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Student blushes cause China school to scrap dance
Tue Sep 4, 5:53 AM ET
BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese school, trying to spice up a staid playground dance class, was forced to scrap a waltz routine that left pupils red and sweaty with embarrassment, local media said on Tuesday. more
China frets about Great Wall's "wonder" status
Wed May 30, 9:55 AM ET
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is so worried that its iconic Great Wall will not be named one of the "new" seven wonders of the world, it has launched a campaign to get Chinese people to vote for it, Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday. more
Toll-dodging truckers breach China's Great Wall
Fri Jun 1, 10:37 AM ET
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's heritage bureau has launched a probe into Chinese mining companies alleged to have brought down part of the Great Wall to allow their trucks to avoid paying road tolls, state media reported on Thursday. more
Here's your year-end bonus
(CRI)
Updated: 2007-02-12 13:34
Although money is no doubt the favorite year-end bonus for back-busting office workers, those tired of being single will not refuse this reward: a lover. more
Beijing uncovers 59 bogus "military" hospitals
Wednesday January 17, 08:51 AM
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's military has named and shamed 59 illegal businesses selling drugs and treatments under the guise of army-endorsed medical clinics in Beijing, a Chinese newspaper reported on Wednesday. more
Daughter wanted ad in China draws 100-plus candidates
Tuesday January 16, 08:10 AM
BEIJING (Reuters) - A retired Chinese couple have advertised for a "daughter" to look after them in place of their son who has emigrated to Canada -- and more than 100 candidates signed up to try their luck, a newspaper said on Tuesday. more
Beijing > Articles
A Day in the Life of ROOMbeijing DJ Suiki Lor- Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:58:38 -0000
Date: Aug 10th 2010 12:58p.m. City Weekend finds out what it takes to be a jack of all trades by spending a day in the life of ROOMbeijing DJ and salon owner Suiki Lor.
1:38I?m suddenly woken from a deep sleep. I look at the TV. Spain vs. the Netherlands, 0-0. I missed the first half of the game, but I?m looking forward to seeing Spain, the team I?m rooting for, win over the Netherlands.
5:00After the awards ceremony, I turn off the TV to catch a few more badly needed ZZZs. Between the jetlag from recently returning to BJ from San Francisco and the World Cup games, I?ve been averaging two to three hour naps a few times a day. I?ve gotten no more than six hours? sleep in one day this month.
7:38Glen, my five year old, wakes me up with a glass of fresh-squeezed juice from his mom. A nice way to start the day. I play with Glen for a bit before heading out the door to drop him off at summer school.
8:44After dropping off Glen, I head to my salon in Zhongguancun. I need to get there before 10 to prep for a Precision Haircutting course I?m starting today with my students.
9:50Checking emails. Thank goodness the translation of one of my articles that I write for industry trade publications arrived just 30 minutes prior. This one is on the elements of design and the principle of hair design and styling. Though I read, write and speak Mandarin, it?s easier for me to write the articles in English because of the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin pinyin systems. Having a professional translator is an enormous help.
10:30I give my presentation ... |
Olympics Special: Beijing's Best Chinese Eats- Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:25:53 -0000
Date: Jul 17th 2008 7:10p.m. Don't leave Beijing without trying these amazing restaurants Hot PotDo It Yourself Haidilao ??? A2 Naijiazhuang Lu, Sanlitun, West of Beijing No. 80 Middle School ????????80???? 6595-0079 SichuanSome Like It Hot Chuan Ban ???? 5 Gongyuan Toutiao, Jianguomennei Dajie ????????5? 6512-2277 ext. 6101 YunnanDining in the Clouds |
FASHIONISTA: Mountain Girl, Stiletto Gal- Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:13:50 -0000
Date: Jul 12th 2010 4:13p.m. Hailing from rural Alaska, Sharon is an enthusiastic newbie to the big-city fashion scene, but it?s her wild mountain roots that still provide inspiration. ?I realized that I had a lot of bright blues and greens in my wardrobe, which I believe reflect the colors of the glaciers and forests of my Alaskan hometown,? Sharon says. Not to be taken as a country bumpkin, this striking, slender fashionista has shopping in Beijing down to a science. ?The trick is to accessorize with the right shoes and jewelry.? She might splurge at shops like Guess and Mango, but it is at the smaller boutiques where she finds the pieces that make her ensembles uniquely and entirely hers. She is big into hair clips and hairbands right now and loves the funky accessories brand MeiMei sold at Kocoon. As for jewelry, she swears by a secret no-name shop in the SOHO on Guanghua Lu, at the bottom of the escalator. The urban splendor of Beijing has allowed Sharon to explore her two personalities: "hiking boot adventure girl" and "stiletto fab city gal," which together mesh into one smashing fashionista. Name: Sharon Malaby Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
The Beijing Underground Is More Than Just a "Fashion"- Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:34:47 -0000
