Play captures sights and sounds of old Shanghai

 The Eternal Snow Beauty, adapted from Taiwan writer Pai Hsien-yung’s novel, is about a Shanghai belle in the 1940s. Photos provided to China Daily

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhuanet) — Shanghai theater critics have lauded the premiere of The Eternal Snow Beauty, praising it for reviving the tradition of Shanghai dialect theater.

The Eternal Snow Beauty tells the story of a glamorous woman in a 1940s Shanghai dance hall. It is presented mainly in the Shanghai dialect, but there are also colloquial expressions from Suzhou, Ningbo, Yangzhou and pidgin English.

The colorful language evokes the time when Shanghai was an open harbor and a melting pot of different cultures, says Zhu Guang, a critic with Xinmin Evening News.

Zhu says the production is a milestone in the city’s theater scene. Traditional Shanghai dialect theater was dormant in the 1940s, and The Eternal Snow Beauty has brought it back to contemporary theater.

The Eternal Snow Beauty was originally a short story by Taiwan-based writer Pai Hsien-yung from his book Taipei People, a collection of stories he wrote in the 1960s.

The play tells the story of Yin Hsueh-yen, once the belle of Shanghai’s Paramount ballroom. In the late 1940s, before the fall of the Kuomintang and their flight to Taiwan, she is surrounded by admirers – high-ranking officials and rich businessmen.

Twenty years later Yin hosts an upscale mahjong gathering in her Taipei home, still the center of attention many years later.

Many of Pai’s works have been adapted for the theater or screen, some repeatedly. The Eternal Snow Beauty however, is being staged for the first time.

“Forty years ago, when I wrote the story of Yin Hsueh-yen, I never expected she would come back to Shanghai ever again,” Pai says at the play’s premiere at Shanghai Culture Square on May 4.

The play’s first run, from May 4 to 16, sold out. It will tour Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan. “It’s definitely not meant for the Yangtze Delta market only,” says Xu Jun, director of the play.

The highlight of the production is the Shanghai dialect, says Ye Changhai, a professor of Shanghai Theater Academy.

Productions in Beijing and Tianjin use local dialects, and Cantonese plays are staged in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, but Shanghai has fallen behind in this field.

Maestro Huang Zuolin (1906-94) directed plays in Shanghai dialect in the 1940s, but Shanghai dialect has disappeared from China’s formal theater scene since then, says director Xu.

Xu directed a Shaoxing Opera adaptation of Pai’s novella Sister Yu-qing a few years ago. Encouraged by the success of that production, Pai authorized Xu to adapt The Eternal Snow Beauty.

It was Xu who came upon the idea to present it in Shanghai dialect.

Determined to present authentic Shanghai culture in all its glamor, Xu wanted his production of The Eternal Snow Beauty to be elegant, modern and exquisite.

“Shanghai dialect was slightly different at the time of the story – the vocabulary and pronunciation are not exactly the same as we are familiar with. The actors have to spend lots of time practicing their diction.”

In the play, the ballroom doorman speaks the Ningbo dialect, the housemaid greets the guest in the Suzhou dialect, and a fortune-teller speaks in the rough northern Jiangsu dialect.

“The dialect livens up the character, enriches the theater performance and immediately makes the play vivid,” Zhu, the critic, says.

“The ballroom manager, for example, speaks the language of lower class people working in high society – very convincingly, with the occasional dip of a word in pidgin English.”

 (Source: China Daily)

China aims at political approval of border accord

Ancient China Panorama with Selective Tours – e

12 Day Escorted Tour – Beijing / Datong / Pingyao / Xian / Suzhou / Shanghai Daily Departure, group size 2 – 6 travelers

Travel through the most important ancient capitals in China’s history, where you can take in the spiritual side of China. From the Great Wall in Beijing to the unforgettable Hanging Monastery in Datong, wander the delightful Pingyao Ancient City. Marvel at the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, visit ancient canal city of Suzhou to see classic Chinese gardens and water town, finish your journey with a contrasting experience of Old Modern in Shanghai.

