Tianjin: Clio Coddle, a fashion brand i’ve never heard of but with a logo disturbingly similar to that of Singaporean chain Crocodile, which in turn itself has had a long dispute over logo infringements with well known manufacturer LaCoste. Apparently it’s not new – I just did a search online and found other references to it. Evidently they’re still alive. Just goes to show: there’s no shame at all with piracy in China, and it’s so easy to succeed.
Archive for the ‘Beijing’ Category
Getting small change in Beijing is a constant and irritating challenge. Restaurants, taxis, convenience stores – pay with a 100RMB note (not much in today’s cities) and you will often be met with cries for something smaller.
Cab drivers have always despised splitting your hundred – but more recently i’ve noticed several restaurants refusing to split a few notes to help distribute change amongst a group. The usual excuse (“we don’t have change”) is most likely a lie and if you persist you’ll be amazed that change is suddenly produced from ‘out of nowhere’.
I’ve found this a lot at up market restaurants – and it’s amazing the lack of desire they even have to maintain a good image with good service. After spending 1000RMB on a meal, the least they could do is help your group with some small change.
If you ever find yourself with the same problem – insist to look at their till. I’d guess that 95% of the time they do have change to give you.
I’ve never heard of it, but BBC news reported on Shizuishan (石嘴山), apparently China’s most polluted city, now blacklisted by the government.
What struck me about this report is not so much the content but yet more attempts by the Chinese government to cover up foreign media reporting. The BBC crew were subsequently questioned by police and denounced by local communist officials for reporting this ’sensitive topic’ – albeit simply a matter of pollution, and that much of the top polluters in the city are still operating (despite supposedly being shut down). Yet again the Chinese government fail to see that despite censorship, the western media will get the news they want: only with interference it makes the Chinese look pathetic, and the censorship itself draws attention amongst foreign viewers. It’s simply counter productive on both counts: it does not allow the media to seek genuine change and improvement in China where issues count, and it does nothing to improve the image of China externally.
Again, the west will see the news regardless, only with the added pathetic-ness of the attempted censorship.
The widely reported wielding of umbrellas in Tiananmen square during the 20th anniversary of was equally amusing – if not plainly embarrassing.
When will they learn.
I am told I don’t write enough good things about China. That’s not entirely true: despite my criticisms I have a very positive outlook for this country! Nonetheless I will praise China Mobile for their efficient use of text messaging for customer services. Afterall SMS popularity is not new in China.
Through SMS you can change plan, redeem your bonus points for gifts, apply or cancel mobile value added services (e.g. mobile news, caller id etc…) – even find out where a friend is. This is by far more advanced than most other mobile systems I have used, or at least they have been doing this for years even if others are just beginning.
China is now the biggest mobile market in the world and growing. For many it’s their only connection to the Internet, or indeed the world. For some, it’s also a handy payment platform.
Now that the telecom industry has been shaken up, and 3G becomes more prevalent (although China Mobile will use its homegrown standard), the service offerings are set to grow.
If only they can re-record the English prompt announcements on the topup hotline!
As was announced throughout much of the international and local media yesterday, Wu Bangguo (吴邦国), chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, reiterated China’s position that it has no intention of becoming a multiparty democracy with separation of powers.
As quoted in the China Daily, Mr. Wu was reported to comment: “We will not have multi-party rule, or the separation of legislative, executive, or legal powers”. He called on deputies to maintain the “correct political orientation”. In other words: continue to do what they say. I suppose such an announcement is not entirely surprising: China has hardly made much progress in this regard anyways.
The SCMP takes a harsher view. It claims that “China will not have an independant judiciary. Elections will still have mostly government-approved candidates on the ballot”.
The statements are likely a renewed response to continued calls from the west for more political reform in China. To be fair, such a hard line answer should shut up critics who clung onto hope; and on the other hand western criticism (or even understanding) of China is often harsh and misrepresented. What surprises me about Wu’s comment was it’s brashness: to say now that China will never become something else politically would be as bold a statement as to attempt weather prediction for half a century later. Between now and then, anything can happen.
