Edward Lawrence
@EP_Lawrence
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Senior journalist and camera operator covering China and the Asia-Pacific for the BBC. Buys Cornflakes on Taobao…
Joined February 2011
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Pinned Tweet
☕️ Shanghai claims to have the largest number of coffee shops of any city in the world. Thousands of quirky independent cafes now line the streets. The coffee scene has rocketed, so we decided to find out more… (Part 1)
#shanghai
#coffee
@StephenMcDonell
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A statement from the BBC on what happened to me in Shanghai last night while doing my job.
I understand at least one local national was arrested after trying to stop the police from beating me.
Thanks very much for the kind words and messages of concern.
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Pulled up to a junction here in Shanghai. A women pulled alongside and looked at me. “You were taken last night. I’m so sorry, are you okay?” she asked me. Always overwhelmed by the kindness of the Chinese people.
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Two years ago today. Little did we all know what it would become…
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I’m at the scene of last night’s extraordinary anti Covid-zero protest in Shanghai. Many people are gathered here quietly watching. Lots of cops. Two girls laid flowers which were promptly removed by police. One man drove past with middle finger up at police.
#shanghai
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Viral photos of someone’s Halloween costume in Shanghai circulating on WeChat.
#shanghai
#covidzero
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It appears the authorities also briefly arrested my Swiss colleague
@micpeuker
. His equipment was seized.
#shanghai
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Without exaggeration, the majority of my friends here in
#Shanghai
are back in lockdown. It feels like it’s all changed very quickly…
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Across Shanghai’s Xuhui district, identical cameras are are popping up above shop doors. Three shop owners have told me that they’ve been put up by authorities to check that people are scanning QR codes. I’ve asked the government if this is indeed the case.
#covidzero
#shanghai
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Until last week, I knew just two people who'd contracted Covid-19 here in the past three years. Now I'm sat at home recovering from the virus and about half the people I know in both Shanghai and Beijing also have it. It is spreading super fast.
#China
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1 yr ago I flew to China to start my job with the BBC. 4 yrs ago I was washing up in a pub with £40 in the bank and desperately tying to find a way into the media industry. Keep working hard because perseverance *does* pay off. Thanks everyone for the opportunities.
#throwback
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Clarification. Michael’s equipment was *not* seized I’m told.
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Seeing quite a few angry comments circulating on in local WeChat groups after these shots were used yesterday in a state TV piece about the Shanghai lockdown. One person commented “This is Shanghai?” and another “Academy Award for Best Screenplay, Director and Ensemble”
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*incredibly* rare protest and defiance in Shanghai last night
‘Down with the party! Down with Xi Jinping!’ Free Xinjiang!’
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A Chinese state media “journalist” sending abuse over twitter to a women with whom he disagrees 👇
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Massive respect to my colleague
@MalikMudassir2
, who’s normally behind the camera, for stepping up and crossing live from Kabul for the Ten O’clock news last night as the Taliban patrolled on the street next to him. The bravery of our local staff across the world is admirable.
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One of my close friends is leaving China after 7 years. He’s head enough of lockdowns and zero-covid. He was due to fly out at the start of next week. That was until his building was locked down for 7 days from this morning due to a “close connection”. A proper zero-covid exit…
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This is the same Hassan who messaged me offering to bring food and essentials to my mum who is isolating in Dorset. Keep up the good work mate!
#legend
Honoured to join an army of cleaners disinfecting Covid wards our local hospital after receiving training. London has been my home since leaving Syria, and the least I can do is making sure my neighbours and the amazing NHS staff are safe and sound.
#StayHomeSaveLives
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Day 60 under confinement.
-45 days of Shanghai’s “four day” lockdown.
-15 days of hotel room quarantine to re-enter China just before that.
Trying to keep in good spirits.
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Our latest from Shanghai.
For those who are blind or partially sighted, the massage industry is a vital employment lifeline, but many workers claim the effects of lockdown and a lack of government support are making life particularly difficult.
#shanghai
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The crowd has grown from maybe a few dozen to several hundred. I’ve seen the police arrest three people - two of whom then fought with police. There’s a silent tension until one person shouts, and then the crowd chants and claps in support.
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From a friend checking into a 5 star Shanghai hotel. Lots of measures lately from the local govt to encourage foreigners to visit. Perhaps access to these sites and platforms could also be added to their list…
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Circulating on Chinese social media - yet another cat being covid tested.
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On a rather amusing note, a friend has been locked in with a girl he brought home for a one night stand…
#shanghai
🤦♂️
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🚨 Big China news 🚨
China’s national Health Commission has announced that quarantine for travellers from overseas will be DROPPED from Jan 8th and restrictions on international flights lifted.
