China :: Lifestyle

Ancient rites and growing business In a one-room shop tucked inside a Beijing alley, a bearded 74-year-old fortune-teller in crimson tunic offers what Chinese parents have sought for centuries: an auspicious name for their newborn. But business has been tough lately for Mao Shandong and others in his trade as tech-savvy entrepreneurs have turned the ancient naming tradition into a lucrative online business. "We can't make a living these days," lamented Mao. Chinese have for centuries believed that a well-chosen name can ensure a lifetime of good fortune. Unlike in English, where one draws from a lexicon of Josephs and Richards, a Chinese name can be created from any combination of two or three characters. And for many Chinese parents, making the right choice has become even more imperative as they seek to help their children stand out in the world's most populous country. "Parents care more and more about personal brand," said Zhang Ruxin, t

STAND-UP Pakistani comedian Suhail Nasir, who jokes in Chinese, says Zhou Libo is great for learning Chinese but adds that his own style is more universal and like Jerry Seinfeld. Yao Minji gets a laugh. Telecoms engineer Suhail Nasir sets an ambitious goal: All the local aunties will recognize his name, not for his full-time engineering job, but for his hobby as a stand-up comedian, in Chinese. "When all the Shanghai aunties know my name, well, that's a stamp of fame," the 36-year-old from Islamabad, Pakistan, jokes. In the past four or five months, Nasir has attracted more than 9,000 followers to his weibo account and online video clips of his shows have got thousands of clicks. He performs monthly in Chinese at the comedy club Lauphilos and delivers humorous speeches in English on Wednesday nights at the Shanghai Leadership Toastmasters Club. His most popular clip shows his routine "Shanghai Taxi Driver vs Beijing Taxi Driver," in which he parodies the tw

FOR several days now I have been wondering about the bun shop opposite my house. Outside, huge bamboo baskets are steaming little balls of dough. The stuffed buns, or baozi, must be delicious, because at 7am the queue already runs halfway down Gao'an Road. Clouds of vapor blow into my face as I pass each morning. I peek behind the counter to where buns are being fashioned and placed delicately to steam. "I shall try them," I think. My first attempt at ordering is a disaster. Faced with an array of identical white buns but no idea what is inside them, my "point and nod" strategy falters and I lose my nerve. Dejected and bunless I return home, but the queue and the aromas continue to play on my mind. "This is not beyond you," I tell myself sternly. Ordering buns My perseverance begins to pay off. I learn the names of several of the buns, each one a distinct ode to flour and filling - "pork", "vegetable", "red bean" and t

ARTIST Shi Qi's birth was accompanied by tragedy. His family was too poor to feed another mouth, so his grandmother decided to sacrifice her own life for the new born, wrapping herself in a quilt and setting herself on fire. Such traumatic beginnings perhaps explain why Shi has always been something a rebel in the art world, always determined to do things in his own way. Organized by Shanghai Art Museum and Wanda Group, a solo exhibition of Shi is running at Shanghai Art Museum through May 13. "Don't call me a 'master,' I just wanted to try something different on rice paper, instead of repeating what the ancient Chinese masters had done," Shi says. "I really admire those artists who go to extremes in their artistic pursuits." And Shi is most certainly among their number. Born in 1939 in Fuqing, Fujian Province, Shi endured a harsh, miserable childhood but his talent shone through and he was admitted to a local fine art academy, setting him upon a v

LUZ Casal, an iconic figure in Spanish pop music scene, was one of the first singers to introduce rock music to Spanish audiences and is also one of the most recognizable Spanish voices worldwide. The 53-year-old legend, who last year recovered from breast cancer for a second time, will perform before local audiences next Tuesday at Shanghai Daning Theater. She will also appear in Beijing and Guangzhou on her first China tour. "I am so proud to introduce traditional and popular songs from Spain and Latin America. It is an honor to be considered an ambassador for Spanish music," Casal, clearly excited by the prospect of her Chinese concerts, tells Shanghai Daily via an email interview. The Galician native started her music career in 1982, with her self-titled first album that featured rock music. At the time, the genre was relatively new to Spain and it was still almost taboo for female singers to perform in rock acts. "I enjoy performing rock music, because it is pa

THE section of Madang Road next to the Xintiandi area has attracted plenty of arrivals in the past couple of weeks. Prestigious American jeweler Harry Winston's flagship store officially opened at the corner of Madang Road and Xingye Road last Friday, attracting Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester, stars of American teen drama "Gossip Girl." French children's fashion and accessories brand Jacadi also opened its doors last week, adding a touch of European elegance to the area. Local lifestyle concept boutique Oshadai has just made its debut next to Jacadi, offering creative products with modern Chinese aesthetics. And Shanghai Trio, another well-known lifestyle brand, moved its shop from Xingye Road to inside Xintiandi Style. Madang Road is truly showing its diversity with a good mix of luxury, fashion, lifestyle and eateries. Jacadi French premium children's fashion and accessories brand Jacadi has just opened a boutique on Madang Road, bringing an atmosphere of

SIX years ago, Tang Ning and six other young professionals took part in a performance of the drama "Pink Lady," about the life of modern-day young professionals. That show at the Youth Center of the People's Square Neighborhood was the beginning of Tang's second career, amateur acting, after his logistics job. During these years, this amateur drama group, City Origin, has grown up to have 200 to 300 members. Most of them are post-1980s, working in different industries, without professional performance background. At the end of last year, their original play "Orchid Blooming in Queen Street" participated in Shanghai International Arts Festival, staged at Shanghai Starlight Theater in November and Shanghai Drama Arts Center in December. "Orchid" tells the story of hai gui (overseas returnees), Chinese who live and study abroad, experience ups and downs and finally return to China. And then there are issues when they get back and try to fit in. &quo