Starbucks in the Forbidden City

Another storm in a teacup, sorry, coffee mug. For me, misplaced shortsighted and even nationalistic Internet ramblings. Rui Chenggang, anchorman on the English channel of CCTV is triggering a storm on the Internet by his views that the coffeeshop in the Forbidden City is an insult to Chinese culture. To note here that the coffeeshop is (now) discreetly blended in in the environment. I would fully agree with him if there would be an ubiquitous logo – there is no such sign. China Daily also posted a reaction and different view from Beijing Youth Daily – calling it an over-reaction. Especially as it is not the only outlet: there are several “real Chinese” food & beverage facilities in the complex.
Reminds me of the hoopla around “protesting against celebrating Christmas in China”. So, was Indonesia right when they prohibited any Chinese celebrations in the recent past (now revoked)?
The anchorman and his followers should stop with their tunnel vision that smell like typical nationalistic demagogy. Instead they better pay more attention to the rich Chinese culture and traditions that are still largely ignored by the younger generation (who adores visits to KFC, yuk, not me). Just recently Beijing Today published a reply from their “Chinese advisors” to a letter asking why some Chinese men grow long (left) pinky nails. They simply did not know and gave a lousy answer. (I leave it up to you to figure out the right answer). China Daily is regularly publishing interesting articles explaining more about Chinese traditions, superstitions, beliefs and other. Yes, as they write, the young need “the guiju wisdom of compasses and squares”.
I wonder if Rui Chenggang knows about all that. Does he know why Chinese families traditionally keep two large porcelain vases in their house? Seems like foreigners are more interested in China’s rich heritage than many locals spending evenings in Coco Banana mixing Chivas, green tea and smoking (and not even dancing). I prefer by far watching the old folks and their fan dancing on the streets near Worker’s Stadium.
So sorry that those laoweis also celebrate Christmas – which for me is more a family get-together than a religious event.
But I will also celebrate Chinese New Year with the traditional jiaozi. Bon appetit.

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