100ARCHITECTS: CHINA’S PIONEERS OF FUNCTIONAL URBAN ART

100architects: China’s Pioneers of Functional Urban Art

By Sophie Steiner

They say architecture is about trying to make the world a little more like our dreams, and 100architects – a Shanghai-based studio that prides itself on following the convention of being unconventional – is all about that. Specializing in street architecture, urban interventions and urban beautification, 100architects aims to design and shape cities by fostering connections between people, places, nature, movement and urban form. We sat down with 100architects founder and managing director, Marcial Jesús to learn about how a 2013 gathering of friends with a creative streak evolved into a leading pioneer in the field of functional urban art within the public realm.

How do you describe 100architects? 100architects is an architecture studio that doesn’t do buildings (at least not in a conventional way). We specialize in public spaces that – through our experimental design approach – aim to transform the cityscape we know today into the hyper-stimulating one we envision for tomorrow.

We are a young team of international Shanghai-based architects and designers whose work lies at the intersection of place-making, street art, landscape architecture and urban interventions.

Our mission is to improve our cities and the experience of residents by providing innovative and stimulating public spaces, inclusive and accessible to everyone.

How has 100architects evolved since starting in 2013? We started out as a group of friends meeting after long days in the office to work on eccentric concepts for cities across the globe with zero budget nor clients asking for them. Now we are a team of 16 people, split by expertise across departments, dedicated fulltime to serving clients and building out proposals for cities across the globe.

At the beginning, we pushed our creativity to the limit to see what we were capable of and to showcase our style to potential clients. We designed many colorful urban interventions in varying size and scope, projects that would call attention to themselves purely by being different from what one usually sees in major cities. Although we didn’t build many of these projects, we garnered a following and developed expertise, along with a robust portfolio, that helped us gain traction with our first clients. Our earliest project was in Santiago in 2014, then another in Shanghai’s Xintiandi in 2016 – both of which were temporary installations for activation of public spaces.

Most of our initial projects were temporary in nature because of the experimental style of our proposals. However, now we focus more on large, permanent urban projects – or landscape architecture – and large masterplans to transform a known cityscape with enhanced creativity, colors and innovative spatial solutions.

How is 100architects different than other architecture firms, in terms of projects and focus? We believe that working in the public realm is a privilege; this is where our design has the biggest impact on the largest number of people. At the same time, we believe play is the purest form of creativity. Thus, we imagine cities as playgrounds for citizens, regardless of age or social status, and our practice revolves around these core values. We consider our office an experimental lab for ingenious urban solutions, driven by the passion of shaping the cities of tomorrow – a tomorrow full of colors, entertainment and stimulation.

We make sure every project is developed with an ‘out of the box’ mentality. In fact, our clients come to 100architects only when they want something different and outstanding. They come to us when they require an injection of energy and identity into their developments, or simply when they want to catalyze social dynamics in their spaces.

In a world where technology, social media and online retail are replacing and eliminating our natural meeting places, we believe that our design should explore ways to stimulate human interactions in the urban space. At the end of the day, it is human connectivity that triggers happiness, productivity, innovation and overall wellbeing.

What have been some of the biggest challenges working in China, and – on the other side of the table – what has been the biggest advantage? In China, public space is such a delicate and extensive matter, not only from a design point of view but also from a sociological, cultural and political point of view.

The concept of public space in China differs a lot from the way it is understood in western countries. In Chinese cities, public spaces are more like corridors – big streets and wide sidewalks. It seems like public spaces are merely gaps between buildings, extensive walkways with no public furniture to sit down, where one can only circulate from point A to point B. The Bund in Shanghai for instance, is the most well-recognized public space in the city, yet it’s essentially a wide hardscape platform on which thousands of people walk every day, admiring the colossal scale of the city.

However, this situation is a product of the most dramatic urban transformation the world has ever seen. That’s the reason why we can still see elderly Chinese citizens gathering along sidewalks with their own foldable chairs and tables, playing mahjong or simply gathering and chatting, or why women organize group dances every night in parks, squares or under bridges.

On the one hand, this situation is a huge challenge for a practice like ours to be able to intervene in public spaces and penetrate their idiosyncrasy. On the other hand, the same rapid urbanization and globalization has generated a need for identity and distinction within new developments.

In that regard, there is a new type of public space in China, commonly known as POPS (Privately Owned Public Spaces). The POPS, although privately owned, are legally required by the city’s land-use ordinances – as a result of deals between private developers and cities – to grant shared public space in private developments. They must stay open to the public, and, as a consequence, exactly the same social dynamics take place in those spaces like the ones happening in purely public spaces. Hence they become potential spaces to be developed by our firm. I believe that starting 100architects in London or New York when I was 25 would have been impossible since the established architectural field there requires years of experience and credentials. In China, we took advantage of the openness to experimentation of a country passing through a dramatic urban transformation. There was, and still is, space for fresh ideas and experimentation.

Can you talk about the scope of Chinese mainland operations? What do you have planned for the coming months and years in terms of specifically Chinese projects? Our studio is based in Shanghai, but we design and build projects all over China and abroad. We currently have 16 employees, both foreigners and Chinese nationals. So far, we have built around 40 projects across 10 cities in China. However, our business is accelerating and constantly transforming. Every year is different because we are always growing, not only our team but also our expertise and market reach.

Currently, we have seven projects under construction, and they are nothing like what we have done so far. They are much bigger and more complex, set to be released in the coming months. Other than that, we have projects under construction in Malaga, Spain, in San Fransisco, USA and on the Arabian Peninsula.

What project – temporary installation or permanent work – are you most proud of that 100architects has completed? Any architect, sculptor, artist or designer will tell you that projects are like our babies. We conceive them; we nurture them; we take care of them; and we see them evolve throughout the design process until completion. Creating something from scratch is one of the most beautiful feelings a human being can experience. We are lucky enough to make a living from our passion to create. That means that we are tremendously proud of every one of our projects.

That being said, if I had to choose, the very first one, Huellas Artes in Chile, holds a special place in my heart – for its humbleness, for being self-financed, for making it come to fruition despite our inexperience at the time – all thanks to an inner flame and passion for creating something.

The Creek Play in Dubai also signified the internationalization of our brand outside of China.

And – last but not least – Pegasus Trail in Chongqing. Truly unique in its type in China, this permanently open public space allows users to freely enjoy such an incredible urban artifact full of colors and possibilities for interactions.

