Editor's Note:

Are you up on what the hundreds of millions of Chinese netizens are talking about? Take a moment and get the rundown of what's hot, what's trending, and what's drawing the most buzz on the Chinese blogosphere.

Hotpot chain gets cool reception in US

The highly anticipated opening of the first American branch of the Haidilao hotpot chain has met with many unexpected complaints.

The restaurant opened in Arcadia, Los Angeles, on September 7, with some changes to adapt to the US market. For example, some broth flavors of soup like pickled fish soup aren't served, because Americans complain it tastes like herbal medicine.

In addition, unlike in China, customers waiting for a table won't be offered free manicures. The dazzling live "noodle dance"performed by the staff, during which a chef emerges from the kitchen and stretches a piece of dough into a 3-meter long ribbon while energetically tossing it around the room like a lasso, has been retained.

The changes have triggered different voices from the Net users.

A Net user complained that as a fan of Haidilao, one could not expect to enjoy the same level of service in the US as the Chinese outlets.

Natalie, an American with poor Chinese, was surprised to find no English service for booking the seats by phone, and no English version of menus at the restaurant.

A Net user from Xiangyang, Hubei Province, said that the new restaurant was a big disappointment, saying his party spent 917 yuan ($150) but did not eat their fill.

Haidilao has more than 80 outlets in China, and one in Singapore.

Passengers who refuse to give up seats on bus could be kicked off

The draft of a new regulation on managing buses in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, says drivers and attendants can decline to serve passengers who refuse to offer their seats to those who need physical assistance.

Social convention calls upon bus passengers to offer their seats to riders who are elderly, pregnant, or physically challenged.

The newly released draft has sparked controversy as many Net users said that a moral issue like offering seats to others should not be imposed upon by laws or regulations.

"It's pathetic to see that moral restraints rely on legal compulsion. The morality should be fulfilled by educating and instructing people," said Net user Tiejia Gangquan.

Others said that young people who spend all day working have a greater need for seats than elderly people, who may only be spending their days playing chess. Except for cases of refusing seats to pregnant women, they say, it's unreasonable to kick them off the bus.

Many have complained that some elderly people take the seats for granted, and do not show any gratitude at all to those who offer seats to them.

However, a few Net users said that those who refuse to offer them to passengers in need of assistance should be made to get off the bus.