Nail House

"Demolition ends China house row."  (April 3, 2007)

http://news.bbc.co/uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6520317.stm

Chinese Activist Loses Battle Over Her Home

This is the story that we had mentioned in class with a little more detail.  I know some people wanted to see photos, so I've attached links.

"China woman loses Fight for Home" (November 21, 2008)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7741226.stm

"House of Leading Chinese rights Activist Demolished" (November 20, 2008)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqMSgFDutrnQXcsSFlxP3g9uyQgxIU-g

In December, 2008, Ni Yulan was sentenced to 2 years in prison for "obstructing public business."

Case Study of Xintiandi

Here is a great overview of the redevelopment project in Xintiandi, Shanghai, giving depth to the re-use of shikumen housing.

Enjoy!

Building Responsive Cities: Technology, Design, and Development

An interesting video on Chinese development. Portion about China/Shanghai is starting around 1:07.

http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/580

Even China's young monuments have short lives

Interesting update on the state of Beijin's 'Bird's Nest'" (Olylmpic) staudium. It costs $8.8m in yearly maintenance and it has had no events planned since. The government is going to develop it as a shopping mall.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-birdsnestfuture&prov=ap&type=lgns

Movies

Two award winning films on the Cultural Revolution I've seen and recommend:

1) Farewell My Concubine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farewell_My_Concubine_(film)

2) To Live
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Live_(film)

Other films on the topic (and a database of other Chinese films):
http://www.dianying.com/en/genre/culturalrev

Although I haven't seen it, The Blue Kite is supposed to be excellent. I've seen alot of other Chinese films and would be happy to make more recommendations.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Hello, I have posted an excel file called "flightinformation" in the logistics folder for you to enter your flight information.

Alex

A good blog on Shanghai - a lot on tear downs and preservation efforts. He's an American living and writing in Shanghai

http://shanghaiscrap.com/

american preservationist in shanghai

interesting article:

"He's a community activist in a country that has no community activism, in a city with a general populous that couldn't care less about his cause."

http://new.danwashburn.com/2008/10/07/build-me-up-tear-me-down/

Shanghai Photo Archive link

This is an interesting online archive of old B&W photos taken in and around Shanghai--could be useful in determining what our sites would have looked like during the last century.


http://virtualshanghai.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr/Image.php?ID=2408&

Travel Logistics

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to leave Phila on Friday March 6 at approx 10am, arriving the next day in Beijing at 3:30 pm. Stay in Beijing for two nights, then leave on the first flight out on Monday. I'll leave Shanghai Sun March 15.

I'm probably going to go on a day tour Sunday (to be able to see as much as possible/ visit sports outside the city, etc) and hit up the Silk Market, Tienamen Sq and Forbidden City on my own (or with some of you hopefully).

Katie

Here is my tentative itinerary, kayak.com:
Phil to Beijing to Shanghai to Phila

PHL to PEK to PVG to PHL Fri 6 Mar 2009 – Sun 15 Mar
PHL 10:08a PEK 3:30p 1 United /
PEK 8:10p PVG 10:20p 0 Air China /
PVG 1:20p PHL 10:10p 2 Multiple Airlines
*($1171), I can kick in the diff between the subsidized amount and the cost.

visa application

do we need to fill in the information for "application form by another person" if someone else turning in the form???

Westernized China

Hi all-

If you want to get a closer look at Shanghai, check out this Youtube video I found. Pay attention to the music and see how it goes from being "Global" to "Traditional". I hope it brings up some good discussions on tourism!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmr1KvBHlwE

Movie Night

Hi guys,

I sent an email out saying this too but just make sure the word is out...we will not be watching a movie at my apt. this weekend. I spoke to people at my apt. complex and the best time for us to reserve the movie room to watch The Last Emperor is on a weekday night. I proposed this Monday (1/26) or Tuesday (1/27). Let me know what works for you asap! thanks!
(email address is johnsonh@design.upenn.edu)

Hey everyone-
Look forward to seeing your posts...
To report for now: the list of seminar topics and assignments is posted in the course folder... and a pdf of the Invitation Letter from Tongji is now posted in the "logistics" subfolder.
Here are some recent articles on preservation of vernacular housing in Beijing, from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/world/asia/19beijing.html?scp=1&sq=beijing&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24beijing.html?scp=2&sq=beijing%20preservation&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/arts/design/27ouro.html?scp=1&sq=beijing%20preservation&st=cse

Cheers, Randy