What does 100architects have in store for the next 5-10 years? We have many projects under construction currently across China that are unlike anything we have done before, making each one a milestone for our experimental business. Together these projects help us prove our vision, bringing us new possibilities for reaching bigger markets.

Alongside mainland China, we are also working on our first project in the USA (San Francisco) and our first project in Europe (Malaga, Spain), which we expect will open entirely new markets for us, propelling us to expand our operations with the opening of a new 100architects European office in the coming year. In 10 years, I know we will have grown from a motley crew of architect friends with a dream of doing something different to a large internationally-operated company spread across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

20 COVER STORY 35 21

On the eve of 2021, China’s National Health Commission announced that the domestically produced Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine would be free to the Chinese public. High-risk groups were given priority but the first few months of the year saw an unprecedented roll-out of the global vaccination campaign.

As the world began emerging from the grips of the pandemic, China’s economy was bolstered by a staggering trade surplus. Nonetheless, an overarching economic trend in 2021 was the blatant assertion that a healthy, socialist society would take precedence over growth itself. In 2020, Alibaba’s Ant Financial was poised to launch the world’s largest ever IPO. Unlike New York Stock Exchange-listed Alibaba, Ant Financial was slated to go public on Shanghai’s STAR exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. However, the deal was put on hold as regulators closed in, preparing an anti-monopoly investigation into the tech giant. Chinese regulators made it abundantly clear that overeager profiteering would be subject to intense government scrutiny. In this regard, the theme music of this past year has undoubtedly been Warren G and Nate Dogg — regulators, mount up!

January 24 — After an explosion at a gold mine in Shandong province 14 days prior, 11 miners are successfully rescued. On January 17, a 47-year-old miner with the surname Wang began banging on the drill pipe, sending an audible message to the surface to confirm that there were survivors trapped more than half a kilometer underground. The rescue efforts included no less than 633 rescuers, 407 machines and a small battalion of ambulances and medical staff. Tragically, an equal number of miners perish in the accident.

April 29 — The core module of China’s Tiangong low-orbit space station launches from Wenchang, Hainan province. After successfully deploying the first section of the space station, named Tianhe, the Shenzhou-12 space-craft would then take flight on June 17. Three astronauts – Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo – ascend to Tianhe to begin a three-month tenure in which tests and maintenance would be performed aboard the space station. February 25 — Chinese President Xi Jinping announces that extreme poverty has been eradicated in China. After first addressing the formidable goal of poverty alleviation in November 2013, the “miracle” milestone is commended at a ceremony in Beijing.

April 10 — Alibaba, the technology behemoth behind Alipay and Taobao, is fined a record-smashing RMB18 billion. Having announced the anti-trust probe in December of 2020, The State Administration for Market Regulation determined that Alibaba Group Holding Ltd had restricted competitors and abused its power. The staggering value of the fine represents 4% of the domestic revenue amassed by the company in 2019. April 24 — Two wild elephants discover a stash of alcohol at a villagers home near Pu’er city, Yunnan province. The inebriated elephants turn back, leaving the 15 members of their pachyderm party to continue their parade towards the capital of Kunming. The herd eventually arrives at the outskirts of Kunming, having traveled more than 500 kilometers from their sanctuary in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve. The trunked troupe made headlines on numerous occasions throughout the first half of the year. Despite being accompanied by thousands of police officers and emergency vehicles, the elephants manage to ravage several millions of RMB worth of crops.

June 1 — Fifteen private education companies are fined a combined RMB36.5 million by government market regulators. The punishment cites false advertising and fraudulent pricing. Among the companies fined are New Oriental Education, Zuoyebang and TAL Education Group, China Daily reports. Forbes asserted that the three most successful entrepreneurs in the industry had lost a combined USD27 billion in just a few months. Since peaking from late January to mid-February, Chinese education companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange saw significant losses. According to Yahoo Finance, Gaotu (formerly GSX Techedu) saw a devastating fall of more than 90%. TAL Education shrunk by over 75% and New Oriental dipped up to 61% lower than its February 16 stock price.

June 20 — China’s National Health Commission declares that the country has administered more than one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses. At the time, China’s doses accounted for nearly 40% of the 2.5 billion total shots administered around the world, as cited by CNN.

July 3 — The Cyberspace Administration of China orders app stores to remove Didi Chuxing. The CAC says the ride-hailing firm has violated laws on collecting users’ personal data and launches an investigation into Didi to “protect national security and the public interest,” as cited by The Guardian. The move by China’s top internet regulator comes just days after Didi began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, having raised USD4.4 billion in an IPO. On the same day, the internet watchdog halts new sign-ups for multiple Chinese apps – Yunmanman, Huochebang and Boss Zhipin (BOSS) – also citing national security and public interest. Yunmanman and Huochebang are companies under NYSE-listed Full Truck Alliance, and Boss Zhipin is listed on the NASDAQ.

August 2 — Entertainer Kris Wu is arrested on suspicion of rape. The arrest follows allegations from 19-year-old Chinese college student, Du Meizhu, that Wu lured at least 30 girls, including herself and two minors, to his home before intoxicating and raping them. Du claimed she was 17 at the time of the alleged assault. Major brands like Louis Vuitton, Tencent, Porsche and Kiehl’s scatter like raccoons from a trashcan when the garage door opens. July 1 — The Communist Party of China celebrates its 100th anniversary. Tens of thousands of guests attend the momentous event in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. In a speech from Chinese President Xi Jinping, he expresses that the path to a better future requires the nation to “uphold the core socialist values” and “ensure it is our people who run the country.”

July 24 — Less than 24 hours after the Tokyo Summer Olympics began, Chinese sharpshooter Yang Qian wins the first gold medal in the 10-meter-rifle competition. Team China would continue reaching the podiums alongside their American competitors for a total medal count of 88.

August 18 — The Information Office of Beijing Municipality announces tough new rules on training centers, echoing proposed policies that had previously been leaked to Reuters on June 17. In what would come to be known as the ‘double reduction’ policy, off-campus education is deemed to be a social and financial pressure that unfairly burdens students and families. The policy aims to reduce the pressure of homework and cram-school lessons on students. Thus, it allows for more quality family-time while decreasing the overall cost of raising a child in China. According to the new regulations, training centers in Beijing cannot offer classes for core subjects during public holidays, weekends or summer and winter vacation time. This refers to both online and offline classes offered during the weekends and holidays, which account for the vast majority of tutoring revenue.