Date: Jul 7th 2010 1:34p.m. While it?s true that certain corners of Beijing?s music scene have had more than their fair share of the spotlight, I was surprised to read blogger Alice Xin Liu?s attack on our local music scene in the Huffington Post. In a May 6 post, Liu critiques the shallowness of Strawberry Festival hipsters before concluding that Beijing?s scene has become nothing more than ?the mainstream fashion of the day.? Really? Could she possibly be talking about the same scene that has given birth to acts like Carsick Cars and Xiao He? After sonic soul searching, I decided to respond to Liu by asking Beijing scenesters to recall their favorite moments that have made the capital?s music scene unique. ?In the middle of a piece with bizarre vocals, Xiao He cut the sound and stopped singing, but he didn?t stop performing,? recalls Alex Searson of Beijing Gig Guide email newsletter. ?He mimed his way through what I think was a song, or else a conversation with an invisible partner, adding a layer of performance art.? Xiao He came up a number of times in my research, and the experimental folkie is nothing if not unique. Searson also recommends checking out the less experimental but equally distinctive Shanren. Hailing from Yunnan and Guizhou, the group?s use of various traditional ethnic instruments is unlike anything else happening in folk music today. Max-Leonhard von Schaper of Rock in China recently wrote a compendium of the capital?s various sub-genres, from punk and metal to rockabilly and ska. He?s particularly enthusiastic about noise artist Yan Jun, who he says pushes ?the boundaries for sounds and [musical] definition, the thin red line between noise as instrumental arrangement and as pure harsh distortion.? Most commenters concede that, just as with ... |
FASHIONISTA: Disco Debonair- Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:50:05 -0000
Date: Jun 10th 2010 1:50p.m. Introducing Maxime Bureau, a creative soul with no intention of buying the latest big label items for showy pomp. His view on a real fashionista is someone who ?recognizes good clothes by the cut and design of the material?not necessarily the brand.? So how does this ?real fashionista? choose his daily ensemble? He explains with a dashing grin, ?I choose an outfit that is comfortable and elegant enough for work, yet lets me go straight away to an occasional weekend electronica party.? You will most likely find Maxime in sober colors like charcoal, ink and navy, which he balances with a splash of color in the T-shirt or scarf. A perfect example is this lilac American Apparel shirt paired with a pair of skinny pewter colored Dior Homme jeans?both purchased in the China World Shopping Mall. Being a child of the ?80s, Maxime?s style bears the influences of Bowie and Depeche Mode?major inspirations that can be seen in his sleekly cut vests, tucked-in shirts and trashed jeans. His obsession with jackets is attributed to having to wear uniforms at school during his childhood in England. For unique, well-fitting jackets, he recommends the Hong Kong store I.T in Guomao, which carries some of his favorite brands like A.P.C and Dior. When he isn?t busy setting up the next visual feast for ROOM with his genius-chef boss Brian McKenna, you will find him on the dance floor, techno beats in his bones, celebrating one more time. Name: Maxime Bureau Occupation: Creative Director, ROOM BmK Nationality: French Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn For more style analysis or fashion insight, visit MeiLi's website, www.MeiLiAutumn.com Photographer: Tao Zi Hair and Makeup: MeiLi Autumn |
Beijing Writer's Group Helps You Write Right- Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:58:31 -0000
Date: Jun 3rd 2010 10:58a.m. In addition to an active imagination, writing well requires patience, effort, and a healthy dose of criticism from other writers. The Beijing Writer's Group meets weekly at The Bookworm in pursuit of this goal. Writers bring four to five copies of their work, submit it to the group to read, then sit silently as the others debate their copy. Rough, yes. Effective? You bet. Writer and group member Barbara Coila tells us more. CW: What kinds of writing do you do? Has the group helped you improve your writing? Is it difficult to keep quiet while others are critiquing your work? As a fellow writer, are there any guilt-pangs when you make a negative criticism of someone else?s work? |
FASHIONISTA: Lumberjack- Sun, 09 May 2010 02:10:11 -0000
Date: May 12th 2010 10:10a.m. Andreas Andrén is a fashionista who not only wears the latest trends, but also produces them for the world to flaunt. His view on fashion is always ahead of the game, as he's privy to what the industry claims is hot for the upcoming year. But that doesn?t mean he's one to automatically wear something because it is deemed trendy. "I like to look at new trends not because they are trends, but because they give me something new," he says. "I?m completely opposed to locking myself into one style." In this stunning pic, Andreas is downright lumberjack-chic, wearing a checkered top by Uniforms for the Dedicated, one of the brands he helps manufacture. The striking red pants were found at H&M in Qianmen. "There they were: perfect color, fit and price!? For signature pieces, Andreas credits the little stores on Di'anmen Dong Dajie 87-97 just west of the south entrance to Nanluoguxiang for their collection of one-of-a-kind finds from Japan, Shanghai and South Korea. It?s good to know the future of international fashion is in such capable hands. Name: Andreas Andrén Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
