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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
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 |
Indie Director Makes Movie Magic- Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:09:04 -0000
Date: Nov 30th 2009 12:09p.m. Making movies, like pimpin', ain't easy. Indie director Sean Wang's day of filming was hectic, swinging from a steamy love scene to a car crash on the frozen streets of Beijing at 2 in the morning. Between sneakily using university recording equipment for private filming to rigging up a makeshift dolly for the camera, Sean's ingenuity and obvious passion for his project ? (English title: Reality Bites) have us looking forward to the film's premiere, coming up at the New Beijing International Film Festival, dates TBD. For more on Sean on set, check out the issue of City Weekend on shelves now. |
Beijing Expats Find Faith- Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:17:30 -0000
Date: Nov 30th 2009 11:17a.m. CW's intrepid columnist visits The Embassy, a weekly meeting for young Christians run by the Beijing International Christian Fellowship Some religious services advertise spirituality over religion, but The Embassy, Beijing International Christian Fellowship?s Thursday night youth service, makes no such claim. It is a Christian service, not watered down with qualifications. And, you can be sure, the songs are about Jesus. ?We are going to sing some songs about Jesus,? the band leader announces. ?The reason why this is special is that Jesus is the true path. It doesn?t matter if you do good works or are a good person ... loving and having faith in Jesus is what being a Christian is all about.? After the music, services begin with a sermon, tonight given by Sam Weatherford, a handsome investment banker with a friendly, informal manner. Despite the stated aims of his profession, Weatherford spoke about the need to concentrate on heavenly aims over earthly desires, often making use of investment metaphors. ?The Earth and everything in it is a depreciating asset. As a banker, I would call this a sell,? he says. The rewards of heaven, on the other hand, are eternal and never lose their value. Following the sermon, men and women split into discussion groups. The reason for the gender division became clear as members of my discussion group bring up lust as a daily challenge. While few answers are proffered, it?s the first time in three years in Beijing that I?ve heard serious discussion about being better people. American banker (banking appears to put the fear of God in people these days) Tyler Zacharia attends The Embassy weekly. Growing up in a religious household, he took it for granted, he says, continuing: ?After coming out to Beijing, I began to feel ... |
Beijing Hearts MJ- Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:09:29 -0000
Date: Nov 30th 2009 11:09a.m. We sat down with Michael Jackson China fan club president Zhang Rui to discuss the star's legacy in the Middle Kingdom. How many people are in the Michael Jackson fan club in China? Over 81,000. The number has doubled since his passing. What kinds of things does the club do? We hold fan events in many cities throughout China, and after he died we organized vigils, tribute concerts and stage performances. Once, I sent stories written about our efforts and event photos to Michael, and he replied, via a spokesman: ?I see beauty in Chinese people?s eyes, and I love you.? Why is MJ so popular in China? The timing was right. When China opened up in the 1980s, MJ was at his peak of fame. Because of him, many Chinese started listening to Western music, and music from around the world. Forget Elvis (90 percent of Chinese people have never heard of him), the Beatles, even Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. In China, Michael is the biggest and most influential Western pop star. When was the first time you heard an MJ song? In 1994. Heal the World. I loved his humanity and philanthropy. Which one is your favorite? There are too many to count. I?ve only cried twice in my life when hearing a song. Once was listening to Roger Waters? ?It?s a Miracle? and the other was MJ?s ?Speechless.? His music is great. I love all the soul, emotion, joy, pain, fear and care for the planet and human race that are in his music. |
Keith & Cheryl Wyse | Bread of Life Bakery- Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:00:00 -0000
Date: Feb 28th 2008 2:16p.m. Hope Tastes Good How is the Bread of Life Bakery any different from a normal bakery? Well, it?s normal in every way like any other bakery, but it employs [physically] handicapped foster children. Does making baked goods really help the kids get ready for life out in the wider world? It does, because most of the children have lived in orphanages their whole lives, and they were raised by nannies [who] literally do everything for them. So they get to adulthood, and they literally have no ability to function like a normal adult would? Right. So this gives them the ability to have a job and an income. They learn how to weigh, measure. They learn how to be responsible. Why move from Toledo, Ohio to China and start a bakery for foster children? You know, we?ve never been asked this question before. [laughing] Yeah, I?m sure you never get this. We raised two boys, but we always wanted a daughter. And in the process of one daughter, we adopted four. We came back basically because we couldn't adopt anymore, so the only way that we could help more children was to come here. |
