Obama visits the forbidden city

Alright, we don't really have anything to say about this, we just love the picture. How can you not? It's one of the most beautiful places in China, and certainly one of the most haunting in the world (though, like Obama's trip, it's been hollowed out and stripped of any sort of deep significance, turning it into a mere symbol). Plus, the press has been following Obama around like lost fauns, waiting for him to make the right face or hand motion that will perfectly capture the essence of the president, in relation to his surroundings in China. It seems that the best thing that can come out of this trip for Obama is a bunch of good photo ops.

We're exited to see what sort of beautiful vistas come out of Obama's trip to the Great Wall today, and we're not even sure if that was sarcastic. Thanks, Sina, for giving us at least one bright spot in the endless, meaningless coverage you've devoted to the president's trip. We appreciate it, really.

And in looking for a copy of this picture that didn't have Xinhua emblazoned in the corner, we found an interesting article from the Christian Science Monitor on Obama's forced lack of charisma in China. Yep, we feel you.

Update: Shanghai Daily has some hard hitting reportage from Obama's honorary dinner last night:

Last night, a large, circular table draped in yellow was the setting for a state dinner China held in Obama's honor in the Golden Room of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The guests dined on chicken soup with bean curd, Chinese-style beef steak, stir-fried wild rice stem and asparagus, and roast grouper - all washed down with red and white Chinese wine.

The playlist for a Chinese army band providing the entertainment included a curious mix of US and Chinese songs.

Among them: "America the Beautiful," "We Are the World," "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "In the Mood" and the Chinese folk song, "Embroidering a Pouch."

Sigh. At least they admit it was a "curious" playlist, though we might have stronger words to describe it.

Photo from Sina