Shanghaiist

Extra! Extra! Tea party twitters, crazy college students and the Reporter Test

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T20:00:06+08:00

While Twitter's blocked in China, people are still using it to post sometimes hour-by-hour diaries of their police encounters. [Twitter]
China's youth are getting ever more crazy with 60% of college students reporting feeling isolated and 80% feeling "injustice and subdued." [Women of China]
So China's housing market is showing signs of cooling, but property prices are still going up, making it hard for even the richer middle class to buy real estate. [Wall Street Journal]
So while anyone and their mothers seems to be able to become a reporter elsewhere, in China you will now have to go through a certification system that inlcudes "training in Marxist and communist theories of news." [AP]
China already has 170 cities with more than 1 million people - if it continues to allow mass migrations from rural areas to urban centers, it will have 15 super-cities by 2025. [Financial Times]
Oh that wascally Ai Wei Wei. He and a group of other people sent a letter to all 35 delegations at the NPC, calling for transparency regarding the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. [Global Times]

Threesday: 3 reasons why this week rocked for Chinese women

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T18:00:00+08:00

Unrelated, but did you know 300 Miss Etiquettes are training for the Expo? More here.

If the news this week is anything to go by, it's not too bad a week for women here in China. Sure, a UNDP report calculated that there were 96 million of us missing in East Asia - but we knew that already (and besides, at least in the cities, the gap seems to be narrowing). Anyway, here's three reasons why the last few days have been pretty stellar on the femme front.

1. China has been looking into a new guideline that will make it much easier to rescue teenage girls from the clutches of human traffickers - which will in turn lead to a 100% reduction in the possibility of incidents where a dad in China goes all Liam Neeson in Taken.

The new guideline will help "speed up the investigation and filing of cases involving girls between 14 and 18, who often fall through the cracks of anti-trafficking legislation," says China Daily.

What was wrong with the rules before? Seems like missing girls younger fall under the anti-trafficking law for children, but many feel the anti-trafficking law for women only relates to those older than 18. Those in between get kind of screwed.

2. Ladies and Gentlemen, we now have women in Space! China's newest generation of astronauts have been selected and two of the seven are women! While the identities of the two new astronautettes haven't been revealed, people suspect they may have been chosen from five Shandong Province girls out of the 15 possible female choices. Says China.org.cn:

Wang Yaping from Yantai City flew rescue missions during the Sichuan earthquake, and rain reduction missions for the Beijing Olympics. Xing Lei is the only straight-A student in the Air Force Academy, and Liu Lu is a skilled pilot who also studies literature and is an expert on the Chinese classic novel A Dream of Red Mansions. Cao Yanyan comes from an air force family. Her husband and mother-in-law are both pilots. Sun Jing lives for her flying.

Ok, some of those seem a little forced. But how exciting is it that the nation's first Sally Rides are about to take off?

3. It turns out that half the world's self-made lady billionaires procured their fortunes on the mainland. That's seven out of 14! That means they make up about 5% of the billionaire population, since according to the Hurun Rich list, there's about 130 in the country altogether. If you count it by Forbes standards, there's only 79 in China.

While it's a little sad that there are only 14 female billionaires on the planet, how cool is it that women are so able to pull ahead economically here? In comparison, the United States has 360 (by Forbes standards). Even if the rest of the world's female billionaires were from the States, that'd still be a pretty depressing ratio.

The seven and what they made their fortunes in: Wu Yajun (real estate), Xiu Li Hawken (shopping centers), Chu Lam Yiu (runs flavorings company Huabao International), Zhang Xin (runs Soho China), Yan Cheung (paper), Chan Laiwa (real estate), and Lei Jufang (runs Tibet Cheezheng Tibetan Medicine)

Coming in July: Get from Shanghai to Nanjing in under an hour

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T16:30:00+08:00

Getting from here to Nanjing could take about as long (or even less time) than getting from Hongqiao to Jinqiao come this July. The "world's fastest railway," which runs at 350kmph begins testing in May, will cut down travel time between the two cities from two-and-a-half hours right now to just 52 minutes. That's fast! Unfortunately, the rise in speed also means a rise in prices: tickets are expected to be 150RMB, compared with 93RMB right now.

Video: Dark Rain

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T15:30:00+08:00

Neocha Edge, cataloguer of everything artsy in China (and around it), has pointed out this amazing short animation called Dark Rain. Unfortunately, it's only on Youtube right now, but you're bound to have a solution for the GFW by now, right?

Created by Taiwan-based animator Ou-Bao Tsai, this haunting digital short was shown at last year's "Taiwan's New Generation of Art" exhibition at the Shanghai Art Museum and the 2009 Prix Ars Electronica festival.

Six Nobel Peace Prize nominees who will piss off China

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T14:00:00+08:00

There are a record 237 candidates in the running for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, amongst them: the internet (god, that's lame). Even more interesting than the inclusion of an inanimate intangible thing though, at least for us China news hounds, is the amount of Chinese dissidents on the list.

As is the way, China will probably be expressing its discontent about the nominees soon enough - though I'm quite curious to see whether they end up issuing individual denouncements for each candidate they don't like... or if it'll come in just one sweeping "Hey Nobel people, quit it with all the dissident noms already." There's also the off chance that they've realized the winner seems more dependant on fame than any actual deeds (cough cough Obama cough cough Gore) so these China troublemakers will probably fade from view if the government just doesn't say anything... who knows?

Anyway, in case you were having trouble getting your dissidents straight, the nominees have been listed below:

Liu Xiaobo, from BBC News

Liu Xiaobo
Who is he: Probably the most famous dissident in China right now, Liu Xiaobo is the founder of Charter 08, a petition for democratic reforms in China.
Where is he: In June 2009, he was formally arrested on suspicion of incitement to subvert state power.
What did he do to hurt China: Well, besides that whole "incitement to subvert state power" thing, his wife has had the nerve to make China look like a country that doesn't respect citizen rights, writing opinion pieces in the Washington Times begging President Obama to take up his case. The hullabaloo from the West had gotten so bad by February that it forced China's foreign ministry to step up and tell everybody the truth - China doesn't HAVE dissidents, so quit asking us to release them.

Hu Jia

Hu Jia
Who is he: A Chinese HIV/AIDS rights activist who's been making trouble around China over AIDS issues, democracy issues and *gasp* Tibet. He was instrumental in exposing the blood-selling scandal in Henan which gave tens of thousands of villagers HIV/AIDS. He was also nominated for last year's Nobel prize and won last year's Sakharov Prize.
Where is he now: Jailed. He was found guilty of "inciting subversion of state power" and given three and a half years in prison a couple months before the Olympics.
What did he do to hurt China: Well, besides not cooperating during his house arrest and even recording his kind of inept secret police, Hu Jia "published articles on overseas-run websites, made comments in interviews with foreign media, and repeatedly instigated other people to subert the state's political power and socialist system... In his two website articles, 'China Political Law-enforcement Organs Create Large-scale Horror ahead of CPC National Congress', and 'One Country Doesn't Need Two Systems', Hu spread malicious rumors, and committed libel in an attempt to subvert the state's political power and socialist system," summarized China Daily. In case you've been living under a rock, all of those are big no nos here.

Picture of Chen Guangcheng from Under the Jacaranda Tree

Chen Guangcheng
Who is he: A blind activist who drew international attention to human rights issues in rural areas. Though he doesn't have a law degree (blind people aren't allowed to study law... take that Matt Murdoch), he managed to audit in law classes enough to advise rural residents of their rights.
Where is he now: In jail. Notice a trend here? He was sentenced to four years and three months for "damaging property and organizing a mob to disturb traffic." Since that was in August 2006, that means he's actually set to get out of prison before the year end. We'll see how he's doing this Thanksgiving.
What did he do to hurt China: He interfered in Shandong Province officials' efforts to make sure their women don't overbreed. Apparently, he took offense at the illegal measures local authorities were using when enforcing the one-child policy - making women go through mandatory sterilization and abortions. The Central government agreed that this was a bad thing and detained the Shandong officials, but this didn't stop Chen from needing to undergo his own trial for being a public menace. Which he lost.

Picture of Gao Zhisheng from Human Rights Watch

Gao Zhisheng
Who is he: One of the biggest human rights lawyers in China, Gao has defended fellow activists and religious minorities like the FLG (an organization whose full name we won't mention, since it seems the GFW actually blocks you from searching for anything related to it right now) and underground Christians.
Where is he now: Nobody knows actually. Quite scarily, Gao disappeared about a year ago after being lured away for "a brief chat" with Chinese security agents. The last time the press asked Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhouxu where he was, Ma responded with "Honestly speaking, I don’t know where he is. China has 1.3 billion people and I can’t know all of their whereabouts."
What did he do to hurt China: Despite being given the honor of recognition as "one of the country’s 10 best lawyers" by the Ministry of Justice, Gao turned around and started making trouble for the motherland. He resigned from the Communist Party in 2005 and started defended the FLG, whom everybody knows is an insane cult-like organization bent on taking over China. I mean, they set themselves on FIRE and stuff.

Picture of Bao Tong from Radio Free Asia

Bao Tong
Who is he: A former Communist Party official who was the top aide to Zhao Ziyang, a reformist party chief that sympathized with democracy protestors in the 1989 incident. Last year, he also sneaked Zhao's memoirs out of the country, where they were published.
Where is he now: We're not sure, but we're thinking ~~he's probably still in "internal exile" in Zhejiang province~~. He was sent there to stay after the 20th anniversary of the June 4 events. UPDATE: People tell me he's right now living in Beijing under house arrest.
What did he do to hurt China: Look, you're either with us or against us. And Bao Tong has proved, over the last two decades, to be against us.

Rebiya Kadeer
Who is she: The leader of the World Uighur Congress, which either "represents the collective interest of the Uyghur people both in East Turkestan and abroad" or a terrorist organization with a separatist agenda, depending on who you ask.
Where is she now: Last we checked, she was in Washington D.C., where she's in exile. This makes her probably the most comfortably situated out of the people on this list. Not that we think that influences the Nobel Peace Prize committee's decision making process... but it's worth mentioning.
What did she do to hurt China: Instigated those riots last summer, of course. The Xinjiang riots killed hundreds and injured thousands, not to mention caused the entire region to undergo an internet block out that, to this day, hasn't been completely lifted. Sure, she denies her involvement and argues that it was supposed to be peaceful until someone came to muck it all up - but even her family doesn't believe that. Oh yeah, and thanks to her, Facebook's blocked in China.

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Google China troubles drawing to a close, says Google CEO

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T13:00:00+08:00

We've documented the will-they-won't-they saga of Google possibly leaving China over hackers and censorship and what not. And then we documented the are-they-aren't-they saga of Google and China talking their problems out. Well, at least Google's CEO thinks both parties are going to reach a conclusion soon: Eric Schmidt told reporters at a media summit that "We are in active negotiations with the Chinese government... something will happen soon."

Look at this ugly Expo ad in NYC's Time Square

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T12:00:00+08:00

Holy Christmas, is THAT what's promoting our six month world-class event in New York City's Time Square? Considering how much ad space costs there, you'd think the Expo promotion team would have spent a little extra money to make their ad look a little less like someone had to do a rush job in photoshop. At least pay for a decent font or something.

