A Beautiful Chinese Winery in Beijing

Randy Cheung, May 2, 2013 7:18 AM, 850 views, 3 Comments »,

The market for China domestic wine production in joint ventures with foreign companies has grown, and often the companies reside in imitated French chateaus, Italian fantasy castles or traditional Chinese courtyard houses, which are used for the sale of wine and the presentation of the vineyards. This 60,000-square-foot winery is part of a luxury complex from a hotel group, which combines wine showroom, restaurant and underground winery. The pavilion is built on an artificial island surrounded by water, amidst a vineyard. The ground floor space is separated in five different wings, each with its own characteristics.The building which designed by Japanese architects adds a new destination on the map of wine experts and lovers of architecture in Beijing …

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Apple’s Op-Chief is in Beijing to Deal with PR Crisis

Star Chang, Apr 9, 2013 9:48 AM, 478 views, Got something to say ?,

According to the report from China tech site, Apple dispatched its op-chief Jeff Williams in Beijing to deal with the PR crisis in China. Pressured by the state-owned media in China which have been dissing Apple in headlines over its warranty practices, Tim Cook issued an open apology letter last week. Cook’s letter highlights that Apple is very well aware “that a lack of communication led to the perception that Apple’s attitude was arrogant and that we do not care and attach importance to consumer feedback.” Jeff Williams is one of Tim Cook’s most trusted lieutenants. He’s the guy that makes Apple run. Even simpler: He’s CEO Tim Cook’s Tim Cook. It’s believed Apple is grooming Williams to take on Cook’s role as chief operation officer in the event that Cook takes over Steve Jobs’ role as the company’s chief executive. Jeff Williams joined the Cupertino company in June 1998 as Head of worldwide procurement. He has been Senior Vice President of Operations of Apple since July 2010. The op-chief leads a team of people around the world responsible for end-to-end supply chain management and dedicated to ensuring that Apple products meet the highest standards of quality …

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“Tony Stark” and Iron Man Roll Into Beijing to Create Publicity Blitz

Star Chang, Apr 7, 2013 12:47 PM, 483 views, Got something to say ?,

Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr. has traveled to Beijing to promote “Iron Man 3″ this weekend, which was filmed partly in China and features well-known Chinese actors. At the news conference, Downey – who reprises the role of Tony Stark in the upcoming movie – said he’s fascinated with Chinese culture and loves Chinese movies, while urging the local audience to see the superhero film. During the event, Downey also by publicly eating crispy sugar-coated fruit, a popular Chinese local confectionery. The production of Iron Man 3 has received a lot of international attention for its friendly involvement with Chinese company while filming and for its use of Chinese actors. The movie will be opened in China on May 3 ….

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Are Chinese Authorities Plan to Pull Down Apple’s Superior Standing in China ?

Star Chang, Apr 1, 2013 1:50 PM, 383 views, Got something to say ?,

Chinese media outlets have been heavily attacking Apple’s business practices in the country, following the previous report on Consumer Rights Day produced by state broadcaster China Central Television. The latest gripe has come from government’s mouthpiece the People’s Daily, which has been railing Apple for five consecutive days since March 25. The Chinese news agency went on attacking Apple’s tax avoidance, citing a New York Times report (Chinese netizen unable to surf the NYT website …) published last year about the company saving billions of dollars in taxes in several US states. In its most recent report, it even called the US company “arrogant.” Over 3.8 million users have forwarded or commented on the issue through Chinese social media, some shared their negative experiences concerning purchases of Apple’s products, while many others questioned the motive behind the smear campaign against Apple …

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You Need to Have This Air Filtration Bike to Live in Beijing (Video)

Star Chang, Mar 26, 2013 5:49 AM, 892 views, Got something to say ?,

A western artist who lived in Beijing pushes his air filtration bike out of his studio on a hazy day. Using an IKEA perforated garbage can, moped helmet, fighter-pilot breathing mask, wheel-powered generator and home air filtration system, he built a “breathing bicycle” as a way of protecting himself from the terrible air pollution that was happening in the capital of China. While pedalling, electricity is generated for the power to activate the system to filter out haze and provide the rider with clean air. This is really a smart creation, the DIY filtration kit could become a great merchandise and every cyclists living in Beijing should get one.

