OPINION: TRANSCONTINENTAL FREIGHT NETWORK P.31 | FEATURES: RECORD FLOODING P.

34

VOL.66 NO.32 AUGUST 10, 2023 WWW.BJREVIEW.COM

CHENGDU CHAMPS!
Student athletes as cultural ambassadors

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CONTENTS
EDITOR’S DESK OPINION FEATURES
02 A Celebration of Youth 22 The Dialectics of Uneven and 34 On Red Alert
Combined Development Record rains lash the capital region
 Rise and fall or rise and rise?
THIS WEEK 36 Home Sweet Home
24 The Great Sci-Tech Rivalry? A push for improved property policies
COVER STORY Cooperation trumps competition
38 I Do—Not
12 ’Cause We Are Young with U.S.
Diamonds have lost their luster for many
Universiade comes to Chengdu 26 A Path to Peace Amid Global young Chinese
16 Host City Hospitality Uncertainty
40 Emotional Overtones
Athletes explore “land of China’s contribution to global unity
A master dedicates heart and soul to
abundance” 28 Berlin’s China Strategy: Kunqu Opera
18 Sci-Tech Empowered A Transcultural View
42 Birds of a Feather
Games How to ensure reciprocal understanding?
An American’s efforts to help science
University Games showcase 30 I Spy With My Little Eye… SRSXODUL]DWLRQWDNHÁLJKW
homegrown tech U.S. espionage reexamined
31 Going Like a Train CULTURE
“Steel camel caravans” link China, 46 After Dark
Central Asia and Europe What do Beijingers do once the sizzling
summer sun sets?

EXPAT’S EYE
Cover Photo: The men’s 100-meter semifinal
at the World University Games in Chengdu, 48 Helping Chinese Companies Go Global
Sichuan Province, on August 2 (CNSPHOTO) Success in big-city China
©2023 Beijing Review, all rights reserved.

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EDITOR’S DESK
A News Weekly Magazine
A Celebration of Youth
Published Since 1958
The 31st FISU World University Games volumes of China’s openness.
President: Li Yafang
Editor in Chief: Li Jianguo Summer, or the Summer Universiade, took But the Summer Universiade wasn’t
Associate Editor in Chief: Liu Yunyun
Associate President: Gao Dingbo
place in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on just a grand sports event; it was also a sa-
Executive Editor: Yan Wei July 28-August 8. Student athletes from lute to young friendship. During the event,
Production Director: Yao Bin around the world gathered there to dem-
Editor: Wang Hairong Chengdu hosted a range of educational and
Researcher: Lan Xinzhen onstrate the charm of competitive sports cultural activities to deepen exchanges be-
Editorial Consultants: Elsbeth van Paridon, G.P. Wilson
Reporters: Ji Jing, Kang Caiqi, Li Qing, Li Wenhan, Li Xiaoyang, while at the same time enjoying a cultural tween student athletes from China and other
Liang Xiao, Lu Yan, Ma Miaomiao, Pan Xiaoqiao, Peng Jiawei,
Tang Yuankai, Tao Xing, Tao Zihui, Wang Jun, Wang Ruohan,
feast. FISU, or the International University parts of the world. In the current context of
Yuan Yuan, Zhang Shasha Sports Federation, is the global organization an international community rife with uncer-
Visual Director: Pamela Tobey
Photographer: Wei Yao providing world-class sports events to stu- WDLQW\GXHWRDUPHGFRQÁLFWVSRSXOLVPDQG
Art: Li Shigong
Design Director: Wang Yajuan dent athletes. A total of 6,500 athletes from anti-globalization, this celebration of youth
Chief Designer: Cui Xiaodong 113 countries and regions competed in 269
Designer and proofreader: Zhao Boyu instilled a very necessary sense of solidarity.
events across 18 sports during this Summer
Editorial Administrator: Zeng Wenhui Sichuan, in southwest China, is home
Planning Director: Xu Bei Universiade.
Deputy Planning Director: Li Nan to the giant panda and has been referred to
World News Director: Ding Ying Although the Chengdu Universiade was
World News Deputy Director: Li Fangfang as the “land of abundance” since ancient
Director of Digital Media: Yu Shujun rescheduled twice from 2021 to 2023 due to
Director of Strategic Research: Zan Jifang
times. Its capital Chengdu, founded some
Deputy Director of Strategic Research: Lu Ling
the COVID-19 pandemic, China completed
4,500 years ago and with an urban history
Administration: Zhang Yajie
all the necessary preparations. The concepts
International Cooperation: Sun Xuan
of 2,300 years, is renowned for its unique
of low carbon and environmental protection
Legal Counsel: Yue Cheng cultural heritage. It has been recognized
ran through the entire setup, while advanced
North America Bureau (New York City)
Chief: Yu Shujun technology was widely used in venue con- as one of the best tourism cities in China
Executive Assistant: Zhao Wei
struction, operation and service. by the World Tourism Organization for
Tel/Fax: 1-201-792-0334
E-mail: yushujun@cicgamericas.com
Chengdu was the third city on the its exceptional natural scenery, history
Latin America Bureau (Mexico City)
Chief: Lin Yeqing Chinese mainland to host the event, fol- and culture, pleasant climate and beautiful
Tel: 52-55-55127271
Fax: 52-55-55332027 lowing Beijing in 2001 and Shenzhen, landscape. It is also a UNESCO City of
E-mail: chinahoymx@gmail.com Gastronomy for its position as the epicen-
3HUX2IßFH /LPD Guangdong Province, in 2011. China’s ac-
Chief: Meng Kexin tive efforts to host important international ter of Sichuan cuisine.
Tel: 0051-959212702
E-mail: revistachinaperu@gmail.com sports events, including the Universiade, And it’s the city that turned an athletic
*HQHUDO(GLWRULDO2IßFH indicate the country’s willingness competition into a vibrant celebration
Tel: 86-10-68996252
Fax: 86-10-68326628 to assume increasing responsibility. of youth, connecting student athletes
Editorial Desk
Tel: 86-10-68996250 Cooperation with the worldwide com- through games, cultural activities and
Partnerships
Tel: 86-10-68995807
munity to host major sports events speaks shared experiences. BR
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2 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023 http://www.bjreview.com

 THIS WEEK

XINHUA
TIME FLIES!
Visitors watch an aerobatic display during the Changchun Air Show in Changchun, Jilin Province, on July 27.
As one of the aviation open-day activities hosted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, the show,
from July 26 to 30, showcased the achievements of the PLA Air Force over the past decades. The aircraft performed a host
of challenging, sophisticated maneuvers before the eyes of at least 100,000 spectators.

http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 3

THIS WEEK SOCIETY
Super Major
The construction site of the main section of a super major bridge across the Yellow River along
the Xiongan-Shangqiu high-speed railway in Taiqian County, Henan Province, on July 31.
The 552-km-long railway will connect Xiongan in Hebei Province and Shangqiu in Henan, and allow
a train to run at 350 km per hour.
Intercity Train
A train coded C2551 slowly
pulled out of the Beijing South
Railway Station and headed for
Tianjin Binhai New Area on the
morning of August 1, marking
the 15th anniversary of the open-
ing of the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity
4CKNYC[#UVJG³TUVJKIJURGGF
railway (HSR) with a design
speed of 350 km per hour in
China, the railway has carried
340 million passengers since it
³TUVGPVGTGFQRGTCVKQP
Over the past 15 years, the
daily frequency of trains running
on the line has increased from 47
pairs to 128 pairs, with the quick-
est journey taking only about 20
minutes.
The operation of the Beijing-
Tianjin Intercity Railway in
August 2008 provided strong
4 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
support for the hosting of the
Olympic Summer Games Beijing
2008 and has accelerated
regional integration and devel-
opment. It has also unveiled a
fast-expanding modern HSR
network in the world’s most
populous nation.
By 2022, China had
42,000 km of operational HSR,
TCPMKPI³TUVKPVJGYQTNF6JG
length of high-speed rail regularly
operating at 350 km per hour
neared 3,200 km as of June 2022.
National Parks
6JGRQRWNCVKQPQH´CIUJKR
species in Sanjiangyuan and
Wuyishan national parks has
recovered as part of the achieve-
ments made in China’s national
RCTMRTQVGEVKQPCPQH³EKCNUCKF
on July 31.
XINHUA
The authenticity and
integrity of the ecosystem
in these national parks were
“under effective protection,”
Tian Yongchen, Director of the
National Park Center of the
National Forestry and Grassland
Administration, said at a regular
press conference.
In 2021, China established
VJG³TUVDCVEJQHPCVKQPCNRCTMU
with a protected land area of
230,000 square km.
These parks, namely the
Sanjiangyuan National Park,
the Giant Panda National Park,
the Northeast China Tiger and
Leopard National Park, the
Hainan Tropical Rainforest
National Park and the Wuyishan
National Park, are home to
nearly 30 percent of key terres-
trial wildlife species found in the
country.
Citing a previous plan on the
spatial layout of national parks,
Tian said there were 49 candidate
national park areas, covering
1.1 million square km, accounting
for 10.3 percent of China’s land
area.
6JGQH³EKCNUCKFVJGOCUVGT
plan will be steadily advanced
and more than 400 counties in
28 provincial-level regions are
GZRGEVGFVQDGPG³VHTQOKV
Striving to build the world’s
largest national park system,
China will host the second
National Park Forum on
August 19 in Xining, capital of
Qinghai Province.
Charging Piles
Nearly 90 percent of China’s
expressway service areas had
installed charging piles as
of late June, data from the
Ministry of Transport showed
on July 31.
At present, 18,590 charging
piles have been built in 5,931
expressway service areas across
the country, covering 29,000
parking spaces for passenger
ECTU)WQ5JGPICPQH³EKCN
with the ministry, told a press
conference.
Because of the increased
charging facilities in service ar-
eas, people have spent less time
waiting in line for charging while
on holiday this year.
Guo said China will con-
tinue to improve its charging
infrastructure network along ex-
pressways to better meet public
demand.
Community
Renovation
China started the renovation of
42,600 old urban residential
communities across the country
KPVJG³TUVJCNHQHVJG[GCT
(H1), according to the Ministry
of Housing and Urban-Rural
Development.
http://www.bjreview.com

China plans to start the
renovation of 53,000 old urban
residential communities this year
in an effort to make cities more
livable, the ministry said.
The renovation projects in
VJG³TUVUKZOQPVJUEQXGTGF
80.4 percent of the old urban
residential communities
planned to be renovated in
%JKPCKPDGPG³VKPI
million households, according
to the ministry.
More than 95 percent of such
communities in Guizhou, Hebei,
Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and six
other provincial-level regions
began renovation work in H1.
Online Gamers
The number of online gamers in
China has reached a record high
of 668 million, according to a
report released on July 28.
The report was issued by the
China Audio-video and Digital
Publishing Association (CADPA)
at ChinaJoy, Asia’s biggest
annual online gaming event in
Shanghai, which opened that
same day.
The report showed that the
revenue of China’s online gam-
ing market in H1 reached 144.26
billion yuan ($20.1 billion), an
increase of 22.2 percent from the
second half of 2022.
Another report released
http://www.bjreview.com
THIS WEEK
XINHUA
concurrently showed that the
number of e-sports players
in China hit 487 million, while
the revenue of China’s e-sports
industry reached 75.99 billion
yuan ($10.6 billion) in H1, up 11.74
percent from the second half of
2022.
<JCPI;KLWPCPQH³EKCNYKVJ
the CADPA, noted that China’s
online gaming industry is recov-
ering and showing steady growth
momentum.
In September this year, e-
sports will become one of the
events of the Asian Games in
Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province,
which is expected to boost the e-
sports industry in China.
Mpox Prevention
Celebrity Bear
Chinese health authorities have
recently issued a plan for the
prevention and control of mpox,
formerly known as monkeypox, A sun bear enjoys a slice of watermelon at the Hangzhou Zoo in
a rare disease caused by a zoo- Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on August 2. A video of the 4-year-old
notic virus. sun bear standing with ramrod posture on its hind legs recently went
The document aims to viral on Chinese social media, attracting an increased number of
ensure timely and effective tourists eager to see the animal with their own eyes.
responses to the spread of mpox
cases in China.
The plan laid out rules for sharing between health authori- TGRQTVGFKVU³TUVKORQTVGFORQZ
mpox prevention and control, ties nationwide and other related infection. Since June, multiple
concerning disease diagnosis, departments. cases have been reported in
epidemic monitoring and report- There is no approved treat- several provinces in the coun-
ing, and case management. ment for mpox, so care generally try, posing a high risk of new
It also called for sound involves symptom management. local outbreaks and hidden
cooperation and information In September 2022, China transmission.
XINHUA
A Splash of Water
Tourists cool off in the waves at a beachside summer resort in
Qinhuangdao, a popular seaside destination in Hebei Province,
on August 2.
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 5
THIS WEEK ECONOMY
Private Economy
The National Development and
Reform Commission (NDRC),
China’s top economic planner,
on August 1 unveiled detailed
measures to boost the country’s
private economy following the
release of a general guideline for
the sector in July.
2TKXCVG³TOUYKNNDG
encouraged to participate in
major national projects that are
RTQ³VCDNGCPFOCVWTGKUUWG
Real Estate Investment Trust
(REIT) products for infrastructure
projects, and lead technological
programs in key areas, such as
KPFWUVTKCNUQHVYCTGCPFCTVK³EKCN
intelligence, according to a no-
tice from the NDRC and several
other government agencies. REIT
is a collective investment scheme
that aims to deliver a source of
recurrent income to investors
through focused investment in a
portfolio of income-generating
properties such as shopping
OCNNUQH³EGUCPFJQVGNU
According to the notice,
companies will enjoy an
NUMBERS
60
55 52.5
51.7 50.9
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
JUL AUG SEP
2022
6 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
easier process of tax reduction
in research and development
spending, shorter time in export
rebates, and stronger inclusive
³PCPEKCNUWRRQTV
China’s newly implemented
tax refunds, as well as tax and
fee cuts and deferrals, for micro
CPFUOCNNRTKXCVG³TOUCUYGNN
as self-employed households,
reached 704.9 billion yuan
DKNNKQP KPVJG³TUVJCNHQH
2023 (H1), data from the State
Taxation Administration showed.
4GIWNCVKQPUCPFQH³EKCN
documents violating the principle
of equality for enterprises of
various types of ownership will be
abolished to protect the develop-
ment of the private economy,
according to the notice.
The government will im-
prove its services to help private
DWUKPGUUGUUQNXGFKH³EWNVKGU
cut red tape in administrative
approval, clear arrears owed to
micro, small and medium-sized
enterprises, and actively engage
with entrepreneurs during the
policymaking process.
China’s Comprehensive Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)
52.9
49.0
47.1
42.6
OCT NOV DEC JAN
2023
The Communist Party of
China Central Committee
and the State Council issued
a guideline on boosting the
growth of the private economy
on July 19, promising to im-
prove the business environment,
enhance policy support and
strengthen the legal guarantee
for its development.
Export Controls
A spokesperson for the Ministry
of Commerce (MOFCOM) has
explained the unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) export control
measures made public by the
MOFCOM and three other de-
partments on July 31.
China has always been com-
mitted to maintaining global
security and regional stability,
and has always opposed the use
of civilian drones for military
purposes, the spokesperson said.
The moderate expansion
of the scope of export controls
on drone-related equipment
is an important measure of the
country to display its role as a
57.0
56.4
54.4
52.9 52.3
FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
responsible country, implement
the Global Security Initiative for
common, comprehensive, coop-
erative and sustainable security
and safeguard world peace, the
spokesperson said.
The measures did not target
CP[URGEK³EEQWPVTKGUQTTGIKQPU
according to the MOFCOM.
The country on July 31 con-
³TOGFGZRQTVEQPVTQNUQPFTQPG
related equipment, including
some special engines and radio
communication devices of UAVs.
It also imposed export controls
on some consumer-grade UAVs
that will be in effect for two
years. The measures will become
effective on September 1, the
spokesperson added.
Logistics Recovery
The logistics industry sustained
its recovery momentum in H1 as
market demand rose modestly,
industry data showed.
During the period, social
logistics rose 4.8 percent year on
year to 160.6 trillion yuan ($22.4
trillion) in value, according to
51.1
Over 50 = Expansion
Under 50 = Contraction
JUL
http://www.bjreview.com

