The Bruce Lee magic extends beyond fist and philosophy. He was also a fashionable mofo. And Bruceshop rises to the challenge, capturing his unique look with his signature outfits. That starts with this killer piece – the yello Bruce Lee kung fu jumpsuit. This one-piece is 178rmb And everything here can be made custom made for a small additional charge (like 10rmb)

Even if you are not familiar with Bruce Lee, you may recognize the outfit. It is the Kill Bill special. Oh man it is so badass. You see those shoes Uma Therming is wearing? Yeah they got those too, for 222rmb in sizes up to 45.

The Two-piece Option

…is probably a stronger choice if you are looking to wear it street style. (Society continues to look unfavorably on one-piece jumpsuit fashions.) Maybe you need both – one for combat and one for cocktails.

Deep into Bruce’s Wardrobe

Bruceshop could have stopped there, content that they had delivered on Bruce Lee’s fashion legacy. But they forged on, digging through the archives and creating replicas of nearly every piece of clothing the man was ever photographed in. None of them are more than 200rmb.

That last one is my top choice. Although I am uncertain of the performance of my chest in this outfit, I am going to forge ahead like a fashion rebel.

Custom Bruce Lee Ninja outfits

In Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee put on his ninja outfit and stuck into the evil guy’s fortress, discovering his nasty plans in the process. Eventually he got captured and immediately sat down to meditate (as shown below). You can get yourself a custom-fitted ninja suit complete with black shoulder bag for weapons and stuff. Highly recommended.

Bruce Lee Gold Pendant Necklace

If you are going for the Bruce Lee look and really need to get it just right, then you can’t go wrong with this piece. It supposedly was the original gold necklace worn by the man himself. 220000rmb.

Bruceshop has yet more to offer. Stay tuned.

The Bruce Lee marathon continues with a trip into the mind of the man. He created his own form of kung fu just because all the existing styles couldn’t contain his immense power. And because kung fu without a philosophical basis is just punching, Bruce broke it down with thoughts for the modern man.

“When there is freedom from mechanical conditioning, there is simplicity. The classical man is just a bundle of routine, ideas and tradition. If you follow the classical pattern, you are understanding the routine, the tradition, the shadow – you are not understanding yourself.”

If you want to learn more of Jeet Kun Do’s teachings, these guys have a ton of books and magazines including some rare collectibles to complete your Leebrary.

Bruce Lee Photo Album

This impressively bound volume of Bruce Lee’s photo history is probably the only suitable coffee table book for a manly apartment. Credit cards are to show size.

It wasn’t all about ass-kicking for BL. He also took some time out to chase skirts. The book is 990rmb.

Wooden Dummy Trainer Manual

If you bought the wooden dummy trainer we talked about earlier, you probably need some good tips on how to use it. I am here to tell you that there is no better source for this knowledge than Master Yip Chun. This book is about 500rmb.

Rare 1963 Bruce Lee ‘Gung Fu’ Guidebook

If you have a couple thousand USD to burn on Bruce Lee memorabilia, you can pick up this rare 1963 book – one of only 500 produced – in which Bruce Lee teaches ‘Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophy of Self Defense.’  You would probably look at this and think that it is the rarest book in the shop. You would be so wrong! 15500rmb

Bruce Lee’s Personal Notebook

Everyone in my Junior High used to have a notebook that looked just like this.  But supposedly this is made by the man Bruce Lee himself  - and is certified real. This Taobao shop has officially blown my mind! It is 350,000rmb (That’s $51,000 USD.)

Bruceshop – the Bruce Lee Megastore – is TFG-approved

Every couple of years I remember just how badass Bruce Lee is. In the past, that meant a Bruce Lee movie marathon and a couple intimidating kung fu kicks in the mirror. This year I hit the jackpot, Taobao style. I found bruceshop.cn, a huge Taobao shop containing all things Bruce. Not just his movies. (If you are shopping at the Bruce Lee store, chances are you probably already have the complete DVD collection.)  Bruceshop’s catalog goes deep with books, weapons and even clothing to give yourself a full badass makeover.  Strap in – this is gonna get serious!

Fight Like Bruce Lee

Today we cover weapons – the weapons used by this kung fu legend to kick ass. We start with some beginners’ weapons. I think the official name for these are “bashin’ sticks.” They are not quite as cool as his trademark nunchucks, but there is a greatly reduced chance to smack yourself in the forehead. 168 rmb for these

Bruce Lee Signature Nunchucks

Trust me on this one – you need to match your nunchucks with the Bruce Lee outfit you are about to buy. Get them in wood or foam. Let’s start with foam – they are only 35rmb and will prevent you from accumulating the bruises.