FASHIONISTA: 1 Billion Ties- Mon, 10 May 2010 04:03:56 -0000
Date: May 5th 2010 12:03p.m. Looking dapper and trim in his custom-made Sen Li & Frye suit, James McGregor waxes lyrical on the "good old days" when he started out as a Wall Street Journal reporter. ?I could wear blue jeans, sneakers and a sweater when interviewing a provincial party secretary because he would be wearing see-through socks and a padded Mao suit.? And now? ?Even the sanlunche drivers are wearing sports coats!? Having been in Beijing for over 20 years, James McGregor is no stranger to the city's changing styles. His fascination with quirky ties began when he started to wear business suits daily?as would be expected being the CEO of Dow Jones China. These distinctively patterned accessories, ranging from brilliantly colored chili peppers to a dizzying repetition of Paul McCartney's mug, are his tie (no pun intended) to his days as a "slovenly journalist." Although he picks up ties from all over the world, he claims that Beijing?s big tourist markets, like Silk Street and Yashow, are some of the better places to score an affordable eye-catching piece. As for his favorite Three Stooges tie? James explains with an impish grin, ?I wear it from time to time to remind me of some of my former business partners, and the type of people I want to avoid in the future.? Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Name: James McGregor Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
Lotus Culture Center Gives Adult Minority Workers a Leg Up in the Job Market- Thu, 06 May 2010 02:59:56 -0000
Date: May 6th 2010 10:59a.m. Aaron Sherwood is a volunteer teacher at the Lotus Culture Center, a school for continuing adult education aimed at China's minority migrant workers. The school offers students free lessons in a variety of topics to help them up their earning potential. Read on to find out more... What kind of English do students want to learn in class? They mostly need a kind of casual conversational English. Because they tend to work in industries like restaurants and tourism, and they need it to talk to customers and various Westerners they might work with. The ability to just talk makes them more employable. The more situations they are able to speak to people in, the more qualified they are and the more money they can earn. What other kinds of classes can students join? The Lotus Culture Center offers a Chinese corner, Japanese classes, DJ lessons, and the students give lessons in traditional dance, singing, musical instruments and cooking. But as we grow we want to offer classes in more technical, computer-based skills. The list of classes can be expanded based on what people can contribute. How much does it cost? It's free. Ideally some people give back with whatever expertise they have gained in their own lives. What's the most rewarding thing about these classes for you? These students really appreciate the opportunity here, so they are very enthusiastic. The enthusiasm seems well-founded too. Some have moved on to better jobs since I started. It is encouraging to be able to see these small but important improvements they are able to make in their lives. [Lotus Culture Center](http://imqq.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/listings/community/has/lotus-culture-center/"Lotus Culture Center" |
A Day in the Life of a Wudaokou's Man About Town- Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:37:25 -0000
Date: Apr 2nd 2010 10:37a.m. Anyone who has ever spent time in Wudaokou has likely rubbed shoulders with Pyro Pizza and Lush co-owner Rich Akers. From regular appearances at Lush open mic nights to cooking up some of the best pies in town, Akers is a Wudaokou institution. He took CW along for a day in his shoes. 5:00 Wake up. Go home. Jump in the shower. Ready for the day! 6:50 Wanna know why pizza store workers are always busy? Cause we ?knead? the dough! Wow. Way to get this article off on the wrong foot. Head down to Pyro Pizza to uh, knead some dough, Chinese style. Master Shu says I?m now a turquoise belt. Apparently that means we ride free on the subway. 8:00 Off to Lush for breakfast. Eat a ?breakfast stuff??the best way to start the day?while studying Sun Tzu?s Art of War. Best US$1.99 I ever spent on iTunes. Wonder how much better it would have been if narrated by Jackie Chan. Or Roger Moore. Today?s chapter: XIII The Use of Spies. ?Spies are the most important element in war, because upon them depends an army?s ability to move.? Ooh! They have Glee on iTunes? 8:07 Purchase Season 1 of Glee on iTunes. Best US$41.86 I?ve ever spent on iTunes. 10:00 Decide to take a page out of Sun Tzu?s iPod and do a little competitor research. Disable the guards by asking for the manager. Give it up again for my turquoise belt in systems management. May have uncovered a secret plan to manufacture chemical weapons, but it could just be the mayonnaise for the tuna and corn pizza. Either way, I?m not eating it. 12:00 Focus group interview. Trying ... |
FASHIONISTA: Flying Colors- Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:57:27 -0000