Then again, considering what the USA Pavilion has turned into - maybe this is a tit for tat: a showing that China can also spend extravagant amounts of money to make something cheap and cluttered and boring... at their own event?

Photo from Adam Minter

Have Dagu Lu DVD stores closed down?

Christine Tan — 2010-03-11T11:30:00+08:00

A friend has just informed us that our favorite DVD strip may be no more. She was at Dagu Lu around 4 p.m. yesterday, only to find all the DVD stores locked and shut. An opportunistic street DVD vendor told her they had all closed down, before trying to hawk his own wares. Just a Wednesday evening siesta, or has Dagu Lu become the latest victim of Expo clean-up?

Interview: What's the craic with the St. Patrick's Day Parade

Shanghaiist — 2010-03-11T10:00:00+08:00

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The St. Patricks Day Parade in Shanghai is the pinnacle of Irish Week!
Where: Fuxing Park and Yandang Lu, Luwan District （复兴公园进雁荡路）
From: 10:30 am to 1 pm, Saturday 13 March 2010
Cover: Free!
For more local events, visit the Shanghaiist Calendar.

By Claire Barco

Though the last few days have been abysmally cold, don’t let that deter you from pulling yourself out of your hangover on Saturday morning (helas, if only you could find Solpadine in Shanghai!). Ireland Week 2010’s main event is the St. Patrick’s Day parade and will surely make you forget all those things you shouldn’t have texted the night before, and as there won’t be any fire trucks, you don’t need to worry about the headache.

Shanghaiist caught up with Eoin Murphy, President of Le Chéile, the Irish community organization of Shanghai. (Le Chéile is pronounced “Luh Kay-luh” and is Irish for “together”). We got the skinny on the all the craic that will be had this year. Read on below!

This is the fourth year for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Shanghai. What will be different about this year?

Well, it’s grown over the last four years and we’re expecting this year to be our biggest yet with few thousand people. We have an impressive stage this year on Yandang Lu and the whole event will be very professional.

Who are the performers this year?

During the parade we have two marching bands from local international schools. One of them is over 90 people, so that should be impressive. Also we have some children that have been practicing traditional Irish dance, and they will be singing some songs as well.

There will be, as well, two Chinese dance troupes that have been learning Irish dance from the Riverdance DVDs. One is called Celtic Storm, and they actually trained with the Riverdance troupe when they were here in January. Bill Whelan himself was actually here, and he mentioned how impressed he was with these dancers’ enthusiasm to learn, even if all they had was a DVD when the started. The other troupe is from Fudan University. Now they have an exchange programme with UCD in Dublin. The students that go there definitely gain a huge appreciation for Irish culture, and it’s just a great example of how academic exchange can lead to cultural exchange.

As an organization Le Chéile is very proactive in promoting this kind of exchange so we’re very proud to provide an opportunity for these dancers and musicians to showcase their talent.

Also on the stage we’re lucky to have some traditional musicians flying in from Ireland. They are technically the most proficient artists you can find, so we’re very pleased that the Irish government sponsored their trip here.

I find some people don’t actually know much about real Irish culture. They think all the Irish do is lock themselves in the pub all day, but they aren’t aware that there is real tradition and culture to be found there.

Yeah, you know there’ s a big connection between Chinese music and Irish music. For example I was listening to a violin lesson my son was having with his tutor, and it was “Down the Sally Gardens”. The tutor told me it was a traditional Chinese folk song that all Chinese students learn when they’re first starting out on the violin, but it was in fact “Down the Sally Gardens”. So sometimes you will have something Irish that everybody knows, but nobody knows is actually from Ireland. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade offers an opportunity to showcase Irish talent and allows the Shanghai community to connect that talent, the music and dance, with Ireland itself, so people aren’t just listening to Enya in yoga classes thinking she’s American.

Who are some of the guests at the event?

Well, we have a piper from Newfoundland coming in to lead the parade. You know there are only two other places in the world that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday. One is Montserrat in the Caribbean and the other is Newfoundland, so we’re very excited to have him.

In terms of VIPs we have a very senior Chinese official as the Grand Marshall who I can’t pre-announce, but you’ll see him wearing the green jacket. He has very strong ties to the Irish so we’re simply over the moon to have him. We have officials from other consulates as well, including the US consulate, Italian consulate, Swiss consulate, and Danish consulate.

We’re really developing a good buzz this year. It’s not just about Ireland, it’s about expressing Ireland’s, I suppose, appreciation of every nationality and trying to bring them together. I think St. Patrick’s parade is a unique event in that it’s now happening all over the world. You know, millions of people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and it’s a very cultural, peaceful and celebratory kind of event.

And it’s just good fun.

Absolutely. It’s good fun for everyone.

And what is it I saw about the dragons in the parade?

Yes, we have two dragons, Finbarr and Shamrock. They’re beautiful. They are Chinese dragons but they’re green, and they are absolutely gorgeous.

One thing I should mention is that our naming sponser is the Ireland Expo Pavillion, and that they will be providing a preview of the Ireland Pavilion. There will be a number of booths set up for the Expo there near the stage. Our other sponsers are Pepsi Co, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Tourism Ireland, and Bord Bía, which is the Ireland food board.

How long approximately will the parade take?

The parade itself starts sharply from Fuxing Park at 10:30, not 10:30 Irish time (which is anywhere from 10:30 to 12). It will take half an hour for it to reach Yandang Lu where there will be about 2 hours of performance on the stage.

What should Shanghaiist readers know about this St. Patrick’s Day parade?

We’re the only national group allowed to have a parade on Shanghai’s streets. No other national group is afforded that honor. And we would want ensure that the event is respectful that honor.

**(Note: This means don’t show up pissed and start a fight.)**

And we can guarantee that it will be a great family day out where everyone will feel included and will enjoy themselves.

Are there any other events around town for Ireland Week that would be of particular interest?

Well, the Shanghai International Literary Festival is showcasing a number of Irish poets this year. And on Friday night from 6 pm to 7 pm there will be an event for the musicians to get used to playing on the main on Yandang Lu that anyone is welcome to attend.

There’s also the St. Patrick’s Ball on Saturday night, which is the largest charity ball in Shanghai now in it’s sixth year. However, for this year the tickets sold out in about 10 minutes, so it’s the main event to be at.

For Americans, St. Patrick’s Day is a tradition. Every year, you go out to your local main street. There’s always the Leprechaun contest where the kids dress up. And last year in Dublin the parade just had so many American marching bands coming over from Texas and Nebraska. So with a St. Patrick’s Day parade you get not only Irish culture, but in a strange way American culture.

Yes, the parade in Dublin has really transformed into an international carnival, and that’s what we’re really trying to do here as well on a smaller scale. As we were telling some of the officials, you know every great city has a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Shanghai is a great city. This parade is getting on to be the largest in Asia and we’re getting very enthusiastic about where we can take it next year.

So this Saturday morning get yourself moving and bring the children, or if you haven’t got any bring your mates that surely act like children, to this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. You can start on the pub after.

Photo of the Day: Waiting for the bus

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-11T09:00:00+08:00

Photo by Slow Boat to China

More photos on the Shanghaiist Contribute page. To see your photos on our Contribute page, use Flickr and tag your photos “shanghaiist”. Or you can email your photos to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically appear on our site (and here).

Presented By:

2010-03-11T09:00:00+08:00

Extra! Extra! China's back-and-forth on golf, still gonna ban dog meat and totally in favor of you criticizing the government

Robert Schrader — 2010-03-10T22:00:00+08:00

Photo from Ryan Pyle/Par for China

Apparently, China's in the midst of a "golf boom," despite the percentage of our population who plays the game being negligible - and the fact that course construction has been officially banned since 2004, according to a story written by Shanghaiist founding editor Dan Washburn. Surprisingly, more than 400 new courses have popped up since then. Not so surprisingly, the government doesn't think twice about bulldozing multimillion dollar investments that are illegally built. [Slate]
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority has owned up to its bad RE: forced internment of Chinese immigrants by erecting a memorial to honor them. The chairman of the organization said he was "sorry the early immigrants [...] were denied their civil rights and denied a decent burial" but that he's "glad we're finally honoring them by righting the wrong." Well, half of the wrong, anyway. [The Los Angeles Times]
In a surprising twist, it seems that China may end up the champion in one leg of its green energy marathon against the US: developing a "smart" power grid. China's advantages include a less-developed existing grid which is easier to modify without service interruptions and a strategery - less cute polar bears, more energy security - more aimed at winning the race than public support.[Solve Climate]
Word on the street is that a forcible ban on eating dog and cat meat is still on the table, this time from Guangzhou, where city officials are engineering a facelift in advance of the upcoming Asian games. Specifics are still very similar to those we reported on in our last comment on the matter, but since then, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has weighed in that the matter could take "as long as a decade" to pass nationwide. [CNN]
More than 50 people are missing after a landslide buries more than ten homes in Shaanxi province early this morning. 20 people have so far been rescued from the rubble and out of those still missing, eight have been confirmed dead. [Shanghai Daily]
True or false? Premier Wen Jiabao said that "we must let the people criticize the government and monitor the government, giving full play to the supervisory role of news and public opinion, so that power is exercised in the full light of transparency!” [China Media Project]

China's HIV travel ban triggers controversy

Catherine Lewis — 2010-03-10T20:30:00+08:00

Photo from www.DoSomething.org

As reported on Monday, renowned Australian author Robert Dessaix was denied a Chinese Visa to enter the country on the alleged grounds that he is HIV-positive…and, consequently, people are pissed.

Not only was the award-winning author’s scheduled participation in the Shanghai International Literary Festival canceled (as were his speaking engagements in both Beijing and Chengdu), but the 65-yeard-old Dessaix reported feeling “humiliated,” “insulted” and “snubbed” by China’s imposed ban against HIV-positive foreigners.

Apparently, his feelings are also shared by China’s citizens, as the recent incident has triggered a call for authorities to lift the two-decade-old HIV ban, which some argue as archaic and discriminatory. Li Dun, a professor at Tsinghua University Center for Study of Contemporary China, tells the China Global Times: “The restriction equals discrimination.”

The ban, which currently states that foreigners visiting China on a short-term basis must declare they are free of HIV and those who want to stay longer must undergo a blood test, was initially imposed in the late 1980’s after China reported its first AIDS case. Back then -- a time in which the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS was largely unknown and widely feared -- the instituted ban seemingly made sense. But based on recent international health studies conducted by the World Health Organization, HIV should not be among the communicable diseases that disqualify a person from entering a country (among the diseases listed are active tuberculosis, infectious gonorrhea, syphilis and infectious leprosy).

Li states: "Historically speaking, confining people has proven to be ineffective, if not meaningless, in preventing the spread of this disease."

In October, the United States lifted its 22-year-old HIV travel ban on the platform that it was taking a step towards ending the stigma against people with HIV/AIDS -- a stigma that has stopped people from getting tested and, consequently, helped spread the disease. On January 1st, South Korea quickly followed suit by dropping its travel restrictions against HIV-positive foreigners. Among the countries that still have restrictions on entry, residence and length of stay for HIV sufferers are Cuba, Egypt, North Korea, Israel, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Iraq and Russia.

