BEIJING SHANGHAI - AHK

GERMAN
BEIJING
BALL 2009
SHANGHAI

Voices from Beijing
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I’m usually someone who has to be dragged to a ball but
the German Ball 2009 already made me look forward to
next year’s. It was a wonderful, colourful and fun evening –
and who could possibly say no to fresh Brötchen for Sunday
breakfast. Thank you!
Hanna Böhme | Managing Director
German Centre for Industry and Trade Beijing
The 5 th German Ball that I attended was also the best one
for me so far! I especially enjoyed the early opening of the
dance floor and the rounds of dancing between the menu
courses. Haven’t had such great dancing in a long time!
Beijing Ball Facts:
* Number of Ball poster design drafts discarded 25
* Feather corsages handed out at the event 600+
* Contracted feather allergies reported 0
* Life lessons learned 2 (Advanced ornithology & always
secure heavy instruments on
appropriate stands)
* Casualties 1 double bass
* Bottles of wine 504
* Time by which wine reserves had to be tapped (pm) 10
* Bird cages present in the ballroom 53 (on tables) + 2 (on legs)
* Sleepless nights during organisation & preparation Innumerable
Catering ingredients:
* Valrhona chocolate (in kgs) 160
* Extra virgin olive oil (in litres) 25
* Fresh cream (in litres) 80
* Fresh fruit (in kgs) 50
* Chefs and stewards involved in food preparation 75
* Serving staff 100
Martin Miller | General Manager
Commerzbank AG Tianjin Branch
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Voices from Shanghai
It is kind of a surprise that an event sponsored by lawyers and even
more reputable people could be so smashing. Absolutely fabulous!
Thanks to the Ball Team for giving us the feel good factor.
Philippe Lazare | Partner
Luther Attorneys
I have attended all 12 German Balls in Shanghai...and I am
already looking forward to next year's event - the uncontested
highlight of the ball season in Shanghai! Thanks to all, who
contributed to making it happen again this year.
Dr. Benno Freiherr von Canstein | Chief Representative
Allianz SE Beijing Representative Office
For me, the German Ball is the most delightful and simply
indispensable social event in Shanghai.
Dr. Stefan Gilch | Managing Director
Liebherr Machinery Service (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
"
Shanghai Ball Facts:
* Time when the first guests arrived 5.57 pm (1’03’’ early)
* Number of official photos taken 2,018
* Number of toasts 3,987 (roughly)
* Average number of trips to the buffet per guest 4.3
* Of which included stops at the dessert station 2.7
* Number of cigars smoked 97
* Number of sparkling wine bottles emptied 242
* Total length of all cummerbunds worn at the Ball 275m (enough for abseiling
from revolving restaurant
at Oriental Pearl Tower)
* Total number of hours spent by female Ball guests to get ready 1,350
* Approximate revenue brought to Shanghai’s hairdressers 145,000 RMB
* Total value of all lucky draw prizes 139,000 RMB
* Winning chance per ball ticket holder 1:64
* Time when the last guests left 6.39 am
* Number of Temptations given into countless
German Chamber Turns 10!
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We German Paradiesvögel in China have a long tradition; in the past years, numerous German
companies have already celebrated their centennial birthday here in Beijing. In comparison, our
Chamber is still a juvenile! After an already long existing history of the German mercantile community
in China, the German Chamber of Commerce was officially established in 1999.
The organisations and government departments involved in the successful establishment of the
Chamber and on whose supportive wings we have been riding since then also sent in their
congratulations and letters of recognition to commemorate our 10 th anniversary this year.
Anniversary greetings reached us from the CEO of the Association of Chambers of Commerce and
Industry based in Berlin, Dr. Martin Wansleben, Vice Minister of Mofcom, the Department of Trade
and Industry in China, Mr. Gao Hucheng, and from the Vice Chairman of CCPIT, the China Council
for the Promotion of
International Trade,
Mr. Wang Jinzhen.
You are very welcome
to view these letters on
our website.
We would like to
thank everyone for
their appreciation and
fruitful cooperation in
the last ten years.
"
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Avian Invasion:
Paradiesvögel Sighted in Beijing!
Eye witnesses reported the arrival of
600 various rare breeds of nidifugous
nocturnal birds at Kempinski Hotel Beijing
Lufthansa Center on November 14,
2009! After some expected long hours
of grooming and plucking, several flocks
of various specimen – a couple of turtle
doves even still in their cages – landed
towards the evening hours and took a rest
at the champagne watering hole before
following the call of ten native Beijing
birds into the Jade Grand Ballroom.
Guests were welcomed by MC Esther
Haubensack (not a nom de plume, even
though the assumption could be made),
who chirped and teased in both German
and Chinese before the opening address
was delivered by Dr. Richard Hausmann,
Chairman of the Chamber Board. Executive
Director Jutta Ludwig expressed her gratitude
to the sponsors, organisers and creative
heads of this year’s German Ball and soon,
even before the second course was served,
clutches of crazy birds poured onto the
dance floor for the Opening Waltz.
Emotions soared when the Swan Lake
acrobats took to the stage: eagle and
snake twisted and contorted, and
seemingly light as a feather, the white
swan princess froze in an elegant
arabesque on her prince’s head. German
Ambassador Dr. Michael Schaefer then
congratulated the Chamber on her tenth
birthday and, together with Dr. Richard
Hausmann, cut the birthday cake in
the Grand Ballroom. A majestic eagle
carved out of crystal-clear ice overlooked
the mouth watering dessert buffet, while
gigantic birds on stilts strode among the
guests and dolly birds and gentlemen clad
in rainbow-coloured tuxedos decorated
the guests with feathered corsages.
Then it was time to dance even more, as
our two all-time favourite bands - Soul
Palace and The Sascha Klaar Band -
were already waiting in the wings. Far
into the night, after a satisfying blend of
dance, food and entertainment, we all
agreed: Bird is the Word!

