JUNE 2014 IN THIS ISSUE

CHINA OBSERVATIONS Smellscapes of China

CHINESE WISDOM On the Usefulness of Uselessness

MADE IN CHINA Eve Group: The Fashion Story of a Chinese Brand

BUSINESS CHINA

An Emerging Stratum: Global China Insights China’s Entrepreneurs

C HINA TIMES Partner or Rival? Dutch Policy-making regarding China

FEATURE INTER VIEW Daan Roosegaarde: A Dutch Artist’s Mission to Clean China’s Smog

GRONINGEN CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE 03 Global China Insights June 2014

China City Culture Harbin: The Harmony of 44 Diversity IN THIS I SSUE

______Chinese Wisdom 4 China Times Doing Business with China On the Usefulness of Globalising China Lecture by Dr. Victor Uselessness Part 2: Fast Foreign Yuan: Victory in the China Observations 21 Congratulations to Smellscapes of China; Economic Expansion 6 Chinese Market 27 Visibility of Religion in Contemporary China; Partner or Rival? ______A Ballet Teacher in China the University of Groningen The Narrow Margins of China Vogue Aesthetic China 35 th Dutch Policy-making WeChat: A Lifestyle 32 Spring Time in Chinese Verse; on its 400 anniversary Regarding China 10 China Sounds More Classical Than Ever; Chinese Cuisine: ______Edible Artwork Business China Feature Interview China Media 48 An Emerging Stratum: A Dutch Artist’s Mission Wild China: Beautiful China; China’s Entrepreneurs 14 to Clean China’s Smog Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China: ______Interview with A Book by Ezra F. Vogel; © University of Groningen Made in China Daan Roosegaarde 40 Where Are We Going, Dad? Eve Group: GCI Calendar 55 GCI Overview; GCI Events; GCI The Fashion Story of a People Dynamics Photo: Teng Fei ( ) Chinese Brand 18 Photo cover: Xinhua Photo back cover: Du Yongle ( )

Issue 3 June 2014 1 Global China Insights ISSUE 3 June 2014

COLOFON Perceptions and Destinations

Published by: Groningen Confucius Institute Advisory Board Members: Su Zhiwu (苏志武) Beijing people are very warm-hearted. In Beijing (北京), I saw people treat beggars not only Hu Zhengrong (胡正荣) to food but also to old clothes,” one said. Someone else added: “Shanghainese (上海人), though, are Pang Zengyu (逄增玉) money-seeking. In Shanghai, once I asked somebody for direction and was lead to my destination, but I Ruud Vreeman “was charged for the privilege…” Hendrik Jan Pijlman Sibrandes Poppema This conversation, which is the opening of a fictional novel, takes place in a train station waiting hall where it is overheard by two rural migrant workers. Two migrant workers determined to search for a Co-publishers: Liu Jingyi (刘婧一), new career in Beijing and Shanghai respectively. On hearing this dialogue while waiting for the train, Xuefei Knoester-Cao (曹雪飞), they both had a change of heart, arousing a dramatic change in their destinations. The one who wanted Jan Klerken to go to Shanghai suddenly thought: “Shanghai is such a difficult place, and Beijing sounds so friendly. Editor-in-Chief: Liu Jingyi (刘婧一) As a newcomer, even if I could not find a job, I would probably not be starved there”. While the one who Senior Editor: John Goodyear wanted to go to Beijing thought: “In Shanghai you can make money even by giving a person directions, it Editor: Ingrid Fischer would be impossible to fail to earn money there!” So they decide to exchange their tickets. The story ends Editorial Assistants: Teng Jiaqi (滕嘉琪), Hao Cui (郝翠), with the one who went to Shanghai becoming an entrepreneur, and the one who went to Beijing becoming Ding Xiyuan (丁喜媛) a beggar. Editorial Office Manager: Jasna Ros Designer: Nynke Kuipers Grafisch Ontwerp BNO (Kuenst) I read this story 20 years ago and I was so deeply impressed with and inspired by how much one’s Layout: Zheng Jing (郑晶) perception directs one’s destination. From that moment on, I have especially enjoyed observing different Artist Assistant: Li Yunxuan (李韵譞) people’s perceptions of the same facts or information and I always try to perceive one thing from different Photographers: Du Yongle (杜永乐), Li Shujun (李树军) and perspectives. I have gotten so much joy and inspiration from that. It is actually one of my missions and others one of the reasons for my initiative to share various perspectives on China via Global China Insights. Printer: Zalsman Groningen Media Editorial Office Address: Oude Boteringestraat 42 I have conducted a number of interviews with different people for this issue, and many times I just could 9712 GL Groningen, The Netherlands not help but think about the story, and I was impressed by a lot of my interviewees’ insightful perceptions: Tel: +31 (0)50 - 36 34 688 Mr. Daan Roosegaarde perceived the smog of Beijing as an opportunity for his business in China, and Email: [email protected] he achieved an innovative solution for the project (Feature interview); Mr. Huang Nubo (黄怒波) equated Editorial Email: [email protected] entrepreneurship to climbing a mountain as one needs to challenge the uncertainty during the process Advertising Email: [email protected] (Business China); Mrs. Xia Hua (夏华) was determined to renovate the men’s clothing field when other Subscription Email: [email protected] people competed in lady’s costumes and did not think there would be any demand for men’s fashion in Website: www.confuciusgroningen.nl China (Made in China).

Available at: I believe it is an art in life to perceive things from different angles because it provides people with an open The Netherlands: vision to many possibilities and directions. If you follow a new direction, you might suddenly become Groningen Confucius Institute aware of it and take the appropriate action: a rewarding destination might be waiting for you. In that Municipality of Groningen sense, we can say that perceptions determine destinations. Germany: City of Oldenburg, China Office Academy of English, The China Room China: Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) Communication University of China Digital version available at Liu Jingyi www.confuciusgroningen.nl Editor-in-Chief www.Hanban.org

© Du Yongle (杜永乐)

2 3 CHINESE WISDOM

On the Usefulness of Uselessness Luo Xuan (罗璇)

Pragmatism has been at the heart of modern society in which the seemingly useless things are simply out of place. But actually, there is no such thing as absolute uselessness, Taoist philosopher Zhuang Zhou (庄周 ca. 369-286 BC), better known as Chuang-Tze (庄子), argues in the parable of the useless tree. The story goes: A wandering carpenter, called Stone, saw on his travels a gigantic old oak tree standing in a field near an earth-altar. The carpenter said to his apprentice, who was admiring the oak: “This is a useless tree. If you wanted to

make a ship, it would soon rot; if you wanted to make tools, they would break. © Xinhua You cannot do anything useful with this tree, and that is why it has become so old.” What Chuang-Tze illustrates with the educational scientist Ken Robinson for mere serendipitous discoveries to alter our for what they are and not merely for their

parable of the useless tree is not that the instance, who presents it as an argument existing paradigms. Instead, the realisation apparent usefulness. Like the carpenter, tree is actually without use; rather, the against uniform education. By putting all of personal potential and the development may we learn not to judge these ‘useless’ We live in a world of ever increasing speed. usefulness of the tree is lost on the carpenter our students into the same educational of the individual’s special skills and talents people and things too quickly, but realise People want results and they want them because of his limited perspective. He looks straitjacket, special talents will easily get – useful or useless – should be at the heart that our own perspective is always limited now. In fact, they wanted them an hour ago. at the tree as a carpenter typically would: lost because these individual talents may of the education system, if not at the heart to some degree. And finally, like the oak Our society, therefore, tends to be governed raw material that must be turned into a not be perceived as useful. The students of society in general. tree, may we as a society grow old and by short-term pragmatism and efficiency. ship or a tool. For the old oak tree however, are instead forced to study more ‘practical’ ‘useless’ and live out our natural life span. Anything requiring too much time, money it is a different story altogether. Being skills, which may not be quite suitable for The carpenter woke up and meditated or effort will quickly be deemed ‘useless’. As turned into a ship is not necessarily such a them. upon his dream, and later, when his a result, our educational systems, industry great thing from its perspective; instead, apprentice asked him why just this one and society at large have all become it chooses to preserve itself by becoming Their own gifts thus not only bring tree served to protect the earth-altar, standardised to a high degree. They provide ‘useless’ in the eyes of the carpenter. harm to themselves, but possibly also he answered: “The tree grew here on a constant stream of model employees to to the society at large. As some of these purpose because anywhere else people the factories producing commodities for This principle of relativity is a recurring unique talents are wasted this way, it would have ill-treated it. If it were not the masses. However, something valuable theme in the philosophy of Chuang-Tze. And might prove essential in the long run. the tree of the earth-altar, it might have is lost in that process. Something we may it does not only apply to usefulness. The For instance, when facing the great been chopped down.” Luo Xuan (罗璇) has a Master’s degree in not be able to afford in the long term. And same goes for aesthetics (what is beautiful (ecological) challenges of our time: Religious Studies from Sichuan University something that might be regained if we take or ugly), ethics (what is good or bad) and overpopulation, the depletion of natural Current educational systems are not (四川大学) in China and is currently doing a this lesson from Chuang-Tze to heart: © Ding Xiyuan (丁喜媛) even knowledge (what is true or false). Most resources, the reduction of natural habitats designed to develop any of the seemingly Research Master in Religion and Culture essentially, Chuang-Tze argues that all of and biodiversity, and deforestation. ‘useless’ skills that may be required to at the Faculty of Theology and Religious That same evening, when the carpenter branches are broken, their twigs are torn. these perspectives are equally valid: One is These challenges will require innovative provide solutions to the great challenges of Studies at the University of Groningen. Her went to sleep, the old oak tree appeared Their own gifts bring harm to them, and not necessarily better than the other. solutions, requiring in turn special skills our times. In order to protect the ‘earth- research orientation is primarily focused on to him in his dream and said: “Why do they cannot live out their natural span. and talents. Man can no longer afford to altars’ of our own life-world, some wise Chinese Taoism and its negotiations with you compare me to your cultivated trees? That is what happens everywhere, and that In the case of usefulness, Chuang-Tze’s rely on the system which created these lessons could be taken from an ancient Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism and folk Even before they can ripen their fruit, is why I have long since tried to become sceptical view has been applied by modern problems in the first place to also provide Taoist Master. Like the apprentice in the religions. people attack and violate them. Their completely useless.” scholars as well. By the well-known these solutions. Nor can people rely on parable, may we admire people and things

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Globalising China Part 2: Fast Foreign Economic Expansion1

Rien T. Segers

As discussed in the Domestic Market of the People’s Republic of China in the previous edition of this magazine, the staggering economic growth of China has garnered a lot of attention and, in many cases, the rise of China is perceived by governments and companies

of many other countries alike as a threat to national security, domestic economies and © Du Yongle (杜永乐) the overall business climate. What are the hallmarks of the Chinese domestic economy

and how has it achieved such rapid growth through trade and OFDI? This section gives an The intentions to invest abroad are clearly in China: Beijing Enterprises Group overview of the current state of Chinese OFDI, its development and the events and policies To what extent do present among Chinese companies and the (北京控股集团 Bĕijīng Kònggŭ Jítuán) and TPV influencing its growth. Chinese companies amount of foreign assets is increasing. As Technology Limited (冠捷科技集团 Guànjié Kējì become transnational Chinese companies are relative newcomers to Jítuán). The other companies may have a lot of cross-border investment, the question arises: foreign assets but have scores under 50% on corporations? To what extent do they become transnational the transnationality index. Chinese state-owned corporations? Many Chinese companies resource companies, such as CNOOC (中国海洋石 China’s Outward Foreign Direct Germany, France and Japan for that year (see with large foreign assets have significant 油总公司 Zhōngguó Hăiyáng Shíyóu Zŏnggōngsī) Investment (OFDI) Fig. 2). state involvement. According to UNCTAD’s and China National Petroleum Company (中 In combination with its attractiveness as a China has built up its foreign OFDI stock transnationality index, which determines the 国石油天然气总公司 Zhōngguó Shíyóu Tiānránqì production location, China today has become at a breathtaking pace around the world. largest emerging market companies by foreign Zŏnggōngsī), have very low transnationality a very busy home for multinational activities. Unsurprisingly, the centre of gravity of Chinese assets, overseas sales and employment, only two scores of 9.4% and 2.7% (UNCTAD, 2011). In 2009, China received a total FDI inflow of OFDI stock lies in Asia (see Fig. 3). Accounting Chinese companies have more assets abroad than Foreign assets of large Chinese companies are USD 95 billion (€68.95bn), which was actually for 89% of Chinese OFDI stock in Asia, China’s a drop of 12% with respect to 2008 (UNCTAD, Asian OFDI stock is concentrated in Hong Kong 2011). Nevertheless, this amount makes it (香港 Xiānggăng), Singapore and Macao the second largest recipient of FDI behind the (澳门 Àomén). Strong cultural links, diplomatic United States, which suffered a decline of 59% ties and quickly developing economies make in 2009. In contrast to its inflows, OFDI flows Hong Kong, Singapore and Macao attractive from China are a more recent phenomenon destinations for Chinese OFDI. Quite striking and have amounted to a considerable size in a is the high rank of Pakistan on the list. relatively short period (see Fig. 1). Apart from Chinese assets in mining and In spite of the global trend of decline in OFDI infrastructure, Chinese investments in Pakistan seen over the past two years, Chinese OFDI seem highly driven by regional security as both actually managed to increase during this period. countries share a rivalry with neighboring Especially in the last five or six years, Chinese India. OFDI flows picked up quickly (see Fig. 1). Total Figure 1: Chinese outward FDI flows flows of Chinese OFDI reached USD 56.53 1 Part 1: The Domestic Market of the People’s Republic from 2001-2009 (USD millions) billion by 2009, making China the fifth largest of China was published in Issue 2 of Global China Source: UNCTAD, 2011 investor worldwide behind the United States, Insights (GCI).