Despite its restrictions, China granted a waiver during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing that allowed people with HIV/AIDS to enter the country. Following this temporary reprieve, China Daily reported that the Ministry of Health was working with the government to finally lift the HIV ban once and for all. The goal? To have the ban eradicated by the May 1st World Expo in Shanghai. Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jeifu opined to China Daily: "I hope China will remove the ban thoroughly and forever by the time of the Shanghai Expo.”

Well, with less than 2-months to go until the Expo's début, Dessaix's recent Visa rejection only underscores that China may have a long way to go before it drops the ban "thoroughly and forever."

And while special visa waivers may be granted during the Expo to ensure "access for all," this concept is something people would simply like instituted all year-round.

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The disappearance of J.G. Ballard's Shanghai home

Christine Tan — 2010-03-10T17:00:00+08:00

From www.jgballard.ca

With so much of Shanghai's historical architecture disappearing day by day, you might think that most Shanghailanders, ourselves included, have become desensitized to the frequent reports of demolition and destruction. Looks like that isn't true, as we are still heartbroken over Malcolm Moore's recent story on the latest casualty of Shanghai's relentless urban development, British author J.G. Ballard's childhood home.

Ballard, who passed away last year, was born in Shanghai in 1930 and is best known for "Empire of the Sun" - a work of autobiographical fiction that draws extensively on his childhood in the city's colonial era and his experiences during World War II. His old home at 31a Amherst Avenue (now 508 Panyu Lu, now a concrete block) was a mock Tudor mansion built by English architects in 1925, and featured prominently in his memories of Shanghai. It was a "magical" place where his family enjoyed the glamorous life of club receptions and horse-racing before the 1937 Japanese invasion led to their internment at Longhua Camp in the south of the city (now Shanghai Zhongxue).

Ballard's house has been a sort-of pilgrimage site for historians and fans. In 2008, Shanghaiist accompanied Canadian Rick McGrath on his search for Ballard's home and other places related to the author's boyhood experience in the city. This wasn't some impulsive, hurried trip on McGrath's part, but an extensively planned journey that involved years of correspondence with other Ballardians, and hard work compiling maps and satellite views of Ballard's Shanghai. The story of McGrath's trip, and photos of the house, are meticulously recorded on his website.

James Fallows also took a tour of Ballard's childhood home, which he recounts here.

The house that McGrath and Fallows both visited was, at that point, an upscale restaurant called SH508. The original structure of the house had been left intact, and the property listed as a heritage building. But when the restaurant's lease on the property expired by October last year, the house fell into the hands of rabid developers. While the house has not been torn down, it is now unrecognizable - according to Moore, it has been stripped down to its beams and rebuilt in concrete, while plans are afoot to add a fake front and increase floorspace. You can watch a video tour of the current cemented-over monstrosity on The Telegraph.

Photo by Dan Butterfield, November 2009. From www.jgballard.ca

And so the battle between preservation and development continues, the former seeming on the losing side. With every small victory, tens of cemented-over former architectural glories appear.

But what would J.G. Ballard himself have thought of the gutting of his former home? Judging from his letters to Rick McGrath, he might have been a little desensitized himself, and accepted it as the inevitable. While he was excited and immensely curious about his fans' journeys to his old Shanghai haunts, he wrote that "one would expect any city in the world to have changed virtually out of recognition in 40 years, and know that the emotional pickings from the nostalgia dish to be pretty meager". In response to McGrath's news that his home had become a restaurant, his seemingly flippant reply was "if it's a restaurant, let's hope it's a McDonald's or KFC". He also revealed that these trips into nostalgia felt a little "intrusive" due to the length of time gone by; "In an odd way it's quite reassuring that everything has changed so much -- the Shanghai I knew, along with 31 Amherst Avenue and Lunghua camp, only survive inside my head."

Reassuring it may have been to Ballard, but not to us. Perversely, perhaps his home should have been a McDonald's or KFC - maybe if it had been a hopping commercial fast food establishment, the house would have been spared its fate as a cement block.

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Architectural beauties: Shanghai Cultural Plaza

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-10T16:00:00+08:00

I don't care what half the people said on that recent post about how ugly Shanghai's new cruise ship terminal was - it is an architectural horror and the amount of commenters who signed up specifically to say it was great makes me wonder how many PR flackies SPARCH has on hand. But this post isn't about that - this post is about some real architecture worth oohing and aahing at: the plans for the Shanghai Cultural Plaza.

Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, 70% of the 2,000 seat venue is actually underground, making it the world's largest underground theater.

Say the architects:

The site will be developed as a new city park with a 2,000-seat theater as its centerpiece. The theater will be built primarily below ground with paths and water flowing around it. The fluid lines of the building and its roof are intended to unite the theater with its context and soften its impact on the park. At the center of the building's lobby is "the funnel," the building's most prominent and symbolic feature. The crystalline glass and steel funnel flows out of the roof (the sky) to the ground (the lobby floor) reinforcing the importance of water in the Chinese culture and the development of Shanghai.

They're also adapting and reusing six historic buildings - which, considering the recent spate of bad architectural news we've been hearing, makes me giggle with glee. Speaking of historic, China Travel dug up some history on the area:

In 1928, a dog-racing stadium was built on the site, financed principally by Henry Morris, proprietor of the North China Daily News, whose family estate (now the Ruijin hotel) stood a short way to the east. The Shanghai Canidrome, could seat some 50,000 spectators and was a huge hit with the city's foreign population, who came to gamble, drink and dance in the stadium's ballroom, which featured performances from the likes of Buck Clayton.

Go over to their site to read more (and see more pictures). Frankly, the only way I could be happier with this design is if they told me I would absolutely be able to picnic on the grass.

Most Chinese believe internet is a fundamental right

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-10T15:30:32+08:00

Isn't it interesting that, despite what the central government might say, most Chinese people think that access to the internet is a fundamental right? Then again, just because it's a right doesn't mean it should be totally unregulated - Chinese were some of the least likely to agree that "Internet should never be regulated by any level of government anywhere." Of course, Nigeria was one of the top countries who believed it shouldn't be touched and judging by my yahoo inbox, they could use a little more touching.

Midweek Music Preview: Win FREE Le Castlevania tickets... and the start of JUE

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-10T14:00:00+08:00

Win a ticket to see this guy!

While the pickings are kind of slim this mid-week (they really only get-a-going on Friday... and OOOH how they get-a-going), we've done a Midweek Music Preview up for you anyway since we're GIVING AWAY TICKETS TO THINGS.

That's right, not only did you already learn about the chance to win a ticket to Free The Wax earlier today, now you can also be one of two readers that gets to go to Le Castlevania, playing at Not Me, for the nice price of 0 RMB. Who is Le Castlevania - only an amazing indie-electro act who's played alongside Justice, MSTRKRFT and The Presets. Listen to his music here and we've even got a link to a free MP3. He's at the top of our playlists.

And if you think you want him to be at the top of yours, all you have to do is email "I Love Le Castlevania" to contest.giveaway (@) shanghaiist (.) com. The first two readers to email us there will get the tickets, which will be held for you at the door. Only one ticket per email though, guys - otherwise it'd be pretty unfair, eh?

The rest of our music picks below! For other non-music related things to do this week, check out our Pencil This In (out every Monday!)

WEDNESDAY

Take this uncrowded Wednesday as a chance to check out The Shelter's Swap Meet, a weekly night devoted to chill. Enjoy cheap drinks and sets by fave local DJs, art installations, and video games on the club projector. Get your Street Fighter on.

9 PM- 3 AM. The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Lu (永福路5号近复兴路)

THURSDAY

On the Thursday night before the DJ Vadim show at the Shelter (Friday, 12th March), FREE the WAX and Source will hold a free workshop and performance. This is a rare opportunity for fans to get an up-close and personal experience with one of the hardest working DJs on the planet. The Source will be supplying free Absolute vodka and signed posters will be given away throughout the workshop. Find out more about the DJs in our interview with them.

7PM - 9PM, Source, 158 Xinle Lu near Donghu Lu, 新乐路158号

FRIDAY

So while there is no JUE Festival opening celebration here in Shanghai (the only one they're having on Thursday is in Beijing... booooo), there will be an awesome live act. Hanggai, the Mongolian four-piece throat singing rock band will be doing their thing at Yu Yin Tang. You can party there like IT is the start of JUE. 50RMB cover.

9PM, Yuyintang, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)

Liked the workshop? Now attend the live act. DJ VADIM stands as THE skillful master of mood shifting, riding universal sounds throughout the world like a bad-ass pioneer on a mission. Partner in love & crime, YARAH BRAVO, on the other hand, is nothing but the goddess of streetwise defiant intelligence ripping MCs, soundsystems and soulful hipsters’ hearts apart in between every gorgeous breath she takes. Both will be playing at Shelter on Friday. 50RMB cover.

9PM, The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu, 永福路5号

Local King 三 heads to Mao Livehouse again. Come to check out some of Shanghai's best indie bands. Featuring Candy Shop, Pinkberry, Sonnet, Boys Climbing Ropes and Bomb Shelter. Free entry and some sort of free whiskey deal too.

9PM, Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Lu Near Hong Qiao Lu 淮海西路570号32幢

Atlanta-based Le Castle Vania, commonly known as Dylan Eiland, quickly escaped the local trappings of his hometown in Georgia to play music around the world. Since the summer of 2006, Le Castle Vania has toured nonstop, taking his catchy electro dance beats on the road, DJing with the likes of Justice, MSTRKRFT, Justice, Busy P, Uffie & Feadz, Kavinski, Soulwax, The Presets, Steve Aoki and Crystal Castles. Supporting Le Castlevania will be R3, Adept, Mr Clumsy + friends. Tickets are 60RMB at the door.

10PM, Not Me, 21 Dong Ping Lu near Hengshan Lu, 东平路21号近衡山路

Jehosaphat Blow & The Blah Blah Blahs play trash rockin' garage/punk to make you shake your hips, along with a bunch of Chinese university student bands: Heise Xiuzhi, September, and PANK. OH YA! OH YA! Cover is 30RMB.

9PM, Live Bar, 721 Kunming Lu @ Tongbei Lu, Yangpu District

SATURDAY

Hell United is a heavy metal exchange between bands in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. After the last year of touring tirelessly, they are back here to rock out at Mao Livehouse. Featuring Chaos Mind, Six Shot, 十月摩羯，红色蔓延. Support by Forget and Forgive. 40RMB cover

8:30PM, Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Lu Near Hong Qiao Lu 淮海西路570号32幢

St. Vincent aka Annie Clark will be delivering her hauntingly weird music to audiences at Yuyintang for the second day of the JUE Festival. She's kind of an indie darling back in America, so you really ought to catch her while she's here. 120RMB at the door.

9PM, Yuyintang, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)

SATURDAY

The Backstreet Boys are... back? Surprising the entire music listening world by staying together all these years, they're now on their world tour. And you can check them out in Shanghai at the Shanghai International Gymnastic Center. Tickets are RMB480-RMB1600 and can be bought here.

