That's GBA – March 2021

G re at er B ay A re a

城市漫步 粤港澳大 湾区英文 版 03 月份

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《城市漫步》粤港澳大湾区 英文月刊

主管单位 : 中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 Supervised by the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 主办单位 : 五洲传播出版社 地址 : 北京西城月坛北街 26 号恒华国际商务中心南楼 11 层文化交流中心 11th Floor South Building, Henghua lnternational Business Center, 26 Yuetan North Street, Xicheng District, Beijing http://www.cicc.org.cn 社长 President: 董青 Dong Qing 期刊部负责人 Supervisor of Magazine Department: 付平 Fu Ping 编辑 Editor: 朱莉莉 Zhu Lili

发行 Circulation: 李若琳 Li Ruolin

Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gandolfo 甘德发 Arts and Lifestyle Editor Phoebe Kut 吉蓁蓁 Travel Editor Sophie Steiner Contributors Alistair Baker-Brian, Rakini Bergundy, Joshua ‘Cowboy’ Cawthorpe, Lindsey Fine， Naomi Lounsbury, Jesse Pottinger Photo Contributors Robynne Hu (Cover), Liu Yuansheng (Nation Feature)

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Editor’s Note

MARCH 2021

Given the current state of affairs, many of us based in China have managed to visit more domestic sites and discovered new places to travel around in the Middle Kingdom. In this month’s Cover Story, we list 34 Greater China destinations that are a must-see (if you have the time, of course). Some are obvious, while others are more low-key, making this a well-rounded group. Check it out on pages 38-49.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we give our take on bottled cocktails from Shanghai-based artisanal cocktail brand Laiba (pg22-23) and dig into what is happening with all those decrepit shared bikes that formed graveyards back in 2018 (pg36-37). In the Nation section, Our new Beijing Editor Alistair Baker-Brian talks with Author Tom Dartnell about the development of Beijing’s graffiti scene on pages 10-15.

Until next month,

Ryan Gandolfo Editor-in-Chief

Hourly updates on news, current affairs and general weirdness from around China.

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THE WRAP

6 THE NATION

16 ARTS & LIFE

7 POWER OFF

17 NIKA KATERYNCHUK Founder of nudepeche.

China bans mobile phones in elementary and middle schools.

10 CAPITAL COLORS Author Tom Dartnell talks Beijing’s graffiti scene.

24 TRAVEL 25 ROCKY DENG Founder of TK Space.

28 HEAVENLY HANGZHOU Exploring East China’s historic city.

22 LOVIN’ LIBATION A Review of Laiba, a China-based Artisanal Cocktail Brand.

32 BUSINESS & TECH 33 GREG TURNER Founder of Shenzhen High Performance Event Management.

36 A NEW LIFE How shared bikes are being reused in the PRC. 4 | MARCH 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

38 CHINA TREK

50 FAMILY

34 PLACES YOU NEED TO VISIT IN GREATER CHINA

51 HUGUES MARTIN Founder of Shanghailander.

52 CLASS CLOWN Motivation marks.

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S

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THE NATION Capital Colors Author Tom Dartnell Talks Beijing’s Graffiti Scene p10

Quote of the Month P8

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Mandarin Mumbles P9

CHINA CURRENTS

POWER OFF China Bans Mobile Phones in Elementary and Middle Schools

By Ryan Gandolfo

C

hina’s leading education authority recently announced a mobile phone ban in Chinese elementary and middle schools.

According to a notice published on the Ministry of Education’s website last month, students will be prohibited from bringing their mobile phones on campus – unless a parent’s written letter of consent is approved.

The ministry said the ban will help protect students’ eyesight, improve their studies, prevent internet and gaming addiction and promote healthy lifestyles.

The ministry is calling on schools to set up public phones on campus to address any student and parent communication concerns. For some young students, it may be their first time using a public phone.

Teachers will also no longer be allowed to assign homework that requires the use of mobile phones.

The news has been applauded by China’s online community and became a trending topic on Weibo with nearly eight million views as of press time. A Weibo poll conducted by Gaokao

Zhitongche (高考直通车) shows that 64% of netizens support the ban, while 17% oppose it.

“Children nowadays rely too much on mobile phones,” posted one Weibo user, placing the blame on parents who allow their children too much access to electronic devices. “It’s good to do this in public, so at least the kids don’t make noise. But many parents do the same thing at home. They don’t cultivate their children’s hobbies such as reading, and they just use their phones to solve the problem when kids are misbehaving.”

In 2019, state-run media outlet Xinhua reported that more than 93% of Chinese parents give their children mobile phones for daily use, according to a China Youth Daily survey. Students mainly use their phones for homework and social media – however, 30% of parents surveyed admitted that they had failed to educate their kids on how to “rationally use” the devices.

For more China news, scan the QR code below:

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THE BUZZ RANDOM NUMBER

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

130

Wang Li

… is the daily sales percentage increase of home-use mahjong machines last year. On Taobao, the classic Chinese board game machines were a top 10 bestseller in the leadup to the Year of the Ox, as cited by Global Times. The top three areas for mahjong machine sales were Chongqing municipality and Sichuan and Zhejiang provinces. It’s viewed as a prime form of entertainment for families hanging out more at home due to epidemic prevention and control measures. Although we must admit, the shushu mahjong groups on side streets are always a welcome sight that we hope won’t go away anytime soon.

The chief engineer of China’s top liquor brand Moutai Group, Wang Li made headlines last month after she was recommended to be named an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Global Times reported that Chinese netizens were skeptical about a ‘liquor academician’ being given the honorary title typically granted to prestigious scientists. In 2011, CAE elected a researcher at China Tobacco as an academician, sparking speculation on whether the selection procedure of academicians is corrupt.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Give away a car and everyone will forgive you” said one Weibo user after Ford China’s ‘Year of the Horse’ advertising fail. In early February, the American carmaker released a poster that confused the Year of the Ox (2021) with the Year of the Horse (2026). The ad was about its Mustang Mach-E – the first pure electric SUV from Ford, according to Caixin Global. Some netizens viewed the factual error as a marketing ploy to drum up some buzz about the sleek car model. If so, they likely achieved their target, as plenty of folks – including us – are talking about it. The real question is: will it lead to increased car sales?

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E D I T O R @ T H AT S M A G S . C O M

MANDARIN MUMBLES

6 Niu-tastic Phrases to Learn

T

he holidays are over and we’re all sick of hearing Happy ‘Niu’ Year so here are some actually clever ways to bring some Oxen to your talkin’.

To learn more fun phrases, scan the QR code:

牛逼

niú bī

Colloquially used by young

folks to exclaim awesomeness, the literal meaning of niúbī is a

cow’s bajingo. The character for vagina is often substituted with less graphic homonyms. 对牛弹琴

duì niú tán qín

老牛拉破车

lǎo niú lā pò chē

Imagine an ‘old ox pulling a broken cart.’ Now imagine

walking behind it in an airport.

This phrase teaches us to speak to people in ways they can

understand lest we‘preach

to deaf ears.’Dating back to

the Eastern Han Dynasty, this

idiom tells of a famous musician who became frustrated at

the less-than-enthusiastic

acknowledgement he received

from the cow he was serenading with his lute.

九牛一毛

jiǔ niú yī máo

When something is insignificant

or just a drop in the bucket, it’s ‘a single hair from nine ox hides.’

吹牛拍马

chuī niú pāi mǎ

‘Praising the bull and patting the horse’ is too boastful for these city-slickers. This phrase means to brag. 牛刀切鸡

niú dāo qiē jī

Confucius says overkill is ‘cutting chicken with an ox knife.’

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T H E N AT I O N | F E A T U R E

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F E A T U R E | T H E N AT I O N

CAPITAL COLORS

Author Tom Dartnell Talks Beijing’s Graffiti Scene Interview by Alistair Baker-Brian

S

hanghai-based author Tom Dartnell has been documenting graffiti since 1988. In recent years, his attention has turned to the small but intriguing graffiti scene in Beijing.

Beijing Graffiti is a recent book co-authored

by Dartnell along with Beijing photographer Liu Yuansheng, also known as ‘Liu Laoshi.’ The book features Liu’s photographs of graffiti works by various artists around the capital city. The images are accompanied by interviews in which each artist gives their thoughts on Beijing’s graffiti scene.

That’s talked with Dartnell about his own passion for graffiti and the unparalleled work of Liu Laoshi in photographing Beijing graffiti.

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T H E N AT I O N | F E A T U R E

You started covering graffiti in 1988 in Brighton in the United Kingdom. Why did you become interested in graffiti in the first place?

I got into it at the tail-end of graffiti’s arrival in the UK. It came over around 1983 or 1984 as part of the hip-hop package from New York. That was the first wave. In 1983, I was only nine years old, so I wasn’t really aware of it. But by the time I was around 14 in 1988, I was into it and knew what it was about.

I started seeing it in Brighton, where I lived. I started off documenting it, just taking photos of everything I saw. Over my adolescent years, I got to know a lot of graffiti artists. By the early ’90s, I was heavily involved and was painting a lot.

This was before the internet and before the explosion of street art and Banksy. So, the public perception was much different, and it was much more of a secret society than it is now.

What do you think makes graffiti attractive as an art form?

It’s interesting that you say ‘art form.’ For me, I was attracted to the social and cultural side of graffiti. I wasn’t the smartest kid in class, I was never picked first for sports, and I wasn't particularly good at art either. But with graffiti, I could get some recognition. I could stand out, even if it was just among other graffiti artists.

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Towards the end of Beijing Graffiti, there’s an interview with a girl called Mage. She talks about how she was really shy. But with graffiti, she found a way to communicate with others. It brought her out of her shell. I can certainly relate to that.

Liu Yuansheng, or Liu Laoshi, is someone we’ve previously covered. Can you give us a sense of his importance in the Beijing graffiti scene?

I first became aware of him through a documentary about the Beijing graffiti scene. I was just fascinated by him. He was a guy in his 50s and had this curiosity about graffiti. He had this drive to go all over Beijing and take photos of graffiti. He was the last person you would expect to do this. Back in the UK, most people of his age would be totally against graffiti – they would hate it. But this guy took a liking to it.

