The notion of Spring Break always struck me as a stereotypical all-American college kid’s experience – an expanded version of a frat party except on a beach resort area Ibiza, Cancun, Daytona, etc.  Lots of drinking, hooking up, and scantily clad coeds.  But I do wonder what would happen the day when China develops a critical mass of state universities (as opposed to just a few prestige ones like Beijing University), the middle class starts to explode, and students have ample disposable income and access to all sorts of excesses.  Would Chinese students be racing around the beaches of Xuhai in their Jiangling SUV screaming “Jia You!” as they high five their Tsingtao guzzling frat brothers on?  I think China has tremendous potential to be the next hot Spring Break destination for locals and the westerners looking to party hard in the Wild East and here’s why:

1. China is now the #1 beer market:  Now that Chinese government has banned Anheuser-Busch from further expanding into China with further acquisitions of its regional breweries, China’s ‘Snow Beer’ has overtaken Budweiser as the world’s best selling beer.  Make sure you grab your ‘Snow Beer’ trucker cap and muscle tank top before supplies run out.

2.Fubai:  Literally translated as ‘corruption’, fubai used to be a term in reference to corrupt officials but now means to go out with friends to enjoy an expensive meal.  ‘Fubai’ can mean going out for an exotic seafood banquet or afternoon tea at Pizza Hut which in Asia is not a diminishing fast food joint (here’s an obituary by fellow offender Phil mourning Roundtable Pizza) but an overpriced, fancier chain restaurant ala Cheesecake Factory.  But the key component of ‘fubai’ is lots of beer and “gan beis” (aka bottoms up) all around!

3. Sanya Beach:  A city in Southern Hainan province (the birthplace of the Hainan chicken), Sanya Beach has not only emerged as a popular tourist destination but is the site for the Chinese national beach volleyball team and such spectacles as the “Miss World Pageant” and ‘World’s Strongest Man” contest.  With model Zhang Zi Lin winning the Miss World crown in 2007, there now only needs to be a Chinese victor in the ‘World’s Strongest Man’ contest.  Perhaps, the “truck/airplane” pull should be integrated as part of the national fitness program.

4. Harbin Snow Bikini Contest:  Apparently, the allure of women in bikinis knows no boundaries.  Harbin, the city located in Northeast China is known for its freezing Siberian winds, Russian influence, and fur industry.  So, naturally it would be the perfect locale for a bikini contest.  Along with ice sculptures at the annual International Ice and Snow Festival, Harbin might offer an alternative to those spring breakers who prefer to party in the cold but don’t want to sacrifice the bikinis.