Chen Zhifeng is a “self-made” billionaire, founder of the Western Regions Photography Society, and a major force in Xinjiang’s art scene. He is part of a newly minted cohort of Xinjiang capitalists: the Xinjiang 8 (or 9), who have taken advantage of Chinese-Central Asian market development and the post-Reform oil and gas economy. His Wild Horses Corporation brings in an annual income of $700 million selling Chinese-made women’s underwear and TVs in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Yet, unlike some other Xinjiang elites, Chen has reinvested his wealth in Xinjiang.
Today on C4: Rob sits down with some famous people, such as Zhang Zizhong and Pet Shop Boys. Stuart honors the fans by singing in the style of the latter. Shutup!
Sophie Koh's family comes from China, who then moved to Malaysia, then New Zealand, until finally settling down in Australia. From this wealth of cultural influences comes Sophie Koh's unique and striking blend of indie pop. Backed by a crack team of musicians, she spread her jams during a recent national tour (her first) to nearly every city in China, and plans to return in six months.
Brad Little and Claire Lyon, the two pointing foreigners, are in Shanghai to promote Phantom of the Opera, which is coming to Shanghai Culture Square in December and January. The two play the Phantom and Christine Daaé.
Today on C4: Check out Mike Tyson's hilarious voice and Pacific Rim's hilarious subtitling. Also, the Sound Stage Music Awards are upcoming, for you Chinese music fans out there... as is the duck. The duck is most definitely coming.
Here's some spazzoid computer music this week from Stockholm producer Covox, in fervid anticipation of his set at Dada this Saturday night. He's back in town for the ten-year anniversary of Shanshui Records, local producer Sulumi's platform for bananascore electronica music of local, international, and galactic origins.
If you have a spare moment -- but only a moment, because we'd hate for this to detract from, you know, whatever it is you do -- check out this video of five Chinese girls doing a breasty sort of tribute to the boob mother.
In 2008, Christoph Rehage walked more than 4,500 kilometers through China, grew a beard, and made an incredible video that made it to No. 8 on Time.com's list of top viral videos of 2009. It was called "The Longest Way."
Rehage's follow-up, "The Longest Way 2.0 - Back to Xinjiang," is just as stunningly good. Released two weeks ago on Vimeo, it details Rehage's 865-kilometer "summer stroll" from Urumqi to Khorgas, featuring footage from 2010 to 2012.
Hello Beijing Cream readers. My name is Josh and I work at this other website called Smart Beijing, where I write tl;dr music articles on a weekly basis. The Tao is outsourcing these Friday Musical Outros to my colleague Morgan, but he went a little too hard at Pet Shop Boys last night. So here I am.