In the early days, I don’t think he understood too much about graffiti in other countries. I don’t think he understood how it is highly illegal and frowned upon. But nonetheless, he just took all these photos to document graffiti in Beijing.

And the book really is his book. I’m just there to put his photos in context from a Western perspective based on my 30 years of interest in graffiti. I don’t want to say the photos are the history of

F E A T U R E | T H E N AT I O N

Beijing graffiti because I think you would have to explore much deeper than that, and you can’t do that with one person’s photos. But the book is how he’s watched the local scene develop through his lens. He started taking photos specifically of graffiti in 2004. And he hasn’t really stopped until the last few years.

In the introduction of the book, you talk about the revolutionary sub-culture in the 1960s, the train graffiti movement in New York in the 1970s and 1980s and how there were lots of young people who wanted to express themselves through graffiti. How have artists in Beijing been influenced by Western subcultures, and to what extent is there a Chinese influence on their work?

“The population of Beijing is more than 20 million, and ever since there has been a graffiti scene in Beijing, there have perhaps only been about 100 graffiti artists at most”

Graffiti really started showing up in China around the late-1990s. The big difference between when I got into it in the UK and when Chinese kids got into it is the internet. Some of the older guys in the book, like the Beijing Penzi (BJPZ) guys, got into graffiti through skateboarding. They might have seen graffiti in a skateboarding video and then be-

come curious about it. Similarly, some of them might see it in a rap or hip-hop video and become curious that way. They may have been even more detached from the source of it in New York than I was, in terms of distance and time, but they were still able to learn about it.

In terms of other Western influences, some Western graffiti artists who have traveled to China, either on holiday, to work, or specifically to paint. They’ve got in touch with some of the Beijing graffiti artists and painted with them. And that’s a great way to learn – actually having someone share firsthand knowledge in person.

When I think about the graffiti scene around the world, I wouldn’t think, “What British influences can you see in British graffiti?” or “What French characteristics does French graffiti have?” So it's unfair to expect Chinese graffiti to have obvious Chinese characteristics.

Of course, something that does make some Chinese graffiti distinct is that rather than using the Western alphabet, some artists use Chinese characters as their names. Graffiti is based around lettering before anything else, and the majority of Chinese graffiti writers use Western letters. However, there is a small pocket of artists that use Chinese characters (such as Zato mentioned in the book).

I much prefer looking at graffiti that uses Chinese characters. I’ve been watching graffiti for 30 years, so to see pieces using Chinese characters is refreshing and exciting for me.

And because I can’t read Chinese, it adds that air of mystery for me. It’s the same way I felt when I started seeing graffiti in Brighton and didn’t know who was doing it.

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T H E N AT I O N | F E A T U R E

Something else that local artist Zato talks about is how graffiti crews want to “conquer territory.” Is this hard to do in modern-day Beijing?

The graffiti scene in Beijing is not dying, so to speak, but it has become increasingly difficult. The scene has always been small. The population of Beijing is more than 20 million, and ever since there has been a graffiti scene in Beijing, there have perhaps only been about 100 graffiti artists at most. You go to any European or American city, and you’ll find scenes that have thousands of artists in even smaller places.

As a graffiti artist, you really have

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to have that drive to go to all corners of the city and put your name up. And only a few writers have achieved that in Beijing. Just from my time spent there and seeing the names in all corners of the city, I’d say only a few people like Zato and crews like KTS and YDS have really managed to achieve that.

In 2014, authorities put up a plastic screen at the Badaling Great Wall as a designated area for graffiti, in part as a way to stop people from doing graffiti on the wall itself. Do these kinds of designated areas defeat the purpose of marking one’s territory in graffiti?

F E A T U R E | T H E N AT I O N

I don’t think the screens at Badaling were specifically placed there in response to the ‘graffiti artists’ we’re talking about. I’ve seen similar screens in the watchtowers at the Mutianyu section of the wall – covered in simple scrawls by tourists as if they were signing a visitor’s book. But there are areas in the city where the graffiti I’m talking about is tolerated. But yes, these areas do defeat the purpose to some extent.

Much of the thrill of graffiti comes from doing it without permission.

Also, when you have these ‘safe’ designated areas, not just in Beijing but anywhere in the world, you have a lot of people coming along and trying to do graffiti just because it’s trendy. But they perhaps don’t really understand the true history of the culture and what it’s about. They might have a more commercial mindset. They might want to be a professional artist and ultimately make money from it. But graffiti is more about having fun. These kids in New York in the 1970s who were spraypainting their names on trains weren’t getting paid. They did it for fun. I think that’s important. When you start to try and turn it into a career, it’s not the same.

If people wanted to learn more about graffiti in Beijing, where could they go?

I haven’t been to Beijing since 2019 because of COVID restrictions, so I can’t really say where the best spots are at the moment.

The 798 Art District is a good starting point. You’ll see work by some of the city’s most active graffiti artists.

Graffiti in 798 is tolerated. But not all of Beijing’s graffiti artists necessarily paint in these tolerated spots. I would say that discovering the graffiti scene in any city is more about walking around and coming upon graffiti by chance. Some graffiti might only last a couple of days. Graffiti is getting increasingly hard to track down.

The best way to gauge the health of a city’s graffiti scene is to go out onto the streets and just walk around to see where there is graffiti in public.

Certainly do not rely on things like Instagram because someone could be painting something in their back garden and posting every day without putting in the real work of going across the city and doing graffiti in all these exciting new spots. >This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Liu Yuan Sheng and Tom Dartnell’s new book ‘Beijing Graffiti’ is available to purchase on Amazon.

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ARTS & LIFE Lovin’ Libation A Review of Laiba, a China-based Artisanal Cocktail Brand p22

Millennium Yao Village P19

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Shamrockin Style P20

SPOTLIGHT

NIKA KATERYNCHUK Founder of nudepeche Interview by Phoebe Kut

Have you taken the time to pause and reflect about your life purpose?

Twenty-two year old Ukrainian Nika Katerynchuk, has been modeling in China for the past five years and recently asked herself that question.

She’s embraced the highs and lows of working in a foreign country and is now embarking on a new journey of building her own business.

She’s been working on launching nudepeche, a sustainable yoga wear brand which emerged from the gap in the market she saw when searching for sustainable clothing in China.

Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you transition from modeling to yoga?

I was pretty happy with modeling in the beginning, it gave me everything a young girl can dream about: money, attention, millions of followers on social media, travel and parties. Working in extreme weather conditions, not eating to be ‘beautiful’ in the industry, sleeping only a few hours a night and losing all my friends was a fair price. But last year something changed. I started to ask myself, “Why don’t I still feel beautiful after not eating for a day or seeing my poster in the mall?

Am I really happy, or does my happiness depend on others’ perception of me?

What’s my purpose?” At that time, yoga came to my life and I felt like I faced my ‘true self.’ I looked deep inside myself and didn’t find any purpose from what I was doing. I started to feel bad about promoting fast fashion brands that are just polluting our planet, I wanted to be part of something more meaningful. My partner also opened my eyes on a huge problem our planet faces nowadays, which I simply never even thought about before. I started to educate myself about sustainability, and I started every morning on my yoga mat to ‘talk to my inner self.’ After a while, I made this step in my life to quit modeling and was motivated by a call to ‘change the habits of yesterday.’ I created my lifestyle activewear brand nudepeche, and started my journey in yoga teaching. I want to build a community interested in being healthier and see the beauty in actions, minds and words… not on posters.

“nudepeche’s fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles and each piece prevents up to 25 water bottles from ending up in landfills” Working in the fashion industry, was starting a clothing brand always in your mind?

I never thought about working in the fashion industry, I never felt a huge passion for fashion, it was more just a desire to prove to myself and everyone that I could be a model. When I started to think about quitting modeling, I didn’t even think about starting a clothing brand, as I didn’t support the idea of what the fashion industry has become, how it just forces people to buy things they don’t need. However, I started to look for sustainable clothing yoga brands for myself but couldn’t find any in China, so I decided I want to create one. Not just to sell the clothes, but to build the community, to deliver the message to people. I don’t see nudepeche as a ‘fashion brand,’ for me it’s a choice of comfortable activewear. My focus is to make clothing as comfortable as can be for every body, and I always keep in mind the idea of ‘less is more’ while designing for nudepeche.

Who is your favorite designer?

It’s better to ask which woman I look up to (my mom for starters), because this is what inspires and motivates me for nudepeche. I don’t see myself as a designer, but as a catalyst to change.

Tell us more about the recycled bottles and the fabric. nudepeche’s fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles and each piece prevents up to 25 water bottles from ending up in landfills.

The production of recycled PET uses about 90% less water than production of virgin polyester and is definitely a sustainable option for your wardrobe.

However, it is still non-biodegradable and takes years to decompose once thrown away. The recycled polyester we use for our clothing is high-quality, but we understand that needs and body sizes change, so if and when it is time to say bye to your nudepeche clothing, either pass them to another person or take them to your nearest clothing recycle bin so they can be recycled into another piece of clothing!

We also have a recycle program where you may send us your old nudepeche clothing in exchange for a 25% discount.

What’s the most exciting part of starting your own business?

For me, every part of the process from getting the business license in China as a foreigner, to seeing someone wearing the clothes we created is extremely exciting. I guess the most exciting part for me, is to see people inspired by our message and trying to make every part of the process as ethical and sustainable as we can! To see changes in people’s actions and minds, that’s worth working for! > This interview has been edited for clarity.

Search ‘nudepeche’ on WeChat official accounts, Instagram, Weibo, or Taobao to order.

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STYLE RADAR OVERHEARD

“There’s a lot of context about China that is lost; often it’s looked at as this one monolithic entity, as opposed to a country of individuals and innovations” said Margaret Zhang, Vogue China’s brand new Editor-in-Chief, in a recent interview with the magazine. The 27-yearold Australian-Chinese blogger is the youngest-ever to take on such a role at Vogue. Currently living in Sydney, Zhang will be based in Beijing once travel restrictions subside and is expected to carry the magazine into the digital age. With over one million Instagram followers to boot, she seems ready for the gig.

COVET

Bold in Blue While inspecting venues for the 2022 Winter Olympics north of Beijing, President Xi Jinping wore a dark blue parka from Canadian brand Arc’teryx and media outlets took notice. The parka was quite the statement as it caused the stock price for parent company Anta to shoot up almost 10%.

