Shanghaiist was back at Yu Yin Tang after the extended New Year's break. Gigs have been slow to restart after Spring Festival due to announced renovations of their space over by Tianshan Park. Alter-Ego played on Friday and we went down to Saturday's 0093 Rock Showcase. Our first discovery was that the renovations have not actually been finished. The performance space is unchanged and it's the entry way that's getting expanded. Basically, there's a roof......

Some members of the Shanghaiist team are about to embark on ambitious Chinese New Year's expeditions. We wish everyone planning similar journeys a happy and safe trip. So you know what to look for, we're starting a list of the three biggest threats to your life as the year of the rat begins. 1. The Cold: This year's a cold one and it doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. See posting below. 2.......

For the first time in recent memory, we happened across police with sniffer dogs in the subway this weekend. Initially we were unsure what to make of this. A security threat? Finally a crackdown on the 'hashish!' guys? Luckily, Reuters was able to shed some light on the subject. They report that last week Beijing deployed dogs with a nose for explosives in their subways, to sniff out fireworks before the Chinese New Year. Apparently,......

After a long and wild New Year's break, things have slowed down on the music front and it seems that everyone is still trying to shake off their extended hangovers. Luckily, this weekend there isn't much happening, but if you are able to push yourself off the couch then head to 4Live (yes, it is still open!) where there are a couple of shows this weekend. On Friday, Beijing stalwarts, Catcher in the Rye, give......

A Deutsche Presse Agentur story released on the eve of the New Year's reveals that Nanjing is about to be home to the world's largest Bible factory to be housed in what's been described as an "aircraft hangar-sized plant" capable of producing 1 million copies a month, or one Bible per second. Amity Printing's current factory is already 800,000 Bibles a month in 90 languages, from Braille to Slovakian to Swahili. Megan Hunt, a volunteer......

Reader Sam Roberts sent us the following clip:I encountered this fellow this afternoon, presumably out for some New Year's pillaging in not-so-rural Pu Dong. I think he missed a turn at the Mongolian steppe.Hilarious! Thanks, Sam!......

Answer: Their wishes for world peace. Here are some choice bits from the President's New Year's address, entitled "Jointly push forward the great course of peace and development of humankind" which was delivered to Chinese and international media outlets: "We sincerely hope people of all nations live under the same blue sky freely, equally, harmoniously and happily, and enjoy the achievements in peace and development of humankind." "At this moment, we have deep concern......

Well, 2007 is pretty much over. This Shanghaiist has never really been a big New Year's person, maybe because we always end up the odd one out at midnight or the one that has to break up the drunken fights that erupt. But, in the spirit of the season we have decided to do that traditional (way over done) recap of the past year. 2007 was a big year for music in Shanghai and below......

SFist saw Christmas Day turn tragic after a Siberian tiger escaped from her pen at the San Francisco Zoo, killing a visitor and mauling two others. Phillyist counted down the top ten items on Philadelphia's New Year's wish list. Gothamist looked at the wooden bikes being offered for NYC's first bike share program on Governors Island. LAist received a Christmas present in the form of a drunk Santa Claus in a g-string. Bostonist launched......

By Derek Sandhaus The new year is almost upon us and it's time to start making plans for the big night. One option is to drop a lot of cash on an upscale option like Bar Rouge's Monarchy Party (black-tie and pleasant smelling flatulence required) or Xintiandi's S.H.E.-licious Countdown Bash . For some of us though, New Year's Eve is all about the simple pleasures in life like open-mouthed kisses with horse-faced strangers and drinking......

With the holiday season in full swing things usually slow down in the music scene. But this weekend there are a few shows that should get us through to the New Year. On Saturday Live Bar is holding a show that we are pretty excited to see. Voodoo Gongfu from Beijing will be on stage. Shanghaiist happened to pick up a copy of their DVD in Beijing and with all the costumes and addition of......

Following up on yesterday's post about China's new holiday lineup for 2008, we now have the official official list of dates, so now everyone knows what Saturdays and Sundays they might be asked to work (and that nonsense starts soon). Here we go: New Year's Day: Sunday, December 30-Tuesday, January 1 (workers will be asked to work on Saturday, December 29, 2007)Spring Festival: Wednesday, February 6-Tuesday, February 12 (workers will be asked to work Saturday,......

Well, then: Oops. What last month we said was going to happen, this month was made official. China has scrapped May holiday, one of its three Golden Weeks, and turned three traditional festivals into national holidays. Here's how your official 2008 Chinese holiday schedule now looks: New Year's Day: January 1Spring Festival: February 6,7 and 8 (Wednesday-Friday)Tomb Sweeping Day (Qingming Jie, 清明节): April 4 (Friday)Labor Day: May 1 (Thursday)Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie, 端午節): June......