FASHIONISTA: Xiao Bizzle- Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:30:31 -0000
Date: Nov 18th 2009 9:30a.m. Part of the allure and magnetism of Beijing is the promise of opportunity and reinvention. Take Will Bernholz, a.k.a. Xiao Bizzle. Hailing from the southern states of the U.S. of A., Bernholz moved to Beijing and in just a few months was getting down with the top players in Beijing hip-hop. His website, www.YouCallThatHipHop.com, is a catalyst for creative growth?not only for urban music but also for hip-hop style. So what does this dirty-southerner-meets-skater-boy wear when he?s out and about? ?I love Carolina Blue first and foremost. Anything I can get in those colors, I will definitely pick up?that goes without saying. NC stand up!? Bernholz gives ?mad credit? to local urban brands Infinite Fantasy and RMBZ Boys, both of which can be found at Fat J?s (Tel: 139-1136-7165) hip-hop boutique on Gongti Beilu, between KFC and YaShow. Main accessories for striving hip-hop fashionistas are without question ?hats and sneaks,? which Mr. Bizzle has quite the bevy of. He suggests checking out the newly opened Source in World City for all things street wear and for exclusive brands like Insight, Mishka, Saru, Supreme Being and Volcom. As for his view on the burgeoning Beijing style circuit? ?China?s fashion scene is a vibrant one ... I think it?s great that people take a ?I can wear anything I want because it?s Beijing? attitude.? Judging from his violet Famous Stars and Straps T-shirt, matching scarf, Nike kicks and coordinating bling, it looks like Xiao Bizzle has taken that statement and changed it to ?I can wear anything I want because I will make it look fresh.? Holla! Name: Will "Xiao Bizzle" Bernholz Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn ... |
Yumen 2006-2009- Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:29:03 -0000
Date: Nov 16th 2009 3:29p.m. Once the cradle of China?s petroleum industry, the town of Yumen in Gansu Province is a now a rundown backwater town, perpetually shrouded in pollution and overrun with shuttered storefronts and disgruntled workers. When Zhuang Hui and his girlfriend Dan?er decided to open a photography studio here in 2007, 35 percent of the population was unemployed, with 14,000 living in poverty and 6,000 on social welfare. Imagine, then, the shock of encountering the smiling faces of children, of women in wedding gowns and men in their Sunday best, staring out from stock backgrounds of river valleys, seasides and blurry dreamscapes in Yumen, 2006-2009. All of the photos on display at this exhibition are of paying customers to the Yumen Family Photo Studio, from those after mug shots for ID cards to folks who just wanted a picture of themselves in something nice. There is nothing artistic about these pictures, but the effect is stunning. You can?t help searching for hidden calluses and wondering what future they could possibly be dreaming for themselves. This fantasy world is abruptly disputed in the back room of the gallery where four projectors display pictures of Yumen stripped to its bare economic reality: drywalls without roofs, windowless buildings, rusted pipes, deserted streets, smokestacks and blackened puddles of rainwater. Peering back at the smiling faces, you?re tempted to ask, ?What can be done?? It is then that the real cost of this country?s economic boom becomes painfully clear. *At the Three Shadows Photography Art Center By Anthony Tao |
The Irish Cultural Warrior- Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:20:08 -0000
Date: Nov 16th 2009 3:20p.m. GPS company employee by day, tireless Irish culture promoter by night, Colin Saunders takes CW along for a day in his shoes. Organizing the capital's Irish community on top of a 9 to 5 makes for a long day, but Saunders gets through it with a little help from his friends, and a pint of Guinness. In addition to upcoming fund raising nights for a charity event called "Bright Eyes" that helps cataract sufferers get the operations they need and running a monthly networking event at Paddy O'Shea's, Saunders and the Irish Network China team organize the annual Irish ball. The night of fun, Irish-style, is an increasingly popular affair that lures in more guests than there are Irish in Beijing. For more information on ball tickets and other events, check out the INC website. For more on Saunder's hectic schedule, check out CW on shelves now. |
Better Than Sex- Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:36:06 -0000
