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城市漫步上海 城市漫步 英文版8月份 国内统一刊号: CN 11-5233/GO

China Intercontinental Press 五洲传播出版传媒有限公司

AUGUST 2021 AUGUST 2019

I’LL HAVE A NEW BODY

(I’LL HAVE A NEW LIFE)

China's Cosmetic Surgery Boom

《城市漫步》上海 英文月刊

五洲传播出版传媒有限公司 出版发行 主管单位 : 中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 Supervised by the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 主办单位 : 五洲传播出版传媒有限公司 Intercontinental Press & Media Co. , Ltd 地址 : 北京市东城区朝阳门内大街 225 号 No. 225 Inner Street, Chaoyangmen, Dongcheng District, Beijing http://www.cicc.org.cn 社长 President: 董青 Dong Qing 副社长 Vice President: 杜斌 Du Bin 编辑 Editor: 朱莉莉 Zhu Lili

发行 Circulation: 李若琳 Li Ruolin

Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gandolfo 甘德发 Arts and Life Editor Phoebe Kut 吉蓁蓁 Travel Editor Sophie Steiner Nation Editor Alistair Baker-Brian Contributors Rakini Bergundy, Joshua Cawthorpe, Lindsey Fine, Yicheng Gu, Lars James Hamer, Barnaby Lofton

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Editor’s Note

AUGUST 2021

Dating is a fun part of life – arguably the most fun you’ll ever have. With an army of dating apps launched in recent years though, it’s gotten a little more complicated.

In this month’s Cover Story, Francesca Lewis guides us through the highs and lows of dating as an expat in

China. The anecdotes are laughable and genuine. Check it out on pages 36-45.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we feature Luis Castro, a Spanish filmmaker who’s sharing a version of China

to the world that involves epic village bullfights (PG10-13). In the Life section, Joshua Cawthorpe interviews choreographer Victor Deng to learn how he is making his mark in the Guangzhou hip hop community (P15).

On a final note, typhoon season is swinging into full gear this month, so be sure to check thatsmags.com for

weather updates.

Best Regards,

Ryan Gandolfo Editor-in-Chief

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

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02 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 03

THE WRAP

6 THE NATION

14 ARTS & LIFE

7 INFINITY AND BEYOND

15 VICTOR DENG Choreographer.

New Shanghai astronomy museum looks out of this world.

10 RAW CHINA Meet the Spanish filmmaker capturing China in a pure form.

22 TRAVEL 23 KARL JIANG AND TAYLOR ARMSTRONG Wuhan-based brewers.

26 JIUZHAIGOU Treetops and temples.

20 TAKE CONTROL A guide to birth control in China.

30 BUSINESS & TECH 31 DAVID JOSEPH

Founder of Hub of China.

34 HIRING HIERARCHY

10 innovative companies attracting talent in China.

04 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

36 THE SWIPING GAME HOW EXPATS NAVIGATE THE DATING APP WORLD IN CHINA

46 FAMILY 47 ANTHONY COLES Head of College at Dulwich College Beijing.

50 UPSET STOMACH China has a stomach problem, here’s how to fix it.

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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 05

THE NATION Raw China

Meet the Spanish Filmmaker Capturing China in a Pure Way p10

Quote of the Month P8

06 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Podcaster P9

CHINA CURRENTS

Infinity and Beyond New Shanghai Astronomy Museum Looks Out of This World

By Barnaby Lofton

A

fter five years in construction, the Shanghai Astronomy Museum finally opened its doors to the public last month, reports Shine.

Covering 38,000 square meters, and able to host 6,000 visitors a day, it is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world.

From above, the museum resembles two connected planetary orbits, with a spherical theater sitting on one side and an inverted spherical dome on the other.

The museum features a main building, a solar tower and a youth observation base and public observatory.

The steel structures are built in irregular shapes to create a futuristic vibe, and several breakthroughs were made, such as the 30-meter-diameter dome cinema ‘hanging in the air’ and 200-meter-long spiral staircase with few holds.

The main building consists of three

structures for three celestial bodies: the Oculus, Inverted Dome and Sphere.

Together they form a giant astronomical instrument that tracks time based on changes in light and shadow. It can also display China’s solar terms, created by ancient Chinese based on the changes in the sun’s position.

“It’s more than just a building,” explains Lin Qing, director of the museum’s astronomical research center. “It’s also an exquisite astronomical instrument and the biggest exhibit of the museum.”

Aimed at becoming a world-class planetarium, it offers unprecedented museum experiences, backed by cutting-edge interactive technologies and visualizations.

The exhibition is divided into three zones – Home, Cosmos and Odyssey – to lead visitors on a tour around the solar system, faraway galaxies and even black

holes, and to understand the history of astronomy and inspire people to think about its future.

There are more than 300 exhibits, 85% of which are developed by the museum and over half are embedded with interactive functions.

Another highlight is the museum’s collection of meteorites. They include the largest recovered piece of the Changxing Meteorite, which fell onto Shanghai’s Changxing Island in 1964 and destroyed a farmhouse. It is the only meteorite seen falling in Shanghai.

Suffice to say we couldn’t be more excited. Shanghai Astronomy Museum is located at 380 Lingang Da Dao, near Dishui Lake Station on Metro Line 16.

Scan the QR code for more China news.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 07

RANDOM NUMBER

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

20.6 Billion

Zhang Ziyu

That’s the total revenue in RMB of the Shenzhen Metro last year. The number puts the city top out of 22 metro companies in the Chinese mainland. Total net profit for the Shenzhen Metro was RMB11.1 billion, according to Jiemian. com.

In second place was Beijing and in third place was Guangzhou, with RMB3.15 billion and RMB230 million in total profits, respectively. Data for the Shanghai metro was not made publicly available.

Metro systems have expanded exponentially in recent years in Chinese cities, making it easier to get around first-, second- and even third-tier cities. Many cities, including Shenzhen, implement a model known as transit-oriented development (TOD). This combines metro construction and property development.

Indeed, most of the Shenzhen metro’s annual revenue comes from property development.

Standing at 2.26 meters tall, 14-year-old basketball player Zhang Ziyu appears to have a bright future ahead of her.

The Shandong native recently went viral online after posting a dominate stat line in a U15 National Basketball League final in Hubei province. Zhang exploded with 42 points, 25 rebounds and six blocks – helping to lead her team to the championship.

Zhang’s height runs in the family, with her father reportedly 213 centimeters tall and her mother standing nearly 2 meters.

Zhang hit her growth spurt early on in life – surpassing the 2 meter mark by the age of 11. She currently has more than 20 centimeters on Han Xu, the tallest player on the Chinese National women’s team.

We look forward to seeing what her future holds. But for now, she’ll be enjoying sheer dominance on the youth courts.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“The collapse of the hotel in Suzhou reminds me of the hotel collapse in Quanzhou at the time of the pandemic. I hope that fewer people will perish and that this kind of thing will not happen again”

said one Weibo user after a hotel in Suzhou’s Wujiang district collapsed in mid-July. As of publication time, 23 victims have been rescued from the rubble, among which six were still alive and 17 had perished. Emergency personnel had rushed to the scene immediately after the tragic incident.

The hotel is part of a Chinese hotel chain called Four Seasons (separate from the international hotel brand of the same name).

The Jiangsu government is investigating the cause of the incident, which is currently unknown as of July 16.

On Chinese social media, users sent well wishes for the emergency rescue team and the victims. Others have recalled the tragic hotel collapse in Quanzhou, Fujian in March 2020, which took 29 lives.

08 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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

PODCASTER

Bottled in China Hosted by Emilie Steckenborn, Bottled in China is a wide-ranging podcast show that shares an excitement for food, beer, wine and spirits from all over the world. The podcast has a particular focus on China, including conversations from industry leaders and experts.

Listening to Bottled in China, you can immediately grasp Steckenborn’s passion for F&B and, in particular, wine. Steckenborn has lived in China now for almost a decade and originally came to explore an opportunity working with a wine importer. In addition to the podcast, she has worked with established wine brands and distributors to build wine education programs across China.

You can find her podcast on Spotify and other platforms.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 09

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

Meet the Spanish Filmmaker Capturing China in a New Way

By Lars James Hamer

“They actually wanted me to marry this woman.

They were really taking it seriously”

10 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

T

his is just one of the hundreds of situations that Spanish filmmaker Luis Castro reflects on during his time documenting Chinese people and culture.

China is a country with a rich history, comprising people from many different walks of life and share a plethora of customs, conventions and cultural norms.

Castro set out on a mission to capture the lesser observed parts of China through the lens.

For his first project, he shot and edited one-minute videos every day for a year. These short clips would eventually become 354 , a feature-length

documentary-style film that shows Chinese culture in a raw form.

Spending a full year away from his home in Beijing to travel every corner of the Middle Kingdom, Castro not only touched upon little-known communities in China but also began a journey to produce two more films that highlight ancient Chinese cultures and customs.

A few days before he left the capital city again to explore ancient villages in Guizhou for his new film King Bull , we talked with Castro about the sights he witnessed on his journey for 354 .

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

Constant Clips Castro started making 354 on the first day of the 2019 Lunar Calendar.

It took him from the social conflicts in Hong Kong to horse riders in Inner Mongolia to the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan.

The sights witnessed during the creation of 354 even sparked the embers for two more movies.

“I was always influenced by Asian culture; my father was an expert in Eastern art and when I was in the West, I felt Japan was the place to be. But actually, I didn’t like living in Japan so for no particular reason I came to China,” Castro tells us over the phone from Beijing.

Now 48 years old, he arrived in the PRC seven years ago after living in Japan for three years. During his early years in China, he quickly fell in love with the people, and he felt that there were stories to be told.

“When I came to China, I started a business with my friend, helping Spanish businesses establish themselves in China. I was traveling a lot but not really shooting anything. However, I could see the potential.”

Castro worked with his friend for five years establishing a successful business but the desire to share his stories of China with the world eventually led him down a new path.

He got the idea to make a video every day from American Youtuber Casey Neistat, who uploaded a daily video blog about his life for more than a

year. Castro dedicated time each day to create a one-minute video highlighting Chinese culture for an entire year.