the data released by the China
Federation of Logistics and
Purchasing.
Logistics for industrial prod-
ucts went up 3.8 percent year on
year in H1, the data showed.
Total revenue of the logistics
industry rose 5.3 percent year on
year to 6.3 trillion yuan ($877.7
billion) during the period, ac-
cording to the data.
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Securities
0KPGV[³XGDCVEJGUQHCUUGV
backed securities (ABS) products
worth 86.91 billion yuan ($12.1
billion) were registered in
June, according to the Asset
Management Association of
China.
#$5CTG³PCPEKCNUGEWTKVKGU
backed by income-generating
assets such as credit card
receivables, home equity loans,
student loans and car loans.
5RGEK³ECNN[#$5RTQFWEVU
TGNCVGFVQFGDV³PCPEKPIYQTVJ
74.74 billion yuan ($10.4 billion),
real estate investment trusts
China’s Manufacturing PMI
60
55
49.0 49.4 50.1 49.2
50 48.0 47.0
45
40
35
30
25
20
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL
2022 2023
http://www.bjreview.com
worth 10.94 billion yuan ($1.5
billion) and future operating
income valuing 1.24 billion
yuan ($172.8 million) were newly
registered.
As of late June, there were
2,225 batches of remaining ABS
products, valued at 1.96 trillion
yuan ($273.1 billion) in total, the
association said.
Business
Environment
Vis-à-vis market access, tax
payments, dispute settlement
and the promotion of market
competition in China, foreign
³TOUQRGTCVKPIKPVJGEQWPVT[
widely applauded its business
environment, according to a
survey conducted by the China
Council for the Promotion of
International Trade (CCPIT) dur-
ing the second quarter of 2023.
Nearly 90 percent of the
surveyed companies were satis-
³GFYKVJVJGCHQTGOGPVKQPGF
business environment, Sun Xiao,
CPQH³EKCNYKVJVJG%%2+6VQNFC
press conference on July 28.
52.6 51.9
50.1 49.2 48.8 49.0 49.3
Foreign companies remained
optimistic about their develop-
ment in China, with over 80
percent of respondents expect-
ing their return on investment to
TGOCKP´CVQTKPETGCUGKP
Sun said.
The main factors driving the
KPXGUVOGPVQHUWEJ³TOUKP%JKPC
include a vast market size, prefer-
ential policies and the integrity
of industrial and supply chains,
according to the survey.
Forex Market
The Chinese foreign exchange
(forex) market recorded transac-
tions worth a total of 21.89 trillion
yuan ($3.05 trillion) in June, data
from the State Administration of
Foreign Exchange showed.
In terms of markets, the
transaction volume of the retail
or client market, where individu-
als speculate on the exchange
rate between different currencies,
was 3.35 trillion yuan ($466.7
billion), while the transaction
volume of the wholesale or inter-
bank market, a global network
China’s Non-Manufacturing PMI
60
54.4
55 53.8 52.6
50.6
50 48.7
46.7
45
41.6
40
35
30
25
20
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL
2022 2023
THIS WEEK
WVKNK\GFD[³PCPEKCNKPUVKVWVKQPU
to trade currencies and other
currency derivatives directly
between themselves, was 18.55
trillion yuan ($2.6 trillion).
In terms of products, the cu-
mulative transaction volume of
the spot market, or the immedi-
ate exchange of currencies at the
current exchange rate, was 9.15
trillion yuan ($1.27 trillion), while
that of the derivatives market, the
³PCPEKCNOCTMGVHQTFGTKXCVKXGU
³PCPEKCNKPUVTWOGPVUNKMGHWVWTGU
contracts or options—which are
derived from other forms of as-
sets, was 12.74 trillion yuan ($1.77
trillion).
The forex market can be
viewed as a two-tier market: One
tier is the wholesale or interbank
market and the other tier is the
retail or client market.
Retail transactions account
for only 14 percent of the forex
market. The other 86 percent
are interbank trades between in-
ternationals banks or non-bank
dealers large enough to transact
in the interbank market.
58.2
56.3 56.4
54.5
53.2
51.5
(Source: National Bureau of Statistics)
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 7
THIS WEEK WORLD
XINHUA
¼
MEXICO
Dancers in costume perform
during celebrations for the
698th anniversary of the
foundation of Tenochtitlán,
an Aztec city that
ßRXULVKHGEHWZHHQ
and 1521, in Zocalo Square,
Mexico City, on July 26
XINHUA
8 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
¼
THE PHILIPPINES
People ride their scooters along a waterlogged road
in Valenzuela City on July 28. The death toll from heavy
UDLQVßRRGVDQGODQGVOLGHVLQWKHFRXQWU\WULJJHUHGE\
typhoon Doksuri, had climbed to 25 as of July 31, with
20 people still missing at the time of writing
XINHUA
RUSSIA
A building in Moscow is left damaged following a drone
attack on July 30. Ukraine had attempted to launch an
attack on targets with three drones earlier that day but failed
to achieve its goal, the Russian Defense Ministry said
http://www.bjreview.com
 THIS WEEK

¼
LEBANON
A man inspects the damage to his car at the Ain al-Helweh
refugee camp near Sidon City on August 1. Despite
DFHDVHĶUHUHDFKHGEHWZHHQULYDOIDFWLRQVDGD\HDUOLHU
clashes once again erupted in the refugee camp
XINHUA

XINHUA

¼
EGYPT
President Abdel-Fattah
al-Sisi (right) welcomes
Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas in New Alamein City
on July 31. They met to discuss
the recent developments in
the Palestinian cause and the
efforts to end the
intra-Palestinian division

DEMOCRATIC
PEOPLE’S
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Young dancers perform during
the military parade in central
Pyongyang, on July 27,
in commemoration of the 70th
anniversary of the victory of the
country’s Fatherland Liberation War
XINHUA

http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 9

THIS WEEK PEOPLE & POINTS
¾ FIRST NATIONAL DATA ADMINISTRATOR
Liu Liehong, former CEO and Chairperson of state-owned telecom giant China Unicom,
was appointed head of the newly unveiled National Data Administration on July 28 amid
China’s ongoing efforts to improve data management.
Liu, 54, began to head China Unicom in August 2021. Before that, he served as the
vice minister of industry and information technology, the country’s top industry regulator,
following a career in electronics and information technology.
The National Data Administration was created as part of the country’s
plan to reform state institutions adopted earlier this year. Its responsibili-
ties include planning China’s digital economy, as well as the sharing and
development of the country’s data resources, promoting smart cities and
the exchange of information resources across industries.

Chunky Children equals better growth has led many parents to

People’s Daily
July 28
For many young students, the summer break
is not a time for play, but rather a period of in-
tense working out at weight loss camps. The
extreme popularity of these camps bespeaks
an alarming trend in China—childhood
obesity. According to a report published by
the National Health Commission in 2020,
RQHLQÀYH&KLQHVH\RXWKDJHG\HDUVLV
overweight or obese, up from just one in 20
in 1995.
This increase is driven by multiple so-
cial factors. For instance, heavy coursework
at school and a ready availability of digital
GHYLFHVDUHÀ[LQJWKHFRXQWU\·V\RXQJHUJHQ-
erations in a more sedimentary lifestyle. Also,
an age-old belief that more food consumption
spoil their children with an unlimited supply
of junk food and late night snacks.
Excess weight gained in childhood may
likely be carried into adulthood and may
increase the risks of diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, sleep disorders and cancers. What’s
Smart Museums
more, social stigmas related to obesity can also
Oriental Outlook
take a heavy toll on a child’s emotional wellbe-
July 27
With the adoption of virtual reality, aug-
ing and self-esteem.
mented reality, and many other advanced
Therefore, parents should closely moni-
technologies, museums are no longer just
tor their child’s weight from an early age so
sedate, old-fashioned art spaces filled with
that they can promptly intervene when signs
lifeless artifacts, but ultra-modern scenes that
of obesity show. That does not mean parents transcend the boundaries of time and space.
should rely on intermittent fasting or slimming Now, people can simply log onto the
pills for dramatic transformations. A balanced Dunhuang E-Tour, a mini program on the
diet, regular physical activity, limited screen Weixin super app, for a game-like virtual tour
time and adequate sleep are enough to help through the Mogao Grottoes, a constellation
children maintain a healthy weight.

´,W·VóDóYHU\óWLPHO\óDQGóH[FLWLQJóWRSLFó “Whatever you call it—

EHFDXVHóURERWD[LVóZLOOóLPSURYHóURDGó GHULVNLQJóRUóLQFUHPHQWDOóVWHSVó
VDIHW\óHIILFLHQF\óDQGóUHGXFHó RQóWKHóURDGóWRóGHFRXSOLQJ³
the carbon footprint.” there is no escaping the
Howard Yuó'LUHFWRUóRIóWKHó&HQWHUóIRUó)XWXUHó5HDGLQHVVóRIó GHOHWHULRXVóHIIHFWVóRQóWKHó86ó
the International Institute for Management Development,
FRPPHQWLQJóRQóWKHóUROORXWóRIóGULYHUOHVVóWD[LVóLQó&KLQDóLQóDó
economy.”
recent interview with Xinhua News Agency Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale
University’s Jackson Institute of Global Affairs,
LQóDQóRSLQLRQóSLHFHóUHFHQWO\óSXEOLVKHGóLQ
Australian Financial Review

10 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023 http://www.bjreview.com


of 492 ancient Buddhist sanctuaries in Gansu
Province in the northwest. A recent exhibition
in Shenzhen used naked-eye 3D technology
to display a virtual collection of treasuries held
at the Palace Museum in Beijing. At the Bell
and Drum Towers, a pair of ancient structures
in Beijing, a light show projected onto the
ceiling details the history of the towers and
their connection to the capital’s Central Axis.
Technology also plays a massive role in
the real-time management of museum collec-
WLRQV0RGHUQVFLHQWLÀFWRROVVXFKDV'1$
testing and radiocarbon dating, have allowed
museum researchers to identify the age and
composition of ancient artifacts. Sensors
monitor warehouses for temperature, pressure
and humidity, thereby enabling museums
to optimize the conditions for the storage of
collections. What’s more, with the ability
to automate certain tasks and generate cre-
ative solutions, artificial intelligence has the
potential to revolutionize the way museums
approach heritage conservation by streamlin-
ing the restoration process.
Given the colossal number of ancient
artifacts China possesses, the digitalization of
domestic museums will need a continuous
supply of highly qualified staff. Therefore,
more energy should go into the nurturing of
young, multidisciplinary professionals.
“Now, more than ever,
ZHóQHHGóJUHDWHUóDQGóVWURQJHUó
FROODERUDWLRQóWRóDGGUHVVóRXUó
common issues by leveraging
our unique strengths.”
Shi Yigongó3UHVLGHQWóRIó:HVWODNHó8QLYHUVLW\ó
FDOOLQJóIRUóFRRSHUDWLRQóDQGóH[FKDQJHóDPRQJó
XQLYHUVLWLHVóDWóWKHó:RUOGó8QLYHUVLW\ó3UHVLGHQWV·ó
Forum in Beijing in late July
http://www.bjreview.com
THIS WEEK
Women-Only of a sleeper train, like that of a subway or a
bus, is a public space and therefore does not
Compartments need special segregated areas. Others, how-
ever, agreed that these sleeper cabins, with
Yangcheng Evening News doors that can be locked from the inside, form
July 28 small enclosed spaces in which solo female
Trip.com Group Ltd., a leading travel service travelers may feel uncomfortable when sur-
provider in China, has recently launched a rounded by men.
new feature that offers women-only com- Setting up a women-only compartment
partments on sleeper trains for an additional is not always an easy task. On top of people’s
service fee of 10 yuan ($1.4). This new polarized attitudes toward the idea, the con-
booking option has triggered heated online stant flux of passengers on a train poses a
debates, with some condemning the feature great challenge for daily management and
as an act of sexual segregation and others maintenance. If the establishment of women-
hailing women-only sleeper cars as a much only compartments is not currently feasible,
needed protection mechanism against sexual railway companies should consider optimiz-
harassment. ing the ticketing systems to ensure single
Some people have argued that the interior IHPDOHWUDYHOHUVGRQ·WÀQGWKHPVHOYHVDORQH
¾ FIREFIGHTER DIES DURING FLOOD RESCUE
Feng ZhenDÀUHÀJKWHULQ%HLMLQJGLHGRQ-XO\ZKLOHUHVFXLQJDUHVLGHQWWUDSSHG
by a record rainstorm that hit the capital city.
In the process of helping a person caught in the swift currents of a flash flood, one
rescue team member was swept away by a surge in floodwaters. Feng swam after his
colleague and pulled him to safety before succumbing to physical ex-
haustion and being dragged under himself.
6LQFHEHFRPLQJDÀUHÀJKWHULQ'HFHPEHU)HQJKDGUHVFXHG
more than 150 people during over 3,500 missions, according to the
National Fire and Rescue Administration.
From late July to early August, the Chinese capital experienced the
heaviest rainfall in 140 years, brought by typhoon Doksuri.
´7KLVóVWXG\óGHPRQVWUDWHVóWKHóSRWHQWLDOó
of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving
SUHGLFWLRQVóRIóVLJQLILFDQWóFOLPDWHóHYHQWVó
OLNHó(Oó1LxRóWKDWóFDQóKDYHóGHYDVWDWLQJó
HIIHFWVóDURXQGóWKHóJOREHµ
Huang PingóDóUHVHDUFKHUóZLWKóWKHó&KLQHVHó$FDGHP\óRIó6FLHQFHVó
VSHDNLQJóDERXWóDóUHFHQWO\óSXEOLVKHGóVWXG\óE\óKLPóDQGóIHOORZó
UHVHDUFKHUVóRQóDQó$,óPRGHOóWRóSUHGLFWóWKHóGHYHORSPHQWóRIóFHQWUDOó
Pacific El Niño events
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 11
XINHUA

COVER STORY

’CAUSE WE ARE YOUNG

FISU World University Games—a platform for international youth to compete,
shine and communicate By Lu Yan

12 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023 http://www.bjreview.com


