China Bloggers

Unrelated, but did you know 300 Miss Etiquettes are training for the Expo? More here. If the news this week is anything to go by, it's not too bad a week for women here in China. Sure, a UNDP report calculated that there were 96 million of us missing in East Asia - but we knew that already (and besides, at least in the cities, the gap seems to be narrowing). Anyway, here's three reasons why the last few days have been pretty stellar on the femme front.

1. China has been looking into a new guideline that will make it much easier to rescue teenage girls from the clutches of human traffickers - which will in turn lead to a 100% reduction in the possibility of incidents where a dad in China goes all Liam Neeson in Taken.

The new guideline will help "speed up the investigation and filing of cases involving girls between 14 and 18, who often fall through the cracks of anti-trafficking legislation," says China Daily.

What was wrong with the rules before? Seems like missing girls younger fall under the anti-trafficking law for children, but many feel the anti-trafficking law for women only relates to those older than 18. Those in between get kind of screwed.

2. Ladies and Gentlemen, we now have women in Space! China's newest generation of astronauts have been selected and two of the seven are women! While the identities of the two new astronautettes haven't been revealed, people suspect they may have been chosen from five Shandong Province girls out of the 15 possible female choices. Says China.org.cn:
Wang Yaping from Yantai City flew rescue missions during the Sichuan earthquake, and rain reduction missions for the Beijing Olympics. Xing Lei is the only straight-A student in the Air Force Academy, and Liu Lu is a skilled pilot who also studies literature and is an expert on the Chinese classic novel A Dream of Red Mansions. Cao Yanyan comes from an air force family. Her husband and mother-in-law are both pilots. Sun Jing lives for her flying.

Ok, some of those seem a little forced. But how exciting is it that the nation's first Sally Rides are about to take off?

3. It turns out that half the world's self-made lady billionaires procured their fortunes on the mainland. That's seven out of 14! That means they make up about 5% of the billionaire population, since according to the Hurun Rich list, there's about 130 in the country altogether. If you count it by Forbes standards, there's only 79 in China.

While it's a little sad that there are only 14 female billionaires on the planet, how cool is it that women are so able to pull ahead economically here? In comparison, the United States has 360 (by Forbes standards). Even if the rest of the world's female billionaires were from the States, that'd still be a pretty depressing ratio.

The seven and what they made their fortunes in: Wu Yajun (real estate), Xiu Li Hawken (shopping centers), Chu Lam Yiu (runs flavorings company Huabao International), Zhang Xin (runs Soho China), Yan Cheung (paper), Chan Laiwa (real estate), and Lei Jufang (runs Tibet Cheezheng Tibetan Medicine)

Getting from here to Nanjing could take about as long (or even less time) than getting from Hongqiao to Jinqiao come this July. The "world's fastest railway," which runs at 350kmph begins testing in May, will cut down travel time between the two cities from two-and-a-half hours right now to just 52 minutes. That's fast! Unfortunately, the rise in speed also means a rise in prices: tickets are expected to be 150RMB, compared with 93RMB right now.

Neocha Edge, cataloguer of everything artsy in China (and around it), has pointed out this amazing short animation called Dark Rain. Unfortunately, it's only on Youtube right now, but you're bound to have a solution for the GFW by now, right?

Created by Taiwan-based animator Ou-Bao Tsai, this haunting digital short was shown at last year's "Taiwan's New Generation of Art" exhibition at the Shanghai Art Museum and the 2009 Prix Ars Electronica festival.

There are a record 237 candidates in the running for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, amongst them: the internet (god, that's lame). Even more interesting than the inclusion of an inanimate intangible thing though, at least for us China news hounds, is the amount of Chinese dissidents on the list.

As is the way, China will probably be expressing its discontent about the nominees soon enough - though I'm quite curious to see whether they end up issuing individual denouncements for each candidate they don't like... or if it'll come in just one sweeping "Hey Nobel people, quit it with all the dissident noms already." There's also the off chance that they've realized the winner seems more dependant on fame than any actual deeds (cough cough Obama cough cough Gore) so these China troublemakers will probably fade from view if the government just doesn't say anything... who knows?

Anyway, in case you were having trouble getting your dissidents straight, the nominees have been listed below:

Liu Xiaobo, from BBC News Liu Xiaobo
Who is he: Probably the most famous dissident in China right now, Liu Xiaobo is the founder of Charter 08, a petition for democratic reforms in China.
Where is he: In June 2009, he was formally arrested on suspicion of incitement to subvert state power.
What did he do to hurt China: Well, besides that whole "incitement to subvert state power" thing, his wife has had the nerve to make China look like a country that doesn't respect citizen rights, writing opinion pieces in the Washington Times begging President Obama to take up his case. The hullabaloo from the West had gotten so bad by February that it forced China's foreign ministry to step up and tell everybody the truth - China doesn't HAVE dissidents, so quit asking us to release them.

Hu Jia Hu Jia
Who is he: A Chinese HIV/AIDS rights activist who's been making trouble around China over AIDS issues, democracy issues and *gasp* Tibet. He was instrumental in exposing the blood-selling scandal in Henan which gave tens of thousands of villagers HIV/AIDS. He was also nominated for last year's Nobel prize and won last year's Sakharov Prize.
Where is he now: Jailed. He was found guilty of "inciting subversion of state power" and given three and a half years in prison a couple months before the Olympics.
What did he do to hurt China: Well, besides not cooperating during his house arrest and even recording his kind of inept secret police, Hu Jia "published articles on overseas-run websites, made comments in interviews with foreign media, and repeatedly instigated other people to subert the state's political power and socialist system... In his two website articles, 'China Political Law-enforcement Organs Create Large-scale Horror ahead of CPC National Congress', and 'One Country Doesn't Need Two Systems', Hu spread malicious rumors, and committed libel in an attempt to subvert the state's political power and socialist system," summarized China Daily. In case you've been living under a rock, all of those are big no nos here.

Picture of Chen Guangcheng from Under the Jacaranda Tree Chen Guangcheng
Who is he: A blind activist who drew international attention to human rights issues in rural areas. Though he doesn't have a law degree (blind people aren't allowed to study law... take that Matt Murdoch), he managed to audit in law classes enough to advise rural residents of their rights.
Where is he now: In jail. Notice a trend here? He was sentenced to four years and three months for "damaging property and organizing a mob to disturb traffic." Since that was in August 2006, that means he's actually set to get out of prison before the year end. We'll see how he's doing this Thanksgiving.
What did he do to hurt China: He interfered in Shandong Province officials' efforts to make sure their women don't overbreed. Apparently, he took offense at the illegal measures local authorities were using when enforcing the one-child policy - making women go through mandatory sterilization and abortions. The Central government agreed that this was a bad thing and detained the Shandong officials, but this didn't stop Chen from needing to undergo his own trial for being a public menace. Which he lost.