“I started filming in February 2019 on the first day of the Chinese New Year. The 354 days of shooting along with the Lunar Year makes it more unique. By the last day of filming, I was in Wuhan the day before it went into lockdown. It made the film even stronger,” he tells us. “The movie is about Chinese people, but it’s also the year before the world changed forever.”

354 is a two-hour movie divided into eight sections: ‘Welcome to My Home,’ ‘We Are Young,’ ‘Chinese Marriage Story,’ ‘Modern Craftsman,’ ’Urban and Rural Paradise,’ ‘Finding Faith,’ ‘I am Chinese’ and ‘State of the Nation.’

Each of the eight sections is made up of the hundreds of one-minute movies that Castro created. “Every one-minute film is a story - with a beginning, a conflict and a resolution.”

In terms of content, he was influenced by Italian director Michaelangelo Antonioni, who came to China in the 1970s. The government granted Antonioni permission to come to China and film. While in China, Antonioni made La Chine, a cinema verite-style documentary film. It’s this style of filmmaking where the film focuses on real subjects in real situations that Castro looks to when making his movies.

“One section I removed because [the] film had become too long. [It] was called ‘Private and Public Spaces.’

There is a very thin line between public and private space in China – even your personal space. That’s part of the reason I could enter many houses without any issue because they often don’t distinguish between public and private.

Also, they are curious about foreigners and their views on China. They are curious people, it’s part of their culture,” says Castro.

354 still encapsulates the essence of private and public spaces that he begrudgingly omitted from the film.

Throughout the movie, he approaches people from various backgrounds in China and engages with them in a natural setting.

What we find striking about the movie is how much people are willing to open up to him.

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

‘Welcome to My Home’ shows all the times that Castro, with his wavy black hair and bushy beard, was invited into the homes of strangers he met on the street – some of whom actually live on the street.

The people Castro meets throughout 354 are happy to share with him, whether over beers and barbecue in Inner Mongolia or on the streets of Beijing. He’s documented pictures and family stories of everyday people that stretch back generations.

“I don’t have a favorite video; I like most of them. But actually, this movie and these videos are an experience.

I never had any confrontation when filming. I think it may be because of the mentality of people in China – everything is public. But also, I’ve always been taking photos and videos.

If you’re afraid of doing it, people will confront you, but if you look confident, then no one will say anything,” he notes.

It’s this boldness and confidence when filming that led Castro to Baixi , or White Joy , his second film about Chinese people and their culture.

A Strange Encounter “I was hiking in the mountains in Guizhou on the anniversary of my father’s death. I was by myself, and I came across this village. The film starts with all these women crying around the coffin, and that’s how I found them. So, I started shooting, and I got closer and closer and then the men in the village started carrying the coffin up the hill,” Castro recalls of the catalyst behind White Joy .

He had inadvertently stumbled across an ancient village in Guizhou where the moving of a coffin to its final burial site is the final day of a three-day funeral procession.

12 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

“You know, the person has to be buried in a very specific place, and they had to carry the coffin up a mountain.

So, I just went with them, and they stopped for a rest and they started smoking cigarettes, and then they were giving cigarettes to me. So, I knew they didn’t mind, and that I could film. I just followed them for the rest of the procession, but eventually, I had to go back to Beijing.”

Having only witnessed the final day of the ancient ceremony, Castro felt the need to return to Guizhou to experience the full ritual. “The reason the funeral is called Baixi , or White

Joy , is because after an elderly person passes away naturally, it’s a celebration and a sacrifice, the full cycle. It becomes a celebration because the person who passed had a full life. I have very strong feelings about this place, because every time I’ve been there, I’ve had this life and death experience.”

White Joy is a 20-minute movie that shows the funeral procession in its entirety – the slaughtering of the sacrificial animals, the mourning, the making of the coffin and the Fengshui master finding the most suitable burial site.

Throughout the movie, death, sadness and sacrifice are juxtaposed with life, youth and happiness, fully capturing the ethos of Baixi .

“I’ve been there five or six times now, and my girlfriend is helping the women in the villages to create a textile business, so they don’t have to rely on men.” His next project, however, would take a drastic shift from funerals to bullfighting.

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

Bullfighting in Guizhou Usually synonymous with Spanish culture, Castro was shocked to find that many small towns and villages around Guizhou have their own form of bullfighting, something even unknown to many Chinese people.

The day we spoke to Castro, he was preparing to return to Guizhou to begin his research and filming for Da Niu Wang , or King Bull . The first time he saw a bullfight was also by accident while in Guizhou filming 354 .

“I was really shocked when I saw it.

In Guizhou, a bullfight is a symbol of strength and courage. Bullfighting started as a conflict between villages because all these small communities have a bull, and they would solve a conflict with a bullfight. The fight only lasts for three minutes, and both bulls can [technically] win. The only way [a village] can lose is if a bull runs away,” he tells us.

This time Castro’s trip to Guizhou has a clear goal. “I’d like to find a character that can tell the story of the film, they call the bull Niu Wang, so it would be good to find a famous bull. But when I go, it’ll be the last bullfight of the season, so I will need to make several trips there. I think I’ll be shooting this movie for a year.”

Castro’s 354 will be screened at several film festivals in China and Europe this year.

In 2021, White Joy was screened at the documentary short competition at the Xiamen Documentary Short Festival. It was also shown at another documentary short competition at The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage in Torun, Poland.

Both movies are shot with an artistic quality balanced with pure naturalism, which leaves the viewer feeling like they witnessed it with their own eyes.

We expect nothing less from King Bull, which will hit screens in 2022.

To learn more about Castro’s projects, check out @354films on Instagram.

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ARTS & LIFE Take Control

A Guide to Birth Control in China p20

Overheard P16

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City Snapshot P17

SPOTLIGHT

VICTOR DENG

Choreographer Interview by Joshua Cawthorpe

Hip hop culture is unmistakably immense in China, despite sometimes facing scrutiny and some form of censorship. The first season of Rap of China garnered three billion views and hip hop dance shows have since been picked up by online streaming services like iQiyi and Youku. However, in recent years, authorities have looked to limit hip hop’s influence on society, as cited by South China Morning Post .

Official figures suggest that there are at least 5,000 street or hip hop dance studios around the country.

We sat down with choreographer Victor Deng who led a youth dance group to victory at the 2020 Hip Hop International dance competition. He shares his views on the rise of hip hop culture and dance in the Middle Kingdom.

Why did you want to study dance and how were you exposed to hip hop culture here in China?

When we are kids or teenagers, we want to be unique. Also, people are always thinking about the past or the future, but when you’re dancing then you are truly in the moment. Dance helps people express their true feelings. If you’re happy then you will dance happy, if you’re angry you will dance angry. In our society, people are always holding things inside, but dancing can help let them go. It’s not that I chose dance – dance chose me. We started selftaught, just practicing what we watched.

In this generation, it all came from one place – video CDs. We would find the VCDs with our friends at weird stores in the neighborhood and go to someone’s home and watch the videos and study the new dances. People used to think we were weird but then five or six years ago hip hop dance got really big.

“Even some Chinese traditional dances, especially in Yunnan, always have topics and movements about sex” How did you become a dance teacher and a choreographer?

In 2010, I started to learn a dance style called LA, or urban style, and we had a teacher named Clark. Now he’s in Changsha and has built up a successful brand called O-Dog. He was my first inspiration to pursue choreography. We learned a lot from him, and we studied mostly Western videos from YouTube.

I went to university for marketing but then took four choreography courses here in China. These classes were always more focused on academic dancing and choreography. In 2015, I had an opportunity to go to the US and do a choreography program. My first role model was Vinh Nguyen. He has worked with Cirque du Soleil, the Chainsmokers and Luhan. He lives in LA and was my first choreography teacher in America. He changed me a lot. Another is Chris Martin of Choreo Cookies in San Diego. His style is more contemporary – he’s a B-Boy. Which age groups are most interested in learning dance?

At Megasoul Studio here in Guangzhou, most of my students are women in their twenties. I also do the choreography for a studio called Britent in Guilin. They are preparing for the Hip Hop International dance competition, which will air on Bilibili. Last year, my team won first place in the China Youth Division, so this year we have a lot of

pressure. If we didn’t have the pandemic last year, then we would have gone to compete in the US. We also joined another competition this year called Xiao He Fengcai ( 小荷风采 ), which is an official government-organized dance competition in Tianjin.

How has social media affected dance culture and how do the rules for content on Chinese social media affect what you create?

It makes it harder and easier. Social media is mostly good because it creates more opportunities. When I work on choreography in my head, there are two sides. On the one side is my passion and what I want to express and on the other side is a product that I need to create.

For the music selection, I will choose Cantonese rap because it’s dialectic.

The Chinese dialects don’t get censored as much, even if the lyrics are hard and aggressive. If a rap in Mandarin has some [explicit language] then they will pull down your product. If it’s obscene, then you can’t post it in China. Even some Chinese traditional dances, especially in Yunnan, always have topics and movements about sex. But you still can’t promote that here. I haven’t had any of my projects get taken off the internet, but I have some female friends who’ve had their dances blocked.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 15

OVERHEARD

“I have to admire the development and technology of science. China’s first meta-human... it’s completely incomparable to the virtual idols of Japan and the US” Commented a user on Ayayi’s Weibo account. Ayayi is a hyper-realistic digitized person, or ‘meta-human’ – one of China’s newest KOLs. In May, Ranmai Technology debuted Ayayi on e-commerce platform Xiaohongshu. She garnered nearly three million views on her first post and around 40,000 new followers overnight, as cited

by Dao Insights.

Xiaohongshu users were understandably torn over whether Ayayi was real or another AI-created human. The company later came out with a statement introducing her as the country’s first meta-human.

Ayayi’s appearance is much closer to a real human than some virtual idols, for example, Hatsune Miku, a virtual singer launched in Japan in 2007.

16 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

COVET

Kiyani It’s summer and those pesky mosquitos are bound to be hanging outdoors or even inside your Didi.