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Capability Constraints of Chinese Firms in the Global Market Although Chinese firms have implemented various expansion strategies successfully and have built up firm-specific advantages, they do reveal some weaknesses that can affect growth and international expansion. For instance, for some industries and products, the Chinese domestic market, or any other emerging market, is relatively small or non-existent compared to the global market (Williamson et al., 2010). Certain Chinese firms will have a hard time establishing sizable production volumes for © Xinhua domestic or peripheral markets before building up cost advantages in foreign markets. growing quickly but the low transnationality Another limitation to Chinese corporate scores underline that the majority of enterprises expansion strategies is the immaturity of Figure 3: Destinations of are still in an early stage of internationalis ation. its industries and technologies. Insufficient Chinese OFDI flows in 2009 The most influential stage of Chinese OFDI knowledge and strength in base technology and Source: MOFCOM, 2010 policy development is definitely the the lack of international experience can hamper implementation of the ‘go global’ policy. The development of Chinese firms. As the pace of jeopardising the value of a product or service. state gradually stepped away from its technological change and evolution is rapid, Although Chinese Intangible assets, such as brand names and For a long time, Rien T. Segers was Professor of Asian interventionist role and increasingly assumed the Chinese firms may struggle in keeping up with firms have technology, are important factors when engaging Business Culture at the University of Groningen. Now role of facilitator. Outward investment was no developments and to put out reliable products. in overseas activities. As latecomers, Chinese he is Director of Asian Strategy of the three Northern longer restricted to state-owned enterprises, but Acquiring foreign technology can become a cost implemented various companies have not yet had the opportunity to Dutch Provinces. In addition, he serves as Professor since 2003 privately owned enterprises have burden when product life cycles outrun firms. expansion strategies build up these assets and are disadvantaged. of Asian Business Strategies at the Hanze University been able to invest abroad. Their involvement in Chinese companies are still quite inexperienced successfully and High technology, variety or specialty products of Applied Science in Groningen and as Research OFDI has received extra encouragement since at managing and coordinating a complex, have built up firm- at a low price may not be convincing enough to Fellow at the International Institute Clingendael in 2006 (Rosen et al., 2009). Under the ‘go global’ interrelated global value chain. Especially in break into markets where end customers display The Hague. Currently he is a visiting professor of Asian policy, administrative approval procedures for fast-moving consumer goods industries and specific advantages, a high degree of brand loyalty (Williamson et al., Studies at the Department of Asian Studies, University foreign investments projects have been simplified pharmaceuticals, the value chain is intricately they do reveal some 2010). of Maryland Baltimore (UMBC), USA. This article is and standardised and guiding catalogues have sliced and requires a systematic approach. For weaknesses that adapted from a book which recently appeared: Asia: been set up directed at special regions and Chinese companies, it is often unclear in which Conclusion Reshaping the Global Economic Landscape (Aix-la- industries. In its monitoring activities, the part of the value chain they can apply their can affect growth Over the last 30 years, the Chinese economy has Chapelle: Shaker, 2013), which he wrote together with government has started to emphasise on cost-innovation advantages, or how to distribute and international experienced immense growth. China has become Trevor Stam. performance rather than quantity as it used to do. these advantages over various activities, without expansion. an economic and political force to be reckoned with and is bound to increase its influence even further. The startling domestic economic References growth is promising, but China will face multiple MOFCOM (2010). 2009 Statistical Bulletin of China’s challenges to sustain a certain growth while Outward Foreign Direct Investment. Beijing: MOFCOM stabilising its institutions, averting possible Rosen, D.H., Hanemann, T. (2009)., China’s Changing social unrest, rebalancing its regional socio- Outbound Foreign Direct Investment Profile: Drivers economic disparities, diversifying its economic and Policy Implications. Washington D.C.: Peterson structure and addressing environmental and Institute for International Economics Figure 2: Largest investors other civil society issues in the process. It is a UNCTAD. (2011). UNCTAD Statistics. Retrieved May by OFDI flows in 2008 and gargantuan task to complete, but the Chinese 14, 2011, from http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page. 2009 (USD billions) people, corporations and government seem asp?intItemID=1584&lang=1 ready to push the country into a new stage of Williamson, P.J., & Zeng, M. (2010). Chinese Source: MOFCOM, 2010, domestic consolidation and broader economic Multinationals Emerging Through New Global UNCTAD, 2011 development. Gateways. Cambridge: University Press

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global relevance, also affecting the countries of imposed on China after the Tiananmen riots in the European Union, including the Netherlands. 1989. This time, early in 2014, reactions to the In December 2013, the Advisory Council on AIV’s new Asia report have proved to be much International Affairs (Adviesraad Internationale less agitated. This is mainly caused by the Vraagstukken, AIV), an authoritative advisory Council’s deliberate choice for cautiously worded Partner or Rival? body of the Dutch government on issues of positions and conclusions. Contrary to 2007, foreign and defense policy, published its long- balance and nuance are the main ingredients awaited report on the expected strategic of the report, yin (阴) and yang (阳) prevail, The Narrow Margins of 1 Dutch implications of the rise of Asia in global politics. clear-cut recommendations are difficult to find. The Rutte government had asked for this Misleadingly, the report’s title suggests a focus Regarding China advice because of increasing concerns about on the region (East) Asia, but the major part Policy-making the consequences of growing Asian power for of the text is devoted to one country: China. In the position of Europe, and the Netherlands in the AIV’s view, China is a threat but also an particular. The government also wanted to know opportunity; the Chinese are partners but also Jan van der Harst what the so-called US pivot towards the Asian competitors; the Chinese government has no Pacific, proclaimed by the Obama administration ambition for leadership, but its assertive policies in 2011, actually signified for Europe. With its may very well lead to (regional) conflict and pivot strategy, US foreign policy aims to veer war, etc. With such emphasis on differentiation away from its traditional focus on the Atlantic and modification, everyone can find something area in favour of a new orientation on China to his own liking in the report. Sometimes this and neighbouring countries in Asia. The AIV’s way of arguing confuses the reader, for example, The recent visit of China’s president Xi Jinping (习近平) to the Netherlands is seen as a milestone in the diplomatic In the AIV’s view, advisory report was meant as a sequel to the when the AIV posits that the Netherlands should relations between the two countries. Since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, no Chinese Council’s advice of 2007, then published under pursue multilateralism in the relationship China is a threat but the title China in the balance: Towards a mature with China, but, if necessary, not refrain from president has ever set foot on Dutch soil until Xi’s arrival at Schiphol Airport on 22 March 2014. His visit was a also an opportunity; relationship. The 2007 report had provoked clear manifestation of growing goodwill and understanding in the bilateral sphere. At the same time, it was the the Chinese are considerable discussion and contention in policy- confirmation of a longer existing tendency in Sino-Dutch contacts to focus almost exclusively on the pursuit of partners but also making circles in The Hague, because of the 1 Advisory Council on International Affairs, Asia on mutual economic benefit – visible most notably in the presence of strong business delegations on either explicit recommendations it contained, most the rise. Strategic significance and implications, AIV- competitors. notably the call for lifting the EU arms embargo advice no 86, The Hague, December 2013. side – while simultaneously avoiding the more thorny political issues. in the course of time, the Netherlands has developed into an important trading partner for China, ranking only second to Germany out of all EU member states. Also, mutual investment levels have recently undergone vast improvement. The focus on ‘low politics’ issues is caused by these rapidly intensifying economic contacts, but it may also be explained as the logical consequence of a power shift in bilateral relations, with China evidently in the driver’s seat nowadays and with the Netherlands in a subsidiary position. The trend towards depoliticisation (by removing the sensitive political ‘sting’ out of bilateral relations), as preferred by China, as well as the continuing process of Europeanising Dutch policies, has affected the margins for The Hague’s policy-making regarding Beijing (北京).

hinas ha become a focal point and managed to lift a large part of the of international relations in the 21st population out of extreme poverty. The increased Ccentury. The country is home to a weight of China – and the wider Asian Pacific – substantial part of the world’s population and in in the global economy has manifested itself in the the past thirty years, its standard of living has strengthening of economic and trade relations grown faster than anywhere else in the world. with the rest of the world. As a consequence, free During the most recent decade, Beijing – with movement at sea and political stability in the an average of 10% GDP growth per year – has Asian region are no longer purely regional-Asian achieved unprecedented economic development concerns, but have developed into a matter of © Xinhua

