Move over Mao! The Beijing Olympic stadium is taking over as symbol of China pride, at least on newly-issued 10 RMB notes, which feature the stadium and Greek statuary, but no portrait of the Chairman. Mao’s absence from the currency marks the first time in nearly a decade that he hasn’t been prominently featured on Chinese cash.Mao’s image may be on the decline, but there is one thing China will never relinquish — the bicycle.......

Baidu has released its video search report, and Kaiser Kuo of the Ogilvy China Digital Watch translates and summarises some of the key findings. Interestingly, “adult-related” search terms account for 34.14% of daily search volume, followed by celebrity-related (14.74%), TV serial related (12.48%), and animation-related (12.21%) searches. Google is reportedly under investigation in China for tax evasion, says Paul Midler of The China Game.Chinese Skype users now exceed 25% of the global total.While venture capital......

In Shanghai there are a couple of early week shows that are worth checking out. Tonight, Too Dumb to Die, a bohemian group of gypsy vaudeville musicians who have rode their oddly tall bikes from Istanbul will take the stage out at Yuyintang. Sound interesting? Well, Shanghaiist thinks so, and can't wait to see them perform. While tomorrow, Yuyintang will host German hardcore punk band, No Opinion. Shanghaiist had the chance to catch No Opinion......

Tonight 8pm NEXTSTEP @ Vintage Living 3F, 2068 Nanjing Xilu, by Yongyuan Lu, T: 6249-0469 Calling all Shanghai entrepreneurs! Come meet new faces and get to know other like-minded individuals at this week's NextStep event which features Tony Mustafa of Essential Finance. All are welcome, no membership required, and no cover charge. Wednesday 8pm Shanghai Skate Nights @ Shanghai Concert Hall 523 Yan'an Dong Lu (near Xizang Lu) The bi-weekly Shanghai SkateNights continues to gather......

If you've been still wondering how the woman who rammed her bike into the bus actually managed to do it, this one takes the cake! Today's Shanghai Daily tells us of a truck that got stuck under a bridge while trying to force its way through on Songxing Road in Baoshan District yesterday at 7pm. In fact:Police said the driver knew the crane bases on his truck were taller than the bridge, but he still......

Gold, silver, bronze? Nah. According to Bloomberg.com athletes the world over have smog on their minds when it comes to the quadrennial Olympics competition next year in Beijing. Gunn-Rita Dhale, Norway’s reigning world champion for women’s mountain biking had this to say about her future host city, It's probably the most polluted place I've ever competed. Your mouth and throat dry up because of the dust. It's not good for the system. Clearly, Ms. Dhale......

We don't know how it happened, but it did. No, wait a minute. With the driving/riding etiquette of people around here, we're actually surprised it didn't happen more often. This woman, presumably hurrying her way to somewhere (the Chinese would say 赶去投胎, which literally means running off to her next reincarnation) couldn't stop in time when the lights turned red, and rammed her electric bike into the back of the bus. As a result, both......

If you’re like us and already feel slightly guilty at how much you will be drinking at this Friday’s Shanghaiist Happy Hour, maybe it’s time to start thinking about how to have an active summer? Whether you’re a cycling veteran or you’re just looking for something to do to these coming months, there are a number of bike trips available to see more of the beautiful countryside (or Suzhou Creek). The first option is from......

We were taking an afternoon stroll down Xiangyang Lu today in our pajamas when we had our first ever encounter with Shanghai's high-tech parking meters. The meters aren't exactly new; according to the Shanghai Municipality website the first were installed in 2005. There were 141 meters at the beginning of the year installed across 22 road sections, but that number is now up to 555. Yes, we don't get out much, but we were still......

Shanghaiist has had a string of bad luck in recent months when it comes to locks. Say, for example, the lock on our door which swung closed behind us one Saturday night at 3am and left us stranded outside our apartment with only a towel to cover our modesty (long story). Or, say like tonight, the Kryptonite lock on our beloved Dahon folding bike parked at the corner of HuaiHai and FenYang Rd jammed and......

Attendance falling at your local place of worship? Loyal herd looking elsewhere for spiritual direction? Have a carnival! That'll win 'em back. If only the Pope had thought of it ... like the Shanghai Xuhui District Tourist Bureau did. It's annual Longhua Temple Festival runs until May 7th, meaning you have one weekend left to catch all the fun. The press release promised a food street filled with snacks from around China (Taiwan, Dongbei,......

China is biggest espionage threat to Canada "Almost half of counter-espionage efforts in Canada target Chinese spies, the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service told a senate committee on Monday." Songs, kisses and sweat on Labor Day of migrant workers "In the prosperous metropolis of Shanghai, migrant workers even joined in performances, singing and dancing and taking part in games to show their talents." Hershey lures Asians with green tea Kisses "The century-old......

The Private Property Party "China Digital Times has noted a Wall Street Journal article that reports on heightened sensitivities around the subject - sensitivities that may have resulted in the current issue of the business magazine Caijing being pulled and revised." China lawmaker wants Forbidden City free of Starbucks "A member of China's parliament has demanded the immediate closure of a Starbucks coffee shop set up inside Beijing's Forbidden City, the Xinhua news agency......

Chinese man dies during gaming session "The 26-year-old man, surnamed Zhang from the city of Jinzhou, died Saturday after a marathon gaming session from what a doctor said was overwork and obesity." Tom Online apologizes to The Beijing News for copyright violation "Tom Online apologized to The Beijing News for republishing articles from the paper without authorization between 2003 and 2006 and will provide compensation, Tom Online said in a statement." China Confirms Human......

