Now each of the three major China carriers (Air China, China Southern, China Eastern) belong to either Skyteam or Star Alliance. Which means, for any of you dumb enough to be flying across oceans without redeeming, that we can use even more of those pesky visa runs towards flights back home! From AFP: "China Eastern Airlines said Tuesday that the company and its subsidiary Shanghai Airlines Co. have joined global air carrier alliance SkyTeam. Members of the China Eastern Airlines frequent flyer programme will from now on be able to redeem points when they fly on SkyTeam's other carriers, the company said in a statement . . . SkyTeam said in a separate statement that China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines would bring 32 new destinations to the alliance's global network, including Macau and the Sri Lankan capital Colombo." more ›

"CHINA Eastern Airlines will launch the first regular direct services between Shanghai and Hawaii on August 9. The Shanghai-based airline yesterday said it will fly to Hawaii every Tuesday and Friday, using an Airbus A340 aircraft, which can accommodate about 300 passengers." [Shanghai Daily] more ›

"CHINA Eastern Airlines will add five weekly flights linking Shanghai with Sydney and Melbourne in Australia from June 20. The Shanghai-based carrier will fly daily on the Shanghai-Sydney route after adding a flight every Tuesday and Sunday. It will also fly daily between Shanghai and Melbourne by adding a flight every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday." [Shanghai Daily] more ›

The World Expo, which brought some 70 million visitors to Shanghai, coupled with solid growth in the Chinese aviation sector, have made 2010 a bumper year for the two passenger airlines that call Shanghai home. Boosted in part by its acquisition of Shanghai Airlines, China Eastern expects its 2010 to exceed its previous year's by almost ten times. Meanwhile, China's largest budget airline, Spring Airlines, also didn't do too shabbily, nearly tripling its 2009 net income. And here's some good news: In 2011, the carrier expects to open new routes to Japan, Taiwan, Macau and Southeast Asia. Yay for more cheap airfares! more ›

Good news for anyone who lives in Puxi and wants to visit our economic rival/friendly sister city to the South: China Eastern Airlines and its newish subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines, will now be launching direct flights to Hong Kong from Hongqiao International Airport. They'll start up on Sept. 10 and increase the weekly flights between the two destinations to over 200. Yay for at least a 50% reduction in last minute taxi fares to the airport! more ›

Got Star Alliance points? Then, if you like taking Shanghai Airlines flights, you'd better use up your miles before the end of October. The airlines was taken over by China Eastern last year and will now "maintain the consistency of the new China Easten Airlines" by leaving Star Alliance and possibly joining up with SkyTeam, China Eastern's airlines miles group of choice. Even if you don't manage to get rid of your miles, though, I suppose you could always book through Air China. They will soon be the only airlines group here that use them. more ›

Shanghai-based carrier China Eastern Airlines has officially joined SkyTeam ahead of the Shanghai Expo, ending months of speculation over which global alliance it would join. The move leaves OneWorld the only major airline network without a mainland Chinese partner as Beijing-based Air China is a part of the Star Alliance, and Guangzhou-based China Southern is also a member of SkyTeam. Shanghai Airlines, before its anti-competitive takeover by merger with China Eastern, was also a member of the Star Alliance, but it may have to withdraw membership now that China Eastern has joined SkyTeam. more ›

• Andrew Bird is sure to be crowded tonight. Split Works has informed us that all the presale tickets have now been sold out. The last 100 tickets will be on sale from 12pm to 5pm today at the Zhijiang Dream Factory box office. More info at Split! [Split Works]
• CNNGo talks to three up-and-coming designers in Shanghai about the trials and tribulations of trying to make a living in fashion. [CNN Go]
• For all of you who follow airline consolidation drama: China Eastern has now completed its takeover of our very own Shanghai Air. [WSJ]

Wow, what is it with China Eastern Airlines? First their passengers staged a sit-in at the LAX in Los Angeles and now they actually started throwing fists at Beijing International Airport... all gloriously documented by security cams. more ›

