Beijing Mandarin Oriental Hotel Fire
The nearly finished 241-room Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Beijing went up in flames after lunar new-year’s fireworks set the complex ablaze. The following photo from Chinasmack indicates the severity of the fire, which completely destroyed the building:
Shanghaiist quotes a number of twitter users who claim that the building is reported to be structurally unsound, and that it will either collapse or be torn down:
@fuzheado: Cripes … BBC says building will collapse.
@DavidFeng: Word has it that the building is close to explosion. Whole thing pretty much toast, all in all. — 00.09am
@iheartbeijing: policemen around scene were predicting collapse, undoubtedly they will have to implode building if it doesn’t happen on own — 00.10am
Please note that although it was originally reported in many blogs, newspapers that it was the CCTV building on fire, that is incorrect. Also, Richard asks if random fireworks should be allowed on Chinese new years.
Crown HEIM White Cream Wafers
Crown Bakery, an Asian manufacturer of delicacies, makes a very delicious white cream-filled wafer, which Wendy was darling enough to mail me from Shanghai! The only regret is that she didn’t send me several large boxes!
I am going to eat them now. MMMMmm!