Is the old perception about Beijing being the seat of culture, while Shanghai merely serves the idle rich still relevant? New rumors have surfaced alleging a private club for the well-heeled will be housed inside the Forbidden City's Palace of Established Happiness (建福宫), with membership costing 1 million RMB and limited to 500 of China's most fabulous.
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![Ravel, Berlioz and Casadesus come to Shanghai]()
Photo by the slow boat to china was found via the Shanghaiist Contribute page.
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Photo by jules_shanghai found via the Shanghaiist Contribute page.
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Results tagged “forbiddencity”
Secret Forbidden City club for millionaires rumored to be in works
Suspect in custody for Forbidden City jewels theft
The government was thrown into urgent face-saving mode recently when an amateur robber made away with 9 pieces from the Forbidden City's Palace Museum. The obvious question was how could a crude smash-and-grab job could've gotten past the "heavily-guarded" Palace museum? However the police at least have a suspect into custody now. A man called Shi Bokui who authorities said they found at an internet cafe on Wednesday has reportedly confessed to the robbery.
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.
China Tech Roundup: Baidu vs Alibaba, Unicom vs China Mobile and Duke Nukem' vs Forbidden City.
- Last week Baidu announced after two years of searching the appointment of Li Yinan as the new Chief Technology Officer for China's leading search engine. Just when everything began to fall into place and we were getting ready for a season Googlesque innovation, rumours began to fly that William I. Chang, Baidu's Chief Scientific Officer was planning to resign because he didn't like his new job scope. Not sure though how much of a rumour it is when they have already named his successor.
- To make CEO Robin Li's life even more stressful, Baidu's next big push will be into the e-commerce arena with the launch of youa.com may be thwarted by Alibaba Group's announcement that it will invest another RMB5 billion into its own online Taobao.com to strengthen its 57% market share. Of course Alibaba claims that this had nothing to do with fending off Baidu and we of course believe them.
- In its own corporate reshuffle, Alibaba has for the first time in its five year history appointed a COO. Zhang Yong, former CFO was promoted to fill the void left by Huang Ruo, the former VP and B2C business director who resigned at the end of September.
Beijing travel tips for elderly or disabled
Our parents and sister just visited China for the first time. We won’t bore you with the details on what we did in Shanghai, but since many of you are hosting visitors and/or visiting China for the first time for the Olympics, here are some of the highlights from our travels to Beijing including suggestions for elderly and disabled (something we couldn't find anywhere else online).
What they're saying about CCTV9 anchor Edwin Maher
The last time an anchor from our favourite TV channel made it to the news, he created such a brouhaha that culminated in the eviction of one coffee company from the Forbidden City. In the news this time is New Zealand-born anchor Edwin Maher who for many years before arriving in China was a weatherman with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The Los Angeles Times published a profile of Maher that started it all off. It...
New record sale of a Chinese contemporary painting: US$5.9 million
Billed by Sotheby's as "among the most historically important paintings of the Chinese avant-garde ever to appear at auction", the painting had apparently been sold a decade ago "under condition that the painting not be shown in public because of its subject matter".
This is what the former Starbucks outlet in the Forbidden City looks like now
CCTV-9 news anchor Rui Chenggang should be happy now. Finally, a store that serves not just coffee but traditional Chinese beverages like tea too! After all, Rui was the wonderful guy who sparked it all off with a post on his blog which said that having a Starbucks in the Forbidden City, "is not globalising, but trampling Chinese culture". The coffee chain is "a symbol of low-end US food culture presence" which "undermines the Forbidden City's solemnity' and is 'an insult to Chinese civilisation". His vitriol attracted half a million hits within two days, and eventually led to the ousting of Starbucks from the Forbidden City.
Hengdian World Studios: The Forbidden City (with fewer tourists)
When Shanghai resident and blogger Jakob Montrasio posted this photo on our Contribute Page, we wondered exactly when he visited the Forbidden City, because the blue skies in the photo weren't in Beijing last week when we were there. Then we realized the photo was taken in Zhejiang Province — a place called Hengdian World Studios (横店影视城) — where a seemingly life-size replica of the Forbidden City can be found (with a small mountain...
Video of the Day: 2 Minutes in Beijing
Via China Digital Times: This 2 minute video clip from buggyrun creatively juxtaposes images of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Ravel, Berlioz and Casadesus come to Shanghai
This Thursday at 7.30 pm, the Lille National Orchestra will perform at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center Concert Hall. The show is part of the "Croisements" festival organized by the French Embassy. Formed in 1976, Lille is a very famous orchestra in France and is currently directed and conducted by Jean Claude Casadesus. In August 1997, Casadesus and the orchestra were the first artists to perform in the newly retroceded Hong Kong. And 10 years later, they came back for the French May of Hong Kong, and they will also stop by Beijing (they will perform in the Forbidden City) and Shanghai.