Picture of Gao Zhisheng from Human Rights Watch Gao Zhisheng
Who is he: One of the biggest human rights lawyers in China, Gao has defended fellow activists and religious minorities like the FLG (an organization whose full name we won't mention, since it seems the GFW actually blocks you from searching for anything related to it right now) and underground Christians.
Where is he now: Nobody knows actually. Quite scarily, Gao disappeared about a year ago after being lured away for "a brief chat" with Chinese security agents. The last time the press asked Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhouxu where he was, Ma responded with "Honestly speaking, I don’t know where he is. China has 1.3 billion people and I can’t know all of their whereabouts."
What did he do to hurt China: Despite being given the honor of recognition as "one of the country’s 10 best lawyers" by the Ministry of Justice, Gao turned around and started making trouble for the motherland. He resigned from the Communist Party in 2005 and started defended the FLG, whom everybody knows is an insane cult-like organization bent on taking over China. I mean, they set themselves on FIRE and stuff.

Picture of Bao Tong from Radio Free Asia Bao Tong
Who is he: A former Communist Party official who was the top aide to Zhao Ziyang, a reformist party chief that sympathized with democracy protestors in the 1989 incident. Last year, he also sneaked Zhao's memoirs out of the country, where they were published.
Where is he now: We're not sure, but we're thinking he's probably still in "internal exile" in Zhejiang province. He was sent there to stay after the 20th anniversary of the June 4 events.
What did he do to hurt China: Look, you're either with us or against us. And Bao Tong has proved, over the last two decades, to be against us.

Rebiya Kadeer
Who is she: The leader of the World Uighur Congress, which either "represents the collective interest of the Uyghur people both in East Turkestan and abroad" or a terrorist organization with a separatist agenda, depending on who you ask.
Where is she now: Last we checked, she was in Washington D.C., where she's in exile. This makes her probably the most comfortably situated out of the people on this list. Not that we think that influences the Nobel Peace Prize committee's decision making process... but it's worth mentioning.
What did she do to hurt China: Instigated those riots last summer, of course. The Xinjiang riots killed hundreds and injured thousands, not to mention caused the entire region to undergo an internet block out that, to this day, hasn't been completely lifted. Sure, she denies her involvement and argues that it was supposed to be peaceful until someone came to muck it all up - but even her family doesn't believe that. Oh yeah, and thanks to her, Facebook's blocked in China.

We've documented the will-they-won't-they saga of Google possibly leaving China over hackers and censorship and what not. And then we documented the are-they-aren't-they saga of Google and China talking their problems out. Well, at least Google's CEO thinks both parties are going to reach a conclusion soon: Eric Schmidt told reporters at a media summit that "We are in active negotiations with the Chinese government... something will happen soon."

Holy Christmas, is THAT what's promoting our six month world-class event in New York City's Time Square? Considering how much ad space costs there, you'd think the Expo promotion team would have spent a little extra money to make their ad look a little less like someone had to do a rush job in photoshop. At least pay for a decent font or something.

Then again, considering what the USA Pavilion has turned into - maybe this is a tit for tat: a showing that China can also spend extravagant amounts of money to make something cheap and cluttered and boring... at their own event?

Photo from Adam Minter

A friend has just informed us that our favorite DVD strip may be no more. She was at Dagu Lu around 4 p.m. yesterday, only to find all the DVD stores locked and shut. An opportunistic street DVD vendor told her they had all closed down, before trying to hawk his own wares. Just a Wednesday evening siesta, or has Dagu Lu become the latest victim of Expo clean-up?

       The St. Patricks Day Parade in Shanghai is the pinnacle of Irish Week!
Where: Fuxing Park and Yandang Lu, Luwan District （复兴公园进雁荡路）
From: 10:30 am to 1 pm, Saturday 13 March 2010
Cover: Free!
For more local events, visit the Shanghaiist Calendar.

By Claire Barco

Though the last few days have been abysmally cold, don’t let that deter you from pulling yourself out of your hangover on Saturday morning (helas, if only you could find Solpadine in Shanghai!). Ireland Week 2010’s main event is the St. Patrick’s Day parade and will surely make you forget all those things you shouldn’t have texted the night before, and as there won’t be any fire trucks, you don’t need to worry about the headache.

Shanghaiist caught up with Eoin Murphy, President of Le Chéile, the Irish community organization of Shanghai. (Le Chéile is pronounced “Luh Kay-luh” and is Irish for “together”). We got the skinny on the all the craic that will be had this year. Read on below!

This is the fourth year for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Shanghai. What will be different about this year?

Well, it’s grown over the last four years and we’re expecting this year to be our biggest yet with few thousand people. We have an impressive stage this year on Yandang Lu and the whole event will be very professional.

Who are the performers this year?

During the parade we have two marching bands from local international schools. One of them is over 90 people, so that should be impressive. Also we have some children that have been practicing traditional Irish dance, and they will be singing some songs as well.

There will be, as well, two Chinese dance troupes that have been learning Irish dance from the Riverdance DVDs. One is called Celtic Storm, and they actually trained with the Riverdance troupe when they were here in January. Bill Whelan himself was actually here, and he mentioned how impressed he was with these dancers’ enthusiasm to learn, even if all they had was a DVD when the started. The other troupe is from Fudan University. Now they have an exchange programme with UCD in Dublin. The students that go there definitely gain a huge appreciation for Irish culture, and it’s just a great example of how academic exchange can lead to cultural exchange.

As an organization Le Chéile is very proactive in promoting this kind of exchange so we’re very proud to provide an opportunity for these dancers and musicians to showcase their talent.

Also on the stage we’re lucky to have some traditional musicians flying in from Ireland. They are technically the most proficient artists you can find, so we’re very pleased that the Irish government sponsored their trip here.

I find some people don’t actually know much about real Irish culture. They think all the Irish do is lock themselves in the pub all day, but they aren’t aware that there is real tradition and culture to be found there.

Yeah, you know there’ s a big connection between Chinese music and Irish music. For example I was listening to a violin lesson my son was having with his tutor, and it was “Down the Sally Gardens”. The tutor told me it was a traditional Chinese folk song that all Chinese students learn when they’re first starting out on the violin, but it was in fact “Down the Sally Gardens”. So sometimes you will have something Irish that everybody knows, but nobody knows is actually from Ireland. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade offers an opportunity to showcase Irish talent and allows the Shanghai community to connect that talent, the music and dance, with Ireland itself, so people aren’t just listening to Enya in yoga classes thinking she’s American.

Who are some of the guests at the event?

Well, we have a piper from Newfoundland coming in to lead the parade. You know there are only two other places in the world that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday. One is Montserrat in the Caribbean and the other is Newfoundland, so we’re very excited to have him.

In terms of VIPs we have a very senior Chinese official as the Grand Marshall who I can’t pre-announce, but you’ll see him wearing the green jacket. He has very strong ties to the Irish so we’re simply over the moon to have him. We have officials from other consulates as well, including the US consulate, Italian consulate, Swiss consulate, and Danish consulate.

We’re really developing a good buzz this year. It’s not just about Ireland, it’s about expressing Ireland’s, I suppose, appreciation of every nationality and trying to bring them together. I think St. Patrick’s parade is a unique event in that it’s now happening all over the world. You know, millions of people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and it’s a very cultural, peaceful and celebratory kind of event.

And it’s just good fun.

Absolutely. It’s good fun for everyone.

