Travelling – Shanghai Metal Corporation

Hotel developments to lead the way for growth in African tourism

A number of the world’s largest hotel chains are betting on Africa being their next big investment opportunity. Africa’s tourism sector is already on a momentous upwards slope and this is the obvious trend that has caught the attention of some of the world’s most renowned hotel names, such as, The Hilton, Fairmont and the Jumeirah group. Starwood, Marriot and the Four Seasons have also publically stated they intend on investing heavily across North, South and Central Africa in the five-years between now and 2021 that experts predict will be one of the largest periods of hotel growth in the continent’s history.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa is currently rising at an astronomical rate; last year, the global growth rate of FDI was 1%, whereas in Africa they experienced a 7% growth. Paul Frimpong, Investor Analyst at international business facilitation experts Naseba, said: “The enormous potential of the African continent cannot be emphasized enough. Africa is the fastest growing region for FDIs in the world. Aggregate household consumption will reach $1.4 trillion with collective GDP hitting $2.6 trillion in 2020 alone. These facts show that with the understanding of the growth momentum, combined with the right strategies, presents handsome rewards for current and prospective investors in the region.”

Not only does the hotel boom in Africa provide more opportunity for the tourism industry but it also presents an abundance of opportunity for the continents architects, interior designers, real estate developers, buyers and engineers working on not only hospitality, but retail, commercial and residential developments.

Entertaining Traffic Signs

Traffic signs or road signs provide some information to the road users that are important for the order, safety or the direction of their destination, but…is it always the case ? Your trip can become boring at some point, however you might probably encounter some road signs that can provide your journey with some entertainment. Check them out :

Explosive cars aren’t allowed !

Top-speed surgery ! Can you believe it !?

Must be convenient for trucks or buses

Can anybody go at exactly 19 ?

That sign is more drunk than us !

Beware of bikes !

They always do the road work when you’re late

Never drive fast when you can’t see what’s beyond the road

Freedom for chickens !

Thank you !

This is what’ll happen if you drank before driving

You’re almost there ! Don’t give up !

Watch out for crawling drunks !

Having some absurd or weird traffic signs can be entertaining and might give some relieve to the tired drivers. If you’re interested in adding some funny sign boards in your place, Shanghai Metal Corporation can provide you with entertaining traffic signs following your requirements. The quality of our material is designed for improved image retention. Please contact us if you have questions, our English speaking staff will be glad to help you. Also visit us on social media to know more about us.

Sources :
drivesteady.com
signspotting.com
huffingtonpost.com
orlandosentinel.com
rd.com
Google Image

Ayu P.//SMC editor

The Need to Add Aesthetic Value in Modern Architecture

In today’s modern era we can observe that important constructions become more and more aesthetically innovative. More and more buildings receive their outstanding title from their stylish form. Obviously, throughout history, we weren’t the first one to put effort in the aesthetic details. Famous palaces such as the Taj Mahal, Palace of Versailles, Summer Palace, Alhambra and many others have gain their popularity today thanks to their aesthetically pleasing construction. They are also well known because of their historical functionality and story. There exist plenty other palaces which had important function but are less popular, one of the reason is because they do not stand out aesthetically.

This phenomenon can also be observe in modern constructions. Good-looking buildings are more popular and can have an important impact on the image of their representative city and attract tourists. Below, we have some of the most famous building designs which have, without doubt, played an important role in tourists attraction.

Burj Khalifa, Dubai

This amazing sky-crapper is the tallest man-made building in the world, at 829.8 m (2,722 ft), having over 150 floors ! The decision to build Burj Khalifa is reportedly based on the government’s decision to diversify from an oil based economy to one that is service and tourism based.

Space Needle, Seattle

This futuristic observation tower is the symbol of Seattle, having nearly 20,000 people a day used its elevators to enjoy its observation deck at 160 m (520 ft) and the rotating SkyCity Restaurant.

Salomon R. Guggenheum Museum, New York

This art museum is the permanent home of a renowned and continuously expanding collection of diverse style of art. In 2013, nearly 1.2 million people visited the museum, and it hosted the most popular exhibition in New York City.

Llozd’s Building, London

Who would ever thought that this sci-fi building is located in London ! One of its key feature is its 12 lifts which are located on the exterior to get more space in the interior of the building, hence its nickname : The Inside-Out Building.

