Truly Asia

This morning when surfing CNN.com I ran across this ad for travel to Malaysia:

truly Asia

Truly Asia, eh? The implication there is that there are some “so-called Asia” nations that are actually no more than a bunch of posers. Which nations are the posers, I wonder? Anyone care to speculate?

I also began to wonder: does China have any similar tourism slogans, or is it too busy scaring off the rest of the world to bother? What slogans might China use if given the chance?

Here are a few suggestions:

– Asia-er than you.
– More Asia than you can handle.
– The only source of Asian culture.
– The real Asia. (don’t be fooled by imitators)
– Not as communist as you think.

Feel free to add your own.

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John Pasden

John is a Shanghai-based linguist and entrepreneur, founder of AllSet Learning.

Comments

  1. there’s only One China

  2. LOL Adam, thats a great one which I don’t believe I can top, but I’ll try.

    We Laowai.

    Mao was here.

    or maybe

    3605 years of history is close enough.

  3. waaah, it didn’t work, maybe if I try again.

    We ♥ Laowai.

    It should show a heart symbol but you may need to change your encoding to see it.

  4. China – Your well come to it.

  5. You may have started a monster here!

    “Not the real Asia, but a really good copy at an incredibly low price”

  6. China..Not just for Communist Sympathizers Anymore

    or

    China: SARs Free Since 2004

  7. Deane Toohey Says: June 27, 2005 at 12:33 pm

    my guess would be it is a slight dig at Australia, considering the history of our two nations.

  8. I’ve been watching that ad on CNN and Discovery channel for a long time now.

    For Korea how about: Korea the Xenophobic Schozophrenic hub of Asia.

  9. I’m Malaysian…nice to see that ad. I do believe they came up with “Malaysia, Truly Asia” because Malaysia is a mixing pot of a lot of Asian cultures. You can find Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Indonesian etc etc cultures in Malaysia. Not exactly the way you put it… my two cents…

  10. Malaysia also has the attractions of comparatively sanitary toilets, better food than China (good food from all over, not just Chinese) and people who politely queue, say ‘sorry’, ‘excuse me, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and don’t barge you out of the way…

    Malaysia, Asia with good manners…

  11. I think martin’s was the best so far but i will try…
    “what could be finer than visiting China”

  12. Here are a lot…

    China – we very want you to coming to we country.
    China – Home of DaShan
    China – Not just for Chinese.
    China – at least we’re not Japanese.
    China – Mao was here.
    All Chinglish, All the time.
    Now, one China, next, one China World.
    Would you like a number 47 or 62?
    Birthplace of Mousey Dong and Done Shopping
    Come to see the Great Wall, stay to hear “Laowai, laowai, laowai”
    Zhongguo – we’re not your dinner plates… b**ch.

  13. If I have choose, I’ll vote for John’s Not as communist as you think. However, the six hundred pound (and 4,000 year old) gorilla needs no introduction which is why China hasn’t done anything like this — but I could be speaking too soon.

    Malaysia’s ad could be a slight dig at China, too. In fact I’m most certain it is.

  14. Those “Malaysia, Truly Asia” ads are on constant rotation on CNN.

    I seem to recall mainland Chinese TV having a bunch of similar commercials for individual cities. I remember seeing all these ads of rich white people playing golf and going to spas and then they’d flash some crazy slogan like “Vibrant Ningbo!” Yeah, kids, pack your luggage, we’re going to fabulous scenic Ningbo. Try not to wet your pants in excitement.

  15. China: Want a Banana?
    China: Enjoy It!
    China: Copyright, All Rights Reserved.
    No pirating here. China is the real deal.
    Be seduced by the mysterious Asia.

  16. Kikko Man Says: June 28, 2005 at 2:26 am

    How about…???

    -Enjoy China… or die!!!!
    -Taiwan… the other China.
    -10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 served and counting.

    I like Zhou Le’s too!!!

