8. Starbucks Caused Outrage In China When They Opened A Coffee Stand Inside The Forbidden City In 2000... And Were Eventually Forced To Shut Seven Years Later
In 2000, Starbucks opened a 200-square-foot coffee shop inside the walls of China's historic Forbidden City in the centre of Beijing at the behest of the nation's government. Yet this store caused outrage - with more than 70% of those surveyed in a nationwide poll believing that the American business was ruining the 600-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site and trying to destroy China's proud history. Despite the fact Starbucks opened the outlet after being asked to by Forbidden City Museum officials who wanted to see if they could increase business use within the site, they were forced to close this store in 2007.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