And what is it I saw about the dragons in the parade?

Yes, we have two dragons, Finbarr and Shamrock. They’re beautiful. They are Chinese dragons but they’re green, and they are absolutely gorgeous.

One thing I should mention is that our naming sponser is the Ireland Expo Pavillion, and that they will be providing a preview of the Ireland Pavilion. There will be a number of booths set up for the Expo there near the stage. Our other sponsers are Pepsi Co, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Tourism Ireland, and Bord Bía, which is the Ireland food board.

How long approximately will the parade take?

The parade itself starts sharply from Fuxing Park at 10:30, not 10:30 Irish time (which is anywhere from 10:30 to 12). It will take half an hour for it to reach Yandang Lu where there will be about 2 hours of performance on the stage.

What should Shanghaiist readers know about this St. Patrick’s Day parade?

We’re the only national group allowed to have a parade on Shanghai’s streets. No other national group is afforded that honor. And we would want ensure that the event is respectful that honor.

**(Note: This means don’t show up pissed and start a fight.)**

And we can guarantee that it will be a great family day out where everyone will feel included and will enjoy themselves.

Are there any other events around town for Ireland Week that would be of particular interest?

Well, the Shanghai International Literary Festival is showcasing a number of Irish poets this year. And on Friday night from 6 pm to 7 pm there will be an event for the musicians to get used to playing on the main on Yandang Lu that anyone is welcome to attend.

There’s also the St. Patrick’s Ball on Saturday night, which is the largest charity ball in Shanghai now in it’s sixth year. However, for this year the tickets sold out in about 10 minutes, so it’s the main event to be at.

For Americans, St. Patrick’s Day is a tradition. Every year, you go out to your local main street. There’s always the Leprechaun contest where the kids dress up. And last year in Dublin the parade just had so many American marching bands coming over from Texas and Nebraska. So with a St. Patrick’s Day parade you get not only Irish culture, but in a strange way American culture.

Yes, the parade in Dublin has really transformed into an international carnival, and that’s what we’re really trying to do here as well on a smaller scale. As we were telling some of the officials, you know every great city has a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Shanghai is a great city. This parade is getting on to be the largest in Asia and we’re getting very enthusiastic about where we can take it next year.

So this Saturday morning get yourself moving and bring the children, or if you haven’t got any bring your mates that surely act like children, to this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. You can start on the pub after.

Photo by Slow Boat to China

More photos on the Shanghaiist Contribute page. To see your photos on our Contribute page, use Flickr and tag your photos “shanghaiist”. Or you can email your photos to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically appear on our site (and here).

Photo from Ryan Pyle/Par for China

• Apparently, China's in the midst of a "golf boom," despite the percentage of our population who plays the game being negligible - and the fact that course construction has been officially banned since 2004, according to a story written by Shanghaiist founding editor Dan Washburn. Surprisingly, more than 400 new courses have popped up since then. Not so surprisingly, the government doesn't think twice about bulldozing multimillion dollar investments that are illegally built. [Slate]
• The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority has owned up to its bad RE: forced internment of Chinese immigrants by erecting a memorial to honor them. The chairman of the organization said he was "sorry the early immigrants [...] were denied their civil rights and denied a decent burial" but that he's "glad we're finally honoring them by righting the wrong." Well, half of the wrong, anyway. [The Los Angeles Times]
• In a surprising twist, it seems that China may end up the champion in one leg of its green energy marathon against the US: developing a "smart" power grid. China's advantages include a less-developed existing grid which is easier to modify without service interruptions and a strategery - less cute polar bears, more energy security - more aimed at winning the race than public support.[Solve Climate]
• Word on the street is that a forcible ban on eating dog and cat meat is still on the table, this time from Guangzhou, where city officials are engineering a facelift in advance of the upcoming Asian games. Specifics are still very similar to those we reported on in our last comment on the matter, but since then, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has weighed in that the matter could take "as long as a decade" to pass nationwide. [CNN]
• More than 50 people are missing after a landslide buries more than ten homes in Shaanxi province early this morning. 20 people have so far been rescued from the rubble and out of those still missing, eight have been confirmed dead. [Shanghai Daily]
• True or false? Premier Wen Jiabao said that "we must let the people criticize the government and monitor the government, giving full play to the supervisory role of news and public opinion, so that power is exercised in the full light of transparency!” [China Media Project]

Photo from www.DoSomething.org As reported on Monday, renowned Australian author Robert Dessaix was denied a Chinese Visa to enter the country on the alleged grounds that he is HIV-positive…and, consequently, people are pissed.

Not only was the award-winning author’s scheduled participation in the Shanghai International Literary Festival canceled (as were his speaking engagements in both Beijing and Chengdu), but the 65-yeard-old Dessaix reported feeling “humiliated,” “insulted” and “snubbed” by China’s imposed ban against HIV-positive foreigners.

Apparently, his feelings are also shared by China’s citizens, as the recent incident has triggered a call for authorities to lift the two-decade-old HIV ban, which some argue as archaic and discriminatory. Li Dun, a professor at Tsinghua University Center for Study of Contemporary China, tells the China Global Times: “The restriction equals discrimination.”

The ban, which currently states that foreigners visiting China on a short-term basis must declare they are free of HIV and those who want to stay longer must undergo a blood test, was initially imposed in the late 1980’s after China reported its first AIDS case. Back then -- a time in which the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS was largely unknown and widely feared -- the instituted ban seemingly made sense. But based on recent international health studies conducted by the World Health Organization, HIV should not be among the communicable diseases that disqualify a person from entering a country (among the diseases listed are active tuberculosis, infectious gonorrhea, syphilis and infectious leprosy).

Li states: "Historically speaking, confining people has proven to be ineffective, if not meaningless, in preventing the spread of this disease."

In October, the United States lifted its 22-year-old HIV travel ban on the platform that it was taking a step towards ending the stigma against people with HIV/AIDS -- a stigma that has stopped people from getting tested and, consequently, helped spread the disease. On January 1st, South Korea quickly followed suit by dropping its travel restrictions against HIV-positive foreigners. Among the countries that still have restrictions on entry, residence and length of stay for HIV sufferers are Cuba, Egypt, North Korea, Israel, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Iraq and Russia.

Despite its restrictions, China granted a waiver during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing that allowed people with HIV/AIDS to enter the country. Following this temporary reprieve, China Daily reported that the Ministry of Health was working with the government to finally lift the HIV ban once and for all. The goal? To have the ban eradicated by the May 1st World Expo in Shanghai. Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jeifu opined to China Daily: "I hope China will remove the ban thoroughly and forever by the time of the Shanghai Expo.”

Well, with less than 2-months to go until the Expo's début, Dessaix's recent Visa rejection only underscores that China may have a long way to go before it drops the ban "thoroughly and forever."

And while special visa waivers may be granted during the Expo to ensure "access for all," this concept is something people would simply like instituted all year-round.

From www.jgballard.ca With so much of Shanghai's historical architecture disappearing day by day, you might think that most Shanghailanders, ourselves included, have become desensitized to the frequent reports of demolition and destruction. Looks like that isn't true, as we are still heartbroken over Malcolm Moore's recent story on the latest casualty of Shanghai's relentless urban development, British author J.G. Ballard's childhood home.

