Chinese city bans foreign names

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 15 Sep 2005, 11:49

Chinese city bans foreign names

The capital of the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan, Kunming, has banned the use of foreign names for buildings and property developments.
They debased traditional culture and were in poor taste, an official said.

Under recent guidelines, new developments must have their names approved by officials to get a licence.

Correspondents say names that sound foreign are popular in China, because they add a hint of exoticism to new housing projects in the country.

'Weird'

At least nine developments in Kunming have changed their names so far since new guidelines were implemented.

Names such as Aladdin Gardens and White House Mini District were among those changed, the Associated Press reports.

"It is not proper to name those communities with so many weird foreign titles," an official with the local urban planning department told the agency.

"We feel obligated to keep our local characteristics."

Foreign-sounding names were targeted at the educated middle class, who are open to foreign travel, culture and ideas.

Kunming first enacted rules against naming real estate developments with foreign names in 1997, but it issued new guidelines after complaints from the officials of the local Communist Party.

A spokeswoman for the developer of the White House Mini District, said the company was following the new guidelines.

"The old name seemed to suit the project, but I don't think there'll be any effect on sales," the woman said, quoted by AP.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 15 Sep 2005, 17:52

Nice to see our old friend xenophobia alive and well.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 15 Sep 2005, 19:04

They really love everyone else you know :shock: well they would love to wipe everyone out of the world and just have one big China

they are one odd set of political people.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 15 Sep 2005, 21:47

I was kinda hoping to visit Aladdin Gardens... guess I'll never get my wish... hohoho!! (see what I did there?).

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 16 Sep 2005, 13:00

Government censorship sucks and all, but I don't think anyone would give major fuck about this one - except probably the property developers.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 16 Sep 2005, 14:30

Next they will ban any written language in anything but chinese

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 16 Sep 2005, 19:48

Hey I just noticed something. Isn't Aladdin like.. a Chinese folk tale? Like the pantomimes etc, they are set in China.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 16 Sep 2005, 19:56

No its Arabian isnt it Bisc?

(Or Middle Eastern, or something).

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 16 Sep 2005, 22:17

I honestly don't know... although Disney's adaptation was Arabian... I've seen a lot of stories take place in China. Probably is Arabian LOL... it's hardly a Chinese name.

Sorry for the stupidity folks.