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I carried the Olympic Torch
Around Town / Cityscene
Written by : Paul Collins
Jul 3, 2008
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| Of the 104 lucky peopIe chosen to carry the torch during the Suzhou leg of its epic journey, only 12 were from overseas. David Warth recalls those unforgettable few minutes that he's now, erm... forgotten.
How did it come about? It was the most surprising phone call I ever remember taking. I was back at my mom's home in Alabama last summer for a visit, and my finance controller called my cellphone. He told me a friend in SIP had phoned and wanted to know if I was in town'next May'. When I asked why and he replied, "to carry the Olympic Torch", I thought, "I've no idea what my schedule will be, but you can be sure that I'll be there whatever!" But why were you chosen? I just imagine that when the city began looking for foreigners to participate they maybe wanted someone recognizable, and my family and I have been here for nine years. And also, for eight of those years we lived in the New District, althoug I worked in SIP; and cycling to work everyday ... ... |
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Float on
Around Town / Around Town
Written by :
Nov 4, 2008
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Cited by the China Daily last year as among the nation's ten best preserved ancient towns, it's surprising to discover Tongli is still relatively untouched as a tourist destination. Unlike many of its sister watertowns in Jiangsu - non-residential and operated for purely commercial purposes (such as Zhouzhang) - it remains a living, breathing community, little changed from the time wealthy merchants first created this peaceful retreat from the cares of their commercial dealings. Even today, in the shade of its opulent Qing Dynasty courtyards, locals can still be found preparing meals for their families and tourists alike (be mindful though, that very few of the local restaurants, inns or tea-houses have English menus). This overwhelming sense of time-stood-still hasn't escaped the attention of film and television producers and since 1983 some 120 TV shows and films have been made in the town, among them the universally popular "Dream of the Red Mansions". For Suzhou resi ... ... |
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Extinction postponed
Around Town / Cityscene
Written by :
Nov 4, 2008
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| She's in her mid-80s; while he's believed to have just turned 100. Attempts to breed Suzhou's Yangtze Giant Turtles - the world's last remaining couple - have failed, conservationists have admitted. Officials at Suzhou Zoo report that despite the two successfully mating when they were introduced earlier this year, the eggs of 'China Girl' (as the press have dubbed her) have failed to hatch. Hope ran high when she was first discovered last Autumn in a zoo in Changsha, where she had lived unnoticed for 50 years, and brought to Suzhou in a last-ditch attempt to save the species. Because of the animals' respective ages, artificial insemination was deemed too risky, and it was thought best to let nature take its course. Within weeks dozens of eggs were found, and while half appeared to be fertile, the embryo's died early. "A number of the eggs had very thin or cracked eggshells, suggesting that the diet of the animals prior to breeding was not optimal," said a statement released ... ... |
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Two for the Dulwich cocktail party
Around Town / Around Town
Written by :
Nov 4, 2008
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| Double world-champion snooker player John Higgins took time out from his high-profile appearance at the Shanghai Masters to visit Suzhou. At downtown's Sheraton Hotel and Towers he was warmly welcomed by GM, and fellow Scot, Neil McDonald. Higgins, who is currently ranked world number one, had a surprise early exit in Shanghai, knocked out in the last 16 by Ryan Day.
Howard Johnson marked this year's Mid-Autumn Festival with an outdoor Garden Party at its SIP all-suites hotel. The fun and games included drinks, a barbeque (featuring Sichuan cuisine) sporting activities and a lucky draw for free accommodation in one of the hotel chain's many city branches.
It may have marked the end of the summer holidays, but parents and teachers at Dulwich College Suzhou were determined to start the new term in style – with a cocktail party. The school, which also has branches in Shanghai and Beijing, is beginning only its second acad ... ... |
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Paradise regained
Around Town / Cityscene
Written by :
Oct 29, 2008
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| Downtown clean-up looks to restore former glory
Suzhou 's clogged waterways will soon be returned to their natural state after city officials announced all cargo transportation is to be banned from using them. In future only small tourist boats will be allowed to cruise the rivers that criss-cross much of the downtown area. The decision is also designed to improve the quality of life for local residents by eliminating noise from some larger vessels. The city has long traded on its title as the ' Venice of the East' and officials hope it will now be able to live up to that reputation. In all 18 Suzhou waterways will be treated in an attempt to counter the long term effects of polluting industries over the last few decades. So adept have Chinese planners become at dealing with dirty waterways in recent years that Argentina recently sent a delegation to Shanghai to seek help in dealing with their own ecological burdens. Last year Suzhou banned all floa ... ... |
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around town
Around Town / Around Town
Written by :
Oct 29, 2008
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| Author and Beijing-resident Michael Meyer was in town to discuss his new
book about the gradual disappearance of his adopted city's historical hutongs.