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The Inside Story of China’s State Broadcaster in Smear Campaign Against Apple (Video)

Star Chang, Mar 19, 2013 4:56 AM, 2,585 views, 2 Comments »,

[UPDATE] Apple was accused of jerking Chinese consumers around in a 3-hour expose aired by China Central Television last week, but a celebrity’s foolish mistake on Chinese social media revealed that the so-called investigative journalism from the broadcaster was nothing but a PR offensive against the wrong targets. Each year on March 15, the Consumers’ Rights Protection Day in China, the state broadcaster runs a special TV show that takes to task shoddy products or substandard services in the name of alerting the nation and laying bare corporate evils. In this year, the show said that Chinese customers are not provided with the same customer service from Apple as it does to users in other countries. China Central Television had even gathered a number of journalist, they were wearing red color vest that look like Red Guards from the Cultural Revolution, ‘attacking’ the Apple store in Beijing to question the employees for the unfair warranty policy …

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Watch: The Chinese Version of Iron Man 3 New Trailer

Star Chang, Mar 8, 2013 7:48 AM, 1,152 views, Got something to say ?,

In a bid to tap the booming Chinese box office, Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Company has made a co-production deal with Chinese DMG Entertainment, who has throw in money in order to make the Hollywood blockbuster to be filmed in China. By partnering with DMG, which enjoys close working ties with the state-run China Film Group, Disney and Marvel are able to work around Beijing’s tight film-import quota. The movie is scheduled for release on May 3 in the US, the theaters in China will have a simultaneous release, a good news for all Chinese moviegoers. The latest trailer of Iron Man 3 has its own Chinese version in China too, it’s much the same as the international version we have seen during the last few days, just added in a few more footage on the Chinese actor and actress. And by the way, we haven’t seen any appearance of TCL’s television or advance M.I.C. gadget in the latest trailer …

You Need to Buy This Air Purifying Powered Respirator to Live in Beijing

Star Chang, Mar 6, 2013 1:08 PM, 713 views, 1 Comment »,

The market for dust masks and air purifiers is booming in China because the capital has been shrouded in heavily polluted air. There is a huge demand for dust masks, which are able to help block fine particulate matter. But the air quality in Beijing is getting so bad that a normal mask or a lady’s bra won’t help you too much of it. The continued pollution problems has finally lead to some Chinese manufacturer to produce a potable air purifying respirator for consumer. The gadget looks like an industrial grade device. The face mask is connected with a portable electric blower using air pipe. The blower has a filter system, it sucks in the air and block tiny particles to achieve clean air. It’s powered by large capacity lithium battery and can be continually used for 8 hours. Using a respirator while venturing outside may be exaggerated, but it’s much better than dressing like an astronaut …

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Mixture of Sandstorms and Toxic Air Push Beijing Pollution to Extreme Level

Star Chang, Mar 1, 2013 2:42 PM, 6,973 views, 9 Comments »,

Beijing and other parts of northern China were stung by hazardous air pollution levels as strong winds blew a sandstorm through the region. Air in the capital turned a yellowish hue as sand from China’s arid northwest blew in, turning the sky into a noxious soup of smog and dust. Geographically close to the Gobi Desert, Beijing and other northern cities are particularly susceptible to sandstorms. The city usually suffers sandstorms from late February to mid-April. Last month, Beijing suffered 16 days of haze, the most since 1954. It has brought chronic bad air to much of China. Air pollution readings were so bad that they were compared to living in an airport smoking lounge. For now, people in Beijing endure a noxious and potentially dangerous mix of sand and fine particulate pollution …

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This is How Chinese Zoo Mistreats a Polar Bear (Video)

Star Chang, Feb 27, 2013 7:17 AM, 1,396 views, 1 Comment »,

A video of the poor living conditions of a polar bear at the Beijing Zoo, posted by a micro-blog user, elicited a flood of comments and anger on Chinese social network last week. The video shows a polar bear slowly making its way across a barren, drained swimming pool littered with sheets of cracked and peeling paint. The zoo officials explained that the paint is a waterproof fiberglass coating, and that significant temperature changes during the winter cause it to crack and peel from the concrete below. The zoo said it will fix it asap. This kind of mistreatment at zoos is unacceptable, the sad polar bear just need some ice chunks and diving …

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