May 2022 Issue

G re at er B ay A re

国内统一刊号: CN 11-5234/GO

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MAY 2022

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城市漫步 广州英文 版 05 月份

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Guangzhou Welcomes ISA Liwan this August

G

uangzhou is all set to welcome its latest international education entrant. As a leading school provider, ISA Liwan International School will be the city’s newest purpose-built school in August 2022.

Embracing new ideas and always seeking new ways to improve the world, ISA Liwan will offer the three IB continuum programs. They will also provide an excellent learning facility for families in the Liwan and Foshan areas who have previously had to travel across Guangzhou to other international schools.

Michael Urquhart and David Li, Co-heads of ISA Liwan International Campus, both recognize that a major gap is being filled, and they are very proud to be at the helm of such an exciting endeavor. “We will be the third ISA International School in Guangzhou that reflects a strong brand renowned for excellence.

Our outstanding international faculty, with advanced teaching qualifications and years of IB experience, will follow in the same tradition of focusing on Inquiry, Succeed, Act (ISA), which is unique to all ISA Schools.”

Mr. Urquhart is quick to point out that based on their success at ISA Tianhe and ISA Science City, ISA Liwan will be creating an ecosystem of education on the Liwan Campus where students will be introduced to outstanding language learning in English, Korean, Chinese and French. As well as a wide variety of the Sciences and some inquiry-based projects, including their annual ‘Dreamtime project,’ which is unique to ISA Liwan. His unwavering vision is clear: He wants his students to feel safe so that they can enjoy their learning experience and become part of the change that truly makes a difference in our shared world.

Mr. Urquhart is no stranger to the world of international education.

With over 30 years of experience, his own philosophy of education begins with a love for lifelong learning and his own experience as a teacher. “We are educating students not only for careers in professions that do not exist today, but also to be problem-solvers for many of the world’s issues that my own generation has not been able to fix or has made worse.”

Mr. Li concurs as he explains why it is important to offer students personalized pathways, depending on their interests and passions.“ At ISA Liwan, we recognize and respect our differences. Everyone is unique!

Our offerings are tailormade so as to ensure that every child is holistically catered to.”

What makes the ISA Liwan campus stand out from the rest?

Nestled in the heart of Liwan, one would assume that the campus will honor its host city’s rich cultural roots. Indeed, it does. “Liwan is the birthplace of Lingnan culture.

As an ode to our location, Lingnan culture can be found throughout the campus, including an opera pagoda for performances. Students will learn about many famous people to come out of this culture, including Bruce Lee, the famous martial arts artist and actor. Many different activities including calligraphy, painting, wood carving, sculpturemaking, opera, embroidery, tea and food culture, dragon dance, lion dance, Wing Chun, business entrepreneurship courses and more are offered, giving students an unapparelled advantage. Students will be able to see links from what they learn and experience in school to the real Lingnan culture in our local and surrounding communities,” said Mr. Li. Without a doubt, ISA Liwan, with its exceptional educational offerings and campus, will be one of the most anticipated school openings we’ve seen so far in Guangzhou.

Meet the Co-Heads of ISA Liwan International School Michael Urquhart

Co-head of ISA Liwan International Campus Head of ISA Liwan International School -Former Head of the ISA Tianhe International School of Guangzhou, Executive Deputy Head of the ISA Science City International School, and Head of ISA Wenhua Guangzhou Foreign Language School IB Program -30 years of experience in education, including 15 years of leadership experience -Former Headmaster at Victoria English School as well as International School of Indiana, both schools have ranked top in their area -Former Deputy Head of Utahloy International School and Principal of its secondary school section -IB Diploma examiner, IB MYP assessment moderator and school consultant, workshop leader David Li 李春雷

Co-head of ISA Liwan

International Campus Project Head of ISA Wenhua Liwan School - Over 20 years of experience in international education - One of the founding Heads of two large-scale private schools, such as GCGS and SCFLS - Vice-Chairman of Guangdong Private Education Association of Primary School Professional Committee, Executive Committee Member of China and Mongolia IB schools Association (ACMIBS) - Outstanding Contribution Award of Guangdong Contemporary Private Education Principal, Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE), Excellent Principal of Private School in Guangdong Province, and the most influential international school principal in China For more information about ISA Liwan, please contact Kitty on 18102251037 Or scan the QR code:

《城市漫步》广州 英文月刊

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Distribution across China: 100,000 copies

MAY 2022 | 01

THE WRAP

6 THE NATION

14 ARTS & LIFE

7 CHINA’S OMICRON OUTBREAK – WHERE ARE WE NOW?

15 SPOTLIGHT

8 THE BUZZ 9 CHINESE CORNER 10 PAW PATROL

20 BUSINESS & TECH 21 GALLEY GADGETS 22 TAKE STOCK 23 CHINA HIGHLIGHTS 24 CHINA’S OLFACTORY ECONOMY 28 SINOVINICULTURE 02 |MAY 2022

16 STYLE RADAR 17 CITY SNAPSHOT 18 SHANGHAI LOCKDOWN

38 FAMILY 39 LIVING ROOM 44 HOROSCOPES

30 COVER STORY

GETTING AROUND

Editor’s Note

MAY 2022

April was a difficult month; Shanghai continued to see record-high COVID cases, Guangzhou went into partial lockdown and Beijing might be heading down the same road, all of which impacted global stock prices (see page 22 and 23).

Said lockdowns also had an effect on Shanghai’s pet owners, some of whom had to leave their furry friends behind when they were taken into centralized quarantine. On page 10, we interview several business owners and foreign and international volunteers who dedicated their time to saving Shanghai’s vulnerable critters.

Elsewhere in the mag, we look at China's metro system. China boasts not only the busiest, but also the longest metro system in the world. Did you know their engineering and design also sets them apart from other underground railway systems? This issue’s cover story explores the weird and wonderful world of China’s metro systems, from the middle-of-nowhere station to one that runs right through an apartment block, Alistair Baker-Brian gives you the lowdown on whacky trains and stations.

Finally, Li Bowen gives us an in-depth look at China’s blooming perfume industry, where homegrown brands are giving international ones a run for their money in the Middle Kingdom. Bowen met influencers and industry insiders to examine China’s olfactory economy.

Best Regards,

Lars Hamer Editor-in-Chief

MAY 2022 | 03

Sports Services for Organizations Adriana Sports

Y

ou may have heard of Adriana Sports before, a specialist in women’s basketball in the sports community in Shanghai.

Adriana Sports & Cultural (Shanghai) Development Co. Ltd. was established in 2017. Their focus is on serving the women's and girls’ sports community, hoping to empower them through the medium of sport.

Prior to starting the company, Adriana Sports founder Virginia went to over 50 countries across four continents to get in touch with the latest trends and developments in this sector. She has almost 20 years of experience in both professional and amateur women’s basketball on an international level and in China.

Since starting in 2017, Adriana Sports have been offering services in the sports community in Shanghai, mainly focusing on women’s and girls’ basketball. In 2021, the company expanded its scope to offer new team sports, such as baseball and ultimate frisbee and started offering sports services to different organizations.

04 |MAY 2022

The sporting need within international and bilingual schools increased, as did the need for bilingual sports projects and specialists in terms of sports merchandise, sports programs, sports days and after school sports activities. In repsonse, Virginia started supporting clients by offering sports services on campus, based on the needs of the school.

As well as offering sports services to international and bilingual schools in Shanghai, Adriana Sports supports sports communities and companies. They offer sports services to relevant associations and departments within companies to host games, tournaments, team building activities and sports events.

Although they began with the vision to help women and girls get into sport, now the company has expanded its scope to better serve local sports communities and their patrons. Whether holding sporting events on campus, in a business enterprise or citywide, Adriana Sports offers well-rounded sports services tailored to the organization's needs.

Adriana Sports work towards supporting the community with the goal of having access to sports and developing the habit of playing in a supportive environment.

In a society where amateur sports lack resources and support, they aim to create a welcoming platform, starting with basketball in Shanghai, with the hope of expanding to other sports and different parts of the country.

Through various programs, Adriana Sports hopes to connect the sporting community on a larger scale. Their purpose is to improve the quality of life of the sports community’s members through participation, development and education. Their vision is to connect community members across cities in China, so they can find a place to participate and meet people who share the same passion for sports.

To find out more, visit their website, www. adrianasports. com, contact Virginia Chai Zheng (1381 720 3586) or scan the QR code.

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THE NATION Quote of the Month p08

The Buzz P08

06 |MAY 2022

Feature P10

CHINA CURRENTS

China’s Omicron Outbreak – Where Are We Now?

By Alistair Baker-Brian

W

hen the city of Wuhan went into lockdown in January 2020, few could have predicted that lockdowns would still be a part of life in China in 2022.

And yet, here we are.

Lockdowns, quarantine, border closures and mass testing are still ubiquitous in China as the country continues to pursue ‘dynamic zeroCOVID,’ seeking to cut off the spread of the virus rather than ‘live with it.

So far, official figures show that China has managed to keep case numbers and deaths low. However, the recent omicron variant has brought a fresh challenge with its comparatively high transmissibility.

Let’s remind ourselves how different parts of the Chinese mainland have been affected.

In Jilin Province Many areas have been under partial or full lockdown since March.

Provincial capital Changchun and Jilin city have been the worst hit.

Newly added daily cases have been in the thousands but numbers are now on the decline. The picture has been consistent with other parts of the country in that most of the cases of omicron in Jilin have been asymptomatic.

In Shanghai

In Guangzhou On April 8, the city reported its first cluster of cases and swiftly implemented lockdown measures, sealing off the worst affected areas, closing places of recreation and restricting all food and drink establishments to delivery only, except for Tianhe district.

Daily cases were fairly small and rarely peaked above 40. The number of infections started to decline only a week after the first case was discovered. A little over two weeks later on Monday, April 24, the city had almost entirely returned to normal.

The outbreak in Shanghai has garnered the most attention in recent days and weeks, not least because of the scale of the lockdown measures imposed.

The financial hub, with its population of almost 25 million, has been under lockdown measures since March 28. It represents China’s biggest lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic.

Newly added daily cases have broken records on more than one occasion, reaching more than 20,000 on some days. However, as has been the case in other parts of the country, the vast majority have been asymptomatic.

In Shenzhen

Reasons for Optimism?

The southern tech hub on the border with Hong Kong went into a citywide lockdown on March 14. Residential communities were put under closed management, businesses were shut and public transportation was halted.

Restrictions were later lifted on March 22, though some businesses continued to work from home.

Make no mistake – as omicron continues to spread, China will continue to implement ‘dynamic zero-COVID.’ However, there have also been some signs that plans to deal with COVID-19 differently are in the pipeline.