Kiyani offers natural mosquito repellent (RMB62) made from a blend of essential oils. Inside the glass bottle there is a mix of rosemary, lemongrass, cedar wood, citronella, mint and eucalyptus infused with soybean oil and soapberry extract.

The spray is suitable for sensitive skin as the formula is DEETfree.

Kiyani focuses on zero waste, non-toxic vegan products made from natural ingredients. Miranda Mullett is behind the brand, and brings her Native American roots to the products. Growing up she learned to forage for plants as her grandmother was an herbalist. > Search Kiyani Botanics on WeChat to shop.

UNDER THE LENS

ByteDance-Backed Mega Influencer I’m sure you’ve dreamed of escaping the rat race and retiring on some nondescript plot of self-sustaining land. Perhaps that is why influencer Li Ziqi has such mass appeal. The Chinese influencer lives in a rural county in north-central Sichuan province – handcrafting food and furniture.

She showcases her slow living lifestyle with beautifully shot and edited videos. Not only does she have a large Chinese fan base, but she has also accumulated 15.7 million followers on YouTube.

Dao Insights reported in early July that ByteDance, “the parent company of TikTok and Douyin, [had] purchased a stake in the company managing top influencer Li Ziqi.”

This move is important as it will help showcase Chinese creators abroad while sharing Chinese culture across ByteDance’s platforms.

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

CITY SNAPSHOT

@iumhjdkouyheo Chu is a photographer from Shenzhen who loves capturing the beautiful moments in life.

She tells us, “As a child who was raised locally in this city, I have a more unique personal understanding of Shenzhen.”

We asked Chu about her dark blue tones in her pictures. She says, “I didn’t do it on purpose.

But I realized I like [a] calm feeling in my pictures. You can always see this in my [photographs].”

The photo here was taken during sunset at Huanlehaian ( 欢乐海岸 ), one of Chu’s most favorite places in Shenzhen. In her caption she writes, “High angles allow me to broaden my view to the whole scene of Huanlehaian. Warming light of the mall from the other side of the lake contrasts with blue background, creating a magical calming vibe. Every time I want to concentrate or need a place to hide from reality, this place will always come to mind.” > For more of Chu’s work follow @iumhjdkouyheo on Instagram.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 17

TOWEL OF ARTS & LIFE | FASHION

9 Plush Towels to Wick Off Water Compiled by Rakini Bergundy

Summer is meant for days lazing around the pool or beach.

Make sure you have the perfect towel to match!

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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 19

ARTS & LIFE | F E AT URE

TAKE CONTROL A Guide to Birth Control in China

By Rakini Bergundy

S

o your yearlong stash of Alesse has finally run out, and now you’re in search of birth control in China. Here’s everything you need to know.

The main type of birth control available in China is combination pills, meaning they contain a blend of progesterone and estrogen to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs.

The oral contraceptives listed on the following page all contain some form of synthetic progesterone and ethyl estradiol, a synthetic form of estrogen.

Where to Buy? Oral contraceptives can be purchased without a prescription at Chinese drug stores or even on Meituan. Search yaofang ( 药房 ) on Dianping to find your nearest drugstore or maiyao ( 买药 ) on Meituan.

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What brands are available?

The four most common brands are: Yasmin, Yaz, Diane-35 and Marvelon. The first three are all produced by Bayer – a wellknown German pharmaceutical company – while Marvelon is produced by MSD, a US-based pharmaceutical company.

What is Plan B or the day after pill called in China?

Postinor (baoshiting , 保仕婷 ), costs around RMB50. It contains one 1.5 milligram dose of levonorgestrel and no prescription is needed. *Prices vary at different retailers.

F E AT URE | ARTS & LIFE

Yaz | yōu sī yuè, 优思悦 (low-dose Yasmin, comes in a blue box) Price: RMB178 • There are 28 pills in total, 24 hormone pills and 4 sugar (non-hormonal) pills.

• Each pill contains 3 mg drospirenone + 20mcg ethinyl estradiol • Contains a lower dose of estrogen than Yasmin, which may be more beneficial for women who are sensitive to hormones

Yasmin | yōu sī míng, 优思明

Diane-35 | dá yīng 达英 -35

*Price: RMB138

Price: RMB69 • 21 total pills • 2mg of cyproterone acetate and 35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol

• 21 total pills • This is a combination pill comprised of 3mg of drospirenone + 30mcg of ethinyl estradiol.

Marvelon | mā fù lóng 妈富隆 Price: RMB58 • 21 total pills • 0.15mg desogestrel and 30mcg ethinyl estradiol.

Doctor Talk We asked Dr. Yvette Kong, gynecologist and Chief of Gynecology Department at SinoUnited Health some common concerns via email.

Do you need to take the pill at the same time every day?

If you take a progesterone-only oral contraceptive pill (OCP), you have to take it exactly at the same time every day not even beyond three hours. But if you take combined oral contraceptives with

estrogen and progesterone, the time is not as strict, just take one a day.

What to do when you miss a pill? Take two or just skip the whole pack?

Most people take combined oral contraceptive pills (COC). If a single pill is missed, women should take the missed pill as soon as it is noticed and then continue taking one pill each day later.

Depending on when she remembers her missed pill, she may end up taking two pills on the same day.

The day-after pill is an emergency pill that can only be used occasionally.

It should not be regularly used like birth control. It is over the counter (OTC) and no prescription is needed for one dose of 1.5mg levonorgestrel or two 0.75mg doses, 12 hours apart.

It might cause abnormal vaginal bleeding and irregular menstruation.

Is breakthrough bleeding on the pill normal?

Breakthrough bleeding is the most common early side effect after combined oral contraception initiation, affecting 50% of women during the first cycle of use and quickly improving over subsequent months.

However, breakthrough bleeding doesn’t decrease contraceptive efficacy.

Which birth control brand is the ‘best’?

Yasmin and Yaz are good for those with severe facial acne and are less likely to cause weight gain. > To note, different brands may work differently and have various effects on individuals. Please consult your health professional before purchasing.

How does the day-after pill differ from birth control?

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TRAVEL Jiuzhaigou

Treetops and Temples p26

Mile High P24 22 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Hotspot P25

WANDERLUST

KARL JIANG AND TAYLOR ARMSTRONG Wuhan-based Brewers Interview by Sophie Steiner

Wuhan has been through a rollercoaster in the last 18-plus months but is finally on a clear upward trajectory. This bodes well for tourism – specifically related to food and beverage.

We caught up with Karl Jiang of No. 18 Brewing and Taylor Armstrong of Devils Brewery to understand how the reopening of the now stronger and bolder craft beer scene in Wuhan has served as a symbol of the reemergence of the pride of a city now unified more than ever.

How did COVID-19 affect No. 18 Brewing?

Jiang: Like all businesses and public places in Wuhan, we were forced to temporarily close down the brewery in January 2020. At the time, we had prepared a variety of beers, both core beers and experimental small-batch beers, to release during the Spring Festival. After recognizing the gravity of the situation, we distributed some of the beers to employees and donated the rest.

I started to volunteer in my community – driving around medical staff and delivering masks – and I arranged for a brewer to move into the brewery to manage production during the time that the brewing wasn’t functioning, with food being delivered directly to the brewery every few days. At that time, it was hard to purchase anything on the street – everything was closed – so all raw materials had to be delivered through slow channels.

“While many small businesses didn’t survive the pandemic, we were fortunate enough to make it through and come out stronger on the other side” How long did you have to shut down the brewery, and how did you spend your time during lockdown?

Armstrong: The US started chartering evacuation flights for citizens to return home, but I’m so happy I stayed. Soon after lockdown, I packed my things and moved into the actual brewery for the long haul. When I tell my quarantine story to anybody, their first comment is “You must have drunk so much beer during quarantine,” but in reality, I only drank a pint maybe every few days. I love beer, but drinking alone gets depressing real fast.

The brewery is over 1,000 square meters, so I built a small kitchen, cooking everything in my electric pressure cooker. I could start an electric pot cookbook at this point. I spent time reading, video chatting with family, running some test batches with ingredients we had in the brewery and exercising in my makeshift brewery gym.

How has the craft beer scene in Wuhan recovered since COVID-19?

Jiang: The recovery was slow. When the city began to reopen in March, diners wanted to eat typical Chinese food – hot pot and barbecue – not Western food and high-end craft beers. But slowly, business began to pick up throughout May, and by June there was explosive growth. No one wanted to stay at home anymore – they wanted to go out, eat,

drink and party. While many small businesses didn’t survive the pandemic, we were fortunate enough to make it through and come out stronger on the other side.

Were your brew releases changed as a result of COVID-19?

Armstrong: We have since returned to a ‘new normal.’ We have more local customers, which is more sustainable in the long run, and we have been offering a wider variety of beers to appeal to this emerging crowd.

After quarantine, I brewed a lychee dragon fruit Gose called Quarantine Devil by myself. The experience of brewing fully by myself was interesting, and I’m considering brewing it again, but this next time with a helper.

Where do you see the craft beer scene going in Wuhan in the next five years?

Armstrong: I see a trend starting even now of more local craft breweries opening up across China that will push the craft beer scene forward even more quickly. This will in turn help cultivate more general beer interest and more local enthusiasm for our product. I think that COVID caused a short-term hit, but a longterm win for the craft beer scene in China. The ball is rolling and even COVID can’t stop it. > This interview has been edited for brevity.

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ROLLER COASTER

East to West After a month-long battle against COVID-19, Guangdong opened up to the rest of China last month. Residents in the southern province no longer need a COVID-19 test for inter-provincial travel.

Sadly, a new spout of cases has kicked up in the beautiful Yunnan province, Nanjing and elsewhere. So, if you were planning on visiting the province’s many travel destinations, you may want to postpone that trip for a later date while authorities and residents take necessary action to ensure public health and safety.

MILE HIGH

Panda Planes Two years following the completion of Beijing Daxing International Airport, Chengdu officially opened its own mega-airport in late June.

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport – the second international airport in Sichuan’s capital city – started operations on June 27. Chengdu is now the third city in China home to two international airports, with Beijing and Shanghai as the other two cities.