You can also cop the president’s stylish yet practical choice of outerwear for RMB9,000. The Thorsen Parka is described as “the warmest Arc’teryx waterproof down parka designed for urban wear” on their website. It also “delivers waterproof, windproof, breathable protection and [the] premium down insulation provides exceptional warmth.” > RMB9,000. Visit arcteryx.com/cn to purchase.

UNDER THE LENS

Baijiu Beats Just in time for CNY, Chinese liquor company Kweichow Moutai dropped a cringeworthy rap music video about its pride and joy.

The video features three foreigners in Guizhou’s Maotai city, rapping about their love for the hard-hitting baijiu. Titled ‘Oh It’s Moutai,’ we knew we were in for a treat after the first line: “Call me not laowai cause I know Chinese wine (不要叫我laowai其实 我懂中国wine).”

The song is sung in Chinese with English subtitles that almost steal the show.

Some of our favorites include: “Wind intoxicates the nearby homes” and “fragrance has nowhere to hide.”

While the state-owned – and publicly traded – company has enjoyed a long streak of success, its new music video seems to be an obvious reach towards both Chinese millennials and non-Chinese nationals. > Scan the QR code to watch.

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E D I T O R @ T H AT S M A G S . C O M

CITY SNAPSHOT

@ _ik_wong Ian Wong is a Cantonese photographer who has lived in Guangzhou for more than five years. At the end of 2020, he was eager to capture the charm of Chinese traditional architecture and buildings so he traveled to the Millennium Yao Village. The ancient village is located in Liannan County of Qingyuan and was built thousands of years ago during the Song Dynasty. It stands atop a mountain with enchanting terraces.

Wong tells That’s, “Climbing up along the stone-paved road, we had a splendid view of the mountains and the ancient houses in the distance. Most residents in Yao village are of the Yao ethnicity, the only remaining minority living in Guangdong province.

They regularly perform beautiful folk songs and dances, and I learned that one of their ceremonies originates from an old love story. By taking this picture, I wish to celebrate cultural diversity among different ethnic groups.” > For more of Wong’s work follow @_ik_wong on Instagram.

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ARTS & LIFE | FASHION

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ARTS & LIFE | F E AT URE

LOVIN’ LIBATION A Review of China-based Artisanal Cocktail Brand Laiba

By Ryan Gandolfo and Phoebe Kut

W

hile premade cocktails may seem like a relatively recent fad, these novelty drinks surprisingly date back to the 1890s in Hartford, Connecticut. The ready-to-drink (RTD) category has seen success and irrelevance over the past century but appears to have turned a new page in recent years.

Catering to those who don’t fit the mixologist mold, RTDs are a fun and easy way to enjoy cocktails without the hassle of crafting your own.

Convenience stores across China typically carry RTDs from Jack Daniels and Cola to various Rio drinks – making up the lower end of RTDs in the Middle Kingdom.

The high-end of the bottled cocktail market is what we’re after, which is where Laiba comes into play.

We had the opportunity to try the Shanghai-based artisanal bottled cocktail brand, which sure didn’t disappoint. A little backstory about the brand, the drinks are crafted by Michael Chen, an award-winning mixologist who is considered one of the best in Asia. The concept behind Laiba is to bottle cocktails just as if they were served in the world’s best bars – a lofty goal, we might add.

At first glance, the bottles are well packaged and designed, making for a great gift option. To prepare the cocktails, all you have to do is shake the bottle and pour it over ice. If you want to go the extra mile,

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OVIN’ IBATIO

F E AT URE | ARTS & LIFE

add garnish for that ‘wow’ factor. (To be honest, we didn’t, and the drink was still tasty.)

We ended up taking Laiba with us on holiday, as they’re easy to pack in a suitcase and perfect to have as a pregame option along with beer or hard liquor. We also spent some time sipping them at home when guests would come over.

Laiba has a range of cocktail products, including Bloody Mary, Earl’s Old Fashioned, Cold Brew Martini and Twisted Negroni, among others.

According to their official website, cocktails are RMB50 per bottle (90125 milliliters). There are also a few variety packs that drop the price a tad.

We came away impressed by the tasty tipples. The Bloody Mary packed a delicious umami punch of tomato, paired with just the right amount of heat. For those uninitiated to savory cocktails, one taster said it was reminiscent of “hot sauce with alcohol.” As for the Laiba Sour, it has very natural flavors like an actual cocktail should – arrivederci, artificial flavors. Simply delicious. On a side note, make sure to have a second glass nearby, as it’s awkward drinking straight from the bottle.

We view Laiba cocktails as a solid gift option for friends or the occasional splurge for a small house gathering. But if you take your cocktailmaking skills seriously, we wouldn’t expect you to be a repeat customer.

Laiba has been growing at a quick pace, expanding in China and other overseas markets. A Laiba representative told us the cocktails can be found in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Hainan, Suzhou, Shenyang, Asia Pacific and the UK. (You can also order their products directly online in China.) We also learned that the brand is working on projects with airlines Cathay Pacific and Etihad Airways, meaning more cocktails in the cabin. > To learn more about Laiba, visit laibabeverages.com.

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TRAVEL Hot Spot Banaue p27

The Giggling Tree P26 24 | MARCH 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Heavenly Hangzhou P28

WANDERLUST

ROCKY DENG Founder of TK Space Interview by Joshua Cawthorpe

Kaiping is a unique historical gem located less than two hours south of Guangzhou that we highly recommend. The Kaiping diaolou, dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007, are beautiful fortified towers built at the end of the Qing Dynasty and into the 1930s. The buildings highlight a blend of Chinese and Western architecture that rose from wealth being sent home from overseas Chinese and the need for increased fortifications to defend ancestral villages from ethnic battles and raiding bandits. On a recent visit to this beautiful area of the countryside, we sat down with Rocky Deng, owner of TK Space in Tangkou, to talk about his project, which has become much more than just an accommodation.

What is your connection to the Kaiping area?

When I turned 50, I decided to do something different and had visited Kaiping many times out of a fascination with the history of overseas Chinese like myself.

A friend who was studying conservation at Hong Kong University, and who had been my tour guide around the area on previous visits, told me about a project restoring the ancestral hall in [nearby] Cangdong. In addition to revitalizing two very beautiful buildings, I discovered the

“Since people did not travel as much and stayed in Guangdong, we had a lot more people coming to see the diaolou during the Spring Festival” old stone foundation of a temple in the forest behind the project, so we also rebuilt the temple. Because of the project’s success, I received a UNESCO award in 2015, and the site is still open to tourists today. With my background of community involvement in Vietnam, I wanted to set up an education base and community center.

TK Space is viewed as a ‘hostel slash art space slash restaurant.’ How would you describe TK and its role in the community of Tangkou?

For the restoration projects, we employed a lot of residents from the nearby villages to help because they had experience in the style of these buildings. We also brought many students who were studying this type of conservation at universities like HKU, UBC and Stanford. TK Space is a hostel and a restaurant, so we can host the students who bring expertise and passion to cultural conservation projects that we organize around the area.

We also have three acres of farmland where our staff and members of the community grow fresh food for the restaurant and neighbors. We are always looking to create opportunities for residents of Tangkou and work with the local disabled rehabilitation center. We offer free bikes and free breakfast to our guests so that they can have a memorable experience while learning about the history, local culture and conservation efforts. The farm and big open kitchen let guests and student groups come and learn about organic farming and cooking local cuisine.

Would you say that tourism has been increasing in Tangkou in recent years?

Yes, very much so. In our first year, we started the Tangkou Summer Country Fair. We wanted to bring people to the area for a fun and educational event, and we set up tents so that local residents could operate booths to share their traditional crafts and products. The first year we had about 3,000 people come to the fair, and the local government took notice. In the second year, more than 10,000 people came. The Jiangmen government recognized the opportunity for tourism and investment in the infrastructure by paving the roads, building a large public washroom and renovating the canals and pathways.

How did this year’s CNY tourism traffic compare to previous years?

Since people did not travel as much and stayed in Guangdong, we had a lot more people coming to see the diaolou during the Spring Festival. For example, February 13 and 14 were record-breaking days at the restaurant, and we needed to get a lot of part-time staff from different villages. We were exhausted but very happy with that. It really gives me a lot of encouragement about the coming year. > This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. To learn more about TK Space, scan the QR code below:

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ITCHY FEET ROLLER COASTER

MILE HIGH

Close to Home

Here Comes China

Short-distance travel was the name of the game over the Spring Festival last month.

Chinese tourists packed nearby tourist attractions, with one father in Guangzhou telling us that his family waited “well over one hour” to ride the cable car at Chimelong Safari Park. In January, the Central Government and provincial governments actively encouraged residents to stay in their respective cities to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks. It appears to have worked out well since very few cases have been reported in recent weeks.

Remember when we could travel freely around the world? Those were the days.

Costa Rica’s tourism board recently reminded us of the wonders of international travel, after announcing that tourists from Beijing and Shanghai can travel to the Central American country without a visa. There are currently no direct flights from China to Costa Rica, however, we expect that to change once the pandemic passes.

HOSPITALITY HIGHLIGHT

The Giggling Tree Like its playful name, the Giggling Tree is a fun family-friendly guesthouse to stay in when traveling in Guangxi. Located in the village of Aishanmen about five kilometers from Yangshuo, the Giggling Tree is truly in the heart of the scenic karst mountains and has been in operation since 2007. Rooms and suites range from 22 to 80 square meters, which include a private bath with shower. The guesthouse has a range of cycling and walking tours as well as more adventurous activities such as caving and rock climbing. The private pool area is another great spot to spend the afternoon in the splendid South China sun. While some view Yangshuo as a pleasant escape from China’s major cities, the area surrounding the Giggling Tree is pure countryside bliss.

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E D I T O R @ T H AT S M A G S . C O M

HOT SPOT

Banaue s a secluded, offbeat alternative to relaxing beachside on any one of the 7,000plus Philippine islands, Banaue, in the northern mountains of Luzón, is the ultimate nature-filled getaway.