The southern port city of Xiamen, Fujian province recently announced a 4-week trial of reduced quarantine time for overseas arrivals. Some arrivals into Xiamen from abroad can quarantine

for 10 days, as opposed to 14 days, in a centralized facility followed by seven days of ‘health monitoring’ at home.

Read the details and you’ll see the new policy has a few caveats, but it’s at least a small step in the right direction towards re-opening the borders.

Plans were announced to expand home quarantine for certain categories of people such as close contacts, some inbound personnel from abroad and patients discharged from hospital.

In addition, there are also signs that personal responsibility will play a greater role in the future, with the approval of new medicines to treat COVID-19 symptoms and the expansion of at-home testing kits.

Leading respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan has outlined key conditions which must be met in order for China to return to normal. These include reaching a vaccination rate of 80-85%; reaching a reproduction number (known as the R number) of 1-1.5; and reaching a case-fatality ratio (known as CFR) of 0.1%, though few details are given regarding the time period over which said CFR is measured.

So for now, all we know is that China is certainly not ready to ‘live with’ COVID-19 just yet.

MAY 2022 | 07

RANDOM NUMBER

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

160,000…

Jacobie Kinsey

… That’s roughly how many beds there are in Shanghai’s more than 100 temporary quarantine sites.

Since April 1, the entire city of nearly 25 million people has been under strict lockdown to deal with cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant. On April 11, the lockdown was lifted in some areas.

On more than one occasion during the latest outbreak, new daily cases in the city have surpassed those seen at the beginning of China’s battle against COVID-19 in early 2020.

The majority of those cases are asymptomatic. Nonetheless, strict requirements regarding testing and quarantine show that China is still pursuing its ‘dynamic zero-COVID’ strategy, which seeks to cut off the spread of the virus rather than ‘live with it.’

According to CGTN, Shanghai’s temporary quarantine sites include robots that carry out routine tasks, to ease the pressure on healthcare workers.

The US national from Chicago is an international teacher in Shanghai. A seemingly innocuous WeChat group chat, of which Kinsey was a member, ended up going viral following a disturbing suggestion from one of his neighbors.

The group chat was for residents of a Shanghai apartment block, one of many set up during the city’s lockdown. Residents were discussing the struggle to get food, a recurring problem during the Shanghai lockdown, when one resident, labeled as ‘504’ in the group chat (presumably his apartment number), suggested eating Kinsey, or “the black guy on the seventh floor.”

Kinsey replied by saying “Don’t eat me” and “Why do you want to eat me?” ‘504’ seemed surprised that Kinsey had understood the message in Chinese, seemingly unaware that WeChat has a translation tool.

Screenshots of the messages quickly went viral. Meme creators had a field day, while t-shirts with #DontEatMe printed on them are being sold online.

That’s spoke to Kinsey about the experience. He said there were “no hard feelings towards ‘504,’” and that he was happy the incident provided people with some laughter during the difficult lockdown period.

However, he also understood that the incident created discussions about race relations in China and he said that everyone should “continue to grow and learn about others that are different from them.”

QUOTE OF THE MONTH “Professions like package delivery, programming and food delivery were all new and unfamiliar to job hunters not that long ago, but now these have become common. The same will happen with these new professions” … said Ding Daoshi, a veteran independent analyst in the internet sector.

“These new professions,” referred to by Ding in an interview with Global Times , included jobs in China’s booming gig economy. Such jobs include scriptwriters, virtual artists, shopping assistants and sleep hotline operators, amongst others.

In pursuit of flexible working hours, as opposed to a rigid office schedule, more and more of China’s workforce is opting for jobs in the gig economy. According to a report

by Ali Research, 400 million freelancers will be working in China’s gig economy by 2036.

The grueling ‘996’ work culture – referring to a work schedule from 9am-9pm, six days per week – has recently come under scrutiny in China.

In addition to the growth in the gig economy, there have also been signs that employees at China’s big companies may be able to enjoy more flexibility in the near future. Travel company Trip.com announced it would implement a hybrid working model, allowing for employees to spend some time working from home.

08 |MAY 2022

CHINESE CORNER Vegetables are an essential part of our diet.

Whether you shop for groceries online or in-store, you need to learn the names of the most popular veggies!

根茎类蔬菜 Gēnjīnglèi Shūcài Root Vegetables 胡萝卜

húluóbo carrot

洋葱

yángcōng onion

大蒜

dàsuàn

garlic

土豆

红薯

菠菜

白菜

tǔdòu

potato

hóngshǔ

sweet potato

叶茎类蔬菜 Yèjīnglèi shūcài Leaf and Stem Vegetables 芹菜

qíncài

celery

龙须菜

lóngxūcài

asparagus

玉米 yùmǐ corn

bōcài

spinach

báicài

Chinese

cabbage

小白菜

xiǎobáicài bok choy

生菜

shēngcài lettuce

Huācài, Guāguǒ, Zhǒngzǐ Jí Dòulèi Shūcài 花菜，瓜果，种籽及豆类蔬菜 Fruit, Flower and Seed Vegetables 甜椒

tiánjiāo bell

pepper

茄子 qiézi

eggplant

西兰花

xīlánhuā broccoli

Learn Chinese with That’s Mandarin

西红柿

xīhóngshì tomato

黄瓜

huángguā

cucumber

南瓜

nánguā

pumpkin

西葫芦 xīhúlu

zucchini

To learn more phrases and practice with Chinese teachers, scan the QR code: MAY 2022 | 09

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

Paw Patrol The Shanghai Residents On a Mission to Save Vulnerable Pets

By Lars James Hamer

10 |MAY 2022

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

A

ping resonates from the phone sitting on the desk. The notification signals it’s someone looking for a pet taxi. The service agent quickly scans the message and takes in the information; Shanghai, Pudong district, a dog with cancer needs chemotherapy, due to lockdown the owner can’t get to the vet.

The agent is a customer service representative working for PawPaw Pet Taxi, a pet transportation company in Shanghai. Due to lockdown restrictions, only vehicles with a special pass are allowed on the road in Shanghai, and PawPaw Pet Taxi doesn’t have one.

However, in order to help pets in need, they are connecting taxi drivers to owners who need to transport their pets during this difficult time.

“The dog suffering from cancer was very weak and the owner couldn’t accompany him to the vet, so the driver wrapped him in a blanket and took him,” explains Catherine Zhao, owner and founder of PawPaw Pet Taxi.

“These kinds of requests require a lot of communication between the owner and driver. Most of the time, there’s a language barrier, so our customer service agents need to be patient and put a lot of effort into every call.”

The citywide lockdown that has been imposed on Shanghai since April 1 means that nearly everyone have had to make drastic changes to their regular lives. Some have even been uprooted and sent for a stint in isolation hotels or quarantine facilities. For pet owners, this is a particularly scary thought, as they are not allowed to take their cats and dogs. In some cases, animals are being left home alone, outside or abandoned.

For businesses like PawPaw Pet Taxi, pet sitting companies and animal hospitals, now more than ever, are dedicating themselves to saving Shanghai’s left-behind pets.

Spare Leash is a pet sitting company that organizes pet sitters to stay in the homes of owners who are out of town.

In response to residents going into quarantine without enough time to arrange care for their pets, they have changed tack and are working with a crack team of pet sitters and volunteers

to find temporary homes for pets.

“Since the lockdown, the number of people asking for help has skyrocketed, and it’s growing by the minute,” explains founder and CEO of Spare Leash, Erin Leigh.

Spare Leash is composed of paid pet sitters and volunteers who help with translating, making flyers, calling pet owners and pet sitters and driving animals from one house to another. One Eleme waimai driver has even stopped delivering food and now couriers cats and dogs on her electric scooter.

“We know a lot of pet owners who have been reaching out for help,” Leigh elaborates.

“Recently, some Chinese volunteers created an Excel spreadsheet that everyone in Shanghai can add to if their pet is in trouble.”

This Excel spreadsheet has enabled hundreds of residents in Shanghai to reach out for help. Anyone looking for a pet sitter can fill out their personal information and state the type of service that they need. On April 8, 22 volunteers responded to 226 cases alone, therefore saving the lives of many family pets.

Time is of the essence to solve these cases and stop cats and dogs from starving, dying of dehydration or being left outside to fend for themselves.

“Before going into quarantine, some people are taking their dog, tying it to a tree in their compound and then getting on the bus. Then, volunteers will find a nearby neighbor who can run outside and take the dog in.”

Leigh explains that this is the worstcase scenario and is only used as a last resort by desperate pet owners. Some Shanghai residents who have been moved to quarantine centers have

left food and water for the animals and even hid a key in the hope that someone will be able to go and help.

“We’re trying to find people to take these animals but sometimes, by the time we find someone and get back to the owner, they tell us their pet already died,” Leigh says, fighting back the tears.

“It’s insane, you get up to go to the bathroom and you’re like, 'am I wasting time?'” The emotion becomes too much for Leigh and she begins to cry while recalling a case where a cat died.

“She suddenly got sick and died of dehydration. I think she went seven to 10 days without water. A lot of people have a feeding machine as a backup but sometimes they break. It's crazy.”

MAY 2022 | 11

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

Ollie the golden retriever shortly after he was rescued

To find people to take the pets, volunteers use Pet Leash’s Excel spreadsheet to see who is nearby and available. However, even if they can find someone to help, the battle doesn’t end there. Volunteers then have to communicate with security and pandemic prevention and control teams to ensure that they are allowed to collect the animal.

“The Chinese team is talking to security guards and saying 'we have a solution; we have a contactless handover and you are not going to want to be responsible for a dead pet.'”

These negotiations can sometimes take hours and if security guards still don't help, Spare Leash will call building management to get cases overturned."Nobody wants to take the blame for a dead dog,” Leigh exaplains.

When these measures are taken, cases are escalated above community security and pandemic prevention teams. A WeChat group is created with

12 |MAY 2022

Pet Leash workers and volunteers and senior management officials and a solution is found.

Even when security agrees to allow someone to collect the cat or dog, if no one in close proximity can take it, Spare Leash need to organize that animal to be taken out of the community and to a pet sitter’s home.

“I got an urgent request asking if I could take a dog because a guy is about to go into quarantine,” Spare Leash pet sitter Benita West tells That’s.

“At 2pm on Monday, they sent me a a picture of Mildred [the dog], asking if I could help and saying that the transport was ready.”

West, a pet lover who has been working with Spare Leash and other pet sitting companies for three years, had been locked down for two weeks.

Luckily for both Mildred and West, her apartment complex lifted restrictions on the day Leigh contacted her. This allowed for a contactless handover from Mildred’s owner to West.