Ornate Nunchucks

Bruceshop’s nunchuck selection is vast, perhaps even surpassing the selection of our favorite nunchuck fight club. Choose your sticks wisely. The gold inlay on these strikers make them an excellent choice. 350rmb

Electric Nunchucks

These are rare electric nunchucks from a Japanese Bruce Lee video game. Yes! In the tradition of crazy Japanese video games like Samba de Amigo (a game that came with maracas). These are expensive.

Bruce Lee Training Workshop

Bruceshop also carries a modest selection of training equipment. I recommend improving your Fists of Fury with these oversized novelty boxing gloves – increasing your handspeed and giving you maximum impact protection.  49rmb per pair.

Wooden Enemy Trainer

If you don’t practice your blocking, you will get a face full of fist in no time. You desperately need this wooden enemy trainer. Apart from blocking, it will also train your discipline, as you restrain yourself from hanging clothes on it. And if you are really cool and manly and want to keep a house that reflects this, this will also serve as excellent decoration. 1180rmb, and totally worth it.

Bruceshop is To Be Continued

If you are a technology-aware Chinese learner, then you definitely already know about nciku, the awesome online dictionary that has emerged as the de facto champion for online Chinese-English translation.

nciku polo – 50rmb

Show some love for your favorite web apps

Finally those geniuses have put their so-familiar-it-might-as-well-be-my-homepage logo on some sweet merch to let your Google-Translate-using friends what’s really up.

nciku coffee mugs – 9rmb

9rmb ain’t bad!

Everything is such a bargain! Now if only they will put their cool iphone app on the android, we would be all set. (Hint, hint nciku: port your iphone app to android please!)

http://nciku.taobao.com/

Once again, the superstar design minds in Beijing have generated a great clothing brand. NLGX draws its inspiration from the distinct flavors of China. They bring together the coolest bits of found design. Anything you buy here today is certain to become your favorite nostalgic item in a few year’s time.

Recycled Blue and White Bianzhidai Bags

Not only does NLGX use some of China’s best recycled iconography, they also use recycled materials from China’s signature sights. Like those blue-and-white-striped bianzhidai bags that are a common sight at the train station.  Those bags carry the hopes and dreams of migrant China on their voyage into the big cities. Re-purposed for your essentials.

Recycled Magazine and Newspaper Bags

Military themed magazines always catch my eye on the China newsstands. This one makes a formidable impression. Solid. Waterproofed newspaper lining completes the ultracool package.

PEK vs SHA

Equipping the combatants of China’s biggest intercity rivalry, NLGX has created apparel and accessories to let you rep your city – lest anyone forget which side of the battle you’re on. (Shanghai, represent!)

Airport Fetish

Taking after my own heart, NLGX has an airport fetish. Airport and metro styling are right up my alley, and I’ve had my eye on this luggage-tag style T-shirt for a little while.  They have a big sale going on these days – I think it is time to make it mine.

NLGX.com

NLGX on Taobao

]]> http://taobaofieldguide.com/cool-stuff-to-buy-on-taobao/nlgx-brand-clothing-loves-chinas-recycled-design/feed 1 http://taobaofieldguide.com/cool-stuff-to-buy-on-taobao/prototype-transformer-toys-leak-on-taobao http://taobaofieldguide.com/cool-stuff-to-buy-on-taobao/prototype-transformer-toys-leak-on-taobao#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:46:39 +0000 The Field Guide http://taobaofieldguide.com/?p=3801

Action Figures, Still Rad

A little while ago, we went undercover for the Terror Drome to scope out some freekin sweet GI Joe action figures, which had leaked out on Taobao ahead of their official release date. This is our favorite kind of story, so we were excited to see Transformers nerds find some of their own precious cargo hit the interwebs.

Now with Extra Class

According to the toy nerds: this new specimen is no ordinary action figure, but a deluxe class action figure based on the Transformers 2 movie.  The robot is identified as Ironhide who –  if I remember correctly from the movie –  spazed out shot lasers and stuff.

Not Only Do You Get a Robot…

That badass robot you see will change its appearance – some may say transmorph – into this cool truck. That is truckin’ rad!

I really wish that Taobao was the source of more of these kinds of leaks. You never know – there may be brand-name prototype floor mops and umbrellas being leaked all the time, but without the investigative power of a rabid fan base to uncover them. Thanks to the meganerds at Tformers.com for bringing these things to light!

More than meets the eye – 600rmb

An Agent with Insider Knowledge

Obook is a Taobao Agent with a unique perspective. They themselves run a successful Taobao shop selling books and magazines (hence the name). With this insider’s knowledge of the Taobao market, they are uniquely qualified to help you buy stuff from Taobao – at the right price.

