Innholdsfortegnelse for January 29, 2015 i Beijing Review

The Chinese film industry once again experienced a boom last year. According to a report released by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television on January 5, China’s box office revenue in 2014 reached 29.6 billion yuan ($4.77 billion), growing 36 percent. Although this sum fell short of the preset target of 30 billion yuan ($4.83 billion) , it more than sufficed to raise a few eyebrows in the international film community, as global box office revenue registered only 4-percent year-on-year growth. In North America, box office numbers actually declined by 6 percent, according to the 2014-15 Chinese Film Industry Report published by EntGroup Consulting, a domestic film industry research firm. It has taken a paltry four years for China’s box office revenue to grow from 10…

For China’s foreign film lovers, nothing is more vital than quality subtitles. Thankfully, with legions of fans doing the translation themselves, often completing it within just a few days and offering the fruits of their labor for free, enjoying overseas TV and movies used to be an easy thing—until December 20, 2014. On that fateful day, YYeTs.com, a major website that provided Chinese subtitles for English-language movies and TV dramas, announced its closure. “We are sorry to announce that the website is now officially closed. We would like to extend our gratitude to all the members of the community that helped along the way. Farewell.” However, it was actually a month earlier, on November 22, that YYeTs.com suspended operations. “The website is undergoing maintenance. Thank you for your love, support…

Official data showed that commodity prices in China have been declining, arousing concerns over deflation risks. In response, there has been much outcry in the market that more monetary easing measures should be adopted to cope with the tendency. Deflation should be treated carefully and more emphasis should be put on bolstering reforms. Several indexes point to the change in prices, including the bulks price index (BPI), consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI). China’s BPI plunged to a record low of 780 points at the end of 2014, down 16.49 percent from the 934 points at the beginning of 2014. China’s CPI, the main gauge of inflation, grew 2 percent in 2014, much lower than the government’s 3.5-percent limit set for the year, whereas China’s PPI, which…

As a foreigner anywhere, it is important to make an effort to experience the cultural heritage of the city you are in. In Paris you should visit Montmartre, in London you can’t miss Buckingham Palace, and before you leave Sydney, a trip to the Blue Mountains is essential. For Beijing, the unquestionable birthplace of Chinese culture is buried deep within the city’s ancient hutongs. Having once been at the nucleus of dynastic life and culture, the hutongs of Beijing have faced a turbulent journey to modernity. Their plight is well documented and it is a heartbreaking story to say the least. As the country hurtled toward development during the 1990s, the Beijing hutongs faced the threat of developers who wished to modernize the city. By 2003, preservationist groups had come…

Locals celebrate the Tibetan Agricultural New Year, which fell on January 21 this year, in Xigaze, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The festival occurs on the first day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar and is characterized by a variety of activities such as dancing, singing and instrumental musical performances. It is celebrated as the most important festival of the year in Xigaze, the main grain-producing area and second largest city in the region. In other areas of Tibet, the Tibetan New Year is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar…

YEMEN Members of the Shiite Huthi movement guard a checkpoint near the Yemen presidential palace in the capital, Sanaa, on January 21 after a compromise was reached between the government and the militia FRANCE President Francois Hollande (left) embraces U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry prior to a meeting at the Élysée Palace on January 16 in Paris, during which the two countries agreed to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation UNITED ARAB EMIRATES A man takes a selfie in front of the Solar Impulse 2, the first solar-powered plane capable of flying continuously for multiple days, on January 20 at an Abu Dhabi airport HAITI President Michel Martelly (center) receives honors of the Orchestra of the National Palace at the investiture ceremony in Port-au-Prince on January 19, the day the country formed…

HK CTS Hotels Co. Ltd. Partner With National Photography On January 22, HK CTS Hotels Co. Ltd. and National Photography held a press conference at Grand Metropark Yuantong Hotel, Beijing. The two industry giants joined hands to mark the beginning of a new cross-sector partnership in 2015. The shared value of both sides calls people’s attention to both nature and city, a reminder to be passionate about life, which is also the foundation of the cooperation. According to the agreement of the strategic cooperation, the two companies will take some of the five-star Metropark Hotels by HK CTS as a platform. National Photography photo exhibitions in hotel guestrooms and public areas will show local sceneries, culture and customs. What’s more, by scanning the QR code on the photos, hotel guests…

On the quiet afternoon of January 21, a conference hall at a picturesque northern European town was filled with an audience eagerly awaiting a speech on one of the most pressing issues in the world: China’s economic slowdown and its consequences. “The Chinese economy is not heading for a hard landing,” the country’s Premier Li Keqiang reassured attendees of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting when delivering a keynote speech at the forum, which was held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 21 to 24, under the theme the New Global Context. During the speech, the Chinese premier elaborated upon his views on global affairs and discussed China’s economic situation, including measures on deepening reform and structural rebalancing. China has become the world’s second largest economy. With such a big…

White Paradise Swans enjoy the winter wonderland of the Ili Valley in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region following a snowfall on January 21. Officials Punished Eleven officials in Shanghai were punished over the New Year’s Eve stampede that left 36 people dead and 49 injured. Four officials—Zhou Wei, Party chief of Huangpu District, his deputy Peng Song, also district governor, Zhou Zheng, deputy district governor and Huangpu’s public security chief and Chen Qi, deputy police chief of the district, were removed from their posts, according to the decision of Shanghai municipal authorities. Seven other officials received disciplinary punishments, authorities announced on January 21 at a press conference. At the press conference, Zhou Bo, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, expressed deep condolences for those affected by the incident and apologized to stampede victims…

In the fashion world, there is a saying: What is more extravagant than flying to Paris just to try on a piece of clothing? Currently in China, only a very small number of customers own haute couture garments, partially because in a strict sense few designers can label their products haute couture. In France, it is stipulated by law that only brands and fashion houses meeting the standards of the Paris Chamber of Commerce are eligible to use the label haute couture. Moreover, the list of eligible brands is updated annually, and a brand must go through a complicated certification process to maintain its status. To qualify for the haute couture label, a brand must design made-to-order items for private clients, with one or more fittings; have a workshop in…

China’s economy grew at a rate of 7.4 percent in 2014 amidst its painstaking efforts to carry out structural reform, cut outdated production capacity and promote innovation. “China has surmounted tremendous pressures and challenges to realize the goal of maintaining its growth rate around the 7.5-percent target,” said Ma Jiantang, Commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), noting that such a growth rate is quite hard-won against the nation’s massive economic aggregate—63.6 trillion yuan ($10.4 trillion). Although the economy has shifted into low gear compared with the double-digit growth of previous years, Chinese people have benefited from the low price level and efficient job creation, said Ma. According to statistics from the NBS and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, China’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 2…

Dear Readers, Forum is a column that provides a space for varying perspectives on contemporary Chinese society. We invite you to submit personal viewpoints on past and current topics (in either English or Chinese). yanwei@bjreview.com Please provide your name and address along with your comments A recent China Central Television report found that underground surrogacy businesses are thriving in many cities including Beijing, Wuhan and Guangzhou. Illegal surrogacy agencies talk young women—mostly around 20 years of age, many being college students and some still in high school—into selling egg cells, and even bearing a child for clients. China has banned surrogacy, but weak enforcement has undermined legal efforts toward prohibition. Some of these underground agencies are even conducting trans-regional business. Others openly publish advertisements online. While surrogacy may help infertile…