DONGPING ROAD: DOOMED OR REDISCOVERED? As some readers may know, the strip of Dongping Road on the south side from Hengshan to Yueyang Roads is leased to the bars, restaurants, tailors etc by the music college behind them. Most of the leases are coming up for renewal over the next 2-12 months.There has been some concern that the music college may decide to reclaim their land for their own expansion purposes, rather than renew the......

Southeast Asian pact exposes rifts [NY Times] Southeast Asian leaders signed a charter here today that was drafted as a watershed document to bind the region together as a European-style economic community but has instead exposed the sharp divisions over Myanmar and other issues among the signatories.Malaysia busts DVD lab in its biggest raid in 2007 [Reuters] Malaysia has raided a laboratory capable of churning out $52 million worth of pirated DVDs a year in......

Yen Falls as BOJ's Fukui Says No Preset Time for Rate Increase [Bloomberg] The yen fell against all 16 of the most-active currencies as Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said there was no set time for raising interest rates.Survey shows Singapore is Asia's most desirable city to live in [Channel News Asia] According to the latest Country Brand Index, Singapore is the top Asian city to live in. It was also ranked third globally......

Asia's papers keep newspaper flags flying [Asia Times] With a little help from the Internet, the future of newspapers looks bright in Asia where seven of 10 of the world's best selling dailies are published, with China, India and Japan accounting for more than half. Advertisers, the lifeblood for newspapers, are also smiling.Asian mega-cities to be swallowed up by sea [Asian Offbeat] They include Dhaka, Bangladesh; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shanghai (gosh!)......

The art of vegetable carving has been used widely in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai cuisines, but this chef takes it one step further. Watch how he skilfully and masterfully carves a peony — China's national flower — out of a tofu. It is not mentioned in the programme where he is from or which restaurant he works at, but yes, it would be interesting to know how the peony tofu is actually served —......

Burma junta holds rally, arrests 4 activists [AP] On Saturday, the Burmese junta organized a mass rally in Rangoon to denounce Western powers and the foreign media, whom the military regime accuses of fomenting the recent protests. Officials said 120,000 people attended the event, some of whom were paid to be there. Among some of the slogans the crowds were made to chant include "Down with BBC! Down with VOA! Down with Radio Free Asia!"Singapore's......

A crack opens in the Korean wall [Asia Times] The big question on the opening Tuesday of the North-South Korean summit in Pyongyang was whether or not North Korean leader Kim Jong-il would condescend to welcome South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in person, or whether he would delegate that ceremonial chore to his much lower-ranking No 2. Myanmar's neighbours have little influence: Singapore FM [AFP] Myanmar's neighbours have little influence over internal developments there, said......

Seoul, Korea - Police shut down group sex website, arrest participants [Asian Sex Gazette] Korean police have arrested a 42-year-old website operator identified as Kim who they say arranged 20 group sex parties in and around Seoul and collected participation fees. They also booked 53 male members who had group sex and 11 females who prostituted themselves through Kim's website. Tokyo, Japan - Retired Japanese porn star Ai Iijima needs sex [Asian Sex Gazette] Even......

Tokyo, Japan - China Airlines apologises for inferno horror [Channel News Asia] The head of China Airlines on Tuesday handed out apologies and cash to passengers who barely escaped a blaze that destroyed one of the Taiwanese carrier's planes on a runway in Okinawa, Japan. Amman, Jordan - Interpol issues arrest warrant for Saddam's daughter [BBC] Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Raghad Hussein, the eldest daughter of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile,......

What's happening now: The Thai Food Festival is currently running in Shanghai through September 9th at four Thai restaurants that have received the official "Thai Select" designation from the Thai government. Organized by the Commercial Section of the Royal Thai Consulate General, Baan Thai, Lan Na Thai, Ma Boon Krong and Simply Thai will aim to present dishes that represent the four regional cuisines of Thailand. Shanghaiist is a little curious about the aforementioned "Thai......

Shanghaiist has been feeling very French of late. After wondering when Paul was going to re-open and hanging out at Bar Rouge's "Excusez-moi" party... well, we had dinner in La Crêperie - Shanghai's new and so far only eatery devoted to crêpes from the Brittany region. La Crêperie enjoys a quiet location in the heart of the French concession at the crossroads of Dongping Lu, Yueyang Lu, Fengyang Lu, and Taojiang Lu (or if you......

Tokyo, Japan - 6.7 earthquake hits Japan and shuts nuclear plant The world's largest nuclear power plant by output capacity remained closed Tuesday, after seismometers indicated the magnitude 6.7 earthquake that hit northwestern Japan Monday produced shocks that exceeded the reactors' design strength. The quake, which occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Tokyo time Monday, caused nine deaths, more than 900 injuries and widespread damage Pyongyang, North Korea - DPRK shuts nuclear reactor U.N. inspectors on......

Tamil Nadu, India - Officials in southern India are investigating claims that a couple, who are both doctors, let their 15-year-old son perform surgery to get into Guinness World Records as the world's youngest surgeon. Iwo Jima, Japan - Clint Eastwood's pair of films about the famous battle on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima have spurred former residents to change the name of the island to Iwo To. Islamabad, Pakistan - In response to......

Southeast Asia - Southeast Asian nations are battling a surge in dengue cases, amid signs that climate change could make 2007 the worst year on record for a disease that often gets less attention than some higher-profile health risks. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysia's top civil court has rejected the appeal of Muslim convert Lina Joy to be recognized as a Christian in a landmark case that has been seen as a litmus test......

