Mm interesting, and sure one word can often be translated in several ways, especially when it comes to puns. Sometimes it is tricky to find an equivalent of a pun to keep the double meaning. With this case "altitude sickness" refers more to the literal meaning and "plateau reaction" tends to show the figurative meaning. Thanks for the suggestion:) I'll tell them to consider it.

If Plateau Reaction is the translation they chose, their meaning comes through clearly -- here on the plateau, a reaction to life, society, etc, or whatever. At the same time, though, I thought it would be interesting for non-speakers of Chinese to catch the double meaning. Really, a very well chosen name in Chinese, but it doesn't come through with only one translation :)

this is a very cool site that i should have recommended long ago. cecilia pym is an old, old friend of mine. back from the days when there was still something truly left of old kunming (10 years ago). she is the former owner of the first cafe in the center of old town lijiang, aka c.c. cafe (which you will find listed in versions of the lonely planet from the recent past) and also the former editor of city weekend - shanghai edition; not to mention a photographer and filmmaker

Yes 高原反应 in its original sense means a collection of symptoms caused by decreased oxygen in the atmosphere, usually at high altitudes. Thus it is usually translated as "altitude sickness." But here the name used for the studio specifically refers to the local musicians' reaction to life, rather than certain physical symptoms.

Just thought I'd mention that the name of the studio, 高原反应, might be better translated as "Altitude Sickness" although the other translation is indeed correct.

Thought y'all might like this video of the Kunming Optimus Prime:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs3hha_dER4

Kunming mixian is so wonderful. I am really hungry for it.

kia ora te whanaunga e tiger!
ka pai to mahi kei china ... kiakaha ra :)
na maarie
te tamahine o to matua-keke ko peti pukepuke

Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips does this at the beginning of each show. See tinyurl.com/y7xdde

Infact I haven't yet heard back from her so I'm just assuming she finally made it to HK.

not sure about the maiden flight from HK to London but a friend of mine had a delay of nearly 24 hours at Gatwick airport for an Oasis flight the other way.

My apologies, absolutely did not mean it in a pejorative way... we're working on limiting our coffee intake in the future.

Who are you calling eccentric! It's a job ad on behalf of a friend. No need to make it headline news with that sort of intro.

Still stuck in Beijing, but I wish I could get back for this... anyone going? Let us know how it goes?

Nice one! I found some eye drops in Kunming whose usage was only recomended when "the eye fucks the eye". This one was just a silly translation but don't must Chinese translators know that "fuck" is a dirty word?