The jing

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-14 10:02

Motorscooter madness

Beijing always seems to get a bad wrap when it comes to traffic accidents, and in many ways, deservedly so. However, as an avid cyclist (and by avid I mean simply someone who insists on riding her used Giant bicycle everywhere the city will allow), I'm inured to problems and lead-footed taxi drivers, probably to a fault.

This is exactly why I found it unreasonable that I should have an accident on a tiny island in Thailand during my October holiday. Compared to Beijing, it's got a population of zero and so little traffic that there aren't even any lanes. Fortunately for me, however, the town was full on clinics and I happened to fall right in front of one.

As they saw the whole thing happen, they even opened the doors for me as I approached, scraped up and low on pride. No such immediate care in Beijing. Hopefully, I won't be needing it here anytime soon.

The good and the ugly

Is China ready for this jelly? Well, ready or not, Beyonce Knowles is coming to Beijing on her I Am world tour. Slated to perform at Wukesong Gymnasium on Oct 23, the hip-hop, R&B superstar will be performing hits from her latest album I am Sascha Fierce as well as hits from her days with Destiny's Child. For those feeling slightly inclined to attend, we suggest you go on that whim and get your tickets now, because as far as international acts go this is about as good as it gets.

Now, this month also features someone on the other end of the international act spectrum Maximilian Hecker. You're probably wondering "Maximilian who?" Exactly. Hecker is one of those "big-in-Japan" acts only his shallow lyrics (when he's not mumbling them) and his saturnine demeanor have somehow rendered him "big in China."

The Jing had the terrible misfortune of watching a show of his at an outdoor concert in Guangzhou last year. So if someone invites you to his concert on Oct 30 at the National Library of China Concert Hall, you are advised to stay away. Or bring rotten tomatoes.

Why we love cabbies

Beijing cabbies are famous for talking politics and when they mention President Hu Jintao they don't talk as if he's the leader of a world super power. To them, he's an old friend who lives in Beijing too.

Pride is the right description for these older Beijingers because they sound like growling lions when they speak. An avid Jing reader gave us a description of his recent ride.

"My 60-something cabbie greets me with a roar. His tanned face is like cracked leather and his eyes shine like diamonds. I point to my 6-month-old city map, which is already outdated. I ask if he's a Beijinger. The driver growls (of course), nodding without taking his eyes off the road.

By some motoring miracle he's squeezed into one lane, which we share with a crowded bus, and a small VW crammed with university students bopping away to club music. The driver growls again (are we near your home?) with those sharp, loud rolling Rs. I don't know.

The old lion laughs, parks outside some official-looking building and growls at two young security guards. He doesn't really ask for directions, they are more like orders. The young men smile and point the way. My Beijing taxi driver suddenly U-turns across four lanes of honking traffic. Motoring miracle

No 42 on our short journey. I'm home and pay the fare. The driver wishes me luck and those diamond eyes are smiling. They say: You're living in the center of everything and hold on for the ride of your life.

Homemade submarine

A homemade submarine created by Anhui farmer Tao Xiangli, made its debut yesterday at Langfang reservoir today in Beijing. Armed with only a fifth grade education but a love of tinkering, Tao Xiangli successfully created a submarine with items he purchased at second-hand markets and without the use of a ruler. According to Tao, he has invested 30,000 yuan and the project has taken him two years to complete. The submarine is made out of an oil tank and spans 6.5 m in length and 1.5 m in height. For today's test run, Tao drove his submarine underwater for four and half minutes. When he surfaced, he opened the cover and made a "V" gesture to the crowd as a sign of his achievement.