Five Deserted Island China Blogs -- Just The Essentials, Ma'am.

Maybe I have been watching too much Lost (all that remains is the Season 4 finale), but in response to a barrage of demand (one email suggestion around a year ago), I have decided it is time I come out with my list of the five China blogs I would want to be able to read were I to be stranded on a deserted island for the next year or two. Now remember, this list is not meant to be the best five blogs or the most enjoyable five blogs or even the most important five blogs. It is a list of the five blogs I would want were I to be stranded without any other reading material. That all of these blogs have daily or near daily postings (oftentimes multiple postings per day) is a big plus as I figure I will have plenty of time to fill. It would be a cop out were I too list anything even resembling a blog aggregator (like Chinalyst or China Digital Times or Virtual Review China) so I will not.

So without further ado, and in no particular order, and with just a bit of explanation, here goes:

1. Peking Duck. Why? Because this blog best captures the zeitgeist of China's expat community. Plus, it is fun.

2. Danwei. Why? Because there is something worth reading on there every day and every week or so there is something on there that is completely original and of critical importance.

3. EastSouthWestNorth (a/k/a ESWN). Why? Because it tells exactly what is happening in China and when it really matters, it gets in depth with it.

4. Shanghaiist. Why? See Danwei explanation above.

5. ImageThief. Why? Because it deals with the big issues as well as anyone and the writing is just so damn good.

What do you think?