7:30PM, Shanghai International Gymnastic Center, 777 Wuyi Lu, Zhongshan Park near Zunyi Lu, 武夷路777号近遵义路

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Cinematheque: It's More Than a Game - but is it more than a crowdpleaser?

Kirsti Jönson — 2010-03-10T13:00:00+08:00

Follow the basketball wonder LeBron James and the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School basketball team as they rise to (the) stars in More Than a Game, the documentary that has now reached Shanghai movie theaters.

It's a classic success story with a "larger-than-life" theme and a soundtrack fueled with megastar hip hop and RnB. With such a recipe, could anything possibly go wrong? The maker of the film, Kristopher Belman, was a newbie in film making who, according to a BDL-interview, "barely knew how to use a camera" when he took on the project. He had enrolled in an "Introduction to Documentary" film class, and the assignment was to make a 10-minute short film.

Belman decided to devote his 10 minutes to this "amazing group of basketball players" at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School that he had heard about. What especially caught his attention was that some of them had played together for five years already before entering high school, a fact that made him realize that "there was serious potential for some amazing off-the-court relationships." And so the 10-minute short film grew into 105 minutes, and is now reaching out to cinemas around the world.

The film plot goes like this:

They may be the best high school basketball team ever. From humble beginnings, future NBA superstar LeBron James, along with boyhood friends Dru Joyce, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee, began a journey that would take them from local fame to national acclaim. Joined by Romeo Travis in high school, the five fused their talents and, with the help of a dedicated coach, rewrote Ohio basketball history. Now, experience their trials, tribulations and triumphs in this inspirational film about five young men who became more than a team.

Yes, they became the"Fab Five". Sure, most of us know that this is an epithet used by many celebs and wonders throughout history, everything from Broadway musicals, Disney characters, band members and sports idols - there are even several "Fab Fives" within basket ball already - but what the heck, why not reuse something that sounds epic.

Music-wise, the film features the single Stronger by Mary J. Blige, which she released in support of the film. On the soundtrack you can also hear Jay Z, Soulja Boy, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Toni Braxton, JoJo, Jordin Sparks, Ya Boy, Omarion, and Faith Evans. La crème de la crème, that is. To add on to the epic effect, More Than a Game also features some rare home videos from way back when the five ballers were pre-teens.

So how is this movie really? Well, all we can do is give some different voices from the net, and then leave it up to you to decide on your own. Some netizens are...somewhat cynical:

Some documentaries tell stories that are so suspenseful and crowd-pleasing that one would swear they were written by Hollywood screenwriters. The extraordinary series of events chronicled in "More Than a Game" has a trajectory and formula straight out of a classic "rags to riches" sports picture. Let´s hope Sandra Bullock doesn´t star in the remake.

While others are a bit more excited:

What a stroke of luck to undertake a basketball documentary about a grade school team that includes the undiscovered future NBA star LeBron James! Using film and game video footage interspersed with computer effect enhanced photographs, excellent editing and well-mixed music we get a compelling revealed story about four boys turning into men under increasingly intense public scrutiny.

Then there are those who are somewhere in between, like in this lengthy review.

Crowd pleasing or not, compelling or not, whatever description serves your liking, More Than a Game might still be interesting and educating as a document of sports history. See for yourself - here's where you can catch the movie in Shanghai.

Check out what other movies are showing in Shanghai this coming week. Links lead to info about times and venues.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE MOVIES

Secret Garden: Vienna Café screening this coming Thursday. Helmed by Polish director Agnieszka Holland, this BAFTA-nominated family drama is based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1909 novel of the same name. Check out British actress Kate Maberly’s outstanding performance as a young girl who was born and raised in India but has to start her life anew in Britain after her parents die in an earthquake. In English with Chinese subtitles. RSVP required. Free. 7:30pm.
Sherlock Holmes (大侦探福尔摩斯): Sherlock Holmes, the creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who first appeared in publication in 1887 has made it to movie theatres in many different versions. This time under the direction of Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
Avatar: (阿凡达): James Cameron is back with this super expensive sci-fi thriller in 3D. Follow ex-marine Jack (Sam Worthington) as he explores planet Pandora as an avatar; a human mind in an alien body. On this paradise-like planet, he faces hostilities from exotic life forms and falls in love with a female alien. This movie used ground-breaking techniques and is being shown in 3-D. In English or Chinese depending on the cinema.
Alvin and the Chipmunks (鼠来宝：明星俱乐部): The Squeakquel: Three sensational and oh-so-cute chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore are returning to the silver screen. They end up living with owner Dave’s nephew Toby and meet their equally talented female counterparts, the Chipettes. In English or Chinese depending on the cinema.

CHINESE LANGUAGE MOVIES

Turning Point 1977 (高考1977): Set at the close of the Cultural Revolution, Turning Point 1977 tells the story of a group of young idealists battling for the right to return home and restart their lives after years of toil on a state run re-education farm in China.
Season of Good Rain (好雨时节): This is director Heo Jin-ho's most recent romantic movie after "Christmas in August", "One Fine Spring Day", "April Snow" and "Happiness". A traveling architect meets an old friend from his student years; the pair realize their connection has always been a romantic one. The film is in English, Mandarin and Korean.
Storm Rider - Clash of the Evils (風雲決): This animated feature film directed by Dante Lam is based on the Wuxia Chinese comic series Fung Wan by Ma Wing Shing. The film is a spinoff of the original story and the two protagonists Wind and Cloud. The residents of Sword-Worshipping Manor, which houses the best sword-smiths in the world, are brutally massacred after they are alleged to be plotting a rebellion against the government. The young master of the manor, Ngou Kuet, is the only survivor. Ngou Kuet vows to finish forging the "Kuet" Sword, a task passed down by generations of his family which has yet to be completed. Ngou Kuet attacks Tin Ha Wui and battles with Wind and Cloud to obtain the blood of the Fire Kirin which can unleash the power of the sword. As the blood of the Fire Kirin runs in Wind's veins, he becomes Ngou Kuet's primary target.
72 Tenants of Prosperity (七十二家租客): A "throw-in-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-oh-what-the-heck-throw-that-in-too comedy". The story is a love triangle - two men in love with the same girl. One wins, the other loses, and they become enemies. But something larger happens that forces the men to form an uneasy alliance, along with their 70 fellow shopkeepers on the street: An evil landlord is set to raise the rent on the 72 tenants, threatening their economic survival.The film is a Lunar New Year's comedy, a movie genre that is often unabashedly silly with a childlike playfulness, with the simple mission to instill 90 minutes of happiness. "72 Tenants of Prosperity" certainly aims for that, but producer-director-star Eric Tsang has something more on his mind. His inspiration is the 1973 classic "The House of 72 Tenants," a film that broke Hong Kong box-office records set by Bruce Lee and became something of a cultural phenomenon. Tsang opens his film with the same style of credits, the same opening gag, and a spot-on re-creation of 1970s Hong Kong filming style.
Little Big Soldier (大兵小将): Little Big Soldier is a 2010 Chinese action-adventure/comedy film directed by Ding Sheng and produced and written by Jackie Chan, also starring Chan and Leehom Wang. An old soldier kidnaps a young general of an enemy state and takes him on a long journey to collect the reward.
True Legend (苏乞儿): Set at the turn of 19th and 20th century, the story of begins with Su Can, a wealthy man who loses all his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, he dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero as he challenges foreign fighters at a boxing ring. The story is loosely based on the life of Su Can, nicknamed Su Qi Er (Su the Bagger), who developed his own fighting style, known as "drunken fist". This is Yuen Wo-Ping's first directorial work since 1996 and may also give a major boost to the career of 37 year old China's born martial-art star Zhao Wenzhuo.
Hot Summer Days ( 全城热恋): "Hot Summer Days" unites a galaxy of stars in China's show business, including Jacky Cheung, Rene Liu, Nocholas Tse, Barbie Hsu, Daniel Wu and Vivian Hsu. The romance is slated for release across China in February the 11th. The film consists of six intertwining love stories, all set in a stifling and sultry summer. As Valentine's Day this year falls on the first day of Chinese lunar new year, the release date for "Hot Summer Days", February 11th, was chosen to coincide with the big occasion, aiming for a lion's share of the movie market.
All's Well Ends Well 2010 (花田喜事): Director Raymond Wong heads up another all-star Lunar New Year comedy. "All's Well Ends Well 2010" stars Louis Koo, Sandra Ng, Raymond Wong, Ronald Cheng, Lam Tze-Chung, and "Ip Man" co-star Lynn Xiong. Plot: Princess Pearl of Flowerland is sent to Midland at a young age to learn her ceremonials duties. Her mother, the Queen Mother misses her daughter very much that the King orders his sister, the princess, to return home. However, the princess has fallen in love with Gerenal Wing of the Midland army and is reluctant to part from him. As their boat approaches the Flowerland border, Pearl & Wing save the life of a girl named Ying, who seeks to throw herself into sea after running away from an arranged marriage. Pearl, Wing and Ying are attacked by pirates and Pearl falls overboard in the ensuing chaos. On arrival in Flowerland, the King mistakes Ying for his sister, while Pearl is saved by Ying's father, Million.
Fortune King is Coming To Town (财神到): This Chinese New Year celebration comedy tells a story that is very similar to "Santa Clause is coming to Town". Fortune King is a Chinese god who comes down from heaven to the earth to give money to people, similar to what Santa does for children. In this flick The God of Fortune is rushing to Earth, and a congregation of people must first finish a hilarious joke of a financial task before he comes. Lead Actor Tan Yonglin says the Fortune King only help people who watch out. "Our film is more than fun. If you don´t work hard, Fortune King will know and refuse to help you. The movie also tells us to open our heart and love others."
14 Blades (锦衣卫): Daniel Lee´s martial arts epic stars certified Kung Fu badass Donnie Yen in the role of Qinglong, or Green Dragon. He is the best of the so called Jinyiwei, an imperial elite force of assassins recruited from street orphans. Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades, eight being for torture, five for killing, and the last blade being reserved for suicide when a mission failed. When the emperor is kidnapped and the court taken over, Qinglong takes on the mission of restoring the emperor to power. Also starring Vicki Zhao and Chun Wu.
Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (喜羊羊与灰太狼之虎虎生威): This movie is from the same title Chinese Animated Television series which tell stories of bouts between Family Sheep and descendants of wolf on the grassland. This time, the story happens in the world of snail. There is a serious bale coming to snails. The biological warfare happens between two of bacterial kingdoms, "Black Null" and "White Null", who exist on antennae of snails. The White Null Kingdom recruits all military force around the country to perish the black-hearted Black Null Kingdom. Sheep Xiyangyang sides with White Null Kingdom, and Wolf Huitailang is siding for the opposite.
McDull Kung Fu (麦兜响当当): In animated feature "McDull Kung Fu Kindergarten," Hong Kong's most iconic cartoon porker goes to learn martial arts at Wudang, birthplace of Taichi, to prove that pigs can fly-kick at a national championship.
Royal Tattoo (Huang Jia Ci Qing, 皇家刺青): The film is a costume kung fu comedy with a mix of a Chinese version of Prison Break. It´s a humorous reinterpretation of a classic plot about a Qing Dynasty royal secret treasure and tattoo treasure map.
The Story of Hong Mao Lan Tu Huo Feng Huang (虹猫蓝兔火凤凰): The cartoon has a fan base of millions because of its TV version and tells of the adventures of a blue rabbit and a red cat.
Jing Tian Dong Di (惊天动地): Local directors Wang Jia and Shen Dong´s latest disaster flick was shot in the earthquake-stricken areas of Sichuan, "Jing Tian Dong Di" recalls the quake by following one of the PLA´s rescue troupes in this fictional retelling. The cast of well-known actors includes Li Youbin, You Yong and Hou Yong. Mandarin only.
Da You Cun Bright Future (大有前途): Da You Cun Bright Future, directed by Deng Zhiheng, may be the best comedy of this movie-packed season. Focusing on a group of people living in Da You Cun, a poor village, the movie tells the story of making dreams come true. The head of the village, Li Biao, who wants to improve people's lives, comes across a Taiwan hotshot who promises to invest in the real estate market. Unfortunately, all the money is lost and the village becomes even poorer. But the simple but optimistic villagers decide to build back their lives. After a series of battles with city folk, they eventually build a movie base in the village. Da You Cun Bright Future is a good choice for those who just want to kick up their feet and have a good laugh.