• 'Two shot dead' by Chinese police [BBC] "Two ethnic Uighurs have been shot dead by police in Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang province, officials have said. A government statement announced that a third "lawbreaker" had been injured. A reporter with Hong Kong's RTHK radio said two police officers were also shot in a confrontation in a Uighur district of the city."
• China to sack officials who mishandle protests [Reuters] "Chinese officials who mishandle protests could be removed from their posts, state media said Monday, a week after demonstrations in the capital of Xinjiang degenerated into ethnic attacks. New regulations on accountability issued over the weekend hold officials responsible if misconduct leads to serious accidents, group protests or other serious incidents, state news agency Xinhua reported."
• Attacks on China's diplomatic missions well-orchestrated [China Daily] "Hurling stones, Molotov cocktails and burning Chinese national flags, supporters of the East Turkestan separatists started well-orchestrated and sometimes violent attacks on Chinese embassies and consulates in several countries soon after the riots occurred last Sunday in China's northwest city of Urumqi that killed 184 people."

• James Fallows puts the spotlight on a writer currently quarantined in Shanghai, who is experiencing a nightmare of helpless frustration in the face of such illogical preventative measures (current Shanghaiist editors hope they won't be facing something similar on entry). [The Atlantic]
• Schools around Shanghai are now being ordered to equip computers with the Green Dam software, effectively guaranteeing that they'll be infected by malware. [Shanghai Daily]
• China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines might be merging soon, which means that over 50% of air travel in the city will soon be under one company. [Bloomberg]

When it comes to flights to, from and inside China, it seems everyone has a China Eastern horror story. This one might top it all. things got so bad on this particular flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai that the passengers staged a sit-in. more ›

By Cindy Nawilis more ›

China Eastern's chairman Li Fenghua (李丰华) has been replaced by Liu Shaoyong (刘绍勇), chairman of rival China Southern Airlines in what's been described as a "government-orchestrated industry shake-up". There is no news on where Li Fenghua is off to next but we're curious because this was the guy that had earlier bitterly vowed that China Eastern would "never consider Air China as a strategic investor" after Air China blocked Singapore Airline's proposed HK$7 billion bid for a 24% stake in China Eastern. The management shakeup has piqued the interest of the Chinese business press. Some have speculated that Li is moving on to some new position in the State Council but this remains quite unlikely. As an anonymous insider revealed to the Securities Daily 《证券日报》, Li presided over China Eastern's worst performance ever, and bears some responsibility for losses of up to RMB5 billion in fuel-hedging. For that, Li may be sent off to "idle" at some work unit for some time before being "audited and reviewed" for his performance. more ›

Shanghai-based China Eastern airlines has announced that it will increase its flights to Taipie from 3 times weekly to daily beginning next Monday. Also, whereas previously all flights had to bypass Hong Kong airspace, now flights are all going direct, ie., you can now get to Taipei in a little over an hour and for less than what you used to pay for! This is truly historic. A quick check with Elong.com indicate roundtrip flights to cost approximately RMB2100 plus tax of about RMB658. more ›

Air China, China Eastern and China Southern have dispatched special charter flights to bring home stranded Chinese tourists caught in Bangkok during the recent anti-government protests there. more ›

"Today Beijing took baby steps in that direction by opening for debate a draft proposal to reform the country’s troubled health care system, reduce the profit motive for public institutions and make health care available to all, according to state news agency Xinhua." more ›

"Coca-Cola Co plans to seek approval under China's antitrust law for its $2.5 billion bid for top domestic juice maker Huiyuan, the final obstacle to what would be the largest foreign takeover of a local firm." more ›