Quick and Easy – Just Email Them

The Obook website doesn’t require registration or learning any new webforms. They cut out the automation and focus on personal attention. Just send them an email telling them what you want. The flexibility of this personal attention helps a lot when you have a special request. They are very fast and responsive, and will provide you a quick price quote for your consideration. With offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, they can provide logistical flexibility to ensure that your order is handled as efficiently as possible. And now that Shanghai enjoys same-day delivery options, that means getting your order that much faster.

The Taobao-eBay Hybrid Method

Obook loves positive feedback, and cultivates it on eBay as well as on Taobao. Running shops on both sites allows you to view their reliability from several perspectives. You can find their eBay shop here, and read the positive reviews given by happy customers of their Taobao Agent service.

If you have an eBay account, you will be able to pay a part of the transaction through eBay, and leave them some feedback of your own. Or if you don’t have one, you can still pay via Paypal, like with other Agents.

The Obook service fee is 15%, and includes:

• Quick and friendly response on all inquiries
• Easy and flexible email service
• Insider’s knowledge and negotiation with Taobao shops
• Complete product verification to make sure you receive the right stuff
• Efficient and safe packaging
• Discount international shipping (65% to 70% cheaper than list price)
• The option to leave eBay feedback

Want a quick answer on your Taobao inquiry? Send Obook an email now and get a quote on your order.

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Back when I only had one computer, one VPN access point was fine. But now that I have two computers, a PS3, and a wifi-ready Android phone. Applying the VPN to the latter two, in particular, has become a sisyphean ordeal. I need an easier way to share the VPN love.

Here’s the answer

The Belkin Enhanced Wireless Router is a home networking ninja, which will take your VPN login info and keep you connected. This tip comes courtesy of my amigos at weird shanghai (I think you’ll need a VPN to see it).

It’s called Passthrough

Not sure if this works for all VPN services. So check with your provider if they support ‘VPN passthrough’ before buying the router.  For example here is how you would set it up for Witopia.

VPNs and Taobao Access

One word of warning: VPNs can mess with your Taobao access. If Taobao thinks you are signing in from overseas, they may freeze your account. Just give them a call and tell them that you have the VPN, and they will chill out.  Taobao Service Number: 0571-88157858

Belkin Enhanced Wireless Router – 285rmb

I am the subject of an increasing number of belly pokes recently. Friends, colleagues, and girlfriend laobanniang all seem to think it is funny to point out my fatness. What’s worse, my recent attempts to lose weight via peculiar Chinese products has flat-out failed.

American-style weightloss

My fellow Americanos may not be the fittest bunch, but we do have some advanced fitness products. I have heard some great things about P90X, a 12-DVD set that promises to get you into Terminator-fighting shape.

Look at that! Awesome!

P90X Equipment

To be able to fully take advantage of the P90X system, I need to get some stuff from Taobao.

Since the program is done at home, the user needs to have dumbbells (usually 15s, 20s, and 25s) and a pull-up bar, or else a resistance band, for strength training exercises, along with a sturdy chair. Optional equipment includes a yoga mat for the abdominal and yoga portions, push-up handles … and a heart rate monitor for the cardio workouts.

I am going to get the stuff in bold, skipping the weights in favor of resistance bands.

Pull-up bar

Just hook this one on the door frame and presto! Another place to hang clothes!

Pull-up bar – 43rmb

Resistance band set

These glorified rubber bands cost a bit, but go for ones that look capable so you don’t lose an eye doing your curls.

Resistance band set – 70-100rmb

Yoga Mat

The yoga mat market seems to be unfairly directed towards women. Modern men need these ones too. They suggest a thick one to maintain tail bone comfort.

Yoga mat – 230rmb

Push-up handles

You can get traditional I-shaped ones, or if you prefer your push-ups more perfect, try the rotating versions. Same price.

Push-up handles – 20rmb

Heart-rate monitor

I expected these to be cheaper on Taobao. For a heart rate monitor that straps to your wrist, expect to pay at least 100rmb. There are finger spot-check models for cheaper, but I am serious about my fitness.

Heart-rate monitor – from 138rmb

Total cost

All-in we spent about 500rmb on all this stuff. Plus some shipping, which we mitigated by buying some of the things together form the same Taobao Sellers. That is quite a price to pay – but anything to avoid those pesky belly-pokes.

Warnings come in about yoybuy.com

A reader from Australia has written in to warn us of a bad experience he had shopping with Taobao Agent yoybuy.com. Before we detail the complaint, let us say that to our knowledge yoybuy does a mostly decent job serving their customers (thanks for the reports from two satisfied yoybuy customers in the comments).

The issue

The complaint says that yoybuy took the buyer’s order and sent him a cheaper version of the product. The buyer had found a good vendor for his products on Taobao, and had been satisfied with previous orders, and even though he requested that yoybuy use that vendor, they did not, and the result was inferior products.

Any other reports?

If you have worked with Taobao agents before, let us know about your experiences!