OTHER LANGUAGE MOVIES

We Are From the Future / Back in Time (古墓迷途): This russian flick from 2008 takes place in sunny, groovy present day St.Petersburg and during the fierce defence of the city in 1942. Four friends, a student, a skinhead, a geeky gamer and a rapper make their cash looking for Nazi relics from WWII. Motivated by greed they are hip, cynical and have no respect for the past. During a dig they stumble upon a bombed out bunker full of valuable treasures but also something strange. Among the documents belonging to a Red Army officer they find a photograph of themselves. Trying to come to their senses they dive into a nearby lake and surface… to a spray of gunfire in 1942.
Sinking of Japan (日本沉没): "Nihon Chinbotsu" as the film is called in Japanese, is a 2006 tokusatsu film (action movie based on superheroes and special effects) directed by Shinji Higuchi, and a remake of the 1973 screenplay based on a 1973 novel by Sakyo Komatsu. Japan will sink down to the deep sea. The governments only hope is evacuate all Japanese to some other countries. The film stars Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kou Shibasaki, Etsushi Toyokawa, and Mao Daichi, and was released on April 15, 2006. It was parodied in Nihon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu ("Everyone but Japan Sinks").
The Host (汉江怪物): The film, which also goes under the name of "Gwoemul" (meaning "Monster") is a 2006 South Korean monster film, which also contains elements of comedy and drama films. A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and focuses its attention on attacking people. The film was directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the screenplay, along with Baek Chul-hyun. Starring in the film as members of an unremarkable family thrust into the middle of extraordinary events were Song Kang-ho, Byeon Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona and Ko Ah-seong. A combination of blockbuster plot and political commentary, the film also deals with the implications of America's military presence in Korea.
La habitación de Fermat / Fermat´s Room (极限空间): Fermat's Room is a 2007 Spanish thriller film directed by Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopeña. Three mathematicians and one inventor are invited to a house under the premise of solving a great enigma, and told to use pseudonyms based on famous historical mathematicians. At the house, they are trapped in a room. They must solve puzzles given by the host, who calls himself "Fermat," in order to escape the slowly closing walls of the room.Four mathematicians who do not know each other are invited by a mysterious host on the pretext of resolving a great enigma...
7th Grade Civil Servant / My Girlfriend is an Agent (特工强档): This slick and tense thriller with comedic elements from South Korean director Shin Tae-ra concerns an aggressive unit of the Russian mafia, detached to infiltrate Korea and filch a cutting-edge chemical weapon. The Korean government issues two secret agents to stop the Russians - both masked by undercover identities: Ahn Soo-ji (Kim Ha-neul), a tough-as-nails female martial arts pro who continues to draw the envy of all of her colleagues, and her male counterpart, klutzy and inept rookie Lee Jae-joon (Kang ji-Hwan), whose unfortunate presence leads to a series of outrageous blunders. Complicating matters, it seems, is the fact that the couple (polar opposites, who hate each other passionately), were once romantically involved.
Ne te retourne pas / Don´t Look Back (不要回头): A 2009 psychodrama about a photographer whose pictures tell a different story to that of her perception. Directed by Marina de Van and starring Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci. The film is in French and Italian.

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Visas going to be "easy" for World Expo

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-10T12:30:00+08:00

So visas might have been tough to get for the 60th anniversary and the Olympics, but officials swear that The Expo won't be the same. The Foreign MInistry has said that it already has "an established policy" for providing quick visas to Expo visitors. Unfortunately, he didn't specify what that "established policy" was or what kind of visas would be easy to get and they most probably aren't business visas - so all you English teachers are still kind of screwed. Sorry.

Interview: DJ Vadim and MC Yarah Bravo (and win tickets to their show!)

Wee Ling Soh — 2010-03-10T11:00:00+08:00

DJ Vadim and MC Yarah Bravo will host a workshop at Source on Thursday and do a show at The Shelter on Friday.

Where: (for Thursday) Source, No. 158 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu 新乐路158号，近东湖路 and (for Friday) The Shelter, No. 5 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu 永福路5号，近复兴西路

Starts: Thursday, March 11, 7-9PM for the workshop; Friday, March 12,
9PM-late for the show

Cover: Free for the workshop, 50 RMB for show

For more local events, visit the Shanghaiist Calendar.

FREE the WAX is back in town for a gig. This time they are bringing DJ Vadim and MC Yarah Bravo (Ninja Tune/BBE) to China for the second time running. If you had missed their explosive show last year, you know what to do this time.

Tomorrow night, DJ Vadim and MC Yarah Bravo will also hold a FREE workshop and performance at Source, with an open dialogue session that will let fans understand more about their music-making process. Source will be supplying FREE Absolut Vodka and signed posters will be given out at the workshop.

We talked to them about their plans, their history and everything else... AND we're giving you a chance to win free tickets to their show. Read on for more information!

When did you guys meet? Was it big-bang-pow-wow stars and explosions right from the start or did it take a while for you guys to decide that just music wasn't enough?

VADIM: Well for me it was fireworks and explosions from the first point we met. Music came later.

YARAH: There was definitely a special connection straight away. One that I've never had with another person...ever! We were extremely drawn to each other, and everything about each other was just so fresh... we built a bubble around us, which then became a musical bubble, and the bubble is still here... bubbling away!

You live in England, the country of fish n' chips. However, you guys have a very multicultural background (Russia, England, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Sweden, The States). Who wins on a kitchen fight over what dishes to make? What dishes you guys can't live without and why?

VADIM: Hahahah. Great question. We both love food and going to great restaurants. That's actually one of my few vices, going to high-end restaurants. We both love cooking and I would say 9/10 times we cook as good if not better than most restaurants we go to on tour etc... I love food from all over the world. In fact in most cultures there is something that I like that's why my preferred style of cooking and restaurants we go to we would call modern European or modern fusion, basically a plethora of different stuff from everywhere - not in one dish but hints of different things so we could have a fish prepared in a Cajun way with some mango salsa or almond-encrusted fish with some Thai spices or spinach pie or... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

YARAH: Well we just love flavors and also to cook for each other. For example if I'm all stressed out, Vadim will cook me a nice dinner, he did it last night actually... and brought it to me so I could eat it while working, and he was also working so I sent him a message and told him... this was better than any restaurant we've been to... you are by far the best chef i know!! :-) He cooked me a perfect tuna steak served on a bed of grilled asparagus, a rocket salad with roasted pine nuts, and poached pears... like blaaaow!! Hahaha and the presentation? Fantastic! I always joke with him I want him to go on those food programs on TV and whoop everyone's asses!!

How do you think each of you have influenced each other over the years?

VADIM: Well for me, Yarah influenced so many things consciously or subconsciously - my style of dress. I think so much more about that than before, matching colors and photo shoots. Also about communicating with people, I have learned to be more patient, reflective. I got into Latin music because of Yarah, the whole South American thing. We discovered a lot of things together like cooking traveling, loving...

YARAH: i think we have almost blended into one person hahahaha... no but Vadim keeps me on my toes while I help him relax... so it's a good team.

What has changed since the last time you were in China?

VADIM: Well I started to talk on the mic! Released a new album - U Can't Lurn Imaginashun. Started a new group The Electric and recorded that album, remixed loads of people and been around the world five times!

YARAH: Well I moved to Berlin. Set fire to my flat on my birthday and then launched my solo show around Europe, The Good Girls Rarely Make History Show. It's me, a drummer, a DJ, a back up singer and flutist. All ladies!! And it's the first time I've done something this big, where I'm 100% in charge and creatively I can get all my ideas out. It's an exciting time for me!

Both of you wear so many hats it's nerve-wrecking just trying to keep up. Which do you think was the most unexpected turn your respective musical careers have taken so far and why?

VADIM: Well for me it was getting and surviving cancer. It was a very dark chapter in my life but one I wouldn't want to take away because I feel that post-cancer, I am a happier, more loving person.

YARAH: Vadim's cancer was by far the most challenging unexpected thing we've had to deal with, anything else that might have seemed big before fades in comparison. Hat-wise... I've always been a collector of hats... and I believe you can turn just an average-looking person into someone very interesting-looking with just the right hat... or wrong hat too for that matter. I can't believe people who say they are not "brave" enough to wear a hat... I mean what's the worst thing that can happen? It ain't gonna bite you! Who knows, you might get a look from a cute girl... or guy!

(To VADIM) It's been a long road since your debut. Helping put instrumental hip-hop on the map, producing more abstract tunes, finely-tuned hip hop, soul, Latin, down through an amazing (mainly) reggae record and quite a few more electronic influences on the latest U Cant Lurn Imaginashun. Having said that, what seems obvious is that you make increasingly more accessible (i.e. pop), quality music. If so, is there a conscious effort in your part to make quality pop?

VADIM: I suppose I listen to music quite differently that I did 15 years ago. Now I think alot about choruses, the song in general. Not that I'm trying to be 'pop', just that I'm trying to think of the complete song - the hook, the verse, the music, the bridge. I spend much time listening to the Beatles, Michael Jackson, etc. studying their sound and what made them work in a sense. I think every artist wants to make something that is appreciated and stands the test of time. I don't want to just make some beats that sound like everybody else. I don't want to be somebody else's shadow. I want to create my own shadow that inspires people to create, innovate and take things to a higher level.

(To VADIM) Do you think an artist's output generally gets diluted when they make that transition from more "underground" styles to music that can be potentially mass-marketed and consumed?

VADIM: Well it's hard to say. In general I would concur that to be in the 'pop charts' as a 'pop charts' band, you will have to compromise your sound but saying that, there are many groups who have reached the pop charts who haven't compromised - The Roots, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Angie Stone, Mary J Blige... Fat Freddy's Drop from New Zealand sold a shitload of records, making a very uncompromising reggae soul album that touched millions all over the world. Ultimately music is either good or bad regardless if it's pop or underground. Some music in the charts is utter shit. Not because it's pop but because it's badly sung, cheesy, no content and just style, no chorus etc... it's there simply because it's so heavily marketed - like the recent Cheryl Cole song. It sold millions but it was crap.