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tend to look for short-term advantages and gains since 2008. This has mainly to do with internal in their economic dealings with China, with the divisions within the EU, caused by the financial likely risk of long-term damage for Europe as crisis. Since the start of the crisis, quite a few a whole in the shape of increased protectionism EU member states facing the problems of rising and the corresponding loss of a level playing public debts and falling income are in search field. Recent intra-European divisions on the of attracting Chinese investments to stimulate import of solar panels from China are a case in their own economic performance without point here. For a country like the Netherlands asking China for reciprocity in the opening of with its open economy, its function as a logistical markets for European companies. Opposite to centre in Europe (the port of Rotterdam) and those is a group of EU countries less hit by the its intensive trade relations with China, such crisis and more inclined to confront the Chinese protectionist tendencies could be particularly government with demands of reciprocity in trade hurtful. Hence, the AIV’s understandable plea and investment. The Netherlands belongs to for an extension and strengthening of the EU the latter group. Before the start of the crisis in common market and a clear-cut mandate for 2008, it was easier to bring member states on the European Commission to act as a central one line regarding trade matters with China. The negotiator on behalf of the member states. fact that this has changed considerably in more From that perspective, the guiding line for the recent time, has been an extra motive for the © Xinhua Commission should not be protectionism or blind AIV to emphasise the importance of a common trust in liberal trade, but rather a strategy based European stance. bilateral action. What might also be confusing is shown by Obama’s ‘pivot to Asia’ strategy (later on ‘economic realism’: Openness where possible, Particularly for a when the report’s strongly worded desideratum rephrased as ‘rebalancing to Asia’ because of but with room for restrictions. The general tenor From the AIV’s report it becomes clear that smaller country like that Europe and the US should team up together the potentially aggressive meaning of the former the Netherlands perceives present-day China in their Asia policies is followed by the assertion term). The defense strategic guidance presented more as a partner than as a rival. The report the Netherlands, that the Obama administration is not really by the Obama administration confirms the desire also confirms the notion that the room for the margins for an interested in what the EU really wants. The of maintaining American leadership in the independent Dutch policy-making towards explicitly formulated AIV’s preference for (over-)nuancing sometimes world, also in military terms. European stakes China has become extremely narrow. This is policy strategy makes reading the report a rather tedious task. are different. Illustratively, an EU official once caused by two main factors: China’s preference It is tempting to criticise the report for this observed that “the US will be an Asian power for depoliticising diplomatic relations and the regarding China and apparent lack of focus. At the same time, one and we [the EU] will be an Asian partner”. enduring process of framing Dutch policies the Asian Pacific are should sympathise with the drafters that overly The EU and the individual EU states consider into the overarching EU framework. European extremely narrow. assertive statements concerning relations with Asia primarily in terms of (rising) markets and multilateralism limits Dutch autonomy, but also present-day China and East Asia are just not not particularly as a region where national provides chances: It offers the Netherlands the opportune. Particularly for a smaller country like security interests are at stake. This makes the possibility to hide behind the EU shield in stormy the Netherlands, the margins for an explicitly relationship between the EU and China less times, being less exposed to China’s policy formulated policy strategy regarding China and explosive than the Sino-American one. What ambitions than would be the case in a purely the Asian Pacific are extremely narrow. China’s the AIV report does very well is to give a clear bilateral setting. current successful attempts at depoliticising the exposé of strategic developments in China and bilateral relationship have limited the Dutch the East Asian region and a survey of possible © Ming Cao government’s space to manoeuvre. Moreover, consequences of these geopolitical changes. most of the Dutch economic policies regarding One of the AIV report’s main of the report is that mutually binding agreements the Asian region are embedded in the larger EU recommendations concerns an element of with China are only possible if the EU member framework and have to a substantial degree trade policy: In the Council’s view the Dutch states manage to speak with one voice. Jan van der Harst is Professor in European Integration become ‘Europeanised’. Hence, seen from the government should strive consistently for a joint With its focus on ‘low politics’ issues, the in the Department of International Relations and national perspective, a certain degree of modesty EU stance on trade relations with China, even EU indeed is more a partner than a power rival International Organization at the University of and caution seems justifiable. if such a position might sometimes conflict with to China. However, despite the lack of a sharp Groningen. He is also Academic Director of the Centre The AIV report reminds us that Europe is Dutch national interests. In this respect, the political edge, the relationship between China for East Asian Studies Groningen (CEASG), the particularly concerned with economic and AIV points to the widely existing but harmful and the EU has encountered serious problems, Tsinghua-Groningen Joint Research Centre for China- trade relations with Asia, much more than with bilateral trade practices between individual EU recently. Negotiations between Brussels and EU relations and the Dutch Studies Centre Fudan- security issues. In this respect, EU and US countries and China interfering with the common Beijing about a Partnership and Cooperation Groningen. policy approaches are vastly different, as is trade philosophy of the Union. EU member states Agreement have arrived in difficult straits

Global Insights 12 China Issue 3 June 2014 13 BUSINESS CHINA business china

Global China Business Meeting is the foremost annual He Zhenhong, President of China Entrepreneur Magazine (CEM), An Emerging business meeting on China, open to entrepreneurs of President of China Entrepreneur Mulan Club (木兰汇), Director leading companies from China and around the world. of the Organization Committee of China Entrepreneur Summit, Stratum: 2013 Horasis Global China Business Meeting took Director of the judges of CCTV annual Top 10 Economic Person. place in The Hague, the Netherlands from 10-11 Active as a journalist and news editor, she is considered an expert November 2013. During the meeting, Dr. Liu Jingyi, in macroeconomics, industrial economy and corporations. She was China’s the Editor-in-Chief of Global China Insights, had a awarded the title of Top 10 Best Journalists, Top 10 Best Editors featured interview with Mr. Huang Nubo (黄怒波), the by the Economic Daily Group and had the honour of being National President of Zhongkun Investment Group, China (中坤投 Distinguished Media professional. Entrepreneurs 资集团) and Mrs. He Zhenhong (何振红), President of China Liu Jingyi (刘婧一) Entrepreneur Magazine (《中国企业家》) on the emerging stratum of Chinese entrepreneurs.

Mrs. He, I have been a loyal reader of your enterprises’ in entrepreneurs”, we advocate force in transforming China into a market- transformation of the society, bringing it to Chinese entrepreneur? and promote social development. Then back magazine and I am very much impressed by the spirit of Chinese entrepreneurs, and give oriented society, which is huge contribution a new level. They are also a group of people Huang Nubo: I think Ru Shang (儒商), to the concept of Ru Shang, the other side of the position of CEM: the business and life them a reputation as the most respectable in my view. Meanwhile, the entrepreneurs who are bringing China’s culture into the which stands for Confucian Businessmen, this concept, I think, is the Tianxia Qinghuai of a stratum (一个阶层的生意和生活). Could you people and the mainstay of the society. If are making efforts to promote the social international arena. would be a suitable concept to explain (天下情怀), the high regard and concern please tell our readers what the stratum of you want me to depict what the stratum is development leveraging their own sense, the spirit of Chinese entrepreneur. It for the world or the society. It’s different China’s Entrepreneur is like? like, I think, a vivid model is just sitting reflection and advocating action. They do I think that is rather an important point combines traditional Confucian ethic and from the Western enterprise ethics, which, He Zhenhong: China Entrepreneur here: Mr. Huang Nubo. To give a collective not restrict themselves in enlarging the regarding China entrepreneurs’ cultural modern entrepreneuriship. I just had a according to Max Weber, is the Protestant Magazine was launched by Economy profile, I think, first, Chinese entrepreneurs scale of the enterprises, but tend to spend mission and efforts. Could you tell me more? conversation with Professor Tu Weiming work ethic, including engagement in Daily Group in 1985 and it was the first have made great contributions to China’s a lot of energy on environmental protection He Zhenhong: As you just saw in the award (杜维明), a professor of Peking University one’s work, accumulation of wealth for magazine given the name ’Entrepreneur’. economic development. This contribution and other social responsibilities. Their ceremony of China’s business leaders of the (北京大学) and Harvard University, about investment, fulfillment from the work and With the core idea that “the competition of lies not only in the gross economic growth, spirits and social concern are leading and year, the prize winner Mrs. Xia Hua what Ru Shang is, details of which also being thrifty in life. While the spirit of national strengths lies in enterprises, while but also in the fact that they are the main molding the social culture, which empowers (夏华), President of Eve Group (依文), took have been given a full-page spread in Chinese entrepreneurs can be traced back to Chinese costume design to the Opening of the Economic Observer Newspaper. Confucian advice: to be rich and benevolent London Olympics Games and shared the You know, the Western economist (为富且仁), to be rich and honorable by highly story of China’s brand internationally. Joseph Schumpeter placed an emphasis respecting and nicely performing the norms Mr. Huang Nubo is extremely respectable on innovation in his definition of and rites (富而好礼). Huang Nubo, Founder and Chairman of Beijing Zhongkun for his great action to reach the summit entrepreneurship; he pointed out that it Investment Group, which is the only private enterprise of Everest three times and I understand is the entrepreneur, and no other, who This reminds me of the dialogue between it not just a sport for him; it is a process disrupts the monotonous equilibrium Zigong (子贡) and Confucius in the Analects. in China that operates a world cultural heritage site - in which he ponders over the significance of the economy and who is the prime Huang Nubo: That’s right. You know, Hongcun (宏村) - a famous scenic ancient village in southern of life by challenging himself. The project cause of economic development and Zigong is the greatest Ru Shang in history China. Listed by Forbes as a billionaire, Huang Nubo Faces of Humanity Initiative, which Mr. increases societal wellness. By taking and one of Confucius’ students. He asked has given over one billion RMB (€0.12bn) to charity. He Huang launched recently, is another one of high risks, entrepreneurs create high for the comments from Confucius on his his impressive actions. Its aim is to reserve opportunities. I think his concept is one beliefs of “Poverty without flattery, rich but is known as a famous Chinese entrepreneur, poet and the world's culture heritage, which shows side of Ru Shang, who are innovators in not arrogant (贫而不谄，富而不骄),” and mountaineer. His poems have been translated into ten the pursuit, spirit and efforts of China’s the market environment. The opening-up Confucius said that is not enough. You different languages, and during the last ten years he has Entrepreneur to communicate with the rest of China in the late 1970s released the should achieve a higher status: “Being poor of the world. spirit of Chinese Entrepreneurs, which in life, but enjoy learning the Dao (道); reached the highest summits of the seven continents of the in my opinion is the greatest significance Being rich in wealth but also honorable in world, and successfully arrived at the North and South Thank you, Mrs. He! Right on this point, of this policy. It became possible for manner (贫而乐道，富而好礼).” Actually, these Poles. Mr. Huang, I would like to hear from you: entrepreneurs to innovate by disrupting ideas developed into my concept Tianxia What is your definition of the spirit of a the certain equilibrium to create wealth Qinghuai, the high regard and concern to

Global Insights Issue 3 June 2014 14 China Issue 3 June 2014 15 business china business china

entrepreneurs, but our significance is to accompany and record the growth of the stratum. We are very honoured to have experienced 28 years after opening-up, together with a lot of entrepreneurs. As you may realise later in your life, what is most precious is that somebody who has accompanied you and shared all of your experiences and has progressed with you. CEM has witnessed the history of a lot of enterprises and also anticipated the promising future of China’s entrepreneurs.

Regarding the future, what do you think is the key factor to nurture the next generation of China’s entrepreneurs in terms of education or other social systems? Huang Nubo: Education is very important for a nation. I recall the growth of myself, the world. Chinese entrepreneurs need to Confucius Institute is to promote Confucian as well. This poetry foundation has really myself. I will not be humble at all when it At this point, I actually would like to the experience of the Cultural Revolution follow the advice of Fan Zhongyan (范仲淹): thoughts, right? successfully promoted the development of comes to climbing the mountain. I can say I ask Mrs. He as I know you are also a was a disruption of the regular education, One should first be concerned about the Chinese poetry in recent years. The number am a first class mountaineer. I, four times, personal friend of Mr. Huang. Based on but on the other hand it created certain world and enjoy oneself after the entire That’s right one of our missions. And I do of poetry centres has increased from 10 to have climbed and reached the summit of your observation of more entrepreneurs, opportunity for our generation to protect world has become fine (先天下之忧而忧，后天下 hope we can invite you to give a lecture on 600 in China since 2006 when I started the Everest and that is a great challenge do you think Mr. Huang is a typical China the entrepreneurship by avoiding the tame 之乐而乐). Entrepreneurship is a reflection of Ru Shang in Groningen someday. funding BU. I think it is really worthy and for my will and spirit. But, as you said, entrepreneur or an untypical case? of education. I mean our current education concern to the world; entrepreneurs want to Huang Nubo: My pleasure. Thank you! significant as this is a way to restore the these roles are interactive and mutually He Zhenhong: I think in the beginning, he has to be reformed to release the spirit contribute to the country and to the world aesthetic value and aesthetic sense of a enhanced. For instance, as an entrepreneur, was not typical but special. But in recent of entrepreneurs and to encourage the by increasing the scale of the enterprises I read the news that you have sponsored nation. I am very happy and proud of my one needs to challenge the uncertainty, years, he has become more and more innovation and creativity. Currently too and paying more taxes to the country and Beijing University (BU) with a number decision to donate 30 million RMB (€3.54 which goes the same for climbing a typical. many students are working hard for a good being more charitable to the society. You of funding projects, including Chinese million) for the development of poetry mountain; an entrepreneur also needs to Huang Nubo: I am curious about your score, that is not beneficial for cultivating can also see the entrepreneurs keep working traditional culture and Chinese poetry. instead of buying a house for myself. It is have great concern and affection, which explanation. entrepreneurship. Another problem is the so hard on innovation, even when they seem What is your initiative about these funding? easy to spend such an amount of money on a can be cultivated from poetry. On the other He Zhenhong: When Mr. Huang started unfairness of education. If there is not very successful already, for example, Liu Huang Nubo: I graduated from the Chinese house nowadays. hand, climbing a mountain serves the goal climbing mountains and writing poems, a thorough change, Chinese society will Dongsheng (刘东升), Liu Chuanzhi (柳传志) Language Department of BU and it is of improving your enterprise; one should many entrepreneurs were struggling to encounter big problems. and Ma Yun (马云). As they have surpassed natural to think about something I can I have heard that you describe yourself always be aware that you can go beyond make money and to manage companies. He Zhenhong: I think the reform of the the personal wants or self-demands, they do for my Alma Mater. The reason that I as a first-class mountaineer, a second- the current status. There is no such moment Gradually, Mr. Huang’s action has become education system is very important but concern more about the rest of the world. specially sponsor poetry is based on my own class entrepreneur and a third-class poet. that you are really perfect or never need to a leading force and is greatly influencing challenging. China’s education system did They would like to do their best to improve passion for poetry. I think Chinese poetry Climbing mountains, managing a company surpass your current status. So never be other entrepreneurs. The pursuit of Mr. not do well in stimulating the potentiality the world in a way they can manage. So is a perfect carrier of Chinese culture, and writing poems are all interesting things. arrogant, something that is easily learned Huang and his passion to experience human and creativity of the students. But I think it Chinese entrepreneurs are a group of people history and philosophy. I found in the Is there synergy among these three roles of from the experience of climbing great life and constantly surpass himself became is difficult just to depend on the education who have the highest regard and greatest recent decades of development in China, yours? mountains. Many entrepreneurs feel self- trendy in the circle of China’s entrepreneurs. system alone to nurture this new century’s concern to the world and are also very we are too materialistic. We cannot build Huang Nubo: Definitely. The reason that I changed after the climbing experience, like entrepreneurs. I think if there can be open brilliant at innovation in the market; that is our lives without poetry, the world and regard myself as second-class entrepreneur Wang Shi (王石) and Yu Liang (郁亮); they Great comments! To some extent, opportunities for the other social forces the Ru Shang, Confucian businessmen. the society cannot stand without poetry. is that I believe there is always something both turned to being more gentle, humble China Entrepreneur Magazine has also to join in the education, it will naturally But how are we going to get poetry back? that I can learn from others. If you think and easy. And poetry is a way to purify your contributed a lot to the growth of China change the ecosystem and the practice will That is a very classic annotation! I think BU is a good resort since Chinese yourself first class, you do not have the mind. So sum up, you will naturally pursue entrepreneurs in the last 28 years, right? dictate what the right way is. Huang Nubo: It seems the very topic of new poetry started from BU and I think capacity and potentiality to go further. to become a Ru Shang, not a Jian Shang He Zhenhong: I dare not say CEM has your Confucius Institute: The mission of it should resume and be promoted by BU Third-class poet is a modest name I gave (奸商), profiteering merchant. contributed greatly to the growth of China