Similar to Beijing’s Daxing airport, Chengdu Tianfu is located roughly 50 kilometers away from the city center – depending on where you’re trying to go, of course.

A trip from Chengdu Tianfu to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is around 84 kilometers away, according to Google Maps.

The official opening marked the completion of the project’s first phase, which includes the construction of three runways and two terminals that can handle up to 60 million passengers annually. China Daily reports that long-term plans for the airport terminals will cover 1.4 million square meters and handle 120 million annual passengers.

Chengdu’s two international airports should help the city become a major transportation hub, linking the PRC with Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Europe. However, this may take some time as China’s borders remain closed off to most foreign travelers, and a reduced number of international flights are currently bound for the country.

HOSPITALITY HIGHLIGHT

Abu Luzi Eco Lodge Situated near Jiuzhaigou’s Shangsizhai Village, guests will find the Abu Luzi Eco Lodge.

This Tibetan-style inn is located in a rural valley less than 30 minutes from the famous Jiuzhaigou National Park entrance. The eight rooms are modern yet honor local Tibetan design, a heritage that is most commonly found in the homestyle cooking done in the lodge’s restaurant. Overlooking both the valley below and sprawling mountains, guests can enjoy a cup of Pu’er tea, roasted yak meat, rich stews and sauteed wild vegetables and herbs. During the stay, guests can visit the park, hike nearby trails, ride horses, explore Tibetan villages or relax in the lodge’s garden while taking in breathtaking views.

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

HOT SPOT

Ella

W

hile most daydreams of sunny beaches, the idyllic green hills, flowing waterfalls, and charming small-town atmosphere of Sri Lanka’s Ella make it a must-visit destination. The train views from nearby Nuwara Eliya towards Ella are considered some of the most beautiful in the world – chockfull of lush tea fields and colonial heritage, it’s easy to pass time here, replacing the coastline heat for a cool mountain breeze.

Outside of tea-sipping, visitors can embark on a trek to Little Adam’s Peak, overlooking the longer excursion to Ella Rock. The Nine Arch Bridge, a part of the train trip between Kandy and Ella, is the best example of colonial-era railway construction in all of

Sri Lanka. This 30-meter-high bridge is situated amongst the lush tea fields just a 30-minute trek away from Ella. To the side of the train tracks is a narrow, steep path leading down to lavish green tea fields that surround the bridge.

Ravana Falls hosts a large area for swimming but can get busy with other tourists, so swing by early, then continue to the Buduruwagala Rajamaha Viharaya temple, a Buddhist religious site with an over 1,000-year-old set of 16-meter-tall carvings, the largest standing Buddha statues in the entire country.

More off the beaten path, Haputale is a smaller town located in rolling tea hills an hour from Ella. Most famous for Lipton’s Seat – an expansive tea field viewpoint – a hidden gem is the Diyaluma Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka at 220 meters (720 feet) tall. While the falls are impressive from below, there are tiers of secluded natural infinity pools near the top that are other-worldly. To find them, set off on a steep, uneven, rocky hike up the side of the falls, but the payoff is verdant green for as far as the eye can see.

Unwind with an authentic Sri Lankan feast of curries, coconut sambol, and lunu miris – a chili and onion chutney – at family-run restaurant Matey Hut back in Ella’s center.

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TR AVEL | F E AT U R E

JIU ZHAI GOU Treetops and Temples

By Sophie Steiner

T

he once-farmland-turned-nature reserve in northern Sichuan known as Jiuzhaigou was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992, recognized for its distinctly beautiful and equally diverse scenery.

As a part of the Min Mountains, Jiuzhaigou Valley hugs the Tibetan Plateau, celebrated for its varied landscapes encompassing crystalline transparent pools in shades of blue, green and teal, multi-level waterfalls, undulating mountains and lush greenery.

The park’s elevation spans 2,000 to 4,500 meters above sea level and is nearest to Chengdu, albeit 500 kilometers north of the City of Pandas.

Due to the higher altitude, summer remains pleasantly mild, while winters are frigid yet equally spectacular with a dusting of pristine, powdery snow covering the barren trees.

But the best time to visit is autumn when the bright oranges, reds and fiery yellows of the falling leaves form a contrasting backdrop to the cooler colored pools.

In August 2017, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook the foundation of Jiuzhaigou county, with the Pearl Shoal, a popular waterfall site within the park, at its epicenter. The authorities closed the entire valley to tourism, only allowing limited access for more than three years during the rebuild and COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, in the spring of 2021, the park fully opened again to the general public – including foreign passport holders, making it the ideal time to experience this one-of-a-kind destination.

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F E AT U R E | TR AVEL

Jiuzhaigou National Park This impressive park seems like something out of a fairy tale, with vividly brilliant pools accented by fertile forest greenery. Mountains rise towards the sky, capped with snow, despite the radiant sunshine that graces the area often.

The park is shaped like a Y, so visitors should take the hop-on/hop-off bus to the top of the Rize Valley, starting with a bang at the dazzling Multi-Color Lake.

The bottom of the lake is scattered with fallen trees that are perfectly entombed by eerily still waters, ranging in color from green to yellow to turquoise to deep blue.

Other must-sees include the Pearl Shoal Waterfall, Mirror Lake and Five Color Lake – a neon blue pond situated in the Zechawa Valley. Plan to spend a full day in the park to take in the exquisite natural wonders.

Tibetan Culture Jiuzhaigou translates to Nine Village Valley, referring to the nine Tibetan villages in the area, seven of which are still inhabited today. The remaining villages sell handicrafts and offer a warm meal to park visitors, sharing their Tibetan culture and cuisine.

Also located near the park entrance sits the Zharu Monastery, a four-story Bonpo temple and adjoining monastery, still used by monks to practice a religion similar to Tibetan Buddhism.

Less commercial than some of the other villages in the center of the park, visitors can have a more genuine experience, observing the monks and even receiving a prayer blessing.

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TR AVEL | F E AT U R E

Huanglong Valley Although less famous than Jiuzhaigou National Park, nearby Huanglong Valley is equally stunning for its vibrantly blue travertine pools formed by calcite deposits.

Aside from scalloped, far-reaching pools, the area also offers verdant forest ecosystems, hot springs, waterfalls and tree-covered mountain views.

Named after its visual appeal from above – a Golden Dragon – the valley spans 3.6 kilometers, with water flowing from the ancient Buddhist temple at the top, across the glistening, gilded-like mountainside, down to the Guests Welcome Pond.

Visitors can ride a 10-minute cable car up the steep mountain and traverse down through the pools and forests for an enjoyable half-day excursion.

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F E AT U R E | TR AVEL

Yak Meat A specialty of the area, yak meat is common across northwestern China and Tibet. The yaks roam freely through the plateau, affording the meat a robust gamey yet lean flavor.

Yak is served in all forms – boiled in a hot pot, grilled on a skillet, stir-fried with vegetables, rolled into dumplings, baked into bread and dried into jerky. It is best enjoyed when paired with seasonal wild herbs, like walnut flower shoots, that grow in abundance.

We recommend Huang Ha Da ( 黄哈达 ), a Tibetan-style restaurant that offers guests a feast of yak, along with dozens of other local specialties, all washed down with a glass of highland barley wine.

How to Get There Arrive in Jiuzhaigou via a onehour flight from Chengdu or Xi’an, or opt for a windy eight to 10-hour bus ride out of Chengdu. It’s worth noting that flights are usually delayed both in and out of the area due to quickly changing weather conditions, so factor in some wiggle room to avoid unnecessary stress.

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BUSINESS & TECH Hiring Hierarchy

10 Innovative Companies Attracting Fresh Grads in China p34

Chart Attack P32

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China Highlights P33

GAME THEORY

DAVID JOSEPH

Founder of Hub of China Interview by Ryan Gandolfo

D

avid Joseph moved to Chengdu in search of new opportunities, which ultimately led him to the founding of Hub of China. Joseph and his team help companies better understand the Chinese market and consumers – no easy task. Below, he shares with us some challenges of market research in China and their recent findings on Chinese people’s appetite for cultured meat.

What sparked your interest in China?

I’ve always been a very curious person.

When I left university in 2012, I wanted to go to a country where there was a real buzz and keen business opportunities.

I also knew learning Mandarin would be very helpful to me in developing commercial opportunities. I decided that Chengdu offered Western essentials but also the opportunity to immerse myself in Chinese culture.

How did Hub of China get started?

I started by teaching English. I soon saw the possibilities of creating a business employing Chinese artists. Pet owners would send photos of their animals, and these were painted in oils. This opened my eyes to the entrepreneurial opportunities in China, and Hub of China was born.

I could see that China provided a lucrative market with an ever-growing appetite for Western goods and services.

I was also aware that Western countries were recovering from financial crises and required new markets. Critically, I was mindful of the lack of understanding of Chinese culture and the Chinese consumer, in particular. There was certainly only a very limited understanding of the different factions (features such as geography, age and financial reserves being amongst key discriminators); to many, China was just China. And then there were the terrible gaffs.

“Respondents provide information which they think the moderator wishes to hear rather than generally expressing their opinion” For example, Nike naively produced trainers with the Chinese character 發 (fa meaning getting richer) on one shoe, and 福 (fu meaning fortune arrives); Unfortunately, nobody in the marketing department had realized that, in combination, these indicated getting fat.

Thus, Hub of China was set up in late 2014. Initially, it was simply down to me to market my research, recruit, moderate and write up reports for focus groups. It was certainly a real test of my Chinese! Since 2014, our team in London and Chengdu has increased drastically.

What type of research and marketing services do you provide clients?

We focus on FMCGs, education and the healthcare sectors. For example, we’ve recently been conducting a number of surveys for UK universities. They have been hit hard by the impact of Brexit and the pandemic. They must develop robust marketing strategies to attract Chinese students; They are looking for quick and accurate answers to questions such as, what type of degrees interest Chinese students and what support will help students to adjust quickly to the UK way of life?

What are the challenges with running focus groups in a large country like China?

