THE PLACE

The Place is a new shopping center in central Beijing which claims to have the largest LED screen in the world and uses it to dramatic effect by streaming scenes of either outer space or undersea. This was the part where we went hurtling towards the sun and the whole plaza was bathed in warm orange light.

Rather than inspiring childish wonder, China generally causes me raise my fists to the sky in a silent cry of "what is this fresh hell?" Thus, I felt I owed it to my poor brain and nervous system to visit The Place and be amused. Also, I totally wanted to go hang out at Starbucks.

The undersea part was very soothing. I especially liked when the life-size humpback whale went sailing above, although the Asian mermaid kind of creeped me out.

The Chinese name means something like "World of Heaven's Greatest Goods". I don't know what marketing genius decided to give it an English name that makes anyone who speaks of it sound like a simpleton in an Abbot & Costello sketch.

Here are some 30-second clips of the streaming footage. Yes, that is me giggling in the background and saying aiya, zhen zaogao (oh no, how terrible!) as the asteroid came rushing towards us.





It was really cool. Thanks to my trend-scouting pops for hearing about it first!