Date: Nov 16th 2009 2:36p.m. Of all the complaints launched against Beijing by my female friends, the only thing that comes up as often as the lack of acceptable men is the lack of good chocolate. So noble a confection, more than mere nectar or ambrosia, the true food of the gods has somehow been relegated in China to little more than a tasty lick off the top of a Pocky stick. Thankfully for the capital?s chocolate aficionados, one Beijing woman, Elyse Ribbons, has decided to take matters into her own hands. In retaliation to the chocolate shortage depriving tastebuds around town, Ribbons founded the capital?s own Chocolate Appreciation Society?Chocojing. The group brings together friends interested in the sweet side of life. ?[We are] a group of chocolate friends that get together whenever possible to collectively gorge on premier cocoa products from all over the world,? she says. Meetings are held roughly every six weeks to two months, and the club itself is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that works with chocolate shops, cafés, hotels and distributors to keep prices for chocolate tastings as low as possible. ?One of the club?s fundamental goals is to try to remain as open to Beijing plebians as we possibly can,? says Ribbons. ?Whenever possible, we attempt to keep admission prices down around just ¥50.? For those for whom ¥50 is a bit too rich, Ribbons is always on the look out for volunteers whose help allows them to gorge gratis. One thing Chocojing is not, Ribbons insists, is another networking event. ?This really is a group for chocolate lovers and aficionados,? she says. ?It is not some headhunting career event. The event may lead to friendships down the line, but we would much rather that a person brings an appetite than 400 business cards. And ... |
Hua Dan Takes the Stage- Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:28:49 -0000
Date: Nov 16th 2009 2:28p.m. Beijing-based organization Hua Dan uses elements of drama and dance to teach migrant women and children life skills in Beijing and Sichuan. How do dance and drama improve the lives of working class Chinese women and children? Read on to find out more from Hua Dan rep Peta Khan. How does teaching drama and dance techniques to migrant women and children benefit them? Each year, thousands of migrant families flock to Beijing trying to find work. They have poor living conditions, low quality education and little access to new and stimulating learning experiences. So, Hua Dan provides a safe, welcoming and creative space for them to get into theater, dance and other creative arts. They get a rare chance to learn new things, build confidence and start opening up and expressing themselves. What?s your favorite technique to teach? One of my favorite activities to help teach is dance improvisation, where each person makes up their own funky moves to the rhythm and everyone else in the class imitates them. It?s a simple activity, but it?s amazing how much it can build up a great energy in the room where everyone is supporting everyone else to just let loose! By the end there?s just a whole room of giggling kids and gigantic smiles. Why the name Hua Dan? Nearly six years ago, Hua Dan?s founder Caroline Watson was talking with a friend about different characters in Peking Opera when they discovered a female character described as ?perky, bold and unconventional??the perfect name for the new organization Hua Dan. How can people get involved? You can support us by donating to one of our projects on our website at www.hua-dan.org or volunteering for either office related work or, if your Chinese is good enough ... |
A Life of Ink - Beijing-based Tattoo Artist Yang Zhou Shows CW a Day in his Shoes- Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:13:06 -0000
Date: Nov 2nd 2009 4:13p.m. Beijing-based tattoo artist Yang Zhou flies around the world marking people permanently. In this issue of CW he takes us along to a London tattoo parlor where he deals with a less than ideal customer. Before Yang even sets needle to skin, his petrified subject passes out cold. Turns out tattooing, like pimpin', ain't easy. Check out his artwork, or schedule a tatt yourself, at yztattoo@yahoo.com.cn |
Beneath the Layers - Wang Yin's 2009- Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:50:47 -0000
Date: Nov 2nd 2009 3:50p.m. When an artist purposefully pulls himself out of the rising avant-garde art movement of his contemporaries, you know you?re dealing with a unique voice. Wang Yin decided he would document the evolution of modern Chinese oil painting, and has done so, often to unsettling effect. There is always something slightly awry?a bit too interesting?with Wang?s paintings. Upon closer inspection, Wang often surprises on the visceral and cerebral levels: nude models whose legs are freakishly elongated, dainty riverbanks (that are actually maps of East Asia) on which a comfort woman from World War II is prostrate. In the 30 pieces on display at 798?s Iberia Center for Contemporary Art, Wang?s mischievousness repeatedly reveals itself in discreet and remarkable ways. He is capable of?prefers, actually?subtlety and irony, as in the 36 portraits of Russians executed during Stalin?s regime. Accumulating on the bottom of these picture frames are peeled-off flakes of paint, representing time?s erasure of memory. Wang is never too far removed from his context. His generation sees art as liberating, subversive and even iconoclastic, which is why in ?Spring Grass Grows beside the Pond II,? Wang depicts the artist Xu Beihong, famous for his ink renderings of horses, painting a nude Russian model in a dale so Arcadian you half-expect the Lady of Shalott to float down the stream. In the foreground stands a smiling, fully dressed ethnic minority woman. As with all of Wang?s works, the answer is contained within?just look deeper. Anthony Tao |