"Made possible by the American Express Company", screams a signboard describing every hall at the Forbidden City. Yeah right, that explains how the Ming and the Qing emperors pulled off this stunning swathe of architecture. American Express credit, of course!

So how does such rank profanity escape public wrath while a small coffee shop, with two round tables and a few chairs, tucked away in the corner of a souvenir shop suddenly finds itself in the eye of a storm?

The online petition that led to Starbucks' exit from the Forbidden City said its presence undermined the solemnity of the former imperial palace. The man who initiated the campaign, CCTV anchorman Rui Chenggang, has indicated that the American Express signs are also in his crosshairs, but how did Starbucks manage to fight off such fierce competition in the top eyesore contest?