(To YARAH) You sing in your song "Freedom Fighters" that your father was once executed, survived (!) and still has a bullet in his body to prove. How do you think it shaped your character as a child growing up in Sweden having such an atypical background?

YARAH: Well it took me about 10 years to write that song just because I felt I could never capture or give justice to how my parents' story truly effected me. I know I am extremely lucky to be alive, and to grow up in a society where I felt safe. Both my parents had to spend time in jail because of their political beliefs, thanks to Amnesty International they are both alive today, and therefore I am alive too. When there is a coup in your country, change of government, severe oppression of the middle and especially the lower class, you're trapped, you have no way out, you have no choice but to fight and try to stand up for your people, my parents survived... but many others "disappeared". I meet youths at concerts around the world... who share a similar story - their parents were also exiled, they also grew up in a foreign country, some lost a lot of family members... my story is not unique, which is what makes it so scary!!

(To YARAH) As a role model of female emancipation, what is your opinion regarding the state of hip hop music today? Any female figures influenced your attitude specifically in that sense?

YARAH: When I was growing up, I looked up to MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill. It only takes one girl to inspire many. One of the most beautiful things for me as an artist is when girls, especially younger girls, tell me I inspired them to start rapping or make music. What more can I ask for? That's a planted seed for a future generation right there... and I ain't even old hahahah. I think too many women in hip hop either act like dudes or complete sluts. How about just being human? This music is for everybody. I'm very confident in my femininity and I don't feel intimidated by other men in the business. I know what I bring to the table is unique.

Top on your to-do list in Shanghai this time round?
VADIM: Eat duck and drink tea!
YARAH: Try some exciting food!!

What's on the cards next?
VADIM: More shows, new album - The Electric and a holiday in Malaysia!!!
YARAH: CHINA!! Then we head off to a well-deserved holiday in Malaysia!!!

Please complete the sentence: "Ten years from now, we will most likely be ..."
VADIM: Living in Bahia, Brazil!
YARAH: In Brazil, on a beach, surrounded by kids and drums...

Courtesy of FREE the WAX, Shanghaiist is giving away a pair of tickets to the show on Friday. It's dead simple. Name us one song from DJ Vadim's most recent album U Can't Lurn Imaginashun. The first person to drop us an email at contest.giveaway (@) shanghaiist (dot) com with the correct answer, along with full name and contact number, wins! Good luck!

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Around Shanghai: Featuring the U.S. Pavilion and all that muck

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-10T10:00:00+08:00

So we've documented some of the weirdness surrounding the U.S. Pavilion at the World Expo, but Adam Minter has torn it and the team behind it to shreds in his latest article for Foreign Policy. We can guess who's not going to be on the Eliasoph dinner party guest list this year. [Foreign Policy]
Sasha's just wanted to let you know: it's timing the opening of its garden with that of the Bund and the Peace Hotel. Well, we don't know if that's WHY they decided to open on March 28, but it's kind of a coincidence, right? These things always come in threes. [Sasha's]
Node Music Lounge is opening in that Red Town space where Mao Livehouse is located and they want to get you drunk for free! Head there on Friday for the 100% off booze and party. [SmartShanghai]
Genius! Who better to ask for locations of cheap and good food than the people who travel all of Shanghai looking for it: cabbies. They've recommended three thoroughly decent noodle shops for you to slurp at too. [CNNGo]
Oh no! It's going to take even longer than expected to open Shanghai Disneyland. Says one website, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said the part wouldn't be accessible until 2015. [Chip and Co.]

Extra! Extra! Comrade, where's my car... and other news

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T20:00:00+08:00

In an exchange that has been making rounds on the internet, Mao Zedong's grandson lost his bearings last Friday and, beleaguered by journalists on all sides, asked "comrade, where is my car?" [AFP]
He's not the only one to say a darndest thing though. Lots of officials have given meme worthy answers and opinions this week. [WSJ]
The head of the environmental ministry in China has proposed that an environmental tax be studied - maybe it can help curb pollution? [Reuters]
Did you know that the average Chinese luxury consumer will spend roughly 11% of her income on luxury handbags alone? That's INSANE. [Forbes]
With that whole arms sale to Taiwan and the meeting with the Dalai Lama, China has insisted that it's up the United States to prove they should still be friends. [AP]
Bo Xilai is a really popular guy. After his clean up of Chongqing, there's talk that he'll be named for one of the top jobs in China in 2012, when many of the current leaders are set to retire.[Washington Post]
While the National People's Congress is important and all, even more important is the "raucous online discussion" among China's 380 million Internet users. [The Globe and Mail]
The Oregonian argues that "market forces and ambition, not activism or corporate initiatives, pushed up wages and improved working conditions" at sweatshop factories. The proof: rich peasants who have gleaming three-story houses in the middle of their dusty villages. [The Oregonian]
Sure China's building - but nothing is filling its buildings. Last year, around 100 million square feet of Beijing buildings was considered empty: zombie space. [Christian Science Monitor]

Expo + Future = Haibao Robots

Esther Young — 2010-03-09T19:00:00+08:00

Given that the Shanghai Expo is supposed to represent the future, it was only a matter of time before we were inundated with robots. Shanghai has kindly delivered robots, and not just any robots: Haibao robots!

One of these mechanical Haibaos (which, in our opinion, looks roughly like a gas pump) made its entrance at Shanghai’s Infinity Plaza in all its robot-glory.

There will be thirty-seven of its kind at both international airports and Expo venues. The touch screens on their chests offer Expo-related information and transport options in six languages, presumably with beaming Haibao-smiles on their faces. They also - in our favorite function - take pictures for their users. Unfortunately, despite the resemblance, there seem to be no reports of whether they can dress up and make us food Jetsons-style.

Presented By:

2010-03-09T19:00:00+08:00

Are China and Google in talks? Depends on whom you ask.

Esther Young — 2010-03-09T18:00:00+08:00

In a seeming Schrödinger’s cat scenario, Chinese officials have refuted a Reuters report claiming that China is in negotiations with Google. Because the back-and-forth claims are a little tricky to follow, we broke it down to a he-said-she-said format.

On Friday, Reuters claimed Industry and Information Minister Li Yizhong told an “indeterminate parliamentary body” that the government has been in talks with Google over an alleged China-originating cyber-attack earlier this year.

The government claimed that Google never even filed a complaint...i.e., there were no talks.

Reuters reported that the government simply is waiting for more information, in order to prosecute the alleged hackers.

Google has not officially commented at all.

So there you have it, folks. Google may or may not be in talks with China over security breaches, Google may or may not have even complained about the hack, and Google may or may not stay in China.

We may or may not be confused.

Via betanews, image via Global Voices

Pavillon Costes to close, reincarnate as Buddha Bar

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T17:30:21+08:00

Pavillon Costes, the uber French uber classy joint that recently hosted New York electro-act Holy Ghost! has... become something of a ghost itself. Says SmartShanghai, the place will close down and become a new Buddha Bar. Apparently, its management (who will remain the same) believes an Asia-centric theme will have better prospects than whatever it was Pavillon was going for.

After chiding China in Copenhagen, West now accepts responsibility for its emissions

Robert Schrader — 2010-03-09T16:30:00+08:00

Photo from NASA

What do call-center jobs, military contracting and emissions all have in common? If you guessed "they can all be outsourced," then you're absolutely right! If you then scratched your head and asked "wait a minute - how does one outsource emissions?" don't worry - you're still right. We find it perplexing, too!

Apparently, it goes something like this: an American consumer buys a car that was made somewhere in Asia. The carbon emissions produced to manufacture this automobile, proponents of this new concept argue, are the responsibility not of its country of origin, but of its end user. To extend this idea to a (seemingly) carbon-neutral product, imagine a hippie in, say, New York City heading to Whole Foods to purchase some pesticide-free organic apples that were imported from New Zealand. Said hippie would actually be harming his or her beloved planet if we take outsourced emissions into account - it's a long flight from AKL to JFK! So much for all those "Go organic!" bumper stickers we bought.

More damning, still, is the fact that perennial "green" champion countries like Switzerland and Iceland are among the worst offenders in this category, importing huge amounts of goods from smoggy places like Taiwan, South Korea and our beloved China.

Steven Davis, a researcher at the Carnegie Institute, explains the rationale behind this school of thought:

Where CO2 emissions occur doesn’t matter to the climate system. Effective policy must have global scope.

Right on, dude. Unfortunately, he continues, and in a rather bizarre direction:

To the extent that constraints on developing countries’ emissions are the major impediment to effective international climate policy, allocating responsibility for some portion of these emissions to final consumers elsewhere may represent an opportunity for compromise.

As wonderful as it seems that consumers should "take responsibility" for the pollutants produced along with their beloved hybrid cars, it would appear, logically speaking, that any benefit gained may only be semantic: we can hope all we want that importer nations will cease purchasing "brown" goods, cutting off the supply side and eliminating carbon that way. More likely, however, is that the low prices afforded by said goods being manufactured in developing nations will win out over ethics and the most obvious cause of pollution--archaic, dirty facilities and methods--will prevail unfettered and indefinitely.

While it was recently revealed that farms were significantly worse offenders than factories in China's first national census on pollution, the fact remains that the sheer quantity of the world's goods produced here necessitates, mathematically-speaking anyway, that there be only a slightly-brownward tendency in said factories to have catastrophic implications, carbon emissions-wise. And we all know that the majority of China's factories are more than a little sooty.

Given the less-than-eager disposition Hu displayed at Copenhagen - and the confrontation that followed - the Chinese government's feelings on the these issues are no secret. Our guess is that they'd probably care even less if they were of the mindset that the effective burden of said nastiness would rest on the shoulders of the very Western nations who quite literally backed them into a room earlier this year. Perhaps environmentalists should keep their environmental propaganda in universities, Western ones.

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Yet another snowy day in Shanghai

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T14:30:00+08:00

Photo from Xinmin

I guess someone will no doubt bring up some statistics to prove me wrong, but this has to be the most snow days Shanghai has ever seen in a winter - and today's is a doozy! For the fourth time this year, it's snowed in the city. The first was back in November, then again in early January, once more for the first day of Chinese New Years, and now... in March, it's flurrying up again! If it's like any of the other snows, it won't stick - so reach out of your window and grab some before it disappears into slush.

High speed rail to link Britain, India and China?

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T14:00:00+08:00

While everyone was getting excited about a high-speed rail to Beijing... and Hong Kong, it seems like the Chinese transportation authorities had even grander plans: they are now holding negotiations to build a track into India and Europe. The network could carry passengers from London to Beijing at 200mph (which would take two days) or onto Singapore if they had an extra three days to spare. One consultant was optimistic that the networks could be completed in a decade. Yeah, don't hold your breath on that time table.

