A "Shanzhai"-version search engine called Baigoohoo.com made by a website designer allegedly for fun in November also amused netizens. It integrated search results from three giant engines, Google, Yahoo and Google China's main rival Baidu, showing in three equal pieces on one page.

And as Chinese Lunar New Year is only seven weeks away, a 36-year-old cameraman in Beijing claimed that he was planning to challenge the 25-year-old traditional CCTV New Year's Gala program through his own "Shanzhai" version.

Sun Mengqi, the chief director of the "Shanzhai" gala, has announced on the Internet that he would hold a three-hour gala "for ordinary people" with entertaining and healthy programs collected from the public, garnered huge support from netizens.

"I didn't expect so much support. Obviously many people don't like the traditional CCTV show and they want more fun," Sun said.

He then launched a website and rented an office for it. So far he has about 700 programs applying for the show. He told Xinhua that equipment for broadcast and computers were sponsored by friends and some strangers who had heard the news.

Sun said the "Shangzhai" gala would be broadcast online on the eve of the Lunar New Year, at about the same time as that of the CCTV official gala.

Different from the controversy caused by "Shanzhai" electronics and other products, many commentators and sociologists held positive views on the creativity from grassroots people.

"It represents non-mainstream ideas and innovations, and it's also a new way for common people to express what they want," said Li Zonggui, a professor from Sun Yat-Sen University, in south east China's Guangdong Province.

But still some disagreed. Zhou Xinning, an Internet commentator, said "Shanzhai" products had had a great impact on some industries and the government should pay special attention to the new phenomenon.

"We have 'Shanzhai' things everywhere, especially on the Internet. A flood of 'Shanzhai' was like junk. Policy guidance is in need," Zhou said.

Xia Xueluan, a sociologist at Peking University, said that the fact the word "Shanzhai" was in fashion did not mean it would be popular all the time, but the "Shanzhai" phenomenon is worth the attention.

"'Shanzhai' companies should always keep in mind that independent innovation is crucial for long-term development. 'Shanzhai' creation by common people is the new form of our mainstream's sub-culture," Xia said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2008)