Shanghaiist woke up at 6 this morning to a terrible noise outside our building. Two buses (#205 and #45) had collided at the intersection and plowed into the building directly across the street from us. The Taiyuan and Jianguo intersection is very busy, with traffic going south towards the Xujiahui area and a wet market right on the corner. One of the buses must have ran a red light, resulting in the freak accident. Of......

Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court — Judge Wapner works over at No. 1 — recently began hearing the case of of a Chongming County woman, surnamed Huang, who admitted to killing an elderly woman who was in her care last may, Xinhua reports: "She never ate vegetables, only meat and fish," Huang told the court. "Furthermore, she would easily become infuriated when she discovered that dinner's menu was the same as lunch." "I borrowed......

23 year-old Zhang Jincheng (张金成) broke a world record upon hopping up all 88 floors of the Jin Mao Tower on a bike. Zhang hopped sideways up all 1,980 steps in 1 hour 41 minutes, breaking the record set when someone (we couldn't find the name) went up the Eiffel Tower in the same way. Each step is about 20 centimeters high, 40 deep, and 1.4 long, which made it hard for a guy on......

Of course you do. That's why you should head on down to Zapata's (yes, Zapata's) tonight for Second Chance Animal Aid's Gala Holiday Party. It starts at 6:30 pm and a 100 kuai entrance ticket gets you two drinks, food and a raffle ticket. There is a separate raffle for a cool Chang Jiang sidecar motorcycle (see video ... just like the the one Christopher St. Cavish rode on his charity ride through China). You......

We're a bit confused here: We just read a report (in Chinese) that says 70 mayors of Chinese cities have signed agreements that make World Car Free Day -- September 22 -- somewhat official. However, it seems that Beijing tried this in 2005 in an attempt to meet "blue sky" goals. Supposedly Chengdu was the first Chinese city back in 2001 to try to do something for WCFD. After the signing of this agreement, most......

The motorcycle is moving again, and after 22 days the finish line -- Qinghai -- is finally in sight for our cycling chef Christopher St. Cavish. Sit back and enjoy the ride as St. Cavish takes you through Hubei, Shaanxi and Gansu. Remember to check out his photos on Flickr. And please consider donating to the trip (you can do that here) -- all proceeds go to Hands on Shanghai's Rising Star program. DAY 18......

If we had an office, we'd start an office pool: When will motorcycling philanthropist Christopher St. Cavish arrive in Qinghai? Or will he? Will he make it to his sister's wedding? Did he bring snow tires? We have to say, we are really enjoying these diary postings, even if half of them involve him waiting around for mechanics to fix the bike. Remember, you can donate to the trip here -- all proceeds go to......

We don't like to beg, but since Shanghai chef Christopher St. Cavish set out on his charity cross-China motorcycle ride two weeks OK, he has received not one donation. So, we're begging: PLEASE DONATE. Anything. All proceeds go to Hands on Shanghai's Rising Star Program, which helps pay for the education of the urban poor. Meanwhile, we at Shanghaiist are thinking of setting up another fund ... for Christopher. Looks like his trip to Qinghai......

Last week, we told you about Christopher St. Cavish, the American chef who quit his job at the Shanghai Shangri-la and decided to ride a refurbished Chang Jiang sidecar motorcycle across China -- for charity. He left Shanghai on Sunday. St. Cavish is looking for companies and individuals to sponsor the ride he is calling "Santo Chino." Those interested in donating can do so via PayPal at St. Cavish's website. All proceeds go to Hands......

Christopher St. Cavish, motorcycling philanthropist...

As fall settles in and another calendar page gets turned, thoughts turn from bbq's and vacations to holidays and the realization that '06 is coming to an end. With all that going on, with change in the air, we wonder what is it that made that makes the -ists ponder? Phillyist is concerned that the war on Trans fats could affect it's beloved cheese steak sandwiches, something for which we should all be concerned.......

Grainy images from Jackie Chan's "porn career."SH magazine staffers choose the "ugliest buildings in China." Doesn't appear they've seen much of China.In March, we told you about a "work in progress" documentary about "gold farmers" -- people in China who get paid to gather virtual assets for online gamers abroad. Well, Gold Farmers no longer appears to be a work in progress. Check out its website.More on Wal-Mart unions in China.Utne asks if China is......

Celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday with the Bikini Bandits and Phillyist! (NSFW). Speaking of Mr. Franklin, send in a picture of Ben (or Ed Rendell) with a red tongue and win a free t-shirt. And they might have the next YearlyKos in Philly. You know who's going to be upset about those Bikini Bandits? The Houston school system. Houstonist also reports on some redevelopment shenanigans over a landmark theater. LAist's sex advice column on......

Breaking the law, breaking the law We -ist folks love us some crime, and no misdemeanor is too petty for a post on any of our sites. This week, join us for a rogues' gallery of miscreants major, minor, and alleged. Gothamist gets us started with "Law & Order", muppet style. Oh, you know what isn't a crime? Taking pictures on the MTA. So, why are cops stopping photographers? In other Gotham crime, a group......

God, we're so sick of Snakes on a Plane that we want to kill anyone and everyone that makes a "something on a something" joke. But then we realized that there was no way we could ever win this fight, and, hell, if you can't beat them, we might as well join them. And with that, you have the theme of this weeks' Gothamist network post. Austinist makes it easy for us, with Candidate on......

Blogs are the next target of internet censorship in China. (Weren't they already?)Ever wanted to know how the Great Firewall works? Well, a group of researchers at Cambridge found out and an Andrew Lih translates this into laymen's terms.Mysterious men mercilessly killed 200 trees -- but it was all a misunderstanding.A woman is sentenced to a punishment of planting 13,620 trees -- we suppose another 200 wouldn't hurt her, too much?But sometimes even money can't......