I do believe that China is opening up and will achieve it’s ultimate goal of a fair and just system with some semblance of a western style democracy. For that matter I think Wu Bangguo is wrong: China will some day have an independant judiciary and acceptable separation of powers. The question is when.
Meanwhile the west needs to understand that change will be gradual, that achievement takes time. People’s thoughts in China are not fully aligned and that’s not to say the west have it right. Afterall the China Daily does note that deputies to the NPC are broadly representative unlike western parliaments which can often also be one sided. China cannot be considered a dictatorship now by any definition of the word. Although the top job is not by mandate of the people, there is neither a personality cult nor absolute power to do whatever is wanted – no doubt to the disappointment of many in the West who still want to believe (and complain) that China is an evil empire run by a madman.
Although the merits of a Chinese vs. Western style democracy is certainly worthy of its own debate, I nonetheless still find Wu’s comments as somewhat drastic, if not childish.
Mannings has made a late foray into Beijing with the opening of four stores – here pictured is one in Beijing South Railway Station, the newly refurbished station that currently serves the high-speed express trains to Tianjin (天津).
Although a late entry to the China Market (Li Ka Shing-owned Watsons has been here for years), it is promising to see some healthy competition as well as yet another sign of Beijing’s growing importance as an international city.
They even sell Vitasoy and Vita Lemon Tea – some of the Hong Kong products I miss.
One thing I consistently find annoying in North China is the determination of restaurant workers towards making you pay the bill quickly – even if still eating. Granted restaurants close earlier here, and that’s a cultural thing, but even if it’s time to do the daily accounting the waiters should not require a bill to be paid in order for them to calculate the expected income.
Giving your patrons the bill before they ask is just rude and shouldn’t happen. I’ve never seen it in Hong Kong and, i’m told, it won’t happen in S China either.
To Beijing restauranteurs out there: lighten up.
It’s day two of the Paralympics and at 8:30am tussles are already breaking out for security check into Olympic Green. The “no bags” queue clearly has lots of bags and mysteriously runs slower than the other queues. Yet the swarthes of volunteers seem oblivious to this fact: welcome to logistics, Chinese style. The security checks for the underground seem half hearted, and many venues still not signed up properly.
Looking back though BOCOG did an excellent job at the Olympics: crowd control was organised, transport to and from the venues sufficient, volunteers were helpful – even the weather held up throughout most of the games. The opening and closing ceremonies both breathtaking (despite learning of the singing girl’s miming), and who could complain about the Olympic green itself: magnificent and beautiful, if not a tad too big.
Now, at the Paralympics, much of the arrangements remain the same though superficial change is evident. Banners around town have all changed to “Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games”, volunteers now wear Paralympic shirts. The IOC have been replaced by the IPC (as have all corresponding road signs) and the Olympic traffic lane is now the Paralympic Lane. In the game the podiums have been replaced with wheelchair friendly slopes instead, French is no longer used in announcements, and nor are spectators asked to stand for the anthem (though most still do).
In the Olympic Green, I’d say the main change is the people. During the Paralympics a larger number of “day pass” tickets are available giving more the opportunity to just wander around the green. It also means more “common folk” – not to sound snobby but let’s face it China isn’t quite there yet with social sophistication – and that does mean more disorganisation. It’s free seating at the venues too, which is great for letting more people be part of the games, but does lower the atmosphere somewhat with people walking all over the place.
In terms of the sport it’s sad that most regard the Paralympics as second rate to the Olympics. That is understandable, yet those i’ve spoken to here who did not manage to see the Olympics and who wanted to see the venues, show no interest in Paralympics as they don’t want to watch disabled people. But Paralympic tickets are readily available (bar the water cube), and cheap, and therefore a great opportunity to be part of the Olympic movement.
If anything I find the level of competition even more amazing for a disabled athlete and in particular look forward to wheelchair rugby!