A more authentic face of Beijing

This clip comes from a Flickr collection in CDT’s photo offering this morning.

The baked yam seller’s face shows the real anxiety of Beijing dwellers contrasted with the ad image of a young boy over his right shoulder. China is one and the other, an anxious man scrapping by and an image of youthful amazement harnessed to sell some consumer product other than baked sweet potatoes.

 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Chairman Mao’s Red-Braised Pork Good Eats! A Weekly Roundup from Serious Eats (thekitchn.com)
• orange food, woe is Flickr (cathweber.blogspot.com)

There are many strange stories about “fantastic buildings” in China

And most of them are from Chinese sources. But this one about the new CCTV HQ building in Beijing is as strange as the story of the conflagration that consumed its neighbouring hotel tower last Chinese New Years.

The story has its gamey side and that is an interesting commentary on Chinese mainstream attitudes, which are often earthy and down to earth.

The Chinese like to laugh at, and about, their iconic buildings

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Here’s the headline in China Digital Times:

Naming the CCTV Tower (or Why “Big Underpants” is Better Than “Hemorrhoids”) (Updated)

If you take the time to sift thru this link you’ll find lots to smile about.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Fanciful architecture in China

Beijing’s air pollution subject to weather really!

Image via Wikipedia

James Fallows, that renowned journalist and Beijing resident, keeps on giving images from Beijing to vilify the bad and celebrate the good. So here’s a sample of the good, in fact very good in my experience.

Here’s the link to the article.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Beijing air

Another report by James Fallows about Beijing air pollution

Image by kevindooley via Flickr

The image below indicates how it looked like a few days ago, mainly blue skies.

But now he seems to be saying that the hope for less smog and more blue skies over Beijing may be a dream!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Beijing air
• The latest from NY Times about air pollution in Beijing

Jim Fallows thinks the Olympics were very good for Beijing’s air

I have been following reports from Beijing from Jim Fallows, who is a Beijing resident and well known US journalist. He has often commented with photo support on the quality of air in Beijing and here is a snap from yesterday:

Here’s a link to the story and other photos, including one of bad air in July.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Beijing air on July 2, 2008 or 37 days till Olympics 2008
• Clearing Out Beijing Traffic for the Olympics

Beijing can have clear days!

James Fallows, who writes for Atlantic and lives and runs in Beijing posts this picture from his apartment.

Here’s the link to his post!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Beijing air on July 2, 2008 or 37 days till Olympics 2008
• Can Beijing win the battle against its smog?

Update on Beijing air – 5 of the last 6 days well below 50 mcg standard

Image by kabatology via Flickr

Check it out for yourself. The most significant fact is that there is no visible evidence that Beijing caused any healthy athletes physiological distress.

So BOCOG can relax. It remains to be seen whether the extreme measures taken to limit pollutants had lasting effects. Meteorological conditions have more to do with air quality in Beijing and most other big cities in the world.

Related articles by Zemanta

• U.S. cyclists ‘regret’ wearing masks at airport

The latest from NY Times about air pollution in Beijing

Image by Princess Pie! via Flickr

Here’s the link and some quotes:

BEIJING — When the Canadian cyclist Svein Tuft arrived in Beijing, he feared the worst. Air pollution. Gray smog. Coughing and wheezing.

None of it occurred. When he raced for 6 ½ hours last Saturday, he was amazed. Beijing’s air, he said, was not even close to bad. The pollution concerns, he decided, “have been a massive hype.”

and another quote:

For his next research project, Rundell is investigating a possible antidote to air pollution — Viagra.

BTW dear readers, if you are Canadians are you feeling cheated by the medal results so far! I know it’s a bitch for the athletes, but even I am feeling the downer about it all.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Olympics: Is The Air In Beijing Safe?
• Heavy rain washes pollution from Beijing’s air
• “Perception of pollution”

Neat panoramic view inside Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium

So many things in China are oversized and this panoramic view inside the Stadium doesn’t disappoint! Thx NY Times.