#china
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Of all the things I’ve seen and experienced in zero-covid China, *this* takes the biscuit. Around the corner from my apartment, a temporary quarantine spot has appeared in the form of a taped off square on the pavement…
#china
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If this is indeed the case, then I’ve got to say that on a purely personal level, the amount of surveillance and intrusion into our daily lives in the name of ‘covid control’ is exhausting.
H/t
@macastel3
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And that’s it!
The end of a pretty tumultuous year - from being locked out of China for two months due to covid restrictions, followed by 76 days of quarantine and a very hard lockdown, to protests and an abrupt end to Covid-zero. 2023, bring it on!
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I’m told by friends that police have blocked the roads around this area and they’re not letting people through.
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It’s official. I’ve found the world’s most hideous T-shirt on Taobao. Planning to wear this when out running. Shouldn’t be hard for drivers to see me!
#taobao
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China survival tip
#8543
The Wi-Fi password is nearly always going to be 12345678, 88888888 or 00000000.
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When I last left the UK, I thought I’d be back in just a few months - perhaps six at most. Nearly two years later and I’m finally sat on a plane heading home.
Desperately excited to see my family and friends again.
Bye for now China. 🇨🇳
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Two minutes of searching and I’ve found “Wilson Edwards” on Facebook. He recently joined, has just three friends and has only posted once. That post has been widely cited by Chinese state media. 👇
Looking for Wilson Edwards, alleged 🇨🇭 biologist, cited in press and social media in China over the last several days. If you exist, we would like to meet you! But it is more likely that this is a fake news, and we call on the Chinese press and netizens to take down the posts.
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Tonight’s PCR test queue in Beijing (6.30PM). I need a test taken within 24 hours to enter my office building. Many others also need 24 / 48 hour test to enter office buildings, malls, and housing compounds too…
#beijing
#zerocovid
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Just to give you an idea of what Covid-zero means, after one visitor at Shanghai Disneyland later tested positive, so far 706 “close contacts” and 141 “secondary contacts” have been quarantined and 67,715 people tested. The park has also been closed. Source: China Daily.
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Oh boy, Beijing News seems to be telling people to “not have direct skin contact with foreigners” to prevent monkeypox infections. This is really going to help with the foreigner Covid discrimination…
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It’s been nearly three weeks since the Shanghai protests on Wulumuqi Road. The police and security still guard the street 24 hours a day.
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Merry Christmas from Shanghai.
Another taobao find. £2.30.
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The UK’s covid rules are very odd. Despite having a WHO-approved vaccine, I’ve got to quarantine for 10 days at home (as Sinopharm isn’t recognised here) - but I’m allowed to walk out of the airport and get public transport to that quarantine. Also very few people wearing a mask.
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An AP journalist and others were tackled and hit repeatedly on their heads by police using their hands.
The journalist and four others were put in a police van and taken to a station in northern Shanghai.
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One man has just approached me to say his flowers were confiscated by police. As he tells me this, two cops come over to listen to our conversation.
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Calling scientists. Does anyone know the effectiveness of fogging an empty street with what one can only assume is some sort of disinfectant fog?
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Someone’s mocked up a Shanghai lockdown monopoly board… 😆
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some small crowds are gathered on the sidewalks quietly watching the scene and the police presence. I’ve seen several people with flowers. One girl was holding a blank piece of paper.
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This women is taking protection to the next level. SHE’S WEARING A PLASTIC BAG OVER HER HEAD. Save yourself from the virus perhaps, but risk suffocation in the process...
#china
#coronavirus
#CoronaOutbreak
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Meeting for lunch with a mate in Beijing. Having to shout a bit as we’re not allowed to sit at the same table.
#coronavirus
#china
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Nobody is allowed outside - not even one person to collect essentials. Given vegetables yesterday by govt but only enough for a couple of days. Need meat, rice, eggs, and most importantly water. Many of my friends in the same position. What about the elderly who don’t use apps?!
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It's 12.30am on the 30th March, an hour and a half after we're supposed to have left the EU.
IT'S A WRAP!!! Thanks
@bbclaurak
for the past 9 months. The Brexit Storm airs Monday 9pm on BBC Two.
#brexit
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Just park closer to the building… 🤷♂️
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Harbin taxi driver tells me it’s company policy not to take foreigners due to the pandemic + he must report if he takes foreigners (who book on app like me). His advice “next time wear a big hat or a hood and don’t talk when you get in”.
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The famous Roujiamo (delicious).