Refreshingly, the Minneapolis-born teacher doesn't entirely lament the passing of these narrow winding lanes that criss-cross the old city, commenting: "No-one should have to live in poverty, no matter how picturesque." Speaking at The Bookworm, Mayer noted how the new Beijing has made its presence felt at the top of his own Beijing lane in the form of a multi-storey Wal-Mart that towers over everything around it.
Downtown's Sheraton Towers launched its latest culinary trip around Asia for it's food festival week. This time around it was turn of the Land of the Rising Sun and guests were treated to copious amounts of sushi, sashimi and tempura dishes served in the hotel's Japanese-themed brasserie.
Suzhou twins, both young and old, were invited to spe ... ... |
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Gold, silver and bronze
Around Town / Cityscene
Written by :
Oct 29, 2008
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| So how did they do? Last month we profiled four athletes from the city, all hoping for Olympic glory, and assessed their medal chances. Top of the pile was 'comeback queen' Chen Yanqing, who didn't disappoint, picking up her second weightlifting Olympic Gold after winning in the same category in Athens four years ago. She is now the most successful female weightlifter in Olympic history, all the more remarkable considering she has previously retired from the sport on three separate ocassions. Long distance runner, Zhou Chunxiu, meanwhile was able to take advantage of Paula Radcliffe's misfortune to snag a bronze medal in the women's marathon. And with Liu Xiang's shock exit in the 110-meter hurdles this made her China 's solitary medal win in track and field. So that just left a silver medal, which Cai Yun and his badminton doubles partner Fu Haifeng picked up after being strongly fancied for China 's first ever gold medal in this category. Maybe they can do it in Lond ... ... |
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Suzhou seeks UK sister; already has 52
Around Town / Cityscene
Written by :
Oct 29, 2008
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| It may already be twinned with such exotic locations as Venice in Italy and Grenoble in France , but Suzhou is soon hoping to link up with its first ever British sister- the Wirral. Officials from the Merseyside town were in Suzhou this month hoping to seal the bond between the two unlikely partners. Leader of Wirral Council, councillor Steve Foulkes met up with Suzhou city mayor Yan Li for talks on how to further the relationship. " We recognize that establishing a productive working relationship with Suzhou will be mutually beneficial for both regions," said Cllr Foulkes. Although Suzhou has established twinning arrangements with 52 towns and cities around the world over the last couple of decades (including locations in Namibia, Madagascar and the Ukraine) remarkably none of them, so far, have been in the UK. Both Suzhou and the Wirral have long histories as major ports and it's hoped that private businesses, in both countries, will al ... ... |
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Around Town
Around Town / Around Town
Written by :
Oct 29, 2008
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| It's already been quietly open for a couple of months but the new Bookworm, situated on picturesque Pin Jiang Lu held its official launch party last month. The newly renovated building sits on a 600-year-old bridge in a UNESCO heritage protected area and will house a bar, café, library and cultural events center.
The eagerly awaited results of the That's Shanghai Food and Drinks awards were announced on the Bund in front of a packed throng of restaurateurs. bigwigs, and hangers-on. The annual event has become the biggest celebration of the city's culinary arts and this year included a Hall of Fame for businesses and individuals who have made an indelible contribution to the industry.
The Ladies European Golf Tour joined forces with its Asian counterpart for the first ever joint tournament between the two to be held in China . Taihu Lake Golf Club played host to the historic event which featured the appearance of world numb ... ... |
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Tiger Hill bids fair goodbye
Around Town / Cityscene
Written by :
Oct 29, 2008
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| Tiger Hill Temple Fair - Suzhou 's biggest and best known Autumn festival - is being scrapped. The 40-day event, famed for its carnival-like atmosphere, had become a staple of the Fall tourist calendar and featured acts from all over China including Wuqiao acrobats, Taiping drummers and Yi dragon dancers from Yunnan . Officials have confirmed that a 10 per cent decline in visitor numbers to the city, largely due to the Olympics and the Sichuan earthquake, has made the festival financially untenable. But privately, insiders have expressed their frustration the event was unable to attract sufficient levels of local support during its 14-year existence. Organizers claim attendance levels had not grown appreciably over the last few seasons, despite an annual government investment of almost 3 million RMB. The fair began as an impromptu revelry for Suzhou farmers performing traditional folk acts, and quickly became a must-see event, attracting 20,000 visitors daily ... ... |
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