J\PQDVWLFVLQGLYLGXDODOODURXQGĶQDODWWKHVW),68
World University Games Summer, or the Summer
Universiade, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province,
on July 30
ith the slogan Chengdu Makes
Dreams Come True, the 31st
International University Sports
Federation (FISU) World
University Games Summer, or
the Summer Universiade, which was postponed twice
due to COVID-19 concerns, took place from July 28 to
August 8 in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.
“We should bring together young people from around
the world to promote world peace and development with
the power of youth. While the key to state-to-state relations
http://www.bjreview.com
China’s Li Huilin competes in the rhythmic
lies in close bonds between peoples,
efforts to this end must start from the
youth,” Chinese President Xi Jinping
said on July 28 while hosting a ban-
quet to welcome guests attending the
opening ceremony of the FISU Games.
“The younger generations, motivated by
ideals and responsibilities, are the future
of humankind as well as the hope of the
lofty pursuit of peace and development,”
Xi continued.
“China will work with FISU and
all participating delegations to make the
Chengdu Games a grand sports event
that will present the charms of China,
the vibe of our times and the beauty
of youth, and facilitate mutual under-
standing among young people from
around the world, so as to provide new
impetus for the progress of humanity,”
he added.
“We may have a global society
now, but the moments when you can
live together with so many young
people from so many different coun-
tries [and regions], even for a short
time, are deeply special,” Leonz
Eder, Acting President of the FISU,
said during the opening ceremony.
“Together, we have created a Games
worth waiting for.”
A meeting of youth
Held every two years in a different
city around the world, the FISU World
University Games summer and winter
editions are the largest global sports
events held for student athletes.
Since the inaugural Summer
Games in 1959 in Turin, Italy, and
Winter Games in 1960 in Chamonix,
France, the Universiade has seen 31
summer and 31 winter editions. The
most recent summer event was held
in 2019 in Naples, Italy, and the Lake
Placid Games in the United States in
January 2023 was the most recent win-
ter event.
The highest number of participants
was registered at the Kazan 2013
Summer Universiade, with 11,759
athletes representing 159 countries
and regions. This year, 6,500 student
athletes from 113 countries and regions
competed in 269 events across 18
sports.
China’s delegation to the Chengdu
Universiade comprised over 700 mem-
bers, including 411 athletes from over
100 universities across the country,
who competed in all disciplines at the
Games. The average age of the athletes
was 22.9.
FISU sports events are open to all
student athletes that have not been out
of university or an equivalent institu-
tion for more than a year, and who are
between the ages of 17 and 25.
However, to minimize the impact
of the pandemic and guarantee the par-
ticipation of students, some rules were
relaxed in Chengdu this year. FISU
raised the maximum age of participants
from 25 to 27. It also allowed for the
participation of students who graduated
in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The Summer University Games in-
cludes 15 compulsory sports: archery,
artistic gymnastics, athletics, badmin-
ton, basketball, diving, fencing, judo,
rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, table
tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball
and water polo.
The Winter University Games in-
cludes nine compulsory sports: Alpine
skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing,
curling, figure skating, freestyle &
freeski, ice hockey, short track speed
skating and snowboarding.
Chengdu is the third city in
the Chinese mainland to host the
biennial Summer Universiade, fol-
lowing Beijing in 2001 and Shenzhen,
Guangdong Province, in 2011.
Wushu style
On July 29, Cao Maoyuan, one of the
eight martial arts athletes from Team
&KLQDJUDEEHGWKHÀUVWJROGPHGDORI
the Chengdu Universiade in the men’s ʈʈ
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 13
nanquan event in the wushu tourna-
ment. Nanquan, or “southern fist,”
refers to wushu styles that originated in
south China during the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644). Lau Chi Lung of Hong
Kong, China, claimed silver, while
Shahin Banitalebi of Iran came in third.
Cao Maoyuan of China competes in the men’s nanquan event in the wushu tournament at the Summer
Universiade on July 29. Nanquan refers to wushu styles that originated in south China
Athletes compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the Chengdu Universiade on August 1
14 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
Wushu, often known internationally as kungfu, was
one of the three optional sports chosen by China as the
host country of this year’s University Games. The two
other optional sports included in the Chengdu Games
were rowing and shooting.
“Wushu refreshes me and gives me energy every single
day,” Cao said. Born in 1997, Cao fell in love with martial
XINHUA
CNSPHOTO
arts when he was a child. It all began
with watching kungfu films. After find-
ing that Cao would mimic the actors and
play with sticks, his mother Tang Rong
sent him to a sports primary school for
professional wushu coaching.
“He loves wushu so much that he
even thinks about the movements and
skills when having dinner,” Tang said.
Cao has now pursued his passion for
some two decades.
As a traditional sport in China,
wushu enjoys wide popularity. Not
only the young, but also senior citizens
are frequently seen in parks in the
morning practicing wushu to maintain
their health and agility. Now, wushu is
also embracing the world. Currently,
the International Wushu Federation
has 158 national and regional members
DFURVVÀYHFRQWLQHQWVWushu has also
been included in many international
sports events.
“I love Jackie Chan and Jet Li,”
Ukrainian wushu athlete Oleksii
Kolisnyk, who has been practicing
wushu for 15 years, said. “I’ve watched
a lot of their movies.”
“Tai chi brings me closer to
Chinese traditional culture, and I am
looking forward to demonstrating my
passion for wushu, exchanging skills
and building friendships,” Judy Liu, a
Chinese American student athlete from
Stanford University, said.
“Martial arts are not a strength of
the U.S. team, but as long as we give
the young athletes the opportunity
to showcase themselves in interna-
tional competitions, it is great,” Zou
Yunjian, a martial arts coach with the
U.S. delegation, said, adding that the
*DPHVKDGJUHDWVLJQLÀFDQFHIRUWKH
development and promotion of mar-
tial arts in the U.S.
Encounter and exchanges
“Amazing” and “impressive” were
words frequently used by international
athletes and other participants when
talking about the event.
http://www.bjreview.com
 XINHUA
“My stay at the FISU Games has
been really impressive. The reception
by the staff is very welcoming. You
can feel that hospitality whether it be in
the venue or in the food [that is served].
Everyone has been very friendly to us,”
24-year-old Thai student Kamonlak
Waenpet, one of the 31 torchbearers
who jointly lit the cauldron during the
opening ceremony, told Xinhua News
Agency.
“People I have met in China are
always trying to help and to com-
municate with me in my language,”
Diacounda Sene, a journalist from
Senegal, said, commending the warm
welcome the Chinese people have
extended to visitors from around
the world. Jimmy Ye, President of
the Singapore Universities Sports
Council, hailed the event as a bridge
bringing together youths from diverse
backgrounds. Members of China’s delegation meet Summer Universiade mascot Rongbao during the opening
“Our aim should always be the ceremony of the 31st FISU World University Games Summer in Chengdu on July 28
common values that we, as human
in 2015, Sichuan had more than 1,380 wild pandas, ac- “I thought they would go to more
beings, share—friendship, love, kind-
counting for over 74 percent of the country’s total. The fancy shopping malls or restaurants,
ness, appreciation. Young people
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, located but instead I met them at a small ch-
from different backgrounds should
LQWKHQRUWKHUQVXEXUEVRI&KHQJGXKDVWKHODUJHVWDUWLÀ- uanchuan fly restaurant I always go
be encouraged to hold onto that and
cial breeding population of giant pandas in the world and to,” a post said with a video of a visitor
to try and understand each other,” he
houses more than 230 giant pandas, including the proto- wearing an official Chengdu FISU
said. “Our real goal here is to get to
type of the Games mascot Rongbao. ID card playing drinking games with
know people from all over the world,
Rongbao’s facial features are depicted in a style that locals while eating chuanchuan. The
especially people in China. We want to
resembles the make-up used in Sichuan’s traditional op- term “fly restaurant” is often used to
understand more about your culture.”
era. Its ears, black eye patches and tail are all shaped like describe eateries serving up outstand-
Ye’s expectations for the Games
ÁDPHV ing food for cheap prices in a subpar
were well met. The Athlete’s Village
During their stay in Chengdu, international athletes atmosphere. “What an interesting
offered a variety of immersive activi-
and other visitors also enjoyed Sichuan Opera perfor- encounter.”
ties for international visitors to learn
mances, one of the most well-known traditional folk opera “Civilizations take different forms,
more about China, especially Sichuan,
styles in China, which includes fire-breathing and bian- making the world colorful and diverse.
and traditional Chinese culture. Visitors
lian, or face changing, a traditional Sichuanese performing Young people are full of vitality. They
had the opportunity to try their hand
art that involves performers switching between multiple can and should be able to view diversi-
at Chinese calligraphy, dress up in
masks with imperceptible movements. ty from an equal, inclusive and friendly
traditional Chinese clothing and make
Another form of Sichuan culture that attracted interna- perspective, and see different cultures
paper cuttings and Chinese knotting,
with an attitude of mutual appreciation
both decorative handicrafts symboliz- WLRQDOYLVLWRUVZDVIRRGRUWREHPRUHVSHFLÀFKRWSRWDQG
and mutual learning,” President Xi said
ing good luck and prosperity. the lesser known but equally tasty local specialty chuan-
on July 28. BR
Chengdu, known as the home chuan, vegetables and meat skewered on sticks and then
of giant pandas, offered a series of cooked in boiling oil and broth inside a clay or iron pot.
sports and cultural activities related to On Chinese social media platforms like Douyin, China’s
the bears. According to the country’s TikTok, many netizens in Chengdu posted their unexpect- Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to luyan@cicgamericas.com
fourth giant panda survey, released ed encounters with visitors from other parts of the world.
http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 15
 COVER STORY
HOST CITY
HOSPITALITY
A
thletes at the Chengdu
Universiade were not only
focused on the competition at
hand, but also took the opportunity of
visiting Chengdu to experience some
local culture. From hugging pandas to
CNSPHOTO
CNSPHOTO
16 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
trying hotpot, they made the most of
their stay in the city, which is known
for its rich cultural heritage and leisure-
ly lifestyle. BR
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to wanghairong@cicgamericas.com
1
5
http://www.bjreview.com
 2 1. Universiade participants enjoy a local beer
at a small restaurant on July 31

2. Hungarian rhythmic gymnast Fanni

Pigniczki (right) plays with a toy panda at
the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda
Breeding, the world’s preeminent institution
for the conservation of the black and white
animal, on August 1

3. A Sri Lankan high jumper gets traditional

Chinese cupping therapy on July 31

4. A U.S. athlete mimics the traditional

movements of Sichuan Opera during the
athletes’ gala on July 29

5. Dutch fencer Ivo Snijder tries his hand at Sichuan

embroidery on August 2

CNSPHOTO

4 3

CNSPHOTO
XINHUA

http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 17


SCI-TECH
EMPOWERED GAMES
New technologies shine at the Universiade By Ji Jing
F
eaturing a big head, big eyes
and a big round belly, a ro-
bot named after Rongbao,
the panda mascot of the Chengdu
World University Games, or the
Universiade, held in the capital of
Sichuan Province, drew widespread
attention at the Games.
Rongbao is a service robot with
emergency functions. It can deliver
first-aid kits, automated external de-
fibrillators (AEDs)—portable, life-
saving devices designed to treat people
experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, and
other medical tools. When an emergen-
cy occurs, people can directly call the
Rongbao robot using a mini-program
on the ubiquitous super app Weixin
on their mobile phones, and the robot
ZLOOGHOLYHUDÀUVWDLGNLWDQGDQ$('
at a speed of 1.2 meters per second, or
A self-driving bus in the World University Games Village in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on July 15
18 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
COVER STORY
around 4.3 km per hour. After arriving at the location, the
robot automatically plays a video on how to quickly and
correctly use the AED.
Zhang Ruirui, Chairman of Chengdu Ruileda Robot
Technology Co. Ltd., the company that developed the ro-
bot, told news portal Chengdu.cn that he and his team had
been thinking about how to apply new technologies to the
Universiade. After visiting the venues of the Games, they
found the number of AEDs at the venues was limited and
WKH\ZHUHKDUGWRÀQG
“If an emergency occurs, people will not be able to
TXLFNO\ÀQGWKHHTXLSPHQWµ=KDQJVDLG´7KH5RQJEDR
robot solves this problem and it can deal with emergencies
both inside and outside the stadiums.”
In addition to providing emergency assistance,
Rongbao also has other functions such as language inter-
pretation and providing directions. The robot has mastered
multiple languages including English, Japanese, Korean
and Spanish. Cameras installed beneath its feet enable it
to detect obstacles from one meter away and avoid them
when guiding athletes and spectators.
XINHUA
Rongbao is also capable of com-
munication as it is equipped with large
language models such as ERNIE Bot,
a large language model and ChatGPT-
like product launched by Baidu. After
the Games, the robot will continue to
be used in public places.
Zhang said the Chengdu
Universiade has provided an opportu-
QLW\IRUGRPHVWLFDUWLÀFLDOLQWHOOLJHQFH
companies to showcase their products
and communicate with the world.
In addition to Zhang’s team, many
technology companies in China have
contributed their newest technologies
and products to the Universiade and
the application of modern technologies
has become a major characteristic of
the event.
Going smart
In addition to Rongbao, a robotic table
tennis coach also made an appearance
at the Games. The robot is more pa-
WLHQWDQGHIÀFLHQWWKDQDKXPDQFRDFK
The advantage of robotic coaches
lies in basic skills training. The robot
can help athletes train in the 22 basic
movements of table tennis. Through
communication with professional table
tennis teams, researchers found that
improving basic skills can help players
break through technical bottlenecks.
The system uses machine vision,
enabled by industrial cameras, lenses
and lighting, to capture the charac-
teristics of standard basic table tennis
movements and form a model. Then
it compares athletes’ movements with
the model, finds the differences and
http://www.bjreview.com

A robotic table tennis coach at a stadium in Chengdu on July 22
provides feedback for athletes to make adjustments.
The technologies applied at the Games also have a hu-
man touch. When athletes and volunteers felt hot, thirsty
RUKXQJU\WKH\ZHUHDEOHWRÀQGWHFKQRORJLFDOSURGXFWVWR
satisfy their needs.
For instance, cooling scarves and vests made of a
material used in the aerospace industry helped volunteers
working outdoors to cope with high temperatures. The
vests and scarves are able to maintain a temperature of 23
degrees Celsius for up to two hours, which is equivalent to
carrying an air conditioner.
In the dining halls, smart coffee machines could pro-
duce a cup of coffee in just 90 seconds, from grinding the
beans to creating the latte art. When athletes and volun-
teers missed lunch or dinner, they could get dishes such
as wontons in just two minutes from a 24-hour unmanned
smart vending machine in the Chengdu Universiade
Athletes’ Village.
Within the village, autonomous buses developed
by Mogo Auto, a Chinese autonomous vehicle startup,
provided spectators and athletes with safe and convenient
transportation services.
http://www.bjreview.com
After around 10 passengers board-
HGDEXVDVDIHW\RIÀFHUZRXOGVHOHFW
the destination on a touchscreen, send-
ing the bus on its way. Throughout the
entire journey, there was no need for
WKHVDIHW\RIÀFHUWRVWHHUDVWKHVWHHULQJ
wheel automatically rotated according
to the road conditions.
The vehicle is capable of sensing ob-
stacles within a 200-meter range and has
a response time of only 0.1 second. As a
result, it can safely and efficiently handle
various complex urban traffic conditions.
Going green
Low-carbon and green technologies
were also applied inside the Games’
venues. Water-permeable concrete was
used around the Xindu Xiangcheng
Sports Center, the venue for water polo
competitions during the Games. After
falling onto the concrete, rainwater
XINHUA
quickly disappears and the surface
of the concrete dries. After soaking
through the concrete, the rainwater is
collected and purified, before being
used for watering plants, cleaning and
central air conditioning. The system
enables the center to save more than
3,000 cubic meters of water every year,
reducing the venue’s water consump-
tion by 20 percent.
In addition to saving water, the sta-
diums for the Games were all energy-
efficient. For instance, the volleyball
gym at Chengdu University has a
600-square-meter glass skylight, which
helps the stadium save power con-
sumption by 300 to 500 kilowatt-hours
a day, equivalent to three months of
electricity consumption for a household
of three. BR
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to jijing@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 19
OPINION DEVELOPMENT

