News You Might Have Missed: Gliding Past Traffic, Swimming Porkers and Water-Ballet Controversy

Beijing remains fairly quiet after the Congress but we still can’t readily access our Gmail. News that’s caught our eye recently include odd transportation changes in other cities, pork prices that are being affected by something other than inflation and a pricy new complex that’s draining the city of more than just water. Also, does anyone still use payphones? China Unicom seems to think so.

If you’re battling traffic (recent reports say you are), then maybe you should take a cue from the commuters in Hunan. The “wind-chasers” have taken to the skies with motorized parachutes to avoid the congestion below. We find the idea charming and rather wish that Beijingers would take up the habit. Then again, given the way people drive in Beijing, maybe it's better that they don’t take their act to the air.

For a price, Wuhan will rename a subway station in your honor. Zhou Hei Ya, the food company that specializes in spicy braised duck neck, recently dropped RMB 5 million for the privilege. For the next six years, riders will be alighting at "Zhou Hei Ya & Jianghan Road.” If this trend catches on, can we expect to see Quanjude Qianmen or Moutai Guomao in Beijing?

Chinese farmers have begun promoting swimming for their swine to (apparently) boost the animals’ immune systems, increase appetite and speed up growth. According to China Daily, the added exercise will raise the price of the meat to three times that of non-swimming pigs.

A glitzy new theater for is currently being built in 798 for an elaborate mega-musical/water ballet, "The House of Dancing Water." The show, which is the brainchild of a former Cirque du Soleil director, features tons of water, motorcycle stunts and an epic love story. Meanwhile, the complex is stirring up plenty of controversy for the unnecessary use of water in a drought-ridden city.

China Unicom is testing a service (Beijing-only) where users can make calls from public payphones that are charged to their mobile account. Unicom callers just need to enter their mobile number and a password to take advantage of the new service. Everyone else will just have to make do with using their IC (subway) cards at the public phones – anyone who's still using payphones, that is.

Photo: Allpostersimages.com, Theartnewspaper.com