the Beijinger

Come the Olympics, Beijing is going to turn into one huge party, but it seems that some venues right at the heart of Beijing's nightlife scene, aren't being invited. According to today's China Daily report, about six businesses inside the Workers' Stadium will be ordered to suspend business for 20 days during the period of the Olympics for security reasons.

Operation Manager of The Bank, Jimmy Liu, was quite positive saying, "We are proud to be in the vicinity of the Olympics, I think our business will only benefit from this. Yes, we'll loose some money but in the grand scheme of things, we'll get great exposure." When asked how he felt about the news, owner of Kro's Nest said, "You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf."

T3 – No, not the Arnold Schwarzenegger film but the Beijing Airport’s new mega-terminal -- opened for flights last night at midnight.

The massive new airport has 3 concourses:

Concourse C will be for:

-- Domestic check-in
-- Domestic Departures
-- Domestic baggage claim
-- International check-in
-- International baggage claim

Concourse D will be for:

-- Olympic and Paralympic Games charter flights (for the time being)

Concourse E will be for:

-- International departures
-- International arrivals

Parisian Chris Carrier, prodigious tech-house DJ, founder of the Adults Only (adultonlyrecords.blogspot.com) record label, has been DJing and producing tech-house since 1995. We got the opportunity to ask him some questions before his show this Saturday with Baicai.

the Beijinger blog: Why are you coming all the way out here?

Chris Carrier: I always wanted to play in China, think the scene has a big potential.

tbj: In terms of clubbing, how does China rank on a global scale?

CC: Well, not first, of course. The scene is really small compared to the rest of the world.

tbj: What is your favorite cheese?

CC: Emmental.

tbj: Favorite method of transport?

CC: Metro.

Keen-eyed rat's Beijing and Urbane readers out there may have noticed a mysterious Tall Man ad in last month's issues, an ad that perhaps didn't seem to be advertising anything, merely posing an earnest question: Who is that Tall Man walking around your neighborhood?

The man in question is 1.98m(6’6”) writer/translator Eric Abrahamsen, the primary researcher and contributor to the Immersion Guides team's new project – Beijing By Foot, due out early this summer.

The Immersion Guides imprint not only produces Beijing’s best guidebook (The Insider's Guide to Beijing), but also a whole bookshelf of other great titles and the handy maps that are slipped in between the pages of that's Beijing magazine at regular intervals.

Yes, chances are Eric has been walking around your neighborhood, or will be popping through any day now. Don't be nervous, he's really nice, and spying on you or harassing you is the last thing on his mind. He's far too busy prospecting for Beijing's hidden historical treasures, gnarliest nooks and most captivating crannies.

The cover of today's Star Daily (北京娱乐信报) features an image of workers constructing the tramway that is going to run the length of the soon to be finished Qianmen shopping and pedestrian zone. The street is being remodeled so that is will resemble how the area appeared in the '20s and '30s, but, with the addition of a Starbucks and an official Apple store. The area is expected to open in May this year. In related news, John Kennedy offers this translation of one Chinese blogger's attempts to both help and also publicize the plight of the homeless people in the Qianmen area.

The Star Daily also refers to the first real test of the Capital Airport's recently completed Terminal 3. This Friday the terminal will process passengers for the first time. On the weekend they held a trial run that involved over 8,000 “passengers” (local high school and university students) lugging bags around the terminal pretending that they were arriving/departing the terminal. Friday's test run will only last for 24 hours and will only involve 6 carriers. If you're planning to take a flight on Friday, it might be worth confirming which terminal you're supposed to leave from.

The paper also makes room for a special reminder that primary and high school students return to class today. The city's transport authority have warned commuters to be aware that traffic volume is likely to increase in school areas.

New Year's Eve at Block 8 was meant to be a triumphant celebration of its first year of operation. It wasn't. According to their funereal post-party press release, "Our technician used heat-producing pyrotechnics, triggering the sprinkler system over the DJ booth." The resulting chaos was as epic as Block 8's rocketing rise to city-wide bougie adulation.