The Dialectics of Uneven and

Combined Development
By Josef Gregory Mahoney

I
n my mid-20s, after growing up largely one enjoys in Shanghai. In that I mean the ancient and ruined and by new
in the rural south and then attending moment, my youth appeared to I mean less advanced than Chicago. To be
university in Washington, D.C., I visited me as rather small and undevel- sure, there are things to appreciate and ad-
Chicago for business, staying downtown a oped, and Chicago the same. mire, and aside from visiting sites I still hold
few blocks from Lake Michigan, which was I’m writing these words dear, I am imagining what it would be like to
already dancing with ice in early December. now in Athens, not far from the live in Athens, to continue to enjoy a more
There are limits on building heights in Acropolis and Parthenon. Greece relaxed culture, including moussaka and
:DVKLQJWRQDQG&KLFDJRZDVWKHÀUVWWUXO\ is now recovering from poverty souvlaki. But the phobia I experience now is
big city I had visited. The experience was a rates that have reached 30 percent that of stagnation.
bit overwhelming, tinged with “batophobia,” in recent years, with help in part By all official descriptions, Greece is a
the fear of being in or near tall buildings. from having joined the Belt and developed country and Athens its most ad-
Indeed, standing on those cold, windswept Road Initiative, a China-proposed vanced city. That said, perhaps there’s a type
sidewalks of the Windy City, gusts almost plan that aims to boost connectiv- of hubris in declaring oneself developed,
blowing me over, I felt the whole city might ity along and beyond the ancient much like the hubris of youth when one feels
come tumbling down on me like bowling Silk Road routes, in 2018. I’d at the height of their powers in their 20s. But
pins. always wanted to visit Athens, Athens is not young.
Twenty years later, including a decade of having lectured on philosophy Perhaps the myth of development was
living in Shanghai, I revisited Chicago for a for decades, especially to walk necessary for Greece to join the European
conference. And what occurred to me then Union in 1981, and the eurozone in 2001.
at least once among the ruins of
was how incredibly small it was. The local Perhaps the West needs to believe that the
Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s
cradle of its civilization is by no means a
metro system on wooden platforms seemed Lyceum, those cradles of Western
backward and underdeveloped place. Or per-
ancient and decrepit. The city’s spiraling WKRXJKWDQGLW·VEHHQIXOÀOOLQJWR
haps the idea of “being developed” is always
murder rate and presence of secret police do so.
already present in “being” at the so-called
interrogation centers—then suspected, later But what strikes me most
“end-of-history,” which the philosopher
proven—meant constantly minding one’s about Athens is the juxtaposi-
G.W.F. Hegel imagined in Germany in the
p’s and q’s, quite unlike the carefree security tion of old and new. And by old
early 19th century and which American po-
litical scientist Francis Fukuyama likewise
asserted, erroneously, about the U.S. in 1992.
Without question, China is now asserting itself, and What also strikes me about Athens are
its easy comparisons with Washington.
rightfully so, as a major country in a multipolar world, along Standing in front of the Temple of
Hephaistos immediately recalls standing
with accepting the responsibility of making greater in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Indeed,
independent contributions to the world commensurate with Washington’s historical fixation with neo-
classical style, which copied the ancient
its capabilities as a responsible major power. But the fact is buildings of Greece and Rome, is impossi-
ble to miss. That style was chosen to evoke
that there are still 1 billion Chinese who have not yet reached the values of reason, order and democracy,
and to project the idea that the U.S. was
middle-income status the new center of Western civilization,
22 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023 http://www.bjreview.com

despite the fact that by today’s standards
neither Athens nor Rome of the past would
be considered paragons of those virtues,
an argument that some in all three cities,
including Washington, would say is true
today of their contemporary incarnations.
I’m not saying Greece is backward, un-
developed or stagnant in an absolute sense.
It’s rebounding. And there are many places
around the world that are considerably less
developed and stuck in time, and there are
many that are more advanced, like Shanghai
DQGRWKHUÀUVWWLHUFLWLHVLQ&KLQD+RZHYHU
KDYLQJFRPSOHWHGÀHOGZRUNUHFHQWO\LQUXUDO
Hainan, Yunnan, and Hunan provinces, in
areas that are relatively common throughout
China, I can only describe those areas as un-
derdeveloped but developing.
By another measure, let’s consider per-
capita GDP. In the U.S., according to current
estimates from the International Monetary
Fund, in dollars it’s $80,030; in Greece, it’s
$22,590; and in China it’s $13,720. While the
per-capita GDP in Shanghai is near $25,000
and Shenzhen’s a bit higher, it’s also true that
the average in Athens far outpaces the Greek
national average.
Without question, some parts of China
have features that are among the most ad-
vanced in the world, and certainly one is
aware that continued growth and develop-
ment belie the presence of stagnation. The
commercial center of Lujiazui alone, home
to most of Shanghai’s most iconic skyscrap-
ers, makes Chicago seem small and Athens
even more so, as does the Shanghai metro
system, digital commercialization, delivery
services and ubiquitous coffee shops fuel-
ing a city that’s constantly striving for a still
unrealized future. But despite the tens of
millions of people who live in China’s most
advanced cities, they remain the exception
in a country of 1.4 billion.
It’s easy for people to be confused by this.
For example, Shanghai is home to roughly
25 million people, about 2.5 times more than
all of Greece. When foreigners visit China
they almost always arrive and remain in the
most advanced areas, like Beijing, Shanghai
http://www.bjreview.com
A drone photo taken in July shows a continuous series of U-shaped bends in a
road that connects villages in the mountains of Napo County in Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region
and Shenzhen. And no doubt
many who never visit China are
tempted to believe that China is
already a developed country given
China’s incredible rise and devel-
opment, given the fact that China
is now the world’s second largest
economy, has the world’s most
advanced industrial system, and
is home to more than 400 million
middle-income earners, greater
than the entire population of the
U.S. Without question, China is
now asserting itself, and rightfully
so, as a major country in a multi-
polar world, along with accepting
the responsibility of making
greater independent contributions
to the world commensurate with
its capabilities as a responsible
major power. But the fact is that
there are still 1 billion Chinese
who have not yet reached middle-
income status, and no amount of
politicking in Washington, assert-
ing that China should no longer be
considered a developing country,
will change this.
To be sure, it’s always been
strange for any society to assert
OPINION
XINHUA
itself as being developed. One can counte-
nance this in the Agora of Athens, an ancient
public assembly space surrounded by the
ruins of a high point of development from the
ancient past, within the ongoing struggles of
contemporary modernity. One can counte-
nance the same when it comes to Fukuyama’s
failed thesis in Washington and elsewhere in
the West today. More reasonably, and I say
this as someone who grew up in the foothills
of Appalachia but who’s lived more than half
his professional life in China, we can turn
to the Marxist concept of uneven and com-
bined development to understand that human
progress is always inconsistent and changing.
This kind of dialectical perspective not only
EHWWHUGHVFULEHVZKDWZHÀQGLQ&KLQDLWDOVR
FRUUHVSRQGVZLWKRIÀFLDOWKLQNLQJLQ%HLMLQJ
8QIRUWXQDWHO\0DU[LVWWKLQNLQJZRQ·WÀQGD
home in Washington any time soon, in fact
quite the opposite; which means the U.S. will
continue to misunderstand and mischaracter-
ize China and Chinese development, and
continue to miss the chance to transform the
U.S. itself and the world for the better. BR
The author is a professor of politics and international relations
at East China Normal University and a senior research fellow
with the Institute for the Development of Socialism with Chinese
Characteristics at Southeast University
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to zhaowei@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 23
OPINION &+,1$86
The Great Sci-Tech
By Huang Ning
Rivalry?
I
n recent years, “China-U.S. sci-tech com-
petition” has been a hot topic among U.S.
politicians, academics, decision-makers
and the general public. Competition between
the two countries in science and technology
has been taken by many as being a reality.
While Western narratives often focus on
the negative aspects of the China-U.S. sci-tech
relationship, those aspects are actually a tiny
part of the big picture.
Cooperation over competition
Currently, hi-tech industries in China and the
U.S. are at different development levels, which
are far more cooperative than competitive.
On the one hand, the competitiveness of
the U.S. hi-tech service industry is second
to none. According to data released by U.S.
National Science Board in 2022, the value-
added output of knowledge and technology-
intensive industries in the U.S. accounted for
37 percent of the world’s total, whereas that in
China accounted for 11 percent.
On the other hand, in the current U.S.-led
global value chain, some of China’s hi-tech
manufacturing industries rely on importing
advanced technologies from the U.S. and a
few other industrialized countries to achieve
their progress.
Since China’s entry into the World Trade
Organization (WTO) in 2001, its hi-tech man-
ufacturing industries have grown remarkably
through processing trade, a term that describes
WKHSURFHVVE\ZKLFKDGRPHVWLFÀUPLQLWLDOO\
obtains raw materials or intermediate inputs
from abroad and, after local processing, ex-
SRUWVWKHYDOXHDGGHGÀQDOJRRGV
At present, processing trade contributes
nearly 60 percent of China’s hi-tech exports.
However, large number of its parts and inter-
mediate products are imported from Japan,
the Republic of Korea and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members,
which are manufactured using technologies
and upstream products from the U.S.
24 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
Additionally, research and de- in intellectual property rights in 2021 was $34.94
velopment (R&D) investment by billion, while the U.S. had a surplus of $81.27
Chinese enterprises has seen rapid billion. Among all the royalties paid by China to
growth in recent years. In 2022, other countries for the use of intellectual prop-
the number of Chinese enterprises erty that same year, 18.7 percent went to the U.S.
entering the global top 2,500 in In 2017, before Washington imposed tech ex-
terms of R&D spending reached port control measures on China, the proportion
762, second only to the U.S. But was 25.9 percent.
the reality remains, regardless of
the differences in business areas U.S. policies
between Chinese and American In recent years, however, the U.S. has rear-
companies, even if the two sides ranged much of its policy framework on the
invest the same amount in R&D, idea of competing with China in sci-tech
the output cannot be equivalent. ÀHOGV
China is now regarded as a Its Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce
powerhouse with a fast-growing Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of
number of patent filings and sci- DQGWKH,QÁDWLRQ5HGXFWLRQ$FWERWKEHLQJ
entific research output. According signed into law by President Joe Biden in August
to a report released by the Institute
of Scientific and Technical
Information of China, from 2012 to
2022, highly cited Chinese papers
listed on the Science Citation Index
(SCI) increased by five times,
reaching 63.5 percent of that of the
U.S.
This strong growth is an indica-
tion of the increasingly close sci-
tech cooperation between China
and the U.S. as, in the past decade,
20 to 30 percent of highly cited
Chinese papers have involved
American partners.
At the same time, China
still has a lot of room to com-
mercialize its scientific and
technological achievements.
According to a survey by the China
National Intellectual Property
Administration, the industrializa-
tion rate of Chinese enterprises’
and universities’ invention patents
was 48.1 percent and 16.9 percent,
respectively, in 2022. Employees inspect a vehicle at the U.S. electric
Moreover, China’s trade deficit carmaker Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai on May 12
http://www.bjreview.com

2022, for example, restore strategic subsidies for
science, technology and innovation in the name
of “competing with China.”
At the bilateral level, export controls and
investment restrictions on China have been
upgraded. As of June, the U.S. Department of
Commerce has placed more than 600 Chinese
enterprises on its export blacklist. These enter-
SULVHVDUHPDLQO\LQ**DUWLÀFLDOLQWHOOLJHQFH
$, TXDQWXPFRPSXWLQJSKRWRYROWDLFÀHOGV$W
the same time, the Biden administration is also
pushing for establishing an outbound investment
review mechanism which shall prohibit or restrict
U.S. companies’ investment in the Chinese main-
ODQGLQÀHOGVVXFKDVVHPLFRQGXFWRUVDQG$,
7KH86LVDOVRÀ[DWHGRQDVVHPEOLQJDOOLHV
to contain China in science and technology. In
June 2021, the U.S. and the EU established the
Trade and Technology Council (TTC) to cooper-
ate on investment reviews, export controls and
AI technologies. The TTC is intended to serve as
XINHUA
http://www.bjreview.com
a vehicle to compete with China on
emerging technology issues, accord-
ing to U.S. political website The Hill.
These policies not only neglect
the principles of openness and in-
novation, but also violate multilateral
rules. In November 2022, Director
General of the WTO Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala warned against the U.S.
Inflation Reduction Act, arguing
that a subsidy arms race could dam-
age global trade at a moment when
it’s needed to spur growth. “Let’s
not make [a subsidy war] a reality,
because of the cost to the global
economy,” she said.
In December 2022, the leaders of
nine EU countries, including France,
Italy and Spain, met and concluded
WKDWWKH86,QÁDWLRQ5HGXFWLRQ$FW
contains protectionist policies that
would harm European industry and
give U.S. companies an unfair com-
petitive advantage.
In December 2022, China also
ÀOHGDFRPSODLQWDJDLQVWWKH86FKLS
export controls and other restrictive
measures to the WTO.
China’s reaction
While the U.S. has become more
aggressive in its sci-tech policies
toward China, China is pursuing
VFLHQWLÀFDQGWHFKQRORJLFDOVHOIUH-
liance and security. Its investment
in science and technology has been
increased and preparations have
been made for a possible U.S.-
forced tech decoupling.
As has been reiterated by the
Chinese Government, China is com-
mitted to high-level opening up. It is
ready to achieve common develop-
ment with other countries by sharing
opportunities. China, at the same
time, will firmly defend its legiti-
mate rights and interests. External
containment and suppression cannot
OPINION
hold back China’s development. Instead, it will
only strengthen China’s resolve to pursue self-
reliance and technological innovation.
China remains focused on its own de-
velopment. At the same time, it is open for
cooperation. The Report to the 20th National
Congress of the Communist Party of China in
October 2022, which outlines China’s policy
priorities for the next five years and beyond,
said the country “will expand science and tech-
nology exchange and cooperation with other
countries,” and “cultivate an internationalized
environment for research...” This shows that
China has not been disturbed by the protection-
ist measures taken by the U.S. and is trying to
create an open and innovative ecosystem.
Tensions between China and the U.S.
seem to be easing as the two sides have re-
sumed high-level contact recently. The U.S.
has changed the wording of its policy toward
China from “decoupling” to “de-risking.” But
the two terms in essence are pretty much the
same thing. The U.S., for example, continues
to add more Chinese companies to its export
blacklist and further expand the areas of
restrictions.
In the long run, Washington’s expand-
ing export controls will only accelerate the
process of substituting U.S. products and
technologies with homegrown inventions in
China. Additionally, against a backdrop of an
escalating U.S. crackdown on China’s science
and technology, China would have to launch
countermeasures instead of seeking further
cooperation with the U.S.
The current U.S. policy framework of
scientific and technological competition
with China violates both the principle of in-
novation and the law of the market. It will
QHLWKHUEHQHÀWWKH86QRUWUXO\VXFFHHG,WV
implementation will only endanger the global
VFLHQWLÀFDQGWHFKQRORJLFDOV\VWHPDQGKLQGHU
global innovation. BR
The author is an associate research fellow with the Chinese
Academy of Science and Technology for Development
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to mamm@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 25
OPINION GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
A Path to Peace Amid
Global Uncertainty
I
n recent years, China has brought forth
a slew of ideas and initiatives that can
be seen as “public goods” for the world
and is striving for their fulfillment. This is
very similar to the role the country played
in the Bandung Conference in 1955, when it
promoted cooperation among newly indepen-
dent countries that pursued a policy of non-
alignment, thus helping forge a new postwar
global landscape.
The Bandung Conference, or the Asian-
African Conference, took place in Bandung,
Indonesia, from April 18 to 24, 1955, with the
participation of leaders from 29 countries. It was
WKHÀUVWJDWKHULQJRI$VLDQDQG$IULFDQFRXQWULHV
that were newly independent from centuries
of colonial rule, and also the first international
People rally in a protest against the Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 21
26 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
By Kimura Tomoyoshi
conference without Western powers
being represented.
Fast-forward to the 21st century,
as China itself has been progressing,
we can also expect it to champion
global efforts toward achieving long-
term peace and development.
Let’s first review recent devel-
opments. China issued a document
titled China’s Position on the Political
Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis on
February 24, indicating a pathway
for peaceful resolution of the Ukraine
crisis. Additionally, Chinese President
Xi Jinping, during his phone call
with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky, emphasized Ukraine-Russia
joint efforts for ceasefire and peace.
With China’s mediation, Saudi Arabia and
Iran achieved a historic reconciliation on March 10
after seven years of estrangement, leaving global
media and international affairs experts astonished.
This also brought hopes for negotiations between
Israel and Palestine to revive the peace process,
which is indicative of China’s growing popularity
in the Arab world.
During his visit to China on April 6-7, French
President Emmanuel Macron met with President
Xi and emphasized France’s respect for the one-
China principle and efforts to achieve world
peace and stability. Subsequently, at a press con-
ference during a two-day visit to the Netherlands,
Macron said, “Being an [American] ally does not
mean being a vassal… does not mean that we
XINHUA
http://www.bjreview.com

