Mad About Shanghai

China Fact of the Day - English Speakers

2013-05-18T22:12:08+08:00

Not an ad for HSBC but an interesting stat to share:

Maximum Exposure Ad in Shanghai

2013-05-11T13:39:25+08:00

This is not an ad for Estee Lauder but wow..they must have a very impressive budget for their campaign.

Did anyone notice the lines of repetitive and repetitive and repetitive ads (the same one) across easily 50% of the advertising hoardings in most metro stations? If you are flying in and out of Shanghai, you would not miss it too at the airports.

World premiere at "Auto China 2013": The new E-Class as a long-wheelbase version

2013-05-03T12:08:14+08:00

"Auto China 2013" in Shanghai sets the stage for the world premiere of the long version of the new E-Class. Developed for the growth market in China, it offers 14 centimetres more legroom in the rear. It also sports a finely honed design exuding an overall character of poised refinement and boasts markedly enhanced comfort and a high standard of equipment and appointments. Three petrol engines covering an output range from 150 to 245 kW with automatic transmission as standard provide for dynamic performance coupled with exemplary driving comfort. With these assets, the long version of the new E-Class sets a new standard for the luxury segment.

The long version of the new E-Class radiates status and effortless superiority, meeting the Chinese market's expectations of luxury vehicles more effectively than the comfortable E-Class with standard wheelbase. Measuring 5019 millimetres in length and with a wheelbase of 3014 millimetres, the long version, which is to be built exclusively in China, is 140 millimetres longer overall than the E-Class saloon which is being marketed worldwide. This results in 14 centimetres more legroom in the rear of the five-seater. An exclusively appointed interior conjures up a prestigious and congenial atmosphere. For special convenience, the front passenger seat can also be electrically adjusted from the rear.

Design: two new front-end designs to choose from

In keeping with the entire E-Class family, intelligent modifications to the design provide the long version with a new front end as well as new proportions. When it came to the modifications, the designers followed the new Mercedes design idiom and reinterpreted the classical design values of the brand using the existing basis. The result is a superior and refined, dynamic appearance.

The headlamps have been redesigned and comprise all functional elements with a single headlamp lens. Flowing light elements within the headlamps help to ensure that the essential lines of the "four-eyed" look which is typical of the E-Class are retained. When it comes to light and visibility, the new E-Class sets standards: both the low-beam headlamps and the integrated daytime running lamps feature LED technology as standard.

For the first time, the long-wheelbase E-Class is available with two different front ends: the Sedan features the classic, three-dimensional saloon radiator grille in three-louvre look with the Mercedes star on the bonnet. The Sport Sedan comes with the sporty front end featuring a centrally positioned star to create a distinctive, emphatically dynamic look.

A new feature line and a repositioned three-dimensional trim strip give the long version of the Saloon new proportions with an exciting appearance. A new structural line runs below the feature line from the rear door through to the tail light. This lends the vehicle a longer look. It underscores the side trim, which has been shifted downwards. Overall the E-Class looks more elongated and elegant.

At the rear, the lights and bumper have been revised. The new horizontally structured LED tail lights with new two-tone look emphasise the width and feature a characteristic night design.

Auto Shanghai 2013 : Mercedes Benz

2013-04-26T14:24:13+08:00

Mercedes Benz unveiled some pretty interesting models at the Shanghai Auto show recently. Once again, I bring you some exclusive photos.

Mercedes Benz GLA Concept:

Mercedes Benz E Class Long Week Base:

Smart :

Photos courtesy of Mercedes Benz

Lighting for Food

2013-04-20T13:37:25+08:00

I went to this unkown restauranr near Momoko's workplace together with Regine.

The food was just so so but I discovered an interesting concept deployed by the restuarant.

The restuarant actually has spotlights fitted above the dining tables. Just like how photographers use lighting to to make the subject look better, this resturant uses the spotlights to make the food look much more delectable though it might not be.