> Scan the QR code to learn more about the 北京 opoly board game

August 30 — China’s National Press and Publication Administration tells online gaming companies to limit the playing time of gamers under 18 to one hour per day on weekends and holidays. There’s even a specific time slot from 8-9pm when under-18s can play. The wildly popular online game Honor of Kings was specifically named in a treatise on gaming addiction released by Economic Information Daily on August 3. The article in the Xinhua-affiliated newspaper referred to online games as ‘spiritual opium’ in reference to their highly addictive nature being a detriment to society. Tencent, which created popular messaging app WeChat, is also behind Honor of Kings. Reuters reports that the company’s stock price fell 10% in the wake of the newspaper article due to speculation that regulations would follow.

September 1 — China’s new Data Security Law comes into effect. Most noteworthy of the new law is Article 31 which stipulates that all user data collected must be stored within China and transfers of user data are subject to approval by relevant authorities. The law was initially passed at the 29th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress in the face of China’s rapidly growing digital economy. An analysis from the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai highlights the considerations on the ethics and morality of data processing, as well as a top-down strategy for data management that protects ‘China’s core interests.’

September 29 — China International Marine Containers Group releases their half-year financial report recording nearly a 2000% increase in net profits. With 96% of shipping containers being made in China, a global shortage of containers has driven up the price and, in turn, record profits for manufacturers. CIMC produced 1.1 million standard dry containers in the first half of 2021. Despite the astonishing growth in revenue, South China Morning Post reported that production had only doubled compared to the previous year. August 31 — Juren Education announces that it is closing. The private tutoring company for young people aged 5-18 years old was first established in 1994. The announcement is made via the company’s WeChat account, citing “operational difficulties.” It is expected that the closure will affect around 13,000 families who have paid for courses, as well as hundreds of staff, according to Sixth Tone. August also saw Wall Street English file for bankruptcy and a number of similar institutions shutter through the summer months.

September 25 — Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou returns to China after spending more than 1,000 days on Canadian soil in an extradition fight with the US. Ten days after her 2018 arrest in Canada, Meng was granted bail and lived under partial house arrest in a USD10.9 million property in Vancouver. “After more than 1,000 days of suffering, I finally returned to the motherland,” Meng said, as cited by China Daily. On Weibo, the hashtag ‘Meng Wanzhou is Returning to the Motherland’ has been viewed more than 2.9 billion times.

September 30 — After already setting a record for the largest production budget for any domestic film, The Battle at Lake Changjin hits box offices just before the National Day holiday. The film would go on to exceed the previous record with more than RMB5.69 billion in total ticket sales. The former record-holder was another Chinese war epic titled Wolf Warrior 2.

October 8 — The State Administration for Market Regulation slaps food delivery giant, Meituan, with a RMB3.4 billion penalty. One clause of the fine, citing ‘monopolistic behavior,’ is that nearly RMB 1.3 billion be returned to merchants who paid deposits and signed exclusivity agreements with the app operator, according to China Daily.

November 7 — Yu Minhong, founder of embattled New Oriental Education, announces that the company will close 1,500 locations to focus on a new venture. In a surprise twist, the company is pivoting to live streaming and selling agricultural products, thus supporting rural areas. China Daily reports that Yu, having shed a third of his RMB7.5 billion fortune this year, has aligned himself with the national strategy of achieving ‘common prosperity.’ He adds that the company is committed to donating 80,000 sets of desks and chairs to rural schools throughout China. October 16 — The Shenzhou-13 spacecraft successfully docks with the Tianhe module, marking the second crewed venture to China’s space station. After the previous Shenzhou-12 trio returned to Earth, Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu begin a six-month stay aboard the Tiangong station — the longest sojourn in orbit for Chinese astronauts yet. Construction of the space station is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

November 15 — A report from McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, made headlines with the valuation that the Chinese economy had overtaken the net worth of the United States. According to Business Insider, the net worth of the US doubled between 2000 and 2020, arriving at USD90 trillion. Having joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, China’s overall wealth soared from USD7 trillion to USD120 trillion over the same two decades.

November 16 — Global Times reports a positive development in the saga of debt-ridden China Evergrande Group. After Financial Times reported that the massive property and development firm had missed three rounds of bond payments in September and October, founder Xu Jiayin is said to have raised RMB7 billion by selling his personal assets in a bid to re-inject financial liquidity into the company. The capital will go towards paying employee salaries, interest payments on loans and resuming construction of ongoing developments. Among the assets that Xu allegedly parted with were two private jets and a HKD700 million luxury home in Hong Kong that was put up as collateral to China Construction Bank. November 20 — Days after the anti-monopoly bureau was officially inau-gurated in Beijing, a sleuth of firms are fined for mergers and acquisitions deemed improperly declared. Among the companies fined RMB500,000 for each infringing deal are JD.com Inc., Suning, Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu.

November 22 — Authorities in Hangzhou, sometimes referred to as China’s Silicon Valley, make a strong example out of two of the country’s top live streamers. Lin Shanshan and Zhu Chenhui, with a combined tally of over 40 million fans, were found to have evaded personal income tax by setting up shell companies around the country and declaring their exorbitant salaries as operating income. Lin will have to cough up nearly RMB28 million while Zhu is slammed with penalties and overdue taxes exceeding RMB65.5 million. China’s live streaming e-commerce industry has exploded in recent years with China Daily reporting that it was worth RMB970 billion in 2020. Authorities are sending a clear message to stars and studios that they owe their fair share of taxes like any other celebrity or business.

THE BIG WINNERS FROM THE THAT’S 2021 HOSPITALITY AWARDS

On November 1, 2021, before an audience of 150 distinguished hospitality industry guests, JY International Cultural Communications held its 5th annual That's Hospitality Awards at The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi.

Launched in 2017 with a ceremony in Shanghai, the That's Hospitality Awards celebrates the very best of China's diverse and world-class hospitality industry. This year, the luxurious awards ceremony returned to the city in which it was launched to announce and celebrate the outstanding achievements as voted for by thousands of professionals in the local and expat communities.

The That's 2021 Hospitality Awards would not have been the success that it was without the amazing support of the 200-plus sponsors, partners and media groups that got behind this year's event. There was even a magic show from the marvelous Elliot.

Congratulations to all those victorious in 2021.

