This week was the first time I had been to Panjiayuan antique bike meet in months. Being it was the end of spring festival, and still winter, there wasn't the usual crowd. And the crowd that was there came late. But still there was some interesting stuff to be seen. One first timer unloaded a table of bits and pieces. A fine melange for a browsing.
When does a Red Flag Roadster mean happiness? When it IS happiness, or more precisely Double Happiness (Shuang Xi). You may recall the antique Red Flag Roadster I posted about a few months back. This bike surfaced again a few weeks later and I found myself in a broken Chinese conversation with the owner.. As it should turn out, with the exception of the magnificent rear fender, it is not a Red Flag at all. It is from a brand called Shuang Xi. I kick myself for not noticing this earlier.
Shaung Xi or "Double Happiness" is one of the most common Chinese characters. It is actually two symbols for happiness standing side by side, and it can be found on everything from fine porcelain to front doors...and it was right there on the bike's head badge... and handlebars... and rims. Shuang Xi is a very auspicious symbol and is often used in connection with weddings, marriage, etc. So how does a bike come by this name? Well, not too long ago, a bicycle was one of the key items that a groom was supposed to bring to a marriage. Sounds like a very modest gift by western standards, but in the hardline communist days you could spend several months wages and wait several years to get a roadster. A bike was proof you had financial wherewithal.
Now whether Shuang Xi chose their name as marketing stunt because of the marriage tradition is anyone's guess. But I think it likely. Shuang Xi is still around. They seem to focus mostly on women's bikes these days.