Current restrictions in Shanghai mean that only authorized vehicles are allowed on the road, so organizing transport can be tricky. Leigh explains: “Thankfully, our partner PawPaw Pet Taxi, a pet-friendly taxi company, has been able to help us.”

To minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19, Spare Leash ensures a contactless handover of the pet. If an owner can leave their apartment, they can put the animal in a safe location where handover to the courier can be supervised by local security. If the owner cannot leave their apartment, they will put the pet outside and authorized personnel will take it to the front gate.

This process is then repeated when the cat or dog arrives at its destination.

“I picked up the dog at the gate. We don't have a bao’an (security guard) and the volunteers looked really confused,” says West, describing the moment Mildred arrived at her complex.

“A volunteer and another guy were looking at me like ‘what is going on?’ I thought that because a lot of people have been saying that COVID-19 can spread from surfaces, they were being a bit judgmental, but then I saw the guy had his dog with him and I think he understood. I quickly took the dog into my house and sanitized all the food tins, the bags and the crate.”

However, not all cases are this smooth. “Leigh messaged me on April 1, the day Shanghai went into lockdown,” Zhao recalls. “Someone had found a golden retriever tied up to the side of the road and said that it had been there for five or six days.

“We had to get two drivers to try and rescue this dog. The first one was scared of the dog and ran away. To be fair, he’s very big and defensive."

Realizing that it may take a large incentive for someone to rescue the golden retriever, named Ollie, Zhao increased the fee and called a more experienced driver who has experience with dogs. “He was also afraid of the dog, especially because he didn’t have a leash or a cage, so I asked a woman from Shanghai Animal Rescue to help.

“When she was close by, a policeman wouldn’t let her in because only vehicles

Mildred at West’s home

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

Also in the city, several animal hospitals are offering free kennel services for residents in quarantine who cannot take pets.

To ensure that your pet is not at risk of being left alone should you have to quarantine, Leigh says: “Plan early and don't wait until the last minute. Send your dog to a pet sitter and act fast, especially if your area is getting lots of positive cases.”

Ollie in a veterinary clinic in Shanghai

with a road pass can get through. The taxi driver had to go and pick her up so she could get to the dog.”

Ollie is eight years old and the five days tied up outside without food and water took its toll on him. When they got him to a vet, he was sick and malnourished. A funding page was set up for him on WeChat and his vet bills were paid via donations from the public.

He is now living in a boarding facility in the suburbs of Shanghai, with large open spaces where he can run and play.

Ollie has now found a new owner and when lockdown restrictions are lifted in Shanghai he will be able to move to his new home.

Seeing the plights of animals during lockdown, West says: “I'm shocked and worried that there might be more.”

On March 30, a district in Langfang city in northern China ordered the culling of indoor animals whose owner had tested positive for COVID-19. The order was rescinded the same day. It is unknown whether any animals were harmed during this time.

Despite pet related problems during lockdowns, some improvements have been made at the government and grassroots levels. In early April, Shenzhen announced it had established a Pet Care Center, providing free kenneling services for pets whose owners are in quarantine.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, was struck by an outbreak of the omicron variant on April 8. Pet owners began to worry about the safety of their beloved critters and started a WeChat group where they share tips and legal advice about what to do if you

are quarantined and have to leave your better half behind.

The group has quickly racked up almost 300 members and they are in the process of setting up a system like the one used by Spare Leash in Shanghai.

The flyer made to raise money for Ollie’s medical bills

MAY 2022 | 13

ARTS & LIFE

Shanghai Lockdown p18

STYLE RADAR P16

14 |MAY 2022

CITY SNAPSHOT P17

SPOTLIGHT

LISA SHIQI YU Founder of China Brand Incubator GENLAB Interview by Ned Kelly

German-born Chinese Lisa Shiqi Yu moved to Shanghai in 2016. With a career footprint in marketing and beauty, she founded brand incubator GĒNLAB in 2021. The firm invests in and incubates emerging beauty and consumer brands. We sat down with her to find out more.

What brought you to China?

I was born and raised in Germany, but my parents are both from China. As a result, I’ve always had a close connection to the country, and Shanghai in particular.

What is your background?

I spent five years at L’Oréal – in both Germany and China. As the youngest head of social transformation across the group, I built six digital influencer tools, including an analytic library of over 500 Chinese celebrities and 75,000 KOLs. This experience allowed me to dive into digital and social strategies that determine the success of a brand. Applying such strategic knowledge and insight, I went on a mission to help foreign beauty brands enter the Chinese market in 2020.

I found that Chinese beauty brands have a lot of expertise in the early stages of their growth cycle, such as initial market expansion. However, in the later stages, factors like branding become more crucial – this is where many Chinese brands fail to thrive globally.

In contrast, Western brands are incredibly skilled at story-based branding.

By leveraging deep-rooted values that do not change with market expansion, they are able to present a consistent consumer experience across the globe.

So, I always aim to apply a ‘best-ofboth’ strategy, leveraging lessons I’ve learned from both Chinese and Western

markets and brands. For example, I led the China expansion project for Germany’s biggest cosmetic group, Cosnova GmbH. Within one year, their China business grew at a rapid 216%.

How did GĒNLAB come about?

GĒNLAB is an extension of my consulting business; it is the investment and incubation arm. During my consulting projects for more established brands entering China, I realized that there was a gap in the market for supporting emerging beauty and consumer brands.

With GĒNLAB, we use mixed methodologies and new business models to customize brand growth and effective road-to-market strategies.

How do you choose who to support?

I look for authentic founders who are building brands that exist to serve a meaningful purpose and not just serve profits to shareholders.

For me personally, purpose defines the ‘why’ – a reason for which the brand or organization exists. This is crucial as a strong purpose is like a promise or the fuel to constantly strive for something better – be it a better world, a better product for the people around you, or a better way to do something.

Which brands have you invested in so far and why?

We have invested in ZEYA and Electro X. ZEYA’s mission is to create ‘better-foryou’ drinking options, giving an alternative to beer. I personally don’t drink beer and very rarely finish alcoholic drinks. But when I tried ZEYA for the first time, I had three at once! I could finish them easily with no feeling of guilt because the hard seltzer is 0 sugar and tastes great.

With Electro X, I was immediately in love because it has electrolytes (minerals that carry an electrical charge when dissolved in water). These minerals,

such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, are distributed throughout your body and are crucial for your health.

When I moved to China, I reacted really badly to the water. My body couldn’t take it. Then a friend of mine, who owns a water production facility, educated me about the importance of minerals in water; it balances your body and moves nutrients into your cells.

What does ‘Made in China’ mean to you in the 21st century?

I think there is a significant shift happening right now; there is a transformation from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China.’

It is true that China comes from a very industrial background and that ‘Made in China’ is being perceived as cheap and low quality in some categories. But what I see from today’s Chinese entrepreneurs makes me believe in a sharp shift for the better, especially for brands that stand for innovation and quality.

Any more projects lined up?

With my multicultural background, I want to add value in other ways, like helping Chinese brands go global.

I recently published a book on Amazon, Chinese Cosmetic Brands Going Global . It got an incredible amount of feedback and shared interest. I truly believe that there is and will be a vast amount of need for expertise.

I am currently in the launch process of a China brand accelerator in Europe aiming to make Chinese brands global.

For more on GĒNLAB visit www.genlab. group or scan the QR code:

MAY 2022 | 15

OVERHEARD

Jackson Wang’s “Festival Devouring” Coachella Performance

On April 16 Jackson Wang became the first-ever Chinese singer to perform on Coachella’s main stage.

His unannounced appearance at the festival was a surprise addition, which many Chinese fans watched on streaming platforms throughout the country.

With his silver-blue hair and all-black attire, Wang performed three tracks, including ‘100 Ways’ and ‘Blow’, the latter of which will feature on his new album, ‘Magicman’.

The pinnacle of his ten-minute show was a Michael Jackson-inspired dance. Moments after he ripped off his vest and screamed: “This is Jackson Wang from China.”

Wang, who has 27.6 million followers on Instagram, is part of 88rising, a record label and music platform primarily for Asian American artists. Wang is also a talented rapper, dancer and fashion designer.

As of press time, the hashtag #JacksonWang’sCoachellaDebut has over 17 million views on Weibo. Here’s what Chinese netizens had to say: “Jackson Wang has really carved the Chinese soul into his DNA, not only did he shout: “This is Jackson Wang from China!” on the Coachella stage, he even has ‘China’ engraved into his earbuds. Feel the pride!”

“S***, Jackson Wang. I’m so proud of you. You broke it, okay? That’s my boy!”

“The first Chinese solo artist to grace the main stage at Coachella! Coachella magic man! This guy is a god on stage, he’s killed it one million times!”

16 |MAY 2022

COVET

Incognito Is ‘In’ This Spring Season Shanghai, once referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’, has become a source of pity and concern to onlookers from abroad.

The beleaguered metropolis has inspired many around the country to stockpile canned foods and other supplies in case their district follows the path of Pudong.

With zero selfies being taken on the Lujiazui pedestrian overpass or at café tables in the French Concession alleyways, Shanghai’s influence on Spring 2022 fashion trends might be slipping. However, there is one item that has been popping up in the recommendations of shopping APPs as the must-have regalia for anyone planning a ‘night on the town’ — or an escape of any kind. For an affordable RMB53, you can pick up a white single-use medical worker onesie with sky blue accents with matching shoe covers included. They come in a range of sizes including those suitable for squirrelling one’s children out the door. > Scan the QR code to view the product on Taobao

UNDER THE LENS

Popular Talk Show Panelist Accused of Wearing Pajamas to Work ‘Informal Talks’ is a popular talk show having returned April 15 for its seventh season on Hubei Satellite TV and the Bilibili streaming platform. The premise of the show is a group of foreigners from around the globe discuss different topics like popular culture and current events in exceptionally well spoken Mandarin. In the second episode of this season, which aired on April 22, the Spanish Argentinean representative caught netizens’ attention for a particularly bold wardrobe selection. Brian González, known as 功必 扬 (gōng bìyáng) in Chinese, is a seven-year veteran of the show. He sprang for a baggy turquoise suit jacket, pants and matching button-up shirt. All the items were emblazoned with brightly colored female faces in the style of late 19th and early 20th century French Art Nouveau poster ads. Although all the young panelists unsurprisingly demonstrate strong fashion sense on TV, González took the spotlight for being the most extravagantly dressed — at least so far this season. A reoccurring observation in the comments section was that the relaxed fit and loud colors of González’s outfit resembled pajamas.