Date: Mar 25th 2010 2:57p.m. After the bleakness of a gritty Beijing winter, spring is making its debut in shocking splashes of color and flurries of warm patterns. Take Ms. Bridgid Hawley, a New Zealand native who knows how to bring in the seasons with finesse and panache. With a brilliant smile and sparkling eyes, she confesses her shopping secret: ?My Chinese friend introduced me to the wonderful world of Taobao. All the local fashionistas use it to find the latest trends.? She recommends wearing stockings, skinny jeans or sheer tights under outfits to keep legs warm while scoring major fashion points. These wet-look leggings were scored at Only and are the perfect pairing with the miniskirt she picked up at Funktion in Sanlitun. As a fashion conscious Beijingren on a moderate budget, Brigid will often peruse the tiny stalls at the Zoo Market for a treasure trove of reasonably priced finds. Bridgid?s signature style includes vivid colors that match her cheery, positive outlook on life. ?I am street-casual by day, funky and flirty by night?and always with bright colors in the mix!? With her exuberant personality and matching wardrobe, Bridgid is a colorful manifestation of the warmer months to come. Name: Bridgid Hawley Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
Beijing's Fashionable Furrier- Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:24:51 -0000
Date: Mar 11th 2010 10:24a.m. Furrier David Ubl creates sleek fashions from quality skins. Here he takes CW along for a day in his shoes, creating clothes for Beijing's beautiful set. Check out his designs at davidubl.com 7:30 Like every other morning, my phone rings and wakes me up. The first?and by far the most important?question of the day is: ?What am I going to wear?? Sometimes it takes me 10 minutes, sometimes it takes me half an hour to settle on the perfect outfit. Today I?m lucky. I pick out my clothes in just one minute. 8:20 I leave my apartment and go to the corner of my street where I wait for my driver, who picks me up and drives me to work each morning. It takes between 18 and 35 minutes to get to my office, which is way down in the south of Beijing. On the way to work, my driver teaches me Chinese. It?s the best way to make the most of my time in the car. 9:00 I arrive at my office. The first thing I do is sit down and check all my emails. Ugh, I?m not so into reading and answering emails, but it?s something I have to do. Today, the new colors for next season arrive. I have to make sure they look rich and very now. I?m pretty happy with the results. It takes five to eight days to properly dye and color animal fur. 12:00 Time for my lunch break. With so many options, it?s difficult to decide on what to have for lunch in Beijing. Luckily my company orders food for me, so I don?t have to waste time thinking about what I should eat. After eating with ... |
FASHIONISTA: Silver Bullet- Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:32:17 -0000
Date: Mar 8th 2010 2:32p.m. It?s a Saturday night at Bling and you're scoping out the scene when, from the corner of your eye, you see Snoop Dogg grooving to DJ Keza. But wait, on further inspection you realize this Doggfather is far more dapper and stylish than Snoop ever was. You've just had an encounter with Jean-Daniel Bussy, a dashing computer engineer from Martinique. ?I don?t mind sporting something a bit funky with shiny tones at night, but during the day I?m more casual,? says Jean-Daniel, whose fashion sense is always unique but never too eccentric. He credits Japanese street wear as a huge influence on his wardrobe, and he picks up signature pieces during his travels. In Beijing, Jean-Daniel likes to wander The Place to check out Zara, Izzue and French Connection. Stunning in tones of grey and silver, Jean-Daniel integrates these colors into nearly every one of his ensembles. So how does this tall, dark and handsome Fashionista see Chinese fashion? In his own words: ?The fashion world in Beijing is fast paced and full of contrasts. Night and day trends are completely opposite. You can be more corporate cosmopolitan in the day, then show off at night.? Name: Jean-Daniel Bussy Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
FASHIONISTA: The Stylite- Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:35:29 -0000
Date: Mar 3rd 2010 9:35a.m. Don?t be fooled by the jubilant façade. For Nels Frye, style is no laughing matter. Combining a love for China and a love for fashion, Nels has made a name for himself as a serious fashion commentator with his Beijing blog, Stylites. Painstakingly selective when it comes to the color, cut and class of fabric that will have the honor of appearing on his body, Nels says he prefers to stay away from flash-in-the-pan trends. ?My style is rather traditional,? he says. Local tailor Senli and Frye (as in Nels Frye) did this classic navy blue suit. Nels also recommends Lane Crawford to purchase one of his favorite luxury brands on sale: Santoni. For scarves and other woven knits, Nels heads to Woo on Nanluoguxiang. Nels loves outlandish tie-clips, funky shirts and natural fabrics, but he is more apt to discuss what he loathes. Ladies take note: ?I judge women based on their sense of style. No matter how pretty she is, it?s hard for me to find a woman attractive who wears fake fur, anything with metal studs or Ugg boots.? We bid bonne chance to this fastidious fashionista?may he find kindred fashion spirits amidst our kingdom of knock-offs and synthetics. Name: Nels Mishael Naby Frye Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
Wang Qingsong plays with time in "Three Video Projects"- Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:50:30 -0000