Ballard, who passed away last year, was born in Shanghai in 1930 and is best known for "Empire of the Sun" - a work of autobiographical fiction that draws extensively on his childhood in the city's colonial era and his experiences during World War II. His old home at 31a Amherst Avenue (now 508 Panyu Lu, now a concrete block) was a mock Tudor mansion built by English architects in 1925, and featured prominently in his memories of Shanghai. It was a "magical" place where his family enjoyed the glamorous life of club receptions and horse-racing before the 1937 Japanese invasion led to their internment at Longhua Camp in the south of the city (now Shanghai Zhongxue).

Ballard's house has been a sort-of pilgrimage site for historians and fans. In 2008, Shanghaiist accompanied Canadian Rick McGrath on his search for Ballard's home and other places related to the author's boyhood experience in the city. This wasn't some impulsive, hurried trip on McGrath's part, but an extensively planned journey that involved years of correspondence with other Ballardians, and hard work compiling maps and satellite views of Ballard's Shanghai. The story of McGrath's trip, and photos of the house, are meticulously recorded on his website.

James Fallows also took a tour of Ballard's childhood home, which he recounts here.

The house that McGrath and Fallows both visited was, at that point, an upscale restaurant called SH508. The original structure of the house had been left intact, and the property listed as a heritage building. But when the restaurant's lease on the property expired by October last year, the house fell into the hands of rabid developers. While the house has not been torn down, it is now unrecognizable - according to Moore, it has been stripped down to its beams and rebuilt in concrete, while plans are afoot to add a fake front and increase floorspace. You can watch a video tour of the current cemented-over monstrosity on The Telegraph.

Photo by Dan Butterfield, November 2009. From www.jgballard.ca

And so the battle between preservation and development continues, the former seeming on the losing side. With every small victory, tens of cemented-over former architectural glories appear.

But what would J.G. Ballard himself have thought of the gutting of his former home? Judging from his letters to Rick McGrath, he might have been a little desensitized himself, and accepted it as the inevitable. While he was excited and immensely curious about his fans' journeys to his old Shanghai haunts, he wrote that "one would expect any city in the world to have changed virtually out of recognition in 40 years, and know that the emotional pickings from the nostalgia dish to be pretty meager". In response to McGrath's news that his home had become a restaurant, his seemingly flippant reply was "if it's a restaurant, let's hope it's a McDonald's or KFC". He also revealed that these trips into nostalgia felt a little "intrusive" due to the length of time gone by; "In an odd way it's quite reassuring that everything has changed so much -- the Shanghai I knew, along with 31 Amherst Avenue and Lunghua camp, only survive inside my head."

Reassuring it may have been to Ballard, but not to us. Perversely, perhaps his home should have been a McDonald's or KFC - maybe if it had been a hopping commercial fast food establishment, the house would have been spared its fate as a cement block.

I don't care what half the people said on that recent post about how ugly Shanghai's new cruise ship terminal was - it is an architectural horror and the amount of commenters who signed up specifically to say it was great makes me wonder how many PR flackies SPARCH has on hand. But this post isn't about that - this post is about some real architecture worth oohing and aahing at: the plans for the Shanghai Cultural Plaza.

Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, 70% of the 2,000 seat venue is actually underground, making it the world's largest underground theater.

Say the architects:
The site will be developed as a new city park with a 2,000-seat theater as its centerpiece. The theater will be built primarily below ground with paths and water flowing around it. The fluid lines of the building and its roof are intended to unite the theater with its context and soften its impact on the park. At the center of the building's lobby is "the funnel," the building's most prominent and symbolic feature. The crystalline glass and steel funnel flows out of the roof (the sky) to the ground (the lobby floor) reinforcing the importance of water in the Chinese culture and the development of Shanghai.

They're also adapting and reusing six historic buildings - which, considering the recent spate of bad architectural news we've been hearing, makes me giggle with glee. Speaking of historic, China Travel dug up some history on the area:

In 1928, a dog-racing stadium was built on the site, financed principally by Henry Morris, proprietor of the North China Daily News, whose family estate (now the Ruijin hotel) stood a short way to the east. The Shanghai Canidrome, could seat some 50,000 spectators and was a huge hit with the city's foreign population, who came to gamble, drink and dance in the stadium's ballroom, which featured performances from the likes of Buck Clayton.

Go over to their site to read more (and see more pictures). Frankly, the only way I could be happier with this design is if they told me I would absolutely be able to picnic on the grass.

Isn't it interesting that, despite what the central government might say, most Chinese people think that access to the internet is a fundamental right? Then again, just because it's a right doesn't mean it should be totally unregulated - Chinese were some of the least likely to agree that "Internet should never be regulated by any level of government anywhere." Of course, Nigeria was one of the top countries who believed it shouldn't be touched and judging by my yahoo inbox, they could use a little more touching.

Win a ticket to see this guy! While the pickings are kind of slim this mid-week (they really only get-a-going on Friday... and OOOH how they get-a-going), we've done a Midweek Music Preview up for you anyway since we're GIVING AWAY TICKETS TO THINGS.

That's right, not only did you already learn about the chance to win a ticket to Free The Wax earlier today, now you can also be one of two readers that gets to go to Le Castlevania, playing at Not Me, for the nice price of 0 RMB. Who is Le Castlevania - only an amazing indie-electro act who's played alongside Justice, MSTRKRFT and The Presets. Listen to his music here and we've even got a link to a free MP3. He's at the top of our playlists.

And if you think you want him to be at the top of yours, all you have to do is email "I Love Le Castlevania" to contest.giveaway (@) shanghaiist (.) com. The first two readers to email us there will get the tickets, which will be held for you at the door. Only one ticket per email though, guys - otherwise it'd be pretty unfair, eh?

The rest of our music picks below! For other non-music related things to do this week, check out our Pencil This In (out every Monday!)

WEDNESDAY

Take this uncrowded Wednesday as a chance to check out The Shelter's Swap Meet, a weekly night devoted to chill. Enjoy cheap drinks and sets by fave local DJs, art installations, and video games on the club projector. Get your Street Fighter on.

9 PM- 3 AM. The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Lu (永福路5号 近复兴路)

THURSDAY

On the Thursday night before the DJ Vadim show at the Shelter (Friday, 12th March), FREE the WAX and Source will hold a free workshop and performance. This is a rare opportunity for fans to get an up-close and personal experience with one of the hardest working DJs on the planet. The Source will be supplying free Absolute vodka and signed posters will be given away throughout the workshop. Find out more about the DJs in our interview with them.

7PM - 9PM, Source, 158 Xinle Lu near Donghu Lu, 新乐路158号

FRIDAY

So while there is no JUE Festival opening celebration here in Shanghai (the only one they're having on Thursday is in Beijing... booooo), there will be an awesome live act. Hanggai, the Mongolian four-piece throat singing rock band will be doing their thing at Yu Yin Tang. You can party there like IT is the start of JUE. 50RMB cover.