T H AT ’ S M A G A Z I N E S

CITY SNAPSHOT

@annnndddyyy_f

H

aving wanted to for years but lacking the time and a catalyst, Andy Feng took up photography at the beginning of the pandemic. When he goes out searching for a shot, he looks for urban areas with the classic Hong Kong elements like neon signs, trams, red taxis and old architecture.

He tells That’s , “it gives an ‘identity’ to the image, a Hong Kong identity,” and evokes memories people might have of the city. He also searches for scenes with intense contrast where “borders between shadow and light are clearly and very harshly defined.”

At night, he enjoys snapping pictures in Central, where the skyscrapers and purple and blue lights give it a futuristic feel, like “walking around on another planet.” Feng believes that photos are stories that a photographer is trying to convey. Distinguishing a great photo from the rest requires that the story is easily identifiable, there is depth and complexity, and the colors accurately depict the story being told. “In the photo containing the red minibus turning left at an intersection, it was pure luck that I captured that photo. I had been standing on an overpass overlooking the intersection for around 15 minutes, waiting for the perfect shot of a red minibus to enter the frame. I had given up and started packing up when, right then, a minibus came hurtling around the corner, with no other cars blocking it.”

“Hong Kong is a street photographer’s paradise,” he says adding that “In districts with older architecture, such as Sham Shui Po or Sai Ying Pun, there is always something to take a photo of. Be it the hustle and bustle of a wet market or the beautiful facades of old Hong Kong buildings, it makes for an easy photo that has depth and a clear subject.”

Feng uses a mirrorless Sony a7R IV and loves its quick autofocus capability which allows him to

capture such stunning street scenes with movement and detail in low light situations.

MAY 2022 | 17

ARTS & LIFE | F E AT URE

SHANGHAI LOCKDOWN Drone Photographer Tim Chambers Captures the Empty Streets Interview by Ned Kelly

Tim Chambers is a British engineering manager for an industrial manufacturing company who has been in China for over a decade. In his spare time, he takes to the skies with his drone to capture stunning images and footage of Shanghai. We caught up with him to find out more.

18 |MAY 2022

F E AT URE | ARTS & LIFE

How did you get into photography?

I have always been interested in areas where technology and creativity meet, like architecture, graphic design, photography and drone photography. Some years ago, I met with a Shanghai-based Flickr group who would regularly go on photo walks, and I am still in touch with many of them today around the world.

How do you choose where to shoot?

With the Flikr walks it was often in neighborhoods we knew were disappearing or being developed. When shooting with my drone, there are limiting factors such as automatic geofencing that extend some way out from the airports and other spots in the city, but the majority of the city center is available, as long as you are sensible and follow flying guidelines.

What’s also important, especially with the drone, is when to fly, taking in factors like the time of day and the weather. On those few really crystal-clear days, it’s time to grab the drone for a really big citywide shot. And also the blue hour in the evening, when the city lights are on but there is still some light in the sky to give the buildings some structure.

What do you look for in a photograph?

I have never been good at portraits, so I tend to go for landscapes and cityscapes and try to get something a little abnormal, or something that stands out, like a vast Shanghai vista, a road shot at night or a boat on the Suzhou creek.

Where is your favorite place to shoot?

That’s a tough one. There are some classic places in Shanghai that are unavoidable, such as the ‘drone bridge’ on Suzhou creek that gives you the classic Pudong skyline shot. But what I really like is when you can capture a ‘Shanghai life’ moment in a little-known alleyway.

Where have you been shooting over lockdown?

In my apartment, I have started photographing my young son much more.

But for now, it’s really only drone flights around the local community.

Any more lockdown shoots lined up?

If possible, I will continue to try and fly the drone once every couple of days to continue to capture this strange moment in the city’s history.

Scan the QR code to watch Tim’s lockdown drone videos of Shanghai.

MAY 2022 | 19

BUSINESS & TECH CHINA’S OLFACTORY ECONOMY P24

Take Stock P22 20 |MAY 2022

China Highlights P23

Galley Gadgets As the rest of the world says, “Lockdowns are so 2020,” China is still persisting that they are in the ‘in thing’, just like your mom with leopard print or those guys still rocking double denim. Well, as the Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen That’s offices all experienced the glory of working from home due to COVID-19 this year, there’s one thing we’ve learned… our home offices suck. Here is a selection of gizmos that will spruce up your workspace and hopefully make the daily grind a little easier.

Don’t forget to use the Taobao APP to scan the QR codes and check out these galley gadgets.

DESK POTATO A desk potato gets its name because it is shaped like a potato, but it’s simply a mouse mat. Clip the potato to your desk, put your mouse on top and just like that you’ve saved a whole heap of desk space that you can use for the awesome gadgets we’ve listed below! There’s a load of desk potatoes on the market, but the one we’ve listed retails at RMB99.

KEYBOARD CLEANING GEL Keyboards are gross. They get full of dust and crumbs and are laced with your chicken wing finger grease.

Stop saying you’ll clean it and clean it! Digital Clean cleaning gel is as satisfying as popping bubble wrap and its malleability means it can reach into the tiniest nooks and crannies. One pot of the stuff will cost you a measly RMB20!

DIGITAL NOTEBOOK Despite it actually being proven that people who keep digital notes, digital to-do lists and have a digital diary are much more efficient in life, some people still argue that paper is best. Be honest with yourself, you’re afraid of change. Well, a digital notebook might be just what you need to make the transition.

The NEWYES digital notebook isn’t actually digital, it’s paper, but the pen and the APP it comes with are. Simply sync the two and watch your notes appear on your phone or tablet in realtime, as you write! Prices range from RMB368-498.

CHARGING STATION Rather than buying a multi-socket adapter to plug all your chargers into, buy a charging station that plugs into the wall and has a series of USB ports that you can plug your devices into. The beauty of these bad boys is that they don’t add more wires to the occasion and you can charge multiple devices at once, so they’re great for traveling too.

Prices range from RMB99-189, depending on the number of ports you opt for.

MAY 2022 | 21

HIGHS AND LOWS

Highs • Luckin Coffee announced that its bankruptcy reorganization has been completed and that they no longer face the threat of going under. Luckin CEO and Chairman Guo Jinyi said he is “confident that Luckin Coffee is well-positioned for long term growth and creation of stakeholder value.”

• The sale of refrigerators, freezers and other white goods surged throughout April as several cities in China were forced into COVID-19 lockdowns. In southern China, Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing and other cities in the Guangdong province saw a combined 156% year-on-year increase from April 7-9. Demand for refrigerators and freezers in Shanghai also jumped, despite constant complaints from residents about a lack of food.

• COVID sells… The virus has allowed many health companies to profit by selling tests and medicines to governments around the world. Take iHealth for example, they produce Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and over the first quarter of this financial year, they announced estimated profits of RMB14-16 billion, a staggering year-on-year increase of over 36,500%.

Lows • Tourism spending was down by 30% during China’s Qingming Festival compared to last year. The lack of spending came as Shanghai and other cities endured a COVID-19 lockdown during the three-day festival. Qingming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day is a time when Chinese people usually visit graves and pay respect to those they have lost.

• Non-executive director of Meituan, Shen Nanpeng reduced his stake in the popular waimai APP from 4.68% to 3.98%, pocketing a cool USD770 million in the process. Shen began selling his shares at the end of March and sales were reported on April 7 and 13. The announcement caused stocks in Meituan to fall on both days by 2.8% and 3.7% respectively.

• Shanghai’s lockdown has hit the Chinese economy hard, as unemployment rose and spending fell. Retail sales in the city fell by 3.5% compared to March, while joblessness rose by 5.8%, its highest level since May 2020.

22 |MAY 2022

CHINA HIGHLIGHTS

Game Licenses Re-approved Rumors that China will implement further crackdowns on the technology industry were alleviated slightly after China resumed game-license approval.

The suspension on the approval of video game licenses was lifted in April and had been in place since July 2021.

When the ban was lifted, 45 games from companies such as Baidu, XD Inc, Youzu and Lilith were among the companies to get their games licensed.

However, gaming giants Tencent and Netease are two notable gaming giants that are yet to have anything approved.

WeChat Pay to Offer Digital RMB Payment Options WeChat announced that users can pay with China’s digital currency using the WeChat pay function.

The function is available for use in 23 regions where the digital RMB is being trialed, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

To use WeChat’s digital currency, you need to apply for an account with Tencent’s WeBank. Alibaba has been testing digital currency through Alipay since May 2021.

China Stocks Plummet to 2 Year Low

Premier Urges Support for Businesses Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for a quicker rollout of financial aid to help businesses suffering from COVID-19-related issues.

Li noted that some companies are at a crucial point in their battle for survival as the country wrestles with several COVID-19 outbreaks.

The remarks were made when Li visited business leaders, farmers and construction workers in Jiangxi.

The Premier went on to remark that more should be done within varying industries to help start businesses, find jobs and stabilize production prices. He also reiterated that businesses should stabilize their payroll to help workers.

On Monday, April 25, fears of further lockdowns saw China’s benchmark share index record its biggest drop since February 2020.

The CSI 300 index, which shows the performance of the top 300 stocks traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchange, fell by 4.9% to hit its lowest level since May 2020.

Panic over widening restrictions were sparked as parts of Beijing went into lockdown after officials discovered COVID-19 had been spreading undetected, with more than 40 cases recorded over a three-day period.

The Beijing outbreak was discovered in Chaoyang, the city’s largest district by population.

Raw material producers, technology companies and industrial groups were the worst affected on the index, as lockdown measures will undoubtedly hit them hard.

Outside of China, London’s FTSE 100 share index, which includes the stocks of oil and mining companies, fell by 1.8% by the end of the day.

Bent crude oil prices fell by 4.7% to USD101.41 per barrel, as the industry predicts a fall in demand due to the new infections in Beijing.

Plane Crash Rumours Quashed The China Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had to dispel rumors that the analysis of data from the black boxes of Flight MU5735 has been completed and that the co-pilot was responsible.

CAAC said that rumors started by people falsely using the name of government bodies and public security bureaus online were fake.

Aside from blaming the co-pilot for the crash and stating that the data from the black boxes had already been extracted, the rumours also stated that the CAAC had called for pilots to take psychological health assessments.

Flight MU5735 departed from Kunming and was due to land in Guangzhou but it crashed into the mountains of Guangxi Province, killing all 132 people on board.

China to Regulate ‘Incorrect and Non-Standard’ Fonts As one area of Chinese culture gets a relaxation of regulations (Game Licenses Re-approved), another one is in the crosshairs and this time it’s a peculiar one… fonts.

The National Press and Publication Administration and the National Radio and Television Administration launched a campaign calling for companies to prohibit the use of weird fonts in books, posters, packaging and on TV, in films and on radio on April 6.