Global Insights Issue 3 June 2014 16 China Issue 3 June 2014 17 made in china MADE IN CHINA

stablished in 1994 by Xia Hua (夏华), Eve Group integrates design, Eve Group: Eproduction and sale, covering fields, such as clothing, jewellery, business suits and creative gifts. The company holds five famous high-end men’s clothing brands, including The Fashion EVE de UOMO, EVE de CINA, Kevin Kelly, Notting Hill and Jaques Pritt, and it acts as an agency to famous international brands, such Story of as Versace, Kenzo and Fendi. After being in business for nearly 20 years, Eve Group now has over 500 stores across China. Initially, the founder Xia Hua determinedly gave up her a Chinese Brand teaching career at university and switched to the apparel industry when she realised the gap of Chinese men’s clothing field after conducting Hao Cui (郝翠) a State Council Research Survey. She found that the styles and colours of Chinese men’s also about expressing their individuality. From clothing were extremely boring and monotonous this kind of background, Eve Group launched In July 2012, at the opening day of the London Olympics, a special at that time, so she expected to change the life the so-called ‘Fashion Steward’ service, which fashion show under the theme of ‘harmony’ from the Chinese style of Chinese men in particular. This kind of was originally aimed at catering for Chinese brand Eve Group (依文集团 Yīwén Jítuán) lit up the Olympic event. entrepreneurial motivation makes Eve Group entrepreneurs. The Fashion Steward service Not only 30 hot and spicy world famous super models, but also persist in considering men’s feelings and shaping is actually a group of managers who provide the fashion image for Chinese men. follow-up service to Eve Group customers. They Chinese business leaders, champion athletes and renowned artists Nowadays, people’s requirements for clothing will design and produce personalised clothes performed at the fashion show. The show consisted of four parts, are not only about the clothing’s functions, but according to different themes and occasions of including seed and land, water and sunshine, fruit and harvest and the various business activities their customers will attend. They can also meet the clothing all in one, symbolising the harmony and coexistence of man and needs for their customers over a period of nature, and expressing humans’ awe for nature and life. The Chinese time or even for the whole year because they ‘harmony’ culture was demonstrated to the world once again after recognise that many entrepreneurs have very it was illustrated at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, but this busy schedules and cannot spend a lot of time on selecting and purchasing clothes. This kind time by the Chinese brand Eve group, which also attracted the of service differs from European customisation, world’s attention. In February 2012, at the invitation of the Chinese where service is provided to customers only at embassy in the UK, Eve Group had already become the first Chinese a certain time and in a specific location. Eve Group, on the other hand, is at the customers’ men’s clothing brand to march into London Fashion Week and their beck and call which allows for a lot of flexibility wonderful Chinese fashion show raised the curtain for the fashion to accommodate the customers’ timetables. The week. Because of their success in these big events, Eve Group made Fashion Steward Service Customers Group has their voices heard to the world. That made people curious to find out expanded to include people from various social backgrounds at present. Up to now, Eve Group the stories behind this Chinese brand. has 880,000 VIPs, including many famous Chinese entrepreneurs, such as Ma Yun (马云),

Global Insights 18 China Issue 3 June 2014 19 made in china

CHINA OBSERVATIONS

Smellscapes

of China Gerlinde Pehlken

the founder of Alibaba Group (阿里巴巴) and Liu buzz after its debut and is expected to lead to a She is ambitious to Chuanzhi (柳传志), the founder of Lenovo (联想 musical revolution in China. realise the revival Liánxiăng). Eve Group’s Chinese name 依文 which has of the traditional Eve Group is committed to preserving and two Chinese characters but is made up of three Chinese clothing exploring Chinese traditional culture and craft, elements - people (人 rén), clothing (衣 yī) and for which they even set up a Chinese culture culture (文 wén) - reflects the pursuit and mission craft, not only in research office. The brand EVE de CINA is of the company. The brand’s Chinese name is the Western world specifically positioned for the attention to clearly displayed in every Eve fashion show to A fragrance of jasmine flower wafts but also in China. Chinese culture, reshaping Chinese traditional indicate that this company is always dedicated into my nose. I close my eyes and culture with an international vision on fashion. to providing excellent service, producing delicate see blossoms in full bloom. It is It is the grafting of traditional civilisation and clothes and passing on Chinese culture. Because contemporary life as well as the intersection of of the beauty and the implied meaning of the spring time, the time of prosperity. East and West. It was this concept that made name, Xia Hua, even named her daughter 依文. Opening my eyes again, I see a Eve Group step onto the world stage. Xia Hua Xia Hua herself now has emerged as a successful mountain of rubbish placed across said that she was trying to introduce and reveal entrepreneurial leader with notable achievements Western aesthetics to Chinese people for the first in Chinese business. She was awarded ‘The the street. My new nose plugs 20 years of her career, but now she is hoping to Chinese Business Leaders of the Year’ at the which I have just bought in the influence the Western world by demonstrating 2013 Horasis Global China Business Meeting supermarket are certainly effective. and depicting Chinese aesthetics. However, her held in The Hague, The Netherlands in November dream is even more than that. She is ambitious 2013. During the meeting break, Global China to realise the revival of the traditional Chinese Insights had an interview with her, in which Last month, I was in Zhuhai (珠海) which mouth, but in my nose I had the odour of clothing craft, not only in the Western world she shared her stories of building the brand and is located at the Pearl River delta (珠江 the jasmine flower. I took the plugs out of but also in China. On 26 August 2013, Eve mentioned her two success factors “persistence” 三角洲 Zhūjiāng Sānjiăozhōu) near Hong my nose and put them in my pocket. A deep Group together with Wang Chaoge (王潮歌), the and “innovation”, which are also the spirit of Kong (香港 Xiānggăng). A friend suggested breath of the salty air brought me a feeling core director of the Beijing Olympics opening Chinese entrepreneurs in modern China. I should get these scented nose plugs that of peace. I decided that I needed one more ceremonies, produced a Chinese national music As one of the representatives of Chinese were regularly advertised on Hong Kong nose plug for my journey to northern China: show Impression of Chinese Music (《印象·国乐》) fashion, Eve Group is trying to set up a new TV channels. They would make my stay in beach aroma. which was performed by the China National image of Chinese brands for the world by China much more pleasant, he told me. So On the way back into town I passed the Orchestra (中央民族乐团 Zhōngyāng Mínzú presenting their unique creativity, superb I bought not just one, I also chose some fruit market. One of the main fruits on offer Yuètuán). The show was said to be not only an technology and profound cultural values. This is special scented plugs of daffodil, bergamot was the stinky durian fruit. The vendors cut unconventional concert, but also a visual feast. also the goal that many other Chinese brands are and cedar wood. the fruits in small pieces and hold them out All the elaborate costumes and accessories for all making efforts to achieve. Eve Group, together Zhuhai’s smell is heavily influenced by to my face. Nearing the meat market, live 108 musicians were designed and created by Eve with many other Chinese enterprises, is working the breeze that brings the sea air to your animals added their odour to the smell mix. Group, completely altering people’s prejudices on their own inspirational stories for audiences skin and also your tongue. Standing at the But the durian fruit really stood out in my Calligraphy: about national music shows. It generated quite a at home and abroad. Xiao Yingying (肖盈盈) shore, the taste of salt was present in my nose. So I put the plugs in again.

Global Insights Issue 3 June 2014 20 China Issue 3 June 2014 21 china observations

CHINA OBSERVATIONS Some weeks later I arrived in Beijing a shop offering silk scarves and clothing, a (北京). I immediately noticed the difference. street vendor set up a mobile kitchen, frying For one thing, the air here is much drier, and skewered meat for his customers: beef, also the area is much more populated. The chicken or pork. Charcoal and roasted meat huge crowds of people create the base for a combined to create a scent that interacted really unique city smellscape composed of with the taste buds, making my mouth small street vendors offering fried or baked water. goods, antique sellers with musty books or Further along I saw a shop offering soups silks, and even the garbage men wandering and jiaozi (饺子), the traditional Chinese Visibility of the streets with their tricycles, gathering dumplings, and I decided to sit down and try up the refuse of the city’s inhabitants. some. Opposite me sat a young Chinese man On entering a temple, though, this scent who told me that his father could actually Religion in disappears under a layer of incense that hear the flavour of the jiaozi. If he wanted permeates the whole area. It has soaked to test if they were ready to eat, he would into curtains, pillows, and even the wood of hold his ear over the bowl. The young man the buildings, giving these places of worship found out that he inherited this habit from Contemporary a unique atmosphere that you take in - from his father.