Beijing was the home of Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties who constructed the Great Wall of China, opulent palaces and awe inspiring monuments. There are many historical and cultural sites to visit in Beijing ranging the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace and the traditional courtyard houses and hutongs.

Datong was the cultural centre of ancient China and is famous for its Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery, listed as a World Heritage Site, and it’s embodiment of the skilled craftsmanship and classic beauty of Buddhist art with its 252 caves and 51,000 statues.

The ancient walled city of, Pingyao, which is listed as a World Heritage Site was China’s Merchant centre, where you will see its medieval fortress, watchtowers, cast iron and the intimidating wooden gate.

Xian, the home of the Terracotta Warriors is something everyone should see in their lifetime. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. Xian is one of the oldest cities in China, over 3,100 years of history records the great changes of the Chinese nation just like a living history book. As you stroll through the city you can view the remnants of 13 dynasties.

Suzhou, located in the Yangtze Delta is the Classical Centre of Chinese culture with over 2500 years of history. It is renowned for its classic gardens, canals, silks, lakes, water towns. and yet, there is so much more.

Shanghai is a best place to experience the contrasts of   ancient and modern, Eastern and Western, where futuristic skyscrapers stands opposite of  colonial architectural buildings, traditional residence lies next to former French concession.

This 12 days escorted tour is the best way to experience the traditional Chinese cultural and history. Land price starts from $2518 per person twin share, Air China, Cathy Pacific, and Singapore Airlines fly to Beijing daily, airfare starts from $1080 including taxes in low season. 

Clark University junior Rose Goldich, of Rockville, blogs about her semester …

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Clark University junior Rose Goldich has kept a blog about her semester studying in China.

WORCESTER, MA (05/06/2013)(readMedia)– Clark University junior Rose H. Goldich, of Rockville, Conn., has kept a blog on the University’s website while spending this semester in Shanghai, China, studying at Donghua University and working as an intern at Habitat for Humanity China at their Shanghai office.

When she’s not busy with her three courses (Modern Chinese Economics, Chinese Language, and Issues in the Chinese Workplace) she has had a chance to tour her new surroundings.

In a blog post dated March 17, Goldich describes a visit she made to the Lingyin Temple, a famous Buddhist Temple in downtown Hangzhou. She saw engravings in rocks on a hill, all of which depicted stories of gods, warriors, or other spiritual deities. She witnessed Buddhists lighting incense and touching the engravings and saying prayers.

“Of course taking pictures was strictly forbidden, but I will definitely remember what I saw for the rest of my life,” she wrote. “There was an ENORMOUS golden statue of Buddha surrounded with what looked like golden flowers, boxes, and different gifts. It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Goldich blogged about her mom’s recent visit to China, and explained how grateful she was that she was able to use her knowledge of the Chinese language to serve as her tour guide.

First, she introduced her to her roommate. “It was great to see two important women in my life, from two completely different ends of the Earth, come together,” she wrote.

Rose was able to tour Beijing, the Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square with her mother.

In her blog post dated May 1, she described her trip to The Forbidden City.

“Walking into the first entrance of the Forbidden City you can feel the history around you. I was just trying to imagine the sheer number of people that not only lived there, but also worked and served. The first few buildings are absolutely colossal,” she wrote.

At Clark, Goldich participates in the ONE Campus Challenge. ONE is a grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, helps put kids in school and improves futures. Goldich is a recipient of merit based awards, including the Jonas Clark Scholarship. She majors in political science and plans to take advantage of Clark’s Accelarated B.A./Masters Program.

“Everything that Clark has offered me as a student has helped me mature and grow from just a college student to a young, informed citizen,” she said.

Goldich is a member of the Class of 2014 at Clark. She is a 2010 graduate of Rockville High School in Vernon, Conn., and the daughter of Terri and Kim Goldich.

Backyard Travel Releases New China Tour: Beijing at a Glance – PRWeb

Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China

The size and frantic nature of the city can sometimes be daunting, but our city break tour provides the opportunity to experience all the wonderful aspects of Beijing accompanied by a local guide.