They went on to add that the campaign seeks to rectify problems of incorrect and non-standard use of Chinese characters. What’s the Chinese version of Comic Sans?

MAY 2022 | 23

BUSINESS & TECH | F E AT URE

China’s Olfactory Economy

Insiders Look Through the Lens at the Blooming Perfume Industry

By Li Bowen

T

Wan Yifeng, a perfume blogger with more than 23,000 followers on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu

24 |MAY 2022

en years ago, social media influencer Wan Yifeng bought his first-ever cologne, today, the perfume blogger keeps more than 500 bottles worth a total of RMB500,000 in his apartment in Beijing.

On a chilly Saturday morning in March, we meet Wan at a coffee shop in Sanlitun, in Beijing’s Chaoyang district. It takes less than 5 minutes to walk from the coffee shop to Taikoo Li, a popular shopping complex with renowned international perfume stores like Atelier Cologne, Byredo and Diptyque.

“For me, cologne is the last piece of an outfit that I’ll put on before going out,” Wan says. “I feel something’s missing if I don’t use it as a final touch.

It’s like an aura surrounding you.” Wan is wearing a dark leather jacket and tells us that he used Silver Musk by Nasomatto to “soften the sharpness” of his outfit.

Wan’s entrance into the world of perfume began with an article he came across in L'Officiel Hommes back in high school, where he read about Cool Water, a revolutionary men’s fragrance released in 1988 by Davidoff.

Two years ago, Wan began posting perfume reviews on Xiaohongshu and has more than 23,000 followers.

Wan purchased the cologne at an airport duty-free store and bought it again after using up the first bottle.

Since then, not only has he discovered the magic that comes with wearing a nice perfume, but he thinks it’s a confidence booster and he has since developed an indispensable bond with the feeling of smelling great.

A regular Chinese consumer may not

have the luxury of owning 500 bottles of perfume, but thanks to the thriving e-commerce economy and an expanding middle-income group, perfumes and colognes are seen as a daily necessity for many Chinese consumers.

The Chinese perfume market maintained a compound annual growth rate of 15% from 2015 to 2020, and over the next five years, it is expected to surpass 22%, three times that of the global market, as reported by Jing Daily.

It is also said that China’s domestic perfume market is projected to exceed RMB40 billion this year.

A Business Insider article linked the ballooning fragrance sales during the COVID-19 pandemic to consumers' craving for a “getaway,” or something that can lift spirits. But people use perfumes for many more different reasons. For example, China’s Gen-Z regards a splash of cologne as a form of self-expression, which may explain the boom of niche fragrances in China.

As domestic demand for perfumes grows, Chinese consumers are turning to reviews posted by influencers for a guide on what to buy. On China’s social media platform Xiaohongshu, more than 1.8 million posts will pop up when searching for xiangshui, the Chinese word for perfume.

Wan previously spent a good deal of time abroad: He studied Applied Mathematics at the University of California, Davis, and went to University College London for a master’s degree in management. The overseas experience opened a door for him to get to know more international perfume brands.

F E AT URE | BUSINESS & TECH

“Although I started using perfume when I was in high school, I was only able to access a few brands in China at that time,” Wan explains. “But when I was in the States, I discovered that perfume takes up a good amount of space in department stores.

“I used to go to Barneys in San Francisco on weekends. There were so many types of perfume on the basement level. It was really eye-opening for me.

In some way, my time abroad paved the way for me to become a perfume blogger,” he says.

London turned out to be his alltime favorite city (Wan even describes himself as having a “London soul” in his Xiaohongshu bio).

“When I was in London, I noticed that work takes up a small part of Londoners’ lives,” Wan recalls. “They will get a drink at a riverside bar when they clock off or find somewhere to listen to live music.”

In February, the 27-year-old quit his 9-to-6 risk analyst job at Deloitte and has since become a full-time perfume blogger. Wan says that not having enough time to develop his perfume blogging career was the biggest reason that he made this decision. Besides, what he’s earning as an influencer is at least twice the salary he had at Deloitte.

"Before going to London, I wanted to find a stable job that looked ‘decent’.

I wasn’t really following my heart,” he says. “But after studying in London, I realized that I wanted a job that I’m passionate about. Even though my first job was at Deloitte, I always knew that I would muster up enough courage and accumulate enough knowledge and experience to pursue something that makes me comfortable and happy.”

Despite regularly receiving free samples from brands, Wan spends around RMB3,000 on buying new fragrances every month. “Don’t buy a fragrance because of its name,” is a general rule of thumb he gives to people looking to choose their perfect scent.

“I will ask my friends a bunch of questions to help them find their signature fragrance,” Wan tells us. “While more and more people are showing a genuine interest in buying perfume, many still don’t know how to effectively describe their preference. You have to guide them by asking questions like ‘do

Silver Musk, a fragrance from Nasomatto.

Image via Wan Yifeng

you like to smell cold or warm, soft or hard, aggressive or amiable.’”

The huge potential of the Chinese fragrance market also provides fertile ground for homegrown brands. Some Chinese brands, like To Summer, have made a splash by restoring Eastern botanical scents of lotus, Osmanthus and plum blossom.

In traditional Chinese culture, plum, pine and bamboo are known as the “Three Friends of Winter.” They stand for steadfastness and perseverance because they, unlike many other plants,

do not wither in extremely cold weather.

Zhe gui, to win laurels, is a Chinese term that gives Osmanthus an auspicious meaning, while the lotus flower is praised for its purity, despite growing in the darkest, murkiest of swamps.

But not all homegrown fragrance brands base their products on Chinese cultural roots. Synesmoon, for instance, places “emotional value” or “romantic value” above everything else.

MAY 2022 | 25

BUSINESS & TECH | F E AT URE

Synesmoon's Love is Cerberus perfume

“Welcome. Let me steal you some romance from the moon,” reads the greeting message you receive after subscribing to Synesmoon’s official WeChat account. The interface of its online WeChat store and the design of its amber perfume bottles are reminiscent of medieval and gothic novels.

“Fragrance is a sanctuary that you can carry around,” reads a post on the official Weibo account of Synesmoon.

“A sanctuary is where you are accepted regardless of your background and 26 |MAY 2022

identity, and that’s how perfumes make me feel,” elaborates Wang Haoyu, founder of the Synesmoon.

Wang believes in the power of inclusion in perfume, which is part of the reason why all Synesmoon fragrances are gender-neutral. Customers can choose whatever scent appeals to them without being judged by gender stereotypes.

While Synesmoon seeks to establish a more intimate relationship with its customers, the price of its fragrances has raised some eyebrows. A 50ml bottle can cost between RMB2,000 and RMB5,000. “There’s no rulebook in the world of fragrance,” says the 25-year-old entrepreneur in response to controversies about overpricing. “All that matters is whether you like it or not.”

Despite the high prices, Synesmoon wants to give back to society. Together with Circulation, a Chinese women’s clothing brand founded by Eyre Chan in 2015, Synesmoon launched a campaign to raise autism awareness.

Ten percent of the sales generated from the campaign were donated to several special needs schools and non-profits committed to helping autistic children through art classes.

Synesmoon’s store first opened a pilot shop in the Kuanzhai Alley, Chengdu, in January 2022 but will relocate to Taikoo Li (also in Chengdu) in June or July. The interior design of the new store will offer a more immersive experience by installing western elements, from chandeliers to furnaces and a “blood pool” (don’t panic, it’s not made of real blood, but instead uses lights and shadows to give it a blood-red appearance).

For now, Wang recommends buying Synesmoon products online, as consumers can enjoy a little surprise in the “make a wish” section before placing an order.

“Some of our customers will write down a wish, something like ‘I want to be rich,’ so we will spray a perfume that smells of banknotes onto his or her ‘fragrance love letter’ or leave their order with a mini bottle of money perfume as a gift” Wang explains.

Speaking of how Chinese brands are different from foreign ones, influencer Wan believes, “The visual

F E AT URE | BUSINESS & TECH

design of Chinese fragrance brands is more appealing and Chinese brands understand the psychology of Chinese consumers better than global competitors.”

Speed is another advantage for domestic fragrance brands in the competition for consumers’ attention against big global names. According to Wang, it takes a week for his company to develop a new perfume and two and a half months to manufacture and process the legal paperwork. But for foreign brands, new launches can take years. The development of Tacit, a citrus cologne from the Australian luxury skincare brand Aesop, for example, “had, in fact, spanned some seven years,” according to the brand’s website.

In the future, Wan hopes to diversify his content by creating video reviews and taking short-term perfumery programs. In China, there are short-term training programs or courses for people to acquire a professional understanding of perfume and aromatherapy. Wan says he has an interest in receiving professional training, but he doesn’t want to rush into it.

For Wang, one of the top priorities for Synesmoon is marketing through

offline events planning, to underscore the brand’s new slogan, “romantic tragedy.” He also says the prices of his perfumes will rise, as he believes the emotional value will always win over the hearts of consumers.

With more western perfume brands like Frederic Malle and Serge Lutens expanding their business to the Chinese market, consumers are given the privilege of a wider variety of

choices. But the struggle for consumers is how to find a signature perfume in a larger pool.

For brands and influencers eager to replicate the success of Wan or Synesmoon, presenting a scent through good storytelling is something that sets promising candidates apart.

Wan Yifeng at a perfume event hosted by Atelier Cologne in December 2021, in Shanghai

Synesmoon packaging and their 'love letter'

MAY 2022 | 27

BUSINESS & TECH | F E AT URE

Sinoviniculture

By Joshua Cawthorpe

I

n the first instalment of this wine review column, we talked to the winemaker at September Helan in Ningxia. She asserted that being a small scale boutique winery allowed them to, “compared with large wineries, have a more precise grasp of [their] vineyards and production processes.”

In the spirit of fairness, we resolved that we should give one of China’s big brand name wineries a shot at the title.

When shopping for wine in China, it’s relatively easy to find an Argentinian malbec or Côtes du Rhône in the RMB80 price range. The up-and-coming artisanal wines, on the other hand, tend to cost closer to RMB300.

If China’s run-of-the-mill brand name wines have but one thing going for them it’s affordability, so we give one a try and

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see if it’s at least palatable.

We find a two-pack of organic dry red from a verified Grand Dragon store on JD.com for RMB192 — less than RMB100 per bottle. Grand Dragon (aka Veyron and Weilong in Mandarin) is among the largest producers in the Middle Kingdom. Grand Dragon is headquartered in Shandong province, home to China’s oldest lasting winemaker, Changyu. The company was founded in 1982 and by 1999 was producing nearly 30,000 tons of wine and was ranked third for market share.