New Hotel of the Year Niccolo Suzhou

J Hotel Shanghai Tower DoubleTree by Hilton Shenzhen Nanshan Hotel & Residences

New Serviced Apartment of the Year LIV'N 833

Luxury Hotel of the Year, Central China Niccolo Changsha

Luxury Hotel of the Year, South China

Conrad Guangzhou The Langham, Shenzhen The St. Regis Zhuhai

Luxury Hotel of the Year, East China

Bulgari Hotel Shanghai The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund The St. Regis Shanghai Jingan Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai

Luxury Hotel of the Year, North China The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin Waldorf Astoria Beijing The St. Regis Qingdao InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun

Luxury Serviced Apartment of the Year W Suzhou

Business Hotel of the Year Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai

Hyatt Regency Shanghai Global Harbor Pan Pacific Beijing New World Beijing Hotel

MICE Hotel of the Year Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai Grand Hyatt Shenzhen Hilton Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center

Commune by the Great Wall - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt Hilton Foshan

Family-Friendly Hotel of the Year Yinrun Jinjiang Castle Hotel Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen

Family-Friendly Serviced Apartment of the Year

Oak Chateau Beijing

Historic Homestay of the Year

JingTing

Urban Resort Hotel of the Year The Shanghai EDITION Radisson BLU Forest Manor Shanghai Hongqiao

InterContinental Shenzhen

Taoxichuan Hotel (the Unbound Collection by Hyatt) LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou

Outstanding Service Hotel of the Year

Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan

Sheraton Grand Beijing Dongcheng Hotel

The Most Popular Hotel Product of the Year

VOSS Water

Art Hotel of the Year Icon Lab Hotel Shenzhen Sea World

The PuXuan Hotel and Spa Wanda Reign on the Bund

Outstanding Hotel Design of the Year

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai Conrad Beijing Pan Pacific Suzhou

Outstanding City View of the Year

Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai

The Most Highly Anticipated Hotel of the Year

W Xiamen

Outstanding Serviced Apartment Brand of the Year

Kerry Residences

Most Influential Hotel Company Meliá Hotels International

Icon Lab Hotel Shenzhen

Up-and-coming Hotel Management Group of the Year

Boutique Hotel of the Year The Sukhothai Shanghai Blossom House Xishuangbanna

Landmark Hotel of the Year Fairmont Peace Hotel

Hyatt Regency Shanghai Global Harbor Grand Hyatt Shanghai China World Summit Wing, Beijing InterContinental Foshan New City Hilton Garden Inn Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center

Hotel Indigo Hangzhou Uptown

The Most Highly Anticipated Serviced Apartment of the Year The Tower Apartments GTC RESIDENCE BEIJING

Outstanding Performing Luxury Hotel of the Year

SIKO Hotels & Resorts

Industry Leader of the Year Award Icon Lab Hotel Shenzhen - Xu Hong Mei

Award for Excellent Hotelier InterContinental Shenzhen - Michael Martin

Swissôtel Foshan Guangdong - Yang Rubei InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun - Florian S. Kuhn

W Shanghai The Bund Kerry Residences - Jennie Ma

Most Influential Hotel of the Year JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan

Getaway Hotel of the Year

LUX* Chongzuo, Guangxi Resort & Villas InterContinental Shenzhen Dameisha Resort

Outstanding Hotel Spa of the Year

The Middle House

The Bulgari Spa, Bulgari Hotel Shanghai Chuan Spa, The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi

The St. Regis Shenzhen

And of course, a huge thanks to our sponsors, The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi, VOSS, Kraemer Paris by hair culture, Allelique, YANNICK MACHADO, BuF², BY NICE, OMNI, kekemanfen.

We're proud to announce that the That's 2021 Hospitality Awards was one of our best yet, and we're already looking forward to next year's celebration!

FAMILY

Parenting Tips for Hectic Holidays

p46

Eco Home P44 Class Clown P44

BLASTING OFF IN HAINAN

The Morrison Family

Interview by Vanessa Jencks

Part of a father-daughter business team in Hainan, Mike Morrison shared with us the unique business they started in Hainan to celebrate rocket launches in Wenchang. Their products are popular with rocketlaunch attendees and their tables draw big crowds. They’ve been featured on China News Network, China Aerospace Weibo and multiple Chinese creator’s video channels. The interviews have highlighted that the Morrisons are from another country yet still like to enjoy space advancements.

How did the idea of selling t-shirts at rocket launches come into fruition? Our family has always loved to travel and explore the world. One of the primary reasons for moving to China was to experience life in a different culture and country.

We noticed here in Hainan there are many business opportunities missing that we commonly see in other places around the world. One example is how you often see Chinese people wearing NASA branded clothing but almost never see anyone wearing CNSA (China National Space Administration) products despite their primary launch site being here in Wenchang, Hainan.

Having lived as a child in Florida in the late 1960’s I saw Apollo launches from Cape Canaveral then later I traveled back to see the Space Shuttle launch. Now living here in Hainan we’ve been excited to see many CNSA launches at Wenchang.

But again, no one seemed to be promoting the launches with t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc., so we decided to create and start selling these products. For the last couple of launches we designed t-shirts and hats for the Wenchang Space Launch Center and sold them on the beach during launches.

Since they are very popular and often sell out, we also created and opened a Taobao store. On the store we have all of our designs, styles and colors available, and it’s been successful.

Will you stay in this niche or expand the business? Currently, we’re expanding to other tourism products such as Sanya and Houhai t-shirts and hats promoting ocean awareness, surfing and diving, as well as the natural beauty of Hainan. We also have agreements with a number of local retail outlets that resell our shirts. We’re actively looking to expand our products to other resellers.

“What products have been the hottest sellers?” Our hats always sell out when we sell directly. At rocket launches people naturally like our rocket shirts with our custom artwork featuring the Long March 5 (CZ-5) rocket. Here in Sanya and Houhai people like t-shirts that show off natural beauty. They typically involve photographs I’ve taken here over the years with my drone.

What’s it like to be a family business in China? For us, living in China has been a great adventure. I had the opportunity to work here years ago, and knew that our family would love living here. It’s a joy to work together with your family. Of course there are disagreements and tension at times but spending so much time together has definitely brought us closer as a family.