One of the main issues that spring to mind is social-desirability bias. Respondents provide information which they think the moderator wishes to hear rather than generally expressing their opinion. I remember one of the first focus groups we ran was for an educational app to help teach children English. The client listened while the participants were very complimentary about the app and the user interface. In the last 20 minutes, the client

had to leave and suddenly the views changed drastically. From then on we decided it would be best not to have clients present at the focus groups.

We always advise our clients to start fairly broadly with market surveys. Ideally we then follow-up with focus groups where we can question in-depth to identify the true motivation and, as far as possible, remove bias.

Your team recently surveyed Chinese consumer views of cultured meat. What were some findings that surprised you?

There is less awareness of cultured meat among Chinese consumers than their western counterparts. This did not really surprise us as there are very few Chinese companies marketing cultured meat.

However, from previous research, we knew that Chinese consumers were generally not favorably disposed to Western food or novel eating experiences. We were therefore surprised at the openness of the respondents to trying cultured meats once the concept had been explained to them.

Indeed 75% of respondents took a positive view. It should be noted that our research was based on 500 middle-class Chinese consumers. Although we know that youngsters are becoming more experimental, we would still expect the majority of the Chinese population to be resistant.

We were also surprised that 70% of participants were eating less meat than they did 10 years ago and the main reason (according to 30% of respondents) was their concern about animal welfare. > Contact David via david.joseph@hubofchina.com and visit Hub of China’s website www.hubofchina. com.

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TAP THAT APP

Zhuan Zhuan Thinking of moving? If so, one long look around your apartment may help you realize there’s a lot of stuff you’d rather sell than pack.

While expat WeChat groups are generally a resourceful place to pawn off kitchen gadgets and instruments, there are more lucrative options that cater to a far larger customer base. One popular app among second-hand sellers is Zhuan Zhuan.

The app logo is distinctive, featuring the head of a bear looking more clueless than Forest Gump during the Vietnam War. Zhuan Zhuan is an online marketplace easy for selling a range of appliances, books, clothing – you name it.

We’ve had some success selling items such as a deep fryer and noticed that there’s pretty active engagement from potential buyers.

If you’d like to lessen your packing load or simply downsize your clutter, Zhuan Zhuan is an easy way to bid adieu to items you no longer want to keep.

(The app is only available in Chinese, so consider asking a local friend for help if necessary.)

CHART ATTACK

ICE CREAM INFLATION I scream, you scream, we all scream when ice cream prices rise. In early July, reports surfaced that ice cream prices were going up in China – a departure from the nostalgic RMB1 popsicles many Chinese locals enjoyed during the dog days of summer. By no means a dramatic increase, there appears to be a new price floor of RMB2 for frozen treats, while prices for higher quality products go as high as RMB70.

In a survey by Sina Tech on Weibo, we learned that the majority of consumers pay between RMB2-5 for frozen treats, while around 30% pay under RMB2. As the prices rise, the percentage of buyers drops off.

In the comments section, Weibo users expressed their dismay that popsicles and other frozen treats are catching up with inflation. “It used to be RMB2, now it’s RMB5,” said one commenter, referring to their favorite frozen treat.

Others called out that in addition to rising prices, they believe popsicle producers are also skimping out on the sugary, artificial-flavored frozen snacks.

Many reminisced on the prices of the good old days, with Weibo user Henry Hua commenting, “Back in the 80s, I could buy a popsicle for one mao.” Well Henry, get with the times because they are a-changin’.

> Zhuan Zhuan is available via iOS and Android.

Source: Sina Tech

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

CHINA HIGHLIGHTS

Suning Founder Steps Down After Stake Sale

Dong Mingzhu Named China’s Top Businesswoman Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances Inc., recently ranked first among China’s top 100 businesswomen in a list released by Forbes China. The list factored in the number of employees, revenue, profit, assets, market cap and web popularity of the companies. Dong joined Gree in 1990 as a salesperson and has climbed the ranks over the past three decades.

She’s attributed with transforming not only Gree but the entire Chinese air-conditioning industry. Under Dong’s leadership, Gree Electric has developed aggressively in international markets.

Following a 16.96% stake sale to Stateowned investors and Alibaba, Suning billionaire founder Zhang Jindong has resigned as chairman. The move signals the end of his tenure of the now debt-ridden retail conglomerate.

Alibaba, which previously held a 19.99% share of Suning.com is now the largest shareholder – however, no shareholder has a controlling stake. Zhang started from a small electronic-appliance store in Nanjing and developed Suning into a retail giant until liabilities started to build up.

Cybersecurity Probe into Didi On July 16, China’s cyberspace regulator started an on-site cybersecurity inspection of Didi Chuxing. The probe also involves regulators from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transport, the State Taxation Administration, and the State Administration of Market Regulation. Some view the highly publicized investigation as a signal to other Chinese companies to better abide by Chinese laws and regulations.

China’s Share of Global Bitcoin Mining Declines

No Vaccine, No Entry More Chinese cities are publishing notices to warn citizens to get vaccinated, or else they will not be permitted to enter certain buildings and areas. China is targeting an inoculation rate of over 80% against COVID-19 by December.

Given China’s strict health and safety protocols, COVID-19 cases have been largely limited to returning Chinese and foreign nationals from abroad, referred to as imported cases by state media. This development has caused an attitude shift from citizens who feel the vaccine isn’t necessary.

Following a crackdown on the mining of cryptocurrencies, China now accounts for less than half of the global power used for bitcoin mining, according to research published by the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance. CNBC reported that China previously accounted for as much as 75.5% in September 2019. Bitcoin mining is a high energy-intensive process – but with the rising price of the popular cryptocurrency, more miners have utilized parts of China including Sichuan, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.

US Companies Buoyed by Strong Chinese Economy In recent earnings calls, CEOs from Levi Strauss and PepsiCo highlighted growth opportunities in China despite a weakened global economy amid the pandemic. CEO Chip Bergh of Levi said revenue in China rose 3% in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019. Ramon Laguarta of PepsiCo noted that the company’s China business has been a strength due to the strong economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak.

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BUSINESS & TECH | F E AT URE

HIRING HIERARCHY These 10 Innovative Companies are Attracting Fresh Graduates in China

By Barnaby Lofton

C

hina’s job market has become increasingly competitive given the rising number of graduates year after year. In 2021, the number of graduates hit a record high of 9.09 million, with a majority of new job seekers interested in internet companies.

According to a recent survey by China Youth Daily , this year’s graduates are eyeing positions at internet giants like Bytedance and Alibaba – known for their innovation across multiple sectors.

The survey included 5,868 university students nationwide, asking which companies they viewed as the most innovative.

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F E AT URE | BUSINESS & TECH

1 Bytedance

6 JD.com

2 Huawei

7 Didi

3 Alibaba

8 iFly Tek

4 Tencent

9 Sina

5 Xiaomi

10 Kuaishou

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The Swiping Game How Expats Navigate the Dating App World in China

By Francesca Lewis

36

COVER STORY

37

COVER STORY

D

ating is an arduous task. The technology from this century has simply given us too many options. Meanwhile, we’re inundated with gossip magazines, romantic comedy flicks and social media influencers sending mixed messages on how dating should be done.

Let’s throw in the additional barrier of being a foreigner in a new environment here in China, and you might suddenly feel like you’re navigating a minefield blindfolded.

In the following pages, we walk you through the world of dating apps used in China and hear the good, the bad and the ugly of dating app experiences.

It’s Co C

hina is home to more than a million expats.

The 7th Chinese census, released in May 2021, reported that there are currently 1.4 million foreign nationals living on the Chinese mainland. A healthy portion of these expats are likely single and ready to mingle.

Additionally, many foreigners studying or working in China will date outside of their ‘expat bubble,’ meaning there are a lot of potential partners available. The 7th consensus also reported that more than 51% of the total population are male and 48.76% are female, in theory giving female expats more options to choose from.

Dating as an expat can be difficult. You have to navigate language barriers, cultural differences, family pressure, different expectations and cross-dating.

In Beijing, long-term expats Rachel Weiss and Nathan Williams set up a podcast and event platform called Date Night China as a way to offer advice and support to people who are navigating this new environment for the first time.

“With so many cultures, nationalities, languages and backgrounds mixing together, the dating and relationship scene takes on a whole new landscape… we feel it’s important to have a platform to talk about these issues,” the duo tells us.

This is great for Beijing dwellers, but for expats in smaller cities – apps are integral.

We reached out to several dating app users to share their experiences and gain insight into how expats and locals navigate this intercultural landscape.

But first, let’s take a look at the history of the digitalization of dating. Dating sites in China ’date’ back to 2005, while apps didn’t really get started until 2011, according to South China Morning Post .

To date, many English-language dating apps do not function without a VPN in China, including Tinder – despite its popularity and regular use in the country.

Chinese-made apps have also been known to lose approval from time to time. Tantan and Momo were notably removed from the Chinese internet back in

38

COVER STORY

2019, despite their large userbases. (Both apps have since been reapproved on Chinese app stores.)

Chinese apps generally reign supreme among dating app users, which can lead to difficulties for users who are not fluent in Chinese and struggle to adapt to different platforms.

Statista recorded that as of May 2021, Momo, Tantan, iAround, Zhiya and Soul are the most commonly used apps in China, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect usage by expats.

There have been countless stories of bad experiences, ranging from catfishing (pretending to be someone else online) to outright scams. These often include investment opportunities linked to Forex or an expectation of payment for a date that isn’t mentioned until after the wining and dining.

Catfish experiences can be harmless, but occasionally leave a sour taste in the user’s mouth.

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COVER STORY

omplicated Vicky from Hangzhou had such an experience. (The dating app users we contacted for this story have all asked us to omit their surname for privacy reasons.)

“I matched with a black Canadian guy on Tinder, and a friend told me he was nice. I got super drunk one day, and he invited me to a bar, so I went… but it was a massive white guy. Like twice as big as his chair massive,” says Vicky, who added that she didn’t say anything, finished her drink and left. “I like dating apps, I still use them and met some of my best friends on there, but I always expect drama.

Dating apps are often believed to contribute to a ‘hook-up culture,’ where users are not serious and only looking for some fun. This perception is twofold though.

