Magazine editor Juliette, who lived in Paris for quite a few years and has now returned to Shanghai, owns a Peugeot, but on most days, she rides the bus to get to work. She does, however, have a bike, but she usually uses it just for going to buy flowers.
Taipei-based designer and blogger Milla Huang, creator of a brand called méchant bébé, flew to Shanghai to attend the Colors magazine Transport event. She ordinarily relies on a combination of foot and subway to get around. However, she does have a car for longer excursions.
I also met Beijinger Chen Jiaojiao at the Transport event. She seems unassuming and casual – quite “Beijing” – considering her position: Editor-in-Chief of The Outlook Magazine. Yes, this is that “cool, creative magazine” here in China that foreigners ask me about. The Outlook Magazine is sometimes confused with media maven Hong Huang’sIlook, though the two publications have very different Chinese names and general appearances. Both arewell-established as hip or avant-garde titles, most of which drop by the wayside after a few issues.They are alsodistinct from fashion magazinesEsquire, Cosmo, Ray Li,et al, which rarely contain surprises.
I asked Chen how she gets to her office in Sanlitun from her home in Shuangjing. She and her husband, who works as Creative Director at the same magazine, take a brown Miniman to work every day. The Miniman is apparently a slightly extended version of the Mini. They do have bikes, but these are used mainly for running errands in the neighborhood as the ride to work is both too long at 40 minutes and too dangerous and disorderly.
Of the homemade vehicles on display at the Transport exhibition, she found the makeshift tanks used by Libyan rebels most inspirational.
Also at the ColorsTransport event was Gene Ku Chien is Editor-in-Chief of ppaper, a fashion and lifestyle publication based in Taipei. Gene takes a subway to work most days, though late at night he cabs. With no car, bike, or motorbike, he finds driving unappealing. Cutting down on emissions was not the initial goal, though it is a welcome benefit.
While at the Colors Magazine Transport event, I asked some guests how they get around.
Shanghai-based Psydee Yang, who works in advertising, just bought a new Forever bike in deep purple. Now that the weather is cooler, she is hoping to ride it to work more often.
The commute: Subway takes 20 minutes, bus 15, walking 30 and bike 15.
Here I am with Wu Yulu, a farmer from outside Beijing who created the Wu Lao series of robots. Since 1986, Wu has single-handedly built over 40 humanoids capable of performing all sorts of tasks from giving massages to lighting cigarettes. The one pictured behind us is smoking.
Photos and text：Suzy
Last week, numbing heat and thunderstorms made Shanghai a less likeable place to hunt for streetstyles. I met Shanghai native An, who is a co-founder of China at your Side, in front of the expat’s favourite Citizen Café on Jin Xian Road.
Continue reading Three days in Shanghai
I guess giving the “Best Uniforms at the Expo” award to Italy is not exactly a shocker, especially given that they are designed by Prada.
The fabrics were a little bit too techno for me – I often find this with Prada – but the color and pattern matching is quite memorable. I will talk more about the Pavilion itself later, but Italy deserves to do well in the China market after such an effort. Having the backing of such major fashion houses helps of course.