Bangkok, Thailand (PRWEB) April 23, 2013

The bespoke four-day, three-night tour of China’s capital city begins at Temple of Heaven Park, a place noted for its deep connection with Chinese religion and society. The tour then moves on to the Forbidden City which was lovingly restored in preparation for the 2008 Olympics and served as the Chinese Imperial Palace in the days of the Ming Dynasty, before moving on to the nearby Beihai Lake and Houhai Lake.

Houhai is surrounded by numerous hutongs which are home to traditional courtyard-style homes that have mostly been converted into charming bars and restaurants. After a scenic walk around the lakes, travelers will then be guided to the Drum Tower which was used in the Ming Dynasty to signal the passing of each hour with a drum roll.

The next day of the China tour will take travelers to discover one of the world’s most iconic and majestic man-made structures—The Great Wall of China. Travelers will be guided to a lesser visited section of the spectacular wall where they can enjoy more space to fully appreciate their time atop the giant structure.

On their return journey to Beijing, travelers will be taken to the Summer Palace, a former Imperial garden which was redesigned in the 18th century by Emperor Qianlong. The Palace grounds and is now renowned as one of China’s most revered places of beauty and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Before flying on to their next destination, or returning home, travelers will have the chance to visit the ‘798’ art district which plays host to numerous galleries, exhibitions and fashion boutiques set up by budding Chinese artists and designers.

“Beijing is one of the world’s largest and most fabulous cities and contains many sites of man-made wonder,” said Backyard Travel’s General Manager Maeve Nolan. “The size and frantic nature of the city can sometimes be daunting, but our city break tour provides the opportunity to experience all the wonderful aspects of Beijing accompanied by a local guide.”

About Backyard Travel

Bangkok based Backyard Travel is an online travel company specializing in tailor-made tours to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Japan and China. For more information about Backyard Travel, visit http://www.backyardtravel.com or Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BackyardTravel.

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So much to see

On Easter Saturday, 94 people from Alamance County left New York’s Kennedy Airport bound for China. It was a nine-day trip sponsored by the Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce. This was the second year the chamber sponsored the trip. Because those who took the trip in 2012 raved about it, the number of travelers doubled this year.

Everyone found things to like and some things to question. But Judy Burckhalter of Snow Camp summed up the most common feeling among the group, “I just can’t believe I’m here.”

Our group was broken into four smaller bus groups that would each have an individual guide.  A group of 22 opted for a side trip to Xi’an to see the renowned Terra Cotta Warriors.

When the time for air travel was backed out — 13 1/2 hours from New York to Beijing, we actually had only six days to tour Beijing, two towns outside of Shanghai and Shanghai itself. That meant that days often began at 7:30 a.m. — jet lag notwithstanding, and ended after dark. The schedule was akin to stuffing 30 pounds of potatoes into a 20-pound sack.

Beijing is a remarkable city. Its 21 million residents live in an area that is 115 miles long and 95 miles wide. If your image of China is people in blue pajamas riding bicycles, forget it. Cars are everywhere, jamming roads from dawn to deep dark. For those Chinese who can’t afford cars, there are motorcycles. I recall seeing one bicycle during our entire trip. With the cars comes smog — an all-encompassing yellow haze that wafts over everything. Our guide told us that people in Beijing see blue sky fewer than 100 days a year.

The Phoenix is the national bird of China. The Chinese national bird should be the construction crane. It seems that no matter which direction you look in Beijing or Shanghai there are at least a half dozen cranes piercing the skyline. Although there is a great deal of construction under way in China, more than a little of it seems to be idle or left half-finished.

On our first full day in Beijing, we drove to the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 but reconstructed after a fire in the late 1800s. The circular, gaily painted temple was where Chinese emperors prayed to heaven for a good harvest. The entire building is constructed of wood with no nails or bolts. Our next stop was the Ming Tombs, burial place of the Ming Dynasty emperors.