Shanghai. It is all happening. Here's the proof: Friday, June 1st The Millionaire Fair Tired of your staid millionaire lifestyle? Shanghaiist is. Well, you better join us as we swing by the Shanghai Exhibition Center this weekend to get some new ideas. No. 1000 Yanan Road, Shanghai. Big Beer Bonanza at Kommune American Beer Craft Partners have iced thirty different beers from ten different breweries. The rest is self explanatory. A beer-filled night wouldn't be......

Spago is a new fusion restaurant located opposite the Fenshine Plaza fake market on Nanjing Xi Lu. Spago's proximity to a knock-off market is ironic in light of an apparent and blatant trademark violation by this Shanghai 'branch'. It is easy to miss Spago from the street as it is tucked away in an alley like an inconspicuous noodle shack. Walk through the door and you are immediately greeted by a very cool bistro café......

Shanghai Flickr photographer Shanghai Sky[1] just posted an interesting a photo set from the ongoing 2007 Shanghai Auto Show. What makes it interesting? There are almost no cars. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has ever attended the auto show (there are showgirls everywhere) or to anyone who has viewed Shanghai Sky's photos (the man likes photographing women ... candid street shots mostly, nothing smutty). We like the comments some of the......

On a recent stroll near the Bund, Shanghaiist chanced upon a curious joint that was billing itself as a restaurant, design house, hair studio, live music joint, and art gallery. Ma.Design, it was called. We were intrigued. We started sniffing around, much to the dismay of the staff and the marketing manager who looked as us if we were crazy. They don't want business? Who knows. It's a neat little space inside though. On the......

After almost half a year, Shanghai’s iconic “alternative lifestyle nightclub”, Home Bar, officially reopened last week under its new brand, Pinkhome. It has been transformed from its previous existence into what is China’s first gay multiplex including a dance club, restaurant/lounge, and hotel. As some readers may remember, there was a pre-soft (is that a word?) opening last October for the bar, after which the establishment was closed again until renovations were completed. For those......

Jagshemash! Borat is a hit. It's getting rave reviews, grossing millions, and definitely the most quotable thing we've seen in ages. But Borat seems to have missed most of the -ist cities, and we were all wondering how the film would have been different if he'd made his way around the world on the -ist tour. In Shanghai, Borat would be observing Inane Learnings of Penis Photos for Make Benefit Glorious Flat World of Handmade......

As you probably have heard, a military coup in Thailand has seized power from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. We are not going to pretend to have a solid grasp on Thai politics, so we will direct you to the thousands of stories about this over at Google News for the latest. We all know that Thailand is a popular tourist destination for people living in Shanghai, especially during the upcoming October holiday -- in fact,......

Thursdays just became a great night to be “here and queer”, a fag hag or our male counterpart, a stag hag. As Shanghaiist reported earlier, Mint club has recently started a gay night once a week. Its the first predominately heterosexual bar to offer such an event, at least in the past three years that we can remember. It’s only been going on for three weeks, but the intimate spot is already packed with gay......

If you are planning on eating at Irene's Thai on Tongren Lu, bring your hard hat. It's being demolished. That means the Spot Bar, located on the floor below, is a goner, too. We noticed this because we decided to mix up our Sunday brunch routine and headed to Malone's instead of City Diner (we went there on Saturday). We SMSed a member of Shanghai's Gaelic football team -- they were known to frequent the......

The prize package for best 80s outfit at our Happy Hour this Friday sure is heating up. In addition to a bottle of Solid XS Vodka donated by our host Freelance Bar & Grill, the lucky winner will also get two items kindly donated by the self-described "sexiest menswear store in Shanghai" -- MANifesto. (We will force the winner to take a couple Shanghaiist T-shirts off our hands, as well.) The MANifesto prizes are an......

Did you realize that July 28 is the 20-year anniversary -- to the day -- of July 28, 1986?!? We're glad we noticed it when we did -- because that gave us just enough time to throw together an 80s-themed Shanghaiist Happy Hour at Freelance Bar & Grill (we are cool with the place now) to mark the momentous occasion. Here's all you need to know: What: Shanghaiist Happy Hour - “I Love the 80s”......

This has been a rough week for your -ist pals, though you wouldn't know it from the great posts all over the network. Plagued with server problems, our tech team (led by the great Neil Epstein) toiled around the clock to solve the glitches as they arose. Seriously, we've said, typed, and thought the phrase "server problems" more in the past week than we have for the last 35 years combined. Why not say it......

The Olympics in 2008 and the Expo in 2010 -- it still sounds far off, but four Shanghai men are making sure the folks out in Tibet know about these two events that get media people up out of bed every morning. The catch is they're traveling by bicycle!. They left on May 6 on their 11,100 kilometer journey. Also worth mentioning is the fact that the four men are aged 56-71, average age 62.......

A couple of weeks ago, Shanghai was beset by rumours of UFO sightings. According to a story in the Shanghai Daily: ... a man named Hu told the Xinmin Evening News he saw the UFO in the sky near the Outer Ring Road in Xinzhuan area at 4:30pm. It was visible for about 5 minutes, Hu said. A man named Luo said he saw a bright oval object flying west towards Jiuting Town at 5pm......

We think we can safely say that SLICE is Shanghai's best English-language magazine about golf. This is, of course, not a difficult title to lay claim to -- kind of like saying Acropolis is the city's best Greek restaurant. (It's the only one, and we still have nightmares about our only visit there three years ago -- sometimes the nightmares are about the "moussaka," other times they are about the roach that crawled across our......

Chinese cities are notorious for their pace of change. In particular, restaurants and bars tend to open and close with stunning speed. The editors of Lonely Planet must have a nightmare on their hands trying to keep track of it all. In fact, Shanghaiist’s edition of LP -- which we think has only just been superseded -- includes entries for Rollo di Pollo (a pizza restaurant at the back of M on the Bund) and......