The tiny town can be traversed in under five minutes, yet it serves as the jumpingoff point for some of the lushest rice terraces in southeast Asia. Navigate the Hapao Terraces in nearby Hungduan, but remember to bring your swimsuit for a dip in the Hungduan Bogya Hot Springs located inside the terraces.

The crown jewel of Banaue is an even more remote village, Batad, situated just 45 minutes away in the heart of the most epic terraces. Only about 400 people live in the town proper, tending to the nearby terraces or opening their homes as guesthouses to the tourists coming to visit. The entire town has no internet or cell service, so the only way to experience Batad is by disconnecting from the outside world – which we should all do now and then.

In Batad, you can wake up in an Ifugao hut with the sun and go to sleep when it sets; enjoy local, home-cooked food after long hikes to Cambulo or other neighboring terraces; and breathe in nature’s air, swim in the Tappiya Waterfall and chat with local people about their way of life.

A

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TR AVEL | D E S T IN AT I O N

HEAVENLY HANGZHOU T

he capital of Zhejiang province, Hangzhou’s magnificent scenery has inspired influential writers and artists for thousands of years, including renowned poets Bai Juyi and Su Shi, who also served as governor to the city during the Tang and Song dynasties, respectively.

The city’s biggest – and most crowded – attraction is West Lake. According

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to legend, the lake was created during a quarrel between two mythical characters – jade phoenix and golden dragon – and the jewel at the center of the controversy was dropped to earth at the spot where West Lake now lies.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site, however, is not the only natural vista worth a visit in Hangzhou. Mountains surrounding the water offer exceptional hiking and camping options, or head to one of the Longjing (dragon well) tea plantations, where visitors can pick their own leaves and enjoy a few sips of the final product at a nearby teahouse.

Apart from its stunning natural scenery, the city has also been at the forefront of China’s technological development in recent decades.

Inside the Hangzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (referred to by some as China’s Silicon Valley), you’ll find the headquarters of one of China’s largest tech companies, Alibaba.

A fast-growing city in China, Hangzhou served as the host city of the 2016 G20 Summit as well as being selected to host the 2022 Asian Games.

Looking for more expert guides to China’s biggest cities and hottest destinations?

Purchase our Explore China travel guide, which offers insider tips, detailed city guides and more. You can scan the QR code below to order:

D E S T IN AT I O N | TR AVEL

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Located 27 kilometers east of downtown Hangzhou is the city’s main airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. The airport is in Xiaoshan District, has three terminals and serves 113 domestic routes and 49 international routes. Taxi service between the airport and city center takes just over half an hour. Car rental is available at the airport and there is a frequent bus service. A subway line to the Hangzhou airport is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2022. > Xiaoshan District 萧山区 杭州萧山国际机场

Hangzhou South Station Originally built in 1931, this station in Xiaoshan District was due for an upgrade, and completed renovations in July 2020. With seven platforms and 21 tracks, this comprehensive transportation hub connects high-speed rail, regular trains, metro, buses and long-distance buses.

Interchange for metro lines 5 and 11 can be accessed from this station.

Passenger Transport Central Station (Jiubao Passenger Transport) Located in Jiubao town and also known as Jiubao station, this is the largest passenger bus station in the province. It is relatively far from downtown Hangzhou but it is accessible via subway Line 1. The station is open from 6am to 7.30pm and the two and a half hour journey to Shanghai South bus station will cost RMB80. > Desheng Dong Lu, Jiubao Town, Jianggan District 江干区九堡街道德胜 东路3339号 (0571 87650679)

Hangzhou Water Bus As a city surrounded by multiple bodies of water, visitors can also cruise around via the water bus. These ferries cost RMB3 and run four different routes. You can also pay the fare by using the Hangzhou Transportation Smart Card. > Main Piers: Wulinmen Pier, Gongchen Bridge Pier, Genshanmen Pier, Xinyifang Pier

> No. 1 Zhanqian Lu, Xiaoshan District萧山区站前路1号

Metro Hangzhou East Station This is the city’s main bullet train station which also offers regular trains all over the country. With 30 platforms, the station is essentially one large waiting hall, make sure to check the monitor for your assigned waiting area and platform entrance. Metro lines 1 and 4 can also be accessed via the basement level of the station. > No. 1 Tiancheng Lu, Jianggan District 江干区天城路1号

Qiandaohu Railway Station

The metro is open from around 6am-10.30pm and tickets start at RMB2. There are currently four lines in operation and seven more in the works. Eating, drinking, smoking and pets are prohibited inside.

Taxi Licensed Hangzhou taxis are usually light blue and start from RMB11. Hailing a taxi from Xiaoshan Airport to the downtown area is around RMB100-150.

One of eastern China’s most picturesque railway stations, Qiandaohu blends into its surroundings seamlessly with its low-profile arched roof. The station has two floors, with two platforms and six tracks. Qiandaohu (the tourist attraction) is 27 kilometers away, which is easily accessible by taxi, bus or shuttles outside the station. > Wenchang Town, Chun'an County 淳安县文昌镇

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Qinghefang Ancient Street

East of China Porcelain Market

This pedestrian street is considered a prestigious national AAAA-level scenic spot in Hangzhou. It was known as the most prosperous commercial street in the city across multiple dynasties spanning from Song to Qing. Today, you can find shops housed in Qing and Ming architecturalstyle buildings which sell tea, traditional Chinese medicine, noodles, wine, pottery and more.

If you are looking for just porcelain products, sculptures, dolls, vases or figurines in beautiful colors, this is your one-stop shop.

> Hefang Jie, Shangcheng District 上城区河坊街 清河坊(Ding’an Road Station, Line 1)

Silk Market As Hangzhou was central to China’s development of the silk trade, silk sightseeing is a must. This is the biggest wholesale and retail silk market in China, occupying 25,000 square meters. Over 600 shops are housed in traditional-style buildings offering a variety of silk stuff, including finished or semi-finished silk products like scarves, ties, fabrics, suits, dresses, handicrafts and more.

Of course, if you know how to bargain, the price of silk will magically be much cheaper. > Fengqi Lu to Tiyutai Lu 整條街南起鳳起路, 北至體育場路 中国丝绸城 (Zhonghe North Road Station, Line 2)

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> Xihu DIstrict 西湖区

Wushan Night Market If you want a more rugged shopping experience then wait until darkness falls and make your way to the Wushan Night Market. With everything from street snacks to knicknacks, the market draws nightly crowds to peruse the long lines of temporary stalls selling clothing, handbags, electronics and Mao memorabilia. > Renhe Lu, Shangcheng District上城区仁和路 (Longxiangqiao Station, Line 1)

D E S T IN AT I O N | TR AVEL

Thousand Island Lake (Qiandao Lake) Created in 1959 for the Xin’an River Dam, this manmade reservoir is dotted with 1,078 islands (which are actually the tops of hills and mountains), plus a few thousand smaller ones. Its crystal clear water, which covers an area of 573 square kilometers, is the source of Nongfu Spring’s bottled mineral water. The scenic site was featured in a new documentary, Underwater China, that recorded the underwater town beneath the lake’s surface that was flooded as part of the dam project. As the habitat to over 1,800 varieties of plants and 2,100 wild animal species, Qiandao Lake has been a popular tourist destination since the 1990s, and the best way to explore the area is by boat.

Xixi National Wetland Park Known for its tranquility and elegance, Xixi covers 10 square kilometers of land and is one of the only wetland parks in China. With more than 1,800 years of history, there are 10 sights in the park where visitors can immerse themselves in nature. The most notable include the Autumn Snow Temple, which offers the best scenery, and the Deep Pool Mouth, where the annual Dragon Boat race occurs. Both places are only accessible by boat.

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BUSINESS & TECH A New Life How Shared Bikes are Being Reused in the PRC p36

Tap that App P34

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Highs and Lows P35

GAME THEORY

GREG TURNER Founder of Shenzhen High Performance Event Management Interview by Ryan Gandolfo

China’s live entertainment scene has been dealt one of the biggest blows among all industries as the coronavirus outbreak, which was first reported in January 2020, continues to disrupt economies around the globe. Everything from sporting events and music concerts to art exhibitions and more have been impacted as a result of the pandemic.

With his finger on the pulse of the live entertainment industry, Shenzhen High Performance Event Management founder and managing director Greg Turner has made the most of his time in China, leading a wide range of event-based projects in sports and music, among other areas. With nearly 20 years of experience in the PRC, he has played a decisive role in event strategy, development and operation for multi-functional facilities, working with legendary figures such as China’s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medalist Yang Yang and Hong Kong business tycoon and philanthropist Li Kashing.

Below, Turner shares his insights on the current state of China’s entertainment sector and considerations for the live event experience post COVID-19: You’ve worked on and led a multitude of live events in China, from sports and music to hospitality. What is the key to successfully organizing events here?

There isn’t just one key, but I’d say the first thing is making sure you have government support. They just have too many ways to disrupt your plans and event if you don’t have them on board.

Second is really understanding your

“A good venue partner who understands the commercial needs of your event can make or break it for you” event and who the audience is. China’s so big you need a focused plan on who you expect to attend and how you’re going to reach them. What works in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou probably isn’t going to work in Shenyang, Hefei or Xiamen.

Having the right venue is also key.

There are such massive quality differences in venues and the management.

A good venue partner who understands the commercial needs of your event can make or break it for you.

How should organizers be reevaluating the live event experience in a post-COVID-19 world?

Having lived in both Shanghai and Shenzhen, is there a city you prefer?

Shanghai will always hold a special place in my heart, it’s like my second hometown. So many great friends and great times there. But the city now isn’t the same as the city I knew. Shenzhen on the other hand is so full of youthful energy and excitement. It’s a city of young people ready to step up and put its stamp on the world – similar to how Shanghai was 15 years ago. I’m really excited to be part of what I expect will be another wild China ride in the next few years. > This interview has been edited for brevity.

That’s going to be an ongoing challenge for at least the next 12-18 months. In China, even once the government gives the go-ahead, will people want to come back? How do we create an environment where people can still come and have fun while also feeling safe? Will the government have confidence that the right precautions are being taken?

Also, this shutdown period has really accelerated the shift to streaming concerts and live entertainment. Once we’re back online, what can we do to integrate this new massive streaming demand with the live event experience. Lots of questions to be answered.

