日批在线视频_内射毛片内射国产夫妻_亚洲三级小视频_在线观看亚洲大片短视频_女性向h片资源在线观看_亚洲最大网

   

Starbucks closes Chinese palace outlet

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-14 15:26

BEIJING - Starbucks has closed a coffeehouse in China's former imperial palace, the company said Saturday, ending a presence that sparked protests by Chinese people who said it damaged a key historical site.

The controversy over Starbucks at Beijing's 587-year-old Forbidden City has highlighted Chinese sensitivity about cultural symbols and unease over an influx of foreign pop culture.


A tourist walks past the windows to an outlet of Starbucks at the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, in this Jan. 18, 2007 file photo. [AP]

Starbucks closed the 200-square-foot outlet Friday after Forbidden City managers decided they wanted all shops on its grounds to operate under the palace's brand name, said Eden Woon, Starbucks' vice president for Greater China.

"It was a very congenial decision. We respect what they are doing," Woon said.

The Starbucks opened in 2000 at the invitation of palace managers, who needed to raise money to maintain the 178-acre complex of villas and gardens. But critics said it was inappropriate. An anchor for a Chinese television led an online protest, saying the coffeehouse diminished Chinese culture.

Starbucks was offered the option of becoming part of a combined outlet with other beverage brands all sold under the Palace Museum brand name, according to Woon and Chinese news reports, which cited the palace's vice president, Li Wenru.

"There were several choices, one of which was to continue, but it would not carry the Starbucks name any more," Woon said. "We decided at the end that it is not our custom worldwide to have stores that have any other name, so therefore we decided the choice would be to leave."

Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. opened its first coffeehouse in China in 1999 and now has 250 mainland outlets. Its success has spawned a series of Chinese imitators. Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz described China last year as the company's No. 1 growth market.

The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors before the end of imperial rule in 1911. It is China's top tourist attraction, drawing some 7 million visitors a year. Other businesses there include bookstores, souvenir shops and Chinese-style teahouses.

The palace is in the midst of a renovation, due to last through 2020, to restore the site to its imperial-era appearance. That includes removing a five-story archive museum and toning down commercial symbols. The number of shops on its grounds has been cut from 37 to 17, according to Chinese media.

Related readings:
Starbucks must leave Forbidden City
Lawmaker calls to remove Starbucks from Forbidden City
Will Starbucks move from the Forbidden City?

"Those businesses that remain in the Forbidden City must carry out reforms," the newspaper Beijing Daily quoted Li, the vice president, as saying. It gave no details.

Starbucks was a popular resting spot for palace visitors, but attracted criticism from the start. The company agreed shortly after opening to lower its profile by removing its exterior sign.

Protests were led by Rui Chenggang, an anchor for China Central Television's English-language channel.

Starbucks' presence "undermined the Forbidden City's solemnity and trampled over Chinese culture," Rui wrote in his CCTV blog earlier this year.


123  


Top China News  
Today's Top News  
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
主站蜘蛛池模板: 天海翼在线视频 | 亚洲成年人 | 国产免费久久久 | 青青草色视频 | 黄色.com | 午夜视频网站 | 亚洲欧美日韩免费 | 国产9区| 色哺乳xxxxhd奶水米仓惠香 | 国产精品区在线观看 | 欧美亚洲大片 | 麻豆国产91在线播放 | 久久久久久久999 | 永久在线视频 | 中文日韩在线观看 | 91免费入口| 色吧av色av | 欧美久久久久久久 | 在线观看国产欧美 | 人人插人人看 | 亚洲欧美日本一区 | a久久久久久 | av播放网站 | 热热色av| 亚州综合视频 | 黄色在线免费观看 | 国产女人高潮毛片 | 一区二区91| 天天天操操操 | 亚洲天堂少妇 | 欧美午夜精品一区二区蜜桃 | 成人免费视频一区二区 | 国产成人av在线 | 手机看片日韩在线 | 色就是色网站 | 欧美在线观看网站 | 九九综合视频 | 男人天堂手机在线 | 免费精品在线 | 人人人超碰 | 欧美巨大另类极品videosbest |