something I’ve heard about before, but it works great for Chinese. Still, it’s impressive that you managed to push through and make the reservation anyway, Let me know if you need any help with the next leg of your journey

 

[Georgrig]

Thanks. I have looked at all three options. The ferry avoids HK immigration so thought that would be a nice advantage.

Navigating the train seemed daunting so I wasn't going to go that way.

Originally was going to get the private van. So for sure that is the best option?

The van is the most convenient to me. Takes you straight to the border in a trip that takes about half an hour.

 

[amirm]

The van is the most convenient to me. Takes you straight to the border in a trip that takes about half an hour.

Thanks. Looks like they have two options: a shared van where they collect enough people to fill it and one that is totally private. Former is pretty reasonable but the latter costs more. Which one have you used? If shared van, do they make a lot of stops?

 

[Georgrig]

Thanks. Looks like they have two options: a shared van where they collect enough people to fill it and one that is totally private. Former is pretty reasonable but the latter costs more. Which one have you used? If shared van, do they make a lot of stops?

I've used a shared van. No stops - straight to the border. It's a 6-seater van, so it's the driver, you and 4 more passengers. The driver will collect the passengers' passports when crossing the border; you won't even have to step out the van.

It's particularly handy if you want to just go to the border. Not the most picturesque route, but surely the fastest way from the HK airport to Shenzhen. I think they run trips to Futian and Shenzhen Bay. Probably, you'll want to go to Futian where the Expo is. After the van drops you, you can either take a DiDi car, taxi, or the metro. Make sure you got you e-payment apps set-up.

I split my time between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. I'll try to be at the Expo and say hi, Amir! Let me know if you need anything else.

 

[Georgrig]

Gosh it was a ton of work trying to make a train reservation between Shenzhen and Beijing. 12306.cn, official China Railway site, emails with authentication code never got to me regardless of what email address I picked. And at any rate, it said they only operate certain hours. Trip.com's email verification worked but again, no authentication code. I made the reservation without it but still, disconcerting and super time consuming.

Couldn't get on the train I wanted and had to book an earlier one on top of all this. Grrrr.

Did you get the sleeper train? I'd say Beijing is a bit boring, an administrative centre with too much control over tourist visits to sites. You'll need to be showing your passport very often, book site visits in advance, etc. I'd definitely visit Guangzhou, and maybe Chengdu.

As for the train tickets, you'll need to verify your passport. It's a pain, but smooth after the initial setup.

 

[xanalog]

If you aren't committing crime or doing anything questionable, public CCTV is nothing to worry about.

This makes me tongue-tied...similar way that those who advertise their socialistic mindset.

 

[amirm]

Did you get the sleeper train?

No, I opted for the daytime one. It is about 3 hours faster and I wanted to experience the scenery. Will see if that is a mistake or not.

I did opt for business class. It was much more expensive but seems like you get very nice seats and such. I will have to have a few hot dog dinners instead of steak and lobster when I come back to save up the expense.

 

[amirm]

As for the train tickets, you'll need to verify your passport.

This part worked with 12306 and I got immediately verified. But then everything stopped because I could receive the code for email and without that, I couldn't book anything.

 

[amirm]

I'd say Beijing is a bit boring, an administrative centre with too much control over tourist visits to sites.

I actually have business there unrelated to ASR so no choice. Otherwise I wouldn't have made the long trip as I have been there a few times.

Still, I hope to walk around the streets and do some photography.

 

[Georgrig]

I did opt for business class. It was much more expensive but seems like you get very nice seats and such.

There are three classes in Chinese trains, second, first and business. Business to me is a bit of an overpay compared to first class. Surely, it is much more spacious - you get two seats per row and a lot of space between rows. First class has the same seats but arranged four per row. I'd avoid second class for such long trip. Stick to business if you don't mind the ticket price!

I could receive the code for email and without that, I couldn't book anything.

Emails from 12306 all go to the spam folder for me - when they do send them.

Have fun, Amir! As I said, let me know if there's anything I can help with. Been in this part of the world for a good 12 years now, so I got the gweilo experience dialled-in.

 

[amirm]

There are three classes in Chinese trains, second, first and business. Business to me is a bit of an overpay compared to first class. Surely, it is much more spacious - you get two seats per row and a lot of space between rows. First class has the same seats but arranged four per row. I'd avoid second class for such long trip. Stick to business if you don't mind the ticket price!

Indeed. i was glad I had watched a few videos to know that business class is above first class (in airlines it is the other way around). For a nearly 9 hour ride, I thought business class would be nice splurge.

 

[PristineSound]

This makes me tongue-tied...similar way that those who advertise their socialistic mindset.

I went to China several times in the last two decades, I felt safe, I would attribute to all the cctv. Can't say the same with many parts of Europe and in recent years NYC.