By 2016, Veyron was listed as an A-Share on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. In 2018, the company posted a profit of over RMB830 million. However, an underwhelming expansion into Australia, among other

factors, have seen profits halved.

The wine arrives in a flimsy wooden box with some loose strips of paper and a worthless corkscrew.

That said, we are heading down this road for value and remind ourselves not to judge a book by its cover. The particular wine we purchase says cabernet sauvignon in the JD.com description but provides only the title ‘Desert Miracle’ on the bottle itself. The back label does reveal (in English and in Chinese) that it is from the Gansu Weilong winery at the foot of the Qilian Mountains. It also boasts Chinese and European Union organic certifications.

With dining-in permitted in our neighborhood of Guangzhou since just two days prior, we are itching for an excuse to go out for dinner. A simple

F E AT URE | BUSINESS & TECH

little Australian steak restaurant seems like a fair canvas upon which to paint our alleged Gansu cabernet sauvignon.

Before the food arrives, we pour a glass and give it a twirl. Half expecting grape juice, we see the ‘legs’ and are pleased to discover that what we have is, in fact, red wine.

When one is evaluating red wine, the term ‘legs’ is used to describe the visual evidence of the Gibbs-Marangoni effect on the inside of a wine glass.

The Gibbs-Marangoni effect refers to the movement of liquid as a result of its surface tension and gradient concentration, in this case the manner in which a liquid travels down a slope.

The effect itself provides insight into a vast array of chemical analyses, including why pure liquids do not produce foam. Within the context of wine, the shape of a wine glass will cause a thin layer of liquid to cling to the wall of the glass. As alcohol evaporates from the extremity of this ring, differences between the intermolecular forces of the wine cause some areas to drip down and others to stay up. The result gives the appearance of tears or ‘legs’ of wine droplets.

The ‘legs’ have long been mythologized as an indicator of wine quality. Unfortunately, according to Decanter, experts assert that it only confirms the presence of alcohol.

As for the wine itself, we must admit that Gao Yujie was right: when wine is made on a massive industrial scale it loses the elegance and finesse that a thoughtful winemaker strives for. Albeit not offensive, it severely lacks complexity when compared to September Helan’s reds, or even other similarly priced wines from other countries. The best way to describe it would be to say that the flavors stay at the front of the mouth. It is characteristically dry, but lacking the boldness, body and expertise of a Napa or Bordeaux cabernet sauvignon.

Having been in the grip of a passionate love affair with wine for well over a decade, we won’t insult it by rating it on a scale with all our favorite wines of the world. Instead,

we will measure it on a scale of often disappointing RMB100 wines that we’ve found in China. Although difficult to formally investigate, we theorize that an astonishing quantity of bottom-ofthe-barrel swill gets rebranded for the Chinese market. To the point where, when purchasing imported wines in China, we often avoid those with a back label printed half in Chinese — opting instead for wines with the Chinese label stuck overtop of the language from the country of origin. When weighted against the other cheap wines we’ve tried in China, Grand Dragon Organic ‘Desert Miracle’ Dry Red Wine gets a 5.5 out of 10.

Nonetheless, one glass was mediocre but drinkable. If you find yourself at a dilapidated hotel in an industrial park of a tier-3 city and your choices are Grand Dragon or Red Star baijiu, we'd say, “Keep it classy.”

As though in divine absolution

of our unfair preconceptions about China’s ‘big box’ wineries, we were unsurprised by the headline of April 14. According to the Suzhou Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, a batch of Veyron dry red wine was found to contain sodium cyclamate, an illegal wine additive. Sodium cyclamate is a chemical sweetener, but its uses in the Chinese National Food Safety ‘Food Additives Use Standards’ do not include any alcoholic beverages — especially products labeled organic and chemical-free. As of press time, Grand Dragon has not released a statement addressing the scandal.

MAY 2022 | 29

GETTING R

iding the metro. It’s a simple everyday task for millions of us, something we do so often that we automatically go into autopilot as soon as we start our commute.

We’ve all heard the barely audible announcements over the PA system; seen the stations packed with commuters during peak hours; and maybe even witnessed incidents in stations and on trains that go viral

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over the internet.

In China, tight security at metro stations has become a common sight in recent years. At every entrance stands a team of security guards scanning commuters up and down and keeping a close eye on the contents of bags, all of which have to go through an X-ray machine.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, face masks and temperature checks

have also become compulsory – so strict to the point that metro employees patrol the carriages checking that masks are worn correctly (remember to cover your nose as well as your mouth).

As a relatively cheap and, in most cases, convenient way to get around, metro systems have seen something of a building boom on the Chinese mainland over recent decades.

AROUND

Image via @mikeonthebeach_sh

The Weird and Wonderful World of China’s Metro Systems

By Alistair Baker-Brian

The figures speak for themselves.

Before the year 2000, only Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangzhou had metro systems.

As of April 2022, the Chinese mainland has 45 metro systems in operation, with expansions and brand new systems in the pipeline.

Statista puts the total length of metros in China’s urban areas at 7,354.7 kilometers, as of 2020, though

this figure has certainly risen since that time.

Raw stats aside, China’s metro systems are very much intertwined with the country’s recent history of development.

And if you look closely, you might just get lost in the weird and wonderful world that is China’s metros. We explore the mini-museum located in a Beijing metro station, a

monorail in Chongqing that literally runs straight through an apartment block, the station “in the middle of nowhere” and the first metro connection between the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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Image via @Martin.700x

Why Has China Built So Many Metro Systems?

C

hina’s metro-building boom is tied up with the country’s development following the ushering in of the Reform and Opening Up era.

However, socioeconomics aside, there’s also a practical reason which explains China’s ability to build metro systems at a rate unmatched by other nations around the globe.

Across the vast majority of metro systems in China, five main standardized trains are used. That means the same trains can be used on metro systems in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Tianjin, Wuhan, etc.

So why is this important?

In most countries outside of China, there is no such standardization. In countries like the United States and Canada for instance – both of which have more than one metro system – different types of trains are used on different systems.

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The result of this is that the fundamentals of each system such as the stations, the tracks, the bridges, etc., have to be designed differently.

RMTransit is a popular YouTube channel that focuses on railway and train-related content. In one video entitled ‘How China Built So Many Subways,’ the host explains China’s standardization as follows: “What you find when you look at China’s metro systems is the vast majority stick to the A- and B-type trains.

That’s sort of incredible.“ “This standardization has benefits because planners don’t really need to consider what the train will look like, instead they can make better decisions based on ridership and demand.“ “Things like bridges and elevated guideways can also be designed and mass-produced on a scale we can’t really do in North America. You don’t have

to contend with designing a different type of bridge for every different type of train.”

Perhaps the greatest benefit of this standardization is, according to RMTransit, the design of the stations: “Stations can often be the most expensive parts of subway projects.

Thanks to common train types and capacity numbers in China, designers know exactly how long and wide platforms need to be, and even where to put the entrances and exits. You can use standardized designs from city to city.”

This helps explain why many Chinese metro stations look the same.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the different metro trains used in China, according to Baike: • Type A – a 3-meter-wide train usually used on the busiest city center metro lines such as Shenzhen Line 1, and Shanghai Line 1 and Line 2 • Type B – a 2.8-meter-wide train used for mid- to large-capacity lines • Type C – a 2.6-meter-wide train commonly known as ‘light rail’ – usually used for mid- to small-capacity lines • Type D – a 3.3-meter-wide train usually used for express lines and lines serving suburban areas, such as the Beijing Daxing Airport Express Line and Beijing Line 22 (under construction) which will connect the CBD with the remote Pinggu district • Type L – a 2.5-3.2-meter-wide train, it tends to be used for mid-capacity lines The above five types form the mainstay of China’s subway lines.

However, there are a few exceptions: • APM – a 3-meter-wide train found on Guangzhou’s APM Line, a short metro line serving key stops along the Guangdong capital’s city center • Monorail – found on above-ground metro systems in Chongqing and Wuhu • Mid- low-speed maglev trains – found on Beijing’s S1 line which serves Shijingshan and Mentougou districts

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The Weird and the Wonderful – 5 of China’s Most Unique Metro Systems Beijing – The Chinese Mainland’s First Ever Metro No China metro story would be complete without mentioning Beijing.

Beijing Subway is its official English name, setting it apart from its counterparts in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and elsewhere which opt for ‘metro’. Construction on the system started all the way back in 1953. It first opened to the public in 1971, making it the mainland’s first metro system.

After more than 40 years, the total length of the system has now reached a whopping 780 kilometers. If you laid out the entire track heading north from Beijing, it’d end up somewhere around the border with Mongolia.

The size of the Beijing Subway system is impressive, but that’s not the only thing that’s noticeable to any keen metro observer.

Some stations feature surprisingly

elegant artwork; in Yongdingmenwai station – an interchange between Line 8 and Line 14 and located at Yongdingmen gate at the most southerly point of the Beijing Central Axis – there’s even a mini–Central Axis Art Museum.

Artwork in Beijing Subway stations captured the attention of one Instagram account which goes by the name of… you guessed it… ‘Beijing Subway Art’; pictures of everything inside the stations from murals to sculptures can be seen.

Who knew metro stations could be so culturally rich?

YouTuber Iain Robertson runs a travel channel named ‘For All Life’s Adventures.’ After leaving his native Scotland, he found himself working in Beijing, and couldn’t help but express his positive sentiments about the Beijing Subway to his YouTube audience.

Beijing Subway Line 15 in 2011. Image via Bruce Connolly

Robertson told That’s that the subway system is “easy to navigate, and the connectivity means that you can quickly get to all the key locations with minimum stress.”

He says it’s “probably the best (metro system) in the world,” though others may disagree, of course.

Beijing Subway, Yongdingmenwai station, interchange between Line 14 and Line 8. Image via Bruce Connolly

Shanghai – The World’s Longest Metro System

As of December 2021, when two new lines were opened, the total length of the Shanghai Metro was 831 kilometers, the longest metro system in the world, as reported by China Daily.

Having first opened in 1993, Shanghai was the third city on the mainland to build a metro system after the northern megacity of Tianjin.

Given the city’s population of almost 25 million, the length of the Shanghai Metro is not so surprising. Commuters can travel as far as Disneyland and Pudong airport in the east, and even as far as neighboring Kunshan city in the west.

Apparently, the system’s

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breathtaking total length was not at all daunting for one particular Shanghai resident who created what he calls the Metro Challenge.

Tim Chambers made a video in July 2021 – at which time Shanghai had 17 lines – in which he documented his challenge to ride every single Shanghai Metro line in one go, as quickly as possible.

Chambers told That’s that it was not his first time attempting the challenge: “I have now done the Metro Challenge twice, and I still think I have not quite optimized the route, so I plan to go again."