Date: Feb 22nd 2010 12:50p.m. Contemporary art often veers into frustratingly abstract territory, and no medium more so than video installations. Artists tend to focus on building a feeling through pictures, but lack even a rough frame on which to hang the images. Wang Qingsong is the rare artist who easily navigates such obstacles. In "Three Video Projects," now on display at Pékin Fine Arts, Qingsong explores themes of destruction, construction and the deadening effect repetition has on the senses. The works have short, simple narrative arcs that powerfully drive home his points without being too heavy-handed. Using time lapse video techniques, Qingsong details the construction of a high-rise in the middle of the countryside, from clearing the land by fire, to the finished product that glows golden in the weak rays of a winter sun. A take on the rapidity of China's urban expansion, the piece is impressive not only for its vision, but the logistics of constructing the bamboo building and filming over what must have been period of weeks. In another room, we see a large wooden table upon which a man throws down a goat, and begins to chop it to pieces with two large butcher knives. Again, Qingsong plays with time, speeding up the tape so the knives are silver blurs as he hacks the animal into smaller and smaller pieces. By mid-reel the mess looks less like an animal and more like a pile of confetti. Qingsong's manipulation of time and action leaves the viewer uncertain, needing to see the whole picture to form an opinion. The third and most visually disturbing film shows a man repeatedly struck in the face by a flying fury of fists, a beating so severe his hair is soon ripped out at the roots and his face mangled and bloodied. When ... |
Beijing Gets a Taste Of Africa at the Turay Afrika House Project- Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:02:29 -0000
Date: Feb 1st 2010 1:02p.m. Note: Turay's Afrika House has closed due to fire.What?s this Turay Afrika House Project all about? Entertaining Afro-Caribbean social activities, African restaurants, bars, an art gallery, hair braiding salon and media outfit. It?s a branch of a multi-purpose cultural company we have put in place as a one-stop spot for everything in African, Afro-Caribbean and black arts and culture. We also run an online magazine, lensafrik.com. Why does Beijing need this project? Beijing is one of China?s biggest and most cosmopolitan cities. The ball starts rolling here. But there is a huge lack of a positive African presence, and so many stereotypes. We want to sensitize the Beijing community to the presence of a positive African community. We aim to build a network here for all people that love people without bias of race, color or culture. What do you hope to achieve? Unification: one world, one people, one peace, one unity. This sounds like a daydream, but there is no better way to make a dream reality than starting now. What are some of the most popular events there? From Thursday down to Sunday every week we have social events. Every Friday is Africa Night, and Saturday is Roots Rock Reggae Night. There?ll be live band performances from selected underground Beijing bands. Anything coming up we should know about? Yes, quite a lot. But I think I?d rather leave you wondering. Curiosity sells better, and we?re selling something positive that doesn?t need glaring signals to announce it. |
Beijing Bluegrass Gets a Taste of Sweet- Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:28:29 -0000
Date: Feb 1st 2010 1:28p.m. From LGBT center lectures to crooning ballads in Beijing clubs, it?s all in a day?s work for bluegrass band The Redbucks singer Daisy Sweetgrass. [Eds. note] If you haven't been to a Redbucks gig yet - mark your calendar for the next time they play. This is one band that has everyone in the house hootin' hollerin' and havin' a stompin' great ole time. 9:37 I wake up to my Nokia cellphone alarm and soliloquize: to snooze or not to snooze? I opt to turn it off and go back to sleep. 10:45 I am truly awake this time and set out to get breakfast. I have to pass all of the hutong tour rickshaw guys camped out in front of my boyfriend?s place. They?ve finally caught on to the fact that I am not a tourist and stop asking to give me a tour. Now they just wave hello and ni hao me. 10:53 Arrive at my dan bing place and luckily there?s no one in line. I gobble the crispy, eggy scallionness as I cycle back and almost get hit by a car full of tourists whizzing by Prince Gong?s Mansion. 12:00 Decide its high time to go ice skating on Qianhai Lake. Jonah takes some convincing, but we go and have our feet fitted with skates with blades that couldn?t dent butter. This doesn?t prevent me, however, from trying to do an axel. Right as I?m about to take off, I get scared of my speed and fall on my ass. An old lady with brown teeth laughs at me. 2:15 We go home and I try and practice for the gig a bit before I leave for the Beijing LGBT Center. I ... |
The Judge: CW Sits Behind the Table with Marco Huang- Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:24:12 -0000
Date: Jan 18th 2010 2:24p.m. Judgin?, like pimpin?, ain?t easy. From frostbitten fingers to choosing winners and losers, it was a long day for Marco. But we?re curious what his crew got up to after 2am at Tango. Check out the competition results at mellowparks.cn, or tell us what you think of his day in the comments section below. 7:00 7:30 8:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 11:00 12:00 |