We all bring our strengths where needed. My daughter is a great designer and artist, and she is fluent in Chinese, which is incredibly helpful. I, in turn, have a background in technology, having worked at Microsoft for many years. My wife does not work for the business officially, but she has a fantastic mind for running a business and offers her insights and suggestions to help make us successful. > To purchase one of their products, visit lovelyhainan.com or search ‘Lovely Hainan’ on Taobao.

READING CORNER

Book recommendations from That’s editorial team:

How to Catch an Elf

This beautifully illustrated picture book is part of a set of 13 where author Adam Wallace takes children through playful catches of iconic holiday and childhood figures. The rhythmic book sometimes takes ridiculous turns through the story, like the elf’s bottom getting a zap and ending up in a grocery store, but children with silly dispositions will appreciate the fun. In addition to the elf, we also suggest the snowman, gingerbread man and yeti versions of “How to Catch” for a fun winter.

Humans

Brandon Stanton returns from Humans of New York with this beautiful creation capturing the stories and pictures of people all over the world. This book is especially useful to open the mind and eyes of those who are isolated from contact to the rest of the world, due to travel, sickness or some other barrier. Stanton includes humans of multiple famous cities but also lesser-known cities like Juba, Amman, Passu and more over a spread of more than 40 countries. The sweeping theme is the commonality of life, love and hope of humans.

CLASS CLOWN

Motherly Care

A teacher in Ningxia province has gotten rightful attention for the extra special care she has given to her boarding students, who are mostly from mountainous towns and unable to return home for weekly uniform changes due to COVID-19 restrictions. Li Jiqin took home the uniforms of 28 students in order to wash them to ease the burden of separated parents and children. Teacher Li’s daughter took a picture of Li casually sewing a few uniforms to mend them once she noticed holes in some of the sets. Li has played down the attention, saying, “Sewing clothes for students and administering common medicine are standard acts for every teacher, and every teacher will do these things for their students.” Parents and netizens have heaped praise upon her, saying her motherly care helps the children feel at home.

ECO HOME

Reusable Wrapping Paper and Gift Bags

It’s more than likely you’ll receive a present in wrapping paper or a gift bag this season. Instead of ripping the wrapping to pieces or tossing the gift bag, reuse them both to cut down on trash and your own wallet. Beautiful, non-tacky wrapping paper in China isn’t always easy to find, so you’re also saving yourself a shopping headache by reusing it. You can use the wrapping paper to adorn gift bags with company logos. Employ extra help by having your students or children make different styles of bows from scraps of wrapping paper. The holidays don’t have to be so wasteful if you plan ahead and agree with your circle of friends to be eco-friendly.

Global Grub

Holiday Garrapiñadas from Argentina

That’s editor Vanessa Jencks shares a cultural recipe gathered from an expat friend.

Back when our family lived in Beijing, one of our neighbors was a family with a US citizen father, Luke, and Argentinean mother, Davi. Luke and my husband became close friends through exercise while Davi and I bonded over common parenting troubles while raising young children in China. We lived near them for several years and soon the holiday season became synonymous with Davi’s famous garrapiñadas (candied peanuts).

At parties and during Christmas, she’d give them away as presents with her characteristic smile and laugh. Another year she taught her boys to make the candies and then they resold them for spending money. The recipe she taught me isn’t hard to follow, and they genuinely make a versatile potluck dish or easy gift for those without peanut allergies.

Ingredients

• 400 grams of unsalted, unroasted peanuts with skins • 300 grams of sugar • 100 grams of water

Directions

• 1. Put all ingredients together in the pan. Heat on medium high heat if the pan is thick or medium low heat if your pan is a bit too thin. Stir gently throughout the whole pan. • 2. Keep stirring for about six or seven minutes. Once the sugar begins to bubble and crystalize into a kind of sand, you’ll want to reduce the heat or move it from the fire altogether to let it cool a bit. • 3. After a brief moment of cooling, increase the heat to let the sandy sugar caramelize. Remember to stir gently through the whole process. • 4. Once the peanuts have caramelized, place them level on a parchment paper or lightly oiled pan to cool down.

Total time: 20 minutes.

Tips: Practice on smaller batches first and use lower heat to avoid burning them until you’re comfortable with the cooking cues. Additionally, look up video instructions to be sure you’re moving things around at the right time. Though I use peanuts due to nostalgia, you can use almonds or any other sweeter nuts with a brown skin.

> If you have a recipe to share from your passport country, international friends or travels, email a copy and pictures to editor@thatsmags. com.

Parenting Tips for Hectic Holidays

“Making a peaceful, positive season for the whole family.”

Vanessa Jencks

For many families, the winter holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year with warm cookies, festive decorations and delightfully well-mannered children. Then there are some families who simply need to survive. It’s enough to make those parents want to burn their trees and block out their calendars until the New Year bounces into spring. Rebecca Archer, certified positive-discipline educator, took scenarios we threw at her and responded with positive principles you can apply for calmer, more cheerful celebrations.

Principles of Positive Parenting

Before looking at the holidays, here are key principles to keep in mind.

1. Respect and Communication What it comes down to is treating your children respectfully, the same as you would respectfully communicate with a friend or your partner to build and maintain a strong relationship. That respectful communication should include talking about plans and sharing expectations for socially acceptable behavior, empathizing feelings, and allowing consequences of choices, whether it be the child’s or adult’s choices. Ultimately communication should lead to children who are happy to do ‘the right thing’ without external motivations like rewards and punishments. 2. Address Stress It’s easy to have high expectations around creating the perfect holiday season. At some point you need to choose which values are most important to you and your family. Don’t try and do it all, because this actually can create more stress on you. Stress can lead parents to being short-tempered and retaliating in anger. With positive parenting, it’s important that we have boundaries and know our triggers, so we can maintain a real sense of emotional control in our own lives, because our emotions impact our family. 3. Prevention Let kids know what’s happening in advance so that they can prepare themselves mentally. We also need to remember that kids get bored, hungry and overstimulated and this can really impact their mood and behavior. Wherever possible, hand over small responsibilities and tasks to engage your kids and help them build a sense of confidence and contribution to the family.

4. Positive Time Not Time Out Still there are times a child is going to have a tantrum or there is going to be a need to address problem behavior. Timeouts used as a punishment are not the way to go in positive parenting. Instead, positive ‘time-in’ is used by parents to help children calm down, reduce stress, show empathetic support and communicate effectively. It’s not sending them away by themselves to calm down, but instead taking them out of the situation to a calm spot together with you, so that they can have privacy to express all their big emotions. Let them know that you’re going to stay there with them until they’re feeling calmer. Once you’ve talked about a solution, or just when they are feeling better, you can return to the situation.”

