Week Around the Ists
Interview: Coco Zhao, from jazz to M. Butterfly
Cinematheque: Mulan is finally Chinese again! (and other film news)
Massive protest in Guangzhou: Why would you burn garbage?
Visitors to the Life Art Center, also known as that place on Maoming Lu with lots of bad art and Southern Barbarian, may have noticed something a little out of the ordinary lately: Shanghai's first head shop (that we know of at least).
They aren't even trying to hide it, either. It's literally the first thing you see at the end of the hall when you step in through the Jinxian Lu entrance. Bongs, pipes, and bubblers... oh my! The name, "High Times," is equally indiscreet and not to mention a little mundane from the normally creative stoner community. The shop appeared to be closed when we visited at around 3:00pm on a Sunday, which even for a head shop is pushing it. With so much pot paraphernalia so brazenly placed behind its glass windows, the whole thing felt a bit like, well, a sting. But, we're probably just being paranoid.
This sort of thing might not raise as many eyebrows back home, but we question the wisdom of such a move in this particular country. Given China's particular stance on this position and last summer's theatrics particular position on the issue, however, the whole idea seems, for lack of a better term, a little half-baked.
But hey, they've certainly got a built-in customer base in the expat community and we even have a restaurant called Munchies now, so maybe there's hope after all. We wish them luck while they last and would like to be the first to suggest a possible Southern Barbarian fried goat cheese crossover promotion.
More pictures after the jump:
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Is there a sign that says "for tobacco use only?"
I saw a bong and pot paraphernalia shop in Shenzhen's Dongmen area about 18 months ago. It was on an inside hall in a non-descript looking mall, but it wasn't exactly hidden either.
As long as the owner doesn't sell or traffic drugs, I don't see how the death sentence would apply. But I am sure this might attract unwanted attention and cause other problems for the owner.
Jin Xian Lu? I never heard of this road. Where the heck is that in relation to Mao Ming Lu Gotta check it out! CJ
Maybe someone ought to hang a sign saying "heads of state" with pictures of glorious chinese leaders on it.
There's another one on Xinle lu near Donghu lu down from Des Lys restaurant... can't miss it...
I once went into a head shop in Texas and was told that I had to ask for "Tobacco pipes" and "vases". Funny how those "vases" were three feet high and had two bowls!