9PM, Yuyintang, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)

Liked the workshop? Now attend the live act. DJ VADIM stands as THE skillful master of mood shifting, riding universal sounds throughout the world like a bad-ass pioneer on a mission. Partner in love & crime, YARAH BRAVO, on the other hand, is nothing but the goddess of streetwise defiant intelligence ripping MCs, soundsystems and soulful hipsters’ hearts apart in between every gorgeous breath she takes. Both will be playing at Shelter on Friday. 50RMB cover.

9PM, The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu, 永福路5号

Local King 三 heads to Mao Livehouse again. Come to check out some of Shanghai's best indie bands. Featuring Candy Shop, Pinkberry, Sonnet, Boys Climbing Ropes and Bomb Shelter. Free entry and some sort of free whiskey deal too.

9PM, Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Lu Near Hong Qiao Lu 淮海西路570号32幢

Atlanta-based Le Castle Vania, commonly known as Dylan Eiland, quickly escaped the local trappings of his hometown in Georgia to play music around the world. Since the summer of 2006, Le Castle Vania has toured nonstop, taking his catchy electro dance beats on the road, DJing with the likes of Justice, MSTRKRFT, Justice, Busy P, Uffie & Feadz, Kavinski, Soulwax, The Presets, Steve Aoki and Crystal Castles. Supporting Le Castlevania will be R3, Adept, Mr Clumsy + friends. Tickets are 60RMB at the door.

10PM, Not Me, 21 Dong Ping Lu near Hengshan Lu, 东平路21号近衡山路

Jehosaphat Blow & The Blah Blah Blahs play trash rockin' garage/punk to make you shake your hips, along with a bunch of Chinese university student bands: Heise Xiuzhi, September, and PANK. OH YA! OH YA! Cover is 30RMB.

9PM, Live Bar, 721 Kunming Lu @ Tongbei Lu, Yangpu District

SATURDAY

Hell United is a heavy metal exchange between bands in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. After the last year of touring tirelessly, they are back here to rock out at Mao Livehouse. Featuring Chaos Mind, Six Shot, 十月摩羯，红色蔓延. Support by Forget and Forgive. 40RMB cover

8:30PM, Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Lu Near Hong Qiao Lu 淮海西路570号32幢

St. Vincent aka Annie Clark will be delivering her hauntingly weird music to audiences at Yuyintang for the second day of the JUE Festival. She's kind of an indie darling back in America, so you really ought to catch her while she's here. 120RMB at the door.

9PM, Yuyintang, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)

SATURDAY

The Backstreet Boys are... back? Surprising the entire music listening world by staying together all these years, they're now on their world tour. And you can check them out in Shanghai at the Shanghai International Gymnastic Center. Tickets are RMB480-RMB1600 and can be bought here.

7:30PM, Shanghai International Gymnastic Center, 777 Wuyi Lu, Zhongshan Park near Zunyi Lu, 武夷路777号近遵义路

Follow the basketball wonder LeBron James and the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School basketball team as they rise to (the) stars in More Than a Game, the documentary that has now reached Shanghai movie theaters.

It's a classic success story with a "larger-than-life" theme and a soundtrack fueled with megastar hip hop and RnB. With such a recipe, could anything possibly go wrong? The maker of the film, Kristopher Belman, was a newbie in film making who, according to a BDL-interview, "barely knew how to use a camera" when he took on the project. He had enrolled in an "Introduction to Documentary" film class, and the assignment was to make a 10-minute short film.

Belman decided to devote his 10 minutes to this "amazing group of basketball players" at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School that he had heard about. What especially caught his attention was that some of them had played together for five years already before entering high school, a fact that made him realize that "there was serious potential for some amazing off-the-court relationships." And so the 10-minute short film grew into 105 minutes, and is now reaching out to cinemas around the world.

The film plot goes like this:
They may be the best high school basketball team ever. From humble beginnings, future NBA superstar LeBron James, along with boyhood friends Dru Joyce, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee, began a journey that would take them from local fame to national acclaim. Joined by Romeo Travis in high school, the five fused their talents and, with the help of a dedicated coach, rewrote Ohio basketball history. Now, experience their trials, tribulations and triumphs in this inspirational film about five young men who became more than a team.

Yes, they became the"Fab Five". Sure, most of us know that this is an epithet used by many celebs and wonders throughout history, everything from Broadway musicals, Disney characters, band members and sports idols - there are even several "Fab Fives" within basket ball already - but what the heck, why not reuse something that sounds epic.

Music-wise, the film features the single Stronger by Mary J. Blige, which she released in support of the film. On the soundtrack you can also hear Jay Z, Soulja Boy, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Toni Braxton, JoJo, Jordin Sparks, Ya Boy, Omarion, and Faith Evans. La crème de la crème, that is. To add on to the epic effect, More Than a Game also features some rare home videos from way back when the five ballers were pre-teens.

So how is this movie really? Well, all we can do is give some different voices from the net, and then leave it up to you to decide on your own. Some netizens are...somewhat cynical:
Some documentaries tell stories that are so suspenseful and crowd-pleasing that one would swear they were written by Hollywood screenwriters. The extraordinary series of events chronicled in "More Than a Game" has a trajectory and formula straight out of a classic "rags to riches" sports picture. Let´s hope Sandra Bullock doesn´t star in the remake.

While others are a bit more excited:
What a stroke of luck to undertake a basketball documentary about a grade school team that includes the undiscovered future NBA star LeBron James! Using film and game video footage interspersed with computer effect enhanced photographs, excellent editing and well-mixed music we get a compelling revealed story about four boys turning into men under increasingly intense public scrutiny.

Then there are those who are somewhere in between, like in this lengthy review.

Crowd pleasing or not, compelling or not, whatever description serves your liking, More Than a Game might still be interesting and educating as a document of sports history. See for yourself - here's where you can catch the movie in Shanghai.

Check out what other movies are showing in Shanghai this coming week. Links lead to info about times and venues.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE MOVIES

• Secret Garden: Vienna Café screening this coming Thursday. Helmed by Polish director Agnieszka Holland, this BAFTA-nominated family drama is based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1909 novel of the same name. Check out British actress Kate Maberly’s outstanding performance as a young girl who was born and raised in India but has to start her life anew in Britain after her parents die in an earthquake. In English with Chinese subtitles. RSVP required. Free. 7:30pm.
• Sherlock Holmes (大侦探福尔摩斯): Sherlock Holmes, the creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who first appeared in publication in 1887 has made it to movie theatres in many different versions. This time under the direction of Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
• Avatar: (阿凡达): James Cameron is back with this super expensive sci-fi thriller in 3D. Follow ex-marine Jack (Sam Worthington) as he explores planet Pandora as an avatar; a human mind in an alien body. On this paradise-like planet, he faces hostilities from exotic life forms and falls in love with a female alien. This movie used ground-breaking techniques and is being shown in 3-D. In English or Chinese depending on the cinema.
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (鼠来宝：明星俱乐部): The Squeakquel: Three sensational and oh-so-cute chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore are returning to the silver screen. They end up living with owner Dave’s nephew Toby and meet their equally talented female counterparts, the Chipettes. In English or Chinese depending on the cinema.