5. Include and Connect In terms of prevention, two major points help to accomplish that. First is including them in decisions, especially regarding behavior expectations and new scenarios. When kids feel ownership and feel like their ideas are important, they are more likely to cooperate with you in the long run.

Secondly, protecting time for meaningful connection will go a long way during any busy season. It’s important to increase your one-on-one special time with your kids. Unchecked planning of parties and events might sweep away special time with your child as many naturally want to connect with friends, but children’s needs of quality time aren’t seasonal.

Holiday Scenarios

With these principles in mind Rebecca Archer shared some practical tips regarding holiday-specific issues:

Christmas Decorations One of the things that we learned early on was to put the beautiful breakable expensive ornaments at the very top of the tree and to put some non-breakable ones and handmade ones at the bottom of the tree. You can also keep a basket at the bottom with those kinds of decorations so young kids can play with those.

If you have a toddler or preschooler, you can begin to teach them about how to respectfully handle ornaments while giving them opportunity to explore. It sets the wrong tone for your family for the holidays when you’re constantly telling them not to touch, whereas you want to build a really, safe exploratory space. There are ways that you can guide them, and the older they get the higher expectations you can have around behavior. Christmas Presents Having conversations with your children before Christmas can help them to manage their expectations. Talk to your children about their wish list. Let them know that they’re not going to be receiving everything on the list. It will help them avoid disappointment on the day. It’s also helpful to shift the focus more on giving, so help them create a list of things they want to gift others that is even longer than their own wish list.

Sometimes keeping your presents under the tree can offer a temptation that’s too strong to fight. Let them know that you want to put the presents under the tree and ask them what it might feel like for the giver or receiver if people steal or sneak the presents or look at them early. We can also invite them to think of ideas about how we can prevent the behavior, because kids know themselves. If kids are struggling to leave the presents alone, then it’s okay to put them somewhere out of reach. Christmas Parties Maybe you’re at a Christmas party and your child is really misbehaving. It’s never a good idea to address behavior in a way that shames, criticizes or lectures, especially in front of other people, due to the impact that has on the child. A more respectful way of addressing a behavior in the moment is to take the child somewhere where you can talk to them quietly and respectfully about the behavior, set up some agreements for behavior, find an alternative activity and also what will happen if the agreement is not kept – maybe the child will need to sit with you instead of running around.

Depending on what the behavior is, a parent could decide to stay in the holiday moment and then to address the behavior afterwards. After the event, a parent should talk through the event using a lot of questions so that the child is actively thinking about their behavior. Sugar Overload Decide what your family’s limits are going to be and then stick to them, even better is to have your kids decide on the limit with you. When you find them trying to push it, because they will, you can remind them of your agreement, express empathy about their feelings, and then reinstate the limit. In positive parenting we don’t give in to our kids wishes because they’re feeling upset and emotional and we want it to stop. It’s ok that they’re feeling this way but they need to respect the situation and the limits as well.

More Information

Rebecca Archer will be leading a 7-Week Positive Parenting interactive workshop online, for parents of kids age 2-10 years old, starting Tuesday November 30. If you’d like more information contact her at WeChat ID: becstarnz

LISTINGS

BEIJING

Middle 8 Restaurant 中8楼 An oasis at the top of Taikoo Li, Middle 8 is the go-to destination for fresh authentic Yunnan cuisine. The restaurant, stylish yet understated, has plenty of flavorsome well- priced dishes and a killer view to boot. > Raffles: Daily 11:00am-10:00pm, 5 Floor Of Raffles shopping center Dongzhimen Dongcheng District. 来福士店: 东城区东直门来福士购物中心5 层8409 8199/8409 8234 > Indigo: Daily 11:00am-10:00pm, Jiuxianqiao Road No.20 Indigo F2 , Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路 20号颐堤港2层8420 0883 Beijing Lianbao > Unite 1C, Building 7, Xingfu Yicun Xili, Chaoyang District 朝阳区幸福一村西里7号楼1C (6415 8001, 138 1093 6118, hanxingyue1127@126. com) Beijing Kerry Residence Whether you’re a single business executive or a busy family, Beijing Kerry’s fully- furnished 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments will feel just like home. As well as enjoying all the comforts of modern living – including a well-equipped kitchen, entertainment systems, high-speed broadband and much more – residents are just moments away from the Kerry Centre’s shopping mall and sports facilities. The rest of the CBD is on your doorstep too. >1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路1号 (8535 6888, www.beijingkerryresidence. com)

GTC RESIDENCE BEIJING One of the top residences in Beijing, GTC Residence is located beside the third ring road with 5 minutes’ walk to subway line 5 , 10 minutes’ drive to Hou Hai . It is also within easily reach of CBD, embassy area, Financial Street and other urban commercial,shopping and recreation areas. Fully equipped apartments with impeccable quality offer you a cozy living system and will meet all of your requirements for room decoration, furniture, electric appliances etc.. Unique sky garden with golf practice field and barbecue area is another symbol of GTC Residence. > sales@gtcresidence.com, website: www. gtcresidence.com Tel:56756666

Oak Chateau Beijing Oak Chateau Beijing has 236 stylish and contemporary fully serviced apartments from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four bedroom suites available, measuring 64 to 260 square meters. There is a 24-hours guest reception, and housekeeping is offered twice a week. Nestled within the landscaped gardens of the Ocean Express commercial and residential complex, Oak Chateau Beijing is very close to the third Embassy Area and shopping and dinning services at the Beijing Lufthansa Center. There are only 19 kilometers to the Beijing Capital Airport. >北京市朝阳区东三环霞光里66号远洋新干线 D座 邮编 100027 Block D, Ocean Express, 66 Xiaguang Li, Third East Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027, P.R.C Tel: (86-10) 84465888 Fax: (86-10) 84465999 Email oak.chateau@oakchateau.com Website: www. oakchateau.com

Oakwood Residence Damei Beijing The only serviced apartment in the city that has its own in-house supply of natural hot spring water supply. Expansive city views are available from floor to ceiling windows with the apartments situated from level 23 to 35 in the building complex. The 171 stylish contemporary serviced residences range from studios to three- bedroom apartments and offer an elegant range of amenities and facilities to ensure each resident’s stay is comfortable and well taken care of. > Building No.1 Damei Center, 7 Qingnian Road, Chaoyang District Beijing北京市朝阳 区青年路7 号达美中心1号楼 Tel: 86-10 8585 2211 (8:30am-5:30pm) 86-10 8585 2888 (5:30pm-8:30am) Fax: (86-10) 8585 2666 website OakwoodAsia.com

HOTEL NEWS

SHANGHAI

Shanghai Tavern Launches Chess Afternoon Tea

From now until 28th February 2022, Shanghai Tavern at The Shanghai EDITION and Baileys Irish Cream have jointly launched an interactive afternoon tea inspired by chess that combines gourmet food, games and popular colors. Mixing both savory and desserts, and mini bottles of Baileys Irish Cream, we could see ourselves become Grand Masters of this version in no time! For more info and reservations, please contact +86 21 5368 9999.