don’t have the right to think for ourselves,” the
BBC reported on April 12.
In Beijing, President Xi had talks with vis-
iting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva on April 14, during which Lula expressed
Brazil’s willingness to deepen its strategic part-
nership with China and participate in the Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI). The China-proposed BRI
aims to boost connectivity along and beyond the
ancient Silk Road routes.
It is obvious that the world is not operating
solely within the framework dominated by the
United States and its allies. China’s growing pres-
ence is prompting a “tectonic shift.” As a new
global landscape is taking shape, China is offer-
ing an increasing number of public goods to the
international community.
The burgeoning BRI
One of them is the BRI. Regrettably, even on
its 10th anniversary this year, the BRI and its
decade of achievements have not been fully
understood by the Japanese media and their
reporting on it tends to be negative. To gain an
in-depth understanding of the BRI, I read the
report released by Xinhua News Agency on
the implementation of the 2022 plan for na-
tional economic and social development and
on the 2023 draft plan for national economic
and social development, which was approved
at the First Session of the 14th National
People’s Congress, China’s top legislature,
on March 13.
The report shows that as of late 2022,
China had signed over 200 cooperation docu-
ments with 150 countries and 32 international
organizations under the BRI framework. The
China-Europe freight train service, a BRI
flagship project, had completed over 65,000
journeys, transporting more than 6 million
twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods
to over 200 cities in 25 European countries.
Moreover, this year’s plan proposes to
launch pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce
cooperation, advance the high-quality de-
velopment of Fujian Province and Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region as core areas of
the BRI, and promote the development of
key experimental zones for development and
opening up in border areas.”
http://www.bjreview.com
Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai speaks at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia in April 1955
Partners, not allies
Another public good that China of-
fers is the concept of partnership it
DGYRFDWHVZKLFKGLIIHUVVLJQLÀFDQWO\
IURPKRZLWLVGHÀQHGLQWKH:HVWHUQ
notion. China believes partnerships
should not rely on alliances, but in-
stead should be built on mutual trust
DQGKDYHWKHÁH[LELOLW\WREHDGMXVWHG
based on mutual needs.
When envisioning the future
global landscape, we need to estab-
lish relationships as equals rather than
hierarchical ones. Forming partner-
ships embodies this idea. Unlike
the exclusive and sometimes hostile
nature of the alliances often forged by
Western countries, partnerships have
the potential to embrace and practice
contemporary multilateralism.
A different path onward
The vision of a community with a
shared future for humanity proposed
by China is the source of inspiration
for many of the country’s initiatives
and proposals for improving global
governance.
Faced with challenges of climate
change, environmental degradation,
OPINION
XINHUA
as well as resource and food insecurity, no one
on Earth will remain unaffected. Only the collec-
tive efforts of all countries can make a difference.
The vision of a community with a shared future
for humanity embodies the solutions to create a
peaceful world and ensure equal and prosperous
lives for all.
Ideas such as Chinese modernization are not
limited to China alone; they are intricately linked
to the collective interests of individuals world-
wide. This viewpoint underscores the importance
of maintaining a globally inclusive vision and
guides us toward the path we should take.
Furthermore, we should also note that the
Global Development Initiative proposed in 2021,
the Global Security Initiative proposed in 2022,
and this year’s Global Civilizations Initiative,
though belonging to different domains and
dimensions, are interconnected. They lay out
China’s vision for the new world landscape that
lies ahead.
China consistently puts forth ideas and poli-
cies that allow individuals to be better prepared
in making choices and forging ahead. From this
perspective, I believe we should acquire a deeper
understanding of China. BR
The author is a former anchor at Japan’s public broadcaster NHK
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to liwenhan@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 27
OPINION GERMANY
Berlin’s China Strategy:
A Transcultural View
T
he German Government has devel-
oped a China strategy which, on the
one hand, intends to determine the
bilateral political and economic relationship
in concrete terms. On the other hand, this
strategy emphasizes common ground within
the framework of the coordinated EU-China
policy. The central goals are:
• to set out the state of and perspectives on
relations with China;
• to describe the possibilities for better realiza-
tion in the complex relationship with China;
• to identify ways and instruments for possible
cooperation and coherence between policy portfo-
lios;
• related coordination with stakeholders in
Germany, the EU and beyond.
*HUPDQ\ÀUVWDQQRXQFHGLWZRXOGGHWHUPLQH
a new strategy for China in January. A closer
look reveals that the long-awaited strategy paper,
released in mid-July, reflects Berlin’s political
position toward China: to be a partner, competitor
and systemic rival.
The question remains as to why the strategy
was announced at this particular time.
In other words, what are the occasion, moti-
vation and function of the strategy right now?
Communication
Political strategy is not possible without strategy
communication. The latter focuses entirely on the
question of how to communicate one’s political
strategy to the relevant political institutions as well
as to the people so that they understand it, accept it
and act on it. In my opinion, the German commu-
nication competence in this regard is characterized,
if not shaped, by three obstructive aspects.
The required well-founded, up-to-date and
independent China competence, or the ability
to apply knowledge about China to a whole
range of situations and to place specific prob-
lems in the broader context of policy on China,
28 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
By Ulrich Sollmann
should encompass all relevant areas
of science, business, civil society
and others. Future generations will
require increased teaching of China
competence. This is in clear contrast
to the current polarization of opinions
regarding China among the German
public (media). How, then, can the
necessary independent dialogue be
conducted at different levels in such
a way that this polarization has a
chance of becoming less tense? What
must politics do to not only revive but
also ensure a reciprocal understand-
ing between Germany and China?
The German Government heav-
ily relies on the China expertise of
the Mercator Institute for China
Studies (MERICS). MERICS enjoys
an excellent reputation in the EU.
However, the institute and its staff
are politically sanctioned by China.
How then can one expect MERICS
to provide balanced independent
analysis and policy stance? [The
Chinese Foreign Ministry announced
sanctions on European individuals
and entities including MERICS on
the grounds of “severely harming
China’s sovereignty and interests and
spreading lies and disinformation” in
March 2021, in response to the EU’s
unilateral sanctions.—Ed]
Furthermore, what other China ex-
pertise does the German Government
draw on in a complementary manner?
The strategy paper offers no further
indications in this regard.
The renewed China strategy
intends to enable intercultural compe-
tence or to, at least, inform people of
this. There is no indication of the necessary dis-
tinction between intercultural, multicultural and
transcultural competence. The German China
strategy neither deems this distinction necessary
nor does it position itself clearly and concretely
according to such a necessary distinction.
Intercultural competence refers to cultural
knowledge. Multicultural competence looks
particularly at the cultural perception of the re-
spective cultural behavior and communication
patterns. Transcultural competence means cultur-
al co-creation, in this case between Germany and
China. Despite all the differences, it is also about
emotional and psychological resonance in the
effort to achieve cohesion between the cultures,
however gradual or qualitative this may be. What
is ultimately to be achieved politically and diplo-
matically leads to a hybrid identity. This emerges
or is created jointly between the two cultures, in
this case between Germany and China.
Without communication, this political strat-
egy of the German Government remains more
of an aspiration. It explains how the government
positions itself politically in the balance of power
between the EU and China. But that is all.
Resilience
Germany’s China strategy is intended to help reduce
dependencies and asymmetries. China, for one, is
genuinely concerned about security and stability.
So what are the possible similarities or differences
between Germany and China in this respect?
The strategy paper does not comment on this.
Nor can it comment on this, given it seems to be
more of a position paper that, at least for the time
being, sees no need to attach any importance to a
psychological or even transcultural view.
To select just one central point, I wonder
what is meant by the term “resilience,” which the
paper often mentions.
The word resilience derives from the Latin
verb resilire, which translates as “to bounce
http://www.bjreview.com

The Chinese Duojing-Garden in Luisenpark, Mannheim, Germany, on July 14
back.” In its original meaning, the term refers to
the property of an object in relation to an external
force that initially changes its original form. A
resilient object, in this original meaning of the
word, is not permanently changed by the force.
So is Germany, as a system, concerned not to
KDYHWRFKDQJHVLJQLÀFDQWO\EHFDXVHRI&KLQD·V
JOREDOLQÁXHQFH"
Psychology looks at the resilience of the in-
dividual in relation to drastic experiences: In this
context, resilience does not primarily mean the
return to the status quo before the external drastic
disturbance. Rather, the focus is on adapting to
the new circumstances while maintaining a high
quality of life.
In a social system, conscious, people-created
designs are of essential importance. Accordingly,
the adaptive dimension of resilience, which has
already been emphasized in psychology, is also
added to the narrative of social science consid-
erations. Resilience thus no longer necessarily
refers to the ability of a system to return to its
former state after a short deviation. Rather, adap-
tive resilience focuses on the ability to make a
http://www.bjreview.com
transition to a possibly new state that
is no less satisfactory than the previ-
ous state.
In accordance with the social
science understanding of the term
UHVLOLHQFHDGHÀQLWLRQLQWKHFRQWH[W
of economic policy must necessarily
include the adaptive dimension and
must not be limited to a static under-
standing in the sense of a return to the
state before the disruption.
People and the systems they
shape are characterized by the abil-
ity to adapt, to learn and to manage
crises in a creative way. This re-
quirement applies in a special way
to economic systems, which are in
any case subject to constant change
due to innovations and growth pro-
cesses shaped by people.
7KLVRSHQVXSDQLPSRUWDQWÀHOG
of communication with relevant so-
cial and economic stakeholders for
Germany’s strategy paper.
OPINION
XINHUA
An economically successful and politi-
cally significant economy such as Germany
represents a system that is determined by a
multitude of actors at different levels and their
interaction. Social contexts and the decision-
making processes of the political system play
just as important a role as the decision-making
behavior of individuals as voters, consumers
RUHQWUHSUHQHXUV$FRPSUHKHQVLYHGHÀQLWLRQ
must include all these different levels.
7KHSDSHULQVWHDGODFNVVXIÀFLHQWWUDQVSDU-
ency about different types of resilience, about
decisive factors that favor or limit resilience.
Last but not least, characteristics of inde-
SHQGHQWDQDO\VLVDQGSROLWLFDODFWLRQPXVWÁRZ
into the public communication of the China
strategy in such a way that both a related pre-
vious learning process and requirements for
future learning become visible. BR
The author is a researcher of transcultural communication and
a guest professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science
and Law
Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
Comments to yanwei@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 29
OPINION PACIFIC DIALOGUE
I Spy With My Little Eye…
T
he classic Hollywood action slash
spy movie seems to have dulled
in recent years. Judging by the
myriad of “disappointing” reviews, even
the latest installment in the Mission:
Impossible franchise, Mission: Impossible—
Dead Reckoning Part One, seems unable
to save the genre from its decline. Perhaps
filmmakers could look to U.S. Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director
William Burns’ fireside chat moderated by
American network National Public Radio’s
flagship news program All Things
Considered host Mary Louise Kelly at the
Aspen Security Forum 2023 for some in-
spiration. According to Burns, the U.S. has
made progress in rebuilding its intelligence
network in China to ensure it has “strong
human intelligence capability to comple-
ment what we can acquire through other
methods.”
%XUQV·FRPPHQWDU\EDVLFDOO\FRQÀUPHG
rumors of the U.S. intelligence network in
China taking a huge hit to be true. In 2017,
The New York Times published a front-
page piece quoting anonymous (then) active
and former CIA officials as saying that in
2010-12, at least 30 key U.S. intelligence
personnel stationed in China had been ar-
rested. Foreign Policy magazine followed up
and revealed that the CIA suspected internal
traitors and even launched an investigation
into all employees of the U.S. Embassy and
consulates in China.
As for Burns’ remarks, it’s obviously
Espionage is part of major power competition. But how to
keep one’s scouts in line has posed a challenge to
policymakers from B.C. to A.D.
30 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
By Liang Xiao
unusual to publicly discuss for-
eign intelligence undertakings,
especially when they involve es-
pionage.
For Burns, the most likely
purpose of publicly discussing the
rebuilding of the American intel-
ligence network in China would
have been to confuse the Chinese
public and perhaps even make or-
dinary citizens suspicious of one
another.
On the other hand, as The Art
of War, an ancient Chinese mili-
tary treatise written by the
brilliant military strategist Sun
7]XDURXQGWKHÀIWKFHQWXU\%&
reads, “All warfare is based on
deception.” Burns’ bravado might
very well have been an attempt
to divert China’s attention away
from other areas, such as its de-
fense against U.S. cyberattacks.
On July 25, the Wuhan
Earthquake Monitoring Center
in Wuhan, capital of Hubei
Province, reported its system had
been intruded by a Trojan horse,
aka any malware that misleads us-
ers of its true intent by disguising
itself as a standard program.
China’s National Computer
Virus Emergency Response
Center and Chinese Internet se-
curity company 360 conducted
a traceability analysis, believing that the
source of the attack was located in the U.S.
It is widely speculated that the reason for
targeting the earthquake monitoring center
could be to obtain data of seismic waves
from which one can deduce the underground
structure of a certain area, then find out
whether it holds a large underground cavity,
and eventually assess whether this is a mili-
tary base or command post.
In recent years, the U.S. has repeatedly
tried to hack into China’s network security
defenses.
“The U.S. on the one hand keeps spread-
ing disinformation about so-called ‘Chinese
espionage and cyberattacks,’ and on the
other hand tells the public about its large-
scale intelligence activities targeting China.
This in itself is quite revealing,” Mao Ning,
a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign
0LQLVWU\VDLGDWDQHZVEULHÀQJRQ-XO\
The Art of War features one chapter
wholly devoted to espionage operations. In
it, Sun Tzu commented: “Spies cannot be
usefully employed without a certain intuitive
knowledge, cannot be properly managed
without goodwill and candor, and without a
cunning mind, one can never make certain
of the truth of their reports.” This sentence
still rings true today.
On July 1, an amendment to the coun-
try’s Counter-Espionage Law came into
HIIHFWH[SDQGLQJWKHGHÀQLWLRQRIHVSLRQDJH
from covering state secrets and intelligence
to any documents, data, materials or items
related to national security interests.
Admittedly, espionage is part of major
power competition. But how to keep one’s
scouts in line has posed a challenge to poli-
cymakers from B.C. to A.D. BR
Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
Comments to liangxiao@cicgamericas.com
http://www.bjreview.com
 FACT CHECK OPINION

Going Like a Train

By Lan Xinzhen

A
China-Europe freight train departed now purchase, for example, farm produce
from Yiwu in Zhejiang Province, from European countries.
east China, on July 29 for Madrid, The three-year COVID-19 pandemic fur-
Spain, marking the 10,000th China-Europe ther highlighted the role of the China-Europe
freight train trip this year alone. Those trains freight train in stabilizing the international
have accumulatively transported 1.08 million industrial and supply chains. With maritime
twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a unit transport severely disrupted, these trains
of volume used in maritime and rail transport were shuttling back and forth to transport
statistics, of goods this year, up 27 percent essential goods to Europe and Central Asia.
year on year. The service helped connect countries there
The China-Europe freight train service to stable supply and industrial chains in their
is a flagship program of the Belt and Road ÀJKWDJDLQVWWKHSDQGHPLFDVZHOODVLQWKHLU
central and western regions,
Initiative (BRI), a China-proposed initiative economic recovery. Some Western voices
Central Asia and inland European
boosting connectivity along and beyond the had previously argued that the freight train
countries are benefiting from the
ancient Silk Road routes. It took seven years, is a political tool, but its performance during
advantages once solely reserved
IURPWRIRUWKHÀUVWWULSV the pandemic shattered this notion.
for port cities, so that they, too,
WREHÀQLVKHG%XWWKDWVDPHQXPEHURIWULSV This year marks the BRI’s 10th anni-
can take on a bigger role in cross-
took place within the first seven months of versary. At a time of sluggish global trade
border trade. For example, located
this year. growth, the 10,000 China-Europe freight
some 260 km from the Baltic
As of late June this year, 73,000-plus train trips in the first seven months of this
Sea, the Polish capital of Warsaw
trips had been made, transporting 6.9 mil- year alone demonstrate just how China’s
now has easy access to a range
lion TEUs of goods. China and Europe trade with countries along the Belt and Road
of goods from China. And inland
have a high demand for cross-border goods routes is bucking the trend and becoming in-
cities in China, on their part, can
transportation and this train service connects creasingly interconnected. After the outbreak
nearly 100 Chinese cities to 216 cities in 25 RIWKHFRQÁLFWEHWZHHQ5XVVLDDQG8NUDLQH
European countries. If a shipment is moving in early 2022, several Western voices once
over 1,500 km and isn’t time sensitive, rail again downplayed the BRI’s capacity and
Thanks to potential. However, the facts have proved
transport can prove a very efficient supply
chain solution—when compared with air the train service, them wrong. Despite the conflict, the train
and maritime transportation. Its advantages service has remained up and running, exhib-
include reliability, i.e., standardized transit China’s central and iting its importance.
schedules, cost effectiveness, the ability to Today’s international turmoil and rising
western regions, uncertainty severely undermine the world’s
haul large loads and eco-friendliness.
The value of goods transported by China- Central Asia and multilateral trading system. The China-
Europe freight trains accounts for more than Europe freight train service is thus becoming
10 percent of total trade between both par- inland European an important growth pole for countries along
the Belt and Road routes to rely on. Having
WLHV7KHUHFHQWÀYH\HDUVKDYHVHHQWKHWUDLQ countries are brought tangible benefits to countries in-
trips increase by 55 percent annually, while
the cargo has expanded from things like benefiting from the volved, the train service is expected to
home supplies, cellphones and computers progressively support sustainable economic
in the early days to around 50,000 types of advantages once growth along its tracks. BR
goods ranging from automobiles to chemical solely reserved for
products today. Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
Thanks to the train service, China’s port cities Comments to lanxinzhen@cicgamericas.com

http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 31

FEATURES DISASTER RELIEF
On Red Alert
Beijing and its surrounding regions have been struck by the heaviest rain since
records began By Ma Miaomiao

O
n July 29, China’s National Meteorological

XINHUA
Center (NMC) upgraded an orange alert
for rainstorms to a red alert in Beijing and
its surrounding cities. Typhoon Doksuri, which had
lashed the Philippines and China’s Taiwan region and
Fujian Province, had now begun releasing heavy rain-
fall on this part of north China.
China has a four-tier weather warning system, with
red representing the most severe warning, followed by
orange, yellow and blue. It was the second rainstorm
red alert issued since the system was established in
2010, with the previous one issued in 2011.

