Section: China
Written By: David Yang
May 12th, 2008 11:30 AM
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The 1614 feet Shanghai International Financial Center, the 686 feet Beijing Great Wheel… it seems apparent that some local governments in China are in a frenzy for becoming the world’s No.1 with various construction projects. That seems to be in sync with the new economic boom of this old country.
Now there comes the Hangzhou Bay Bridge; connecting the city of Jiaxing in the northern part Zhejiang Province with Ningbo in the eastern part of the Province. The 22.3 mile (36 kilometers) structure shortened the distance from Ningbo to Shanghai by 74.5 miles and is the world’s longest cross-sea bridge to date.
The 11.8 billion RMB (roughly $ 1.68 billion USD) monster opened on May 1st but things haven’t gone quite smoothly for the new bridge so far. According to the local media, as of May 7th, the traffic police had fined more than 700 drivers for not only speeding, but also slow driving and illegal parking. Some people even took their time while crossing, enjoying taking pictures on the emergency lanes of the bridge. One driver, after caught illegally parking, even posed in front of police cameras. The man said that it’s worth paying the 200 RMB fine (roughly $28.6 USD) for getting his pictures later.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: David Yang
May 12th, 2008 10:00 AM
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Some of you might have heard about the recent bus explosion in Shanghai caused by some inflammable goods. Perhaps that’s why China’s own Superman made up his mind to take the subway from now on, for safety’s sake.
The real question would seem to be why he didn’t just fly? Poor air quality maybe? Have a further look at Supe’s commute in our gallery below and then share your thoughts with us, in comments.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: David Yang
May 9th, 2008 10:35 AM
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Compared with Roewe, we haven’t heard much from the MG brand ever since the SAIC-Nanjing Auto merger. It seems the MG guys finally decided to make some noise by bringing two new cars to the Chinese dealers at the end of this month.
As the first made-in-China roadster, the rear-drive MG TF, offers two transmission options along with its 1.8 DOHC four burner: the manual MT and a CVT. The 1.8-liter MT accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds, hitting a top speed of 133 mph. It takes the 1.8-liter CVT 9.7 seconds to make the 0 to 62 mph dash, and it will reach a top speed of 124 mph. As it has almost no competitors in its class, the mid-engine roadster will likely be priced around 300,000 RMB (roughly $ 42,860 USD).
Another to hit the Chinese market later this month is an MG crossover called the 3SW. The new model has two engine options: a 1.4-liter four and a 1.8-liter four. The 1.4-liter generates maximum power of 102 horsepower and of maximum torque of 91 pound-feet while the 1.8-liter engine produces maximum power of 118 horsepower with max torque of 118 pound-feet. The price of 3SW will range from 80,000 – 120,000 RMB (roughly $11,428 - 17,142 USD).
(Have a look at the brace of Chinese MGs in our gallery below.)
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: David Yang
May 7th, 2008 11:15 AM
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OK, you may not be lucky enough to see this during your Olympic trip to China this summer, so we knew we had to bring it to you.
The pictures here are taken in Qinhuangdao, a beautiful port city in Hebei Province, about 280 kilometers from Beijing. The truck turned street sweeper or whatchamacallit carries more than twelve brooms, which rotate with the axle to take care of cleaning. Who said that the Chinese people have no originalities? Take a look at the radical device in our gallery below.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
May 7th, 2008 10:35 AM
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Chinese drivers are using number plate switching devices to get away with speeding in the south of the country. Drivers are employing remotely controlled devices that can switch the numbers on their license plates in seconds, to fool speed cameras and avoid fines.
The Beijing Youth Daily quoted one traffic policeman in the Chinese city of Yangjiang as saying, “More than 50 percent of cars caught on camera for speeding and other offences either cover up their plates or use a fake licence plate. Our chances of capturing them is next to nil.”
One salesman for license plate changing devices, which cost the equivalent of roughly $115, said that the hot-selling items are both “convenient and economical.” No mention of the devices being “illegal” or “satisfying” however.
+ Automotive News: Chinese drivers get away with speeding (Subscription required)
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: David Yang
May 6th, 2008 3:15 PM
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Considering the heavy traffic flow in the city, it’s easy to understand that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) is doing what they can to make sure things here won’t upset those foreign visitors. Yu Chunquan, the director of the transportation department for the BOCOG, told the press recently that there will be no parking spaces for private cars at Olympic stadiums. Instead, Citizens are encouraged to take public transportation to the stadiums. Well, what other choices do we have?
The municipal government will introduce 34 Olympic bus routes totaling about 260 kilometers in length by the end of July for the convenience of the stadium-goers. Some of the buses will be running for 24 hours a day. That said, it doesn’t take a genius to think of parking his car somewhere near those stadiums, though people with an Olympic ticket can get free bus rides easily.
