Week In Review: September 1-5, 2014

In case you missed them the first time around, here are some of Jing Daily’s top posts for the week of September 1-5, 2014. Baidu Eye Prototype Unveiled To Rival Google Glass After over a year of speculation, Chinese tech giant Baidu has finally revealed Baidu Eye—its answer to Google Glass—at the Baidu World conference in Beijing. Displayed on Wednesday, the working prototype is visually different from Google Glass—it wraps around the back of the head with a camera on one side and an earpiece on the other. Since it doesn’t go across the face, it’s certainly a lot less goofy-looking than Google’s device, meaning that Baidu may not have to enlist the help of Diane von Furstenberg to try to make it cool. Infographic: What’s Grabbing The Attention Of China’s 527 Million Mobile Internet Users Chinese internet users now access the web more often through their mobile devices than through PCs, according to recent statistics from the China Internet Network Information Center. By the end of June this year, China had 527 million mobile web users, marking a 5.4 percent increase from the end of 2013. World’s Largest Duty-Free Mall Makes Its Hainan Debut It’s the moment China’s price-savvy shoppers have all been waiting for: the world’s largest duty-free mall is now officially open for business. With all the requisite pomp and circumstance, China Duty Free (CDF) celebrated the grand opening of its massive 72,000-square-meter Haitang Bay shopping center today in the sunny island province of Hainan. A few of the 300 brands available in the tariff-free haven include Burberry, Chanel, and Dior, while some such as Louis Vuitton and Prada are waiting for the Spring Festival travel period before they open. New York’s Boutique Hotel Plaza Athénée Delivers Chinese Flavor To Upper East Side A favorite spot for celebrities such as fashion designer Marc Jacobs and actress Sarah Jessica Parker, New York’s Hotel Plaza Athénée serves as an intimate Upper East Side retreat for well-heeled clients searching for a niche luxury abode. Increasingly joining this contingent of high-profile visitors are wealthy Chinese travelers, who are now enjoying China-specific amenities at small boutique hotels in addition to major chains as they head abroad in record numbers. China’s Latest Wedding Craze: Underwater Photos China’s wedding industry is estimated to be worth a stunning $130 billion (up from $80 billion not long ago), and one significant part of that business happens before the ceremony even happens: the wedding photo shoot. That’s because in China, couples dress up in their marriage garb ahead of them for elaborate picture sessions, which can reach extreme levels of extravagance (and tackiness) when wealthy clients are involved.

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Week In Review: September 1-5, 2014