Shape Shifters: New Age Gallery Shines a Spotlight on Sculpture- Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:41:28 -0000
Date: Jan 18th 2010 1:41p.m. For many an art world layman, the word "art" often brings to mind images of paintings, drawings, photos or other two-dimensional works. But sculpture is very much an art form, if one that is often overlooked by the masses in favor of colored bits of canvas. New Age Gallery's latest show, dubbed "New Language In Sculptures," brings together a selection of works from artists born after 1970 that present sculpting at its imaginative best. Using a mix of media, the group of seven sculptors explore form, weight and statement with works that are as diverse as they are interesting. Zheng Lu's delicate Dripping No. 2 hangs in mid-air, looking, from a distance, like a splash of suspended mercury. Closer inspection reveals hundreds, perhaps thousands, of intricately linked oracle bone characters, each seamlessly fused to the next to create an effect not unlike metallic lace. Nearby sit several of Zou Liang's figures?shiny, smooth silver and bronze sculptures of gracefully elongated human forms accented with thick, bright paint colorfully highlighting a head here, an upper body there. Whereas Zou and Zheng make metal appear light as air, Fan Xiaoyan's female mannequin is weighted down with heavy-looking bits of polished armor for an effect that is both extraordinarily camp and vaguely frightening. With a figure that looks as if she's ready to fight in a futuristic war, Fan's comment on women's roles in modern society is unmistakeable. But the most fascinating piece is Wang Liwei's Leather Body, a life-sized female figure made of dirty, white leather strips sewn together with heavy, dark thread. Her hair, comprised of thick strings of the same dark thread, is swept into a chignon, as she lazily reclines, propped up on her hand. "New Language in Sculptures" is a ... |
Fashionista: Shred Head- Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:52:45 -0000
Date: Jan 18th 2010 10:52a.m. Wang Lei, one of China's top professional snowboarders, is not only a passionate rider, but he also digs everything that comes with the lifestyle. He shreds righteously and looks damn good while doing it. This slope-styler likes to whip across the powder at Jundushan and Duolemeidi (see p. 54) ski resorts. With Burton sponsoring his talented hindquarters, Wang's latest choice of gear is an eye-catching neon patterned jacket with matching gloves, paired with white snowboard pants and shiny black boots. "This is the latest fashion for the upcoming season," Wang says. "I?m really loving the neon on black look and bright punches of color that stand out on the slopes." He should know. Having snowboarded in China for over 10 years, he has seen his fair share of winter fashion trends come and go. ?My favorite snowboarding accessories are goggles because they are so essential, but can add a lot of style to your ensemble.? This season he prefers bold colors, like this techno-color blue model also by Burton. For the best equipment and most fashionable gear, Wang heads to A2 Ban Shang for his snowboard needs. With his newest 2010 Burton model board complete with bi-colored bindings, Wang is looking his best from the slopes of Sichuan to Heilongjiang. Name: Wang Lei Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
New Eats: Cafe D'Or Is Home to Beijing's Newest Champagne Brunch- Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:53:36 -0000
Date: Jan 14th 2010 12:53p.m. Home to the city?s newest Champagne brunch, TANGLA Hotel?s Café d?Or boasts a well-executed and decently-sized buffet, as well as top class service. The buffet (¥193 for lunch, ¥250 for dinner) spans two sunny dining rooms. One is stocked with a salad area, seafood and Japanese cuisine. We thought the vegetable selection could use some work, but the pre-made salad items were quite good?we highly recommend the mixed duck julienne. The other section of the buffet has a range of Chinese and Western mains, with a seafood and meat grilling station, stir fry options and an outstanding Beijing duck counter. The dessert area is perfect for children?and the young at heart?as the six flavors of ice cream (try the mint green tea) come with a dozen different self-serve toppings, including Skittles, M&Ms and gummy bears. The waitstaff is very courteous and helpful, delivering items to your table to save you waiting for them to be cooked or restocked. While the hotel?s location just across the street from the Capital Museum may be a little far for Chaoyang dwellers, it?s convenient for those who work on Financial Street. Sienna Parulis-Cook Find it: TANGLA Hotel, 19 Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xi Chang?an Jie, ?????19?, ????, Tel: 5857-6688 ext. 6617 |
FASHIONISTA: Gossip Girls- Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:00:36 -0000
Date: Jan 6th 2010 10a.m. When Katy and Elouisa showed up to the Fashionista shoot fresh-faced and in matching Juicy Couture sweat-suit getups, they could have passed as a couple of freshman girls at a Sunday sorority meeting. Usually, Katy is dressed in something tight and black that shows off her hour-glass figure, while Elouisa is perfectly coiffed and teetering on sky-high heels. When it comes to fashion, these girls mean business. "We will often be running around for events during the day but need to be dressed to kill for nighttime shenanigans," says Katie. "Thus we have mastered the 'transitional' approach to style." Her secret? Long vests, leggings and chunky jewelry?perfect for the bridge between professional day wear and playful evening attire. For these, the girls frequent the Zoo Market in Wudaokou and Sanlitun's 3.3. Elouisa is a self-proclaimed slave to the glorious high-heeled shoe and has several pairs in every color, like these royal plum and navy ones purchased at Steve Madden in The Village. Names: Katy Koyich, Elouisa Markham Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
