Forbidden City Opens Its Doors—to Virtual Eunuchs

Hunan province gets its own 'Avatar Hallelujah Mountain'

(NEWSER) - Avatar fandom has reached new heights: China changed the name of one of its mountains to “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” in an official ceremony yesterday. The mountain formerly known as “Southern Sky Column” is in a southern province, and the government claims it inspired Avatar’s floating “Hallelujah Mountains,” Reuters reports. And no, it’s not just a name change—there are, of course, two Avatar-themed tours available. More»

Some buildings work, some don't, but overall vibe among residents is a good one

(NEWSER) - Some of the world’s most adventurous architects have found a gung-ho partner in Beijing, the most noticable payoff being the soon-to-be completed CCTV headquarters—"a dazzling reinvention of the skyscraper," writes Paul Goldberger in the New Yorker. Other creations, such as an ovoid peforming arts center dismissed as "the egg" by residents, come off as "silly and cumbersome," but such risks are worth it. More»

(NEWSER) - Armed ballerinas and a song by former Chinese president Jiang Zemin today celebrate the opening of Beijing's controversial National Grand Theater, a $360 million modern arts complex built in the shadow of the Forbidden City. The Red Detachment of Women, however, is a traditional touch—it's one of eight plays permitted under the watchful eye of Mao's wife, reports the Guardian. More»

Beijing—respectfully—forbids Starbucks in Forbidden City

(NEWSER) - Starbucks has closed its outlet in Beijing's Forbidden City after seven years of controversy. The coffee shop had become a symbol for the intrusion of foreign culture in China's heritage, culminating in protests and government intervention. "It was a very congenial decision," a Starbucks official said. "We respect what they are doing." More»

Chain 'respectfully' withdraws from historic site at heart of Beijing

(NEWSER) - Starbucks shuttered its store in Beijing’s Forbidden City yesterday, ending months of controversy over the American chain’s presence at the former imperial palace. The 600-year-old complex, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, is now a museum where the caffeine titan opened its doors in 2000, the Seattle Times reports. More»