Our round-up of some of last week's highlights from China's English-language blogosphere: With all the recent talk about scary Chinese-made toothpaste, do we have a reason to be worried? Black and White Cat does a number on a test tube and unscientifically concludes: yes, if you eat it. Shanghaiist doesn't even brush, so we think we're OK. Ben Ross finishes up his one month experience working at a Fuzhou hair salon with some closing thoughts,......

For those who left the country during Spring Festival, or like us, those who can't afford living in an expensive high-rise compound, video and photo sharing websites allow us to join in on the action (or, if you were trying to sleep during the fireworks, relive the nightmares). We especially enjoyed the the above video of the Yangjiang Fireworks Festival in Guangdong — it's almost 17 minutes long. Closer to home, Shanghaiist reader meckleychina created......

There's a lot of trash produced in Shanghai during Chinese New Years—12,000 tons daily. One report we just read introduces some of the people responsible for cleaning up after the mess are the city's sanitation workers. Many of them are from other provinces, such as Anhui, and a number of the ones introduced in the above link/article are married—couples that not only work the same job but often side by side. The article says that......

We don't know about you, but it's friggin cold out there. Well, not for some of you. It seems as though places that are supposed to be cold are warm and places that are supposed to be warm are cold. Or maybe that's just us. Either way, we're freezing. Austinist said goodbye to their co-editor (sell-out) and played rumor monger ">on the SXSW lineup. And when dozens of dead birds littered downtown Austin, it's......

Sunday. Usually, a quiet, contemplative day in the Blogosphere. But not here in the Ist-a-Verse. Nonono! Just look below and see all of the wild and crazy stuff our staffs are up to. In Austin, bands are beginning to confirm for SXSW and the rumor mill is up and running. Good thing, too, because we all know how much Austinites love live performances. Austin also found itself in the national spotlight, with Longhorn Legend Vince......

If part of your New Year's resolution is to pick up smoking, well here is yet another reason why you have just made an awesome decision (as if prospect of tarred teeth, permanent bad breath and lung cancer aren’t enough to look forward to): Your new habit will help fund education for many underprivileged children in China. Last night at dinner, while enjoying some fine second hand smoke, we noticed this message prominently displayed on......

On Wednesday, peoples of all nations will celebrate World Consumer's Day (that holiest of capitalist holidays, not including Christmas). Meanwhile, Chinese market watchdogs have released lists of consumer rights' infringement cases in anticipation of the festivities, further cementing their ideological position as champions of consumerism the masses. In the most high-profile case, Chinese courts lashed out against one of Shanghaiist's favorite kings, the King of Beers, for what were found to be misleading promotional practices......

Maybe you have never been to Shanghai. Or maybe you've been here before and miss the place. Or perhaps, like Shanghaiist, you live in Shanghai but rarely have the need/desire to go to Peoples Square. Well, this website offers a virtual way to transport yourself to the big mass of concrete and grass -- all humans and dogs please stay on the concrete! -- in the center of Shanghai (but not that real center of......

新年快乐! Xin Nian Kuai Le! Happy Chinese New Year! Happy Year of the Dog! Happy everything from all of us here at Shanghaiist. Eat well. Drink well. And don't forget to let go of the firecrackers. Watching the entire city light up with fireworks on Chinese New Year's Eve is one of our favorite things to do in Shanghai each year. Choose your vantage point well ... and enjoy. Also, this being their year and......

Here's an interesting one: a competition to find the sound that is most representative of Shanghai. Set up by the British Consulate and the Shanghai Oriental Publicity Service Centre, the competition requires contestants to record an mp3 file of the sound they choose, and write an explanation of it in 100 words of less. A similar competition has already been held in Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou. Apparently the winning entry from Guangzhou was the sound......

Shanghaiist knows that most of you are thanking your lucky stars that you got over the New Year's hangover and are not yet ready to think about the emotional hangover that awaits you on Valentine's Day IF you put together anything less than a perfect Valentine's Day for that special someone. Well, we pride ourselves on being your eyes and ears here in the city, and we've just gotten wind of a Valentine Day's package......

You can almost hear the buzz surrounding the upcoming opening of the new Cotton's bar/restaurant in Shanghai all the way where Shanghaiist currently is holed up for the holidays. Wait ... no ... that's just the 3 a.m. train rolling by. (Damn jetlag.) But anyway, sources who happen to still be in Shanghai tell us that lots of people who enjoy a good drink and a good chat are talking about the impending return of......