an olfactory perspective - unconsciously. “Did you know that the character wén © RobRicky One night in Beijing when I explored a (闻) means both: to hear and to smell?” he China Hutong (胡同), a small street with traditional asked me. Without waiting for an answer he buildings in one of the oldest part of town, dipped one of his chopsticks in the teacup Somewhere in the neighbourhood someone Stefania Travagnin I felt transported into another world, the and then he drew the character 闻 on the had already started cooking dinner; and China of the past. To my left, there was a table: an ear in a door. the roasting meat and spices reminded me tea shop offering exquisite varieties of tea Back on the street, an unpleasant whiff that it was time for me to get back to my Bodhisattva Guanyin (观音菩萨 Guānyīn from all over China. To tempt the passing came to my nose when a garbage man hotel. This was the moment that I realised Modernity and new technology permeate China and Chinese culture today, Púsà) resided and practiced. This is one of customers, some glasses with brewed teas passed me by. He had collected some of the how much all the artificial aromas had been and religion, too, has been transformed and is now manifesting in a way the four ‘sacred mountains’ of Buddhism in were placed at the foot of the front door. neighbourhood’s trash. After a few days, manipulating my nose. The use of the nose China, the other three being Mt. Wutai (五台 A few steps further there was a shop the things I miss most in Beijing are the clips covered up the natural smells and it that fits the renewed Chinese reality. 山), which is associated with the Bodhisattva selling steamed buns where people lined up scents from the South China Sea (南海 Nán transformed my perception of each city. Wenshushili (文殊师利菩萨 Wénshūshīlì Púsà); to get their lunch. The smell of the freshly Hăi) and I remembered the nose plugs in my The original scents with all their different For instance, in late 2007 the city of run their own websites, updating the Mt. Emei (峨眉山), which is associated with baked buns mingled with the perfume of the pocket. nuances which would normally come into Nanchang (南昌) in Jiangxi province (江西省) community about their activities and also the Bodhisattva Puxian (普贤菩萨 Pŭxián women who came to buy them. In front of The beach aroma with its certain smells my nose were lost to me. was covered by posters of Confucius allowing followers to visit ‘online’ Buddha Púsà); and Mt. Jiuhua (九华山), which is transported me immediately On my way back I saw a trash can, and (孔子 Kŏngzǐ) and Lao-Tze (老子 Lăozǐ) halls and conduct traditional Buddhist associated with the Bodhisattva Dizang back to Zhuhai. Now I wore on an impulse I threw the nose plugs away. wearing western suits with ties. It was the rituals. From offering of incense to ancestor (地藏菩萨 Dìzàng Púsà). I was impressed those plugs every day, no more I decided that I do not want this kind of advertising of a local company that wanted worship – all this can be done online by the number of Chinese visiting the smell of garbage or from the aroma therapy. I would never again miss to sell western clothing at the same time as nowadays. If you turn on the TV, you can island everyday: some of them were there clouds of car exhausts in the the stimuli that hit my olfactory sense. It is conveying spirit and values of Chinese easily find a few channels where Daoist on vacation and thus merely for touristic narrow streets or the smell better to sometimes experience a bad smell civilisation. In 2010, the movie theatres in priests or Buddhist monks are preaching purposes, some others wanted to pay of the stinky tofu which the than to miss all the good ones. China were alternating the screening of scriptures, or TV series that clearly portray homage to Guanyin, but they all burned vendor wanted to sell from his Avatar with the local new movie titled Confucian values and virtues. These are just an impressive amount of incense sticks! tricycle. Confucius. Directed by Hu Mei (胡玫), it was a few examples of how religion manifests I also joined a tour to the nearby Luojia Once I pass a flower vendor, Gerlinde Pehlken is a writer and Chinese the famous actor Chow Yun-fat (周润发 Zhōu itself in modernising China. island (珞珈山), and after the pilgrimage and that is when I realized cultural expert. Having lived in China Rùnfā) who played the role of the Master. Another example of the visibility of to each temple, and the collection of the that I smelt nothing but the for eight years, she studied Chinese and Another example of Chinese culture meeting religion in China today is the concurrent ‘compassion water’ from a fountain just beach aroma of my nose plugs. researched historical China, focusing on the modern technology is the young Buddhist worship of a plurality of traditions, a revival next to a statue of Guanyin, the visitors So I took them out and I was Yuan (元朝 1271-1368) and Ming monk Dingkong (定空), who lives in a small of public ritual activity, and at the same were reminded by a Buddhist monk resident hit by a wealth of smells: the (明朝 1368-1644) dynasties. She has village in southern Fujian province time the increase of the so-called ‘religious on the small island to also worship the flowers of the street vendor, published a book about the Ming Dynasty (福建省), and has created a blog where he tourism’. In summer 2012, I spent two local Earth God (土地公 Tŭdì Gōng) and burn the sweet potato a child being tombs and several short stories about posts photos from liturgies, short comments weeks at Mt. Putuo (普陀山), a mountain incense and paper money for him as well. I eaten nearby, the paint from Chinese life. on Buddhist scriptures, and interacts with island in Zhejiang province (浙江省) that then visited Beijing (北京), and the Confucius © Xinhua the work being done next door. believers. Many Buddhist monasteries also is recognised as the sacred site where the Temple (孔庙 Kŏng Miào) was not less

Global Insights Issue 3 June 2014 22 China Issue 3 June 2014 23 china observations

CHINA OBSERVATIONS crowded. Students who were about to take known in the whole of China and some of inclusion that can be seen among the high school or university exams knotted others important on a local level - also masses. Indeed, the average Chinese person wish-cards or wish-tablets on the trees populated private houses and public sacred visits Daoist and Buddhist temples, burns surrounding Confucius’s statue. sites. The integration and diversity that incense in the sacred sites of different When did all these religious traditions religious leaders and intellectuals were religious traditions, has ancestors’ tables at appear in China and how did they develop? creating and proposing was not reflected home and gives offerings to the deceased, The great ‘sages’ that form the roots of on the official level where different groups and also remembers folk deities on special Chinese civilisation, Kongzi and Laozi, were indeed competing to have the ruler’s occasions. It is not just common people are both thought to have lived in the sixth favour. On the other hand, inter-religious who put religious diversity into practice; century. It was around that time that appropriation was well reflected in the daily indeed, it is not difficult to see Buddhist Buddha is said to have lived and preached expressions of religiosity and expanded monks offering incense or lighting a candle in India. Buddhist practitioners and among the common believers. On top of in front of a Daoist deity, or to find a material objects (such as books and statues) this, the so-called Abrahamic religions, Buddhist monastery built next to a temple reached China around the first century B.C., namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam, of local folk religions and the believers and and within a few centuries cross-tradition also entered China through missionary the priests of both the sacred places living dialogue and borrowing became key activities and people’s immigration, and and worshiping together. In other words, © Xinhua features of China’s religious landscape. For underwent a process of sinification. different to Western countries where the instance, Chinese Buddhists adopted Daoist After two thousand years, we can see average person claims membership to one terms in their early translations of the a similar scenario, which is a clear index religious tradition, in China people are less texts that arrived from India. Daoist monks of continuity throughout Chinese history. concerned with sectarian affiliation and more inclined to remember and venerate A Ballet Teacher in China Annika Höglind any manifestation of the divine, and consequently alternate rituals according to I never planned to live in China. To me, China was a country with delicious food, amazing acrobatic ability, vibrant colours, specific situations. interesting architecture, but it was so far away. Still I came to China to teach ballet, that was my goal. Young and having In conclusion, we see that religion in China today takes on many faces and only just graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with a Ballet Teaching degree, I scanned websites looking for voices. It is clear that the new policies on dancing teaching jobs applying for different vacancies, including one in China. I was rather shocked when I opened my religion, implemented by the government inbox to find that I had been offered a job in Handan 邯郸( ), China! To be honest, when I applied I never thought about going in the 1980s, brought a revival of rituals and public religiosity. We can see continuity to China. It was just one of a few jobs on a website and I had not given it a second thought when I sent off my Curriculum with the religious landscape of the past, Vitae. After reading the email, I wrote to my family saying only “I got a job in …” then had them scroll all the way down and on the other hand, religions certainly to the bottom of the email where I wrote “China.” I then got a call from my dad who asked: “So when are you going?” It transformed in line with the waves of was as simple as that. There was one main reason why I decided to go: I thought “if I don't go to China, I will always wonder modernisation that reshaped all the other sectors of Chinese society, and as a result what it would have been like.” With that thought in mind, I packed up my suitcase and went. today we can also surf religions’ websites and watch religions’ TV channels. When I arrived in China I was met by a find a foreign ballet teacher. English, I am a ballet teacher. If you need little old lady holding up my name on a sign, I spent three days at the home of the little an English teacher, then you shouldn’t have © Beijing Longquan Monastery (北京龙泉寺) and a man in his 40s. They did not speak a old lady, not knowing when I would start invited me.” They rearranged my schedule Stefania Travagnin is a Rosalind Franklin word of English. They took my suitcase and working, or where, or who would be my to teaching 16 hours of dance. started living in monasteries and began The san jiao, folk pantheon and Abrahamic Fellow and Assistant Professor of Religion we were off onto a bus, then off and onto students. The lady only spoke Chinese, and I Then my new life started. I moved into organising scriptures in a Canon off of the religions all co-exist in the daily ritual life in Asia at the University of Groningen, another bus, then off again until we got to was learning a few words each day. Finally, the dormitories where I had my own flat in blueprint of what the Buddhists had done of the Chinese, and again practice of this Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies. the biggest train station I had ever seen in after four days in her flat, I was taken to the a building where all the foreign teachers previously. And finally, Neo-Confucians in religious diversity on the institutional level She is also the Director of the Centre for the my life: Beijing West Train Station (北京西站 main building of Handan Lilac Education lived as well as Chinese students studying the Song dynasty (宋朝 960-1279) decided is different from the one that characterises Study of Religion and Culture in Asia (www. Běijīng Xīzhàn). It was the first of my many Group (邯郸莱克教育集团) and introduced at Handan Polytechnic College (邯郸职业技术 to integrate their system of thought with the daily life of the population. In fact, on rug.nl/research/centre-religion-culture- adventures in China. The train ride was to a lot of directors. Of course, I did not 学院). I was scheduled to teach dance in the Buddhist and Daoist meditation. As Daoism the governmental level, religious traditions asia). She holds a Ph.D. in the Study of four-and-a-half hours on a hard seat after understand anything, but I was welcomed morning at two different kindergartens, and (道教 Dàojiào), Confucianism (儒教 Rújiào) have to respond to different offices and Religion from the University of London. Her what had already been a nine-hour flight. and told that I would be teaching four hours in the afternoon at Lilac Primary School. and Buddhism (佛教 Fójiào) formed the official associations, and are thus treated research and publications focus on different But eventually I arrived in Handan, which of dance and 16 hours of English. That At Lilac Education Group, there were about so-called ‘three religions’, san jiao (三教), each in a specific way. This policy of aspects of religion in modern China and would be my home for six months. Handan was when I put my foot down and through 13 other foreign English teachers, but I was a large pantheon of popular deities - some distinction is contrasted by the practice Taiwan (台湾). is not a place where one would expect to a translator said: “I didn't come to teach the only dance teacher.

