Sunday's arrival of a U.S. president admired for his charisma is already a source of profit and brief fame for some Chinese.
Strangest is the burning Obama, tucked away in a Beijing warehouse. Artist Liu Bolin hopes Obama can take time from his visit to drop by.
"He's so hot right now, so I wanted to translate that through my work," said Liu, who was inspired by the idea of the first black U.S. president.
The bronze Obama bust is modeled on Time magazine's "Man of the Year" cover and is speckled with holes for gas that ignites every couple of minutes.
So ... the Chinese artist burned our president in effigy to welcome him?
The artist claims it is a positive statement notwithstanding the usual interpretation of a flaming man.
I'd say the Chinese artist got the symbolism exactly right to greet a man determined not to worry the Chinese one bit about our capabilities and intentions to halt Chinese ambitions.
The Chinese are happy to welcome a president they see as determined to change America's posture in the western Pacific to the fetal position.