Exclusive : Shanghai Grand Prix F1 2013

2013-04-14T23:23:19+08:00

I bring you some exclsuive photos of the China Grand Prix :

Photos courtesy of Mercedes Benz

Old Shanghai : Nongtang Sightings

2013-04-06T20:35:54+08:00

Came across this communal washing area of a nongtang (alley for Shikumen houses). For those uninitiated to Shanghai, this is sometimes a common area where the many households in a Shikumen to brush their teeth, vegetables ,plates, bowls and even laundry at times.

Not much privacy eh? Though getting rarer by the day, these sights can still be seen all over Shanghai.

Guerilla Marketing

2013-03-31T21:14:01+08:00

Spotted at a busy street corner with heavy human traffic.

Fast, effective, environmentally-friendly and costless.Who needs a marketing campaign anyway ?

Kempinski Hotel Dalian

2013-03-22T17:50:20+08:00

I have a favourable impression of Dalian. The last time I went there many years ago, I was impressed by the cleanliness of the city, natural sights and the almagation of Russian and Japanese culture in their city landscape. And of course the cheap and nice seafood there. I remembered the last time I went there I stayed at the superb Nikko Hotel.

A friend of mine Elyn, who has always been very kind to me, recently paid this northern up and coming city a visit for business and stayed in Kempinski Hotel Dalian. She took some photos and I thought I would share with you guys in case any of you are thinking of making a trip there and looking for hotel choices. The room photos on hotel websites can be all too deceiving at times. So here you go:

Elyn, can we have more photos of Dalian city sights next time you visit?

Flight Tales: Saving a Damsel in Distress, Sort of

2013-03-17T15:57:52+08:00

It was one of those flights I took from Singapore to Shanghai. I was in the queue to check in and noticed that it was a rather long queue, and for a while, the queue did not seem to be moving at all.

It was soon I realised, there was there was a uni student caught in an excess luggage weight situtation. Apparently, she was on her way back to Shanghai with all her books and it grossly exceeded her allowance. She tried to reason, I think, to get a waiver of the excess baggage fees, without any avail. The counter staff remained adamant.

She began to unpack all her books from the bags. In one last attempt, she went down the line and asked if any one would be kind enough to help her by "sharing" the baggage allowance. No one helped. She got to the family in front of me and they replied they could not help too as they would be transiting Shanghai to Harbin.

Then she came to me.

I have been a uni student before and I know how that feels, to pay grossly unreasonable excess baggage fees. Also, I had only with me a gym bag which did not weigh more than 10 kg.

I agreed to help her.

I spoke to the counter staff on giving up some of my excess allowance, as my bag is only about 9 kg. They gave me a stern look, implictly suggesting to me that I should not help that lady and proceeded to warn me that if the lady is carry anything illegal, I would be fully liable as the excess contents would be tag under my name. She even told me that the untagging would be impossible.I felt they are not making sense as the stuff would not be even in my bag. All I did was to allow some of my baggage allowance to be given to her.

As I have already seen that the items that are of excess weight are only books, I told the couter staff that they are only books only anyway and asked her to proceed.

Reluctantly, they agreed. The uni student proceeded to ask for her bag back to repack the books. This cause even bigger delays and the people in the queue were starting to get agitated.

Anyway, this was soon resolved and when it came to my turn to finish the check-in procedures, the counter staff told me they did not tag her baggage under my name and I should not have any worries should there be any contraband items. I remebered thinking that I knew that from the on set and their attempts to "smoke" their way to deter me from helping the student would not work.

Behind that stern look, I could sense that she was impressed that I was persistent in doing a good deed to help a student.

When I was done, I turned to realise that the lady whom I helped was waiting for me. She passed me a chit of paper and when off. When I got to the waiting lounge, I opened that note and found that it was her telephone number in Singapore.

Well, I did not help her to receive anything recipocral from her. Before I boarded, I chucked that piece of paper into the dustbin.