Today's Links: It's all about the RMB, naval miscommunications, and China's new head boffin
"Most of the loans went to the manufacturing, water conservancy, real estate and retail and wholesale sectors,"
"The investment spree has aroused concern from the industry watchdog."
"A light regulatory regime, lightning fast flows of information and gossip, plus a get-rich-quick-at-all-costs ethos make markets such as Hong Kong open to abuse,"
"An anti-satellite test is not necessarily a clear indication of a desire for peaceful utilization of space. It is a confusing signal, shall we say, for a country who desires, in China's words, a peaceful rise."
"The crew of the Chinese ship - the 4,800-ton JinSheng - was unharmed and made it back to Dalian where they reported the collision to Chinese authorities, Suh said, delaying search and rescue operations for several hours."
"Wan is the man that the Communist party leaders want in charge... so much so... that they don't appear to care that Wan is not a party member, another rarity for a cabinet minister."
"Most of the picture was intact, but workers could be seen in a crane cleaning the lower left area of the huge portrait, which appeared damaged by soot after the vandal hurled a burning object at it. Police were swarming the area."
"Spraying chemicals on crops improperly or using products that may be fake or banned risks the health of China's hundreds of millions of farmers and could lead to unsafe levels of residues in fruits and vegetables,"
"Somehow, the cat survived at least 35 days inside a container filled with motorcycle gear."
The national headquarters for the prevention of forest fires sent about 10,000 fire-fighters, together with airplanes, to help extinguish the fire. The fire was put out five days later.
Photo by the slow boat to china was found via the Shanghaiist Contribute page.
Mao's picture vandalised
This is a snippet from Reuter's report on yesterday afternoon's case of vandalism in Beijing's Forbidden City.
NFL in China: Not F*cking Likely
Last fall, we told you about the China Bowl — the NFL preseason (American) football game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks scheduled for early August in Beijing. In February, we told you about all the China Bowl plugs we saw during the international broadcast of the Super Bowl. And just one month ago, we told you about the three Chinese kickers (one named "Rambo") the NFL was training with the hopes that at least one of them could suit up for the China Bowl. We even had one reader email us to see if we could confirm the date (we had heard anywhere between August 7 and 9) — because he had already booked plane tickets for his brother-in-law, a huge Pats fan, to come to Beijing, but was worried he had him schedule to fly back before the game even started.
Today's Links: Bibles, free coffee and property rights
"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."
"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 reported on Sunday."
"Ads for soft drinks and fashion magazines have crept onto Chinese campuses - not only spoiling the ambiance but undermining the very essence of education in the arts and sciences."
"The majority of the foreign visitors expected during the 2008 Games have religious beliefs, and we should cater to their needs," said Liu Bainian, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
"What is the truth about the 'green paint on the mountain in Fumin county, Yunnan' incident that shook up the nation? Does the local government bear any responsibility? Was this the act of an individual businessman?"
"In a joint statement released late Sunday, the Supreme People's Court, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Justice and the country's top prosecutor also said condemned prisoners should not be paraded through the streets and suspects should not be tortured."
"The government took its assault on the internet gaming world a step further this week with an announcement that it perceives the explosion in virtual currencies used in a variety of online gaming forums – everything from Second Life to World of Warfare to virtual poker rooms – as a serious threat to its national security."
"The overall airport reconstruction project in the western China region will cost 52 billion yuan (6.5 billion US dollars), including an input of 9.6 billion yuan (1.2 billion dollars) and the sum is higher than the input for the same use in east China, according to media reports from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC)."
"Apple has sent a letter to Shanghai Municipal Consumer Interest Protection Commission and said that it will make improvements on its after-sales service, which has seen many complaints from Chinese users."
"Until now, one kind of establishment has eluded the city: the boutique hotel. But a new wave of these hotels are opening this year, providing yet another lure to entice the young international travelers who are already flocking to this city, whose transformation is occurring at breathtaking speed."
"Yet nearly three months later, the deal's appeal among consumers and financial community is waning after an initial burst of interest, according to Tom Group Inc., one of Tom Online's largest shareholders."
"China expects to start making large commercial aircraft developed domestically by 2020, an aviation industry official said Monday, raising the possibility of competition for Boeing and Airbus in the country's booming market for new planes."
"More than 200 top athletes of extreme sports from America, Brazil, Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries and regions will compete for over US$100,000 on X Games Asia 2007 this May in Shanghai." America? Brazil?
"Thousands of residents in the districts of Xuhui, Minhang and Pudong have already been told that move they must. Many feel taken by surprise. Expressions of opposition have proliferated on the internet."
"Bookshop owners in Shanghai are snapping at an influx of camera-wielding pirates taking photos of pages to avoid paying for pricey books, local media reported on Monday."
