China not yet ready to give up chance of cars and Chanel

• Source: Global Times
• [23:28 December 09 2009]
• Comments

By Ding Gang

Four days before the opening of the 15th United Nation Climate Change Conference (COP15), Chanel opened its flagship store in Shanghai. Dozens of limited edition handbags, specially designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Shanghai, sold out within 48 hours, despite being priced at 28,800 yuan ($4,218).

Shanghai seems to have gone beyond just being the leader of luxury consumption in China and become the flag bearer of the global luxury market. No wonder that the Sunday Telegraph exclaimed in surprise that it seems emblematic of a new era in global consumerism.

The excitement of Chanel opening in Shanghai and the COP15 opening in Copenhagen seem total different things. However, there is a certain inevitability in where each of these events occurred.

Just as Shanghai, always famous for its shopping, was the obvious choice for Chanel, Copenhagen was a very appropriate city to hold the UN event.

During my six years living in northern Europe, I traveled to this famous city many times, where I often saw hordes of cyclists peddling through the streets. In most developed countries, it is quite rare to see so many cyclists.

There is even a kind of communal bike in Copenhagen, which is usually locked up in fixed places, such as stations, terminals, commercial areas, schools and residential areas.