Jaunted - Beijing

A Chocolate Theme Park Will Hatch In Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium Next Year

amandak — 2009-09-21T15:38:57-05:00

Important statistical news just in: the number of chocoholics found in China is rising. This could be bad news if we think of having to share the world's supply of chocolate with an increasing number of people, but the flipside is positive stuff—China's going to open a "world chocolate dream park" in Beijing next year.

The theme park will be housed in the Olympic Green (where the famous Olympics "Bird's Nest" stadium is) and will include five indoor pavilions and two outdoor sites full of chocolate-themed exhibits. They say this will include life-size, edible chocolate versions of the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army.

The Party's Over at Olympic Park

ced138 — 2009-09-18T13:33:27-05:00

With the 60th anniversary of China becoming a communist republic approaching October 1, Claire Duffett took a jaunt around the country for the month of September, starting with Beijing. Nowhere does old and new China collide than in its Capital, and for the next five days, we'll share with you the most up-to-date tidbits on what to see and do, and how many yuan it will set you back.

The Olympic Park, with the unmistakable design of its main stadium, the Bird’s Nest, is perhaps the best example of Beijing’s frenetic but seemingly misguided development. With a sparklingly-new subway connecting it to the rest of the city, the area is a quiet amusement park where nothing really happens.

Walking around the grounds gave us the feeling that we were wandering through a cluttered living room after the last guest has departed from a really awesome party. The leftover confetti is just a tad depressing. There’s a ferris wheel and some snack vendors, but otherwise, activities in the area involve marveling at the strands of steel on the nest or the fake blue bubbles of the watersports complex. Even the tower, used only to display the rings and elevate people to the top for a veiw of Beijing, is now cordoned off.

Seizing the Forbidden City

ced138 — 2009-09-17T17:39:58-05:00

The Forbidden City shows that Chinese penchant for the grandiose began centuries ago. From 1420 to 1624, 24 successive emperors surrounded themselves with concubines and eunuchs, thus populating the grounds of what is really a city in and unto itself with 980 buildings still standing.

On first inspection, it becomes evident how the Ming Dynasty got wrapped up in its self-made cocoon and lost track of what was going on outside those 26-foot-high, red walls, allowing enemy forces to eventually seize power in the 17th century.

Mao Groupies Flock to Tiananmen Square

ced138 — 2009-09-16T17:03:54-05:00

Tiananmen Square. For most in the West, it evokes images of a peace-loving student offering a daisy to oncoming tanks. For Chinese, at least outwardly, it’s a combo of Trafalgar Square and the Lincoln Memorial.

Every morning, thousands of pilgrims line up, white carnations in hand, to see the body of Chairman Mao Tse Tung, which lies in preservation in a mausoleum in the center of the cement-tile square, the largest of its kind in the world. The atmosphere is austere though a bit frantic, with armed police monitoring the seemingly-endless line and kicking out cutters.

Visiting The Land of Brown Smoke and Basketball Lovers

ced138 — 2009-09-14T11:18:52-05:00

Post-Olympics Beijing vaguely resembles its former self. Subways are modern, pristine marvels, with train floors cleaner than our own kitchen’s. The cheapness of transportation emphasized its superiority over American and European cities, with subway rides costing about 30 cents in US money and taxi rides up to two kilometers costing less than a dollar.

He Made Me Look Like Alice Cooper

Todd — 2009-05-04T09:01:49-05:00

Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 14 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted- Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray.

Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map--with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.

With some of the best racing in recent memory, these last few episodes have us amped up for the finish line. Last week, teams ran headlong into a continuation. Jaime and Cara made it first to the checkpoint and were told to keep racing. Margie and Luke were second with Tammy and Victor in third. Kisha and Jen brought up the rear, and instead of being eliminated, were told to keep racing. This week, there's another U- Turn in play, with a spot in the final three at stake. All four remaining teams are strong, competitive and want to win. Who can tough it out long enough to secure a coveted spot racing in the finale?

LET'S FIND OUT!

Having a Baby's Gotta Be Easier Than This

Todd — 2009-04-27T09:01:45-05:00

Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map--with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.

We are down to only four teams as we edge nearer to the big finish. After last week's conflict between Luke and Jen, will both teams be able to focus and get beyond it, or with their distrust fuel more ill will? Tammy and Victor have a language advantage, but will their verbal skills be able to help them stay ahead when it comes down to some very physical challenges? It's getting down to the wire and the stakes are getting higher and higher. Which team has what it takes to make it all the way to the finish line to win one million dollars?

LET'S FIND OUT!