Firstly, where both parties consent and seek out this behavior, apps allow them the opportunity to find like-minded individuals. “I’ve had a great experience through Tinder with a Chinese guy,” says one person from Anhui province who asked to remain anonymous. “We aren’t dating; we just meet up. And it’s been awesome. He is very experimental and always showing me new things to try – I dig it.”

Secondly, the same time-wasting behavior can occur from the apps and is unfairly attributed to meeting via apps. Meaningful relationships and hookups happen everywhere – just be upfront about what you want.

Although maybe not too upfront, as one user listed common questions she regularly faces when logging on. “Tantan is the place to be for memories.

Marriage proposals, people thinking I’m a bot – I was offered money for sex and my favorite line: I’m a gay man but I have a female friend who is interested,” said Lenka, who is based in Hangzhou.

These miscommunications can further increase the stigma of dating apps, but as the world increasingly shifts online, you have to question whether dating entirely offline is the most effective use of time.

As expats in China, it’s easy to find dating overwhelming. Expat communities are relatively small, and many foreign nationals here are nowhere near fluent in Chinese.

If you don’t wish to be confined to expat groups, but struggling to find dates, then this is where apps come into play.

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D

ating apps allow you to meet more than just a soul mate, as Shoshanna found out after an unsuccessful date with a doctor. She remains friends with him and recalls, “When I experienced bedbug bites, he helped me diagnose them over a quick WeChat conversation.”

Life as an expat can be a double-edged sword, where you have a ready-made community waiting for you, but many expats will actively avoid it in pursuit of cultural immersion.

Anue from Fuzhou discovered that despite his aversion, Tinder enabled him to connect to an expat with similar views, and two years later they’re still together. “We are from different continents and both avoided the expat circles in our city so were unlikely to meet without the help of apps.”

Although he still remains hesitant of expat-only gatherings, he admits, “I couldn’t recommend them enough to help you outside of your immediate surroundings.”

Every date doesn’t always go well or even include someone we would typically spend time with. But, ‘getting out of your comfort zone’ could be the slogan for dating apps.

Linda from Nanjing admits that her most memorable encounter was an awkward, cheap first date. After her date let her pay for show tickets, he sought out discounted drinks and ultimately cut the date short after failing to find any deals. Linda recalls it positively though and admits, “Bad dates help you figure out people you don’t want to be

NEWS

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COVER STORY

Positive Vibes

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COVER STORY

with and are just as important as good ones. Put your worries aside and go explore.”

Additionally, countless opportunities and people are waiting online for you due to the sheer number of users. Xiao, a Chinese national living in Fuzhou, summarized online dating sweetly: “Some [people] you may never see again, some will be good friends, some may be good lovers, a serious relationship, or even marriage material.”

He believes, “More ‘interesting souls’ are on Tinder because people who know how to access apps like Tinder in China are usually more open-minded or have lived overseas

before,” but admits that it’s a generalization between him and his friends.

While explicit messages, catfishing and disastrous dates are part and parcel for many, Lauren from Xiamen highlights why persistence pays off.

After just over a year on Tantan, she found ‘the one.’ “I matched with the love of my life, and we are due to get married next year,” she tells us, adding that he moved across the country to be with her. But Lauren admits, “To find that good pingguo (apple), you’ve got to go through a few rotten ones first.”

On the flip side, some people don’t take dating apps seriously at the start.

Stacee from Shenzhen ended up in a long-term relationship with someone she used to casually respond to at first. “He’s the best thing to happen to me. He truly loves me for me.”

As we’ve learned over several discussions with dating app users, not all apps are made equal. Barbara from Fuzhou tells us that while Jimu is common among younger, diverse crowds, they’re less likely to be taken seriously.

With that said, “You can definitely find the right one too if it is destiny,” says Barbara.

In her personal experience as a lesbian in China, she notes that Jimu users generally use code words to signal their sexual orientation.

She tells us that Chinese lesbians tend to be shy on dating apps and are less interested in “hooking up.”

Soul, on the other hand, offers a promising user interface with multiple functions to

meet the user’s needs, according to Sylvia from Guangzhou.

“You can match by sound. If you like the other person’s voice, you might end up liking the other person, while if you don’t like their voice, you can pass.

If a person’s voice is nice, I will have a good impression of them, whether it is a guy or girl.” Additionally, Soul offers a group chat function.

Sylvia also mentions Hood, a relatively new app that can match people by dressing style. “Different dressing styles can show different personalities.

Some people will see whether the other person’s fashion style matches their own,” says Sylvia.

Some have found dating apps to be a great way to make friends as well. Liz from Shanghai admits that she found her best friend on Tantan. Despite suspicions of “getting scammed or just meeting tons of guys who wanted to ‘ride the horse’,” she found a local with excellent English skills.

After many dates, he returned to Beijing for work, but neither was ready to end things so they remained friends.

Liz told us, ”If you are a normal person that just wants to try a Chinese dating app, don’t rule out meeting someone you will actually like on one.”

Beyond romance and friendship, dating apps also play a role in learning new languages.

Albert in Shanghai admits that he quickly learned to use Tantan for language exchanges instead of dates because he personally found the cultural differences too great.

“The app helped me save time that I might have otherwise spent trying to find out if I was compatible with someone. I realized I wasn’t comfortable being asked to define the relationship too early and felt awkward on dates but enjoyed the opportunity to connect to people,” says Albert.

While dating apps have facilitated a proliferation of relationships that likely wouldn’t have taken hold in the real world, there’s also a darker side to the world of online dating.

Closing Shop P

enny from Fuzhou has found that people can leave our lives just as quickly as they entered after meeting a Sichuanese man who had traveled through her city.

Despite flying her out to Sichuan

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for a romantic week away, “He blocked me after I returned,” Penny tells us.

However, she remains positive about dating apps and continues to use them.

Some apps emphasize the importance of real-user verification – a useful

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tool in preventing catfishing.

We reached out to Lancheng, the company behind dating apps Lesdo and Blued, to learn what they are doing to thwart catfishing.

“For Blued, the function of user verification was launched in China several years ago and is now promoted to its overseas markets. Users who pass the verification will have a special logo attached to their profile photo. Through AI technology, Blued also protects user’s safety by providing automatic alarms and recommendations to users while the system detects risky topics, including fraud, personal safety as well as health-related issues,” a representative from Lancheng tells us via WeChat.

Lesdo has also made similar efforts

in real person verification and phone number binding.

If you’re worried about catfishing but don’t feel comfortable going through the user authentication steps, some apps implement it more casually.

A Jimu representative tells us, “The user authentication system may be a double-edged sword, [and] if it is too strict, there will be some psychological burden for ordinary users to accept.”

They also partially address concerns by requiring users to “complete real identity authentication on some personalized functions, but in a more general social environment, users will not be forced to authenticate.”

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App Equality

A

s we’ve learned, some dating apps are taken more seriously while others have a reputation for flings.

Regardless of intentions though, one issue for many non-Chinese users is navigating a Chinese-language app. For most expats here, a multi-language app is a necessity.

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The Lancheng team informed us, “Regarding Lesdo, we do have plans for a multi-language version and will keep users posted when we have a schedule to share.”

As for Blued, it’s more user-friendly for expats due to its existing translation infrastructure. “Our quick translation function supports English to Chinese translation, however, Chinese to English is still being developed. We hope to launch in the future,” a representative tells us.

The Jimu team further confirmed that “real-time language translation facilitates communication between foreign users and local users.” The app plans to help users break the ice quickly with more interactive communication functions like personalized emoji expressions. “After all, users around the world have basically the same understanding of emojis.”

Ultimately, two people speaking the same language isn’t the only recipe to making a successful relationship.

The Jimu PR team raised a valid point about their focus and efforts in making their user interface expat-friendly.

“Language barriers may cause communication issues between users with certain cultural differences, not only foreign users and local users, but also users in different geographic regions. The greatest value provided by social software such as Jimu is that it allows both parties to find mutual value recognition points faster and smoothly carry out follow-up communication.”

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D

ating can leave people feeling like a hot mess, whether you’re meeting Steve from the pub in London or Cherry from Tinder in Shanghai. There’s no clear formula for success, and as we already hit on – horror stories do exist.

Although previously many apps gained a bad reputation, it’s simply a part of dating nowadays.

If people are deterred by the possible unauthenticity of dating apps, consider that our grandparents were writing self-adverts into newspapers and likely adding a couple of inches to their height and subtracting a few years off their age back in the day.

So, are dating apps the only way to finding a soulmate? By no means. But, with an open mind and a sense of blind adventure, people will find that these apps can add more value than they get credit for.

Ai or Goodbye?

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FAMILY Upset Stomach

China has a Stomach Problem, Here’s How to Address It p50

Fitness Facts P48

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Veggie Mama P49

FULL HOUSE

ANTHONY COLES

Head of College at Dulwich College Beijing Interview by Ryan Gandolfo

With school starting up again soon, there’s plenty of planning by faculty and staff that goes in to making it a successful semester. Given the dynamic changes to education over the past year and a half, student life at international schools in China has also changed in many ways.

We reached out to Anthony Coles, Head of College at Dulwich College Beijing, to learn about how his team is preparing for the fall semester, education sector trends and student life at international schools in China.

“The past few months have demonstrated the value of remaining connected from different geographical locations“

What preparations do you need to make as the Head of College before the fall semester begins at DCB? If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of anticipating and being prepared for any eventuality.

We have sharpened our focus on our purpose (which we call our Guiding Statements: Vision/Mission/Values) and direction and established our 2021-2022 College priorities based on data and feedback collection. They will be clearly communicated to our returning and new staff to align the whole College around these key points.

This will help to set clear and actionable expectations throughout the College for all staff members.

Onboarding of our new staff is, of course, a key priority, and they will be supported in their transition to Beijing and introduced to our school culture.

the value of remaining connected from different geographical locations.

Bringing in a powerful video conferencing software will give us the ability to link 10,000 students across the Dulwich College International network and develop even more impactful collaborative projects.

AI of course will be a game-changer in personalizing student learning and tailoring content and feedback to each student.