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TAKE STOCK TAP THAT APP

CHART ATTACK

HelloBike

Breakup Text

Despite the app name, HelloBike is more of a general transportation travel technology provider. Yes, you can scan to get shared bikes with their inexpensive monthly passes, but the app also offers users cheaper shared-ride alternatives.

Referred to as ‘shunfengche’ (顺风车), the HelloBike feature helps link users with drivers headed in the same general direction, which brings down the cost compared to a hired car or taxi. For example, we recently used the app feature to book a ride two hours outside Guangzhou, and the price was more than RMB100 cheaper compared to ordering a DiDi. There are options to share a ride with other passengers or reserve the whole car.

While HelloBike isn’t the only app to offer this kind of transportation, we found it was one of the few options where foreign nationals were allowed to order cars.

With internet dating platforms surging in popularity, how do people feel about using apps to break up? A recent poll on Sina Technology’s Weibo asked respondents whether WeChat was an acceptable way to end a relationship.

There was no runaway victor in the poll results, but 36% of the respondents feel that WeChat is an acceptable way to break up. The updated Weibo post suggesting that the younger generations feel it’s less embarrassing than a faceto-face breakup. Some netizens commented that, regardless of one’s opinSource: Sina Tech ion on the matter, if a breakup happens on WeChat then it has the same meaning and can’t just be ignored. Only slightly fewer voters suggest that it depends on the situation, such as the duration of the relationship.

> HelloBike (哈罗出行) is available on iOS and Android devices.

INSPECT-A-GADGET

Laptop Stands Most of us spend the majority of our day looking down at phone and laptop screens – a reality of the tech-driven world we live in.

Unfortunately, this also can be a burden on the body, with office workers hunched over laptops for hours each day. Laptop stands help address a workers’ posture by raising screens to eye level. It’s a quick and easy way to address the ergonomic deficits of laptops. You can find any style of laptop stand on Taobao and notice an immediate difference. In addition to ergonomic benefits, laptop stands can also prolong the life of your laptop by allowing air to circulate to minimize overheating. So, your body and your laptop will thank you! > Laptop stands are available on Taobao by searching ‘laptop stand’ or ‘电脑支架.’

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Can you breakup on WeChat?

E D I T O R @ T H AT S M A G S . C O M

HIGHS AND LOWS

Highs · China became Europe’s top trading partner for goods in 2020 – a reflection of the changing global trade landscape amid the pandemic. The European Union’s statistics service Eurostat released international trade data in February, which showed China’s increased role in trade with Europe. There were increases in imports (+5.6%) and exports (+2.2%) between China and the EU last year, with the overall value of EU-China goods trade reaching USD706 billion.

• Chinese consumption has been surging following the Spring Festival and is expected to continue after COVID-19 vaccines become widely available in the country. According to data from market research company Ipsos, China has the highest consumer confidence (71.8) followed by Saudi Arabia (63.5) and India (56.1).

• With so many folks staying in the big cities over the holidays, the cinemas were a popular place to spend an afternoon. In particular, Chinese mainland movies performed exceedingly well, raking in more than RMB1 billion per day for five consecutive days during Spring Festival. In total, Chinese cinemas brought in a record RMB7.5 billion between February 11-17.

Lows • Two separate deadly mining accidents in Shandong province have led to thorough safety inspections of all underground non-coal mines, according to Global Times. Both accidents occurred in gold mines in Yantai and led to 16 casualties. The first incident was a fire on January 10 while the most recent was an explosion. Qin Chuanbin, the leader of Shandong Provincial Emergency Management Department, said mines that have been certified safe can resume production.

• China’s retail traders – despite growing to record numbers in 2020 – are seeing their percentage of freely floating shares fall in Shanghai and Shenzhen. According to Financial Times, institutional investors holdings climbed to more than 70% between 2015 and 2020. Meanwhile, shares held by amateur traders dropped from 50% to 23% in the same period.

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BUSINESS & TECH | F E AT URE

A New Life How Shared Bikes are Being Reused in the PRC

By Ryan Gandolfo

R

emember China’s shared-bike revolution in 2017 that led to massive bicycle graveyards around the country? We sure do.

It wasn’t very long ago that major Chinese cities were inundated with colorful bicycles on every sidewalk, with dozens of companies joining the rat race and deploying their cycle fleets. Initially, these bike share schemes were viewed favorably as an eco-friendly solution to traveling by car as well as easing traffic congestion. But as more and more bikes hit the roads, the situation quickly got out of hand. Companies like Ofo, Mobike and Bluegogo pumped millions of bikes

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into China’s existing public transport system.

The bike share craze started to die out by the end of 2018, with thousands of Ofo users lining up outside the company’s Beijing headquarters to demand refunds for their RMB200 bike deposits – many of which have never been returned.

While the bike share sector has settled down now with fewer companies and bikes, it’s hard to ignore what happened with all those two-wheelers.

According to state-run media outlet CGTN, an estimated 10 million shared bikes in China would be declared beyond

F E AT URE | BUSINESS & TECH

repair by 2020 – amounting to 160,000 tonnes of waste. Even more concerning, bikes with digital locks contain hazardous lithium-ion batteries and circuit boards that could harm the environment if not dealt with.

The most common way bike-sharing companies have handled the junk bike buildup has been to partner with certified recycling companies. Hellobike has reportedly recycled over 500,000 wheels, 250,000 baskets and 70,000 seats as of June 2019. Mobike has also recycled 1.5 million tires and 10,000 tons of scrap metal.

In addition to recycling, one bike-share company has managed to turn the overhead into a philanthropic opportunity.

Meituan, which purchased Mobike for USD2.7 billion in April 2018, started a charity initiative called ‘Shared Bikes to Courts’ in 2020 that makes good use of tires from all those old bikes. Partnering with local townships and design firms, Meituan has used thousands of old share bike tires to build pathways and sports grounds for exercise. The material makes for a much more comfortable surface to walk and play on compared to concrete or asphalt. A company representative told us about projects in Guangzhou’s Panyu district as well as school sports grounds in Tianjin, Guizhou and Sichuan.

Are there still bike-share graveyards in the Middle Kingdom? Likely, but with more projects to utilizing lifeless bike parts, these rejected bicycles are seeing new life.

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CHINA 34 Places You Need to Visit in Greater China

By Jesse Pottinger and Naomi Lounsbury

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

A TREK C

hina boasts some of the most diverse topography in Asia, and arguably the world.

From the karst peaks in Guizhou, Guangxi and Yunnan to the Gobi Desert in Gansu and the verdant grasslands of Inner Mongolia, the Middle Kingdom has it all.

The country is a real beauty, and we’re happy to call it home. But traveling in China, like most places, can present an obstacle or two along your journey (read: tourist traps). They suck, we know, and they’re embarrassingly present just about everywhere in the Middle Kingdom. However, if you can tough out the crowds (or arrive early), you’ll see why avid travelers are big on the country.

We’ve come up with a list of must-visit places in each of China’s 34 provinces, autonomous regions, special administrative zones and municipalities to give you a little taste of what this incredible nation has in store. (Besides, international travel is at a standstill at the moment.) Some places will be familiar (maybe you’ve been, or perhaps your co-worker Susan won’t stop bragging about her recent trip there), while others will be new and exciting.

So, whether you’re a longtime China resident or someone who doesn’t even know the phrase ni hao, this list is for you.

BEIJING

The Fo rbidde n City The Forbidden City is known as the No. 1 scenic spot in Beijing for good reason: the world-famous historic site is vast and magnificent. Walk along the same paths that former emperors once laid claim. Wear comfortable shoes, though, because the place is enormous.

ANHUI Huangshan If you happen to find yourself in Anhui province, make sure to stop over at Huangshan, one of China’s Five Great Mountains. On this mountain range in eastern China, your eyes will widen at the view of misty clouds rising over twisting pines, rocky peaks and a mesh of other natural scenery unrivaled elsewhere. It’ll likely take more than a day to climb up and down Huangshan, so be sure to make a reservation at one of the mountaintop hotels.

Gulangyu Island is a small international settlement just a short boat ride off the coast of Fujian. The island has banned cars and bicycles, making this slice of land as pedestrian friendly as it gets. About 20,000 residents live here permanently, and the island still boasts an old European feel thanks to the many churches, consulates and other colonial-style buildings lining the island’s backroads.

FUngJyIuAIsNland

Gula

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GANSU

The Mogao Grottoes of Gansu hold the largest collection of Buddhist art in the world. Tang Dynasty records indicate that a legendary monk, who lived in 16 states, had a vision here in which he saw one thousand Buddhas drenched in golden light beams. This inspired him to begin constructing the grottoes, which saw development over 10 dynasties. In cave No. 17, also called the ‘Library Cave,’ over 15,000 paper books and 1,100 bundles of scrolls were discovered. The sheer volume of artwork here is believed to be enough to fill a 25-kilometer-long art gallery.

Mog ao G rotto es

G N O D G N A GU Danxia Mount

While Guangdong has a plethora of scenic locations, Danxia Mountain and the Yangyuan Stone are the must-see spots, and not simply because of the aforementioned rock’s remarkable resemblance to an erect phallus. The natural geography of the mountain looks like the baleen teeth of a blue whale rising out of the surrounding green forests, making for one of the region’s most fascinating natural sites.

GUANGXI AUTONO MOUS R E Yangs G I O N huo K arst Moun tains

Have you ever looked at a Chinese landscape painting and thought, “What? Mountains don’t look like that. Why do they draw such stylized, unrealistically steep mountains?” Well, the karst mountains of Guangxi actually do look like steep, fat obelisks rising straight out of the ground. A bike or boat ride through the scenic backpacker hideout of Yangshuo is our top recommendation in the province and easily one of the coolest things to do in South China.

GUIZHOU Jiabang Rice Terraces The Jiabang Rice Terraces of Guizhou are said to be some of the most beautiful rice terraces in China, and let’s be honest, there are plenty of similar landscapes in the Middle Kingdom. But these take the cake – they even look a bit like a layer cake. The Jiabang Rice Terraces are relatively hard to get to, so they aren’t overflowing with tourists like other scenic spots. As such, it’s still possible to get that perfect shot without some passerby’s bright orange backpack and North Face jacket caught in the frame.