A Chinese-American friend says she calls it a ‘Roger Moore’ to remember the name easier 😂
#china
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I’m in a number of expat WeChat groups for Brits who live in China. Week by week I’m astounded at some of the subtle and not so subtle racism - despite literally living in Asia…
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Another day, another lockdown in
#shanghai
. The building here locked down for two days due to a resident being deemed a ‘close contact’ I’m told. Those not happy about it carted off by police…
This video from a friend.
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Two years ago, a ‘4 day’ hard lockdown began in Shanghai. It went on for two months (longer for some). Some people couldn’t get food or medical treatment as authorities tried to completely get rid of Covid-19 - which would turn out to be an impossible task.
#covidzero
#china
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Out for dinner tonight at a quiet Beijing restaurant. That was until 7 police officers/ officials came in to shut the place down for no apparent reason. Diners filmed with police phones and body cams before a tearful manager told everyone to leave- some midway through their meal.
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Looks like Twitter is catching up with the unmarked accounts of Chinese state media journalists. These are CGTN reporters, but you wouldn’t know it from their bios, until now…
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"I don't really know what to say, as someone who works still every day with victims of rape the idea that it is funny or a joke to hear someone saying that that if forced they would rape me."
@jessphillips
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The city of Sanya on Hainan Island has gone into full lockdown after a surge in covid-19 cases. Hainan is known as the ‘Hawaii of China’. 80k tourists are stranded according to local media.
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For anyone wondering, the big blue fences are still up on Wulumuqi Road - the site of protests on 26th and 27th November. They’re also up along most surrounding streets too.
#shanghai
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This, outside the US Embassy in London.
#Trump
#WomensMarch
demo. Packed, although it hasn't started yet. Didn't happen with
#Obama
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#Shanghai
to go into lockdown as the city battles a domestic wave of Covid-19. Pudong will first be locked down 28 March - 1 April for mass-testing, followed by Puxi from 1 April - 5th April. Public transport will be suspended and people will not be allowed to leave home.
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If you didn’t know, this is probably where your iPhone is made…
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Scenes reportedly from Guangzhou 👇
NEW - People in China's Guangzhou city tear down COVID barricades.
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Quick escape from my Beijing hotel after waking up to this… 👀
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A potentially big change in messaging, though many friends here in Shanghai are getting red health codes (means quarantine) for apparently being in places they haven’t been. Let’s see if that changes in the coming days…
Guangzhou has announced lifting of all lockdowns. Beijing has been gradually lifting lockdowns over the past few days. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Wed formally noted the virus' weakening pathogenicity for the first time...China is speeding up to cast aside large-scale lockdowns.
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Happy Christmas from Shanghai where I’ve discovered a half-decent pasty shop. Very almost a taste from home.
(I think the middle one is attempting to be a beef wellington).
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Yet another friend permanently leaves
#Shanghai
today. Stuck out zero covid, the heavily restrictive and costly border and not being able to see family or travel home. The final straw - lockdown, and the potential for more lockdowns to come.
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A sunset shot from The Great Wall of China outside Beijing last month. Phenomenal structure, phenomenal sunset. ☀️
#china
#greatwallofchina
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Chinese friend who’s just moved to the UK “Do you guys all finish work around 5 or something? No wonder your economy is the way it is” 🤣
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New exercise vest has arrived. Perhaps a little triggering for some.
Ps I think I’ve got a Taobao addiction…
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I literally had 17 PCR tests in 21 days despite not being allowed to leave home for anything other than the tests. Not sure how much more they can increase the frequency…
After one month’s fight against
#Omicron
, Shanghai saw 20,000+ new daily infections, a record high, on Sat. The epidemic has claimed 87 lives in the city. Experts suggest mass nucleic acid testing at higher frequency, on wider scale.
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Just after 6am. Up again early for a forth day in a row trying to put through a food shop order as the shops open. No luck. Have tried a few different apps and shops but not so lucky today. Seems a lot of Shanghai’s awake trying the same thing. The system is gridlocked.
#shanghai
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It seems the lockdown is actually for a “secondary” contact (a contact of a contact” which isn’t allowed. When asked why it was happening, the official replied “Your question is very difficult to answer. You will understand it after you have been in China for a long time 😃”
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Visited the island of Gulangyu off Xiamen for a few days. Stumbled across a wax museum and so decided to visit.
First up, Former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher or Meryl Streep. I’m not sure.
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but twitter is banned/ blocked in mainland China...
Freedom of speech must be honored,
@ChinaEmbSL
said after its Twitter account was suddenly suspended
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Filming in rural China and ruined my clothes so had to buy some new ones from a local store. A very different look for me but I reckon it could catch on…
#trendsetter
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