Global Insights Issue 3 June 2014 24 China Issue 3 June 2014 25 china observations

My first day of teaching would be my first down, then suddenly all my students raised Danz Centre. I had the privilege of visiting challenge. I was taken to one of the school’s their hands and started saying “duzi teng”. Beijing Dance Academy after a year in kindergartens. In the West I had been used My days were spent teaching, but China. It was wonderful for me to find a to entering a ballet studio and finding little during my free time I studied Chinese and whole area of Beijing dedicated to dance. girls in pink leotards and pink ballet shoes rode around on my bike. During holidays There were so many dance shops around the running around the ballet studio before their I travelled to different parts of China. academy selling ballet shoes, pointe shoes, teacher came in. In Handan, I was led to the Christmas was spent in Xi'an (西安), and costumes, fans, CDs, DVDs, books, etc. I dance studio and there were 40 four-year- for Chinese New Year I was on top of entered the Beijing Dance Academy with old kids all dressed in their everyday clothes one of the five holy mountains Tai Shan a fellow foreigner who was also a dancer. standing in line like soldiers, looking at me. (泰山). Watching TV was also interesting We thought we would not be able to get Their teachers were also looking, waiting to for me, and I loved the Chinese New Year past security, but they let us in. We visited see what I would do. I put on some classical programme and was so excited to see several different floors with about six dance music and taught them the positions of the dances from different Chinese minority studios on each floor. In every dance studio arms and the first two positions of the legs. groups. After eight months in Handan, I there was some kind of class going and we I then tried to teach them the basic ‘chassé’ was offered a job in Beijing to teach ballet stopped at each and glanced through the step, which required them to open a leg to at Danz Centre (丹安丝舞蹈培训中心). While windows. Behind one we could see twelve- D O IN G the side in preparation, then jump with their Handan had been a unique experience, I year-old girls working on their ‘frappés’ BUSINESS legs together moving to the side, and land in realised it was time to move on. I was after (beats) at the barre. Another studio had WITH CHINA the same preparatory position to go again. all a ballet teacher, and teaching dance in girls doing gymnastic flips. In one, boys That is when chaos happened. These 40 kids Handan to kids in ordinary clothes was not were jumping double ‘tours en l'air’, and in were disciplined as long as they stood in quite the same thing. So I moved to Beijing, another they were performing a traditional their spots which were marked on the floor. and was greeted with the familiar sight of Chinese dance while holding drums. Once they got the chance to move, then like little girls in leotards running around the Walking the halls of the Beijing Dance Lecture by Dr. Victor Yuan: most kids they started to laugh and moved ballet studio before I arrived. Academy and glancing into all the dance all the way to the other side of the studio. Ballet was first established in China in studios I felt at home. It was wonderful to Luckily, their teachers were there and were 1954 with the founding of Beijing Dance see everyone working and so dedicated to Victory in the Chinese Market able to keep them under control. I had three Academy (北京舞蹈学院 Běijīng Wŭdăo dance. groups of children that first morning, and Xuéyuàn). But there are still only a few I came to China to teach ballet, but I Ingrid Fischer On 17 and 18 February 2014, the International Business School of the Hanze University of I did not try to do the ‘chassé’ step again ballet schools in the whole of China. Unlike think I was the student in China. Those Applied Sciences Groningen and the Groningen Confucius Institute co-organised a lecture until much later. I stuck to teaching them Beijing Dance Academy which prepares first days of teaching in Handan were a the basic positions of arms and legs, and did students for professional dancing careers, real challenge, but gave me experience in by one of China’s leading entrepreneurs, Dr. Victor Yuan (袁岳). In his lecture entitled lots of stretching exercises. After that first anyone is welcome to take a dance class at teaching in any kind of situation. Then to Victory in the Chinese Market, Yuan shared his experience in marketing data and gave day I would quickly learn to control them move to Beijing and see with my own eyes suggestions to European business people on how to make it in the Chinese market. and eventually I was able to teach them a that ballet has a special place in China. I few dances. never regretted answering that email with a At the primary school I got to pick yes and moving to China. Ten years later, I Big Data: Data Collection in China like “everybody of the Chinese people agree students to be part of a dance group. I was am now teaching ballet in Russia, and I can In commercial terms, China is a huge market that”. When he asked the minister, “we never excited by just how many talented girls say with honesty that those days in China with an abundance of business opportunities. even asked one person, how do we know there were. I found that in China the bodies led me here. At the same time, it is also a market with everybody agrees that?” The minister replied: are more naturally supple and flexible millions of competitors. Therefore, in order “We never needed to ask people because we than they are in the West. Other than my to succeed you need intimate knowledge and represent the people”. This made Yuan think, dance group, I also taught dance to various a clear understanding of China’s economic and made him want to start doing research. different grades, all of whom were dressed data. Unfortunately, as Yuan points out, it is Unfortunately, the idea of ‘we represent the in their everyday clothes. Not only were my Born in Lebanon, Annika Höglind is not that easy to acquire the necessary data. To people’ had been standard practice in China students learning, but I was also learning. a choreographer and ballet instructor begin with, the government does not supply a for many years, so it was not easy to start up I was studying the Chinese language with a currently living in Russia. She graduated lot of data. In addition to that, for many years, a research company; he was not allowed to private teacher and I learnt how to say the from the Hungarian Dance Academy in Chinese companies did not see the significance register a data collection business. At that time, positions of the arms and legs in Chinese. I 2004 as a Pedagogue of Ballet and has of collecting market data. About twenty the Chinese did not do any research into public got so excited when one student came to me since taught ballet and master classes in years ago, when he was a government official opinion. Companies just assumed they knew and said “duzi teng” (肚子疼) (tummy hurts) Sweden, Denmark, China, Japan, Russia working for the Minister of Justice, Yuan had what the public wanted; after all, they were the and I actually understood! I let her sit and Lebanon. to write all kinds of reports full of terminology public too. Also, companies had quite a limited

Global Insights 26 China Issue 3 June 2014 27 doing business with china DOING BUSINEES WITH CHINA

represent reality. That is why Yuan countryside is much better than driving in any becoming increasingly interested in the Chinese decided to start collecting his own big city in, for example, India. market. data. Yuan does point out that this kind Despite the indirect corruption, things do get of strategic data is slowly becoming done in China. This is because most projects are Big Decisions: Decision Makers in China a thing of the past. Because of all government driven and not driven by private This development is especially welcomed by the the new technologies, it is becoming companies. And because the government owns young generation because it allows them to have increasingly difficult to report different almost all of the land, the logistics are highly a certain quality of life. As Yuan puts it, young figures to different organisations efficient. This high efficiency also attracts many people nowadays are very materialistic; they without getting into trouble. Because more foreign investors. Before, international really value having a lot of nice and convenient of that, China today is moving towards investors were investing in the coastal areas things. Yuan has noticed that as a result of the more reliable data. It is not reliable only, but now they are also investing in Sichuan one-child policy (计划生育政策 Jìhuà Shēngyù yet, but Yuan is very optimistic about (四川), in Chongqing (重庆) and western China. Zhèngcè) (introduced in 1979), Chinese culture the improving quality of government Given these highways, it has become so easy has changed tremendously. The family now does data. to do business anywhere in China, opening up whatever they can to help the child. Traditionally, an even bigger market. So currently there is Chinese culture was all about respect for the Big Market: Economic a lot of economic development in China which elders, and the older people in the family had the Development in China is to a great extent government driven, but is power, they decided everything. But now, because Although the Chinese government does also driven by international investors who are of the one-child policy, biologically the child has not really play an important role in become the centre of the family. Yuan calls it market research and data collection, it the phenomenon of the panda; rare species will does play an important role in driving receive more power and more resources. The view on doing business: you have a product, the economy in the form of government same happens within a family: When you only China today is you sell the product and you make a profit. So, investments. Yuan reports that because of the have only one child, the family will do whatever moving towards no one really felt the need to do research and contribution of government investments, China’s it can for the child. Interestingly, this translates collect all kinds of data. But then in 1992, when GDP grew over 50% last year, which means the largely into consumption. For example, the more reliable data. Deng Xiaoping (邓小平) called for reformation in Chinese market is driven by the government, average house buyer in China is 27 years old. It is not reliable yet, China and improvement of public administration, not by market force. That makes Chinese In other countries, the average age is about 45 but Yuan is very Yuan’s data research and data collection economic development different from economic to 46 years old (Germany 43, US 40, Japan 46 optimistic about the company was allowed to be registered, making development in European countries, and that and Brazil 43). But, Yuan points out that for Yuan a real pioneer in marketing research in should be taken into account when thinking 70% of them, the first payment is made by the improving quality of China. about doing business in China. Government parents, and for the other 30% it is partly paid government data. Nowadays, the Chinese government does investment plays a very important role in driving by the parents. And if they want to buy a car, provide some official data in the form of general the economy. 35% is bought by the parents and then given to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics of Unfortunately, Yuan says, there is still quite the children. According to Yuan, that is why the China (中国国家统计局 Zhōngguó Guójiā Tŏngjì Jú) a lot of corruption in China. It is not the same younger generation is the key decision maker (NBSC), such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). as several decades ago when people could be nowadays. Even though many young people feel However, according to Yuan this data cannot be bribed by giving them some money. Yuan claims that they really do not spend that much, they are trusted because the figures provided to the NBSC that today there is a lot of indirect, project the driving force behind family expenditure. The are often adjusted. Yuan claims that companies corruption. He explains by giving an example young generation dominates the family needs. adjust their data depending on the individuals about the national freeway network. It was Paradoxically, research has shown that in and groups to whom they are reporting. If a decreed by the government that there should China there is a lot of ageing. According to company reports its annual revenue to the tax be a highway to every village in China’s rural MillwardBrown (华通明略 Huátōng Mínglüè), 36% ŏ bureau, the reported numbers are lower so they area. The national requirement for how wide of the Chinese population will be 55 years old have to pay less tax to the government, but if these roads should be was three metres. But, the and above by 2030. Yuan has noticed that many they have to report to someone from the National officials involved in building these highways, companies have tried to focus their business on People’s Congress (全国人民代表大会 Quánguó made the roads 2.7 metres instead, thus saving this segment of the population, but so far nobody Rénmín Dàibiăo Dàhuì) (NPC), the numbers on expenses and making some money. The has proved successful in that area. According to would be higher because that might give you people are satisfied, because a 2.7 metres wide Yuan, this is because the older generation is used a chance to become a member of the NPC. He highway is still better than nothing, and the to a simpler and sober life style and instead of calls this strategic (or reported) data, and that corrupt officials are also satisfied with the profit spending money on themselves; they spend it on is the reason the NBSC data does not always they made. And now, driving to the Chinese their grandchildren. That means if you want to be

Global Insights 28 China Issue 3 June 2014 29 doing business with china DOING BUSINEES WITH CHINA

because the costs could never be covered. But in ahead of the competition. Nevertheless, cell China, it is possible because of the scale on which phone-based E-commerce is the most promising people are using E-commerce. As many people business field in China today. As Yuan puts it, the buy so many different items, the costs can be big difference between the Dutch and the Chinese covered. That is the unique quality of the Chinese is how we look at our cell phone. The Chinese market. are ‘glued’ to their cell phones from morning to evening. So, they have a constant source Big Innovation: China is a Good of information that they can and do access Experimental Market anywhere, anytime. So to succeed in business So there are many opportunities for Western in China today, you need to be very quick; entrepreneurs in the Chinese market, but, Yuan otherwise you cannot provide what the market points out, you must be innovative. China is needs because the market constantly changes not a conservative country, contrary to what from being stimulated by so much different many Europeans might think based on their information. ideas of Confucianism. The Chinese believe in many different things and are also very open to Conclusion many things. As Yuan puts it, you could never In conclusion, Dr. Yuan’s lecture demonstrates imagine Korean fashion being very popular in the that when it comes to doing business in China, Netherlands, or in the US, because they are not there are many interesting opportunities for used to it and not open to it. In China, any type of Western entrepreneurs. He pointed out that successful in the Asian market, you need to find were $2 trillion (€1.44 trillion), a 42% increase fashion can be popular, be it Korean or French, Western entrepreneurs need good, clear insight Yuan points out out what the children want. If you only consider compared to the year before. According to or American because the Chinese can accept and of China’s economic data to succeed: it provides that Western the older generation, you will not succeed. As Yuan, E-commerce is currently the most are open to anything. Because the Chinese are so them with a better understanding of the market. the main purchasing power is in the hands of the interesting business market in China. At the open, China is a good experimental market to try Given the development of the internet and of entrepreneurs should young generation, this demographic dominates same time, there is also clear move away from out innovative and experimental things. independent private research and information be aware they should the market, and they have quite extensive PC-based E-commerce towards cell phone- It also means you have to be innovative and sources, such as provided by Yuan’s own research not blindly follow all consumption needs. In addition to wanting their based E-commerce. Alibaba (阿里巴巴) (an online you have to be able to make changes quickly company, people now have access to reliable the Western world’s own cars and apartments at the lowest possible business-to-business trading platform for small to survive in the Chinese market. Chinese market information. Yuan pointed out one of the prices, they are also very active in buying businesses) is the biggest PC based E-commerce consumers really appreciate the quality of most interesting market phenomena in China: business rules if they products and fashion items on the internet. platform in China, and its chairman Ma Yun European brands and products, but in order to Children dominate the family’s needs and they want to succeed in And most of these children have two parents, (马云) has voiced concerns that WeChat (微信 compete with everything else on the market, you act as decision makers nowadays. Companies China. four grandparents, sometimes even eight great- Wēixìn) (a mobile text and voice messaging should, according to Yuan, focus their marketing grandparents, and all these generations will help communication service developed by Tencent) efforts specifically on this group. Another the children in their pursuit of material things. is well on its way to pushing Alibaba from its important development in China which Yuan From a consumption perspective, that is a good number one status. The reason for that, as Yuan addresses is the speed of growth of E-commerce, development. It also means that if you can catch explains, is WeChat is cell phone based, while in particular cell phone-based E-commerce, young people, you can catch the market. So, if Ali Baba is PC based. And on a cell phone, which is actually changing consumer behaviour you want to be successful in the Asian market, people can purchase anything, anywhere, fundamentally. These rapid changes, and the consider what the children want. anytime. Yuan advises people who ask him apparent openness of the Chinese consumer what kind of entrepreneurship they should do in towards new developments, are what make the Big Opportunity: Cell Phone-Based China, to aim at cell phone based E-commerce. Chinese market an interesting market, good E-commerce Yuan also points out that Western experimental ground and a great place to try Yuan goes on to explain that as a result of the entrepreneurs should be aware they should innovative, experimental things. At the same dominance of the younger generation, there is a not blindly follow all the Western world’s time, that is also what makes it a challenging clear movement towards E-commerce in China. business rules if they want to succeed in China. market because you need to be able to respond to The young generation is basically the internet For example, over the last five years there has have to stand out, especially on the cell phone- and move along with these rapid changes. But, generation: they find friends, gather information, been a tremendous growth in local express based entrepreneurship platform. According according to Yuan, as long as you keep in mind buy things and pay for anything via the internet. delivery companies in China, mostly delivering to Yuan, if you develop an app, you have to that success in the Chinese market is based on Today, there are 50 million webstores on a huge small E-commerce items that only cost a few innovate every four months because information being innovative, then China can prove to be a number of different E-commerce platforms. Renminbi (人民币) (RMB). In Europe, they would and competition changes quickly. So, you need very rewarding business environment indeed. China’s online shopping transactions in 2013 not use express delivery for such small articles to have a new vision every four months to stay