Educating our students to become global citizens implies we give them more opportunities to be exposed and connected to the real world beyond the DCB bubble. We want them to develop the competencies and confidence to face challenges, grow as problem seekers and solvers and build life skills and values such as open-mindedness, flexibility, collaboration.

How has student life at an international school in China changed in recent years from your perspective?

We strongly believe in the integration of tech tools to enhance student learning.

The past few months have demonstrated

What industry trends in online education are you most excited to see in the future?

“Students come first” starts with placing our students’ health and wellbeing as our key priority. Their social-emotional needs have

been proactively monitored and supported over the past 18 months.

Our students not only thrive in their academics but also their extracurricular activities. The pandemic has curbed the local community engagement, heavily impacted the traditional regional and international trips such as residential, service trips and sports competitions.

This, however, has resulted in a demand for high-quality co-curricular activities to balance the strong academic program, and more creative ways to show engagement and service to the community.

How have you managed to have an impact on DCB since joining?

The challenges the pandemic posed meant my leadership team and I had to pull our community together through clear communication and efforts to support our students as well as our parents and staff.

We have spent the past 12 months reviewing all of our programs and operations in conjunction with a set of rigorous standards and practices as part of our global accreditation (CIS/WASC) process which will be peer-reviewed in November 2021.

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READING CORNER

CLASS CLOWN

Book recommendations from the Guangzhou Library:

Gaokao Gold

Know My Name: A Memoir Know My Name , chosen as a Best Book of 2019 by the New York Times Book Review, is a memoir of Chanel Miller, a sexual assault survivor who was known to the world as ‘Emily Doe’ for years. In her writing, Miller reclaims her identity and dignity and helps thousands who have a similar experience to regain courage and strength. This memoir, with pain, resilience, and humor entwined, is expected to stand as a modern classic.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea is one of the representative works of the French novelist Jules Verne who is often referred to as the ‘Father of Science Fiction.’ In this book, Verne presents us with a peculiar world far beneath the oceans and a thrilling adventure of the Nautilus, a mysterious underwater intruder. This book has been a source of fascination for many, and an inspiration for some scientists and discoverers.

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A teacher in Zhengzhou, Henan gifted his best-performing students with a free seven-day trip to Xinjiang. Liu Fugang, the headteacher at a school in the provincial capital, promised students who scored a 680 or higher on the gaokao with a trip of a lifetime. Liu and his wife took the students to the autonomous region more than 3,000 kilometers away in late July. Well done, students!

HEALTHY HABITS

Power of Walking Walking is something most people take for granted. And while it may seem like such a normal part of life, a 30-minute walk each day has abundant benefits to physical and mental health. According to walking advocate Woowalkers, walking helps to strengthen the heart – reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 27%. It’s also a great way to burn calories without the vigor of high-intensity workouts. Perhaps most notably, walking is a preferred way to clear the mind and improve your overall mood. Some of the world’s most innovative thinkers enjoyed a long walk to stimulate the mind. Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple, was known to have many meetings while walking around his neighborhood. If you walk more, will you become the next Steve Jobs? Possibly.

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

VEGGIE MAMA

Spinach Artichoke Dip Pasta Bake Every so often we get a craving for comfort food – something creamy, delicious and warm. In an effort to try and use up as many ingredients around the house as possible, this spinach artichoke dip pasta bake was born. Veggie Mama also managed to lighten it up with veggies, using cauliflower and canned artichoke hearts.

The result was a creamy spinach artichoke sauce that works well as a pasta bake sauce or a dip that’s perfect for parties. It ended up being just as delicious, filling and comforting as one can hope. This recipe makes two casserole dishes worth, so one can easily be frozen for future use. > Scan the QR code for the full recipe.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 49

F A M I LY | H E A L T H

Upset Stomach 50 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

H E A L T H | F A M I LY

China Has a Stomach Problem, Here’s How to Address It

By Yicheng Gu

I

n the beginning of July, Jiangsu rolled out a screening campaign for Helicobacter pylori (referred to as H.pylori) among families in the province.

The campaign highlights an ongoing H.pylori problem in the province, and the country as a whole.

H.pylori is a bacteria that causes infection in the stomach and can lead to peptic ulcers, gastritis and stomach cancer.

The H.pylori screening initiative was organized by the People’s Hospital in Jiangsu and is working alongside medical facilities in Nanjing, Changzhou and other cities in the region.

According to Chinese media outlet Lizhi news, “H.pylori is the only known microorganism that can survive in the stomach, and it is the most infectious between family members.”

In China, family dining habits are one of the main causes of H.pylori infections. This has led to an infection rate in China greater than 50%.

Families often eat food from the same dishes, with each member using their own chopsticks. If one family member has H.Pylori, then it can easily be transmitted to another – and potentially lead to stomach cancer later in life if left untreated.

There are approximately one million patients diagnosed with stomach cancer in the world every year, while China has the fourth-highest rate of stomach cancer, according to the World Cancer Research Fund, as well as one of the highest stomach cancer death rates in the world.

These four risk factors can lead to H.pylori infection: • Living in crowded conditions • No reliable source of clean water • Living in a developing country • Living with someone who has an H.pylori infection To prevent transmission of the bacteria, you should disinfect tableware regularly, avoid eating uncooked or overly hot food and, most importantly, separate meals. In the spring of 2020, China began advocating more for the use of serving chopsticks and spoons nationwide.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 51

LISTINGS

Beijing Kerry Residence Whether you’re a single business executive or a busy family, Beijing Kerry’s fully- furnished 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments will feel just like home. As well as enjoying all the comforts of modern living – including a well-equipped kitchen, entertainment systems, high-speed broadband and much more – residents are just moments away from the Kerry Centre’s shopping mall and sports facilities.

The rest of the CBD is on your doorstep too. >1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝 阳 区 光 华 路 1 号 (8535 6888, www.beijingkerryresidence. com)

BEIJING

Middle 8 Restaurant 中8楼 An oasis at the top of Taikoo Li, Middle 8 is the go-to destination for fresh authentic Yunnan cuisine.

The restaurant, stylish yet understated, has plenty of flavorsome well- priced dishes and a killer view to boot. > Raffles: Daily 11:00am-10:00pm, 5 Floor Of Raffles shopping center Dongzhimen Dongcheng District. 来福士店 : 东城区东直门来福士购物中心 5 层 8409 8199/8409 8234 > Indigo: Daily 11:00am-10:00pm, Jiuxianqiao Road No.20 Indigo F2 , Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路 20 号颐堤港 2 层 8420 0883

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

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

Oak Chateau Beijing Oak Chateau Beijing has 236 stylish and contemporary fully serviced apartments from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four bedroom suites available, measuring 64 to 260 square meters. There is a 24-hours

guest reception, and housekeeping is offered twice a week.

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

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

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SCHOOL NEWS SHANGHAI

Dulwich Pudong Announces Outstanding IB Results for the Class of 2021 Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong’s Class of 2021 IB students have scored well above the global IB average, registering 39.1 out of a total of 45 points, the highest average score ever achieved at the College. One hundred percent of DCSPD’s IB diploma programme (IBDP) students passed, with three students achieving perfect 45 scores and three others achieving 44 points. Fifty-three percent of students achieved 40+ points.

2021 Summer Performing Arts Festival Lights, Camera, Action! BISS Puxi Performing Arts Festival was a wonderful display of talented musicians, actors and dancers, with over 200 students performing live. All the parents, students, teachers and friends that attended the event helped to make the day a great success.

Another year of outstanding results by NAIS Pudong’s IB Diploma students!

Shanghai Singapore International School 25th Anniversary Celebrations

A staggering 50% of NAIS Pudong students achieved 40 points and above.

“I am so incredibly proud of these students,” said Lesley-Ann Wallace, Principal. “They have shown true resilience and perseverance during the most difficult times, and not only achieved outstanding academic results but leave us as truly well-rounded, compassionate and empathetic young people.”

Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS) held a 25th Anniversary Launch Ceremony, marking an important milestone for SSIS since its founding in 1996. Guest of Honor Mr. Chua Teng Hoe, Consul-General of the Republic of Singapore, launched the opening celebration with Madam Chen Jian, Vice-Mayor of HuaCao Town, and representatives from the school community. The watering ceremony signifies the growth, love and nurturing of a new generation of children. The anniversary-themed ‘The New Chapter’ celebrates SSIS new vision as it looks forward to the next 25 years of education.

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GUANGZHOU

Lady Eleanor Holles International School Celebrated the First School Year

AISG New Teacher Orientation At the end of July, AISG welcomed 38 new teachers to their family, adding to the existing 108 innovative and experienced faculty members. This year’s incoming teachers bring a great deal of diversity representing 10 different nationalities and a mix of 60% female and 40% male. In addition, nearly 73% of the faculty have attained their master’s degrees and more than 67% have over 11 years of experience in education. A week-long orientation helped introduce them to AISG culture and support systems and it was also a chance for them to get acquainted with living in Guangzhou by having fun on several outings.

On July 9, Lady Eleanor Holles International School Foshan held its final assembly and celebrated the first School Year.

Academic Year 2020-2021 was a milestone for LEH Foshan. The school successfully opened with proper international school licences, and most importantly, welcomed the founding families on the campus. Over this year, students have adapted to their new school and managed to build a caring and positive community.

BIS Welcomes Students and Parents to Open Day

BSG Enters New Partnership with Unicef The British School of Guangzhou has entered a new three-year partnership with UNICEF through Nord Anglia Education. This will encourage students to engage with the global Sustainable Development Goals and find new ways to make positive changes in the local community.

On August 7 and 8, parents and students can visit BIS EYFS and Primary Open Days. The fun-filled schedules include a speech from the principal, information about the curriculum, a demo class, school tour, Q&A section and fun arts activities for the young ones. Discover what BIS is all about this month. (BIS EYFS Open Day is for kids aged 2.5-5, BIS Primary Open Day is for kids aged 5-10.)

