the random tidbits thread
 

Hi, guys. My vision for this thread is to create a home for random observations about life in China that don't justify threads of their own. Basically, in spite of the fact that I've been here for ages, I continue to learn new things on a weekly basis.

To get things started, I'd like to comment a bit about the practice of ripping off western technologies/brands, which was a hot topic at the recent Tech Crunch Disrupt in Beijing. Simply put, the VC/PE community (including the same firms that invest in companies that are getting ripped off) is hooked on this model. Why? Because it is low risk, it works, and Chinese courts tend to side with Chinese companies. Here are some prominent examples: Kayak/Qunar, Youtube/Youku, Airbnb/Airyizu, Vitamin Water/Victory Vitamin Water (at 1/3 the price).

And, a personal favorite: Cali Burger. In and Out doesn't want to play ball in Asia; no problem; just trademark their menu items.

Switching gears completely, observing Chinese people at western restaurants can be a real hoot: e.g. 3 soups, lobster, dessert, fruit plate, y3000 bottle of wine mixed with Sprite. This stuff boggles my mind. I was talking to a restaurant owner about it a few days ago; my suggestion: attempt to educate your Chinese guests to do the drill properly. Her response: "absolutely not! Their ignorance = money in my pocket."

My personal favorite
http://www1.xup.in/exec/ximg.php?fid=10093314

Needed expressvpn to load that one. :D

Here's one I've noticed in the past month or so since being back in Beijing: at the East Gate of the Workers' Gymnasium (the round one), in the afternoon all the FedEx delivery vans gather around and start passing packages back and forth--sort of a Chinese FedEx Fire Drill. Sometimes there will be 8-10 of them doing this tailgate maneuver. I don't get it...isn't this sorting done at the FedEx warehouse?

Could be handing off next day shipments to catch early flight out.

ok, I now have to clean the coffee off my screen. :D
No one is going to top that one.

In a McDonald's bathroom with a western toilet--footprints on the seat.

Does it say "Porn Queen" under the starbucks logo? That is great.

One of my favorite/funny things is the "let's stop and have a 2 minute chat right at the top or bottom of an escalator" people that frequent shopping malls.

[QUOTE=travelinmanS;17561621]Does it say "Porn Queen" under the starbucks logo? That is great.
QUOTE]

I am looking for DQ trademark to be changed to PQ and text underneath
to follow.

So far there is:

Dairy Fairy

and


Mango Queen

of course Obama is also very popular in China

OFC

Movie World

Even Better Than Movie World

Acronyms aren't protected by trademark laws.:p
Ha Ha Colonel!

KFG

KLG

MFC

DFC

Even Better Than Movie World[/QUOTE]

DVD yao ma?

Picture? :D

PVG urinal
 

And there are the signs above the urinals in PVG which read "One Step Forward, Please!"

I've seen an uptick in subway performance art during the past six months. On Thursday afternoon coming back from the west side on Line 10 (BJ), there was a singer/guitarist who was downright good (and cool looking to boot). I couldn't muster the courage to take a video of his performance, but I wish I had because it was rather surreal.

But, in Shanghai, they've taken this concept to a whole new level: companies sponsor pole dancers to do their thing on the metro (Line 1 seems to be a favorite).

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.

Calendar new years holiday
 

Abet surprised by the calendar NY's eve 3 day 'work' holiday this year here in BJ.

Seems the 31st, saturday, was a work day. And the next 3 days, jan 1st-3rd, or Sun-Tues. are the holidays when most all offices are closed, schools also.

This is mild in comparison to the upcoming Chinese NY. Some workers are planning several 'weeks' off !. & schools are closed for a month to 5 weeks, mid jan-mid feb for this winter holiday.

Although bizarrely, my university declared 31/1 as 'holidays' (very generous of them to count the week-end as a holiday) and today as a regular work day. In the UK, the trade unions (and even non-union workers) would have had a fit!

I do find these 'day off during the week, so must work the week-end' rules all a bit odd. Luckily, my work is very flexible, and means I can work when I like....of course, that usually means working most week-ends!

tb

First: Happy New Year and Well Wishes to All! -- I 've not kept up with FT forums busy, busy.

I just checked out a book by an ex-pat: Alan Paul. Title: Big in China. 3/2011. I found his writing style easy to read. He blogged about his family's 3 1/2 years in BJ/China and won a national award. He was part of the "Woodie Alan Band". His wife was WSJ's China bureau chief. --Did anyone get to hear his band? or read his columns?

CNY is coming up fast and I have to get a move on to tame the dust bunnies at Mom's place...and then my own.

oo! oo! what a good idea! I lost my key card a year ago staying at a freind's complex. I wish I had thought to do what you did!!

(good advice for the future though!)

Actually, I've since discovered an even better way. Most locksmiths sell the key chain dongles for y10-15, and some can even copy the info from your existing dongle on the spot. But, the latter part isn't so important because most decent doormen can activate those things in seconds.

Since this is for random tidbits...

I've noticed for a long time that Standard Chartered has given slightly better US$ cash exchange rates than other banks, but haven't really bothered to check. Today, I did.

SCB China: 6.28RMB/US$
Other banks: 6.23RMB/US$

Anyone know why? (Not that I'm complaining)

They're not really providing a better rate, just waiving the fee for converting foreign notes to foreign exchange.

Other banks also offer this service for free, e.g., HSBC Premier. Another way of getting the better rate at any bank is to wire the money into your account from overseas.

China Land of Opportunity
 

The East is Red has now changed
to "Go East Young Man"@:-)


Kasper Leschly, the Danish founder of the footwear brand D:Fuse, goes to a confidential forum in Beijing every second Tuesday of the month in Beijing

Leschly set up his company, which is based in Tianjin, in 2007. The company's first footwear shop was opened in Shanghai with an investment of 250,000 yuan ($40,000, 30,500 euros).

A little more than four years later, D:Fuse has 200 outlets around China, and its annual sales volume is triple when compared with 2008

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/weekly/...t_14390144.htm