Performance Art

One example
Search youtube "metro gaga"
;)

hahaha, where is this outlet located at?

The sign did in fact exist in Liuzhou.
Here's thr story

http://liuzhou.blog-city.com/star....s.htm

Yes, I still remember when I figured out the sign: One small step forward, one big step forward for civilization. :D

I managed to lose the key card to my complex/building about 10 days ago, so I had been either waiting for people to leave or bothering the guard to let me in. Yesterday (Sunday), I asked the guard to sell me his toggle. While he said "no" at first, an hour later, he told me I could have it for y50 (as long as I remained hush-hush about it; I'm guessing his bosses don't read FT). The official price is probably only y20, but going through the "official process" is certainly worth more than y30.

The IKI bbq phenomenon
 

I can't give IKI its own thread because: 1) it is not iconic like "Made in China"; and 2) they don't sell Japanese beef (a sticking point for me insofar as Korean bbq places are concerned).

But, I want to tell you its story because it is kind of inspirational. Bang Bang opened up a few months prior to IKI last year (they are next door to each other). I always knew Bang would succeed because one of its owners has been running restaurants in BJ for 20 years, but I had my doubts about IKI: 4 kids from Taiwan/Korea opening a restaurant in a city with a gazillion Korean restaurants.

Fast forward a year, and that place is packed every night... to the extent that it's joined the (very) short list of restaurants in BJ where reservations are a necessity.

How did they make it happen? Well, courting the celebrities and coal miner children seems to have helped their cause. I'm also guessing that they have a solid presence on weibo (Chinese twitter clone). In any event, they pulled off a grand slam that is worthy of an HBS case study.

Where the hell have I been. I ride line 1 all the time and I've never seen pole dancers though I've seen a few guys trying to (discretly) scratch their crotch on the pole. I hope that's not what you're refering to.

Btw, this post is useless without pics :)

What/who are coal miner children?

tb

The next time you manage to spot a pimply faced kid in a Lamborghini, odds are his dad owns a coal mine.

I was at IKI opening night. My son is friends with the owner, who is pretty young himself. Me, my son and the family and two employees were there. I was curious whether the place would make it, not because of the food or ambiance, but the location which is on a dead end street. I am so glad they have prospered, as they have worked hard and have a quality product. And I would agree with your assessment of their target market, though it would seem to be very good for tourists as well.

Nothing wrong with this. Comparative advertising is legal in the U.S., too, and doesn't constitute trademark infringement.

Yes, they are.

In the last 10 years, China has introduced an alternative to judicial enforcement of trademark infringement (which remains a dicey proposition at best). The administrative enforcement procedure is quick, inexpensive and effective, resulting in destruction of the infringing goods, though no compensatory damages.

I did like your picture of the Starbucks knock-off. As another poster noted, there isn't much that can top that. :)

Yes, but one of the nicest dead end streets I've ever seen in my life.

Yes, have not been in any of the other spots on that street. Guess I will "pub crawl" my way through next time I'm there. Thinking I'll be there weekend of 16-18Dec.

Apart from Bang and IKI, there is a Thai massage place (i.e. nothing else). In any case, feel free to drop me a line when you're in town. I am also friends with the IKI people, and I live 2 minutes from there.

Some other random observations from a person living in BJ for just a few months.

- I like to people watch on Subway line 10 traveling from HaidianHuangZhuang to Guomao. (line 1 @ China World)

- I like the cute short gals with red hats at the Wei DUD Mei bakery when getting my morning pastry.

- I like reading the propaganda in the China Daily.

- I like the local Haidian 2nd hand IT street stores.

-I like the local wet market in the morning, & even Walmart on weekday mornings, But never visit either on the weekend.