Heavy rainstorms
Between the evening of July 29 and the morning of
August 2, Beijing recorded an average of 261 mm of
rain, with maximum rainfall exceeding 740 mm in a $QH[FDYDWRUUHPRYHVGHEULVIURPDEULGJHLQ6KXL\X]XL9LOODJHLQßRRGKLW
reservoir in Changping District, making it the heavi- Mentougou District, Beijing, on August 1
est deluge to hit the city in 140 years, according to the

XINHUA
Beijing Meteorological Service.
Another set of data reveals how extreme this round
of rainfall was: from 8 p.m. on July 29 to 7 p.m. on
August 1, the accumulated rainfall in Xingtai City, 400
km southwest of central Beijing in Hebei Province,
exceeded 1,000 mm, which was equivalent to the
total average rainfall for two years in the region, Fang
Chong, chief forecaster at the NMC, told state broad-
caster China Central Television.
Fan explained that the spell of rainfall was mainly
attributable to the northward movement of Doksuri’s
residual circulation. It was characterized by prolonged
and continuous precipitation, resulting in significant
DFFXPXODWHGUDLQIDOODQGSRVLQJDKLJKULVNRIÁRRGLQJ
and related natural disasters.
The typhoon’s speed was slowed by a high-pres- 3HGHVWULDQVZDONWKURXJKßRRGZDWHUVLQ0HQWRXJRX'LVWULFW%HLMLQJRQ-XO\
sure atmospheric circulation system over East Asia,
NQRZQDVWKHZHVWHUQ1RUWK3DFLÀFVXEWURSLFDOKLJK relocation of around 127,000 others. The flooding had led to the loss of at least 12 lives,
as well as high pressure over the Taihang Mountains in including three rescue workers who died in the line of duty, and a further 12 residents
north China, causing it to linger in the Beijing-Tianjin- who were still missing as of August 3, according to local flood control authorities.
Hebei region and increasing the rainfall it released “I saw that the road in front of our building had turned into a river on the morning
there. of July 31, and no one dared go out,” Han Lu, a 30-year-old resident in Mentougou,
The downpours seriously affected over 44,600 one of the hardest-hit districts in Beijing, told Beijing Review. The community she
people in 13 districts of Beijing and prompted the UHVLGHVLQDOVRH[SHULHQFHGDZDWHURXWDJHLQWKHIROORZLQJWZRGD\V$IWHUWKHÁRRG
34 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023 http://www.bjreview.com

XINHUA
UHFHGHGWKHVWUHHWVZHUHÀOOHGZLWKPXGWUHHEUDQFKHVDQGVWUDQGHGFDUVVKHUHFDOOHG
A villager in the mountainous area of Mentougou, surnamed He, told the Global
Times that authorities there had organized mass evacuations and multiple rescues over
the past few days. “From the moment it started raining, we activated the emergency
SODQWRHYDFXDWHDOOYLOODJHUVµKHVDLG´%XWWKHÁRRGFDPHYHU\TXLFNO\DQGZHGLGQ·W
complete the evacuation until the night of July 31.”
The rainstorms have also caused severe disruptions to train services. On the night
of August 1, the China Railway Beijing Bureau Group Co. Ltd. reported that severe
water damage had occurred on the Fengtai-Shacheng Railway. Three trains had
been stranded in suburban Beijing due to railway closures since noon on July 30. By
August 3, all of the nearly 3,000 passengers and crew members aboard the trains had
been evacuated to safety.
Tackling disaster
On August 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Communist
Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission,
demanded all-out efforts in the search and rescue of missing people and those trapped
E\ÁRRGLQJDQGJHRORJLFDOGLVDVWHUV
It is crucial to ensure medical treatment for the injured and provide aid and com-
fort to the families of the deceased, Xi said, adding the safety of the people’s lives and
properties as well as social stability must be ensured with the utmost efforts.
Beijing has taken multiple measures to tackle the downpour-induced disasters. Liu
Xufu, a member of Blue Sky Rescue Team, a Chinese civilian rescue squad, told the
Global Times on August 1 that the team had dispatched 563 rescuers and 263 vehicles
for rescue efforts in Beijing. They transferred more than 1,680 stranded people and 22
trapped vehicles, and rescued more than 210 people from danger in the severely af-
fected Fangshan and Mentougou districts.
Military helicopters were employed to airdrop essential supplies and transfer
stranded residents. Water resources departments in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei have
http://www.bjreview.com
FEATURES
Rescuers transfer
ßRRGWUDSSHGSHRSOH
in Zhuozhou City, Hebei
Province, on August 2
cooperated in discharging water
from reservoirs to minimize the
RYHUDOOLPSDFWRIÁRRGLQJDFURVV
the region.
So far, Hebei has put seven
ÁRRGVWRUDJHDQGGHWHQWLRQEDVLQVLQWRXVHWRGHFUHDVH
the impact of the flooding across downstream rivers
and important areas. The provincial department of
water resources expects it will take up to one month for
the water in these basins to recede.
Rainstorms had impacted 540,703 people in 87
counties and districts in Hebei by noon on August 1,
Xinhua News Agency reported. In Zhuozhou City
alone, more than 130,000 residents were affected.
More than 150 civilian rescue teams from across the
country had arrived in the city as of August 2 to assist
the local government’s disaster relief operations.
Central and local authorities, as well as social
organizations, have mobilized resources to acceler-
ate disaster relief and reconstruction. The Central
Government has earmarked 100 million yuan ($13.9
million) to support the reconstruction of infrastructure
and public service facilities in areas that have been hit
hard by rainstorms and floods in Beijing and Hebei,
according to the National Development and Reform
Commission on August 2.
However, the ongoing battles are expected to be
exacerbated by a new round of rainfall, predicted to
hit Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in the northeast.
Given this adverse situation, authorities urged the
utmost efforts to brace for heavy rainfall in the two re-
gions, according to Xinhua. BR
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to mamm@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 35
FEATURES CONSUMPTION

Home Sweet Home

A promise to stimulate housing consumption
By Zhang Shasha

C A better house
heng Zhen gave birth to her second child
last year and her firstborn is expected to at-
tend primary school in a couple of years. To
improve the growing family’s living conditions, the
31-year-old mom has developed a stronger desire to
purchase an apartment in Beijing.
Due to a job transfer, Cheng and her husband
moved to Beijing in 2018 from neighboring Tianjin
Municipality where they tied the knot and obtained a
PRUWJDJHWREX\WKHLUÀUVWKRPH6LQFHPRYLQJWRWKH
Chinese capital, the couple has been renting.
“We’ve been thinking about selling our Tianjin
apartment and buying a new one in Beijing, but this
way we will become second-time buyers, meaning we
will need to make a higher down payment and pay a
higher interest rate on our loan,” Cheng told Beijing
Review.
To curb speculative buying amid an overheated
property market, some of China’s biggest metropolises
have adopted measures to increase market entry barri-
ers since 2010. In these cities, a borrower who already
owns a house in their name or has a mortgage record
The announcement came after the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee held a meeting on July 24 to make arrangements for the country’s
major economic undertakings in the second half of the year.
The meeting concluded that to adapt to the changes in the relationship between
supply and demand in the real estate market, it’s imperative to adjust and improve
related policies in timely manner and use targeted policy tools in different cities.
“Under the premise that ‘houses are for living in, not for speculation,’ with specu-
lation involving buying property with the hopes of reselling it at a higher price in
the near future, the demand side of China’s real estate market has undergone a new
change—as the people’s basic demand, or access to adequate housing, and upgraded
demand for housing are on the rise, whereas investment- and speculation-oriented
demands for housing are on the decline,” Kuang Weida, Director of the Center for
Urban and Real Estate Research under the National Academy of Development and
Strategy at Renmin University of China, told the newspaper China Economic Times.
Meanwhile, according to an article published by Chen Wenjing, Market
Research Director of the China Index Academy (CIA), since 2022, when
&KLQD·VSRSXODWLRQVWDUWHGVKULQNLQJIRUWKHÀUVWWLPHVLQFHDQGSHRSOH·V
per-capita living space notably grew as one household owned nearly 1.1 apart-
ment units on average, the people’s basic demand for housing has been greatly
VDWLVÀHG

XINHUA
will be considered a second-time buyer when applying
for a new loan.
Taking Beijing as an example, when purchas-
ing a new two-bedroom unit in Changping District
in the city’s northwest, worth 5.2 million yuan
($725,557), the down payment will set a second-
time buyer back 2 million yuan ($279,060) more
WKDQDÀUVWWLPHEX\HU8QGHUWKHVHFLUFXPVWDQFHV
Cheng and her husband, despite being able to sell
WKHLUÀUVWKRPHDQGSD\RIIWKHLUÀUVWORDQDUHFRQ-
sidered second-time buyers—because they already
have a mortgage record.
Rational housing demands like Cheng’s are
yet to be fully met. In that light, on July 31, the
National Development and Reform Commission
(NDRC), China’s top economic planner, unveiled
20 policy incentives to boost consumption amid
efforts to sustain economic recovery and promote
high-quality development. Housing consumption is Workers package chairs inside the factory of a furniture company in Tangshan, Hebei
one of the highlights. Province, on July 28
36 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023 http://www.bjreview.com

XINHUA
A construction worker at an old residential community renovation project in Jingan
District, Shanghai, on May 25
“Subsequently, the people’s demand for housing has shifted from ‘have one or
none’ to ‘good or not’,” Chen wrote, adding, “Demand for a larger house now soars.”
Overall, the country’s real estate sector has shifted from a seller’s market to a
buyer’s market, and corresponding regulatory policies have changed from cooling off
an overheated market to warming up an overcooled market.
Following the meeting, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development
on July 27 pledged to take concrete actions for policy improvement, including reduc-
LQJWKHGRZQSD\PHQWUDWLRVDQGORDQLQWHUHVWUDWHVIRUÀUVWWLPHKRPHEX\HUVDVZHOO
as easing restrictions for their access to new loans.
The latter in particular has commanded the public’s attention. If implemented
LQ%HLMLQJWKLVZRXOGPHDQ&KHQJFRXOGVLPSO\VHOOKHUÀUVWKRXVHIRUWKHEDQNWR
FRQVLGHUKHUDÀUVWWLPHEX\HUDQGVXEVHTXHQWO\HQMR\DVPDOOHUGRZQSD\PHQWDQG
lower loan interest rates.
“The move, if implemented, will greatly unleash housing consumption potential
[like Cheng’s],” Cao Jingjing, General Manager of the CIA’s Index Department,
told daily newspaper Shanghai Securities News. “But featuring strong demand, some
megacities like Beijing and Shanghai may be more cautious when it comes to imple-
menting the new measures and will customize the policies for districts under their
jurisdiction according to their different situations.”
Local housing authorities in Beijing, Shanghai, as well as Guangzhou and
Shenzhen in Guangdong Province have already announced they will put the
latest property policies in place to better meet people’s basic and upgraded
housing demands, as well as to promote the stable and healthy development
of their real estate markets. Detailed measures are yet to be unveiled at the
time of writing.
Among its incentives, the NDRC also proposed to expand the supply of
government-subsidized rental housing to address the demands for people
ZLWKOLPLWHGÀQDQFLDOUHVRXUFHVLQFOXGLQJQHZXUEDQGZHOOHUVIURPWKHUXUDO
areas and young citizens. In addition, it emphasized the renovation of old
residential areas and rural housing.
http://www.bjreview.com
FEATURES
The positive tone of the recent policy statements
bodes well for the stable development of the real
estate market, China International Capital Corp.
Ltd., an investment banking service provider, stated
in a recent report, adding that pro-growth policies
related to the real estate market are highly likely to
come soon.
A better home
Once you have the house, it’s time to create a
home. Many young Chinese today are willing to
pay for a better home even if the house isn’t theirs.
Gina Gao works in public relations, but in her
spare time loves to indulge in interior design. She
has rented several apartments and after giving all
their rooms a complete makeover, now rents them
out on Airbnb. “I’m considering setting up an ac-
count on Xiaohongshu [Little Red Book, a popular
Chinese lifestyle and e-commerce app] because
I realized more and more people were sharing
pictures of their home décor there and some in-
fluencers with a large following had been able to
generate income by including ads for home appli-
ance brands and decoration service providers,” Gao
told Beijing Review.
Cheng divulged that if she fails to buy a new
apartment in Beijing, she will rent a larger one and
wholly redecorate it given “being an interior de-
signer was a childhood dream of mine.”
According to the China Building Decoration
Association, over 72.8 percent of consumers have
more than 100,000 yuan ($13,924) in budget re-
served for home decoration. The consumption of
home appliances, especially green and smart ones,
is expected to become a growth driver to expand
domestic demand courtesy of supporting measures.
The NDRC’s latest notice proposed to push
for the consumption of home decoration and smart
and green home appliances, rolling out incentives
for trade-ins and the recycling of used home ap-
pliances. On July 18, the Ministry of Commerce,
together with 12 other departments, issued detailed
measures to implement the policies.
The aging population and accelerated urbaniza-
tion, together with recent measures to boost the
real estate market, all combined will bring new
opportunities for home appliance and decoration
consumption, industry insiders said. BR
Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
Comments to zhangshsh@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 37
FEATURES TRENDS

I Do—Not
Diamonds are losing their sparkle among young Chinese By Yuan Yuan

‘D
iamonds are forever” is arguably one
of the most successful advertising slo-
gans ever. However, these glittering
gems, symbols of love, wealth and prestige, seem
to be losing their luster among China’s younger
generations.
Active in the business of diamond rings,
Darry Ring Group, a jewelry company based in
Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, released its per-
IRUPDQFHDVVHVVPHQWIRUWKHÀUVWKDOIRIWKLV\HDU
in July. According to the report, as of June 30, the
company had an operating income, or the amount
RISURÀWUHDOL]HGIURPDEXVLQHVV·RSHUDWLRQVDIWHU
deducting operating expenses, of some 1.22 billion
to 1.24 billion yuan ($171-173 million), noting a
year-on-year decrease of approximately 40.37 to
41.22 percent.
XINHUA
original price.
“I was shocked,” she stated, adding, “The price is just ridiculous.” The video
ZHQWYLUDODQGWKHVLJQLÀFDQWGHSUHFLDWLRQRIWKHULQJVVSDUNHGKHDWHGRQOLQHGHEDWH
regarding the supposed enduring value of a diamond. “It’s not a question of whether
purchasing diamonds is a safe investment or not, it’s a matter of how bad it can get
when you don’t want them anymore,” one netizen commented.
“I recommend couples planning their nuptials go for gold instead of diamond
rings and this is exactly what many of them actually do,” Wang Xiao, CEO of
MD Jewelry in Beijing, said in a video she uploaded on Douyin, China’s TikTok.
“Diamonds are more expensive than gold, but have lower enduring value. Diamonds
of large carat size will usually retain their value, but are too expensive for most young
couples.”
A diamond as a symbol of eternal love is just a widely used marketing tactic,
Wang revealed, adding that the diamond business has long relied on skillful market-
ing to maintain the perception of scarcity.
The increasing awareness of the industry’s crafty marketing campaigns has

The company contributed its revenue decline to

several factors, including China’s slower-than-expect-
ed economic recovery, weak growth in discretionary
consumer spending, or nonessential spending, and an
LQVXIÀFLHQWGHPDQGIRUGLDPRQGSURGXFWVLQWKHVKRUW
term.
This underperformance is a challenge facing
China’s overall diamond industry. Figures from the
Gems and Jewelry Trade Association of China show
that in 2022, the market size of diamond products in
China stood at 82 billion yuan ($11 billion), a decrease
of 18 billion ($2.5 billion) from 2021.
“The consumer demand for diamonds is weaken-
ing,” Dong Haiyang, a member of the Gemological
Association of Great Britain, told Guangdong news-
paper Nanfang Daily. “Even though some will still
consider getting diamond wedding rings, people are
generally tightening their belts.”