CHINESE LANGUAGE MOVIES

• Turning Point 1977 (高考1977): Set at the close of the Cultural Revolution, Turning Point 1977 tells the story of a group of young idealists battling for the right to return home and restart their lives after years of toil on a state run re-education farm in China.
• Season of Good Rain (好雨时节): This is director Heo Jin-ho's most recent romantic movie after "Christmas in August", "One Fine Spring Day", "April Snow" and "Happiness". A traveling architect meets an old friend from his student years; the pair realize their connection has always been a romantic one. The film is in English, Mandarin and Korean.
• Storm Rider - Clash of the Evils (風雲決): This animated feature film directed by Dante Lam is based on the Wuxia Chinese comic series Fung Wan by Ma Wing Shing. The film is a spinoff of the original story and the two protagonists Wind and Cloud. The residents of Sword-Worshipping Manor, which houses the best sword-smiths in the world, are brutally massacred after they are alleged to be plotting a rebellion against the government. The young master of the manor, Ngou Kuet, is the only survivor. Ngou Kuet vows to finish forging the "Kuet" Sword, a task passed down by generations of his family which has yet to be completed. Ngou Kuet attacks Tin Ha Wui and battles with Wind and Cloud to obtain the blood of the Fire Kirin which can unleash the power of the sword. As the blood of the Fire Kirin runs in Wind's veins, he becomes Ngou Kuet's primary target.
• 72 Tenants of Prosperity (七十二家租客): A "throw-in-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-oh-what-the-heck-throw-that-in-too comedy". The story is a love triangle - two men in love with the same girl. One wins, the other loses, and they become enemies. But something larger happens that forces the men to form an uneasy alliance, along with their 70 fellow shopkeepers on the street: An evil landlord is set to raise the rent on the 72 tenants, threatening their economic survival.The film is a Lunar New Year's comedy, a movie genre that is often unabashedly silly with a childlike playfulness, with the simple mission to instill 90 minutes of happiness. "72 Tenants of Prosperity" certainly aims for that, but producer-director-star Eric Tsang has something more on his mind. His inspiration is the 1973 classic "The House of 72 Tenants," a film that broke Hong Kong box-office records set by Bruce Lee and became something of a cultural phenomenon. Tsang opens his film with the same style of credits, the same opening gag, and a spot-on re-creation of 1970s Hong Kong filming style.
• Little Big Soldier (大兵小将): Little Big Soldier is a 2010 Chinese action-adventure/comedy film directed by Ding Sheng and produced and written by Jackie Chan, also starring Chan and Leehom Wang. An old soldier kidnaps a young general of an enemy state and takes him on a long journey to collect the reward.
• True Legend (苏乞儿): Set at the turn of 19th and 20th century, the story of begins with Su Can, a wealthy man who loses all his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, he dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero as he challenges foreign fighters at a boxing ring. The story is loosely based on the life of Su Can, nicknamed Su Qi Er (Su the Bagger), who developed his own fighting style, known as "drunken fist". This is Yuen Wo-Ping's first directorial work since 1996 and may also give a major boost to the career of 37 year old China's born martial-art star Zhao Wenzhuo.
• Hot Summer Days ( 全城热恋): "Hot Summer Days" unites a galaxy of stars in China's show business, including Jacky Cheung, Rene Liu, Nocholas Tse, Barbie Hsu, Daniel Wu and Vivian Hsu. The romance is slated for release across China in February the 11th. The film consists of six intertwining love stories, all set in a stifling and sultry summer. As Valentine's Day this year falls on the first day of Chinese lunar new year, the release date for "Hot Summer Days", February 11th, was chosen to coincide with the big occasion, aiming for a lion's share of the movie market.
• All's Well Ends Well 2010 (花田喜事): Director Raymond Wong heads up another all-star Lunar New Year comedy. "All's Well Ends Well 2010" stars Louis Koo, Sandra Ng, Raymond Wong, Ronald Cheng, Lam Tze-Chung, and "Ip Man" co-star Lynn Xiong. Plot: Princess Pearl of Flowerland is sent to Midland at a young age to learn her ceremonials duties. Her mother, the Queen Mother misses her daughter very much that the King orders his sister, the princess, to return home. However, the princess has fallen in love with Gerenal Wing of the Midland army and is reluctant to part from him. As their boat approaches the Flowerland border, Pearl & Wing save the life of a girl named Ying, who seeks to throw herself into sea after running away from an arranged marriage. Pearl, Wing and Ying are attacked by pirates and Pearl falls overboard in the ensuing chaos. On arrival in Flowerland, the King mistakes Ying for his sister, while Pearl is saved by Ying's father, Million.
• Fortune King is Coming To Town (财神到): This Chinese New Year celebration comedy tells a story that is very similar to "Santa Clause is coming to Town". Fortune King is a Chinese god who comes down from heaven to the earth to give money to people, similar to what Santa does for children. In this flick The God of Fortune is rushing to Earth, and a congregation of people must first finish a hilarious joke of a financial task before he comes. Lead Actor Tan Yonglin says the Fortune King only help people who watch out. "Our film is more than fun. If you don´t work hard, Fortune King will know and refuse to help you. The movie also tells us to open our heart and love others."
• 14 Blades (锦衣卫): Daniel Lee´s martial arts epic stars certified Kung Fu badass Donnie Yen in the role of Qinglong, or Green Dragon. He is the best of the so called Jinyiwei, an imperial elite force of assassins recruited from street orphans. Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades, eight being for torture, five for killing, and the last blade being reserved for suicide when a mission failed. When the emperor is kidnapped and the court taken over, Qinglong takes on the mission of restoring the emperor to power. Also starring Vicki Zhao and Chun Wu.
• Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (喜羊羊与灰太狼之虎虎生威): This movie is from the same title Chinese Animated Television series which tell stories of bouts between Family Sheep and descendants of wolf on the grassland. This time, the story happens in the world of snail. There is a serious bale coming to snails. The biological warfare happens between two of bacterial kingdoms, "Black Null" and "White Null", who exist on antennae of snails. The White Null Kingdom recruits all military force around the country to perish the black-hearted Black Null Kingdom. Sheep Xiyangyang sides with White Null Kingdom, and Wolf Huitailang is siding for the opposite.
• McDull Kung Fu (麦兜响当当): In animated feature "McDull Kung Fu Kindergarten," Hong Kong's most iconic cartoon porker goes to learn martial arts at Wudang, birthplace of Taichi, to prove that pigs can fly-kick at a national championship.
• Royal Tattoo (Huang Jia Ci Qing, 皇家刺青): The film is a costume kung fu comedy with a mix of a Chinese version of Prison Break. It´s a humorous reinterpretation of a classic plot about a Qing Dynasty royal secret treasure and tattoo treasure map.
• The Story of Hong Mao Lan Tu Huo Feng Huang (虹猫蓝兔火凤凰): The cartoon has a fan base of millions because of its TV version and tells of the adventures of a blue rabbit and a red cat.
• Jing Tian Dong Di (惊天动地): Local directors Wang Jia and Shen Dong´s latest disaster flick was shot in the earthquake-stricken areas of Sichuan, "Jing Tian Dong Di" recalls the quake by following one of the PLA´s rescue troupes in this fictional retelling. The cast of well-known actors includes Li Youbin, You Yong and Hou Yong. Mandarin only.
• Da You Cun Bright Future (大有前途): Da You Cun Bright Future, directed by Deng Zhiheng, may be the best comedy of this movie-packed season. Focusing on a group of people living in Da You Cun, a poor village, the movie tells the story of making dreams come true. The head of the village, Li Biao, who wants to improve people's lives, comes across a Taiwan hotshot who promises to invest in the real estate market. Unfortunately, all the money is lost and the village becomes even poorer. But the simple but optimistic villagers decide to build back their lives. After a series of battles with city folk, they eventually build a movie base in the village. Da You Cun Bright Future is a good choice for those who just want to kick up their feet and have a good laugh.