HEBEI Hongyagu Glass Suspension Bridge Sharing a border with China’s capital city, Hebei is a treasure trove of architectural marvels. There are floating bridges, a modern Muslim cultural center, a beachside chapel and even parts of the Great Wall. But given the Wall’s presence elsewhere, we recommend visiting a more recent human-made masterpiece – Hongyagu’s glass suspension bridge.

Located in Shijiazhuang, it is one of the longest glass bridges in the world. And while it isn’t the highest, we’re reasonably confident that you won’t be up there complaining that you’re not far enough from the ground – heights-averse visitors be warned.

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Hainan is best known for its beaches. While there are other things to do in the island province, nothing surpasses the beauty of the sandy seaside. If you aren’t into the sand and saltwater vibes, you might find yourself at a loss here. But honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a few carefree hours spent barefoot with a drink in hand? We recommend checking out Yalongwan, Sanya: With its slightly rocky coast, punctuated by stretches of soft and sandy terrain, it is the perfect place to buy your beachside coconut and take a few Instagram-worthy selfies.

HAINAN

Beaches of Sanya

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HENAN The Longmen Grottoes The Longmen Grottos in Henan are a network of caves, holes and niches containing approximately 100,000 Buddhist statues. At 36 meters wide and 41 meters long, Fengxian Temple is the largest of the grottoes and features nine imposing figures of varying appearance. Sadly, many of the effigies are no longer fully intact – the result of years of plundering by shameless foreigners at the beginning of the 20th century, with further damage potentially caused amid the chaos of the Cultural Revolution. Nonetheless, the Longmen Grottoes are an absolute must-visit spot when in Henan; just be sure to keep your paws off the structures that remain.

HONG KONG Victoria Peak Sure, everyone does it, but Victoria Peak is by no means overhyped. After all, if you aren’t hiking an incredible trail by day and boozing around the streets of Lan Kwai Fong in the evening, are you even really in Hong Kong? At 552 meters, it is the highest peak in the Special Administrative Region. The ascent is filled with beautiful flora and fauna, and at the top, hikers are rewarded with stunning views of the dense urban jungle below. Plus, you’re less likely to run into the hand-sized spiders that hang dangerously close to Dragon’s Back trail.

HUBEI Shennongjia Nature Reserve Shennongjia Nature Reserve draws hordes of tourists each year for its breathtaking scenery and rare animal and plant species. The landscape is vast and varied, with numerous caves, towering mountain peaks, rivers, ancient trees and abundant flowers. Want to see a Chinese giant salamander in its natural habitat (you know, not illegally sold in a wet market)?

You’ll find them here. The same goes for the golden snubnosed monkey, clouded leopard and Asian black bear. But be warned, Shennongjia is also (allegedly) home to the yeren, a mythical bigfoot-like creature. The elusive beast has yet to be caught, but that doesn’t mean it won’t devour you in your sleep.

HEILONGJIANG The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival The month-long Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is renowned worldwide for its stunning ice structures – some among the world’s largest. Every year, visitors flock to Harbin from throughout China and abroad (prepandemic) to meander the festival grounds, which feature massive ice sculptures and ice castles, as well as an ice lantern show that beams from the surrounding snowy wonderland. Rumor has it that the festival is less crowded than other major attractions, but you’re still best to avoid during Chinese holidays when even some random duck pond in rural Guizhou is bound to have a line at its entrance.

HUNAN Wulingyuan Scenic Area If you’re looking at photos of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area and thinking the place seems familiar, it may be because the landscape inspired the setting for the fictional land of Pandora in Avatar. There are three notable destinations within the scenic spot: Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

We also recommend a leisurely float down the Maoyan River. A cruise on the winding waterway will last about three hours, and along the way, you’ll pass a myriad of scenic spots, including Shuidongzi Waterfall and Wentang Hot Spring.

JIANGXI

A I L O G N O M R E N N s I land s s a r G The

If you travel to the crescent-shaped autonomous region of the North, it would be foolish to leave without a trip to the grasslands – undoubtedly the top destination for travelers to Inner Mongolia.

Venture to one of several grasslands that lay beyond Hohhot, and you’ll be greeted by smiling Mongolian people, grazing livestock and traditional yurts scattered across the grassy expanse. It is a fantastic place to experience Mongolian culture and cuisine while in China and a great opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Unplug and relax, surrounded by nature, with gorgeous sunsets and unobstructed views of the starry night sky.

Wangkou, Xiaoqi and Lingjiao Villages

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Wuyuan county’s 1,000-plus year history and ancient villages make it among the most incredible destinations in Jiangxi province. Few places in China better display ancient Huizhou culture than the villages of Wangkou, Xiaoqi and Lingjiao: Each boasts the phenomenal architecture that has existed here for centuries, with the surrounding pastoral landscape serving as an equally captivating setting. Hiking is the ideal mode of transport within the villages, but some can also be explored by bicycle. There’s not much to do here, per se; the draw is simply to wander through the quaint little towns and absorb the riches of countryside simplicity.

JILIN

Goguryeo Ancient

Sites

Standing testament to the now-vanished Goguryeo civilization that once thrived in the northern Korean peninsula and northeastern China, the Goguryeo ancient remnants include fascinating tombs, former capital cities and a monument to the Goguryeo Kingdom’s 19th emperor. Among the 7,000-plus tombs, the General’s Tomb – also referred to as the ‘Oriental Pyramid’ – is one of the most impressive, resembling pyramids from past civilizations of the Americas and Egypt. Exploring these ancient sites, visitors can learn what little is known about the mysterious kingdom.

Macao was under Portuguese colonial rule from 1887 till 1999, when the Chinese government resumed sovereignty over the city, and the architecture and cuisine here still reflect the SAR’s colonial past. There is perhaps no better place to feel the lingering Portuguese influence than the Historical Center of Macao. The area contains 22 notable buildings and public spaces recognized by UNESCO. While we highly recommend you skip the slot machines for a day and dedicate hours to exploring the entire historic center, if you see only one thing, let it be the Ruins of St. Paul’s. The storied church – or rather the shell that remains – demonstrates the fusion of architectural styles that the city is known for.

MACAO

Ruin of St. Paul’s

JIANGSU Zhouzhuang Water Town A mere 30 kilometers southeast of Suzhou, Zhoujuang Water Town is well worth a visit and makes for a peaceful stroll at any hour of the day. The majority of the town’s infrastructure was built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with phenomenally preserved ancient homes still lining the pristine waterways. Local culture is also on full display: Learn about the folklore, legends and traditions from the town’s residents, and ask about ‘granny tea’ or the Wansan home-style banquet. Among the various scenic spots, the area is known for its beautiful bridges, Milou Tower and Chengxu Taoist Temple.

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G N I N O LIA Palace

Mukden

Liaoning’s answer to the Forbidden City, Mukden Palace, located in Shenyang, is about one-twelfth the size of its counterpart in Beijing. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in its grandeur.

Constructed in 1625 and completed in 1636 by father and son Nurhachi and Huang Taiji – two of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty’s founding emperors – it is the only remaining royal palace outside of the capital. Its three sections contain architecture that blends Manchurian, Mongolian and Han elements, with impressive towers, halls, gates and pavilions, as well as numerous Qing-era cultural relics.

NINGXIA HUI AUTONOMOUS REGION The Western Xia Imperial Tombs Spanning more than 50 kilometers, the Western Xia Imperial Temples contain nine imperial tombs and 253 additional tombs (discovered tombs, anyway). Constructed by the Western Xia Kingdom (1038-1227), they rival some of the most famous tombs elsewhere in China. Historical records indicate that they were aligned to resemble celestial bodies and modeled after the Song Dynasty tombs of Hebei province. The tomb grounds also demonstrate a complex infrastructural layout, with remnants of roads, courtyards, houses and wells. There is perhaps no better place in China standing testament to the accomplishments of the Western Xia Kingdom.

I A H G AN h

SFHormer Freinocn ess c n o C

One of the largest lakes in China, Qinghai Lake is fed by more than 40 rivers.

The area is a sanctuary for rare species of birds and a variety of other wildlife. As temperatures rise after winter, visitors are treated to blooming fields of yellow rapeseed flowers and grassy plains dotted with grazing sheep and yaks. Among the lake’s most famous sites – Haixin Shan, Shadao, Fairy Bay and Erlangjian Scenic Area – you’ll find temples, springs, islands and swimming spots, and wherever you go, you’ll feel nothing but kindness from residents. We recommend spending a week cycling around the massive body of water.

QINGHAI

Qinghai Lake

It’s pretty much a given that visitors to the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ are going to hit up the Bund, and more than likely that they’ll also hop across the river to ascend one of Shanghai’s famous skyscrapers.

So, for the sake of naming just one thing to do, we recommend strolling through the Former French Concession. The area is architecturally magnificent, with old European-style buildings that stand in stark contrast to the massive towers in the distance. The tree-lined streets play host to a variety of swanky shops, music venues, cafes, eateries and bars.

SHANDONG Taishan

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You’ve eaten one too many dumplings, slurped up your body weight in noodles and drank so many Tsingtao that you’re starting to smell like hops permanently.

(Okay, we might be projecting a bit.) It’s time for a little exercise: enter Taishan.

Considered the most sacred of China’s ‘Five Sacred Mountains,’ emperors from various dynasties made pilgrimages here, with an estimated 72 in total seeking the wisdom of Taishan’s fabled peaks. Choose from one of four routes up the mountain, each with its charms and features that make this natural monument of history one of China’s most famous sites.

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When you explore the Terracotta Warriors tourist area, you’ll see several signs noting their consideration as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World.’ As you learn more about the thousands of figures, it’s not hard to see why. Sure, it is a bit pricy to enter, and you don’t need a ton of time here, but the sheer volume of soldiers, animals and various other figurines, both unearthed and still buried, makes for an incredible history lesson – an absolute must when in Xi’an. Discovered by farmers in 1974, much of the excavation work is still underway today, with the emperor’s tomb remaining entirely untouched.

