The Great Wall – The Official Movie Novelization

March 23, 2017 by Leave a Comment

One of the “Wonders of the World” is the Great Wall in China.  Why was this gigantic wall built?  It was to keep out evil monsters that appear every 60 years.  This is the big budget East/West production by Legendary Pictures directed by award-winning Zhang Yimou.  “The Great Wall” stars Matt Damon as the mercenary William Garin.

In search for fame and riches, mercenary William Garin and his men find themselves in remote China.  His remaining men are tired and hungry after days of being hunted down by bandits in the region.  As they rest for the night, they encounter a mysterious creature.  William is able to fend off the beast by cutting its talon off.  William and fellow survivor Pero Tovar stumble upon the amazing gigantic structure – the Great Wall.

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The Great Wall – The Art of the Film

February 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

thegreatwallbookThis weekend Legendary Pictures releases one of their big films of the year into the multiplexes – The Great Wall starring Matt Damon.  Suppose the Great Wall in China was not just built to defend from the human element but also “monsters.”  Actor Matt Damon and the all-star Chinese cast look to defend the Great Wall and humanity from these evil beasts.  Titan Books official companion guide The Great Wall – The Art of the Film takes a behind-the-scenes at the epic production.

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Stormtrooper Piece of Art

November 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment

stormtrooperporcelain001HK toy maker known for making detailed collectible action figures makes a collectible work of art – the Star Wars – Stormtrooper – Porcelain Pattern Version.  Hot Toys redefines the classic Stormtrooper look with a Chinese porcelain floral pattern on this 1/6th scale figure.

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World’s First 3D Printed House

June 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment

3dprintedhouseThe housing and rental market is crazy here in the SF/Bay Area.  Insane to the membrane.  Time to find a 3D printer and build a house.  Yes, that’s what is happening in Beijing, China.  Chinese company HuaShang Tengda created a two-story 4,305 square feet house using a 3D printing technology.  The building job took 45 days and it supposedly withstands 8.0 earthquakes too!

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TRON Ride @ Shanghai Disneyland

May 10, 2016 by Leave a Comment

shanghaidisneylandtronrideDisneyland fanatics will want to travel this summer for the grand opening of Shanghai Disneyland in China.  One cool attraction that has me hyped-up is the TRON Lightcycle Power Run presented by Chevrolet.  This eye-popping adventure ride looks really neat and puts you in the world of TRON.  Here’s a look at the full ride by Inside the Magic!

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The Banksy street artist of China: ROBBBB

February 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

artofrobbbbFollowing in the steps of street artist Banksy, China’s young urban artist ROBBBB does the same.  His street art is social commentary and a reflection of modern China growing and the issues facing urban city life and society.  He also talks about his process in starting a street art project with BBC News.

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Walking on a Glass Bridge

December 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment

glassbridgechinaIf you’re afraid of heights, then this is not for you.  Walking on a glass bridge 600 ft off the ground might give you some crazy vertigo and panic attacks.  If you’ve ever been to Vancouver BC and walked on the wooden Capilano Suspension Bridge, then you kind of know the feeling, but a glass bridge heightens the fright.  Located in Shiniuzhai National Park in China, this is world’s longest glass suspension bridge.

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Japan: Gundam Silverware

November 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment

gundamsilverwarecoverIn Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture is famous for Kutani-ware, which is a traditional porcelain style of bowls, plates, cups and chopsticks.  To celebrate the 360th anniversary, the Kutani ceramic art style combines with futuristic Mobile Suit Gundam robots on sale for at Premium Bandai online and later at Gundam Cafes.

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Image Comics: Monstress by Marjorie Liu

October 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

monsteresscover1The Nerds of Color (NOC) recently interviewed writer Marjorie Liu on her Image Comics’ Monstress series.  She talks about her inspirations and origins in creating the steampunk fantasy world of Monstress and working with artist Sana Takeda (X-23).  Look for the Monstress #1 to drop on November 4, 2015 into comic book shops.

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The Tin-Toy Museum in Shanghai

September 18, 2015 by Leave a Comment

tintoysA new exhibition is trending in Shanghai.  Flashing back to childhood, wind-up tin toys is gaining interest with a museum dedicated to tin toys of the past.  The Shanghai Tin Toy Museum has 3,000 plus tin toys showcased.