Canton Tower, Guangzhou

This stunning sky-crapper was once the tallest building in the world. The rooftop at 488 m is the highest and largest outdoor observation deck in the world. 16 transparent cars can carry you for an amazing sightseeing on a track round the edge of the tower’s roof

Grand Lisboa, Macao

This 47 floors hotel is your alternative destination of Las Vegas. Its casino offers 800 mass gaming tables and 1000 slot machines. The star of The King of Gambling, Stanley Ho is on permanent display at the casino, which is said to be one of the largest diamond in the world !

There are still dozens of other examples of stylish buildings and their number keeps growing. Shanghai Metal Corporation is the leading specialist for building materials from the floor until the roof with plenty of options. To see more, please visit our website or send us your inquiry. Our English speaking staff will guide you to find your wanted product with the best quality and price. Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media.

Ayu P.//SMC editor

The Sharing Economy

In today’s society where the pressure of environmental sustainability is growing, the problems of overproduction and overconsumption are becoming more and more important. To answer this problem, a new system of economy begins to appear : “The Sharing Economy”, also called “The Collaborative Economy”. Just like what it is called, this system is all about sharing goods and services between different people and organisations. In other words, rather than owning a product or service, you give other people access to it and share it. This sharing system has different category of example. Let us take you to discover some of the famous one.

Real Estate

Home Exchange

You’d like to go for vacation but your budget is limited. Fortunately there is new way to find a cheap accommodation ! The Home Exchange system allows you to swap your home for a set period of time, with no monetary exchange ! Plus there is the internet that has made the process of finding a swap easier.

Barter

Barter is a system of exchange by which goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money.

The “Clothing Swap” is THE magical solution for those who love experiencing with new looks ! You can exchange your no-longer used clothing for clothing that you’d love to have.

Transportation

Carsharing

This system is very convenient for those who only need an occasional use of vehicle, as well as others who would love to get a taste of a new and different type of car.

Bicycle Sharing System

This service lets people to borrow a bike from a bicycle station and return it to any other stations located in the city. This system are often inexpensive, which encourages their use as transportation. Many systems have a smartphone mapping apps which shows how how many bikes and how many open parking are available at each station, increasing convenience for users.

Shanghai Metal Corporation has a vast range of bicycle dock. We offer personalized service and can accomodate any number of parking place in one bicycle dock. Every product that we provide is rust resistant, weather resistant, and theft-proof. To learn more, please visit our website or send us your inquiry. Our English speaking staff will guide you to find your wanted product with the best quality and price. Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media.

For more information : Wikipedia
Pictures from : Google Image

Ayu P.//SMC editor

Miss Liberty Chopped Up and Found All Over NYC

It may sound absurd but it’s true. Pieces of the Miss Liberty’s body can be found scattered across two boroughs in NYC. But don’t worry! This is only a replica of the Statue of Liberty as the original one still stands untouched on its very Liberty Island since given as a gift by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in 1886.

Creator of ‘We the people’ collection, Vietnamese artist Danh Vo spent the last four years recreating the statue in 250 full-scale individual pieces. “I wanted to do something that everyone had a relationship to, and make it a bit unfamiliar. It’s kind of like creating a Frankenstein that gets its own life”, says Vo.

Using the same fabrication techniques and copper material as the original Lady Liberty, the artwork was “conceived in Germany, fabricated in Shanghai, supported by his French gallery, collections and art institutions worldwide, and dispersed to exhibition venues in more than 15 countries”, explains Vo.

“When Bartholdi created the Statue of Liberty…he created an image and a political agenda,” adds Vo. “What I’m doing with it is a shift of scale and shift of meaning.” He added that his work “is more a project that should evoke discussion in the place that it is exhibited. And we’ll have to wait to see what that will be”.

In collaboration with Public Art Fund 53 colossal fragments of Liberty can be found at Brooklyn Bridge Park and City Hall Park until December 5^th 2014. ‘We the people’ collection presents nearly a fifth of Vo’s project and comprises body parts of the Miss Liberty such as the statue’s right sleeve, the one that covers her right bearing arm, the ear of the statue placed beneath the cornerstone of the historic building, and links of the chain found at the feet.

“When you’re looking at a massive piece of copper that you have a very intimate relationship [with] right in front of you,” says Andira Hickey, the Public Art Fund’s associate curator, “and see it completely transformed into a full figure that you can recognize in the distance, it’s such an evocative metaphor for the multitude of perspectives you can have of an icon like that.”