The 1515 West Bar Presents A Pop-up Christmas Miracle Bar

From now until 31 December 2021, Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai presents a pop-up Christmas Miracle Bar to bring you enchanted wonders during this season of joy, happiness and hope. Located on the 4th floor of the hotel, The 1515 West Bar’s style of decoration taps into the theme of ‘The Nutcracker’, with red, green and gold ornaments as we aim to lure guests away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to experience this magical kingdom filled with festive fun and seasonal treats during this joyful season. For inquiries and reservations, please contact (86 21) 2203 8889.

GBA

Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou

Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou presented the grand finale of the fourhand gastronomic series 2021 from November 25 to 27 in collaboration with Jin Sha Ting, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. The two award-winning chefs, Chef Mai Zhi Xiong of Cantonese cuisine and Chef Wang Yong of Jiangzhe cuisine co-created an 8-course tasting menu that took guests on an indelible journey to unveil the essence of Chinese culinary art. In terms of flavor and texture, the four-hand menu reflected Chef Wang’s innovative and enterprising character and Chef Mai’s modesty and sincerity. Both master chefs introduced their ingenious production in a simple presentation. The menu had a solid structure that conveyed diversity in texture and a smooth flow in flavor. As the grand finale of the four-hand gastronomic series 2021, the two chefs successfully raised expectations of the 2022 series.

Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

The Black Pearl Roadshow closed with a grand finale at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou on November 11. Chef Maxwell, the chef de cuisine of The Penthouse, together with eight famous Hyatt chefs from different restaurants presented a unique dining experience for around 100 diners, marking the perfect ending to a two-month-long culinary journey. Hyatt’s refined skills and innovative food and beverage concepts were fully revealed during this event.

TIANJIN

The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin Celebrates Its 8th Anniversary

On October 23, 2021, The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin celebrated its 8th anniversary. To mark the momentous occasion, 36 musicians from Tianjin Opera House performed a symphony concert in the hotel roof garden on the third floor of the hotel. The set included 11 classic symphonies such as Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.

At the event, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin Hector Busto spoke about the efforts over the past eight years to deliver the hotel’s legendary service and about the hotel’s ambitions for the future.

BEIJING

‘Grand Hotel de Pekin’ Christmas Gingerbread House on Display at Beijing Hotel NUO

Beijing Hotel NUO’s pastry team has constructed the ‘Grand Hotel de Pekin’ Gingerbread House in time for Christmas. It is the replica of the hotel’s iconic heritage building, once known as Grand Hotel de Pekin. It features the detailed classic French-style façade and front gate. Established in 1917, the hotel was a social hub for high society in the 1900s. Through the windows, guests can check out some of the old pictures of the hotel’s interior including the vintage-style rooms and the signature staircase. The gingerbread house is on display in the lobby in front of the gate.

The Imperial Mansion, Beijing Marriott Executive Apartments appointed Mr.Cooper Hu as General Manager

Marriott International welcomes Mr. Cooper Hu as General Manager of The Imperial Mansion, Beijing Marriott Executive Apartments. Mr. Hu already has an extensive professional background with Hilton, St. Regis, The Peninsula Hotels, Regent and Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Prior to joining The Imperial Mansion, Beijing Marriott Executive Apartments, Mr. Hu was Commercial Director at Waldorf Astoria Beijing, helping to increase revenue and service quality. Under Mr. Hu’s outstanding leadership, The Imperial Mansion, Beijing Marriott Executive Apartments will continue to provide quality services to create a comfortable living experience for short- and long-term residents in Beijing.

SCHOOL NEWS

SHANGHAI

Dulwich Puxi Win Diversity and Inclusion Award

Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi won the inaugural British Schools Awards 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Award. “We are immensely proud and honored to have received an award in this important area,” the school responded to the announcement. “At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, we believe that diversity and inclusion start with a strong sense of belonging. Our students and staff flourish as individuals within a caring and connected community. We have worked hard to develop our curriculum and our learning and work environments to create an inclusive culture that fosters respect and intercultural understanding. This award goes a long way in recognizing the College’s achievements in this area.”

Have-to-Dance Competition at Wellington College

In early November, pupils at Wellington College International Shanghai put their dance talents to the test with their annual Have-to-Dance competition. Competition winners then joined Wellington’s dance scholars to perform in the College’s first-ever Autumn Dance Showcase.

Forest School at NAIS Pudong

Nursery Dragonflies embarked on their first Forest School experience. The children were filled with curiosity, awe and wonder as they explored the woodland area. Using their senses, the children looked for autumn treasures and listened to the sounds of the forest. They were delighted to find some thick oozy mud to mark make in with sticks, some prickly pine cones, leaves of different shapes, colors and sizes and some super long branches.

In taking learning outdoors and into the forest, the children were more at ease and confident. They were able to develop their social skills and friendships, learn new language through hands on, meaningful experiences, solve problems, think critically, take risks, try new things, persevere and actively engage in their own learning.

What an amazing day of exploration and learning in the forest!

Dulwich Pudong Students IGCSE Top Marks

Four Dulwich Pudong students have been awarded Top Marks in the 2021 IGCSE exams. Top in the World: • Mathematics - Cheuk Hei Josh Y. • Foreign Language German - Bryan Y. Top in China: • Drama - Isabelle Q. • Foreign Language French - Sophie D. IGCSE Top Marks recognize students who have scored amongst the highest in their cohort. We applaud their outstanding efforts and results.