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Most Oil Paintings come from Da Fen, China

June 22, 2015 by Leave a Comment

dafenoilpaintingsNot only is Shenzhen, China known for manufacturing and pirating, well, in small area of Shenzhen, Da Fen is where most of the world’s oil paintings are being produced.  Replica’s of Van Goghs, Monets and Picassos are exported from Da Fen.  BBC News takes at look the mass oil painting production and it’s impact within Shenzhen.  Well, next time, I’m in Hong Kong, I’ll make a stop over to Da Fen.

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Panda Vinyl Action by Cacooca

March 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

pandacacoocacoverDo you like cute Panda vinyl toys?  This is the Panda: Classic designed by Cacooca.  The cute vinyl toy art measures 7.5″ tall.

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Photo Series: Shanghai Night

February 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment

shanghainight00LA-based photographer Nicolas Jandrain globe-trots around taking photos and his photo series “Shanghai Night” is for urban big-city night photo enthusiasts.  “Shanghai Night” takes a look at the giant metropolis during the night.

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Chinese Language Neon Signs

February 5, 2015 by 1 Comment

chinesesigns02As a pop-culture addict, I am very familiar with company and product logos, but seeing them in a different language and not being able to read it adds some curiosity to it.  This is designer Mehmet Gozetlik project “Chinatown.”

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A Montage of Clips through the Lens of a iPhone 5S

September 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment

momentsinasiaIt’s pretty incredible what you can do with a smartphone these days.  You can play Candy Crush, try date somebody on Tinder, or do something creative like making one cool video montage of your travels.  And that’s what photographer Markus Kontiainen has done with his “Moments in Asia.”

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The Xeric Award Winning Web Comic – Pang by Ben Costa

June 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment

pangmonkAt FanimeCon’s Artist Alley we find artist Ben Costa with 2 published comics already.  His Xeric Award Winning Web Comic follows Pang, a Shaolin Monk in 17th Century China.

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Drink: Hello Kitty beer

September 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

hello kitty beerSanrio surely has licensed Hello Kitty on everything and anything, now a limited edition batch of Hello Kitty beer.  This fruity alcoholic concoction has 6 tropical flavors like Lemon Lime, Peach and Banana.  The beer is produced by Taiwanese beer maker Long Quan.

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Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang

September 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

boxers and saintsI’ve been a big fan of artist/writer Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Avatar: The Last Airbender) and have many of his graphic novels on my book shelf.   He just released his epic 2 volume series Boxers & Saints.

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Viral Video Friday: Time Lapse Asia Videos

June 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

time lapse shanghai 00time lapse shanghai

More time-lapse videos this Friday.  “This is Shanghai” by Rob Whitworth and JT Singh shows the mega urban sprawl of Shanghai during the day and neon nights.

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Assassin’s Creed in China

April 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

assassin's creed china 00

Well, if the next Assassin’s Creed game takes place in China, you can thank artist Chaoyuan Xu for inspiring it.  This is not just any old fan art, his Assassin’s Creed China collection is something to look at.

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Pictures of Me with Superheroes & Anime Characters

April 5, 2013 by 2 Comments

animeart000

animeart001

This kid likes to put himself into pictures with other superheroes and anime characters.  It’s pretty neat.  Illustrations by 蓋老師.

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Landscape Art by Yang Yongliang

March 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Shanghai-based artist Yang Yongliang melds downtown city buildings into mountains and natural landscape.

silentcity

The Moonlight – the landscape without night by Yang Yongliang.

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Alice in Wonderland 1 (Part 1) by Yang Yongliang.

cityscape3

Viridescence no. 1 by Yang Yongliang.

For more of Yang’s landscape art, photography, gallery exhibitions and updates, go to:  Yang Yongliang.

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FILA x Nooka

October 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

NYC fashion design firm Nooka founded by artist/designer Matthew Waldman teams up with apparel brand FILA to bring a fresh mini-capsule shoe collection to the Chinese market.  Please FILA, bring these shoes here to the US market!  The orange sneaks would go well with my SF Giants gear!

For more info, go to:  Nooka x FILA.

 

 

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In China: Robot Chefs making Noodles

August 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Whoa, here’s a paradigm shift in China, robot chefs making hand-made noodles in restaurants.  It seems that human chefs take a longer time making noodles and cost more in wages, so restaurateur Cui Runguan decided to build noodle-bots.  The noodle-bots named Chef Cui cost about $2,000USD each.

We fight Deceptions and make an awesome bowl of wonton noodles!!!

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Chinese Subway Ad – The Lobster Salad Sandwich

August 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

subwaychinaSubway introduces the Lobster Sandwich in China:

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