Global Insights 30 China Issue 3 June 2014 31 china vogue CHINA VOGUE

WeChat: A Lifestyle Sun Yuhong (孙玉红) Nowadays in China, in the streets, in restaurants, subways or parks, people can be seen using mobile phones as walkie-talkies, or constantly sliding and tapping their phone The Public Platform screens. In all likelihood, many of them are probably using WeChat (微信 Wēixìn), one is a very important of the hottest instant messaging apps in China. “WeChat is a lifestyle” is the slogan feature of WeChat. of WeChat. Today, WeChat really has become a lifestyle for many modern people, with Nearly every user more and more people relying on it to communicate. follows several Public Platforms.

eChat is a free mobile often saves useful information to his ‘Favourites’. is more efficient than a website or advertisement application launched by Tencent By leaving ‘Comments’ or ‘Likes’ (赞 zàn), he can on a wall. Another platform of CUC which also Technology Company Limited (腾讯 then interact with his friends. Besides looking gives Xiao Chen quite a bit of help is called W控股有限公司 Téngxùn Kònggǔ Yŏuxiàn Gōngsī) at what others have posted, he is also anxious to Lecture Published. It constantly publishes in January 2011. By the end of March 2012, see the ‘Comments’ or ‘Likes’ from his friends information about important lectures, ensuring the number of WeChat users exceeded one on the information he shared last night. Along or video files. In the Student Association Group, that he no longer misses valuable lectures. hundred million. By the end of November 2013, with the popularity of WeChat, the term ‘Circle students can communicate progress on their Another platform that is also very important for the amount of users surpassed the six hundred of Friends’ has become a hot buzz word in work with each other. Group Chat gives great him is Campus Life. It informs the user about million mark, henceforth commanding the China. Similar to microblogs (微博 Wēibó), text, convenience for communication of individuals places that offer fine dining or places that offer largest user group in Asia in the area of instant pictures, shared essays or preferred music can from different social Groups. take out, along with many other convenient life messaging. be published. Differing from microblogs, the In addition, Xiao Chen also gets a lot of services. This particular Public Platform has Compared with ordinary cellular text audience is familiar with and trusts each other. useful information from his university’s WeChat greatly improved the quality and convenience messages, WeChat is a whole other world. That is to say, ‘Circle of Friends’ has become Public Platform (微信公共平台 Wēixìn Gōnggòng of his life. This is just an example, the Public WeChat is not only free and sends text messages, a reliable source of trusted information from Píngtái). A Public Platform is a platform for Platform is not only used by universities and but it also transmits voice, video, pictures, a wide an individual’s closest friends. Every member government, media, enterprises, individuals and some departments; it is also being used in various variety of emoticons and group chat messages. If can create a stream of photos journaling daily other organizations to improve as an extension other fields. users do not want their hands constantly tied to life, share thoughts, essays and pictures, life of service. The focus of these platforms is to Nowadays, more and more merchants regard their screen having to type laboriously away just experiences, commodity information, music and provide useful information users are interested WeChat as a new marketing tool, and will set up to send a message, then downloading WeChat games. Messages from some friends in the circle in, and these platforms will regularly publicise a Public Platform. There are millions of Public is the way to go for them. It has considerably can also be forwarded. Lots of useful information text, pictures or voice messages. Users can share Platforms currently in existence, including ones more convenient functions that will be able to is broadcasted from one circle to another. some messages that they like in their ‘Circle of for the government, the media, enterprises, free your hands from only being able to type. WeChat has become one of the better means in Friends’. Any friend who is interested in that famous people or just common individuals. These benefits, however, do not appear to be interpersonal communication because of its high particular public platform can add it to their CCTV News Center, China Unicom (中国联通 particularly life changing, but in many subtle credibility and high efficiency. focus list. This is how platforms gather more and Zhōngguó Liántōng) of Guangdong, Merchant ways WeChat has impacted many people’s lives. Xiao Chen’s WeChat also has many chat more followers. The Public Platform is a very Bank, China Southern Airlines (中国南方航空公司 Two Chinese people, Xiao Chen (小陈) and Xiao groups, such as his Class Group, an Elective important feature of WeChat. Nearly every user Zhōngguó Nánfāng Hángkōng Gōngsī) are just a Li (小李), reveal how WeChat plays a role in their Course Group, and, as a member of a student follows several Public Platforms. For example, select number of examples. Xiao Li is a business modern lives. association, he is also a member of the The Communication University of China (中国 manager of a bond investment company. For Xiao Chen is an ordinary university student. Association’s Group. In his Class Group, 传媒大学 Zhōngguó Chuánméi Dàxué) has many her, WeChat plays quite a vital role in her life. Every morning, the first thing he does is to check he can communicate with the class and platforms for students’ services. Xiao Chen Many of her friends in her ‘Circle of Friends’ are out the ‘Moments’ of his ‘Circle of Friends’ share information on in-class activities with follows the Platform of CUC Comprehensive in the financial industry and they often share (朋友圈 Péngyou Quān) on WeChat. He is eager to classmates. Through the Elective Course Group, Service Hall. He can get information about professional financial analysis articles with each read some interesting or useful information, as students from different subject areas or classes his school’s calendar, tuition, transcripts, other. She can make full use of her spare time by well as share some information. He can do this can discuss homework, and the teacher can share examination arrangements, classroom reading articles that she knows are reliable and by reposting ‘Moments’ from his friends. And he some useful articles; or recommend books, audio management and employment information. This reputable. She also pays attention to WeChat’s

Global Insights 32 China Issue 3 June 2014 33 china vogue

AESTHETIC CHINA

Friends’, you can get a free product. As a young modern person, XiaoLi likes shopping, and more and more shopping malls have their own public platforms with QR codes. Xiao Li follows several Spring Time shopping malls she likes, and can get a lot of promotion information; this gives her more help on her shopping wants. Nowadays, the Scan QR in Chinese code function is becoming more prevalent. Not only can QR codes be scanned, but barcodes, and even words can be scanned and translated. Verse Jan B.F.N. Engberts financial functions, such as WeChat LiCaiTong With the development of WeChat technology, (微信理财通), a financial managing tool that its use can be extended in many ways. The Public Tencent offers in cooperation with other financial Platform can be a good instrument for garnering companies. This particular financial function public awareness and support due to the fact Chūn yè luò chéng wén dí is a great example of WeChat cooperating and that there are over 600 million users on WeChat © Beijing Longquan Monastery (北京龙泉寺) working with other third party companies and which is a huge advantage of WeChat. For a 春 夜 洛 城 闻 笛 institutions in order to create a new tool for comparison illustration, microblogs is like a Hearing a flute on a Spring Night in Luoyang its users. This is a highly convenient function person giving a speech to hundreds of people, and Shuí jiā yù dí àn fēi shēng, for users to use because it allows for them to then waiting for the information to spread. While he classic Chinese poets 谁 家 玉 笛 暗 飞 声， Láo láo tíng From whose home secretly flies the sound of a bind their bank card to this financial tool. As a WeChat is more like a group of good friends experienced the world sensitively, 劳 劳 亭 jade flute? result,a managing function for their money exists surrounded in a room of mutual companions perceiving its essential qualities, Laolao Ting Pavilion T Sàn rù chūn fēng măn luò chéng. alongside a payment function for products and all actively discussing with one another their which led to an expression of deep insights Tiān xià shāng xīn chù, 散 入 春 风 满 洛 城。 services. Xiao Li makes full use of this tool and its interests and hobbies, it is more personal and in- translated into poetical language that 天 下 伤 心 处， It is lost amid the spring wind filling the city functions during the course of her working life. depth. WeChat can be used on iPhone, Android, over the ages evoked deep meaning and Which place under heaven most hurts the of Luoyang, Another app that is equally useful to XiaoLi Windows Phone, Symbian, and BlackBerry, to beauty. The change of seasons is conceived heart? Cǐ yè qŭ zhōng wén zhé liŭ, is DIDITaxi (嘀嘀打车 Dīdī Dăchē), an App for support cross communication. The information as a creative harmony originating from Láo láo sòng kè tíng. 此 夜 曲 中 闻 折 柳， voice calling a taxi; it is a useful tool for when in a ‘Circle of Friends’ can be shared with not the constantly changing and transforming 劳 劳 送 客 亭。 In the middle of his nocturne I remember the 阴 阳 Laolao Ting Pavilion, for seeing visitors off. you need to go somewhere urgently. The user only one another, but friends can also share on interactions between yin ( ) and yang ( ). broken willow, tells the location and destination of where they Tencent microblogs whilst foreign users can It is a song of life and speaks of the dynamic Chūn fēng zhī bié kŭ, are and where they want to go. Any taxi driver share on Facebook. processes of nature and life. 春 风 知 别 苦， Hé rén bù qǐ gù yuán qíng! 何 人 不 起 故 园 情！ nearby with this app will receive the message and WeChat now can support more than one Spring is the natural season of life The spring wind knows the sorrow of parting, What person would not start thinking about the driver who would like to take the offer will hundred countries’ mobile phone numbers. Not pregnancy, of promise, of beauty and of Bù qiăn liŭ tiáo qīng, home? call her. Payment can also easily be completed only Chinese like Xiao Chen and Xiao Li, but also renewal. Flowers and a gentle breeze or 不 遣 柳 条 青。 through WeChat. This service is increasingly users from other countries, like Mary or Mike, rain are the soul of spring. The beauty of The twig of the willow will never again be The final poem has been written by Du green. popular in some big cities these days and many are enjoying the WeChat life. WeChat is steadily springtime is that it can offer the possibility Fu (杜甫 712-770) also a great poet from the times a discount will be given if the payment is garnering more international users, and its to harmonise human experiences and Tang dynasty and a good friend of Li Bai. through WeChat. This is incredibly convenient positive impact has now steeped deeper into the feelings, either happiness or sadness, as The poet might also experience the spring He is known as the ’Poetry Sage’ and cheap for its users. WeChat has become a daily lives of all those who are using it. WeChat coming up unavoidably in the reality of as a tender companion who understands (诗圣 Shīshèng), full of Confucian wisdom. new kind of mobile wallet. really is becoming a lifestyle. becoming and change. his feelings of longing, saying goodbye, and He spent many years living in poverty, The Scan QR Code (扫一扫 Săo Yi Săo) is also Li Bai (李白 701-762), perhaps the being alone. The spring wind might absorb wandering through the country. The poem a very important function of WeChat. One time Sun Yuhong (孙玉红) is the Coordinator greatest poet of the Tang dynasty (唐朝 618- all human noise and music, as expressed in describes a quiet drizzle, so characteristic Xiao Li went to a car wash where they offered a of the Confucius Institute Division at the 907), brilliant, free-spirited and insouciant, Li Bai’s poem Hearing a flute on a Spring of a spring night, which is symbolic for the promotion activity. By scanning the activity’s QR Communication University of China (CUC). She spoke about such feelings in an evocative Night in Luoyang (《 春夜洛城闻笛 》Chūnyè most precious virtue of mankind. The spring code and following their public platform, she was has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science poem about the Laolao Ting Pavilion (《劳劳 Luòchéng Wéndí): rain falls quietly during the night when able to get a free car wash. Other times if you and a Master’s Degree in Radio and Television 亭》Láoláo Tíng): people are asleep: share promotion information in your ‘Circle of Art from CUC.

