Beijing news stories on Newser

New Rule for Beijing Public Toilets: Only 2 Flies

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:19:33 CDT

The Chinese government is implementing new rules to spruce up its capital city's notoriously dirty public bathrooms. The weirdest of the bunch: a toilet in Beijing can be home to a maximum of two flies, reports the BBC . It's not clear how rigidly the measures will be enforced, but the...

China Slams US as Dissident Leaves Embassy

Rob Quinn — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:40:00 CDT

Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng has left the US Embassy in Beijing "of his own volition" after taking refuge there for six days, according to state media. Chen—who escaped from house arrest last month —traveled with US Ambassador Gary Locke to a Beijing hospital, reports the Washington Post . American...

US, China in Talks Over Blind Activist: Rights Group

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:29:58 CDT

The US is in "high-level talks" with China over the blind human rights activist who recently fled Chinese authorities , according to a group based in Texas. Chen Guangcheng "is under US protection and high-level talks are currently under way between US and Chinese officials regarding Chen's status," said the ChinaAid...

US-North Korea Nuke Talks Return 'Bit of Progress'

Mark Russell — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:26:28 CST

The US and North Korea came to the table to talk about nukes, and the negotiations ended today with a "little bit of progress," said the chief US negotiator. The two-day meeting in Beijing was the first official contact between the two countries since the death of Kim Jong Il...

China's Air Quality Data Suspiciously Sunny

Mark Russell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:39:44 CST

The Chinese government, under fire from its citizens about its unbelievably upbeat pollution reports , has started to release more detailed data about smog in Beijing, reports the AP . For the first time, Beijing's official weather website yesterday included readings about PM2.5, or particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers...

Beijing Apple Store Egged After Botched iPhone Launch

Rob Quinn — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:10:00 CST

If notorious perfectionist Steve Jobs was still alive, today's bungled launch of the iPhone 4S in Beijing might have given him a heart attack. Would-be customers who waited all night in freezing temperatures became furious when Apple's flagship Beijing store abruptly announced that the phone would not go on sale...

China Admits: It's Smog, not Fog

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:45:00 CST

Those shadowy days that appear in mid-afternoon in Beijing aren't just caused by fog after all, Chinese officials are finally admitting. It's throat-choking, eye-watering, blinding smog. And it's been so atrocious the last few days that authorities have had to cancel flights out of Beijing International Airport, the world's second...

'Beijing Is a Nightmare': Ai Weiwei

Matt Cantor — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:51:05 CDT

Free from the “mental torture” of his jail cell , Ai Weiwei turns his pen to his home city. There are two Beijings, he writes for Newsweek : "One is of power and of money," the other "one of desperation." The millions who come to Beijing each year are its "slaves," resigned...

4 Injured in Clash Outside Beijing Apple Store

Matt Cantor — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:05:05 CDT

Hundreds lined up in Beijing Saturday to get their hands on a white iPhone 4 or iPad 2—but eager anticipation bubbled over into violence that injured four, CNN reports. An apparent scalper kept trying to cut into the long line of those waiting to enter the Apple store, witnesses...