SHAANXIriors

Terracotta War

SHAanNHXaInging

Hengsh ple Tem

Whoever had the idea to build this – respect, because the calculated gamble of building a temple on a steep mountain’s edge paid off: Once constructed, the mountain served as protection from sunlight, flooding and weathering. Construction on the architectural wonder began in 491 CE and saw reconstruction during the Ming and Qing dynasties. But it isn’t just the architecture that makes the structure unique. It also serves as a monastery for not one, not two, but three religions – showcasing Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist symbolism and elements within its fortifications.

Located 450 kilometers north of the provincial capital, Jiuzhaigou – meaning ‘nine village valley’ – earns its name from the nine Tibetan villages scattered throughout its majestic landscape. Verdant forests break to reveal astonishingly colorful water bodies, including the ‘Five-Colored Lake’ and a 300-meter-wide waterfall. Three interlinking valleys make up the area – Shuzheng, Rize and Zechawa – and you could spend hours exploring here, so it’s best to reserve as much time as possible. You may want to book a guide and tour bus to make the most of the experience. Alternatively, you can hike through the villages via connecting trails in six to seven hours.

SICHUAN

Jiuzhaigou National Park

The Suhua Highway is considered the most dangerous highway in Taiwan, but if you’re confident in your driving ability, the unbelievable views make it well worth the trip. Connecting the island province’s North and East sections, from Hualien to Yilan, it runs along towering marble and gneiss cliffs, passing through tunnels and along winding curves, with unbeatable views of the Pacific Ocean. You can stop at off-the-beatenpath tourist sites, abandoned portions of old highway and several small villages along the route. The highway stretches 118 kilometers, and it takes about three hours of straight driving to get from one end to the other.

TAIWAN

ZHEJIANG

Suhua Highway

The air – pure; the land – verdant; the locals – warm and welcoming. It’s no wonder Tiger Leaping Gorge is among the most popular hiking spots in all of China. The trail runs between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, offering a brilliant perspective of their iconic peaks from below. Divided into three sections along the Jinsha River, it takes two to three days to complete. You’ll see quaint villages, guesthouses and eateries, endless flora and fauna, waterfalls and other geographic marvels.

Plus, starting in Lijiang and ending in Shangri-La, the journey will be memorable before and after the trek itself.

Thousand-Island Lake Thousand-Island Lake is made up of 1,078 islets divided into six sections, with several notable sites including Longshan Island, Yule Island, Peacock Island, Stone Forest and Blossom Mountain.

The 95,000-hectare plot of land wasn’t always a lake: Back in the late ’50s, the area was flooded to aid the construction of a hydropower dam on the Xin’an River. It has since flourished into a treasure trove of biodiversity, with thriving animals, including snakes, ostriches, peacocks and monkeys, and 1,830 species of plants. With crystal clear water and countless places to explore, it is a must-see when in Zhejiang province. And honestly, while this might be an unpopular opinion – West Lake is way overrated.

The municipality of Tianjin outnumbers everywhere else in the country when it comes to the number of foreign concessions within its territory, with a total of nine, including Belgian, French, German, Italian, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, British, American and Japanese. Each displays varying elements reflective of its corresponding former administrative nation, standing as relics of colonial influence in a city that boomed in the decades before World War II. Stop by Italian Style Town for some fantastic pizza and architecture, or stroll past old bank buildings and St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the French Concession.

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T I A NJIN Fo

rmer Fore Concessio ign ns

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XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION Karakoram Highway, Kashgar

The 1,300-kilometer-long Karakoram Highway connects China’s expansive Northwest to Pakistan and is arguably one of the most incredible vehicular routes in the world. Leaving Kashgar, you can visit the town of Upal, and then make your way to Tashkurgan for the evening. The city is home to China’s famously hospitable Tajik ethnic minority and is surrounded by beautiful mountainous terrain. You’ll also find Red Mountain, White Sand Lake, Karakul Lake, Subash Pass, grasslands and more on the Chinese side. And should you travel to the Pakistan side of the highway, the sights only get more incredible.

Even if you don’t have a ton of time to spare, tours in Tibet (compulsory for foreigners visiting the autonomous region) offer overnight visits to Qomolungma (Everest) base camp and a trip here is arguably one of the coolest things you can do in a region that is famously abundant in cool activities – it is considered the tallest mountain in the world, after all. The camp is lower in elevation than its counterpart in Nepal, and Tibet itself is higher up, making the acclimatization process less daunting. With magnificent peaks, (somewhat literally) breathtaking views and snowy terrain, what more do you need to hear?

TIBET Qomolungma

FAMILY Eco Home Candle Chillin’ p52

Dad’s Book List P52

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Veggie Mama P53

FULL HOUSE

HUGUES MARTIN Founder of Shanghailander Interview by Ned Kelly

Hailing from the Burgundy region in France, Hugues Martin has lived in Shanghai since 2004. A partner at Expatrimo, a firm specializing in real estate investment in France, he is also the man behind Old Shanghai website and newsletter, Shanghailander. With its 15th anniversary coming up, we caught up with him to find out more.

How did Shanghailander first come about?

Shanghailander was born out of my interest in the city and its past. It is focused on Old Shanghai, meaning the 1920s and 30s. I am particularly interested in how foreign and Chinese culture intertwined to become the typical Shanghai style, or haipai (海派).

How do you find material and research your stories?

I spent a lot of time going to antique markets in the early years of the blog, read lots of books about the topic. Material also comes from the internet and a network of other people focusing on the period.

If you could have a dinner party and invite characters from Old Shanghai, who would they be and why?

Du Yue Sheng: Meeting the Godfather of Shanghai would be fascinating, but also dangerous. What a source of information!

Carl Crow: He brought advertising to China in the form of the famous posters and was one of the foreigners that was interested in the country. He also published a monthly magazine called The Shanghailander, a bit like an ancestor of That’s Shanghai.

Albert Londres: The most famous French reporter in the 1920s and 30s. He came to Shanghai for an inquiry about corruption in the French administration and died mysteriously in a ship fire on the way back. His articles – that were ready for publication – were all destroyed.

Wallis Simpson: This American lady was famous for her wit, drinking habits and contacts with the underworld. She must

“Meeting the Godfather of Shanghai would be fascinating, but also dangerous“ have had an attractive personality, as she ended up marrying the King of England, Edward VIII, who abdicated for her.

Father Jacquinot de Bessanges: He was a French Jesuit priest who organized the first refugee zone in the world during the Japanese invasion of 1937. The site lasted from 1937 to 1940 and is credited to have saved the lives of thousands of Chinese residents of the city.

You also assist people in buying, selling and renting historic residences in Shanghai – what is the most memorable property you have been involved with?

The most memorable is the day I was invited to visit an apartment that turned out to have been designed by Hungarian architect Matrai, who had just been rediscovered.

That made a nice blog post.

It’s really based on my available time. I started with one post a week, then one post a month after I opened my company… and one post a year when I got children. It has gone back to a regular post since 2020 as passion for the topic came back again. A newsletter containing several posts is sent every few weeks.

Shanghailander’s 15th anniversary is coming up in the summer – anything exciting planned for that?

I’m still amazed that the blog has lasted for so long. I think the 15th-anniversary post will be a reflection about how much Shanghai has changed in 15 years, as well as the perception of its own history. > Find out more at shanghailander.net, or scan the QR code:

How often do you send out the Shanghailander newsletter, and what can people who sign up expect?

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | MARCH 2021 | 51

LIVING ROOM DAD’S BOOK LIST Book recommendations from That’s editorial team.

Ages 4+

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

By Dr. Seuss A Dr. Seuss classic, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Is a great read to spark your child’s sense of adventure.

The story takes readers through all of these colorful landscapes and places, and hints at the difference of making something happen and waiting for something to happen.

CLASS CLOWN

Motivation Marks Local media reports surfaced last month that alleged a female British teacher in Guangzhou was engaging in sexual activity with students who “tested well.” The teacher reportedly “rewarded” students with good scores, and was caught on video by one family during a private tutoring session. Authorities were alerted following the discovery and the teacher was kicked out of China.

ECO HOME

Candle Chillin’ Ages 12+

Stargirl

By Jerry Spinelli An excellent novel about learning to be yourself, American author Jerry Spinelli’s message of nonconformity is on full display in this 2000 novel.

The story follows a boy named Leo who learns a new way to live after meeting a fellow student named Stargirl.

52 | MARCH 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Candles in the home are rarely ever utilized unless there’s a blackout. But by switching off the lights and firing up a few candles, you’ll notice quite a few benefits, such as increased focus, positive memories and mood improvement – not to mention electricity bill savings. Candles are also known to alleviate stress – something we all share. And best of all, candles come in excellent scents that you simply won’t get with a lamp!

E D I T O R @ T H AT S M A G S . C O M

VEGGIE MAMA

Vegan Tofu Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe The banh mi sandwich is somewhat of a cultural icon in Vietnam... and there is a good reason. The crusty French bread is always perfectly baked, the ingredients are fresh and the taste is unbelievably unique.

Banh mi are traditionally stuffed with a range of meats from pork to chicken.

But the marinated and grilled tofu in this vegan version of this famous sandwich is so good. Plus, you can use the 'steaks' as a main attraction on a bed of rice, quinoa or salad! > Scan the QR code for the full recipe.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | MARCH 2021 | 53

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GTC RESIDENCE BEIJING One of the top residences in Beijing, GTC Residence is located beside the third ring road with 5 minutes’ walk to subway line 5 , 10 minutes’ drive to Hou Hai . It is also within easily reach of CBD, embassy area, Financial Street and other urban commercial,shopping and recreation areas. Fully equipped apartments with impeccable quality offer you a cozy living system and will meet all of your requirements for room decoration, furniture, electric appliances etc..