Opening
Swan Lake
Acrobatic Ballet
Soul Palace
Beijing International
Orchestra
Sascha Klaar Band
BEIJING SHOW
Temptations
Abound
When the guests arrived at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai,
excitement for a night of Temptations was in the air. Passing
through an enchanting tunnel to the tunes of ‘Time for Dreams’
– a musical joint venture of Chinese piano superstar Lang Lang
and German sound artist Schiller – the elegant ladies and
gentlemen were audio-visually set in the right mood to have
a dream of a time. The foyer was soon filled with laughter
and conversations of old and newly found friends. When
the stairs to the Grand and Crystal Ballrooms opened with a
dance performance and guests flocked into the room, many
eyes began to sparkle and plenty of “oh’s” and “wow’s” were
exchanged over the luxurious decoration of the festive rooms.
Greeting the room on behalf of the hosting organisation,
Executive Director of the German Chamber of Commerce •
Shanghai, Mr. Manfred Rothgänger, and Chairman of the
Board, Mr. Arved von zur Mühlen expressed their joy and high
expectations for the 12 th German Ball in Shanghai. They passed
the floor to the Master of Ceremonies Felix Heimberg, who
started with a much-appreciated announcement – opening the
lavish dinner buffet.
Energetic performances from Princess Cut and James Steiner
band got everyone out of their seats and on to the dance
floor early on. When guests got tired, they took a break at the
champagne bar or cigar lounge, with some choosing to check
out their photos taken earlier in the night. Later on, a rockin’
Studio 188 and soulful Lucius Clark made sure the party didn’t
let up and continued well into the night.
As the clock struck 12, the MC announced the winners of the
lucky draws to hopeful audience members in both ballrooms,
with some of the fabulous prizes including two business class
roundtrip tickets to Europe and a weekend getaway in a
Porsche to Hangzhou.
Guests continuet enjoying themselves well into the night.
Temptations abound, the intoxicating air encouraged no stops
in the fun and excitement.
Thank you all for joining us in celebrating the 12 th annual
German Ball Shanghai!

Dance Performances
Speakers & Moderator
James Steiner Band
Lucius Clark
Studio 188
Princess Cut
SHANGHAI SHOW
Beijing Ball Committee
An especially huge thank you to everyone in Beijing who joined efforts
with us to make an endangered German Ball this year possible after all!
Thank You!
Ball Coordinator Ding Jia
The German Balls in Beijing and Shanghai require months of planning and preparation by the local
Chamber Teams. We would like to extend our gratitude to the people who help us to put on such a
fantastic night: our loyal sponsors, our generous Lucky Draw Prize donors, our enthusiastic entertainers, all
our suppliers and service providers, and, naturally, our members and guests. Thank you all for making the
night an unforgettable one.
The GCC l Shanghai team around Ball Coordinators Sebastian Zettelmeier
(5 th from left) and Anna-Lisa Hartmann (6 th from right)
Our special thanks go again
to May & Fiepko Klug for their
energy and support, ensuring that
the 12 th German Ball was full of
temptations!

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