So we're a little confused. When we first found out about the new government-sponsored gay bar in Dali, Yunnan, it was supposed to open on World AIDS day. Then reports everywhere said the gay bar was a no go. But today, according to China Daily, the gay bar did actually open, but nobody showed up thanks to all the media attention. "They [gay men] refused to show up at the opening for fear of media exposure and potential discrimination," they quoted Zhang Jianbo, the bar's founder and a local AIDS doctor as saying. Hmm, you sure it wasn't the assertion that you might not sell alcohol that turned customers away? We say advertise a two-for-one margarita night and see how your next attempt at opening up goes. more ›

• Yes, we told you about it before, but we wanted to remind you: Cherie Blair, wife of former-British PM Tony Blair, will be visiting Shanghai to talk about important things on August 16. The seminar will be from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and the wine salon will be from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. 380RMB pre-order and 480RMB at the door. [Urbanatomy]
• Blogger Jenn Wong has some great pictures up of the Nike Human Race, which happened over the weekend. Over 10,000 people participated. [Our Way to Fall]
• Shanghaiist contributor Rebekah Pothaar checked out the Dali exhibit, making sure to pose hilariously next to as many Dali masterpieces as she could. [Chinatravel.net]