OTHER LANGUAGE MOVIES

• We Are From the Future / Back in Time (古墓迷途): This russian flick from 2008 takes place in sunny, groovy present day St.Petersburg and during the fierce defence of the city in 1942. Four friends, a student, a skinhead, a geeky gamer and a rapper make their cash looking for Nazi relics from WWII. Motivated by greed they are hip, cynical and have no respect for the past. During a dig they stumble upon a bombed out bunker full of valuable treasures but also something strange. Among the documents belonging to a Red Army officer they find a photograph of themselves. Trying to come to their senses they dive into a nearby lake and surface… to a spray of gunfire in 1942.
• Sinking of Japan (日本沉没): "Nihon Chinbotsu" as the film is called in Japanese, is a 2006 tokusatsu film (action movie based on superheroes and special effects) directed by Shinji Higuchi, and a remake of the 1973 screenplay based on a 1973 novel by Sakyo Komatsu. Japan will sink down to the deep sea. The governments only hope is evacuate all Japanese to some other countries. The film stars Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kou Shibasaki, Etsushi Toyokawa, and Mao Daichi, and was released on April 15, 2006. It was parodied in Nihon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu ("Everyone but Japan Sinks").
• The Host (汉江怪物): The film, which also goes under the name of "Gwoemul" (meaning "Monster") is a 2006 South Korean monster film, which also contains elements of comedy and drama films. A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and focuses its attention on attacking people. The film was directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the screenplay, along with Baek Chul-hyun. Starring in the film as members of an unremarkable family thrust into the middle of extraordinary events were Song Kang-ho, Byeon Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona and Ko Ah-seong. A combination of blockbuster plot and political commentary, the film also deals with the implications of America's military presence in Korea.
• La habitación de Fermat / Fermat´s Room (极限空间): Fermat's Room is a 2007 Spanish thriller film directed by Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopeña. Three mathematicians and one inventor are invited to a house under the premise of solving a great enigma, and told to use pseudonyms based on famous historical mathematicians. At the house, they are trapped in a room. They must solve puzzles given by the host, who calls himself "Fermat," in order to escape the slowly closing walls of the room.Four mathematicians who do not know each other are invited by a mysterious host on the pretext of resolving a great enigma...
• 7th Grade Civil Servant / My Girlfriend is an Agent (特工强档): This slick and tense thriller with comedic elements from South Korean director Shin Tae-ra concerns an aggressive unit of the Russian mafia, detached to infiltrate Korea and filch a cutting-edge chemical weapon. The Korean government issues two secret agents to stop the Russians - both masked by undercover identities: Ahn Soo-ji (Kim Ha-neul), a tough-as-nails female martial arts pro who continues to draw the envy of all of her colleagues, and her male counterpart, klutzy and inept rookie Lee Jae-joon (Kang ji-Hwan), whose unfortunate presence leads to a series of outrageous blunders. Complicating matters, it seems, is the fact that the couple (polar opposites, who hate each other passionately), were once romantically involved.
• Ne te retourne pas / Don´t Look Back (不要回头): A 2009 psychodrama about a photographer whose pictures tell a different story to that of her perception. Directed by Marina de Van and starring Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci. The film is in French and Italian.

So visas might have been tough to get for the 60th anniversary and the Olympics, but officials swear that The Expo won't be the same. The Foreign MInistry has said that it already has "an established policy" for providing quick visas to Expo visitors. Unfortunately, he didn't specify what that "established policy" was or what kind of visas would be easy to get and they most probably aren't business visas - so all you English teachers are still kind of screwed. Sorry.

DJ Vadim and MC Yarah Bravo will host a workshop at Source on Thursday and do a show at The Shelter on Friday.

Where: (for Thursday) Source, No. 158 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu 新乐路158号，近东湖路 and (for Friday) The Shelter, No. 5 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu 永福路5号，近复兴西路

Starts: Thursday, March 11, 7-9PM for the workshop; Friday, March 12,
9PM-late for the show

Cover: Free for the workshop, 50 RMB for show

For more local events, visit the Shanghaiist Calendar.

FREE the WAX is back in town for a gig. This time they are bringing DJ Vadim and MC Yarah Bravo (Ninja Tune/BBE) to China for the second time running. If you had missed their explosive show last year, you know what to do this time.

Tomorrow night, DJ Vadim and MC Yarah Bravo will also hold a FREE workshop and performance at Source, with an open dialogue session that will let fans understand more about their music-making process. Source will be supplying FREE Absolut Vodka and signed posters will be given out at the workshop.

We talked to them about their plans, their history and everything else... AND we're giving you a chance to win free tickets to their show. Read on for more information!

When did you guys meet? Was it big-bang-pow-wow stars and explosions right from the start or did it take a while for you guys to decide that just music wasn't enough?

VADIM: Well for me it was fireworks and explosions from the first point we met. Music came later.

YARAH: There was definitely a special connection straight away. One that I've never had with another person...ever! We were extremely drawn to each other, and everything about each other was just so fresh... we built a bubble around us, which then became a musical bubble, and the bubble is still here... bubbling away!

You live in England, the country of fish n' chips. However, you guys have a very multicultural background (Russia, England, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Sweden, The States). Who wins on a kitchen fight over what dishes to make? What dishes you guys can't live without and why?

VADIM: Hahahah. Great question. We both love food and going to great restaurants. That's actually one of my few vices, going to high-end restaurants. We both love cooking and I would say 9/10 times we cook as good if not better than most restaurants we go to on tour etc... I love food from all over the world. In fact in most cultures there is something that I like that's why my preferred style of cooking and restaurants we go to we would call modern European or modern fusion, basically a plethora of different stuff from everywhere - not in one dish but hints of different things so we could have a fish prepared in a Cajun way with some mango salsa or almond-encrusted fish with some Thai spices or spinach pie or... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

YARAH: Well we just love flavors and also to cook for each other. For example if I'm all stressed out, Vadim will cook me a nice dinner, he did it last night actually... and brought it to me so I could eat it while working, and he was also working so I sent him a message and told him... this was better than any restaurant we've been to... you are by far the best chef i know!! :-) He cooked me a perfect tuna steak served on a bed of grilled asparagus, a rocket salad with roasted pine nuts, and poached pears... like blaaaow!! Hahaha and the presentation? Fantastic! I always joke with him I want him to go on those food programs on TV and whoop everyone's asses!!

