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[Photos] A Whole Mall in China Dedicated to Fake Brand Names

Posted: 07/11/2014 9:03 am

sichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signsA brand name makes things better, doesn’t it? Why buy generic when you can put your trust in a prestigious, well-known brand?

A vacant retail space in Chengdu, Sichuan, agrees. But it seems no well-known brands have decided to rent space in the mall yet, so the mall went ahead and used the next best thing: fake brand names and logos.

So to help draw attention to the vacant retail lots still awaiting their first client, the 300 meter long street is adorned with brand names that seem oddly familiar.

sichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signs

Not pictured are a sign with the “M” logo from McDonald’s turned upside down into a “W”, and a fake version of Pizza Hut called “Pizza Huta”.

When contacted by a reporter, the sales office for empty retail lots passed the buck by explaining the signs were already hanging there when they first tried selling them. When questioned, the property developer explained their motives:

In waiting for these stores to be rented, fake signs are hung to create a business ambiance for the contractor. Once these lots have been rented out, these signs will be taken down.

Ambiance: it’s only ever a fake brand name away.

sichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signs

sichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signssichuan fake brands counterfeit retail lots signs

Photos: People’s Daily Online

Haohao

Tesla to Expand to Guangzhou and Shenzhen Despite Consumer Apathy

Posted: 07/7/2014 7:15 pm

tesla car electricNew LinkedIn job advertisements indicate boutique electric car maker Tesla may soon be coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, reports Car News China.

While Tesla itself hasn’t made an official announcement, their Linkedin profile lists jobs in the two PRD cities as well as Chengdu. This would be in addition to their one store in Beijing, and two others coming in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

But while Tesla is expanding fast in China, electric charging infrastructure may be struggling to keep up.

READ: Shenzhen Home to 50 of China’s Billionaires

Shenzhen invested RMB 1 billion in 2010 to build 89 charging stations and 29,500 charging piles, but only seven charging stations and 2,273 slow-charging piles were open by the end of 2013, reports Want China Times.

Furthermore, the electric car industry has been supported solely by government sales in recent years.  A high-level executive at one auto company who asked not to be identified told Caixin that fewer than 2,000 new electric cars have been sold to the general public since 2009.

electric car charging

But while electric charging facilities remain idle and customer interest remains weak, local authorities appear undeterred in their drive for more electric cars.

Shenzhen expects to have 25,000 electric vehicles on its roads by the end of next year. To meet this goal, it has ordered every new residential complex to provide charging facilities for electric cars regardless of whether any residents drive the vehicles, reports Investor Intel. Without the charging facilities, the apartments will not be allowed to go on sale.

READ: Six Million Cars to Be Taken Off Streets in China to Fight Pollution

But most tellingly, a massive market will be created once Elon Musk and Tesla build a gigafactory capable of producing batteries for 500,000 electric cars a year, reports the Economist.

With luxury car sales falling all across China, we can only assume Elon Musk knows what he’s doing.

tesla car electric

Related:

Photos: Car News China, Investor Intel, the Telegraph

Haohao

Shunde is seeking UN approval to be a cuisine capital of the world

Posted: 07/19/2013 1:00 pm

Shunde, a district of Foshan which is widely regarded as the home of Cantonese cooking, has sent a delegation to Paris in an attempt to win the UNESCO title of World Capital of Cuisine, Nandu Daily reports. If successful, it will follow in the footsteps of Chengdu, which won the accolade in 2010.

Sweetened fresh milk pudding, courtesy of goodfoodies.blogspot.com

Shunde has been preparing the bid since the second half of last year and has had its eye on the prize since 2010. This is just part of the district’s drive to boost its brand around the world. Last month saw the inauguration ceremony for the Confederation of Shunde Friendship Association Europe.

Famous Shunde dishes include Lijixi southern flavour peanuts, a variety of steamed seafood dishes, and sweetened fresh milk pudding, for which you can find a recipe here.

Haohao

New Sounds of China Episode 4: The Chengdu Temperament

Posted: 09/4/2011 12:26 pm

Zebra Festival in Chengdu

New Sounds of China is back on The Nanfang with a look at music originating from Chengdu.

Here’s what’s in store:

After two episodes devoted to music from the Chinese capital, our Beijing-centric presenters finally attune their ears to the sounds of a second city. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan (or Szechuan) province, is stereotypically known for its spicy food and spicier women, yet also hosts a thriving alternative music scene.

Positioned close to some of China’s most remote and ethnically mixed regions, Chengdu is an obvious base for folksong collectors, yet it has also developed a distinctive urban culture, including a number of small, lively music venues. Therefore, at the same time as introducing the local musicians who help shape this rival to the Beijing scene, we also explore (and challenge) the so-called “Chengdu temperament”, a concept which supposedly describes the local way of living and making music.

As always, the show is hosted by Paul Kendall and Hu Pan. You can listen to Episode 4 here.

If you’ve missed past shows, they are in the New Sounds of China archive here.

Haohao
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