GUANGZHOU FOSHAN

ZHUHAI

Utahloy International School Guangzhou (UISG)

On November 6, UISG opened its doors to what turned out to be a fantastic day enjoyed by students, parents and staff members. Early Year’s families opened the day with a variety of fun activities on the playground. The primary school event was entertaining as students engaged in soccer, fireball and table tennis games. The soccer game between parents and teachers was especially fun. In the final event, secondary students competed in volleyball, basketball and football games. Everyone enjoyed great food, exciting activities, good music and fantastic prizes sponsored by the UEF. A huge thank you to the UPTA for supplying the day with delicious snacks and cold drinks together with all staff involved to ensure the success of UEF Family Fun day at UISG.

ISA Science City International School of Guangzhou

Dear Distinguished Guests, it is the time to get together again! The long-awaited ceremony ISA Festival will be held on December 11 at ISA Science City International School of Guangzhou. We sincerely invite you to attend our celebration of the ISA Community and enjoy a wonderful journey time!

This year, the ISA Festival will be even better than last year! Live performances and bazaars will present the ‘Past, Present, Future’ sections according to the theme of “A Journey Through Time,” bringing all the guests into an immersive sense of time travel and a space shuttle adventure! ISA family, members of the ISA community and the general public are welcome to attend the event.

AISG’s Successful Job Fair

AISG kicked-off the teacher recruiting season with a successful Job Fair in November. AISG received hundreds of applications to attend the event and to fully understand our vibrant, positive community spirit, our collaborative focus on high levels of learning for all students, and our commitment to dynamic, compassionate, and connected learning. AISG’s high caliber of teaching is due to our ability to attract and seek teachers who bring forward-thinking pedagogy along with an empathetic approach to enrich each child’s learning. If you missed the job fair, visit our website at www. aisgz.org/careers or email us at teaching@aisgz.org.

Foshan EtonHouse International School

Here at Foshan EtonHouse International School, we are very proud to be accepted onto the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award’s scheme. What is the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, you ask? The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a student co-curricular and wellbeing programme that enables students aged 14-24 to be rewarded with an internationally recognized award for their continued pursuit of excellence, resilience and achievement. Starting in 1956, the award was developed by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and Doctor Kurt Hahn, the ‘Father’ of Experiential Education. Being the world’s leading youth achievement award, it is a highly acclaimed award that is undertaken in over 130 countries and territories around the world.

Lady Eleanor Holles International School Foshan

Lady Eleanor Holles International School Foshan successfully held its first Family Day on October 31. The Family Day was an excellent opportunity for the whole LEH community to relax and connect. It was delightful to see so many families enjoying themselves on the family-friendly afternoon with various booth activities and fun games. With the ‘Meet the Head Master’ session and School tour, prospective families were able to experience an authentic British campus and were impressed by the school’s history and heritage, high quality of teaching, and state-of-the-art facilities. The school hosts regular Open Day and Meet the Head Master sessions and we look forward to meeting prospective families at the upcoming events.

Dulwich International High School Zhuhai

Three Y13 students at Dulwich International High School Zhuhai have received National Gold, National Bronze and a Regional Honorable award respectively at the Canadian Chemistry Olympiad 2021(CCO). One of them scored Top 4 in the world among more than 6000 student participants. Participating in global competition and achieving awards and honors is certainly a valuable highlight in a students university application, especially when pursuing Chemical Sciences or Biochemical Sciences. Students accumulate knowledge, improve skills in problem solving, as well as develop teamwork when taking part in global competitions. Congratulations to the three DHZH students and we wish them all the success in applying to their “best-fit” universities with this competitive advantage.

That’s Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in China.

By Joshua Cawthorpe

Sagittarius

11.23~12.21

Winter is finally here. Time to order your plastic wreaths on Taobao, they’re like RMB30 each. We’re all basic biddies at That’s so we’ve got the slightly extra Sagittarius' covered when it comes to price checking.

Capricorn

12.22~1.20

The Sun and Mercury hovered in your privacy zone on November 21st and 24th, respectively. You might want to get checked. They’ve been around.

Aquarius

1.21~2.19

Uranus is finally in a direct orbit. No, this doesn’t mean prolapse is inevitable, it means it’s time to use all that creativity and intuition that Aquarius is famous for and get things done, learn some Chinese and call an Ayi to organize your house.

Pisces

2.20~3.20

Halloween is long over. You don’t have to be creepy anymore but since you have the outfit, why not host a squid game party and reuse that costume at least once more.

Aries

3.21~4.20

Stop messaging your ex. You never messaged when you were together, why would you bother messaging after you broke up. You’re sending more mixed signals than a buffet that doesn’t include free flow.

Taurus

4.21~5.21

You see an offensive post in one of the many meme groups you’re in on WeChat. Do not engage. You will lose to the sender because they don’t believe in logical fallacies and most don’t know how to do a simple fact check. The problem with wrestling with a pig in the mud is that, after awhile, you realize the pig is enjoying it.

Gemini

5.22~6.21

While no shave November was a time for trying out a beard, this December you really need to try new things like that karaoke night that seems to change locations every three months or maybe an Internations event. Get out there, drink seven beers, sing Journey or Billie Joel, add 13 people’s WeChats who you won’t remember the next day.

Cancer

6.22~7.22

No more house parties until at least January. You love being social but your friends are messes who spill beer on your floor. Enjoy other people’s house parties for the next month or so, you deserve it.

Leo

7.23~8.23

You’re thinking about some major life changes for December. Planetarily speaking, this is absolutely the time to make major changes but is it right for you? You know you’ll miss your Ayi if you move back to your hometown. And durian pizza is hard to find in Miami.

Virgo

8.24~9.23

Mercury is out of retrograde for the rest of this year and this could throw your entire lifestyle into question. In response to this, we give you the answer: wine. And not just any wine but really cheap Shandong wine. Buy local, save money, savor that hangover.

Libra

9.24~10.23

You feel like you’re floating and not doing anything of value but maybe you just need to relax. Life doesn’t have to be about fighting the power at every turn; it could just be about getting a new air fryer on taobao and making whatever it is people make in air fryers.

Scorpio

10.24~11.22

Scorpios have it tough just being Scorpios. December is an especially disheartening month for Scorpios as they are likely to suffer a major misunderstanding that will impact their life in some way. Our reading of the alignment of Neptune and the moon shows this could range from forgetting to ask for no lajiao and ending up with la duzi or misreading the day of a good friend’s birthday.