116 « Week In China

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Back Issue

WiC 116 (Jul 22, 2011)

Making a pig’s ear of it

Economy, Talking Point Why the Chinese government is so worried by rising pork prices

"Swimmers told where they can eat safely,” ran the eye-catching headline in the Shanghai Daily. The newspaper was reporting on efforts to stop ...

Lift going down

Property Otis in PR storm after equipment malfunctions

When Elisha Otis took an axe to the hoist rope supporting his elevator at the 1854 World’s Fair, most onlookers thought he was done for. For half a ...

The great escape

Chinese Character Why Du Shuanghua could be the emblem of modern Chinese capitalism

Every few months, China’s newspapers shudder with concern about the state’s ‘advance’ and the private sector’s ‘retreat’. But frequently ...

China Consumer Furniture retailer accused of scamming clients

A Chinese idiom warns: “Fish eyes can’t be passed off as pearls, and bitter flea-bane can’t pretend to be tea.” It means you shouldn’t ...

Rail & Infrastructure Embarrassment for high-speed train bosses

Mussolini may have a questionable legacy but the former dictator is said to have solved one of Italy’s most chronic problems: he got the trains to ...

Banking & Finance New report reveals scale of unofficial loans

Fans of the British television series Doctor Who are aware that the Tardis is a lot bigger than it looks. So too is China’s banking ...

Ready to Conca Chinese league

Sport Record signing brings Argentine footballer to China

In 1893 Willie Groves set a record as the first footballer to merit a three figure transfer fee, when Aston Villa paid just over £100 to buy the Scot ...

Bay’s robots learn Chinese

Entertainment New Hollywood blockbuster features big product placement from China

Michael Bay, king of the summer movie spectacle, was in charm offensive mode on a trip to Shanghai last week, to promote his latest blockbuster ...

Ahead of the cloud

Who’s Hu Wang Wenjing

Wang Wenjing's talent was obvious from an early age. At 15 years-old, he started at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, where he majored in ...

Internet & Tech Sina monetises platform

Sina, which owns Weibo, China’s most popular microblogging platform (with more than 140 million users) is fast learning how to engage a massive ...

The chips are down

Internet & Tech Boardroom spat at SMIC – and the CEO’s exit – worry…

In March tycoon Huang Guangyu launched a successful effort – from his prison cell – to unseat the chairman of the company he had founded, Gome. Few ...

Date with danger

Planet China When a 39 year-old music teacher appeared on TV dating show…

When a 39 year-old music teacher appeared on TV dating show Happy League, he charmed audiences by serenading the female contestants. But his 15 minutes ...

The dreaded ‘D’ word

Cartoons The dreaded ‘D’ word

Following on from our Talking Point last week, the potential for a US government debt default has continued to grab headlines in China. Local agency ...

Swimming in muck

And Finally Publicity event sees politicians and residents plunge into Pearl River

Go with the flow – that’s the motto when it comes to politicians swimming in Chinese rivers. As WiC has mentioned before, Mao Zedong was partial ...