New Year's Eve parties that go awry are the worst of all, and have been known to bear dire consequences. So this weekend, with the mortars of Spring Festival finally silenced, a Block 8 representative has announced, "We want to take this opportunity to apologize to all our guests and friends for what happened on New Year's Eve by inviting them back for this kiss-and-make-up party."

Today, February 21, is the last day to set off fireworks within the fifth ring road. It's also Yuanxiao Jie (Lantern festival), the last night of Spring Festival, celebrated with tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls in soup) and, you guessed it, fireworks.

You can always turn up CCTV Lantern Festival Gala (8-9.30pm, CCTV1) to block out the noise, but which is really the lesser of the two evils? If you prefer to drown out your fireworks with music or cocktails rather than xiangsheng, check out events in our that's 7 days newsletter or the regular Thursday events listed below.

Regular Thursday Events

Experimental Night
Isis and Oliver. Free. 8pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Aside from feasting, watching Zhang Ziyi's poor attempt at lip-syncing on TV and letting off truckloads of fireworks, Beijingers were also busy sending off text messages to friends and family on Spring Festival eve. The official numbers haven't been announced yet, but China's Ministry of Information Industry (MII) was forecasting that across the country more than 17 billion Spring Festival greeting messages would be sent via mobile phone over the holiday season. In Beijing alone 600 million text messages were sent on Chuxi (Spring Festival Eve), which works out at close to 38 texts per person. This number is up from 400 million last year.

As in previous years, a contest aimed at discovery the best Spring Festival text message was held.

Subscribers to the that's 7 Days e-mail newsletter will know all about Bao Xishun. Reported to be the tallest man in the world, we regularly follow Bao's adventures in the newsletter sidebar. Readers will no doubt remember the time Bao heroically saved two dolphin's lives by using his long arms to pull plastic shards from their stomachs. Similarly, we all cheered the big man on, when, after a long search around the world for a suitable partner, he finally married a woman from his own home town. Bao also made headlines when he met He Pingping, who also hails from Inner Mongolia and who is one of the shortest people on earth.

Trader Vic's, unfortunately, barely lasted as long as the hangover induced by their "original Mai Tai." The tiki-clad international chain officially closed their Beijing branch today, just one and a half months after opening. The reason for their sudden closure still remains a mystery. I called the restaurant and a fuwuyuan confirmed that the restaurant was indeed closed, but, no reason was given as to why. When I asked to speak to the management, I was told they were busy. So, naturally, I phoned their public relations manager in Shanghai from whom I received this response, "Really? I didn’t know that. I'm on vacation in Tianjin." OK…?

Jim Boyce's blog quotes from an e-mail that a patron who had signed up for the Trader Vic's VIP card received:

You don't have to wait until August to catch a great show in Beijing – over the next month a variety of great events will be taking place in the capital. But, if you want to guarantee yourself a "court side seat," you better be quick in ordering your tickets. As disappointed Hello Kitty fans who were hanging out to see her perform at the PLA Theater can attest, there is nothing worse than being left out in the cold bargaining with a scalper.

Feb 19-24

The 16th FINA Diving World Cup
This Good Luck Beijing event provides the opportunity to see the water cube in action. However, fans of diving are advised to book well ahead as the demand for tickets is expected to be high. See the official site for more info and you can book tickets here and here. The only sessions to which tickets are still available are tomorrow (Tuesday) and Friday afternoon. RMB 30-150.

See this site for schedule. National Aquatics Center

The Art of Dunhuang

The National Art Museum of China has gone all out and dressed itself up for this exhibition. As you can see in the photo above, the gallery has covered itself in plastic sheets resembling the caves of Dunhuang. Dunhuang was an important trade hub on the Silk Road 2,000 years ago, a cultural hodgepodge of Muslim, Chinese, Indian and Greek cultures. This goes some way to explaining the diverse styles of Dunhuang – the Persian scarves worn by flying deities, Greco-Buddhist sculptures and Gandhara coloring. This exhibition displays sculptures as well as 120 murals (most of them recreations that have been painstakingly copied) and 29 original artworks from the ancient municipality. The museum is also hosting an exhibit of traditonal Chinese door hangings. You can visit their site for more information. RMB 20.

