For
many in the West, 2016 will be remembered for Trump, Brexit, terrorism
in Europe and an absurd number of pop culture deaths, from Bowie to
Muhammad Ali. By comparison, China had an unusually quiet year.
Nonetheless, there were still a few goings-on in the world's most
populous country.
In our 2016 Year in Review series, we recap
the best (and worst) of China's year in the worlds of technology, social
media, sport, fashion, food, arts and more.
A look back at some of China's most lavish purchases of 2016.
10. 20 iPhone 7s used to buy a house
Buying
a house can be easier than ever before, because apparently all you need
is 20 phones and 20 boyfriends. That's supposedly how one woman did it,
anyway, in a story that made waves on Chinese social media in November.
It's unclear if the story is actually true.
9. RMB100,000 worth of online games
Over
the summer, an 11-year-old used his mom's debit card information to
blow more than RMB100,000 on the Chinese social media platform QQ, much
of it spent on games. The mother didn't have a clue about what was
happening right under her nose until she was notified that there wasn't
enough money in her bank account. She later told local media: “I went to
ICBC to check my account and then got scared to death. I was missing
about RMB100,000.”
8. RMB772,000 Truffle
We all know that truffles are an expensive commodity. But white truffles are something really special.
They are so special that Dong Zhenxiang, the founder and owner of Da
Dong Roast Duck, was willing to pay a whopping RMB772,000 (USD112,000)
for a giant white truffle at an Italian auction in October.
7. The UK pub where Xi Jinping and David Cameron shared a pint
A
Chinese firm bought a Buckinghamshire pub visited by President Xi
Jinping last year. The pub, called the Plough at Cadsden, became a
symbol of the ‘Golden Age’ between China and Great Britain of 2015, when
Xi met there with then-Prime Minister David Cameron.
6. The RMB20.7 million Song Dynasty Letter
A
Chinese letter dating back nearly 1,000 years was purchased for RMB207
million (USD31.7 million) at an auction in Beijing back in May. The
relic was bought by billionaire Wang Zhongjun, chairman of Huayi
Brothers Media.
5. The RMB303 Million classic Chinese painting
A classical Chinese painting entitled Five Drunken Kings Return on Horses
recently sold for RMB303 million at an auction, making it the highest
amount paid for a single Chinese work of art this year. The artist’s
name was Ren Renfa, who was a high-ranking official during the Yuan
Dynasty (1271-1368).
4. RMB1 million plastic surgery to look like Jack Ma
A
young Chinese man reportedly spent RMB1 million in plastic surgery
recently to look like Jack Ma. Huang Jian visited South Korea to get the
procedure done. The post-90s aspiring entrepreneur allegedly decided to
do it following the overnight fame of Fan Xiaoqin, the 8-year-old "Mini
Jack Ma" who made international headlines for his resemblance to
China's richest man.
3. Plastic surgery to look like Fan Bingbing
22-year-old
"Super Girl 2016" contestant He Chengxi has undergone a string of
cosmetic surgeries over the course of eight years to be a doppleganger
of superstar celebrity Fan Bingbing, who is widely accepted as the
classic Chinese beauty. It's unknown how much He has spent on the
procedures, which are likely very costly.
2. Fan Bingbing's lavish new home
Speaking
of Fan Bingbing, the celebrity recently put a payment down a super
luxurious home. Photos of the estate leaked online for everyone to judge
and admire/envy/hate. Sigh. #housegoals.
1. Ultra luxurious plane
We've
all heard about private jets, but the latest creation by Kestrel
Aviation Management is outrageously kitted out with everything you'll
probably ever need. The jumbo jet serves as a high-flying hotel, kitted
out with exquisite bathrooms, bedrooms and dining suites. Costing
roughly US$325 million (RMB2.1 billion) with a US$100 million (RMB667
million) maintenance fee, the jet was recently bought by an anonymous
Chinese person and delivered sometime in August.
Honorable Mention
AC Milan (sale not completed yet)
Football
club AC Milan, owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi, was in talks to be sold to a group of little-known Chinese
investors this year. But the purchase hit a snag when reports emerged
that the investors allegedly used false bank letters during initial deal
negotiations. The sale has been pushed back to March 2017, the South China Morning Post reports.
For more 2016 Year in Review coverage, click "Read more" below.