If you've been looking to fly to Europe for that much-needed break, ladies and gentlemen, that time is now. Air fares to Europe are at all-time lows and have never been cheaper in the six years that we've been here. Lufthansa leads the pack with the eye-popping offer of a return flight to Germany from Beijing at RMB3,760 and from Shanghai at RMB4,880. Air France has the very special web deal of a return tic to the UK from both Beijing and Shanghai from RMB4,040. KLM is also flying to the UK from RMB4,040 and elsewhere in Europe via Amsterdam from RMB4,470. In the meanwhile, new kid on the block Air Berlin flies direct from Shanghai to a host of destinations in German-speaking Europe including Berlin, Hamburg, Duesseldorf, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Munich, Vienna and Zurich. We found a one-way ticket to Duesseldorf for about EUR300 (incl. taxes) — not a bad price at all, if you're not thinking of coming back to Shanghai that is! more ›

After a successful month running at reduced capacity, the new Terminal 2 at Pudong Airport took another 18 airlines under its wing today. more ›

The idea is simple: get five internationally reknowned directors to make short, impressionistic films about Beijing, showing the people of Beijing in their everyday lives and as they prepare for the Olympics—and in the kindest light possible. The five filmmakers were: Patrice Leconte (France), Andrew Lau (Hong Kong/China), Majid Majidi (Iran), Giuseppe Tornatore (Italy), and Daryl Goodrich (UK). You can find a rundown of each film's style and content as well as a link to each one.Whatever their differences in style and subject matter, they are all undeniably and unforgivably cheesy, like postcards of moving images. They remind us of those insipid China Eastern Airlines commercials—except worse—because you have to take into account that these were made by men (not a woman in the bunch) that have, at some point in their lives, made films that were actually fit for human consumption.There's a little voice inside our head that tells us that no one likes the guy that takes things a bit too seriously and can't see the light-hearted side of things—it's the Olympics after all, and Pollyannish is to be expected, Olympic-colored balloons can and should rise and form the Olympic rings in the azure sky. At the same time, there was another little voice in our head that it's also okay for us to slightly downgrade our respect for directors, renowned or not, that strew this kind of filmic excrement over our collective sidewalk. These artists are kinda sucking CCP cock, aren't they? Okay, we know this ain't Cannes, and that it might be considered an honor by some to be allowed to make promotional films for the Olympic Games. But seriously, is banality the new language of ideology? Please, show us more people striking on drums and practicing tai-chi in the park. And throw in some cute little Chinese kids while you're at it. Sorry, < /end_rant_here >. We'll start taking our meds again, we promise. more ›

Photo from gruntzooki more ›

Xinhua: British PM visits Shanghai more ›

77% of China Eastern shareholders have voted against Singapore Airline's proposed HK$7 billion bid for a 24% stake in it. Disappointed by the results of the vote, China Eastern chairman Li Fenghua has vowed not to ally with Air China:

"We will never consider Air China as a strategic investor. The most important thing is not the price. The most important thing is to improve China Eastern Airlines' brand and management." more ›

Looks like the much talked-about HK$7 billion bid by Singapore Airlines and its parent Temasek Holdings for a 24% stake in Shanghai's loss-making and debt-laden China Eastern Airlines may not happen just yet. Blocking the bid is its arch-rival and shareholder, Air China, as well as its parent China National Aviation Corp. (CNAC), which has now upped the ante by saying it would bid no less than HK$5 per share if shareholders vote against Singapore Airlines' HK$3.8 offer. more ›

• 
  
  Shanghai wants 50 top minds every year
  
  
  “Local authorities are offering lucrative packages to lure leading academics to the city under a new scheme to help boost its competitiveness.”
  
  


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  Shanghai to launch int’l channel targeting foreigners
  
  
  “The ICS programs, covering news, information, fashion, entertainment, foreign TV shows and movies, will be aired in English and Japanese, with Chinese captions, for 19 hours a day.”
  
  


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  Shanghai GM to launch Buick LaCrosse hybrid prior to Olympic Games
  
  
  “The move will make Shanghai GM the third joint venture automaker to deliver a hybrid vehicle in China following Toyota and Honda. Toyota Motor Corp is currently the only carmaker that builds a hybrid car in China.”