Saddle Up with Beijing's Top Trainer- Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:35:16 -0000
Date: Jan 4th 2010 2:35p.m. We were longing to hear ?Giddiyap cowboy!? from Zhang Ke, but he?s too professional to live up to our Wild West expectations. You can check out Zhang?s stellar horsemanship at Equuleus (www.equriding.com) 6:20 6:50 8:30 9:00 10:00 11:00 |
Get Rid of Your Second Hand Clothes- Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:09:04 -0000
Date: Jan 4th 2010 2:09p.m. Ever felt guilty about tossing out old-but-still-good threads? April Nigh, Chair of the Rotaract Clothing Drive, tells us how much they want our pants. Is this Beijing?s first used clothing drive? So where can we send our clothes? Any items we should leave out? Is this going to be a regular thing? Rotaract Clothing Drive |
Works in the Future Tense- Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:38:45 -0000
Date: Jan 4th 2010 12:38p.m. In a country where pollution is as much byproduct of factory output as it is dust kicked up from the innumerable construction sites that are rapidly expanding China's urban centers, "3D City: Future China" at the Beijing Center for the Arts is a refreshing look at a possible future that sees buildings melding with nature, instead of riding rough shod over it. A dual exhibit between the visionary Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri and Dutch design firm MVRDV, "3D City" imagines an urban landscape that incorporates elements of nature into its very essence. In the main exhibition hall sits MVRDV's envisioned future in which the urban landscape has literally gone underground. Tall, rounded wooden structures made up of tiers of slats, upon which small figures of people and herds of cattle, sheep and other unidentified animals roam, sit next to each other in a formation that resembles a mountain range. Each building is cone-shaped and hollow in the middle, creating space for storage, housing or production, while each slat is covered with green grass, trees or crops. Each building is placed at such an angle as to minimize shadows from surrounding buildings and maximize absorption of solar energy. Windmills sit at strategic locations on the tops of the structures, and roads ribbon around the sides, providing fast and easy access up and down the construct. Upstairs, Soleri's vision of an environmentally-friendly future puts urban spaces on a diet. His "lean" cities, comprised of units that can be added to each other to expand laterally, are self-reliant. All the energy is gathered from wind, sun and rain. Each unit is centered around a green space that acts as both a park and an air filtration system for the unit's inhabitants. As the city expands, it resembles a twisting ... |
Don't Eat Friends- Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:26:12 -0000
Date: Jan 4th 2010 12:26p.m. For some Beijing pets, it's a cold and lonely winter. Animal abandoments spike during the holidays in the capital. Xie Zheng, of Don't Eat Friends gives us the lowdown on how to help furry friends in need. Why do animal abandonments spike during the holidays? How big is the problem? What do people need to know about adopting or fostering pets? What?s the biggest challenge in rescuing pets in Beijing? So, how can we get involved with Don?t Eat Friends? Email: biechipengyou@126.com |
BEST JIAOZI- Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:32:05 -0000
Date: Oct 4th 2008 9:32p.m. Juicy Pockets of Flavor Chaoyang Park | Baoyuan Jiaozi WuWith one full-color bilingual menu devoted exclusively to jiaozi, you can be sure that Baoyuan is serious about dumplings. The jiaozi here are made to order and stuffed with every filling imaginable?from your typical pork with cabbage and pork with green chili (?6) to fancy purple, green, and orange dumplings colored with vegetable juice. A bright interior, wooden tables and friendly waitresses put this restaurant a cut above your average jiaozi joint. Baoyuan also features smoking and non-smoking dining rooms, a rarity for Beijing, but one that is always appreciated by those who don?t like their dumplings with a side of zhong nan hai. Find it: Chaoyang Park, 6 Maizidian Jie, ???????6???, Tel: 6586-4967 Dongcheng | Xian Lao ManDon?t be put off by the jars of bright blue garlic floating in vinegar lining the walls (thanks to a chemical reaction), Xian Lao Man is a small restaurant with a large variety of jiaozi. The menu lists 45 types of dumplings, but, if for some reason you can?t find what you like, the friendly staff will happily make whatever you fancy. The Pork Three Specialties (????) (?6) was a big hit, as well as the House Specialty (????) with shrimp, chicken and veggies (?5.5). Find it: Dongchengqu 252 Andingmennei Dajie, ?????????252?, Tel: 6404-6944 Chaoyang | San Yuan Shui Jiao ChengIf you love cheap yet delicious dumplings and can forgive a slow and disinterested waitstaff, San Yuan Jiao Cheng is the spot for you. The jiaozi here are inexpensive, plentiful, and downright tasty, with a yet-to-be-beaten pork and eggplant (?5). Vegans and non-egg eating vegetarians will have trouble getting their dumpling fill here, as the dumplings are almost exclusively of the egg/meat variety. However a large selection ... |
