WSJ.com launches new feature aimed at Chinese readers

The Wall Street Journal Online launched Tuesday a new multimedia feature aimed at Chinese and international readers.

‘Beautiful Country,’ by Li Yuan, describes how American business people communicate, network and make deals — and how these activities tend to vary from the ways business is conducted in China.

‘Beautiful Country,’ the Chinese name for America, comprises a column by Yuan that will appear as a regular feature, available for free on http://www.wsj.com and chinese.wsj.com in English and Chinese, as well as video commentary — also recorded in both languages — to supplement the coverage. Interactive maps and graphics allow readers to actively engage with the current topic, while a comment section offers users the opportunity to provide direct feedback and continue the conversation.

“We are launching ‘Beautiful Country’ at a time when international business news and information has become exceedingly important,” said Almar Latour, managing editor of The Journal Online. “The goal is to cast an analytical and experienced eye on American business culture and to help readers understand the nuances.”

Yuan delves into the business practices that are common in America but sometimes unheard of in China. Her first column — Inside a Power Lunch — examines the well-known American “power lunch,” including a behind-the-scenes look at some of New York’s most notable restaurants where deals, big and small, are made, often in wide open view of fellow patrons. Comparatively, the Chinese prefer to entertain in private dining rooms and would rarely conduct business in an open restaurant.