Car maker Ferrari has apologized after one of its cars drove on top of an ancient Chinese monument in Nanjing as a publicity stunt.
Ferrari suggested the incident was the fault of a single reckless employee.
The car was filmed wheel-spinning on top of a 600-year-old Ming-dynasty era wall in the city of Nanjing.
Footage of the screeching vehicle has infuriated China’s online community. It has hit a nerve in a society where such cars are a symbol of privilege.
Car maker Ferrari has apologized after one of its cars drove on top of an ancient Chinese monument in Nanjing as a publicity stunt
One web user called it a “rude insult” to Chinese tradition and culture.
The stunt, in the run-up to a Ferrari show, left tire marks on the wall.
But most public anger has been directed at city officials after reports emerged suggesting they had agreed to rent the use of the wall to the Ferrari dealership for about $12,000.
City officials have retorted that the car company did not have approval.
“No enterprise or individual is allowed to use the city ramparts in Nanjing for commercial purposes,” Nanjing Cultural Relics Bureau Captain Wu Jing said.
Other than the tire marks, physical damage to the monument does not appear to be substantial.
As a publicity stunt, the incident could not have gone more wrong.
The night-time spin, shortly after the car had been hoisted on to the wall, reportedly led to the cancellation of the event itself, a celebration of 20 years since Ferrari entered the Chinese car market.
The word Ferrari has now been blocked on Chinese microblogs, perhaps as part of an effort to contain criticism of the actions of government officials.
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Catherine Mok, a thoroughly modern working mother, decided to give birth during 2012, the Year of the Dragon, which is considered to be one of the most expensive years for having a baby.
Like many ethnic Chinese around the world, Catherine Mok believes the mythical dragon is the most auspicious sign in the traditional 12-year zodiac cycle.
“The dragon is special,” said the Hong Kong native, who works as a makeup artist.
“Of course, I am not willing to wait 12 years for a dragon baby, but I was willing to wait one or two years.”
Catherine Mok is due to deliver her second child, another daughter, in early February.
In part because of greater demand for maternity services, Catherine Mok plans to spend 100,000 Hong Kong dollars ($12,820) for medical care alone.
That is 50% more than the amount spent on the birth of her first child, Ashley, just three years ago during the Year of the Rat, a less auspicious year.
Many couples across Asia are making extra efforts to give birth to so-called “dragon babies” in 2012.
The trend is expected to trigger a temporary fertility boom and place a strain on public services in certain cities, as well as cause some families to go on spending sprees.
In Hong Kong, the government expects 5% more births in 2012, compared with 2011. Doctors and academics believe the figure may be as high 10%.
Companies selling infant formula milk, nappies and prams are expected to cash in, as well as specialist service providers.
Many couples across Asia are making extra efforts to give birth to so-called "dragon babies" in 2012
According to Chinese tradition, a woman’s body is at its most vulnerable after birth.
If possible, she should enter a period of confinement at home for one month after birth, to ensure her long-term recovery.
BBcare, a Hong Kong agency that provides pre- and postnatal services, expects 20% growth in revenues in 2012, compared with 2011, due to the dragon baby trend.
The largest part of its business is referring postnatal care nurses to expectant families.
Average hourly rates have already risen 15%, according to Wendy Lam, an experienced nurse at BBcare.
The agency says enquiries have jumped 25%, and it is forecasting more successful referrals than in previous years.
With so many mothers giving birth in Hong Kong, the company believes there will be a shortage of postnatal care workers.
The dragon baby boom is also expected to give a boost to property markets in some Asian cities.
In a recent research note, analysts at Citi investment bank argued there would be more births and marriages in the new lunar year, leading to an increase in property transactions in Hong Kong.
It explains that the Western calendar has 365 days, whilst the lunar year has 354 days.
The extra days add up to one month every three years, creating a “leap year” in the Year of Dragon.
Citi property analyst Ken Yeung cites data showing the number of marriages grew by 12% in good years, compared to just 1% in other years.
“These new marriages provide a good source of potential home buyers,” he writes. “This should drive structural demand for homes in 2012, while new supply will remain tight in the near term.”
Property prices in mainland China and Hong Kong have fallen because of Beijing’s efforts to cool economic growth.
The fact that the Year of the Dragon is a lucky time to give birth is widely accepted in the Chinese-speaking world, from Taiwan to Indonesia.
But giving birth this year is especially expensive, compared with other times, and not everyone is jumping into the fray.
Charlie Chen, China consumer analyst at BNP Paribas, says other factors are at work when it comes to deciding when to have a baby.
Like others in the financial industry, his salary and bonus are, in part, determined by the performance of global markets.
With so much uncertainty in Europe and the US, Charlie Chen says he has no choice but to pass on the dragon.
“I am married,” he says.
“Personally, I would like to have a baby in the Year of the Dragon, but I’ve got to postpone it because of market turmoil.”