After a family style lunch of Chinese dishes (none of which I can ever recall eating in a Chinese restaurant here) the group would travel 50 miles to Badaling, the first site of the Great Wall opened to tourists. The Great Wall was one of the things I most wanted to see. Started in the 8th Century BC and completed in 221 BC, the wall is said to be the only manmade structure visible from the moon. However, before we could go to the Great Wall, we had to visit the government-run jade factory — conveniently located beside the government-run restaurant where we had lunch. The factory had some people carving jade, an explanation of the different colors and qualities of the gem stone, a museum, and, of course, a store. After more than a little time shopping, we left for the Wall, which is listed as one of the “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.”

THE NEXTday we would visit two more. Our day began at The Summer Palace aside Kunming Lake, a 600-acre lake hand-dug by 100,000 laborers in the 1700’s. The dirt was used to construct the adjacent Longevity Hill. At what remains of the Summer Palace, the beautiful Hall of Benevolence and Longevity sits behind a courtyard decorated with bronze animals — mythical and real. Our tour would not be complete without another shopping opportunity. We toured a freshwater pearl factory, where we saw how pearls were grown, harvested and graded. For lunch, we took a pedicab ride through the Hutongs of old Beijing. Hutongs are narrow alleys that fit pedicabs and bicycles but not cars. Homes with enclosed courtyards butt up to the alleys. We had lunch prepared by a family in one of the homes. It was the tastiest of the Chinese meals I had on our trip. The Hutongs are listed as one of the 1,000 places to see.

A good part of the afternoon was spent at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is best remembered by westerners for the 1989 quashing of pro-democracy demonstrations by the Chinese military. It is the largest square in the world. At one end is the building housing Chairman Mao’s tomb. The other end has the first gate into the Forbidden City — faced with a large picture of  Mao himself. The Forbidden City (one of the 1,000 places) covers 35 acres and was the home to 24 emperors. It originally contained 9,999 rooms and is said to be the largest extant palace in the world.

THE NEXTmorning, our group flew to Shanghai, met our new guide and boarded our bus to drive to Suzhou to visit Tiger Hill, home of the famous, 1,000 year-old, Buddhist leaning pagoda. Now that Mao’s reign of terror — officially the Cultural Revolution — is over, the Chinese are free to practice religion again. Buddhism seems to be the predominant choice. The grounds of the Pagoda and Temple were adorned with thousands of pots of blooming flowers. They were all familiar: daffodils, tulips, lavender, cyclamen and dahlias. Tiger Hill was the most serene place we visited.

Suzhou is a beautiful, new city of about 5 million. Its parks and landscaping are remarkable. Glen Raven has a plant in Suzhou. Last year, the group visited it, and I looked forward to doing that on our trip. Unfortunately, the tour company nixed that. Instead we were taken to a silk factory and an embroidery factory. Apparently, the shopping was more important than having a Chamber of Commerce delegation visit an American business operating in China.

After another family-style meal of rice, cabbage broth and assorted stewed and fried dishes, we boarded small barges for a cruise on the Grand Canal, which was dug over 1,300 years ago. More than 1,100 miles long, the canal connects Shanghai and Beijing. As part of the cruise, we ventured off into side channels, where houses bordered the water. We toured a local market in the canal neighborhood and saw an array of food for sale including live chickens and ducks, slabs of pork hung in the open air, and fresh vegetables.

Our second day in Suzhou, the group visited the Lingering Garden — a beautiful, classical garden set behind enclosed walls. This garden is on the list of 1,000 places to see, and it should be. The balance of the day was devoted to visiting a government silk factory to learn how silk is processed and to visit the National Embroidery Institute. One thing stood out in every Chinese government factory we visited. There was no heat. The workers all wore down vests or coats, and some wore half gloves. Architecture may have jumped into the 21st Century, but working conditions have not.