Star F*cks: Where grinding takes on a whole new meaning

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T11:30:00+08:00

Heh, while it's been a while since we've seen a Starbucks rip off (it seems that their efforts at litigating the crap out of everyone here weren't in vain) in Shanghai, it seems like they're still popping up in smaller, less visible cities. And this has to be the funniest of them all.

This picture was found on the blog, Liuzhou Laowai, written by - it seems - an expat living in the southern Guangxi Province city of Liuzhou. Apparently, like that shanzhai street in Nanjing, it's not really an actual coffee shop so much as a harbringer of things to come.

Dirty, dirty things.

If it were up to China, Avatar would have won the Oscar

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T11:00:00+08:00

From amy's robot

The Academy Awards are over and done with - but I'm sure everybody was wondering, what did the Chinese think about it? China Daily movie critic Raymond Zhou did the good deed of tallying their opinions.

It seems that they would have awarded Oscars to actors and actresses they actually know - Chinese people looove Meryl Streep and George Clooney, which I guess means they're clueless about Jeff Bridges (who isn't even mentioned) and Sandra Bullock. It seems like the whole concept of the Strong Southern Woman (Bullock's role in The Blind Side) eluded them, with Zhou needing to compare them to the Northeastern women of China. I'm not sure that's the most apt comparison - Southern women are stereotyped for their hospitality and manners as much as their tough love - but hey, take what you can get, right?

Similarly, for the Best Picture award, many were baffled that Avatar lost out to Hurt Locker, not understanding the Iraqi war film as much more than "Pentagon propaganda." In fact, some were downright ornery about the blue-skinned aliens possibly not winning. As Zhou says, "Most bet on the $2 billion juggernaut for the Best Picture award, and when my fellow guest at Sina.com's Oscar show openly rallied for The Hurt Locker, he instantly received text messages denouncing him."

While Zhou mentions that three foreign film submissions from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong were all shut out from the final nomination group (which gives "little for domestic fans to jump up and down about"), what he doesn't talk about is a movie from China that did make it into the Oscars: a short documentary about the Sichuan Earthquake.

But I suppose that if China's censoring any mention of it, the chances Zhou would be allowed to talk about it in a state newspaper would be pretty low to begin with.

Related: Seems like Youku has a compendium of Oscar clips up for your perusal if you didn't manage to catch a live webstream yesterday morning.

A look behind and around the China housing bubble

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T10:00:00+08:00

Over the last week or so, the Global Post has been looking into the China real estate bubble in an interesting four-part multimedia series. Besides worrying about unsustainably rising house prices - especially in Shanghai - it also checks out hte underlying causes of the bubble and examines some of the unique social customs driving prices even higher. Highlights below:

From China's Bubble: Living the "Shanghai Dream":

“It is extremely rare to get such a big piece of land in downtown,” explains the manager at China Construction. “And since supply and demand determines price, the government cannot possibly control where prices are headed.”

From China's Bubble: Is real estate about to pop?:

Last year, Cai invested in a third home for RMB20,000 ($2,941) per square meter in the city’s central Xuhui district, or more than triple what he paid a decade ago.

“Every year there are more and more wealthy Chinese. What are they going to do with all their cash?” said Cai. “You can only buy property or start a company. Property is the safest way to go.”

From China's Bubble: No house? No bride.:

“How can anyone on an average salary afford it when Shanghai housing goes up by 50 percent every year?” said Ni, glumly.
He says he doesn’t want to be a member of the “keng lao zhu” — a term that literally translates to “clan gnawing away at the older generation.” It means those young folks who depend on their parents to support them.
“I told my girlfriend, we could get a place — a smaller place, maybe 50 to 60 square meters, maybe in a building built in the 90s,” Ni said. “If we wanted to we could manage it, but the truth is I don’t really want to buy a house.”

The fourth part is an unfortunately unembeddable multimedia video, but it's definitely worth a watch. Housing prices has been one of the most contentious sticking points for the populace as of late, with a majority of netizen questions to Premier Wen Jiabao right before the NPC being about how they could possibly afford the country's real estate.

Photo of the Day: Remains of Samadhi

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-09T09:00:00+08:00

Photo by avezink

Says Avezink:

Following a tip from 从无声开始, an emotional book loaded with fonts and personal experiences derived from encounters with old buildings, I went to find Samadhi Temple right outside the Old Town's south border. The temple is said to be first built in 1766 and rebuilt in 1867. It is now used as a storage facility, which has not helped its preservation. The space was divided into bunkers with concrete ramps and partitions, and the original wooden structure has been drowned in cement. I went in unnoticed, but later chatted up the guard. Together we took apart a huge mountain of water bottles in the corner and he showed me carved pillars and egg-shaped rocks with lotus motifs piled underneath.

International Women's Day: Wu Qing and the fight for equality

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-08T20:00:00+08:00

Happy International Women's Day! As a gift for you, here's a news report (on Youtube) by Melissa Chan of Al Jazeera that features Wu Qing, an absolutely fantastic firecracker of a human being who teaches rural women how to be confident in a male-dominated society.

An elected representative in a district People's Congress in Beijing, Wu Qing is known for being brazenly opinionated and a strong proponent of women's rights. She teaches at the Rural Women Training School in Beijing, described by Voice of America thusly:

Wu Qing founded the school to teach literacy and job skills to women and girls from the countryside.

She believes she can help rural women improve their lives while helping her country. "If rural women of all ages can go to school and find jobs and be treated with the same respect as people from the city, only then can problems with China's legal system be resolved," she said.

Wu Qing's lesson is partly a motivational speech and partly a civics class. She shows her students they have many rights guaranteed by China's constitution. She says citizens must "supervise" their government. "If someone is watching me, then I have to proceed carefully. That's how an official should behave," she states. "But too many people in China keep their eyes closed, so the government is free to do as it pleases."

Oh boy, can someone say "new girl crush?" Hit the jump for other International Women's Day news.

Ok, so the headline, "Chinese President urges women to make more contributions" may make Hu Jintao seem like kind of a dick, but the article clarifies that he's encouraging "Party committees and governments at all levels [to] resolutely carry out the basic state policy of equality between men and women, eliminate discrimination against women, and crack down on violations of women's rights in light with law." That's worth supporting - hope he follows up with some actual policy. [Xinhua]

CNNGo asked a couple women around Shanghai what they think about women's places in China and discrimination. Maybe because they're in Shanghai, they all seem to feel like discrimination doesn't exist. [CNNGo]

Or maybe they're just in the wrong (er... right) circles. Because according to a recent study, male students who graduate this summer have an 8.5% better chance of finding a job nationwide compared to females. [Shanghai Daily]

March 7 has apparently become "Girls' Day" as a preclude to International Women's Day. Also named "Shanzhai Valentine's Day," it's a day when boys deliver gifts to the girls they like... some dorms have even begun holding Girl's Day activities! So, like, keep it in mind for next year, I guess. [People's Daily]

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Robert Dessaix barred from Shanghai International Literary Festival because of AIDS?

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-08T18:15:00+08:00

Picture from the Australian National Portrait Gallery

Though I was more than happy to hear that Paul French would once again get a chance to talk about Shanghai's sordid past (and that, despite the amount of time he had to prepare for it, it was "very entertaining") , it was disheartening to learn why Robert Dessaix, the author French subbed for at the Shanghai International Literary Festival this weekend, couldn't come - because somebody in the visa office didn't like how Dessaix was HIV-positive.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Dessaix had to cancel not only his appearance at SILF, but also speaking engagements at universities and bookshops in Beijing and Chengdu:

Dessaix, who has never been to China, put in his visa application four weeks ago. The guidelines for the application stated that HIV status had no prejudicial bearing. In good faith, he declared it.

Dessaix had had no political involvement in matters concerning China, and said he had been told by Australian officials that although China did not give reasons for the visa refusal, his health status was the issue.

Dessaix said he felt "snubbed and insulted, of course, and also humiliated... There had been interventions at the highest level on my behalf, but they were refused, so I see it as a snub to Australia, not just to me."

While the knee jerk reaction is probably to roll ones eyes and shrug about this being China, I was personally surprised. I guess the general news regarding AIDS/HIV in this country has been more on the positive side - not only has the country been improving education for the most vulnerable and rolling out anti-HIV/AIDS discrimination campaigns, it's also given HIV/AIDS NGOs legal status and started congratulating its AIDS whistleblowers rather than exiling them.

But I suppose Dessaix's recent visa troubles again reminds us that there's still a lot more to fight for. Discrimination, it seems, still runs rampant... even in places that are officially supposed to toe the line.

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For those of you who thought Spring would be here by now...

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-08T17:30:00+08:00

Today was a rainy, terrible, ugly no good day and tomorrow will likely be the same. But never fear, forecasters say, the sun will be here on Wednesday. Even better, the sun will likely stay through the next couple of days as well. Unfortunately, it won't really be warm - Wednesday morning will see a low of negative two degrees. So even if you do go out to get rid of the S.A.D., make sure you bundle up.

Presented By:

2010-03-08T17:30:00+08:00

The yuppies of China: Xiaozi (小资)

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-08T16:30:00+08:00

Elliot Ng of CNReviews has a really interesting article up on a new breed of people in China and the new term they've been nicknamed: Xiaozi (小资). So what does it mean? Apparently, Xiaozi is translated as the "petty" part of "petty bourgeoisie," but it's meaning is related more to the now maturing richer middle class in China that's attracted to "Western" commercial and artistic culture.

Which means that China's now been rich (or, more correctly, had people getting rich) long enough for there to be class divides within the rich people. No longer do they and their rich friends only sneer at the poor folk, they can also sneer at other rich folks that don't understand things like "environmentalism" and "creative culture" and "coffee." Aka The Yuppie.

Anyway, he also found a quiz to determine if you (or your friend) are a Chinese yuppie: Here's 20 questions, see how you (or your friend) fit:

Are they jaded about Chinese national events, and resist being defined by “official” and mainstream culture?
Do they like to sit in cafes? Do they like to drink coffee?
Do they appreciate red wine (and really appreciate it, not mix it with Coke)?
Do they crave outbound travel? Do they want to visit Tibet?
Are they focused on self-expression through fashion? Do they look down on people who spend money on brands without true appreciation of fashion?
Do they sometimes have a sense of being somehow different from the rest of society? That they are seeking something that cannot be found?
Do they use their English name, even with other Chinese people?
Do they like to socialize with foreigners? Do they like to date foreigners?
Are they picky in their love life? Do they feel that most traditional members of the opposite sex don’t understand their love of life, and their need for creative self-definition? Attitude of “if I’m not in love, I’d rather die”
Do they like foreign hobbies like Yoga? or Salza dancing?
Do they known multiple languages? Do they have good scores on TOEFL, GRE, and other foreign placement tests?
Do they like popular intellectual Western literature like Italo Calvino or Jorge Luis Borges?
Do they like Western popular music, electronica or jazz?
Do they tend to watch Western TV shows and like to complain about the low quality of Chinese media?
Are they Web-savvy? Do they like Western Web 2.0 sites and the more clean Western aesthetic of Web design?
Do they like all things Apple Computer?
Do they like blocked Western Websites like Twitter and Facebook?
Do they use Google, not Baidu?
Do they use MSN messenger or Skype, but not QQ?
Do they visit Douban, Onlylady or Rayli.com.cn?