Daily 9am-4pm. National Art Museum of China (6401 2252/7076)

Due to the timing of the Spring Festival holidays, we haven't had a chance to post about the films showing at Beijing's cinemas for a while, so, although it's not half price Tuesday, we take advantage of Valentine's Day to present you with a round up of movie news and what's showing at cinemas across town.

Becoming Jane

The second major overseas release for 2008 is timed to coincide with Valentine's Day, and, similar to The Pursuit of Happyness (the first major overseas release of the year), is hitting Chinese screens about one year after it was first released in its home market. Starring Anne Hathaway and James MacAvoy (who also plays the lead role in Atonement - which is to be released in Beijing later this month), the film seems to have left most reviewers lukewarm, the general trend being to describe it as an entertaining but vapid film that doesn't quite capture the spirit of Jane Austen. Take a look at the trailer here.

CJ7 (Changjiang Qi Hao)

Stephen Chow, actor-director behind Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, will appear at Haidian's UME International Cineplex today for a special meet and greet session which starts at 5.50pm. Tickets will set you back RMB 50. More information on the UME site. CJ7 CJ7 opened in late January and has already grossed RMB 120 million at the box office. It will probably overtake Warlords to become the second most profitable of the Spring Festival hesui pian after Assembly. You can take a look at the trailer here.

The most romantic day of the year is also the most food-filled. After all, what would Valentine's Day be without that lovely meal for two? In Beijing, you don't have to spend a million to impress your lover – although that possibility is also an option. Here are some of my recommendations. These romantic dining destinations are sure to set the heart aflutter.

Let SALT serenade you with a delicious four-course candlelit culinary journey with a romantic edge and musical interlude. Enjoy their lobster Grand Marnier risotto or succulent beef tenderloin accompanied by a raspberry mousse filled chocolate heart or banana panna cotta with chocolate cremoso and vanilla sauce. Complimentary sparkling wine on arrival. You can view the full menu on their Facebook page. RMB 348. Make reservations in advance to guarantee seats. Dinner from 6-10.30pm. (6437 8457)

La Taverne's "three rhythms of love" menu will feature slices of smoked duck breast with orange, camembert parcels, gratin of baked scallops, smoked salmon and Caesar salad, chicken supreme and prime cut of beef with shallots or gambas with parsley and pan roasted salmon with mushroom sauce, chocolate profiteroles, French apple tart and fresh fruits. RMB 188 per person. (6551 8967)

Those staying in Beijing over the break and wanting to get a taste of Beijing's Spring Festival traditions should visit at least one of the many miaohui (temple fairs). The pick of the bunch are the ones that take place at the city's two surviving Daoist temples: Baiyunguan, or White Cloud Temple, and Dongyuemiao (Temple of the Eastern Peak) on Chaoyangmenwai Dajie. These fairs retain a lot of the religious traditions that seem to be lost in the more commercial fairs like the huge one that takes place in Ditan Park, which despite being very renao, doesn't offer beyond traditional snacks and a carnival atmosphere. At Baiyunguan fair goers line up to rub auspicious statues and characters, throw coins and burn incense. The photos below (taken in 2006) give you some idea of the atmosphere.

White Cloud Temple Fair
RMB 10.
8.30am-4pm. White Cloud Temple (6346 3531)

I'm not sure in which part of Beijing this video was shot (anyone have any ideas?), but it gives you a good idea of the scale of last night's mayhem.

Links and Sources:
Youku: 无与伦比的震撼除夕，北京夜空高密度烟花密集阵

It doesn't really matter where you are, if you're in Beijing you're not going to be able to avoid the fireworks. So, if you’re not lucky enough to have a friend living in a high rise apartment with great views of the city, try heading to The Drum and Bell Tower where hundreds of people will gather to let off truckloads of fireworks. One other option is to fork out RMB 2,008 for a party of 5 and head up the CCTV Tower (the one over on west Third Ring Road – not the ultra modern structure going up near Guomao). It’s the tallest structure in Beijing, and is sure to offer amazing views of the pyrotechnical marvel. RMB 2,008 (for 5 people). 10.30pm-12.30am. CCTV Tower.