All that glitters…

In early January, a woman from Anhui Province with
the online pseudonym paopaomama uploaded a short
video on Chinese social media displaying two diamond
rings that she had purchased 16 and 10 years ago. The
rings had cost her 18,000 yuan ($2,500) altogether. But
when she took them to a jeweler’s to sell, she was of-
fered 180 yuan ($25) for the two, just 1 percent of the
38 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023 http://www.bjreview.com
 FEATURES
led a growing number of young people to keep a cool head when choosing jew- warlords and diamond companies around the world.
HOU\0LOOHQQLDOVRIWHQVKRXOGHULQJWKHÀQDQFLDOEXUGHQVRIKRXVLQJSD\PHQWVDQG “The movie showed the brutal human cost behind
child rearing, are more inclined to allocate their resources towards more practical the diamond business. I won’t spend money on that no
investments. matter how pretty they may look,” Xu continued.
*ROGDVDSUHFLRXVPHWDOFRQÀUPHGWRUHWDLQLWVYDOXHRYHUWLPHKDVWKXVVHHQ Even those who still prefer diamonds just because
DVXUJLQJGHPDQG$FFRUGLQJWRÀJXUHVUHOHDVHGE\WKH&KLQD*ROG$VVRFLDWLRQRQ of their beauty now have access to cheaper options—
-XO\LQWKHÀUVWKDOIRIWKLV\HDUWKHQDWLRQDOJROGFRQVXPSWLRQFDPHWR lab-grown diamonds, which have the same chemical
tons, an increase of 16.37 percent from 2022. Included in that number, the consump- composition and physical properties as natural dia-
tion of gold jewelry reached 368.26 tons, a year-on-year increase of 14.82 percent. monds but sell at much lower prices.
“As a globally recognized and traded commodity, the lasting worth of gold has “Lab-grown diamonds have all the essential quali-
also been demonstrated by a long history of its prices rising during times of economic ties natural diamonds possess,” Zhang Cunsheng, an
XQFHUWDLQW\DQGDFWLQJDVDKHGJHDJDLQVWLQÁDWLRQµJROGDQDO\VW/L<DQJWROGBeijing expert on lab-grown diamonds in Henan Province, told
Daily. China Central Television. “It takes hundreds of mil-
Many young Chinese now consider spending their hard-earned cash on gold as lions of years to form natural diamonds but only one
another way to save money. “When they want to use the money, they can exchange week, or a few weeks, to create their lab-grown peers.”
the metal for money,” Li elaborated, “Gold jewelry used to be preferred by seniors, The production of the lab-grown gems also in-
but today’s new techniques and technologies have created more modern gold jewelry volves fewer carbon emissions than the mining of
designs, which attract a growing number of young consumers.” natural diamonds and their average retail price is about
one third that of natural diamonds.
Grown and green Greener and cheaper are two advantages for con-
Also of young concern are the ethical implications associated with diamond mining. sumers weighing their options. And the unique and
5HSRUWVRIHQYLURQPHQWDOGHJUDGDWLRQDQGFRQÁLFWVVXUURXQGLQJGLDPRQGH[WUDFWLRQ personalized nature of these alternatives adds even
have profoundly impacted their purchasing decisions. As a result, they are seeking al- more luster for young consumers.
ternatives that are ethically sourced, )LJXUHVIURPJOREDOPDQDJHPHQWFRQVXOWLQJÀUP
sustainable and socially responsible. Bain & Company show that the annual worldwide
“After watching the movie output of jewelry-grade rough diamonds from labs
Blood Diamond years ago, I got was about 6 million to 7 million carats in 2020. Of
really concerned,” Xu Zhou, a that, China’s annual production capacity came in at
30-year-old Beijing-based pro- some 3 million carats, about half of the total. In China,
fessional, told Beijing Review. about 80 percent of lab-grown diamonds are produced
The title of the 2006 movie starring in Henan. And the increasing market popularity and
Leonardo DiCaprio refers to blood acceptance of these equally glittering gems are slowly
diamonds, which are diamonds reshaping the diamond industry’s dynamics.
mined in war zones and sold to Zhecheng, a small county in Henan, with over four
ÀQDQFHFRQÁLFWVDQGWKHUHE\SURÀW decades of experience in processing super-hard materi-
als, has evolved into an emerging capital of lab-grown
diamonds in China. A report by national newspaper
Guangming Daily read that of the 9 million carats of
lab-grown diamonds worldwide in 2021, this county
produced no less than 4 million of them.
“Today, Zhecheng has developed a strong eco-
system to support its burgeoning diamond business,”
=KDQJVDLG´,WKDVFRPSOHWHGDZKROHDUWLÀFLDOSURGXF-
tion chain and so far over 80,000 people in the county
are working in this industry. The growing production
FDSDFLW\RIWKHDUWLÀFLDOGLDPRQGVLVH[SHFWHGWRIXUWKHU
lower diamond prices.” BR
Visitors snap pictures of a
diamond tiara at the Third
China International Consumer
Products in Haikou, Hainan Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
Comments to yuanyuan@cicgamericas.com
Province, on April 14
http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 39
FEATURES REAL PEOPLE, REAL LIVES
Emotional Overtones
One master’s dedication to the Kunqu legacy By Wang Ruohan
O
n the evening of June 22, a Kunqu Opera
performance titled The Peony Pavilion, an
epic romantic tragicomedy based on a short
story from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), took to the
stage of Beijing’s Northern Kunqu Opera Theater,
starring Wei Chunrong in the role of the female protag-
onist, Du Liniang. Despite having performed the part
on stage over 300 times, Wei still arrived at the theater
IRXUKRXUVHDUO\EHLQJWKHÀUVWDFWUHVVEDFNVWDJHWRJHW
her makeup done and inspect the props. This is a habit
VKH·VPDLQWDLQHGHYHUVLQFHÀUVWHQWHULQJWKHZRUOGRI
Kunqu in 1982.
At 7:00 p.m. sharp, The Peony Pavilion opened
to a packed audience. Wei, dressed in a delicate pink
gown, enchanted onlookers with her exquisite sing-
LQJDVKHUJHQWO\ZDYLQJÀQJHUVVHHPHGWRSRLQWWRD
GLVWDQWGUHDP+HUÁDZOHVVSHUIRUPDQFHWRRNWKHDXGL-
ence on a journey into the depths of Kunqu.
One minute takes 10 years
Kunqu Opera originated in the town of Kunshan near
today’s Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, some 600 years
ago. It is an old drama style listed as a Masterpiece
of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by
UNESCO in 2001. One of the oldest traditional Han
Chinese operas, Kunqu is reputed as the “ancestor of
Chinese dramas” and the “mother of Chinese operas.”
“One minute on stage requires 10 years of practice
offstage” is a well-known mantra in the Chinese opera
community. And Wei, a pillar of the Northern Kunqu
Opera Theater and a recipient of China Theater Plum
Blossom Award—the highest honor in the Chinese
theater industry, certainly can vouch for that.
+HUÀUVWVWDJHDSSHDUDQFHZDVLQDSHUIRUPDQFHRI
A Surprising Dream, one of the scenes from The Peony
Pavilion:HLDQGRWKHUJLUOVSRUWUD\HGWKHÁRZHUJRG-
desses; they were both excited and exhausted. The next
morning, when the teacher went to wake them up for
their daily morning practice, the girls didn’t want to get
up, saying, “We had a performance yesterday, so can’t
we skip practice today?” Their teacher replied, “There’s
no such thing.” One by one, the teacher got them up
and off to practice as always.
Like ballet, the pursuit of a career in Chinese opera
40 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
demands training from a young age. Wei began her
six-year learning journey at the Northern Kunqu Opera
“By
Theater at the age of 10. The first two years were
dedicated to mastering the fundamentals of physical
ÁH[LELOLW\DQGFRRUGLQDWLRQ,QWKH\HDUVWKDWIROORZHG
preserving
she honed her performance skills, including the use of
essential props such as fans, handkerchiefs and swords, these plays and
as well as singing techniques.
But it’s not just young trainees who have to go protecting the
through these arduous and rather monotonous basic
H[HUFLVHVHYHU\GD\IXOOÁHGJHGRSHUDSHUIRUPHUVWRR performers,
still put these exercises on their daily checklist.
When asked if she ever considered giving up Kunqu can
SHUIRUPLQJ:HLÀUPO\UHSOLHG´1HYHURQFHGLGWKDW
thought cross my mind. The captivating beauty of continue to be
Kunqu and the invaluable guidance and encourage-
ment from my mentors have shaped me as a person.”
passed down
For Wei, the Northern Kunqu Opera Theater be-
came a second home. The institution not only nurtured
her artistic talents but also provided her with the care
for generations
and love from her teachers.
“Our teachers raised us. They understood our prac- to come.”
tice was dull and painful, so they would often invite us
to their homes on weekends and prepare some delight- — Wei Chunrong,
ful meals for us. After each performance, they would
bring us our favorite foods and fill us with warmth,” a leading actress
Wei said, her face beaming like that of a child as she of Kunqu Opera
revisited the fond memories.
When teaching traditional masterpieces like The
Peony Pavilion, the mentors will patiently guide their
students through every gesture, movement, sound
and internal motivation of the characters, she said. For
instance, if a student’s movement does not have the
desired aesthetic effect, a teacher will have them mimic
their own performance style. Even more importantly,
mentors explain the emotional mindset of the charac-
WHUVVXFKDVWKHRYHUZKHOPLQJIHHOLQJVRIORYHDWÀUVW
sight when the male and female protagonists in The
Peony PavilionÀUVWPHHWHQDEOLQJWKHVWXGHQWVWRGH-
liver a more compelling performance, she added.
“The reason these traditional masterpieces are
presented so well on stage is due to the efforts of many
generations of performers. Through training and stage
experience, they add their own insights to the existing
http://www.bjreview.com
 FEATURES

COURTESY PHOTO
heritage actually signified its decline and that it re-
quired protection.” Since then, Wei has dedicated
herself to preserving and passing on her beloved art
of Kunqu.
The preservation of Kunqu Opera relies on two
key elements: the quality of the plays and all the people
involved in bringing them to the stage.
A repertoire is the foundation of any opera genre,
requiring the protection of and transmission by per-
formers. Wei discovered that even though the Kunqu
repertoire had over 700 plays, fewer than 100 are com-
monly performed on stage. The revival of these other
little-known classic pieces relies on senior artists pass-
ing on the artistic torch.
Intangible cultural heritage like Kunqu Opera de-
mands the emotional and skillful connections between
generations of inheritors to stay alive and vibrant
throughout the centuries.
As a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee
of China’s political advisory body, the Chinese
People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC),
Wei proposed expanding the repertoire and strength-
ening the professional development of Kunqu artists
at the First Session of the 13th Beijing Municipal
Committee of the CPPCC in 2018.
Her proposal calls, among other things, for an in-
creased teaching remuneration for Kunqu artists to give
them more incentive in passing on the remarkable heritage.
When it comes to contemporary adaptations, Wei
actively participates in scriptwriting, leveraging her
Wei Chunrong as Du Liniang in The Peony Pavilion, a classic romantic decades of stage experience to enrich the characters’
tragicomedy in Kunqu Opera
actions and songs and enhance the overall performance
style.
DQGHYROYLQJOHJDF\FRQWLQXRXVO\UHÀQLQJWKHLUSHUIRUPDQFHVWREULQJWKHVHSOD\VDV To address the lack of young talent in Kunqu, Wei
close to perfection as they possibly can,” Wei said. herself today also mentors younger actors, doing for
Under the meticulous guidance of her mentors and through persistent practice, them what her teachers did for her. Offstage, Wei is
Wei went on to blossom into a leading actress of Kunqu Opera. WKHLUIULHQGDQGFRQÀGDQWRQVWDJHVKHDLPVWREULQJ
out the best in them as performers of the art through
Passing the torch her masterly knowhow and strict demands.
Kunqu bloomed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), but this thriving period “By preserving these plays and protecting the
ended abruptly in the mid-Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), leading to the genre’s decline. performers, Kunqu can con-
Its lyrics, originally elegant and flowery, eventually became obscure and incom- tinue to be passed down for
prehensible, while its melodies slowed down to what some inheritors called a generations to come,” Wei
“funereal level.” Kunqu therefore became unacceptable to all but a small number declared. BR
RIGHGLFDWHGDÀFLRQDGRV
%XWZKHQ81(6&2RIÀFLDOO\OLVWHGKunqu Opera as intangible cultural heritage
in 2001, the dramatic art returned to the spotlight. Scan the QR
Wei was one of the performers who were invited to Paris, France, to perform at code to watch
the video
the UNESCO headquarters right after the successful inscription of Kunqu.
“When our application proved successful, we were all so happy and proud. Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
Comments to wangruohan@cicgamericas.com
However, I suddenly realized that the inscription of Kunqu as intangible cultural
http://www.bjreview.com AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 41
FEATURES THROUGH THEIR EYES
Birds of a Feather
An American paleontologist explores life in China By Kang Caiqi
A
n American who has lived in China for
more than 10 years and traveled ex-
tensively all over the country, Thomas
Stidham has a hobby—bird watching in parks.
“Birds are dinosaurs,” this Ph.D. in integrative bi-
ology from the University of California, Berkeley,
said. Though the statement may sound absurd at
first, it is actually scientifically supported. And
this is precisely Stidham’s academic niche: avi-
an evolution and paleontology.
As a paleontologist working at the Institute of
Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology
(IVPP) affiliated to the Chinese Academy of
Sciences in Beijing, Stidham mainly focuses on
the evolution of birds by examining their fossils
from China and around the world.
“I have also done research on insects, snakes,
mammals and humans, so I’d rather say I am
very broadly an evolutionary biologist or an inte-
grative biologist interested in many fundamental
questions in biology around the world, especially
those relating to evolution and biodiversity,” he
told Beijing Review.
Under his microscope, he can identify count-
less fossil fragments the size of a gravel grain,
with a diameter ranging from 2 to 64 mm, within
a second.
´7KDWZDVDÀVKWKDWZDVDIURJWKDWZDVD
snake; oh, that was a mammal tooth,” he muttered
while using tweezers to pick the collected fossils
out of a box and examine them.
“The fossil birds tend to be rarer, I’d be
thrilled if I found one,” he said with almost pal-
pable excitement.
“After sorting out the fossils, the next step is
to turn over different species of fossils to experts
LQWKHÀHOG$QG,P\VHOIZLOOZRUNRQWKHELUGV
together with my colleague Li Zhiheng, and try to
determine if it’s potentially a ‘new’ extinct spe-
cies or one we already know,” he added.
In Stidham’s view, being a paleontolo-
gist is like being an explorer. “One can study
42 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
never-before-seen materials and make never-before-known discover-
ies,” he elaborated.
Lessons from the past
According to Stidham, although paleontology is supposed to be the study of
life in the past, in fact, it greatly relates to the present. One single discovery
can either add something new or change everything about what we thought
we knew. Sometimes, it takes something as tiny as a bone fragment or a tooth
to completely change people’s view of Earth’s history and evolution.
“Fundamentally, paleontology is about understanding the history of life
on Earth and its interactions with Mother Nature, and with major geological
events, so that we can better understand our place in the history of the world,”
he explained. For example, fossil and rock records are crucial to explaining the
bouts of extreme weather in recent years.
Fossil and geological records can be used
to see what has happened since the globe
started warming up to help better prepare
and conserve biodiversity in the future, he
added.
Stidham cited an example from the
end of the most recent ice age, when the
Northern hemisphere began to warm
around 13,000 years ago, and many ani-
mal species, such as the mammoth, went
extinct.
´,QRQHRIP\VWXGLHVZHWULHGWRÀJ-
ure out why some large carnivorous birds
became extinct and others didn’t,” he said.
He explained how analysis had shown
that one extinct group of birds called tera-
torns, a group of very large birds of prey,
fed on dead mammoths and mastodons,
Thomas Stidham inspects an ostrich
IRVVLOLQKLVRIĶFHDWWKH,QVWLWXWHRI
Vertebrate Paleontology and
3DOHRDQWKURSRORJ\DIĶOLDWHGWRWKH
Chinese Academy of Sciences
in Beijing on June 2
http://www.bjreview.com