THAT EVENING,we bused several hours to Hangzhou, dubbed the Napa Valley of China. The terrain here was different from the flat farmland outside of Suzhou. Hills covered with tea plants rose up behind small villages. The next morning we visited a tea plantation. Workers on the hillside wearing traditional, wide, conical hats woven from bamboo picked the new tea leaves. We learned how tea is processed, tasted “Dragon Well” green tea, and — of course, had an opportunity to buy some.

The day was Thursday, April 4. That may not mean much to you, but for the Chinese it was “Sweeping of the Tombs” day. It is an annual event to honor one’s ancestors, and it is a national holiday. I asked a Chamber representative why the dates for the trip had been planned to coincide with Easter and this holiday. It turns out that folks outside of China were unaware of the holiday. The Chamber chose the dates to accommodate teachers and students who wanted to make the trip on their Spring Break. That worked out well, as nearly 25 percent of the people who traveled were educators or students.

The Chinese holiday did not bode well for us. We were headed to the Lingyin Temple, a 1,700-year-old Buddhist temple. The half-hour drive became an hour-and-a-half drive. The temple complex was packed with worshippers who came to honor their ancestors and to worship Buddha on their holiday. Clusters of worshippers burned long incense sticks and bowed toward the temples. On the walk into the temple complex, more than 400 Buddha images from the fat, laughing Buddha to the stern Buddha were carved into the cliff faces. Inside, with much squeezing and neck craning, we were able to see the centerpiece of the temple — a 64-foot high, carved camphor wood Buddha. Monks in their yellow robes were evident throughout the temple complex. At one time, more than 3,000 monks were said to have lived here.

We still had to drive to Shanghai, and the guide warned us that the traffic would be awful. He was right. We finally pulled into our hotel around 7:30 p.m. An adjoining mall that had a Pizza Hut, a Burger King and a KFC provided a nice respite from the Chinese meals we had been eating twice a day since our arrival.

Unfortunately, the itinerary allowed only one day in Shanghai. It is a remarkable city with architecturally distinct buildings all over. The world’s tallest building is under construction across the river from the Bund. The Bund is the foreign concession along the riverfront where European colonials built their Art Deco buildings. The buildings remain and are preserved in a park-like setting along the river. They face the new China on the other side of the Yangzi River. Our tour included a walk along the riverfront in front of the Bund.  Before that walk, we rode the famous Shanghai Maglev Train. Designed by Germans and built by the Chinese for $10 billion, the train travels 18 miles from the Pudong District to the International Airport. Using magnetic levitation, the train reaches a top speed of 243 mph. It took three minutes and 18 seconds to reach that speed. The Maglev is a fun experience to ride, but it has not been a financial success for China.

If you have seen the latest James Bond movie, “Skyfall,” you have seen the amazing lights of Shanghai. The riverfront is ablaze on both sides with multi-colored lights. I’m glad I saw the movie, because we didn’t see them while we were there. I don’t know if it was the traffic problem on the Sweeping of the Tombs Day or poor planning. In the book “1,000 Places to See Before You Die,” there is one listing for Shanghai — the Shanghai Museum. This world class museum traces 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture. It wasn’t on the itinerary, either. Instead the group spent an entire afternoon in a bazaar in an area called Shanghai’s “China Town.”

I wish we had had more time in China. It was an introduction to two countries — the old China and the new. The people (with the notable exception of one Air China flight attendant) were warm and friendly.

Some of the English translations brought a smile. At the foot of a staircase to the river walk at the Bund, a sign read: “Please walk downstairs and go backwards.” Three signs from the Lingering Garden were thoughtful: “Civilized behavior of tourists is another bright scenery,” “Don’t tread on the grass as they also have life,” “Life goes with green, civilization coexists with beautiful scenery.”

China’s economy has been booming, but it has slowed recently. Problems are on the horizon. A population of 1.3 billion causes nearly insurmountable environmental issues. While we were in Shanghai, residents were just getting over the 3,000 dead pigs that drifted down the river that is the city’s main water supply. We awoke one morning to learn that Bird Flu had broken out again. Four were dead already; the slaughter of poultry had begun. The pollution in the cities is terrible. The government is doing all it can to limit driving, but that genie is out of the bottle. Most electricity is generated in coal-fired plants. Seeing lots of half-completed buildings makes one wonder if they will be completed. As labor rates have risen, China has become less competitive as a manufacturer.