“My first time was 3 hours 37 minutes, and then 3 hours

17 minutes the second time, so I shaved off 20 minutes.”

Amazingly, Chambers recalls only having to pay RMB5.5, working out at “RMB1.7 per hour of fun.”

He says he’s considered other metro-related challenges, including visiting every single station in one day.

However, he admits this may very well be impossible given the sheer number of stations.

Wuzhong Road station, Shanghai.

Image via @mikeonthebeach_sh

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Chongqing – The One with a Few Surprises

Opened in 2004, the Chongqing metro now has 10 lines, but it’s not so much the numbers that make this metro line stand out.

In July 2017, CNN published the article with the headline “China’s metro station in the middle of nowhere.” They were referring to Caojiawan station, which looked to be… in the middle of nowhere.

The Line 6 station in the Beibei district is seen amongst a wasteland of weeds and rubble. When it was first built there wasn’t even a municipal road near the station, no connecting bus stops and passengers had to take a minivan to get there.

Fast forward to 2020 however, and you see a very different picture. Around

Caojiawan station are newly developed roads and tower blocks under construction – a sign of China’s long-term planning strategy.

It’s almost impossible to talk about the Chongqing metro without mentioning the ‘wanghong’ station – the one all the influencers visit to take photos and videos.

Liziba station on Line 2 is particularly unique in that it is located within a block of apartments. A whole load of videos and photos can be found online showing trains on the above-ground monorail passing into the building.

And, as if that’s not enough, Chongqing is also home to the Chinese mainland’s deepest underground metro station.

Located in Jiangbei district,

Liziba station, Chongqing. Image via @ mikeonthebeach_sh

Hongtu Di is an interchange station between Line 10 and Line 6 and is 94 meters underground. The station has “attracted a lot of tourists,” according to an article posted on Tencent Net. Aside from the hotpot and awesome city views, is the metro system another reason to visit Chongqing? We’ll let you decide.

Caojiawan station AKA 'The Middle of Nowhere

Shenzhen – The One that Takes You to the Border

Image via @Martin.700x

First opened in 2004, the Shenzhen Metro has expanded to include 10 lines.

The southern Chinese city is synonymous with the Reform and Opening Up era. Just think about how many times you’ve heard the lines “from a small fishing village to an economic powerhouse,” or words to that effect.

A key factor in Shenzhen’s rapid development has been its connection to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which lies to the south.

Restrictions in both the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, as a result of COVID-19, mean that only a limited number of people can travel across each of the land borders nowadays.

Prior to COVID-19, the border crossing points were abuzz with tourists, workers and those traveling to see family.

Close to each land crossing point is… you guessed it… a metro station. Let us walk you through each of them: • Luohu – located on Line 1 it was the busiest border point in Shenzhen prior to COVID-19. Luohu also used to be in the top three of China’s busiest border crossing points. The metro

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connects with its namesake station, Lo Wu on the Hong Kong side of the border • Futian – located on Line 4 and Line 10, Futian was the first-ever land border to be connected directly via metro to Lok Ma Chau station in Hong Kong, though you have to go through customs before changing trains, of course • Huanggang – located on Line 7, this is a big port for heavy goods vehicles.

It is in operation 24/7 and offers convenient bus routes to various locations in Hong Kong • Wenjindu – located near the Wenjin station on Line 9, this was the first land crossing between the mainland and Hong Kong, well before Shenzhen's urbanization • Liantang – on Line 8 (an extension of Line 2), this recently constructed border crossing is the seventh land crossing between both sides • Shatoujiao – located near Shaotoujiao station on Line 8 (an extension of Line 2), this is one of Shenzhen’s quirkier land border crossing points. Inside Shatoujiao is a closed frontier area for which visitors need a special permit; within the area is Chung Ying (Sino-British) street, so-named because of its history of joint control by China and Britain when Hong Kong was still under British rule. Today, the area attracts numerous tourists from the Chinese mainland • Shenzhen Bay – the port is soon to be connected by Line 13. The bridge across to Hong Kong’s Yuanlang district implements a “one place two checks” policy which means Hong Kong immigration authorities can check those entering and leaving Hong Kong on the Shenzhen side of the bridge

Urumqi – China’s Far West Metro The capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is home to the mainland’s furthest west metro.

Having first opened in October 2018, the system so far includes only one line, from Diwopu International Airport in the north to the Erdaoqiao area in the south, near the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest bazaar by scale.

Announcements are given in Mandarin, English and Uygur.

Furthermore, all signs are written in Uygur script, as well as both English and Chinese characters.

One Urumqi resident, known only by her English name Lydia, told That's about her experience riding the Urumqi Metro: “Luna (her daughter) and I had a great time since it’s brand new and there were not that many people. We were able to get a seat and we tried reading the signs on the metro.”

She went on to compare it with her experience of the Shanghai metro.

“It’s really different; I always took the metro in Shanghai because it’s so convenient. But the Shanghai metro is old and really crowded all the time.

During the summer, it’s freezing because of the air conditioning!”

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Image via @Martin.700x

Past the Peak of the Metro Building Boom?

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any of China’s cities are still planning to expand their respective metro networks.

In Beijing for instance, the ‘Comprehensive Beijing Rail Transit Network Plan (2020-2035)’ details the future of the city’s already huge urban transit network, even connecting with Langfang city in neighboring Hebei province.

Does that mean that everywhere in China still has a hunger for metrobuilding? Not necessarily, say Sixth Tone.

In an article entitled ‘De-Platformed: China Rethinks Its Subway Addiction,’ researcher Liu Daizong notes that local officials previously saw subways and metros as a way to cut carbon emissions and deal with rapid urbanization.

However, he goes on to point out that there has also been something of a change of attitude in recent years, and

that metros are not necessarily all the rage as they used to be.

Liu writes that officials “suspended applications for new subway lines in cities without existing metro systems, likely in response to mounting concerns over rising costs and runaway local debt.” He cites the experience of officials in Hunan province in June 2021 as an example.

Are we past the peak of China’s metro-building boom?

Regardless of whether this is true or not, existing metro systems are going nowhere. Whether you’re obsessed with doing a metro challenge, enjoy learning quirky metro facts, or just… you know… want to get from A to B, we hope you too can get lost in the weird and wonderful world of China’s metro systems.

Image via @Martin.700x

FAMILY SCHOOL NEWS P42

Horoscopes P44

38 |MAY 2022

READING CORNER

CLASS CLOWN

Book recommendations from That’s editorial team.

Face-to-fence Lesson

All Are Welcome

Universities in China have been operating with an abundance of caution in the face of omicron outbreaks around the nation. While most students have become accustomed to switching back and forth from in-person to online classes, some subjects are less conducive to learning via webcam. On April 19, a video emerged on the Houlang Video Weibo account showing one Tai Chi teacher in Shaanxi who decided to circumvent the barriers to in-person learning. With strict controls on who enters and leaves campuses, the unnamed instructor was seen teaching a Tai Chi lesson from outside the fence of Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Students left their dormitories and lined up on the inside of the fence to participate in the lesson. Despite the blatant disregard for pandemic prevention and control measures, netizens in the comments praised the teacher’s dedication and pointed out that the students surely appreciated an excuse to get out and exercise.

Ages 4 to 8 This New York Times bestselling children’s picture book from Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman is about celebrating diversity and encouraging inclusivity. At a time when it feels like the world is more fractured than ever before, it might feel daunting to find the right words when approaching topics of segregation. Here is a good starting point for parents who want to frame a complex conversation in a hopeful light from the jump-off.

Cat’s Cradle Ages 11 and up Kurt Vonnegut is regarded as one of the great American writers of the previous century. His style portrays the banality of mid-century Midwestern US life layered with eccentric sci-fi subplots and quirky, dry humor. Cat’s Cradle , published in 1963, paints a peculiar picture of a world strikingly similar to our own yet with comical differences. Vonnegut takes readers on a satirical examination of religion, civilization and the arms race in a manner that was science fiction at the time but, in restrospect, was somewhat predictive.

What makes Vonnegut’s writing unforgettable is the childish wisdom, both obvious and profound. To name but one exemplary phrase from Cat’s Cradle : “Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists.”

ECO HOME

Single-serving Friend For those who grew up in rice-centric households, the ratio of water to grains is often measured by the knuckle rather than actual units of weight or volume.

This ‘golden rule’ of grain submersion is most effective when rice is cooked in a rice cooker. In fact, most people insist that this is the best way to cook rice.

Rice cookers were invented in Japan during the first half of the the 20th Century and the first home version is attributed to an engineer whose company would later be known as Sony. The original Sony iteration resembled a wooden wash basin laced with electric filaments. However, it is alleged to have frequently electrocuted the user and still required constant monitoring so as not to burn the rice.

Fast forward to the present and rice cookers are a staple in homes around the world. They remain the gold standard for cooking rice ‘properly’ — just ask Malaysian comedian (Uncle) Roger Ng. A household of just one or two might seem like too small a task for such a machine, especially with growing calls to reduce food waste. Enter the Jiashi mini rice cooker. Advertised as a student dormitory device, this 1.2 liter workhorse has a stylish, modern design and can simmer soups or warm side dishes in addition to making perfect, fluffy rice. The most basic version starts under RMB78. Scan the QR code above with the Taobao APP to view this product.

MAY 2022 | 39

LISTINGS BEIJING

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 Center’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 reach of the CBD, embassy area, Financial Street and other urban commercial, shopping and recreation areas. Fully equipped apartments with impeccable quality offer you a cozy living space and will meet all of your requirements in terms of room decoration, furniture, electric appliances and more.

A unique sky garden with a practice golf course 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-hour 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 close to the Third Embassy Area and shopping and dinning services at the Beijing Lufthansa Center. It is only 19 kilometers away from 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 Enjoy expansive city views from floor-to -ceiling windows with units situated from level 23 to 35 in the building complex.

Oakwood Residence Damei Beijing has 171 stylish and contemporary serviced residences ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments. It is 20 minutes’ drive from Beijing International Airport and within walking distance of subway line 6 and Chaoyang Station. > Building No.1 Damei Center, 7 Qingnian Road, Chaoyang District Beijing Tel: 86-10 8585 2211 (8:30am-5:30pm) 86-10 8585 2888 (5:30pm-8:30am) Fax: (86-10) 8585 2666 website Oakwood.com/Residence-Damei-Beijing

HOTEL NEWS

SHENZHEN

Raffles Shenzhen Immerses Guests in a Fanciful Spring Garden

Oysters are in Season at the Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan

Sky Café, already floating ethereally in the clouds above Shenzhen, is delighted to welcome guests to bask in their springtime decorative makeover.

