November 28, 2005

Even Hollywood types buy China's counterfeits

SHANGHAI -- A Hollywood film crew arrived here to work on the next "Mission Impossible" movie being filmed near Suzhou, about an hour outside Shanghai. With a few days off from shooting this week, some members of the crew went on shopping trips in downtown Shanghai.

Among their purchases, hauled back to hotels in black plastic bags, were stacks of pirated DVDs. The going rate was 7 renminbi (about 88 cents) for DVDs in plastic wrap and 10 renminbi (about $1.25) for boxed versions. The shoppers also brought back bundles of fake North Face jackets. Those driving a hard bargain picked up copied wind-stopper jackets for 120 renminbi each (about $15).

Movies aren't the only item readily copied around here.

It's hairy crab season in eastern China, where the famed Yangcheng Lake crabs are the favored delicacy in markets and restaurants. But other less-than-authentic crabs are often sold as their more expensive cousins.

The situation has inspired a few jokes.

Crabs from other areas put into Yangcheng Lake at the last minute are said to have gone out for "professional training." Crabs taken from the lake but raised elsewhere are said to have "studied abroad."

Bird flu update

China reported a second person in Anhui province died of the avian flu virus Nov. 22, bringing the death toll to three.

(The death of a girl in Hunan is officially listed as probable but unconfirmed. Health authorities said she was cremated before sufficient evidence could be gathered.)

The U.S. Consulate in Shanghai recently issued a bulletin to American citizens in China, saying the Chinese government had shown "a welcome trend" of increased transparency in handling the outbreak and active measures to fight avian influenza. The consulate advised citizens to avoid areas where outbreaks have occurred.

Evidence of sinking chicken sales could be found at McDonald's in Shanghai, where signs on tables aimed to reassure customers about the safety and quality of the meat. Prices were slashed 30 percent for crispy chicken wings and chicken sandwiches.

Posted by Kristi Heim at November 28, 2005 09:53 AM

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