Pre-Olympic China

70 Innovations Before the Beijing Olympics

Where was China on the global media radar before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games? Could the answer be a clue into the country's media destiny post-Olympics, or have the games forever changed the world's view of China's capital city, launching it to a status of a country with an unmissable global influence?

The following innovations offer a glimpse into China pre-Beijing Olympics. Considering the city, formerly named Peking, spent $44 billion on the Beijing Olympics, a lot may have changed.

Whether this cluster acts as insight into the future, or merely as an entertaining flashback of the past, each innovation listed below acted as a tool, no matter how miniscule, to shape the China that we know today.

All of the innovations below pertain to China, but none to the Beijing Olympics. The list includes a Fendi fashion show on the Great Wall, the world's largest ferris wheel, an underwater museum, panda fashion, hair elastics made of condoms, multi-million dollar bras, giant plastic bubbles you can run around inside and elementary schools inside caves.

SCORE
5.3 out of 10
GENDER
90% Men10% Women
MARKETTop markets: Europe
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Gen X
  • Millennial (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 93%
Activity 57%
Freshness 8%
Modernizing Chinese Festivals
CATEGORY
World
Modernizing Chinese Festivals
The Moon is Not for Sale (Although One Chinese Company Tried)
CATEGORY
World
The Moon is Not for Sale (Although One Chinese Company Tried)
China 2nd To US in Billionaire Count
CATEGORY
World
China 2nd To US in Billionaire Count
Chinese Are World's Most Active Texters
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Chinese Are World's Most Active Texters
Baby Making Time
CATEGORY
World
Baby Making Time
First Trillion Dollar Firm
CATEGORY
World
First Trillion Dollar Firm
Whisky Fraud Rising
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Whisky Fraud Rising
China's First No Car Day
CATEGORY
Eco
China's First No Car Day
White Pollution Ban
CATEGORY
Eco
White Pollution Ban
United Nations Promoting Safety
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
United Nations Promoting Safety
Opulent Chinese New Year
CATEGORY
World
Opulent Chinese New Year
Facebook China
CATEGORY
Tech
Facebook China
Extreme Eating
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Extreme Eating
Animated Subvertising
CATEGORY
Marketing
Animated Subvertising
Dog Hired to Welcome Customers at Chinese Store
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Dog Hired to Welcome Customers at Chinese Store
Instruments Inspire Architecture
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Instruments Inspire Architecture
Modern Chinese Architecture
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Modern Chinese Architecture
New York, London, Hong Kong business hubs to submerge by 2100?
CATEGORY
Eco
New York, London, Hong Kong business hubs to submerge by 2100?
Pay By Finger
CATEGORY
World
Pay By Finger
China's next YouTube
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
China's next YouTube
Chinese Internet Addict Camp
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Chinese Internet Addict Camp
PR Damage Control
CATEGORY
Unique
PR Damage Control
Commune Hotel by the Great Wall
CATEGORY
World
Commune Hotel by the Great Wall
Panda Passion is in Fashion
CATEGORY
Fashion
Panda Passion is in Fashion
Chinese Domain Name Sells For $160,000
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Chinese Domain Name Sells For $160,000
Exposing Humanity Through Photos
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Exposing Humanity Through Photos
Chinese Fashion Designers in Paris
CATEGORY
Luxury
Chinese Fashion Designers in Paris
China the Focus of Starbucks Growth
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
China the Focus of Starbucks Growth
Underwater Museum in China
CATEGORY
World
Underwater Museum in China
China's Ice Festival Features Canadian Theme
CATEGORY
World
China's Ice Festival Features Canadian Theme
The Anger Bar
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
The Anger Bar
Toys of Chinese Millionaires
CATEGORY
Autos
Toys of Chinese Millionaires
Chinese Government Bans Western Adult Pop Culture Items
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Chinese Government Bans Western Adult Pop Culture Items
$1.3 Million Bras
CATEGORY
Fashion
$1.3 Million Bras
China Bans Plastic Surgery Reality Shows
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
China Bans Plastic Surgery Reality Shows
Asian Answer To Vegas
CATEGORY
World
Asian Answer To Vegas
Shanghai in 2020
CATEGORY
World
Shanghai in 2020
Great Wheel of China
CATEGORY
Unique
Great Wheel of China
9,999 Karat Dress
CATEGORY
Luxury
9,999 Karat Dress
130,000 Square Foot Skateboard Park New Jiangwan City China
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
130,000 Square Foot Skateboard Park New Jiangwan City China
Hong Kong Engineers Develop Micro-Wind Turbine
CATEGORY
Eco
Hong Kong Engineers Develop Micro-Wind Turbine
More-Than-Extreme Hiking
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
More-Than-Extreme Hiking
Hooded Gowns
CATEGORY
Fashion
Hooded Gowns
Public Art in Shanghai
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Public Art in Shanghai
Exclusive VIP Fashion Shows
CATEGORY
Luxury
Exclusive VIP Fashion Shows
$1.35 Million Lingerie
CATEGORY
Luxury
$1.35 Million Lingerie
Bamboo Graffiti
CATEGORY
Tech
Bamboo Graffiti
Medical Themed Bar
CATEGORY
World
Medical Themed Bar
Hairbands Made of Condoms
CATEGORY
Naughty
Hairbands Made of Condoms
Adult Fetuses
CATEGORY
Marketing
Adult Fetuses
Rolls Royce Hotel
CATEGORY
Autos
Rolls Royce Hotel
Manimals
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Manimals
World's Highest Bungee Jump
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
World's Highest Bungee Jump
Snow Sculptures
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Snow Sculptures
Great Wall of China Fashion Show
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Great Wall of China Fashion Show
Chinese Fake Brands
CATEGORY
Fashion
Chinese Fake Brands
Naked Pushups at Famous Landmarks
CATEGORY
Naughty
Naked Pushups at Famous Landmarks
Magic Fish Spa
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Magic Fish Spa
Futuristic Movie Theatre in Hong Kong
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Futuristic Movie Theatre in Hong Kong
Toilet-Themed Restaurants (Update)
CATEGORY
Naughty
Toilet-Themed Restaurants (Update)
Top 7 Most Fashionable Cities + Hong Kong Street Style
CATEGORY
Fashion
Top 7 Most Fashionable Cities + Hong Kong Street Style

Solutions for innovators working at the edge of change. We help transform emerging ideas into practical, durable solutions by combining strategic thinking, creative exploration, and hands-on execution.

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