If you are not a private collector this is a great opportunity to come very close to Miss Liberty and experience the magnificence of the statue. And if you look carefully enough you might be able to recognize the dismantled pieces of the Statue of Liberty as you know.

Shanghai Metal Corporation offers a wide range of metals such as copper, widely used in artistic artifacts. To find out more, please visit our Website or send your inquiry here. Our English speaking professionals will be more than pleased to help you. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Or you could try our new mobile app by scanning our QR code.

Source and photo credit: brooklynbridgepark.org, online.wsj.com, nytimes.com, hqdesktop.net

Camilla G.//SMC Editor

Copper Was a Symbol of Eternal Life for the Egyptians; Nowadays it is a Symbol of Eternal Freedom When Cooper is on a Chopper!

Copper was once believed by the Egyptians to be a symbol of eternal life; however copper on the hands of a biker builder such as Paul Yaffe becomes a symbol of eternal freedom. This freedom is only earned by those who ride without a destination; and only when you are on the saddle of your chopper, cruiser or bobber, opening the throttle towards the sunset will understand what FREEDOM is all about!

Americans and all motorbike enthusiasts around the globe love the open road because it symbolizes the freedoms that it provides. This sense of exploration has helped build America’s nation; and the vast interstate network of asphalt and pavement for decades has facilitated people’s travel to places near and far for commerce or just a ride to nowhere!

The “Copper Chopper” built by Arizona native Paul Yaffe to mark Arizona’s 100th anniversary was unveiled by Governor Jan Brewer on Saturday, Oct. 23rd 2010 during the Arizona State Fair. The unveiling of the Arizona Centennial Chopper was part of a Safety Day that included a bike show and a Bret Michael’s Concert at the fairgrounds in Phoenix, AZ. The Arizona Centennial Chopper traveled the open road for 17 months, promoting events and projects celebrating Arizona’s 100th anniversary.

Motorcycle riding gives you a sense of freedom which you don’t get in a car. Your senses take on a different significant.

As an international manufacturer and supplier for copper sheet and bronze sheet, Shanghai Metal Corporation produces slitting, edging, and oscillates winding to fit your specific copper requirements.To find out more, please visit our Website or send your inquiry here. Our English speaking personnel will be more than pleased to help you. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Or you could try our new mobile app by scanning our QR code.

Source and photo credit: bikeweeknews.blogspot.com, pinterest.com, yakman*9

William P.//SMC Editor

Galactic Prefab Offers Vacations in Space

Space tourism is an extreme form of travelling that has been experienced by only a few people. Due to the high prices of such service providers as Richard Branson‘s Virgin Galactic, only the wealthiest can spend a vacation in space. A Russian space pod design company Orbital Technologies is trying to take space tourism more mainstream.

An article on Wikipedia has gathered a list of all of the world’s eight space tourists. The lists also showed that in order to get to space, those people spent US 20 to 40 million. Orbital Technologies’ service is much more cheaper.

A Soyuz rocket will take you to a two day voyage in space with about $US 826,000. Five nights weight in $US 165,000. With that price passengers can stay in a comfortable solar-powered Commercial Space Station (CSS) orbiting the Earth within a 217 mile radius. The passengers can view the cosmos through portholes.

The price includes luxury gourmet meals that are prepared on Earth. Unfortunately alcohol is not allowed in the space flight. The passengers can use an air-flush toilet and take shower in a fully sealed water cubicle. They sleep vertically or horizontally in zippered sleeping bags that prevent them flying around in zero gravity.

The galactic prefab is also used as pod for scientific research during off-seasons. It is also used as an emergency stations for space crafts that get into trouble in space.

One interesting fact about space tourism is that it slows down aging but just a little bit. According to a theory of time dilation, say, a six month trip to space slows down aging by 0.007 seconds. Thereby arithmetically speaking, a five day voyage in a space hub would slow down aging by 0.002 seconds.

Space pod is a futuristic application of prefabricated building. For many years people have built prefab homes, hotels and hospitals etc. Shanghai Metal Corporation is also a provider of prefabricated building projects. To learn more about our projects, please visit our website. Please also look at our Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram profiles. If you liked this blog, please feel free to share it.

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Tuomas P. // SMC Editor

Pictures and original articles: Inhabitat, Designboom, How Stuff Works?, Wikipedia, Tuvie.com