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  China Eastern to resume Shanghai-Saipan flights
  
  
  “China Eastern will resume its twice weekly Shanghai-Saipan flights starting Jan. 11, 2006, close to five months after the charter flights were suspended because of the decline of tourists coming in from China.”
  
  


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  China to survey dialects to better protect them | World | Reuters
  
  
  “A focus will be the Shanghai dialect … ‘As more and more young people in Shanghai use the dialect to communicate online, and as its vocabulary expands, it will be standardised and promoted as a distinct local language.’”
  
  


• 
  
  China’s New Bestseller: The Bible
  “Amity has churned out 41 million Bibles for Chinese believers at its plant outside … Nanjing, including more than 3 million copies last year. (About nine million copies have been exported to Africa, other parts of Asia and Central Europe.)”
• 5 nabbed in whisky sting
  “Police have arrested five people alleged to have duped a Swedish man into paying nearly 5,000 yuan ($680) for coffee and whisky during a recent business trip to the city.”
• Cyclists to race to top of city’s tallest tower on December 31
  “One contestant, Zhang Jincheng, the Guinness record keeper, is a 23-year-old from Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province. His two challengers are 28-year-old Andorran Xavi Casas and 34-year-old Colombian Javier Zapata.”


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  City tightens protection for historic buildings
  
  
  “The city government issued new rules last week banning road expansion on most of the 144 downtown roads lined with historic houses. The rules also ban tall buildings from being built in conservation areas.”
  
  


• 
  
  blognation China
  
  
  China tech blog worth checking out.
  
  


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  China Web2.0 Review
  
  
  Another China tech blog.


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  China: Pollution map of China released
  
  
  “Just over a year since their first mashup was released, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, headed by journalist-environmentalist Ma Jun, has just released its Air Pollution Map, complete with its own BBS and space for feedback forum.”
  
  


• 
  
  Todd Crowned China’s Sole Survivor
  “The 22-year-old flight attendant and world-class schemer outwitted, outplayed and outlasted his competitors for 39 days to be crowned the $1 million winner of the reality show’s 15th edition and the youngest winner in the series’ history.” 15!
• Three Beijing buildings on Time magazine’s best list
  “Three architectures in Beijing are on the list of 10 best architectural marvels (new and upcoming) selected by the Time magazine to be published on the Dec. 24.” None from Shanghai.

Air transport AFP: Air China, Shanghai Airlines join Star Alliance XFN: China Eastern says partnership with Singapore Airlines, Temasek 'only option' AFP: Singapore Airlines says won't raise China Eastern bid Finance Reuters: U.S. says China recognises need for stronger yuan NYT: Little Headway With China on Finance FT: Beijing lectures US on effect of weak dollar Drugs, drugs and drugs AP: China Shuts Down Leukemia Drug Maker Xinhua: China issues new drug recall method... more ›

With 20 million Muslims around China, it is only in recent years that they have been able to go on the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, in substantial numbers. Thanks to rising affluence, growing numbers of Chinese Muslims are now able to fulfill their spiritual obligations of performing the Haj at least once in their lifetime, and this year, a record 10,700 of them are expected to do so. Five departure ports... more ›

China confirms presence of toxic substance in bead toys [Economic Times] China's quality control watch dog has confirmed that the bead toys which the US and Australia have recalled in millions over safety fears contain toxic substance. US sees no rapid shift in China's currency reserves [AFP] Amid a plunging US dollar, China has again threatened to diversify its mountain of dollar foreign reserves but US officials are unperturbed while experts do not see a... more ›

Okay, Shanghaiist has got several hundred blogs on his RSS that he scans through everyday. Some things scream at us, others are quickly forgotten and yet others are hidden in some corner of our brain for (mostly useless) information ready to be used at some future point in time. There are all these bloggers that you've never met personally that you can form an impression of only after a long period of reading their blogs. You're reading them every single day, and sometimes it almost feels as though they're your friend, even though you don't really know them. It's most surreal. more ›