(Look, but don’t park,at some Beijing stadium pictures below.)
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 30th, 2008 4:00 PM
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It seems as if the ball was called just a bit too early on a set of spy shots sent to us recently by Brenda Priddy & Company, as the MPV mule that had been spotted on its way out of the General Motors proving ground has since been discovered to not be a GM product at all.
Initial speculation had it that the mule seen here was the first look at GM new global MPV preparing for a future of battling with such worldly people movers as Mazda’s 5, Volkswagen’s Touran, and Opel’s Zafira. That seemingly good guess was given a healthy dose of probability by the car’s being spotted just leaving GM’s Milford, Michigan test facility.
(Click through the jump to read more including Priddy’s new take on the mysterious MPV.)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 29th, 2008 2:30 PM
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Today’s episode of automotive institution Fast Lane Daily is even more in depth than usual, offering quick hitting commentary on the BMW M1 Homage, trouble for Porsche’s CEO, and a Korean super car fresh from Beijing. The good work our friends are doing at FLD isn’t going unnoticed either, as the site has just been nominated for a prestigious Webby award. Click through the jump below and show the kids some voting love.
+ Fast Lane Daily
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: David Yang
April 29th, 2008 12:00 PM
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GM impressed its audience by debuting the Buick Invicta concept on hovering on water prior to the Beijing Auto Show, but that seems easy in comparison to some people’s water crossings in the Middle Kingdom.
Liu Suozhu, a 48-year-old Chinese man, recently drove across Miluo River on tightropes in China’s Hunan Province. The tightropes were 148 feet above the river and it took him about half an hour to finish the 755 foot-long bridge. Liu did pause several times at the centre of the ropes, as he needed to check if his Xiali sedan was still balanced or not.
The brave man used to work as a cab driver. He came up with the idea of driving on tightropes in 2001. In 2006, he finished a similar stunt, completing a trip of 656 feet on tightropes 66 feet above the ground at Kurle, Xinjiang Province.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: David Yang
April 28th, 2008 10:00 AM
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Two passenger trains crashed on Monday in Zibo, part of China’s Shandong Province on Monday, resulting in 66 casualties and more than 247 people injured.
Seconds after being derailed, train T195, heading from Beijing to Qingdao, collided with 5034, another train heading from Yantai to Heze. According to the Xinhua News, the official press agency of the government of the PRC, the death toll reached 66 and 247 people were hospitalized, among whom 55 were in critical conditions. Four French nationals were also injured in the accident, which is reported to be the deadliest such in a decade.
In less desperate news, China just put its first domestically produced bullet train into trial operation a week ago on April 23. The train, which is set to be seen on the line from Beijing to Tianjin, is said to be capable of speeds reaching 161 mph.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: David Yang
April 25th, 2008 2:30 PM
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Streetcars, the predominant mode of public transportation in Beijing from the 1920s to 1960s, will be back on track starting May 1st. The Beijing municipal government recently decided to kick off a streetcar line in the Qianmen, or the “Front Gate” area right before the Olympics, a move apparently aiming to attract visitors.
“I remember the ticket price was only 3 cents,” said Bai Yuzhen, a retired senior Beijinger, “We call them Diang Diang car at the time, as it runs with the crunching “diang diang” sound. The capital of China used to have seven trolley lines, all in the center of the city. The last line died in the May of 1966 during the Cultural Revolution. “The new trolleys are apparently not for people like me,” Bai noted, “They [the government] demolished almost all the old Gates of Beijing and have rebuilt them in recent years. It’s good that they trying to recover what’s been lost, but what’s the point of destroying them at the beginning? I hope they can focus more on those disappearing old Hutongs (alley ways) and Siheyuans (courtyards) in the city. It’s ridiculous to ignore those old architectures being demolished now and have them rebuilt years later.”
Old streetcars can now still be found in Dalian, Chang Chun and a few other cities in China’s northeast area, which presumably can attract more tourists than their newborn siblings.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 22nd, 2008 8:00 AM
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Ford has unveiled the Chinese version of the Fiesta hatchback in Beijing, a five-door hatch trimmed out for Auto China as the Fiesta S.
While the Chinese version of the car seems to be largely the same as the European Fiesta that was shown this year in Geneva, the car’s S trim package offers a funkier body kit which could hint at performance variants of the Fiesta yet to come. The more aggressive front air dam and five-door layout certainly seem to work well on the car’s architecture though, and make us wonder how well the Fiesta five would do stateside, competing against cars like Honda’s Fit.
Take a look at the five-door Fiesta S in our gallery below or click through the jump to read Ford’s press release.
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