Guia Cultural da Costa Verde

Mangaratiba • Serra do Piloto

SR. CHINA

A famous character in his private setting

A character “more well-known than a one-centavo coin” as defined by this good natured man himself – known from his childhood as China because of his slanted eyes due to his Japanese grandfather – was born in Nilópolis close to Rio de Janeiro, but has lived in Serra do Piloto since the 1970s.

On arrival in the region he opened his unusual Bar do China which had a pot still in the back, and for some time served to distill a home-made liquor. In addition to drinks, the bar always had for sale cigars and items such as lamps, fishing hooks, axes and endless utilities. It is located strategically right in front of the square on the main street in Serra do Piloto on the way to São João Marcos park.

The inside area is an attraction in itself. Shelves full of bottles kept in the same position since the day that the bar was opened. As the years went by, spider webs and a layer of dust took over, providing a certain charm and originality to the venue that resembles more a film set. To complete the environment, he exhibits his collection of over 1000 key rings, none of which were purchased, as he makes a point of explaining. All of them were gifts, or were exchanged or taken from his friends.

The irreverent China was born in 1942 and has plenty of stories to tell. His bar has no regular opening days or hours but on weekends it is almost certain to find him there chatting with passers-by or welcoming friends with a cold beer in the porch, which features rustic tree-trunk furniture. China also loves fishing in his smallholding on the way to São João Marcos, and if encouraged by his friends he will not hesitate in closing the bar and running off to his private refuge.

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