Unique sky garden with golf practice field and barbecue area is another symbol of GTC Residence. > sales@gtcresidence.com, website: www. gtcresidence.com Tel:56756666 Beijing Lianbao > Unite 1C, Building 7, Xingfu Yicun Xili, Chaoyang District 朝阳区幸福一村 西里7号楼1C (6415 8001, 138 1093 6118, hanxingyue1127@126.com)

Oak Chateau Beijing Oak Chateau Beijing has 236 stylish and contemporary fully serviced apartments from studio, onebedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four bedroom suites available, mea-

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Nestled within the landscaped gardens of the Ocean Express commercial and residential complex, Oak Chateau Beijing is very close to the third Embassy Area and shopping and dinning services at the Beijing Lufthansa Center. There are only 19 kilometers to the Beijing Capital Airport. > 北京市朝阳区东三环霞光里 66 号远洋新干线 D 座 邮编 100027 Block D, Ocean Express, 66 Xiaguang Li, Third East Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027, P.R.C Tel: (86-10) 84465888 Fax: (86-10) 84465999 Email oak.chateau@oakchateau.com Website: www.oakchateau.com Oakwood Residence Damei Beijing The only serviced apartment in the city that has its own in-house supply of natural hot spring water supply. Expansive city views are available from floor to ceiling windows with the apartments situated from level 23 to 35 in the building complex.

The 171 stylish contemporary serviced residences range from studios to threebedroom apartments and offer an elegant range of amenities and facilities to ensure each resident’s stay is comfortable and well taken care of. > Building No.1 Damei Center, 7 Qingnian Road, Chaoyang District Beijing 北京市朝阳 区青年路 7 号达美中心 1 号楼 Tel: 86-10 8585 2211 (8:30am-5:30pm) 86-10 8585 2888 (5:30pm-8:30am) Fax: (8610) 8585 2666 website OakwoodAsia.com

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The Red Chamber at China World Summit Wing, Beijing Launches New Menu

Shanghai’s Top Brunch Offers Stunning Views & Chic Cuisine

The Red Chamber at China World Summit Wing, Beijing has launched an updated menu featuring a tempting array of dishes from across China, including Sichuan cuisine, Huaiyang cuisine and Cantonese cuisine. The restaurant has always been renowned for its Peking duck, but the introduction of a limited run of Sichuan-style dishes last year garnered equal acclaim. Building on this success, The Red Chamber has now introduced a more extensive range of regional dishes in order to satisfy the appetites of cosmopolitan Beijing diners.

For inquiries and reservations, call +86 10 8571 6459.

Brunch is a Shanghai institution to be enjoyed in luxury and The Cathay Room, in the Fairmont Peace Hotel, offers the very best in service, heritage and fine food. A brunch with us is an indulgent experience characterized by relaxation and pleasure. The spectacular array of fresh, seasonal produce and outstanding views over the Bund and the Pudong skyline, makes it the perfect venue.

Available every Sunday between 11.30am and 2.30pm, this outstanding and intimate Sunday Brunch features a wide range of gastronomic delicacies complemented by two different kinds of Champagne. For more information or reservations, please call +86 21 6138 6881.

New General Manager Appointed at Commune by the Great Wall · The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

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SHENZHEN

GUANGZHOU

The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou Named Five-Star Hotel for 7th Year

by Forbes Travel Guide Jewelry Box Afternoon Tea at Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan From now until the end of the year, hotel Pastry Chef Mr. Tony Zhao has skillfully crafted a Jewelry Box-inspired afternoon tea at The Lounge of Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan. There are a variety of quaint desserts savory and sweet presented in a beautiful pink jewelry box. An afternoon filled with refined elegance awaits.

Forbes Travel Guide unveiled its annual Star Rating list, naming The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou as a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotel for its excellent service and finest facilities. This is the seventh year for the hotel to be honored with such an international accolade. Meanwhile, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Guangzhou awarded the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star honor. From now to June 30, there is a pressing service from RMB1,588. For reservations or more information, please call +86 20-38136898 or email rc.canrz.reservation@ ritzcarlton.com.

Ms. Helen Leung Appointed General Manager at W Guangzhou W Guangzhou is pleased to announce that Ms. Helen Leung has been appointed as General Manager at W Guangzhou. With more than 20 years of management experience, Helen will be setting the pulse for the team by re-energizing the sought after W experience with the innovative Whatever/Whenever philosophy to guests at Greater China’s first W Hotel. She is an innovator who is experienced in unleashing possibilities of non-traditional luxury.

Hilton Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center Grand Opening In late February the Hilton Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center opened, the largest comprehensive convention and exhibition center in Asia Pacific and the only hotel directly connected to the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. The hotel is owned by Shenzhen Zhaohua International Exhibition Development and managed by the Hilton.

Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou Launches a Family Dream Castle in the Clouds Family holidays and staycations at Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou have been reinvented, with the debut of the Dream Castle -- an interactive children’s playground in the Clouds! The journey begins with an adorable tailor-made cartoon lamb themed room key-card, upon check-in. The guestroom has been transformed into a kids’ paradise, with over 60 square meters located above the 90th floor. The room features a Hot Air Balloon, Dreamer Spaceship, a slippery slide and a themed playroom/bunk bed – in short, a child’s paradise!

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SCHOOL NEWS SHANGHAI

Celebrating the Year of the Ox with Art, Dance and Music at Wellington College Wellington College International Shanghai celebrated the Spring Festival with a festive décor centered on the Ox. The school's youngest pupils marked the occasion with musical performances and an auction of original artworks that raised over RMB30,000 for charity. Festivities culminated in a dragon dance performed by year 7 pupils.

New Award and SSIS Scholarships Open for Application Shanghai Singapore International School Scholarships are now open for applications. The scholarships are intended to motivate and recognize the best students, as well as attract other new high-achieving students who lead, excel academically, are talented in a sport or music, or students who care about the world and the people around them. For more information and to apply, visit www.ssis.asia/admissions/ssis-scholarships/.

BEIJING Making Virtual Reality a Reality at WISS WISS Grade 11 design students designed VR headsets for Primary students, allowing them to explore the world through a new lens without leaving their classroom. Virtual reality is one of the many technologies utilized at WISS to make learning more relevant, innovative and engaging. WISS opens the door to a whole new world of learning.

Chinese New Year Celebration Week at NAIS Pudong

CNY Celebration at AISB -Hope International

Everywhere you looked there was a sea of red! NAIS Pudong staff and students embraced the chance to dress up in celebration of Chinese New Year in traditional costumes or red-colored clothes. Each student made a small charitable donation to dress up and all the money raised will go to support the fantastic work at Heart to Heart.

AISB-Hope International Chinese Department organized some nice Chinese New Year activities for all their students. Even when online, they enjoyed learning more about the history, culture and making some festive decorations!

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GUANGZHOU

FOSHAN

Lady Eleanor International School Foshan Holds Unveiling for New School Canadian International School of Guangzhou Welcomes Year of the Ox On Monday, February 22, the Canadian International School of Guangzhou (CIS) ushered in the Chinese New Year of the Ox with a brilliant lion dance performance and welcome assembly for all students and staff. CIS is the first Canadian (Alberta) accredited school in mainland China, offering a rigorous, world-renowned K-12 curriculum that focuses on innovation, creativity and critical thinking skills. Honoring our host country through special events and celebrations prepares the international community at CIS for the vast cultural opportunities and challenges they will face as global citizens.

January 20 marked an important milestone in Foshan’s position as a center for student academic achievement and choice in the Greater Bay Area, with Mr. Shang Xuebing, Foshan Education Bureau Party Secretary & Director and Mr. Steve Allen, Founding Head Master of Lady Eleanor International School Foshan, holding the official Unveiling Ceremony for the newly-built international day and boarding school.

The Unveiling Ceremony marks the next stage of an ambitious project that has brought together the academic experience and reputation of the leading British independent school, Lady Eleanor Holles School, with the vision and support of the Foshan Government and TrumpTech Limited, a leading provider of education services in China.

SHENZHEN ISNS Open House on March 10, 17, 24

Annual STEAM Week at BSG a Success

AISG’s ‘Saturday at the Library’ Cultivates a Connected Community

The British School of Guangzhou held its annual STEAM Week, investigating filters through destructive testing and microscopic examinations of face masks — all to understand how NASA is experimenting with dust on Mars.

‘Saturday at the Library’ is a popular weekend event! On several Saturdays throughout the school year, the library is open to families. Maker activities are set up for families to enjoy, including LEGO, magnetic tiles and building tubes. Parents and children curl up on beanbags in the loft and enjoy books together and teachers and administrators volunteer as guest readers, sharing their favorite stories. It’s a day dedicated to families for them to enjoy the great library at AISG and its resources. It is also an event that cultivates AISG’s connected community where its unified, positive, and vibrant school spirit is unique.

ISNS is happy to invite parents to join their Open House events during the month of March.

Parents will connect with principals, understand how a Canadian and IB educational experience can benefit their child and tour their wonderful campus. To register, email admissions@ isnsz.com. Spots are limited.

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MARCH

That’s

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in China.

By Rakini Bergundy

Pisces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

2.20~3.20

3.21~4.20

4.21~5.21

5.22~6.21

This will be a loving month for you, Pisces. Those who are single and want to be in a relationship, prepare.

Whether that means stocking the fridge full of Baozza or cleaning that pile of laundry off your chair.

Get to it.

It’s been a while since you’ve gone to the dentist.

A local Chinese clinic will suffice for general cleaning, and please just remember to floss daily.

You saw a stray cat last week and thought about taking it home. This is a sign, why not try fostering or rescuing a pet.

Take as long as you need to feel better mentally and spiritually, Gemini. Power off your phone at night, don’t take that extra private class. You deserve some xiuxi.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

6.22~7.22

7.23~8.23

8.24~9.23

9.24~10.23

Show appreciation for the women in your life. March 8 is Women’s Day, perhaps gift some Hami melon to Cherry in HR.

Avoid seafood this month.

Food poisoning sucks and your local sushi shop probably doesn’t actually import salmon from Japan or New Zealand. Let’s be real.

At some point in your life you have to put your foot down. No one should stop your dreams of brewing your own gin.

Someone in your life may be misappropriating funds.

Double check your bank account transactions; we know the app is in Chinese, but it’s time to take accountability.

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

10.24~11.22

11.23~12.21

12.22~1.20

1.21~2.19

This is the month of rebirth for you. Take this opportunity to cleanse your mind, body and soul. We hear aerial yoga is taking off in most top-tier cities.

You will likely encounter a conflict with a Sagittarius.

Take a step back, and try to see things from their side.

The answer may surprise you.

The red flags are fluttering in the wind for a close relationship. Be vulnerable with yourself, or try talking about it to Wesley in Sales.

A distant friend is becoming one of your closest.

Welcome them with open arms and a bottle of Laiba.

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