A Dongguan man who claims to have consumed at least two cans of Coca-Cola per day over the past four years has sued the beverage company and seeks 3 million RMB in damages. The man says that the soft drink is responsible for eight teeth which went rotten and fell out, each costing him 10,000 RMB to replace. The case went to trial yesterday, and the judge said that if the two sides can’t agree to a settlement—Coca-Cola argues that the contents of the drink are clearly marked on every can/bottle—then a judgment will be handed down at a later date.

All flights are off

The 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen wraps up tonight with closing ceremonies beginning at 8pm at the Window of the World theme park. With 300 billion RMB (no typo there) reportedly having been spent by the city in hosting the games, those who got tickets should at least expect to see free mooncake vouchers drop out of the sky. The final leg of the torch relay will be broadcast over a live video feed to the stadium where the ceremonies will be held, followed by a big party in the middle where crowds will be able to meet and get photos taken with participating athletes and the stage performers.

Also, all flights in and out of Shenzhen between 7 and 11pm tonight have been canceled.

Brooklyn shift in the PRD

NYC artists Adam Parker Smith (L) and Bryan Zanisnik

Q: Which of the five NYC artists who did residencies at the Guangdong Times Museum this summer is known for installations consisting of severed heads on sticks? Their task while in Guangzhou was to each take 10K RMB and create a work using materials found only in wholesale markets around the city, and the resulting Shift exhibition continues until this coming Sunday, read more about it here.

Panyu-Nansha merger begins

Plans to eventually merge Panyu district with neighboring Nansha district are now underway, beginning with three townships in southern Panyu. The plan to amalgamate the two districts has been on the table for several years, but no final timeline has yet been set.

7-year-old girl hospitalized with severe burns, father arrested

A 7-year-old girl from Yunfu remains in serious condition after being hospitalized at the Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Sunday with second and third degree burns covering 85% of her body. The girl says that the burns were inflicted by her father, who used boiling water as means of punishment for stealing an ice cube to soothe her hunger after her father had starved her for nearly a month.

The girl’s father has been arrested and faces charges of abuse. His ex-wife won custody of their son after divorcing him last year following years of receiving physical abuse of her own. Doctors at the hospital say the girl will need two months to recover, and fees are expected to cost 500,000 RMB. Individuals and organizations and even government departments from Yunfu and Guangzhou have already donated several thousand RMB toward her medical bills.

Guangzhou filmmakers to bring July’s HSR tragedy to the big screen

An independent low-budget production which tells the story of the Wenzhou train collision and features several celebrities from Taiwan and the mainland wrapped up this month. Directed and produced by a number of young filmmakers in Guangzhou, the film, 如果723, is expected to be released sometime in late September.

Filming was done over 12 days in various locations around Guangzhou, and celebrities who appear in the film declined compensation for their time. An original score was also composed for the film, see the trailer below.