The jing

Starbucks has evolved, but are we happy?

Oh, dear God. As if we didn't already have enough of them. Yes, another Starbucks has opened in Beijing, but this time the strain has evolved to fit in amongst the laozihao of Qianmen Pedestrian Street. Once a very popular business street during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Qianmen has recently been undergoing some serious renovations, becoming a more approximate version of its former self. That is, a more commercialized one. The new three-storey shop makes the same coffee drinks we all know and love, but they're served in mugs specially designed for its Qianmen location. The shop has also adapted to blend in with its surroundings, with Chinese-style antique furniture and baristas prancing around in qipaos instead of the standard green-aproned uniform. More Chinese pastries, like moon cakes, will also be available for purchase, in addition to those flaky apple cinnamon scones. Indeed, with its third floor terrace, you get a nice view of Qianmen and Tiananmen Square. Nothing like a view of a Chinese landmark to make the mocha hazelnut frappuccino go down.

This bookstore's closed, but the story's not over