"A fierce strike from midfielder Yu Tao seven minutes into the second half, however, gave Shenhua victory over Shandong on Sunday and earned the team a share of a two million yuan ($258,300) bonus from multimillionaire owner Zhu Jun."
"Silvercross, the iconic British pram company that supplied generations of Windsor babies, has struck a deal to sell its products in China, becoming the latest UK company to cash in on the booming Chinese middle class desire for heritage brands." Pram?
"Traffic authorities in Shanghai will link cycling lanes around the city this year to create a network of lanes with no obstructions, as one of several measures to improve conditions for drivers and cyclists in the city."
"The Shanghai Call Centre, which was launched almost a year ago, provides both English and Chinese information about tourist destinations, culture, sports, trade, medical care and other issues concerning daily life in Shanghai."
"Please note: supermarket is fine tuned for convinience, not neccessary for price, or quality. If you want more fresh vegetables, and fruits, many some local market is better, such as the Beicai Market nearby."
"China will intensify controls of the growing numbers of bloggers using the Internet to lay bare their thoughts, politics and even bodies, the country's chief censor has announced."
"All company-operated and licensed Starbucks stores in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China will be giving away free Tall (12-ounce) cups of coffee to anyone who drops by."
"I want to use the blog to not only discuss the development of Chinese Movie Database, but also the movie news that interests me, and my experiences of movie going, and perhaps other things."
"A Chinese lawmaker has proposed a tax on urban dog-owners to curb growing numbers of the animals and to fight rabies, state media has reported."
"A new property law is a breakthrough, even though it raises hopes that one-party rule may dash"
For more del.icio.us links, visit the Shanghaiist Contribute page, which is updated throughout the day.
Photo by Mike Chen found via the Shanghaiist Contribute page.
This Week In -ist: Elsewhere in the Gothamist Network
As the world holds it's breath, teetering precariously on the cusp of the Super Bowl (well, at least in America), the wheels of the -ists keep on turning.
Storm in a coffee cup brewing in the Forbidden City?
Even though we've long put our public relations days behind us, we can't help but think what a day in the life of a PR executive at Starbucks must be like. They must all have been working overtime lately with the Seattle-based coffee company hitting the headlines like crazy lately. First it was the landmark victory against Shanghai Xingbake, then there was the trans fat issue.
Evening Links: Stolen power, dead fish and French art
"Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate management firm, is under police investigation for alleged theft of a huge amount of electricity at a luxury residential property in Shanghai."
"More than 10,000 kilograms of fish, which were being raised for sale to restaurants and wet markets, were found dead in the pond on Tuesday."
"With the critical and audience acclaim that it received in Shanghai, the production will kick off a national tour of China in Beijing in 2007. A complete list of dates and cities will be announced soon. "
"FCC's Aqua Bar boasts more than 30 varieties of water, including bottles from England, Scotland, the United States, Italy, Norway, Serbia, France, Spain, Canada, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands and New Zealand." Ridiculous.
"Shanghai weather bureau issued this morning yellow alert for fog, which means the visibility in some area of the city is no more than 500 meters."
"I've studied the speech patterns of Chinese people of all walks of life. They are invariably dry and devoid of humor. Former Premier Zhu Rongji has it, but he is one of a kind."
"But even these remarkable changes pale next to the astonishing transformation of the Communist Party. Around 1980, the party leadership admitted that three decades of orthodox Communism had produced little economic gain and constant political upheaval."
"Ling, director of Shanghai's State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, was dismissed for 'seriously violating disciplines', said the committee in a report."
"China's movie censor will not approve Golden Globe-honoured film The Departed for domestic cinematic release due to its mention of a Chinese plan to buy military equipment, government sources said."
"But in the years since Starbucks brewed its first mediocre latte in the famous, imperial redoubt, Beijingers have become used to seeing the shops in every available space. It's second only to coal smoke and yappy dogs in its ubiquity in Beiijing."
"The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris is to open a 'branch' museum in Shanghai, deepening a row in the French art world about the alleged commercialisation of national art treasures."
"Internet users have transformed the emblem for the 2008 Beijing Olympic into signs for male and female public restrooms."
For more del.icio.us links, visit the Shanghaiist Contribute page, which is updated throughout the day.
Photo by jules_shanghai found via the Shanghaiist Contribute page.
Evening Links: Country potatoes, Starbucks, kids + guns
For more del.icio.us links, visit the Shanghaiist Contribute page, which is updated throughout the day.
Extra! Extra! Muggings, e-tickets and super parties
Photo by theshanghaieye taken from the Shanghaiist Contribute page. To see your photos on our Contribute page, use Flickr and tag your photos “shanghaiist”. Or you can email your photos to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically appear on our site.
Who's Governor Tim Pawlenty?
America's favorite action star and advocate for the mentally handicapped, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, isn't the only US governor on a trade mission to China this week. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is here too, just nobody seems to notice. AFX reports:
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