News You Might Have Missed: Sanlitun, Politicians, and Trains

Here’s a Monday-morning look at problems in Sanlitun, China’s insatiable curiosity about American politicians, and a bit more information on the trains. No, not the Beijing-Shanghai bullet train.

If you were out in Sanlitun this past weekend, you were probably navigating the maze that has enveloped Sanlitun Houjie (behind Tongli Studios). The blue fencing seems to have morphed recently from a small cordoned corner section to hoardings obstructing the entire road; on the bright side, at least it's keeping the cars off that busy back street. Speculation about the reason for the barriers has ranged from "general maintenance" to "makeshift holding cells for the young belligerents who can’t seem to handle their (fake) liquor."

More trouble is brewing in Sanlitun at the Apple store. Apparently some used/refurbished iPhones are being sold as new, prompting a couple of lawsuits from angry consumers. Hopefully there will be no brash overreaction to this scandal. But then again, Apple must be used to it by now.

American politicians have become all the rage lately. The new US ambassador to China, Gary Locke, has caused a web frenzy after being spotted (in Seattle's airport on his way to Beijing) wearing a backpack and buying his own coffee. Reactions have ranged from proclaiming he represents exactly “what a government official who serves the people should look like” to admonishing him for not “understand[ing] China’s national condition." Vice-President Joe Biden touched down in Beijing a few days later, and the media has deemed it essential to track his every move including what he eats for lunch. Zhajiang mian, mmmm.

After the full-speed output of train news over the past few weeks, this train update is rather sleepy in comparison. Beijing has announced that its maglev line connecting Beijing with western China Mentougou district to Pingguoyuan subway station will be operational by 2013. But the high-speed rail is still lingering in the news. The Ministry of Railways ex-spokesman will not be letting his recent firing keep him down. He’s already moved on to a new job – he'll be heading to Poland to represent China in an international railway association.

This post has been amended to correct the details about the maglev train.