Does Starbucks Belong In The Forbidden City?

One Chinese lawmaker is claiming the coffee chain's outpost in Beijing's Imperial Palace Complex, a venerable symbol of American capitalism, is tainting the national culture that the site represents.

1 minute read

March 17, 2007, 11:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"Jiang Hongbin, who represents Heilongjiang Province, has proposed a motion to "immediately move Starbucks out of the Forbidden City" to National People's Congress, according to the Xinhua news agency.

"Starbucks must move out of the imperial palace immediately, and it can no longer be allowed to taint China's national culture," said Jiang, as cited by the Xinhua news agency, on the sidelines of the legislature's annual session.

The 720,000-square-meter (0.3 square mile) Forbidden City in Beijing, which attracts 7 million tourists a year, was home to 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties for a period beginning in the early 15th century and running through the 1920s.

Starbucks was invited by the management company that oversees the site to open its outlet in September 2000. The cafe, the smallest Starbucks shop, was located in a tiny lounge where Qing officials gathered before meeting the emperor.

Rent paid by Starbucks is used for maintenance of the palace. Yet the U.S.-based coffee chain has been criticized before for affecting the historic and cultural heritage of Forbidden City and was ordered to remove its green logo in 2005."

Defenders point out that other retailers operate in the complex, and that the company is unfairly being targeted.

Friday, March 16, 2007 in Forbes

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9, 2025 - Axios

Canadian flag in foreground with blurred Canadian Parliament building in background in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Has President Trump Met His Match?

Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

March 11, 2025 - Toronto Star

Close-up of green ULEZ sign in London, UK.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution

Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

March 10, 2025 - Smart Cities World

Tents set up by unhoused people under freeway overpass in San Jose, California with American flag above them.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population

In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

March 14 - The Mercury News

Blue Atlanta streetcar on street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan

City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

March 14 - Saporta Report

New York City city hall building.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?

The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.

March 14 - Governing

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.