Follow your lucky stars

Fans of Chinese celebrities now have a new way to follow their idols.

My Favorite Places (www.google.cn/help/maps/favoriteplaces/) is a program and social networking site using Google China's map search engine. It invites singers, actors, writers and artists to mark their favorite places in cities.

Supergirl champion Shang Wenjie, former child star Jin Ming and popular writer Zhang Yueran are among the celebrity list. Mountain climbing experts and bird-watching veterans are also included.

Cities covered include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Wuhan, Chengdu as well as Taipei and Hong Kong. More than 170 celebrities have joined up and each provided 15 to 20 of their favorite places, along with their impressions.

Two weeks ago, actor Huang Bo posted a short article about Beijing, where he started his acting career: "My thoughts about Beijing date back more than a decade, to when I was a singer. The city was once a dreamland for me and now it is my second hometown," the Qingdao native writes.

Followed by the article are 15 places he often visits, such as Chaoyang Park, Gongti Xilu, Beijing Film Academy and Panjiayuan market.

"Beijing Film Academy is where I graduated. Who would have known I would turn out to be an actor despite my not-so-good-looks?" he writes.

Some celebrities, such as singer Zhang Jie, write their coming-of-age stories, based on places.

The 27-year-old singer recalled his childhood memories in Chengdu: "People's Park, the first public park in Chengdu, was my favorite place when I was a kid. My parents took lots of pictures for me when I danced on the lawn," he writes.

Millions of people have visited the site since it was launched two weeks ago. Most of them are students and office workers, according to Zhang Jing, product marketing manager of Google China.

Celebrities are often portrayed as demigods and the site provides a medium for eager fans to connect with their favorite celebrities on a more intimate level, Zhang says.

"I am a Beijinger but there are many places that I didn't know before," Zhang says. "The site reflects the characteristics of each city from a personal point of view. The celebrities attract their fans by first searching online and then going there."

Zhang says celebrities are willing to share because it is a platform to interact with their fans. Fans can, literally, follow in their idols' footsteps and find new places to have fun with friends.

By using the tool, fans can also find out something surprising.

"I have liked former child star Jin Ming since I was a kid," says 26-year-old bank office worker Liu Xin. "She became a household name by playing children's roles in Taiwan TV series. It was my impression that she is modern and cute, but she likes going to antique and old book markets, which was unexpected."

"And I found that we share one thing in common, that is, eating roast chicken wing," she giggles. Liu says that it is a good way to find restaurants, bars, stores and other good places to hang out.

Zhang says more artists will be giving their recommendations in the near future.

"The site serves as a platform and will be developed into an online community where everyone can share their favorite places and stories," she says.

(China Daily 12/28/2009 page10)