Results tagged “youku”

Is it just us, or does it seem like China's just blocking websites for fun now? Just when we thought that the National Day security crackdown had passed us by without (much) damage, we wake up today to find our favorite video sharing website that isn't blocked in China, Vimeo, is now...blocked. O, China, how will we find viral videos that aren't on Youku or Tudou now? At least you've got some good options for leaping over the GFW.

In our new Threesday feature, Shanghaiist takes the time to count out three of well... whatever catches their fancy that week. This week: Three Emmy-winning shows that you can stream from the Chinese internet.

We can't seem to find any info on this kid (the video summary didn't offer much). But man does he know some great yo yo tricks! Ah, yo yo tricks! Doesn't that remind you of the 1990s? How nostalgic!

So Linkin Park is performing this Saturday, August 15, at Shanghai Stadium (if this news somehow caught you by surprise, you can still buy tickets either at the Shanghai culture site or on mypiao, which lets you choose your seat) and as little as we personally appreciate their music, we did want to point out the excellent job they've been doing warming up their Chinese fans.

• 'China's YouTube' Pries Path Through Profit Puzzle [PC World] Youku.com, China's leading video sharing Web site, faces a challenge shared by YouTube and other rivals worldwide. The Web site has worked to expand its revenue from video ads, mobile downloads and elsewhere, and it claims a massive audience of 25 million visitors each day. But despite all that, Youku — like YouTube and similar sites worldwide — has yet to become profitable.
• Winning Designs in China: Standing Out to Fit In [Tom Doctoroff] "The Chinese consumer is becoming increasingly modern and internationalized. However, while "egos" and ambitions are huge, the "new generation" is not becoming "individualistic" in the Western sense - i.e., the peoples never define themselves independent of society. The middle class, those who can afford non-essential items, is torn between two impulses. The first is projection of status which leads to a desire to be noticed (in public contexts), aggressive self-expression and experimentation with new modes of style and design. The second, in vivid contrast to the projection, is protection, a fear of sticking out too obviously or challenging existing hierarchies and social restrictions."
• And then there were two: Obama meets the Chinese; transcript of president's speech [Los Angeles Times] "Well, today there was the first meeting of what you might call the G-2, between Beijing and Washington, arguably the two most important capitals in the world. Another one is scheduled in November, when Obama makes his first trip to China. … Obama did not mention directly the recent deadly ethnic unrest between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese in Xinjiang Province. But he noted that Americans "strongly believe that the religion and culture of all peoples must be respected and protected, and that all people should be free to speak their minds. That includes ethnic and religious minorities in China."

The title says it all: some guy is riding a scooter with a watermelon balanced on his head. Chinasmack has translated some of the Youku comments for us, but most of them are just people amazed that a guy is riding a scooter with a watermelon balanced on his head. Did you hear that? A GUY IS RIDING A SCOOTER WITH A WATERMELON BALANCED ON HIS HEAD.

So not only is Wonder Girl's song "Nobody" a phenomenon here - we've seen it performed by groups of high school students and lonely androgynous chubsters, it's apparently loved everywhere! What is it about this catchy Korean tune that makes it so no one, no matter where they are, can stop humming/dancing to it?

It's May, which means that we're about to see a slew of Sichuan Earthquake-related tributes to commemorate the one year anniversary of the terrible disaster. Right now, one of the most popular videos on Youku is of a sand artist drawing images related to Wenchuan.

We've been told by some of our more avid TV-watching Chinese friends that the best way to win a super star competition in this country is to be curiously androgynous. In that case, get this kid a contract now! We haven't heard his singing voice, but his dancing has already beat half the competition. Also loving: his choice in music. Nothing like the Wonder Girls' Nobody But You to brighten up your mid-day.

Another day, another woman losing it at the Hong Kong International Airport. No rolling on the floor or wailing this time around, just a China-style scream-out at the airport staff. Near the end of the video the sound goes out, but we think we heard Southern China Airlines (中国南方航空). Could this be another viral, like the Sharks Fin Soup Auntie?

We don't know what prompted a bunch of people to reenact the seminal video game, Super Mario Bro.s, but we're glad they did. Live Mario runs through pipes, snags a mushroom to grow bigger, hits a star to become invincible and jumps for the flag. The only thing missing: someone from the Mushroom Kingdom to tell him "Thank you Mario, but our Princess is in another castle."

Here's a great party trick by a dude dressed like one of the Blues Brothers. A man calling himself the "King of Dice" broke his own dice-stacking record, creating a tower of 26 dice by shaking a cup.

Did you know China had a burgeoning parkour scene? We didn't either until 56minus1 discovered a bunch of online Chinese parkour groups, communities and forums.

This creative animated cartoon designed to take a reminiscent look back at what life was like growing up in China post-80's has struck a chord with many young people of that generation. We're sure you'll find some of the items posted towards the end of the video familiar too, wherever you're from.

Danwei points us to this creatively produced video of a counterstrike battle set in Beijing's mixed-use office and residential complex Jianwai SOHO. No news on whether the anti-terrorism officials are freaking out yet.

The countdown:

By Hilary Faxon and Adrienne Wong

From Danwei: "But conspicuously missing from the list are the Big Three of the Chinese Youtube clones: Youku.com, Tudou.com and 56.com. Although 56.com has been off line for nearly two weeks after an apparent porblem with the authorities, these three websites have the largest amount of funding of any video websites in China, most of it foreign. By most accounts they are also the most popular video sites in China."

Video from HiPiHi.