How do you think each of you have influenced each other over the years?

VADIM: Well for me, Yarah influenced so many things consciously or subconsciously - my style of dress. I think so much more about that than before, matching colors and photo shoots. Also about communicating with people, I have learned to be more patient, reflective. I got into Latin music because of Yarah, the whole South American thing. We discovered a lot of things together like cooking traveling, loving...

YARAH: i think we have almost blended into one person hahahaha... no but Vadim keeps me on my toes while I help him relax... so it's a good team.

What has changed since the last time you were in China?

VADIM: Well I started to talk on the mic! Released a new album - U Can't Lurn Imaginashun. Started a new group The Electric and recorded that album, remixed loads of people and been around the world five times!

YARAH: Well I moved to Berlin. Set fire to my flat on my birthday and then launched my solo show around Europe, The Good Girls Rarely Make History Show. It's me, a drummer, a DJ, a back up singer and flutist. All ladies!! And it's the first time I've done something this big, where I'm 100% in charge and creatively I can get all my ideas out. It's an exciting time for me!

Both of you wear so many hats it's nerve-wrecking just trying to keep up. Which do you think was the most unexpected turn your respective musical careers have taken so far and why?

VADIM: Well for me it was getting and surviving cancer. It was a very dark chapter in my life but one I wouldn't want to take away because I feel that post-cancer, I am a happier, more loving person.

YARAH: Vadim's cancer was by far the most challenging unexpected thing we've had to deal with, anything else that might have seemed big before fades in comparison. Hat-wise... I've always been a collector of hats... and I believe you can turn just an average-looking person into someone very interesting-looking with just the right hat... or wrong hat too for that matter. I can't believe people who say they are not "brave" enough to wear a hat... I mean what's the worst thing that can happen? It ain't gonna bite you! Who knows, you might get a look from a cute girl... or guy!

(To VADIM) It's been a long road since your debut. Helping put instrumental hip-hop on the map, producing more abstract tunes, finely-tuned hip hop, soul, Latin, down through an amazing (mainly) reggae record and quite a few more electronic influences on the latest U Cant Lurn Imaginashun. Having said that, what seems obvious is that you make increasingly more accessible (i.e. pop), quality music. If so, is there a conscious effort in your part to make quality pop?

VADIM: I suppose I listen to music quite differently that I did 15 years ago. Now I think alot about choruses, the song in general. Not that I'm trying to be 'pop', just that I'm trying to think of the complete song - the hook, the verse, the music, the bridge. I spend much time listening to the Beatles, Michael Jackson, etc. studying their sound and what made them work in a sense. I think every artist wants to make something that is appreciated and stands the test of time. I don't want to just make some beats that sound like everybody else. I don't want to be somebody else's shadow. I want to create my own shadow that inspires people to create, innovate and take things to a higher level.

(To VADIM) Do you think an artist's output generally gets diluted when they make that transition from more "underground" styles to music that can be potentially mass-marketed and consumed?

VADIM: Well it's hard to say. In general I would concur that to be in the 'pop charts' as a 'pop charts' band, you will have to compromise your sound but saying that, there are many groups who have reached the pop charts who haven't compromised - The Roots, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Angie Stone, Mary J Blige... Fat Freddy's Drop from New Zealand sold a shitload of records, making a very uncompromising reggae soul album that touched millions all over the world. Ultimately music is either good or bad regardless if it's pop or underground. Some music in the charts is utter shit. Not because it's pop but because it's badly sung, cheesy, no content and just style, no chorus etc... it's there simply because it's so heavily marketed - like the recent Cheryl Cole song. It sold millions but it was crap.

(To YARAH) You sing in your song "Freedom Fighters" that your father was once executed, survived (!) and still has a bullet in his body to prove. How do you think it shaped your character as a child growing up in Sweden having such an atypical background?

YARAH: Well it took me about 10 years to write that song just because I felt I could never capture or give justice to how my parents' story truly effected me. I know I am extremely lucky to be alive, and to grow up in a society where I felt safe. Both my parents had to spend time in jail because of their political beliefs, thanks to Amnesty International they are both alive today, and therefore I am alive too. When there is a coup in your country, change of government, severe oppression of the middle and especially the lower class, you're trapped, you have no way out, you have no choice but to fight and try to stand up for your people, my parents survived... but many others "disappeared". I meet youths at concerts around the world... who share a similar story - their parents were also exiled, they also grew up in a foreign country, some lost a lot of family members... my story is not unique, which is what makes it so scary!!

(To YARAH) As a role model of female emancipation, what is your opinion regarding the state of hip hop music today? Any female figures influenced your attitude specifically in that sense?

YARAH: When I was growing up, I looked up to MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill. It only takes one girl to inspire many. One of the most beautiful things for me as an artist is when girls, especially younger girls, tell me I inspired them to start rapping or make music. What more can I ask for? That's a planted seed for a future generation right there... and I ain't even old hahahah. I think too many women in hip hop either act like dudes or complete sluts. How about just being human? This music is for everybody. I'm very confident in my femininity and I don't feel intimidated by other men in the business. I know what I bring to the table is unique.

Top on your to-do list in Shanghai this time round?
VADIM: Eat duck and drink tea!
YARAH: Try some exciting food!!

What's on the cards next?
VADIM: More shows, new album - The Electric and a holiday in Malaysia!!!
YARAH: CHINA!! Then we head off to a well-deserved holiday in Malaysia!!!

Please complete the sentence: "Ten years from now, we will most likely be ..."
VADIM: Living in Bahia, Brazil!
YARAH: In Brazil, on a beach, surrounded by kids and drums...

Courtesy of FREE the WAX, Shanghaiist is giving away a pair of tickets to the show on Friday. It's dead simple. Name us one song from DJ Vadim's most recent album U Can't Lurn Imaginashun. The first person to drop us an email at contest.giveaway (@) shanghaiist (dot) com with the correct answer, along with full name and contact number, wins! Good luck!

• So we've documented some of the weirdness surrounding the U.S. Pavilion at the World Expo, but Adam Minter has torn it and the team behind it to shreds in his latest article for Foreign Policy. We can guess who's not going to be on the Eliasoph dinner party guest list this year. [Foreign Policy]
• Sasha's just wanted to let you know: it's timing the opening of its garden with that of the Bund and the Peace Hotel. Well, we don't know if that's WHY they decided to open on March 28, but it's kind of a coincidence, right? These things always come in threes. [Sasha's]
• Node Music Lounge is opening in that Red Town space where Mao Livehouse is located and they want to get you drunk for free! Head there on Friday for the 100% off booze and party. [SmartShanghai]
• Genius! Who better to ask for locations of cheap and good food than the people who travel all of Shanghai looking for it: cabbies. They've recommended three thoroughly decent noodle shops for you to slurp at too. [CNNGo]
• Oh no! It's going to take even longer than expected to open Shanghai Disneyland. Says one website, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said the part wouldn't be accessible until 2015. [Chip and Co.]