Wen Fang Wields the Power of the Pen in "Birthday Present"- Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:15:16 -0000
Date: Dec 21st 2009 3:15p.m. Many an amateur art critic has shaken his head in frustration or bemusement at intentionally vague works and their accompanying descriptions. But Wen Fang's "Birthday Present" - currently on display at Galerie Paris-Beijing in 798 - is an exercise in directness that neatly excises any distraction from her intended meaning. Six arrangements, each accompanied by an artist?s description, constitute Wen?s ?present? to two figures that turned 60 this year?New China and her own mother. The displays are measured and evocative, full of creativity and an eye for ?the truth,? which Wen believes ?must be seen with the heart.? While the pieces have plenty of panache, it?s the written descriptions that showcase the confidence and maturity of the 33-year-old artist. They are straightforward and (a rarity in today?s art scene) easy to understand. Wen writes as if conferring with the viewer instead of trying to impress with hoity-toity arcana. Entering the gallery from the front, viewers are greeted by hundreds of butcher knives dangling from the ceiling; images of filth and debris superimposed on each. Instead of being left to arrange the visual puzzle pieces themselves, Wen is quick to step in and let the viewer know exactly what she was thinking. ?One day I was on a public bus ? the road was lined on both sides by filthy, stagnant drainage ditches,? the description narrates. ?The Chinese refer to these situations as knives raining down from the heavens ? these knives often cut right into my heart.? Such forthrightness is a refreshing change, even though it?s more fun believing in our impending death by a thousand knives. Critics might find the descriptions overly explanatory, demystifying the works to the point of rendering them mundane. But for an artist as likely to shock you as pull you into ... |
FASHIONISTA: Free Willow- Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:58:02 -0000
Date: Dec 15th 2009 2:58p.m. This winter in Beijing, when you see young women sporting peculiar, intriguing cube designs on their coats and skirts, you can be certain that fashion designer Alicia Lee had everything to do with it. As she says, ??The Cube? represents a surrealistic world?one with no color and only the transformation of forms. It is a story about the ultimate loneliness.? Alicia?s designs aren?t always so dire, as apparent in her previous concept, ?Hero of the Forest and Lord of the Opera,? which combines multi-colored pleats and fanciful headdresses. Her even more playful ?Lost in Peach Blossom Land? collection shows a unique perspective on culture while experimenting with natural high-tech fibers. These original couture collections can be found at Alicia?s Sanlitun store, Willow Willow, which also carries a very accessible ready-to-wear line and the coolest collection of unique collector T-shirts in the capital. ?My store is a treasure trove of distinctive pieces,? she says. ?Whether it?s an interesting book, colorful sticker or wacky jewelry, I try to find things that appeal to the more discriminating young professional?not the everyday norm.? Beijing is grateful to have a designer with such a playful yet sophisticated heart. Name: Alicia Lee Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn |
Manga Gone Mad- Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:17:09 -0000
Date: Nov 30th 2009 12:17p.m. Beijing Tokyo Art Projects | Super Acrylic Skin Photon ? Imaginary Temperature ????? The first solo show on the Chinese mainland for Japanese animation artist Hiroyuki Matsuura is now on at Beijing Tokyo Art Projects. It?s an all-too-brief foray into the fascinatingly kitsch world of manga. From a sensory perspective, the show is beautiful. Graphics slick as racing stripes, smooth contours, luscious eye-candy colors, and textures of fur, plastic and resin make for a juicy little manga palette. Matsuura is known for his technical prowess, interesting compositions and juxtaposition of words and visuals. ?Super Acrylic? refers to his new format?the characters have grown from paint-on-canvas to life-size, and glow out of LED light boxes. Matsuura feels the new light-box design and the heat it generates in the room breathes life into the characters, bringing the fantasy world a step closer to our own. Small, furry porcelain rabbits in pastel balaclavas assemble on a table, while a black-mirrored room crowded with monkey-like tails and faces challenges the viewer: ?Are you down with us?? His characters are at their strongest when they have a dark edge, like ?Strawberry Switchblade,? a work showing a mop-haired girl in tulle plunging her face into a cupcake. The interplay between fantastically child-like animation and sinister character motivation imbues them with unlikely power. BTAP has done an admirable job conceiving different spaces so that characters exist in their own environments. But the journey is all too short. Five minutes and you?re through the whole thing with little supplementary explanation. The quickly consumed imagery whets the appetite, but leaves you unsatisfied. Sophie McKinnon When: Through Jan. 31 |