The most rejuvenating season has been captured with the sights, sounds and serenity of spring, nestled 34 floors above ground in the Raffles Shenzhen hotel overlooking the ocean.

Xili Kitchen in the Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan is offering a succulent oyster-themed menu until June 30. Skillful chefs have selected premium ingredients and created a variety of tantalizing oyster delicacies, including fried oysters, braised oysters, baked oysters with cheese, clay pot oysters with free-range chicken and more exciting combinations of flavors and textures.

The serene Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan boasts 307 modern rooms and is located just a five minutes stroll from the University Town metro station.

40 |MAY 2022

SHANGHAI

BEIJING

The Peninsula Launches Comprehensive New Wellness and Sustainability Program

Grand Hyatt Beijing at Oriental Plaza Reveals the Balcony

The Peninsula properties invite guests to partake in ‘Life Lived Best’ with services to help them pursue their fitness, mindfulness, and nutritional goals. Through a dedicated Wellness Portal and 24-hour Wellness Concierge service, guests are offered indoor and outdoor group fitness classes, meditation workshops, state of the art fitness facilities and even delivery of in-room fitness equipment at some locations. With specialized programs for boosting energy or relieving jetlag, The Peninsula aims to elevate the guests’ experience beyond hospitality to help people meet their personal, physical and mental health goals.

The Balcony is a space where guests can enjoy heritage views complimented by premium Italian dining alongside Beijing home-style classics throughout the day. A portion of the restaurant can also be cordoned off for those requiring privacy for a classy and cloistered special event.

SUZHOU CAMPUS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM CREATION SUPPORT Specializing in women’s and girls’ team sports, Adriana Sports was established in Shanghai in 2017. They aim to empower females through the medium of sports education, participation and activities. For one of their annual events, this year Adriana Sports is starting an initiative to support the campus sports community by creating and offering more opportunities for girls to play basketball on campus.

Niccolo Suzhou Celebrates One-Year Anniversary Niccolo Suzhou is nestled among the clouds from the 103rd – 117th floors of Suzhou International Square (IFS), the city’s tallest skyscraper. Starting April 1, the hotel began a series of promotions to celebrate its inaugural year. To name one, Suzhou invites guests born in the month of April to celebrate their birthdays together with complementary room upgrades, birthday cake, tailor-made souvenirs and an 11% discount on dining at the hotel restaurants. These gifts and an array of other packages are available until May 10, including a Lancôme co-branded tea set or Australian wagyu tomahawk steaks.

They are now looking for schools that want to start and develop their own girls’ basketball programs from ages four to high school level. For 2022, Adriana Sports are looking to find five partner schools to start the campus program, Dream | Believe | Achieve (DBA). For more information, please visit their website or scan the QR code below. www.adrianasports.com Contact person: Coach Virginia Contact number: 1381 720 3586

MAY 2022 | 41

SCHOOL NEWS SHANGHAI

YCIS Students and Staff Volunteer During Lockdown

BISS Puxi Online Experience At BISS, the balance between academic success and wellbeing remains at the forefront of their ethos. In recent weeks at the Primary School, they focused on a whole school theme surrounding the importance of emotional literacy.

This assembly highlighted to students that it is natural to feel a variety of different emotions and that it is important to take time to talk about how you are feeling, especially during particularly challenging times. In the Secondary School, the content and themes of assemblies varied across year groups, to include feeling grateful, staying mentally and physically fit, celebrating success, working SMART during online learning and preparing for the upcoming IGCSE/IB examinations. These initiatives aim to produce a feeling of readiness, wholeness and of school community.

SUIS MYP Personal Project Digital Fair SUIS students took part in a Digital Fair to showcase their Middle Years Programme (MYP) Personal Projects. By applying their knowledge and creativity to a technological interface through online education, they created visuals with links to other websites or videos for visitors to view.

Nothing can stop SUIS’ bright and determined students!

YCIS mobilized to put together study packs consisting of notebooks, pencils, pens and other materials to support at-home study. Care packages were delivered to nearly 1,000 YCYW staff members across Shanghai and all students from the five YCIS Shanghai campuses. The boxes included masks, hand sanitizer and disinfection wipes to ensure their community stays protected, fresh produce and meat to relieve stress from ordering online and a box of cookies with personalized notes to show appreciation to teachers and staff.

At the same time, during lockdown, YCIS Shanghai students volunteered in their communities, acting as translators for their foreign neighbors who do not speak Chinese and distributing or sharing food supplies. International and Chinese faculty at YCIS also volunteered however they could, including helping registering health codes in their compounds, distributing and delivering supplies in the community and acting as translators. YCIS Shanghai’s mission is to raise globally competent and compassionate leaders with a servant’s heart, who aspire to and act for a better world.

Diversity Week at Dulwich Pudong Diversity Week took place at Dulwich Pudong at the end of March. Conceived and run by their Global Citizenship Prefect team, it was an opportunity to talk about the importance of diversity in all classrooms, for all ages across the College. Through interactive workshops, students explored biases in their lives and the lives of others, worked towards developing strategies to remove biases, and learned about the importance of diversity and its different lenses so that they can understand marginalization, create empathy and ensure inclusivity at all levels of the College.

Dulwich Puxi Students Win in Global Chinese Writing Competition

Wellington College Shanghai NFT Scholars Wellington College International Shanghai launched its first-ever pupil-led campaign for its Scholarship Programme. The pupils were responsible for conceiving and developing every aspect of the content –– from engaging Wellington Scholar interviews to unique NFT-inspired imagery. Offered annually, the Wellington Scholarship Programme highlights and rewards pupils who seek academic excellence beyond grades and certifications. In addition to partial or full tuition coverage, Wellington Scholars enjoy one-onone mentorship and the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.

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Two Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi students received awards in the prestigious ‘First Global Chinese Writing Competition for Young Writers.’ The Dulwich students faced stiff competition, with more than 2,000 students from over 100 well-renowned international schools, bilingual schools and overseas public schools across the globe competing. Carel in Year 7 received 2nd Runner Up, and Jacinda in Year 10 won the Star Writer Award. Huge congratulations to the students for participating and receiving global recognition for their talented writing.

BEIJING

GUANGZHOU

CIS Announces IB PYP Candidacy

Annual Reading Day at AISB-Hope International On March 4, AISB-Hope held their annual Reading Day celebration that promotes the love of reading to all students. Each elementary class chose a book to represent by decorating their classroom doors, wearing costumes inspired by characters in the book and reading excerpts from the chosen book to other students. Activities during the day engaged students and made them part of the fantastic world of reading!

CIS is very proud to announce that they are now a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program and pursuing authorization as an IB World School. As a proud Alberta Accredited International School (AAIS), they are fully committed to Canadian education and to pursuing their world-class Alberta curriculum, as they know that it is a worldclass system that opens pathways to top universities and careers around the world. They made the decision to pursue IB PYP (for ages 3-12) accreditation, knowing that CIS would be a good fit, as IB is a framework that can fit over and into the Canadian curriculum seamlessly. There are several IB + AAIS schools across Canada.

FOSHAN

Open Day Held at House of Knowledge International Kindergarten House of Knowledge, a Reggio Emilia inspired Kindergarten, hosted a handson open day event to give children and parents the chance to experience their ‘child centered’ Reggio approach. The immersive project-based learning environment stepped onto the Beijing scene in 2007 and provides an optimized learning atmosphere for children from 18 months to 6 years old.

Lady Eleanor Holles Foshan Showcases Musical Talent LEH Foshan provides an exciting and diverse range of musical activities giving students of all abilities the opportunities to perform. Their first Spring Concert is but one of the recitals where students showcased their talents playing the piano, cello, violin, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and group singing. It was delightful to see the young and talented musicians perform with such passion.

MAY 2022 | 43

That’s

MAY

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in China.

By Joshua Cawthorpe

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

4.21~5.21

5.22~6.21

6.22~7.22

7.23~8.23

Taureans, unsurprisingly, aren’t known for their patience. Be aware that your fuse will be extra short in May. Confidence is key, yes, but a god complex can be off-putting. Try to come up with some harmless flaws that you can pretend to have in order to make yourself more relatable.

In the lead up to your month, expect a lot of static on the airwaves. You will find yourself feeling a bit on edge and possibly confused about your goals. Routine will be your friend this month so make sure that physical and mental health are interwoven into your daily schedule. If not, expect a case of ‘the Mondays’ that lasts through the week.

You will run into a person or group that you’ve been badmouthing for the better part of two years. Let the grudge go and be polite.

People rarely analyze the behavior or opinions of others as much as we worry that they do.

Jump on Dianping and find some daytime activities that you’ve never tried before.

Explore an ancient water village or go to an art gallery.

There is more to this life than free flow boozy brunches on the weekend, not that you can’t do both.

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

8.24~9.23

9.24~10.23

10.24~11.22

11.23~12.21

Pet ownership in China is a big responsibility. Take some time this month to make sure that your better half is getting the pampering they deserve. Dogs need exercise, regardless of the length of their congenitally defective legs.

Finding the constellation of Libra is easy. Look for the big dipper, then follow its handle down to the bright star in the middle, Arcturus.

One more notch down from there and you will find Virgo to the right and Libra to the left. Similarly, if you examine your reflection in the back of a spoon, then follow the handle down, you will see a big belly.

Scorpio. S for seductive, C for complicated, O for opportunistic and R for repay that person you owe money.

You might have resolved that it’s not a big deal, but it’s the thought that counts more than the sum of the loan. Pay it back to pay it forward.

One of the greatest skills in life is knowing when to hit and when to fold. This month don’t be afraid to set down your cards and sit this round out. A penny saved is a penny earned and cutting your losses in the long term is sometimes as good as winning in the short term.

Capricorn

Aquarius 1.21~2.19

Pisces

2.20~3.20

3.21~4.20

Capricious is an adjective meaning ‘given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.’ Lean into that when making excuses for yourself. You didn’t choose to be born just after Christmas.

Link yourself up with an Aries until October 9. That’s when the full moon occurs in Aries and you have until then to soak up their cosmic rays.

Ride their good fortune like a remora — you are a water sign after all.

Your ruling planet, Neptune, takes about 164 years to complete its cycle. Last time the King of the Sea was in this neighborhood, they were signing the treaties of Tianjin and letting in one of the first waves of expat residents.

Aries’ are known for making the wrong choice more often than not. Don’t be afraid to bounce most, if not all, of your ideas, life goals and fleeting impulses off those closest to you. Will it annoy the heck out of them? Yes, but your hapless choices would have anyways.

12.22~1.20

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Aries

Learn We Grow We Inspire!