2009 Jul 03 Living in Beijing? Don't Lose Your Shirt
You might not guess it while chowing down at your favorite noodle joint on a meal that cost you the equivalent of a pack of gum in many countries, but according to BusinessWeek, Beijing is one of the most expensive cities to live, eat and wash clothes in.
Jumping up 78 spots from its 2008 mark, Beijing came in as the 26th most expensive city in the world in 2009.
Based on the average prices of five basic expenditures – a movie ticket, a quick lunch, a washing machine, a kilo of rice and a can of soft drink – BW calculated the world's most expensive cities in a year of financial uncertainty in which the value of many major world currencies has fluctuated significantly. Each of the benchmark prices was measured in US dollars.
In Beijing, according to BW, a movie ticket costs nearly USD 10, a quick lunch is about USD 20 and a washing machine costs more than USD 920. Compare that to the prices of the same items in Luanda, Angola, the No. 1 city - USD 17, USD 60 and USD 1,090 respectively, and it might not be so bad.
Japan and Switzerland made a strong showing in the top ten, posting four and three cities respectively. The most expensive US city was New York City at No. 17. Beijing finished just behind Honolulu and just ahead of Jerusalem.
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Win a Brand New Pair of Shoes From D:FUSE!
This women's shoe brand, first founded by expats in Shanghai in 2007, is now up to 14 Beijing branches and counting. (For a list of all existing store locations, click here.) According to their website, D:FUSE "strives to bring the latest Scandinavian urban trends to the fashion forward Chinese consumer."
It just so happens that their trend-conscious footwear appeals to us expats as well. And now, one lucky reader has the chance to win a pair of free shoes! Whether sandals or pumps, their designs typically range from RMB 600-1,500, with most of them priced at around the RMB 700-800 mark. You can check out some of D:FUSE's latest styles below, or peruse the full collections here.
The rules? With the exception of the higher-priced Desire line, you can choose whatever pair meets your fancy (though do note that their largest size available is 39).
Win a Free OSPOP Bag From Plastered T-shirts!
By now you’ve likely heard that Plastered T-shirts has opened a second Beijing branch in 798 Art District. (If not, catch up on all the details here.) Now we have even more photos of the store interior which, according to their blog, was designed by founder Dominic Johnson-Hill himself.
The Ship Has Sailed: Bon Voyage to ShopWeShip.com
Expats who rely on the material comforts of home may be disheartened to hear that ShopWeShip.com, previously known as Dong-Xi.com, has just announced that it will soon be discontinuing its services.
ShopWeShip.com was first established to give Chinese residents access to e-commerce sites that only shipped to US billing addresses. Back then, our options were few – we could hardly find quality Western food around town, let alone chic clothes from mid- to high-end retailers.
798 Gets Plastered
Plastered T-shirts, a Beijing-based brand which has carved much of its identity around Nanluogu Xiang, is now expanding its creative reach. If all goes according to plan, their new shop – their second in Beijing – will open tomorrow in 798 Art District, right across from the UCCA.
Shirtless David Beckham Sizzles in New H&M Ads
With Versace for H&M fresh on everyone’s minds, the Swedish fast-fashion retailer has announced the pending release of two more designer collaborations in the next couple months. And we have the exclusive (including prices, photos and details) below.
