Solar Energy News  
SINO DAILY
Concrete beach lures Chinese to world's largest building
by Staff Writers
Chengdu, China (AFP) Aug 19, 2016


Hong Kong 'rabbit cafe' hops onto high street
Hong Kong (AFP) Aug 19, 2016 - The newest addition to Hong Kong's cafe scene is taking a soft approach to business -- with 12 resident rabbits for customers to pet.

The "Rabbitland" bunnies munch on grass while visitors coo over them between sips of tea and bites of toasted sandwich.

Tucked away on the third floor of a high-rise in the busy commercial district of Causeway Bay, the cafe says it gives people who have no room to keep a pet in space-starved Hong Kong the chance to bond with the fluffy animals.

Most of the rabbits have been abandoned by previous owners.

Hong Kong already has a number of "cat cafes", but this is the first one for rabbits, inspired by a similar shop in Japan.

"I like how soft they are and like their fur and how gentle they are when you feed them," says Natalie Chan, 11, whose mother had brought her to find out more about keeping rabbits as she wants one as a pet.

There are a list of rules about how to behave around the animals, including not picking them up or pulling their ears.

Co-founder Teddy Chui, 29, says anyone who does not obey the rules is asked to leave.

The "Rabbitland" bunnies are not for sale, but Chui says a visit helps children understand what looking after one would involve.

"A lot of parents bring their kids here if they want to buy a rabbit, so they know it's not all about playing with them -- it's a lot of work and responsibility," says Chui.

-- This story accompanies a photo essay by Anthony Wallace. Video by Justine Gerardy --

Claiming to be the world's largest building by floor space, the 1,760,000 square metres of the New Century Global Center are a monument to growing Chinese consumer power, packed with shoppers -- and beach bathers a thousand kilometres from the coast.

Home to hundreds of shops, restaurants, offices, a cinema and ice rink, the cavernous building in Chengdu, deep in southwestern China, also hosts a water park featuring a pool modelled on the seaside.

"The indoor ocean attracts me more with lots of facilities and activities like surfing and water skiing," said Gao Nini, 31, who paradoxically travelled from the coastal city of Qingdao to visit.

"We have the sea but I'm worried I would get tanned," she said of visiting the beach in her home town.

Ringed by a concrete beach, hundreds of bathers -- wearing obligatory life vests -- splashed in the waters' artificial waves, which are generated at intervals.

Behind them stood a bell tower resembling St Mark's Basilica in Venice, and a monumental screen relaying South Korean pop videos.

The Global Center project has seemingly defied critics who condemned it when it opened in 2013 as an example of China's wasteful construction boom, which has left swathes of empty houses outside many cities.

Along with a railway line to Europe and a convention centre that recently hosted a G20 finance ministers' conference, the massive structure is part of Chengdu's bid for top-tier city status.

Exact figures are not known, but the local government is reported to have spent more than $6 billion on it.

The Chengdu Commercial Daily reported that 90 percent of commercial space in the complex has been rented, while a staff member told AFP that some 8,000 office workers commute there each day.

Even so it has not escaped political controversy, with reports linking its construction to Zhou Bin, the jailed son of China's former security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was himself jailed for bribery last year.

The millionaire behind the building, Deng Hong, went missing during a probe into Zhou but was later released, local media said.

Inside the centre, the pool is ringed by restaurants where customers in swimming costumes ate pizza and hot orange juice -- but the hard-surface beach left some pining for a genuine seaside experience.

"I have never seen the real sea but I want to see one and go surfing," said seven-year-old Liu Qingsong. "The (fake) sea looks good but it's not as good as the real one."

-- This story accompanies a photo essay by Fred Dufour --


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
China News from SinoDaily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
SINO DAILY
Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders escape jail on protest charges
Hong Kong (AFP) Aug 15, 2016
Three leaders of Hong Kong's "Umbrella Revolution" avoided jail Monday over 2014 pro-democracy protests as a court said political tension would not sway its judgement, in a city divided by Beijing's tightening grip. The young campaigners - Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow - were charged for a protest in September 2014 which saw students climb over a fence into Hong Kong's government ... read more


SINO DAILY
South American Egg Producer Invests in German Energy Plant Technology

Sewage sludge could make great sustainable fertilizer

Engineering a better biofuel

National Trust historic home enjoys 21st Century heat

SINO DAILY
China's Midea grabs near-95% stake in German firm Kuka

CSRA explores human-machine interaction for Air Force

New robot overcomes obstacles

First wave-propelled robot swims, crawls and climbs using a single, small motor

SINO DAILY
OX2 wins EPC contract for 112 MW wind power in Norway

Wind power fiercer than expected

E.ON starts new wind farm in Texas

Offshore wind the next big thing, industry group says

SINO DAILY
Saab expands in Denmark

Obama admin unveils new truck fuel standards

Today's electric vehicles can make a dent in climate change

Ford putting self-driving cars in a fast lane

SINO DAILY
Making nail polish while powering fuel cells

Solid batteries improve safety

Enhanced electron doping on iron superconductors discovered

Lithium-ion batteries: Capacity might be increased by 6 times

SINO DAILY
Nuclear plant delay may shift UK energy policy

South Korea Relaunches Wolsong NPP's Reactor After Fixing Technical Problem

Nuclear Inspection Benefits from New Generation Sensor Lens

Japan reactor restarts in post-Fukushima nuclear push

SINO DAILY
New residential water heater concept promises high efficiency, lower cost

Warming climate likely to have 'minor' impact on power plant output

Low sales prices hit Czech power giant CEZ in H1

New MIT system can identify how much power is being used by each device in a household

SINO DAILY
A plant present in Brazil is capable of colonizing deforested areas

Many more species at risk from Southeast Asia tree plantations, study finds

Drought conditions slow the growth of Douglas fir trees across the West

Early snowmelt reduces forests' atmospheric CO2 uptake









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.