eventually became extinct because their food became extinct. However, the
now endangered California Condor, the largest North American land bird and
a holdover from prehistoric times that fed on various species of dead animals,
has survived in California, where it has been able to feed on marine animals like
dead whales and seals. “Data like those and from other studies on birds can help
us predict where species should move, and that knowledge can help us to plan
for conservation work to protect biological diversity,” Stidham said.
Future impact
As far as the American biologist is concerned, paleontology is also of great
VLJQLÀFDQFHIRUWKHIXWXUHJHQHUDWLRQRIVFLHQWLVWV´,·YHEHHQWHDFKLQJDFRP-
parative vertebrate osteology (the study of the skeleton) course at the Chinese
Academy of Sciences, which also attracted students from prestigious universi-
ties in China, like Peking University, Tsinghua University and the Chinese
Geological University.”
Over the course of a decade, word of Stidham’s expertise has traveled far
and wide. “I’ve helped train an entire generation of Chinese paleontologists and
I work with students around the world. At the same time, I enjoy doing science
popularization work for children,” the expat continued.
He pours a lot of effort into promoting the public’s engagement with
science in Beijing. This work has so far included outlining, organizing and
YIN KANG
http://www.bjreview.com
FEATURES
guiding “dinosaur expert” tours for students and
families, and even setting up an overnight dino-
saur program for families at the Palaeozoological
Museum of China.
“For many children, dinosaurs and fossils are
what start them on their pathway to becoming a sci-
entist,” Stidham said, citing himself as an example.
When he was just 3, his father gave him a dinosaur-
themed book, which sparked his interest in the
extinct giants. “The funny thing is that I actually
met the author of that book many years later while
DWWHQGLQJP\ÀUVWSURIHVVLRQDOSDOHRQWRORJ\PHHW-
ing,” he said.
He grew up in the American state of Texas.
“When I got a little older, I started to observe the
rocks and look for fossils on the playground. I even
uncovered my first new species when I was 10.
So it has been a lifelong passion for me to be en-
gaged in the natural world,” he added. These early
experiences are part of what makes him deeply
committed to ignite children’s passion for science.
And his efforts have proved effective.
Last summer, he ran a few insect programs out
in the hills surrounding Beijing, introducing chil-
dren to the great diversity of insects in the natural
world. Almost one year later, he is still getting
videos and photos from their parents on Weixin,
one of China’s most popular super apps, asking
him questions about insects they’ve just caught or
sharing their happy moments with tiny creatures of
nature, and expressing their willingness to join him
on his next educational venture.
Stidham considers the program’s lingering
impact a great accomplishment because it gener-
ated an enthusiasm that extended from one day to
one month, then from one month to one year, and
perhaps may even span a lifetime. “We need more
trained, energetic scientists from all backgrounds,”
the biologist added.
While a book or a Jurassic Park movie might
WHPSRUDULO\SLTXHDFKLOG·VLQWHUHVW6WLGKDPÀUPO\
believes that active research scientists need to play
DPRUHVLJQLÀFDQWUROHLQFRPPXQLFDWLQJQRWRQO\
the knowledge of science but also the passion for
science to capture the public’s imagination.
“I want to show them how to turn their science
daydreams into a reality,” he concluded. BR
Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
Comments to kangcaiqi@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 43
CULTURE BOOMING BEIJING
1
After Dark
As nightfall casts away the heat of day, Beijingers come out to play
By Elsbeth van Paridon
A
whip cracks in the hot and hu-
mid summer night air encasing
China’s national capital in late
July. Two sixty-something men each hold
a long, leather whip with which they are
spinning a large, stone top. They get the
top whirling and twirling by wrapping the
whip around it, placing it on the pavement
and then pulling the whip like a ripcord.
As the top begins its wild spin, the men
lash it with booming cracks of their whips
to keep it going.
In addition to these sonic snaps, the
same airwaves carry aloft massive kites
sporting tails bejeweled with colorful
flashing LED lights to increase visibility
and visual flair. Also in the air are the
sounds of babyboomers, sexagenarians
and septuagenarians, belting out the hits
with the aid of portable karaoke machines
they have parked on the pavement. Close
by, a young family—mom, dad and their
two teenagers—enjoy a fruity dessert pic-
nic while playing a game of mahjong.
This is Beijing… After dark.
As this author passed through this scene
46 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
CNSPHOTO
on her nightly run, a thought suddenly passed
through her mind: What do people outside
the city actually know about the favorite daily
pastimes of Beijingers—once the scorching
summer sun has set?
We find ourselves on the banks of the
Liangma River in the popular Sanlitun com-
mercial area of the capital’s largest urban
district, Chaoyang. Since summer 2022, the
Liangma, winding its way through central
Beijing, has become a hot spot for Beijingers
to spend some off time. Both locals and ex-
SDWVÁRFNKHUHWRVTXHH]HDZRUNRXWLQWRWKHLU
daily rush, to go night fishing, to hone their
tai chi skills, to partake in a jam session, or to
ÁDXQWDORQJWKHZDWHUIURQWVLJKWVZLWKOLJKWV
switching from blue to green to purple to red
casting a social media-friendly glow over the
scenery.
The area’s evening allure becomes even
hotter during the city’s sweltering summer
months.
Picking up the pace
As the old Chinese adage goes, fanhou
baibuzou, huodao jiushijiu—literally,
2
“take 100 steps after a meal and you’ll
live to be 99.” According to science, walk-
ing after eating helps with digestion by
stimulating your stomach and intestines,
making your food move through you more
quickly. And while many may be quick
to assign the post-meal stroll to the older
generations, reality tells a different story.
Postprandial walks are popular with
young and old, from the banks of the
Liangma and the city’s busy shopping dis-
tricts, to the quiet hutong alleyways in the
city’s old neighborhoods. From octogenar-
ian couples carefully locking arms so as to
not be run over by the ubiquitous delivery
drivers dashing along the streets and side-
walks, to twentysomethings who pause
their pace to indulge in a cool slice of
watermelon sold by a lonely street vendor,
these night-time strollers take their diges-
tion—and potential longevity—seriously.
And then there are those who choose
to up the pace, including this author. In the
last few years, a running boom has hit the
world’s most populous nation. According
to Runner’s World magazine, upward of
http://www.bjreview.com

20 million Chinese today are exuberantly
taking to the urban streets and village trails
(and river banks) to get that runner’s high.
The concept of yepao or “nighttime
running,” in particular, has taken flight
among China’s millennials and Gen Zs in
WKHSDVWÀYH\HDUV)LQGLQJWLPHLQDEXV\
work schedule, embracing the cold winter
nights and avoiding the scorching summer
heat are all reasons runners are heading out
after dark. No matter their motivation, on
any given night, the Liangma’s banks, spe-
FLÀFDOO\ZLOOEULPZLWKO\FUDFODGUXQQHUV
stretching their hamstrings and sporting an
DUUD\RIKHDGSKRQHVDQGÀWQHVVWUDFNHUV
But yepao isn’t the only healthy after-
dark pastime you will encounter on the
capital’s streets.
Mens sana in corpore sano
Residents here are accustomed to the
sights and sounds of dozens of middle-
aged and senior Chinese women getting in
formation to dance in the parks and open
spaces dotting the urban landscape. All
year round, thousands of women partake
in a little guangchangwu, or “public square
dancing,” twisting their way to physical
and mental agility. These groups are a
cultural mainstay, but it seems their shim-
http://www.bjreview.com
LU YAN
mying shenanigans are starting to charm
younger generations as well. As per this
author’s observations in her own habitat of
Sanlitun, the dancing styles have evolved
from your typical slow traditional Chinese
square dancing, to a high-energy, rhythmic
dance more reminiscent of disco.
Public jazzercise is also a thing, and
after the sun has set, one can see old and
young(er), men and women, getting into
the groove around the city including
one subway square in Xicheng District,
downtown Beijing, where yours truly
photographed some 80 people throwing
themselves, arms flailing about, into a
dance workout routine in late July.
6SHDNLQJRIDUPVEXWKROGWKHÁDLOLQJ
baduanjin is one of the common forms
of Chinese qigong, a mind-body exercise
that uses meditation, breathing and move-
ment to increase energy. Baduanjin, which
translates as Eight Pieces of Brocade or
Eight Silken Movements, refers to how
the eight individual movements of the qi-
gong form characterize and communicate
a silky-smooth quality (like that of a piece
of brocade to the body and its energy).
Baduanjin is gaining popularity among
young Chinese who, aside from a growing
awareness of the importance of physical
CULTURE
ELSBETH VAN PARIDON
3
1. A Beijing park after sunset in May 2020: On
the one hand, two women dressed in hanfu,
the traditional dress of the Han Chinese; and
on the other, a group of enthusiasts partaking
in some public jazzercise
2. Taking in the summer evening sights at
the Liangma River in Beijing’s largest urban
district, Chaoyang, in late June
3. The Liangma River, winding its way through
central Beijing, has become a hot spot for
Beijingers to spend some off time. Residents
ßRFNKHUHWRVTXHH]HDZRUNRXWLQWRWKHLU
GDLO\UXVKWRJRQLJKWĶVKLQJWRSDUWDNHLQD
jam session, and much more
fitness, also tend to focus on the mental
side of things—especially following three
years of pandemic trials and tribulations,
as well as the overall pressures of life in
the big city. You will spot young practitio-
ners all over the city, making the most of
the relative calm and quiet of night to end
their day with a zest of zen.
After dark, it’s all about keeping a
healthy mind, body and soul. So as the old
Nike adage goes, “Just do it.” BR
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to elsbeth@cicgamericas.com
AUGUST 10, 2023 BEIJING REVIEW 47
EXPAT’S EYE
Helping Chinese Companies Go Global
By Paola Gutierrez
was born in a small city in southern
Peru called Arequipa, also known as
the “white city,” because many of its
buildings are built from a volcanic mate-
rial called sillar, which is usually white.
Arequipa is a small town with a popula-
tion of under 1 million.
Since I was very young, I have always
wanted to travel, learn about other cultures
DQGOHDUQWRVSHDNPRUHODQJXDJHV7KHÀUVW
time I came into contact with Chinese culture
was in 2016, the year before I graduated
from university. The Confucius Institute in
Arequipa launched a promotional campaign
at my university. Confucius Institutes, named
after ancient Chinese philosopher and edu-
cator Confucius (551-479 B.C.), serve as
nonprofit public institutions to help foreign-
ers better understand China by teaching the
Chinese language and culture at universities
in their host countries.
I learned standard Chinese for a year in
Peru, and then was told about the opportu-
nity to study the language in China. I took
a Chinese proficiency exam, applied for
the scholarship and the next year, I was on
a plane to China, specifically to Nanjing in
Jiangsu Province.
$WÀUVWFKRRVLQJDFLW\ZDVDELWGLIÀFXOW
because as a person from a small city, I was
very afraid of big cities like Beijing. So when
I heard that Nanjing had once been an imperi-
al capital in ancient China, I chose that city as
the place to start my trip. Nanjing University
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I was told Nanjing was a small city and
so, when I first arrived, I made the mistake
of thinking it would be easy to get out of the
airport and take the bus to the university with
just the address written on a piece of paper.
Fortunately, I had a new classmate I’d just
met at the airport to accompany me, as I was
not at all ready for what was to come.
Long story short, we got lost not once
but twice. It’s a sad reality that in many parts
of Latin America, there is a big probability
48 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 10, 2023
Paola Gutierrez in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, in October 2022
that people carrying large items of luggage
through the streets after midnight will become
the victims of crime. With my new friend
totally tired, I decided to seek help from the
only people I saw on the street. Surprisingly,
not only did they help us call a taxi in the
direction of the dormitories, but they also
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impression of China. China provides a lot of
peace in terms of citizen security.
After one year in Nanjing, I fell in love
with China and decided to return the follow-
ing year, 2019, to start a master’s degree. This
time, I felt ready to try living in a big city and
chose to study in Beijing.
I studied for my master’s degree at
the Central University of Finance and
Economics. Like many fresh graduates,
I fell into the human resources sector
by accident, recruiting foreign staff for
Chinese enterprises. Although I entered
this field in an unexpected way, it at-
tracted my interest. I stayed put because
it provides a broad learning space. Our
company cooperates with many com-
panies in different industries including
the Internet, video games, automobiles,
broadcasting and media, international trading,
biotechnology and hi-tech manufacturing.
After two years of working in this
COURTESY PHOTO
industry, I can say that there are great
opportunities for foreigners because of the
government’s support for enterprises. Chinese
business needs and seeks many experts in
different industries and at different levels.
Although demand is high, employment for
expats in China is becoming increasingly
competitive, and many are becoming more
specialized in order to compete. Chinese lan-
guage ability is commonly one of the most
basic requirements for employment.
The development of technology and the
digital economy have had a huge impact on
our customers and thus on our company.
The development of Chinese technology has
enabled many companies to improve their
processes, helping them increase their output
and thus begin expanding beyond the domes-
tic market. To do so, these companies need
the support of local talent in overseas markets
to help them achieve their goals and imple-
ment their globalization strategies.
My colleagues and I immerse ourselves
in these trends and support our clients in
establishing connections with the best talent
in different regions and industries around the
world. BR
The author is a Peruvian working in China
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to lixiaoyang@cicgamericas.com
http://www.bjreview.com
In addition to Beijing Review,
Review, CICG Americas
publishes China Hoy,
Hoy, a monthly publication
launched in 1960, aiming to bridge the gap
between China and the Spanish-speaking
world—particularly Latin American countries.

Website: www.chinahoy.com.cn