The jing

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-28 09:42

Cantopop King to star in new film

Known as one of the four kings of Cantopop, singer and actor Jacky Cheung is set to play the lead role in the upcoming film Hot Summer Day (Quan Cheng Re Lian). For those not well versed in Cantonese pop icons, you may know him from Perhaps Love - the Chinese film industry's 2005 answer to Moulin Rouge - where he played the wily Circus Master. This new film, co-starring Ren'e Liu, is a romantic comedy about a divorced driver (Cheung) who lives at home with his daughter, only to find love in the most unlikely (or to some, the likeliest) of places - a massage parlor. There's nothing naughty or suggestive about their blossoming romance, however, in fact, their love is revealed slowly through sweet messages. Cheung revealed to the press recently that this is the first time he will be acting as a father in a movie. METRO guesses we'll be seeing his acting skills put to the test this time around.

Liu Xiang to join parade

The JING has learned that Liu Xiang will be one of the nation's big-timers to participate in the National Day parade on Oct 1. "This means Liu has become one of the best Chinese athletes in history. I would rank the moment on Oct 1 the second best, just next to his Beijing Olympic torch relay with President Hu on Tian'anmen Square last year," a fan of Liu nicknamed "I am Liu Xiang" told the JING. Eager to renew contracts with Nike, VISA and Coca-Cola, the 110m hurdler came back to the track with a surprise performance in Shanghai last weekend, a year after his jaw-dropping walk-out from his Beijing Olympic debut.

Liu skyrocketed to fame during the 2004 Athens Olympics by winning a gold medal - the first Chinese athlete to do so as a sprinter in a track event. Luckily for him, the parade only asks that he wave from the top of a float.

What ever happened to Bite a Pita?

As is what happens sometimes to the places you grow to love in this city, Bite a Pita has been closed. Its cozy location over on Nurenjie near the US Embassy is no more, and to the great concern of many Beijingers, like us here at the JING who had developed a healthy dependence on its affordable hummus and falafel dishes, wondered if it would miraculously reappear somewhere or be gone for good. There have been online forums created hoping to answer this very question, and a few days ago the news presented was great. Bite a pita will be reopening in the spot previously occupied by A-Che on Dongzhimenwai opposite the Australian and Canadian embassies, not far from Paddy O'Shea's. When it will reopen exactly has not yet been confirmed, but what's another few more months?

Amazing Andrew

A prevalent topic among today's families is a generation gap that seems wider than ever. With so much change happening so quickly in society, parents and their, well, child, in today's China have trouble relating to each other. Dear Andrew (Qin Ai De An De Lie) is a book whose popularity can be attributed to just that - one mother's quest to get to know her son.

Through a series of more than 30 letters of between Lung Ying-tai and her son, who she left behind in Europe at the age of 14 to work in the bureau of culture in Taiwan.

After she returned to Europe four years later, she found herself estranged from the 18 year-old man who was sitting in front of her. Lung decided to know this young man and spent three years working on it, mainly through written correspondence. It's touching, but unfortunately, not yet available in English.