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HOTEL NEWS BEIJING

The House Collective Presents The ‘Chefs Story’

Outdoor Summer BBQ Brunch Buffet at Signature’s Every Saturday Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center kicks off its summer season with outdoor dining Saturday Brunch at Signature’s Restaurant, featuring smoking hot summer BBQ pass around, fresh seafood and endless desserts from KempiDeli! Every Saturday, from noon-3pm, guests may enjoy everything from international to homemade prime cheese & cold cuts, roasted duck, shrimp cocktails to sushi & sashimi, handmade dim sum, as well as a rich BBQ selection pass-around. Don’t forget the special outdoor kids playground for your little one’s break and top up your experience with all-you-can-drink Paulaner beers, wine and specialty cocktails options. Call 010 64653388 to learn more.

This June, Chefs Tony Ye from The Middle House, Li Dong from The Opposite House, and Tony Xu from The Temple House have joined together to create the ‘Chefs Story’, a journey through their hometowns, favorite childhood memories and what inspired them to first fall in love with cooking. Reflecting each chef’s personal cooking style, the ‘Chefs Story’ is told through a limited time menu, offering an exploration of traditional flavours and ingredients, showcasing their reinventions of classic regional dishes from each of their hometowns.

After knowing each other for so long, both professionally and personally, the chefs thought it only fitting they come together to create a menu that embodies dishes with special meanings to each of them. With different culinary styles and passions in one menu, ‘Chefs Story’ aims to celebrate The House Collective’s characterful properties, honoring the individuality at the heart of each House and their Chefs.

TIANJIN

The Peninsula Beijing Welcomes Billy Xu as New Pastry Chef The Peninsula Beijing is proud to welcome Chef Billy Xu as the hotel’s new Pastry Chef. Chef Billy will also oversee all pastry and dessert operations at Jing, Huang Ting and The Lobby, and will create exciting new visual and flavour combinations for the hotel’s legendary Peninsula Afternoon Tea. Born in Jiangsu province, Chef Billy is a young and creative pastry artist who has worked for several luxury hotels in mainland China and Macao. A forward-thinking chef who likes to embrace new challenges, he has successfully participated in prestigious pastry competitions in China and worldwide. He was winner of the 2019 China Pastry Cup in the Best Chocolate Cake category.

He also earned a silver medal at the IKA Culinary Olympics in Germany, and a bronze medal at the Food & Hotel Asia tournament in Singapore.

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The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin Tailor Made Girlicious New Room Package for an Unforgettable Experience The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin has newly launched the Girlicious package for an unforgettable experience. Fun. Style. Glamor. A fun and chic staycation tailor made by The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin for you and your bestie to enjoy the perfect girls’ time.

SHANGHAI

SHENZHEN

W Shanghai – The Bund Presents

Summer Flipped with Tory Burch at Grand Hyatt Shenzhen

W Music Series is back! Follow W Hotels Guest Music Curator Greater China CHACE reveal a blast of culture! W Shanghai - The Bund launched the #WBLACKBOX party, which set off a cultural storm and led the guests to explore popular design, personalized music and emerging trends. W Hotels Guest Music Curator Greater China CHACE ignited a music storm in W Shanghai on July 16, leading the city’s trendsetters to release their work pressure and enthusiasm for life with a series of high-energy performances.

Grand Hyatt Shenzhen is collaborating for the first time with Tory Burch, an American luxury lifestyle brand, to present a limited-edition summer afternoon tea at The Lounge. The tea set will be available until the end of August at RMB388 per set for two.

2021 Bulgari Sumposia Event Arrives at The Bulgari Bar - Bulgari Hotel in Shanghai

Exquisite Mooncake Gift Boxes at Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan

Bulgari Hotels & Resorts is delighted to introduce this year’s edition of the Bulgari Symposia, arriving first at Bulgari Hotel Shanghai last month, followed by Bulgari Hotel Beijing. Started in 2019, this initiative has gathered some of the best talents in the world at the Bulgari bars worldwide. For the 2021 Symposia, renowned guest bartenders will develop a total of 10 exclusive cocktails in each city. Two of them inspired by Milan and Rome in a tribute to the home of the first Bulgari Hotel and the Bulgari brand.

As Mid-Autumn festival approaches, Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan has prepared elegant moon cake gift boxes inspired by Chinese classical poems.

Call 8139 7856 to reserve your gift box today.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM |AUGUST 2021 | 57

HOTEL NEWS GUANGZHOU

G Restaurant Resumes Operation With More Delicacies

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Launches New Lifestyle Mini-Program

G restaurant resumed normal operations last month and more delicacies will be presented to guests to satisfy their taste buds.

Come and take a break from work to enjoy delicious food on weekdays.

The semi-buffet lunch has been upgraded with a more value-added menu, including seafood on ice, appetizer, garden salad, daily soup as well as roasted carving. In addition, our chef selects over ten kinds of main courses, at an additional CNY 18 to CNY 68, including assorted dim sum, Taiwanese steamed rice, minced pork sauce, fish & chips, seafood risotto as well as lamb and Russian beef sirloin. A special welcome drink will be served before the meal to complement your weekday lunch.

Living up to its stylish lifestyle brand, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts recenty launched its new WeChat Mini-Program Rosewood Lifestyle, which gives guests a taste of the good life. Expect some of the best moon cake gift boxes in the city as we near Mid-Autumn festival in September.

Newly Upgraded Rooftop Bar at LN Hotel Five

Livin’ It Up in Style in Sanya

Presiding over the River Pearl, LN Hotel Five is the answer to contemporary luxury. The hotel name is inspired by the “Theory of Five Elements,” and its nickname, the “City of Five Rams,” which in traditional Chinese refers to the spirit of balance, harmony, and inclusion. True to its name, the LN Hotel Five aspires to be a harmonious part of the city and embrace guests from all around the world.

At the 6th anniversary of LN Hotel Five, the rooftop bar has recently upgraded with transparent retractable glass walls which makes it a yearround place to go for fun and laughter. Unwind up high with delicious cocktails, live music and a sunset-over-the-skyline backdrop, all nestled within one place. Perfect place for enjoying a wide range of innovative cocktails, including their signature baijiu cocktails, or nibble on some pan-Asian small plates. Live music is on daily except Sunday and Monday.

The terrace is surrounded by a fantastic atmosphere, but for a bit calmer experience it is also open for dinner every weekday and for rooftop brunch every weekend.

Fairmont Sanya Haitang Bay, an awe-inspiring destination like no other on the island, invites guests to indulge in the glorious atmosphere of the National Coast. Greatly anticipated, the newest landmark hotel is a feng shui masterpiece steeped in Chinese traditions and cultural elements, creating a transcendent retreat wrapped in the beauty and grandeur of a tropical paradise.

A team of acclaimed designers and architects conceived a masterpiece for the resort. Fairmont Sanya Haitang Bay looks out upon the beautiful golden coastline of the bay toward diver paradise Wuzhizhou Island. Sweeping views of the property encompass swaying palms by the white sand beach. The Yun River seawater canal, a first in hotels worldwide, winds its way throughout the property creating a calm presence and connecting guests to the elements of water, earth, nature and sky.

For those who appreciate authentic Chinese culture, they can explore the hotel’s Wood Art Gallery, a fantastic ancient Jiangnan courtyard-style house filled with ornately carved and crafted Ming- and Qing-era wooden treasures.

Enjoy this summer now at Fairmont Sanya. For inquiries, please email hb851@fairmont.com or call +86 898 8865 5555.

58 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

SANYA

BUY ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE ‘EXPLORE CHINA’ NOW The beautiful 185-page perfectly bound book contains:

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Urbanatomy Media is excited to share the highly anticipated fourth edition of our Explore China travel guide, now in handy pocketsize format. The latest edition of

Explore China offers detailed info on historical sites, scenic nature spots, local delicacies to savor, activities to partake in as well as information on transportation links and recommendations on places to stay.

Scan the QR code to purchase Explore China right now.

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• Historical and geographical facts and points of significance • Where to stay, eat and drink, with must-try dishes and local delicacies • Transportation information, airports, railway and road connections • A shopping guide with tips and local products worth looking out for • UNESCO World Heritage Sites and sacred mountains • Informative features to help you understand China • Fun day trips and destinations to visit from major cities • China’s ethnic minorities and their culture • Chinese characters and pinyin to facilitate travel and communication • Must-have apps, and how to set up a phone and digital payment system

That’s

AUGUST

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in China.

By Joshua Cawthorpe

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

7.23~8.23

8.24~9.23

9.24~10.23

10.24~11.22

When that new real estate office is opening up outside your building and cacophonous screeching and drums wake you up at 9am – this lion dance is for you, Leo.

Don’t worry, Virgo. Saturn will be in retrograde until October 11 so you still have time to ask for that raise at work.

Waiters walk away without ever hearing your request.

You miss your stop on the subway because nobody moves out of your way. Try a shamate hairstyle on for size.

Patience is a virtue and it’s time to become master of your domain…again. Habits are developed one task at a time. Start by making your bed.

11.23~12.21

12.22~1.20

Capricorn

Aquarius 1.21~2.19

2.20~3.20

Expect some unexpected time off this summer and go for a quick solo trip. The Longji rice terraces in Guangxi are a great way to spend a couple of days away from the hustle and bustle.

Jiayou ! The mountain goat sign is known for being hardworking. Even if your boss doesn’t notice, the universe does.

Don’t be suspicious of your partner or your peers. People have their preoccupations without analyzing every little thing you’re doing. Give it a rest.

The NHL Stanley Cup Final and Euro Cup both came to a disappointing close. Be grateful you didn’t have any savings to donate to your bookie.

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Sagittarius

Pisces

3.21~4.20

4.21~5.21

5.22~6.21

6.22~7.22

You must stay focused on the task at hand. Juggling side hustles will only guarantee that none of them succeed.

Focus on one, either for passion or self-preservation.

Taurus belongs to the Earth element and when was the last time you dug your hands into the dirt. Order a houseplant on Taobao for the time being.

You aren’t always right, but nobody is always wrong.

Stick to your guns because your opinions and insights will prove useful to somebody.

Cirrhosis is depleting the value of your organ IPO, so maybe stop crushing Asahi’s in front of Family Mart after work and invest in your long-term health.

60 |AUGUST 2021 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

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