Just imagine, you've had a big breakfast today before leaving home for work. But it seems very soon, and it’s food time again for lunch. You are not feeling hungry yet, but you’d still like to eat out with your office colleagues. Plus a small walk during the midday is always welcome. So instead of big menus like those for dinner or for brunch, you are wishing for something in between, something in proper portion. Finally you find this place, your eyes are sparkling and your day is delighted! A paradise on earth with noodle soupes in all kinds. It might not be a perfect dinner, but for a snack in your case, for sure it will be more than enough.
Look at these wonderful bowls of fine food. Noodles with shrimps and some green vegetables, or with a piece of stewed beef or sliced pork? Or more exotic with some chicken wings or fish head? And if you are a vegetarian, there are then those choices with mushrooms, green beans, fresh fruits and lotus seeds...
But wait a minute! After the flying look, the second look will certainly hold your breath. Your new discovery will lead you to laughter, though your stomach is going to go strike for this cheating game! These are key chains and magnets! How come, the soupe looks just astonishingly real! As you're watching these hanging bowls, you even worry if the liquid will spill over!
If you'll say you are not a fan of Chinese fast food, you'll probably love what you see next - KFC! Maize and fried potatos, with some fried chicken are so original American style of fast food. But hold on second, why this Kentucky Grandpa in logo wears no glasses anymore? And since when the KFC turns into FYGY?! Your eyeballs can hardly believe what you see. This twin－brother－like Kentucky is definitely not the original! If you understand some Chinese, you will know, this deals with a typical Chinese phenomenon- Shanzhai (山寨), translated as copycat, what we call the indentified copies of an original product. It’s kind of hurting intellectual property rights, but with a lot of humor.
According to KFC China official website, till 24th March 2014 there are already 4'600 KFC shops in whole China. It is absolute No. 1 fast food in Chinese food and beverage industry. I surfed online and found more related informations. Since 1987 KFC opened the first shop in China as the first western fast food brand entering China, it covers now almost all the cities in China, in more than 500 cities. Shanghai is the fastest city with KFC developement worldwide. Till now it owns more than 400 shops and restaurants. Each Shanghaiese in average goes to KFC 4 times a year. Once it happend, a single Shanghai KFC shop made a turnover record for a daily business with more than 400'000 RMB Yuan (about 60'000 CHF). Of course it was a world record.
If this thought spoils your appetite, please don’t worry. You can skip the main food and directly go for the desserts! Some fancy cakes, or some fine chocolates from those luxury boxes, or even a jar of beer for the summer day!
Look at these wonderful miniatures, and accesories. Instead for your stomach choose something for your friends or family back at home. You have to know this: A postcard is out! Something like this is really cool! But then, you will face your next problem here: Before you decorate your fridge door, you are lost in the choices of food, extactly like when you are sitting in a street food shop somewhere in China and looking at those pictures of dishes on the wall or in the menu. But this time, for the perfect catch, your hunger won't help, but your eyes do!
Yunlong Song
PHOTOGRAPHER, FILMMAKER
Yunlong Song was born in Yantai, P. R. China. He studied Arabic, international relations and journalism at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Later he got his M.A. in film from Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). Since 2008, he has been involved in many Swiss university exchange programmes, and worked for intercultural workshops and arts projects.