Photo by Strudelmonkey

Murderous tiger to be isolated at Shanghai Zoo

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-08T16:00:00+08:00

Has anyone noticed that the Year of the Tiger seems to have brought with it a lot of unfortunate tiger-related news? First, there was that Siberian cub who died two days after he was found. Now, a Bengal tiger killed his keeper at the Shanghai Zoo over the weekend, dragging his body around his cage as visitors looked on in horror. Apparently, someone had forgotten to feed the tiger the day before. Today, some more details have come out: the tiger will be kept in isolation for now, but will be reintroduced "when the time is right." Also Li Zhonglin, the 53-year-old deceased zookeeper, is thought to be at fault, but his mistake won't affect the amount of compensation his family receives.

Pencil This In: March 8-12

Edna Zhou — 2010-03-08T14:30:00+08:00

Who knew Shanghai could be so educational. This week, you could learn about QQ International, 1930s gangster films, or even some slammin' Nordic poetry at the Shanghai Lit Fest, and end your week with Irish song, drink and dance.

Monday: BEAN Networking Night

BEAN Shanghai, a networking and volunteer group for young professionals, is hosting their monthly networking night at The Spot. Mingle with other BEAN members and find out about upcoming volunteer and social events while enjoying 25 RMB drinks.

7-10 PM. The Spot, 331 Tongren Lu near Beijing Xi Lu (铜仁路331号近北京西路)

Tuesday: NextStep Anniversary

NextStep celebrates turning three and officially launch their partnership with Tencent QQ. Enjoy drink specials and hear from Marc Violo, product manager of QQ International, on QQ's future in the international market.

7:30-10 PM. Shanghai Tang Cafe, 2-3F, 333 Huangpi Nan Lu near Taicang Lu (黄陂南路333号2-3楼近太仓路) No cover

This week's Sub-Cinema screening lets you say hello to a little friend: Scarface, the 1932 original. Bet you didn't even know Pacino's Scarface was based off a 1930s gangster film. Come at 7 to chill out over drinks and music by Drunk Monk and Deville; screening starts at 9.

9 PM. Dada, 115 Xingfu Lu between Fahuazhen and Pingwu Lu (幸福路115号近华山和法华镇路) No cover

Wednesday: SILF: Lars Bukdahl and Sjón

A Nordic evening at the Shanghai Lit Festival, featuring Icelandic author/poet Sjón and Danish poet Bukdahl. Together, they host this panel to showcase and discuss their work. Someone's bound to ask Sjón what it's like to write for Björk. ¥65 entry includes one drink.

7 PM. Glamour Bar, 6/F, 5 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu near Guangdong Lu (中山东一路5号6 近广东路)

Thursday: Graham Earnshaw, SILF: Road Scribes

Graham Earnshaw, of Earnshaw Books, hosts this month's Speaker Corner. He'll be discussing his new book, The The Great Walk of China, written about his trek across China and his observations about China's changing countryside. ¥120 for BritCham members, ¥150 non-members; includes two drinks.

6-7 PM. Mesa Manifesto, 748 Julu Lu near Fumin Lu (巨鹿路748号近富民路)

As part of the Lit Fest, David Leffman, author of numerous Rough Guide travel books, partners up with journalist Garry Marchant to lead a panel on travel in Asia. For background, check out Leffman's recent interview with ChinaTravel.net on travel writing, China, and life on the road. ¥65 entry includes one drink.

6 PM. Glamour Bar, 6/F, 5 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu near Guangdong Lu (中山东一路5号6 近广东路)

Friday: Irish Week Kickoff

It's the weekend before St. Patrick's Day, which is totally not too early to start celebrating. To start, O'Malley's is offering ¥50 Bailey's cocktails and pints of Guinness all day, plus live music from 7 PM. Then head over to Yandang Lu, where Irish singers and dancers will be performing traditional music and dance to get the city pumped Saturday's grand St. Patrick's Parade, hosted by Le Cheile.

O'Malley's Irish Pub, 42 Taojiang Lu near Hengshan Lu (桃江路42号近衡山路)
Celtic Dance and Music: 6-7 PM. Yandang Lu near Huaihai Zhong Lu. (雁荡路近淮海中路)

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Week Around the Ists

Elaine Chow — 2010-03-08T14:00:00+08:00

Photo by Michael Starghill / blog.michaelstarghill.com

DCist was down at the courthouse when the very first same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses in the District of Columbia.

Gothamist heard more about Governor Paterson's many multiplying problems while dolphins frolicked in the East River.

Phillyist debated the city's top pizzerias after Playboy included a local joint in its list of the country's best.

SFist posted an over-the-top letter to the editor lambasting gifted comedian Dave Chappelle's Oakland performance, which led to a heated debate about humor, censorship, race and the transgender community.

Seattlest honored Dr. Seuss' birthday by sharing their recipe for Green Eggs and Ham.

Torontoist saw one its city's busiest intersections have a big week: on Sunday night, thousands congregated there for an impromptu party after the Canadian men's hockey team took Olympic gold, and on Tuesday afternoon, one brave young man streaked across it for a school project.

Shanghaiist, after coming across an absolutely abhorrent list of Chinese foods in China to introduce to foreign visitors, decided to write up some better recommendations.

Bostonist went to the White Snake opera, but no '80s metal was involved.

LAist heard about a panel of former Scientologists who say they endured 100-hour work weeks for $50 in pay, were billed for thousands after leaving, and were made to sign billion-year contracts.

Chicagoist took a few moments to ponder: where in the White House could President Obama sneak in a smoke?

Houstonist had the good fortune to get an interview and a couple of exclusive songs from local glam-revivalists Roky Moon & Bolt, and became giddy thinking about the Astros in spring training.

Londonist had a poke around Gotham City police headquarters and Sherlock Holmes's favourite catacombs, a.k.a.the Farmiloe Building and the fantastically-named Clerkenwell House of Detention.

Extra! Extra! Bridging Xinjiang's "Sea of death," CCP laments China's lagging press, Android OS to transcend Google drama

Robert Schrader — 2010-03-05T18:09:20+08:00

Photo: [osde8info's photostream]

As Beijing political season heats up, Chinese blogger Wan Xiaodao has created a how-to list instructing would-be "corrupt officials." Highlights include not writing a diary, living in a nondescript house and not training the next generation to take your place. We're all for dissent, rebellion and free speech, but we always thought part of being corrupt was having money, as well as the thing that come along with it. [china/divide]
The Great Wall. Terra Cotta Soldiers. Sea of death? Apparently, there a body of water up in Xinjiang that's been causing trouble for centuries - and China has decided to build a railway bridge over it. With a price tag of nearly 4 billion yuan and on track to be completed in just two years, the railway extension seems to be aimed only at cargo - namely potassium salt - which, last we checked, wasn't threatened by death. [China.org.cn]
Now this is dissent we can get behind! A so-called "naked" blogger - that is, a netizen who has disclosed his real identity to the government and agreed to have his online movements monitored - has taken to his own blog to satirize the "Great Firewall," the Chinese pre-occupation with "walls" in general and the current porn witch hunts. [Global Voices Online]
Apparently, Hu Jintao has publicly decried the "West strength and [China's] weakness" with regard to media market share. We won't highlight the obvious irony here, but the Economist provides a nice analysis of the fight for English-language reporting king in China, which is currently being won by a tabloid.[The Economist]

Espionage, embellished market share or not, it looks like Baidu will stay on top in China for the forseeable future. On the back of its successful mobile Chinese character input system, the search engine is set to introduce a PC version to compete with those expected to be launched by Google and Souhu. [Trading Markets]

Though the question on Western peoples' minds is what the Dalai Lama thinks about Tiger Woods, Tibetans are pondering something a bit more seriously - namely, whether or not the Chinese government will have a say in his replacement. Whether or not they'll actually make the choice is up in the air, but it's unlikely that they'll "cede any kind of authority to a candidate beyond their control." [Reuters]

Will Google remain in China? As a Chinese language search engine, anybody knows. Will Google keep a Chinese presence? Of course! Most specifically, its Android operating system will come preinstalled on China Unicom's Motorola XT701 phones, starting next week. [Computer World]

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Electrolist: Rhythm and Sound...

Shanghai Ultra — 2010-03-05T18:00:00+08:00

Electrolist, by Shanghai Ultra of the VOID crew, gives the lowdown on the Shanghai electronic music scene each week, with picks, tips, news, and other rumors.

Electrolist returns after getting lost in the Chinese New Year wilderness. March is now upon us, and supposedly spring. This time of year is normally when the clubbers awaken from their winter hibernation and look for partying opportunities. However, Shanghai has a strange effect on people's reaction to the weather, and a few spots of rain can send them scurrying for cover and refusing to come out until its bone dry outside. So with all the rain this week, it still feels like December.

A ray of sunshine is beaming brightly onto the DJ music menu this weekend however. One half of the mighty Rhythm and Sound, Mark Ernestus, is playing Shelter on Saturday night, with vocalist Tikiman. Together with Moritz von Oswald, Ernestus was part of the legendary Basic Channel crew from Berlin. Their music fused dub and techno into an utterly hypnotic and spaced-out powerful vibe, which they unleashed via two seminal record labels, Chain Reaction, and the eponymously-titled Basic Channel.

Later, the German pair went from doing Techno influenced by dub as Basic Channel, to dub influenced by techno, as Ryhtym and Sound. They worked in collaboration with many well-known reggae and dub vocalists such as Jah Cotton, Sugar Minott, and Willi Williams. Tomorrow night, Tikiman aka Paul St. Hilaire is in town to perform live with Ernestus. It should be quite a night. Certainly Ernestus is an innovator in electronic music, its a privilege to see someone of his ilk come to Shanghai.

If you are looking for action tonight, then there is a ladies night at Dada Bar - but not your standard free drinks for slappers kind of evening. The ladies in question will display their charm on the decks and mic. Drum and Bass queen Siesta, and Yen, will provide movement on the floor, whilst Cha Cha makes some vocal accompaniment. The event is being run to raise awareness of the New Citizen Life Centre, which runs projects supporting migrant women.

Electrolist's last focus might surprise more discerning readers. Electronic music has historically been very much influenced by the environments and cities in which it developed - Chicago, Berlin, Detroit to name but a few examples. All the more reason then to check out trumpeter Theo Crocker on Sunday afternoon, with a performance entitled "Path of Transcendence", which, claims the promotional material, reflects his experiences of living in Shanghai. More info at JZ Club's website.

That's all for now. Next week, start getting excited already for Drum and Bass heavyweights LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad.

TONIGHT: Riot Girls @ Dada, 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu 请带我去幸福路115号. No cover.
SATURDAY: Sub-Culture pres. Mark Ernestus and Tikiman @ The Shelter, No. 5 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu 永福路5号，近复兴西路. 60 RMB on the door.
SUNDAY: Theo Crocker's 'Path of Transcendence' @ Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, Dingxiang Lu, near Century Blvd, 丁香路425号. Check www.jzclub.cn for ticket info