A Guide To Contemporary China

Xinjiang Gets Its First ‘Plateau Airport’

Xinjiang is especially in focus during the Games and Beijing seems to be going out of its way to showcase the economic strides made in the region. The 170-hectare Zhaosu Tianma “plateau airport”, built at a cost over $100 million, is claimed to “improve the transportation conditions of more than 400,000 residents in Zhaosu County and surrounding counties. It is expected to promote the development of the local tourism industry and improve the investment environment.”

Source: People’s Daily

China Issues Development Plan Post-Games

The Games have just begun but the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, together with relevant authorities plan to build a “belt region that integrates the sports, cultural and tourist industries” in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the co-host city for the Winter Olympics. Officials say the plan is to make the region a world-class example in post-Olympics reuse of game venues and an international destination for winter sports, recreation and tourism. In the region, a series of global winter sports events and competitions will be held, sports universities will be built, and Chinese culture will be presented to the world through a host of cultural resorts, parks and brands.

Source: Xinhua

Celebrating Games With ‘Battle Drums’

China’s top percussionists along with figure skaters will mark the Beijing Winter Games and the Year of the Tiger with “Battle Drums”, at the foot of the Great Wall. “Battle Drums” were war drums, first used on the battlefield. They were employed both to direct and galvanize troops. Different beats guided the soldiers to different formations, with one rhythm for “attack” and another for “retreat”. No longer a tool of war, battle drums have since become a form of folk art; with their resounding beat accompanied by other performers such as dancing figure skaters.

Source: China Daily & Agencies

Going Home In A Rented Luxury Car

Chinese travellers are heading home for the Spring Festival – the Chinese New Year – in luxury cars. Forecast from leading online travel operator Trip.com last month showed that luxury car rentals during the holidays increased 63% compared with the same period last year. The majority of clients are men between 20 to 40 years of age, who according to the travel operator, rented luxury vehicles — including Audi A6L, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Porsche 718 — to “gain face” by driving a fancy car home.

Source: Sixth Tone

Night-time Café Bars

Oyasumi Coffee is the first coffee shop in Macau that also operates only at night. Since opening its doors in June 2020, the place has become incredibly popular. At least two other new cafes in the city have since adopted the business model, and many others have extended shop hours. These shops represent a new trend in Macau called yefe, where young people opt for a casual social chat after work with a cup of coffee instead of a boozy night out. Macau also has strict driving laws so a night-time café makes sense. The shop officially operates from 7:30 pm to 2 am every day, but precise hours really depend on the two owners, who run it casually and personally. Visitors are strongly encouraged to check the shop’s Instagram stories beforehand to know precisely when business begins and whether dessert is still available.

Source: Radii China

Movie On the Lives Of Extras

A Chinese comedy is focusing on an unusual theme – the lives of extras or walk-on actors. The comedy entitled Too Cool To Kill, features popular Chinese comedy actress Ma Li and tells the story of a walk-on actor named Wei Chenggong, who is given a chance to play the main character in a new movie but falls into a trap set by some gangsters. “I hope this movie can bring more hope to the dream chasers, just like our main character Wei, and it will bring joy to us all,” said director Xing Wenxiong. “We all have our own script, which is life, and we need to be the captain of our own ship.”

Source: Global Times