  17. China, from Rice to Space Capsules.
    Do you China?
    China explained: 4000 years of history distorted by Japs.
    Come to China- never come back again (for you won’t leave it)

  18. China: Where foreign devils are treated like kings

  19. CCTV-9 used to have some pretty awful promotional spots:
    – “China is changing, and changing fast…”
    – “What color do you see, in your eyes? Is it green? Blue? or even….Red?”

    But it’s been a couple years since I’ve watched that channel. Don’t know what new wonders they’ve come up with.

  20. How about a TV ad featuring a Jiang Zemin lookalike saying “China: you will visit!” and then staring, unblinking, at the camera for the next 30 seconds.

  21. Kikko Man Says: June 28, 2005 at 11:04 am

    Brendan has a sick gift.

  22. China – Where everyone knows your name [and it’s Laowai]

    China, Land of billion hellos

    Asia with Chinese Characteristics

  23. Asia – the one thing we didn’t copy

  24. “Made in China – The ultimate outlet store”
    “Herro!”
    “China – Where the women are docile and submissive” Bwahahahahaha
    “1.6 Billion People Can’t Be Wrong”
    “China – Better than Utah”
    “You Can’t Beat Us, Join Us”
    “Got Red?”
    “China – Bring Your Money, Leave Your Freedom of Speach”
    “China – You Make It, We Copy It”
    “Have Organs, You Travel”
    “China – At least we are open about our corruption”
    “China – The Other Red State”
    “China – Not the home of Bush”

    I could go on, but I think I have pissed off enough people. 😉

    Lao

  25. Targeted advertising is the way to go, I think. For countries like Nepal, India, Pakistan, Inner Mongolia, etc, the slogan could be:

    “China – It’s closer than you thought.”

    For Japan, it would have to be:

    “China – Unforgettable.”

    For Australia (and Canada, US?) it could simply be:

    “Welcome home.”

    For the dateless men demographic:

    “Do you like Chinese girls?”

    And for the missionary demographic:

    “China – Like shooting fish in a barrel.”

  26. Kikko Man Says: June 29, 2005 at 9:00 am

    Lao…. don’t forget the people that youve made smile.

  27. Mike Tang Says: June 30, 2005 at 12:44 pm
    1. China – Come for the desperate ladies, stay for the executions.

    2. “Got torture?”

  28. Todd – for Japan, shouldn’t it be “China — Unforgetful?”

    And for the US: “China — You Owe Us Money.”

  29. China – “Close your mind”

  30. Adam – what’s with the new slogan? Something happen recently?

  31. D. Yeo Says: May 3, 2006 at 1:39 pm

    As a Singaporean, I’m tempted to speculate that the Malaysian tourism tagline of ‘Truly Asia’ is at least in part a response to Singapore’s tagline of ‘New Asia’. Both are relatively good descriptions, though, since Singapore’s trying to play up the modern aspect while Malaysia’s going for the laid-back rustic feel.

  32. Hooooooooooooooow about!?

    China – the truely corrupted, nontransparent, unaccountable, Tianiman Square massacring Communists… Welcome to our ‘bribed’ home!

  33. Da Xiangchang Says: June 8, 2006 at 11:52 am

    Ohhh, give me a break. If you’re going to recycle right-wing talking points, at least spell them correctly (“truely,” “Tianiman”?!!).

  34. If you don’t love it, leave it…when you’re running down my country, man, you’re walking on the fighting side of me.

  35. hei long Says: June 10, 2006 at 8:42 am

    Jeff what the Hell are you talking about?
    “CHINA: LAND OF A THOUSAND FREEDOMS YOU DIDNT KNOW YOU HAD.”

  36. China –
    We’re the center of the world, and you’re not!

  37. I’m from Malaysia too. I think it’s the diversity of races, religion and culture that forms our tag line, “Malaysia, Truly Asia”.
    However, what Andrew says isn’t totally true. It would be really nice is Malaysia could live up to what he says, “Malaysia, Asia with good manners…”

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