On the positive side, the Chinese are smart, industrious people. Capitalism is taking hold, and more and more Chinese are becoming entrepreneurs. The people are open to new ideas and want to progress.

China vs. France cook-off at Restaurant-Ecole Institute Paul Bocuse (and other …

Second Annual Oyster Festival: Eat the “shuck” out of some oysters at The Steak and Oyster Bar’s Second Annual Oyster Festival at Bubba’s on the Beach on Saturday April 20. Oysters are flown in from Washington State, served every way imaginable, and paired with grilled chicken, smoked salmon, burger sliders, and more. There’ll also be an oyster-shucking competition (open to pros and amateurs alike), of which the winner will win round-trip tickets to the oyster farms. The festival currently needs five pro chefs and five independent teams to help prep and serve the oysters, so if you’re available email Ken at
kennethjoewalker@gmail.com. Pick up your tickets at Bubba’s Hongqiao or the Steak and Oyster Bar at the Cool Docks.
338RMB (in advance), 388RMB(at the door) // 12-4pm // Bubba’s on the Beach // Cool Docks 2, Section 4, 653 Waima Lu, near Wangjiamatou Lu, Huangpu district (黄浦区外码路653号老码头四库, 近王家码头路).

Mahota Organic Farm Tour: On Saturday April 27, join Sprout Lifestyle on a tour of Mahota farm, Shanghai’s first biodynamic demo farm. Tour guides will walk you through the organic food’s journey from farm to table and you’ll get to enjoy a sustainably-harvested hot pot lunch from the farm itself. So bust out your green thumb and RSVP to events@sproutlifestyle.com.
350RMB // 9am-4pm // Sprout // Surpass Court, G/Floor, unit 412#, 570 Yongjia Lu, near Yueyang Lu (永嘉路570号底楼412室, 近岳阳路).

Napa Valley Shanghai 2013: On April 15, Napa reserve and House of Roosevelt are joint hosting a wine tasting featuring tipple from 19 different Napa Valley Wineries, including Beringer, Heitz, Beringer, Heitz, Quintessa, Robert Mondavi, and more.
200RMB (includes canapes) // 6:30-8:30pm // Roosevelt Wine Cellar // The House of Roosevelt, 2/F, 27 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu (中山东一路27号二楼, 近北京东路).

Head to our calendar for more.

Benjamin Cost is Shanghaiist’s Food Editor. Email tips, recommendations, and news updates on Shanghai’s dining scene to food@shanghaiist.com.

Photos: David Beckham kicks off China tour at Beijing high school

By Paul Chung

David Beckham, the Chinese Super League’s first global football ambassador, paid a visit to Beijing No. 2 High School on Wednesday as part of his four-day China tour.

The 37 year old British footballer has a special role in promoting football among Chinese youth in addition to restoring the reputation of the scandal-ridden Super League.

“I’m excited by the prospect of promoting the world’s greatest game to Chinese sports fans as I’ve seen first-hand the growing interest in football there,” Beckham said.

Beckham will continue to Qingdao and Wuhan next where his itinerary includes visiting football clubs, holding training sessions for schoolchildren, and attending matches.

Next stop in the H7N9 national tour: Beijing

By Shannon Najmabadi

Previously found only in eastern parts of China, the H7N9 avian flu virus has officially spread to Beijing, with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirming the city’s first case early on Saturday.

A seven-year-old girl, whose parents work in live poultry trading, was admitted to the Beijing Ditan Hospital on Thursday after she developed flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough and headache. Her fever has lessened and she is in a stable condition, local health officials confirmed.

Two people who have been in close contact with the child have not shown flu-like symptoms.

This new case brings the total number of H7N9 infections in China to 44, with 43 of those cases occurring in eastern parts of the country. So far, this strain of avian flu has resulted in 11 deaths.

