Signese

Slightly surprised though to see the Friendship Hotel using traditional characters, especially on a sign aimed mainly at Beijing taxi drivers.

看得出滿有功力。能把字練成這樣的人，你讓他寫簡體估計他都不知如何下筆。間架筆順全不一樣了，除非專門練過，否則不可能寫得同樣美觀。

Not denying the elegance of traditional characters. Indeed, I shamelessly mix traditional and simplified.

 

Just that this is a pretty pedestrian sign: the elegance seems a bit out of place. Particularly at the Friendship Hotel, which I believe operates under the State Council. It's been some sixty years since character reform, yet simplified characters still carry a hint of political orthodoxy.

I used to think the Friendship Hotel was owned by SAFEA, which has its headquarters there. Not sure now if that's right though. Think I went to a banquet there once, but to be honest we were getting bussed about and it could have been anywhere. 

That's my understanding, too, but SAFEA is an agency of the State Council.

 

Ah yes, so it is.