This infection marks the geographic spread of the virus out of eastern China and has prompted authorities to shut down live poultry markets in Beijing and order the slaughter or caging of some domestically raised birds. Additionally, the Beijing Drug Administration has been ordered to stock up on medication, including enough Tamiflu for 2 million people.

While Beijing and other effected cities have been responding to infections and taking precautions, Bloomberg notes that the spread of the virus may have a negative effect on certain industries:

The spread of the virus may negatively affect insurance, airlines, consumer staples and retailing, Hong Kong-based Citigroup Inc. analysts Shen Minggao and Ben Wei wrote in an April 8 report. It could also spur food-price inflation if supplies of poultry are cut, they said.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM), said April 10 that publicity associated with bird flu has had a “significant, negative impact” on sales at its KFC dining chain in China “within the past week.” KFC offers chicken products including sandwiches, drumsticks and wings.

The bird-flu outbreak has hurt farmers “tremendously” because it’s curbing demand for chicken in eastern regions, Liu Yonghao, chairman of New Hope Liuhe Co., China’s biggest poultry supplier, said April 9.

Any negative impact from an epidemic “won’t last too long and ensuing pent-up demand could be strong, so there is no need for panic in the financial markets,” Lu Ting, chief Greater China economist at Bank of America Corp. in Hong Kong, wrote in an April 5 note.

Inside the Beltway: The first volley

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“America: Taking it back starts now” heralds the newly reinvented National Republican Congressional Committee website, which jolted to life Saturday and is an aggressive poke at a bullying Democratic presence that now commands much voter attention online.

“This site was created with you, the user, in mind. It emphasizes big, bright visual content — so that means more photos, more videos and more stories for you to enjoy and then share with your friends and family,” said digital director and webmaster Gerrit Lansing, who describes himself as a former “flack” for both Reps. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Peter J. Roskam of Illinois.

The site is cheerful, has teeth and is essentially dedicated to preventing House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, from returning to her previous perch as House speaker. Find the new outreach here: nrcc.org

“Republicans everywhere are going up against a big, powerful machine in Barack Obama. He’s got the media behind him and hundreds of millions of dollars to spend. To defeat them we need — to a great degree — to go around them,” Mr. Lansing observes.

THE “KIM” HEADLINES

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is subject to interpretation in the global press. A sampling of the headlines in the past 48 hours:

“The North Korea that roared” (Detroit News); “North Korea: The chess match with a dim wit continues” (Daily Telegraph); “The younger Kim knows exactly what he’s doing” (Financial Times); “Powerful aunt and uncle at head of Kim dynasty (Sydney Morning Herald); “Kerry seeks diplomatic off ramp for North Korea (CNN); Kim Jong-un plots his day in the sun (The Australian); “Kim’s temper tantrum needs the Talleyrand touch” (The Scotsman) ; and “China wades into Korean peninsula tensions” (Al Jazeera).

A REMINDER TO THE GOP

News Republicans can use? Uh-h-h, yes.

“Look out below, the Obamacare chaos is coming,” points out Heartland Institute economics analyst and Forbes contributor Peter Ferrara. “The biggest political problem faced by so-called liberals and so-called progressives in President Obama’s second term is how to prevent voters from holding them politically responsible as the public comes to realize how badly they were lied to during the first Obama term to win passage of Obamacare.

A GOP REMINDER

“The ideas on how to fix the federal government are now percolating in the states, 30 of which are led by Republican governors. You see, you don’t change America by changing Washington. You change America by changing the states. And that’s exactly what Republican governors are doing across the country, taking a different approach to grow their states’ economies and fix their governments with ideas that work,” said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, in the Republican Party’s weekly address.

And the ideas?

“They involve a more-focused government that costs less. A taxing structure that encourages growth. An education system that produces measurable results. And a renewed focus on the incredible dignity of each and every person, no matter who they are,” Mr. Brownback said, later adding, “We just need to become America again.”

AND THAT’S A WRAP

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