Global Insights Issue 3 June 2014 34 China Issue 3 June 2014 35 AESTHETIC China Sounds CHINA

Fatos Vladi © Li Shujun (李树军) More Classical

Chūn yè xǐ yŭ 春 夜 喜 雨 Than Ever before he visited Beijing. He could not of professional musicians, also could piano,” says Xiao Wei (肖巍), Vice General Spring Rain During the Night even believe what a friend told him: “Bach see some light at the end of the tunnel. Manager of the Pearl River Piano Company is the father of classical music.” In April “The government produced some kind of (广州珠江钢琴集团有限公司), the biggest piano Hăo yŭ zhī shí jié, 好 雨 知 时 节， 2014, Tan will be in Holland and Germany combination between the Peking Opera company in the world, in Guangzhou in The spring rain, full of goodness, conducting his own work Water Passion (京剧) and symphony. So they still needed the south of China. “Also at this moment, based on Bach’s Saint Matthew’s Passion. the western instruments and professional most young couples have only one child Dāng chūn năi fā shēng. 当 春 乃 发 生。 This is the biggest music amazed. “You have never seen this before?” Both Tan and Hu witnessed the period of musicians to perform that.” and they are willing to pay a lot for their Knows that she is needed conservatory in the world, but I have never seen such a boom in the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976 文化大 For me, it is hard to believe, that this education.” This is the department where in China, this is a small one.” classical music as I have seen in China. If 革命 Wénhuà Dà Gémìng). “It was a horror is the same country where only some 30 the piano keys are made. Most of the keys Suí fēng qián rù yè, “Composer Hu Yongyan (胡咏言) points you listen attentively, then you will hear for intellectuals,” says Hu, at that time years ago, during the Cultural Revolution, will be elegantly touched by Chinese fingers, 随 风 潜 入 夜， When, during the night, with a gentle breeze, to the sixteen-storey tall building of the classical music almost everywhere. I heard attending the elementary school in his home Western Classical music was forbidden and but the factory also exports pianos to more Central Conservatory of Music (中央音乐学 it in the metro, and on the street. I never town Shanghai (上海). “During the Cultural many classical music artists were sent to than 80 countries around the world. Still, Rùn wù xì wú shēng. 院 润 物 细 无 声。 Zhōngyāng Yīnyuè Xuéyuàn) in Beijing. thought I would hear a part of Beethoven Revolution, it was still possible to learn the countryside to join the working class. the Chinese market remains the key to their She is touching the earth tenderly. The conservatory is the best education Ninth Symphony in a Chinese pop song. the piano or the violin, but it went more or Since that time, nothing has remained the success. Some 85 percent of the pianos institution in the field of Western classical Turn on the TV, start zapping, and in less less underground. Talking in public about same in China, even the working class. are sold in China itself. This means 100 Yě jìng yún jù hēi, music in China, the home country of at least than a minute you will hear that Western classical music could lead to punishment. “With the growing of the Chinese thousand pianos out of 130 thousand which 野 径 云 俱 黑， The paths in the fields are hardly visible, 40 million piano students. classical music is harmoniously mixed into If you were promoting it, then you could economy, more and more people have they make each year. But this is by far What is the story behind the attributes everyday Chinese life. Smooth piano music even get imprisoned for that.” Hu, a son big apartments with enough space for a not enough for the thirsty classical music Jiāng chuán huŏ dú míng. ‘big’ and ‘best’ in the world of the accompanies a washing detergent ad and a 江 船 火 独 明。 Only the lights on the riverboats are shining. classical music in China, where, as I used little kid playing violin is ‘smart’ because he to think, everything is made, except for drinks milk from a certain brand. Piano is Xiăo kàn hóng shī chù, music? I searched for answers to this cool, violin is smart and classical music is 晓 看 红 湿 处， The next morning, everything is drenched and question during a recent trip to China. fresh and trendy. This would be the dream vibrant, I was commissioned to produce a radio of anyone involved in the classical music documentary for Dutch Public Radio. business in Western Europe. Huā zhòng jǐn guān chéng. 花 重 锦 官 城。 “In Holland you may have 5000 kids “Rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, even Beethoven Jin Guan is blanketed with fresh flowers. in total learning to play violin. In Beijing and Bach, they are all new in China,” says alone, we have 100,000 children learning composer Tan Dun (谭盾), trying to find Translated by Xiaoling Liu and Jan B.F.N. Engberts the violin,” says Hu, a passionate composer an explanation for the classical musical and conductor who initially graduated revival. Maestro Tan is widely known in Professor Jan Engberts is a retired professor from the same Central Conservatory the West for the movie scores of Crouching of Physical Organic Chemistry, who has been and later studied at Yale University and Tiger, Hidden Dragon (《卧虎藏龙》 Wòhŭ working for University of Groningen since Julliard School of Music in the United Cánglóng) and also for his organic classical 1967. Officially retired in 2004, he held an States of America. “If you come here at music. In his compositions, he uses honorary position until 2009 and is still the weekend, you will see thousands of ‘organic’ sounds from materials like water highly active in the academic community, kids. They come to take exams for some and stones. Tan is one of the best examples occasionally teaching and publishing papers kind of music certificate. The traffic police of a success story. Born in the village of (so far he has published about 500 papers in has to come onto the campus to direct the Changsha (长沙), Hunan province (湖南省), peer-reviewed journals). traffic...” The face of maestro Hu looks he had never heard of Bach or Beethoven © Xinhua

Global Insights 36 China Issue 3 June 2014 37 food materials into vivid patterns, which AESTHETIC resembles children’s playing blocks. This dish is usually the first course which has CHINA the function of highlighting dining themes. Dough modelling is a festival custom in the northern part of China. It has thousands market in China. Some three hundred with a smile. Suddenly the expression in of years of history in China, and it is thousand pianos are sold every year in the his face changes. It is no longer the face of quintessentially beautiful and delicious. whole country. This means one piano every the enthusiastic music fan. It is the face of In Shandong province (山东省), on wedding 20 seconds. the rigorous teacher. “Most of those who days relatives and friends of the young The sound of the high-tech machines have learned piano or the violin have no couple usually make fried dough models in the factory resembles the sound of experience playing for an orchestra. It is as wedding presents. Common shapes are handmade European wall clocks. Every the orchestras which form the backbone of dragons, phoenixes and other lucky animals, second is worth a thousand sounds and the culture,” says Hu, radiating modesty. representing good wishes. In the south of the sounds reflect craftsmanship. This is Maestro Hu is a man of deeds. He founded © Xinhua Shanxi province (山西省), grandmothers not just a mass production. The factory the Orchestra Academy at the Central usually make round steamed dough models has been increasingly raising its quality Conservatory of Beijing. He may be too for their grandchildren on their birthdays. standards. Although most of the pianos they modest, but he is strongly determined to Idolised by many youngsters in the country, Chinese Cuisine: There are various different patterns for the make are first entry level, the Pearl River bring classical music to a higher level. classical musicians have become icons to round dough modelling, such as flowers, factory is also producing its own pearls: Ever since the ban on Western Classical which these young people aspire to become Chinese zodiac animals and Chinese high-end pianos such as the Ritmueller and Music was lifted, China has, perhaps in the future. I believe the future of China Edible Artwork Teng Jiaqi (滕嘉琪) characters, representing wishes of the Kayserburg brands. These pianos have the surprisingly, fully embraced this style of will not only be seen in 'made in China' but children’s good health. same quality as the high-end pianos made music and has made it their own. China’s also more and more in 'played in China'. he first time I paid attention to colours are green from green vegetables The names of Chinese dishes are even in Western Europe. booming economy has meant a significant the beauty of food was brought about and red from red sausages. It makes the more beautiful than the shapes and colours. Not only the pianos but also Chinese increase of the numbers of parents who China sounds more classical than ever. T by a friend. Before then, when dish colourful and harmonious. Colours Chinese people pay close attention to artists have become the new brands of have the financial means for their children selecting food at the market I always first can be divided into warm colours and cold the names of dishes and their meaning. classical music in the world. “Every child to receive instruction on a musical thought of the taste of that food. But my colours. Warm colours like yellow and red Names of Chinese dishes are interesting who learns to play the piano wants to be instrument associated with the classical friend said he first looked whether the food make people excited, stimulating the eater’s and meaningful because they not only show like Lang Lang (郎朗),” says maestro Hu music genre, such as the piano or violin. was beautiful or not. Only if he thought the appetite, which also helps to add a festive the features and meaning of dishes but are food was beautiful enough then he would atmosphere. When the Miao minority also full of Chinese wisdom. Some names buy it. Ever since then I have started to people celebrate the Sister’s Festival (姐妹 are derived from the colours of the food notice the aesthetic aspect of food. 节 Jiěmèi Jié) in Guizhou province (贵州省), materials, e.g. ‘Pearl and agate jade soup’ The emphasis on the aesthetics of dishes white rice is dyed into rainbow coloured rice (珍珠玛瑙翡翠汤 Zhēnzhū Mănăo Fěicuì Tāng) is a distinguishing feature of Chinese with local herbs, making the food look as is the beautiful name for a kind of Chinese cuisine. Chinese people call delicious food happy as the people’s mood is. Cold colours soup made of tofu, tomatoes and green Fatos Vladi was born in Albania. He 美食 (Měishí). Měi (美) means beautiful, shí like green, blue and purple usually function vegetables. People can imagine the beauty holds a Master’s degree in Literature and (食) means food. In Chinese culture, the as supporting colours. of the soup just from the name. Some names Linguistics from Tirana University and a beauty of food not only refers to the taste The beauty of food shapes is that it come from Chinese idioms or folk legends, Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism but also indicates the colour, shape, aroma brings visual pleasure, increases the eater’s e.g. stir-fried squid and chicken is called from the University of Groningen. In the and texture. The harmony of all of the appetite and inspires people to appreciate ‘Dragon playing with phoenix’ (游龙戏凤 last 20 years, he has been working as a elements, which is essential in Chinese food, the beauty of life. With the development Yóulóng-xìfèng) which is a romantic folk journalist and media producer for various makes a Chinese dish beautiful food. of Chinese cuisine, the skill of shaping legend, making the dish full of with cultural media organisations in Europe. Vladi has Colour and shape are especially Chinese dishes has also improved. There connotations. won the Best TV Idea Prize (2007) and the important staples of Chinese cuisine. The are several ways to shape Chinese dishes, A delicious Chinese dish can bring various Forgotten Stories Prize (2009). In 2006, colours in Chinese dishes originate from for instance, food carving (食雕 Shídiāo), enjoyments in spirit and physicality, which he was nominated for Prix Italia. He was the natural food colours. One dish should piecing cold food together (冷拼 Lěngpīn) is also the harmony of all visual, acoustic, nominated for Prix Europa (2012) in the have a main colour and supporting colours and dough modelling (面塑 Miànsù). Food gustation and olfactory senses. Chinese Innovation category and in 2013 he was used for highlighting the main colour. For carving is the art of carving food to look cuisine is more than the food meeting the shortlisted for Prix Europa in the category example, ‘Chicken slice with lotus’ (芙蓉 like different things, such as flowers, birds essential physiological need, it is the edible Radio Music. 鸡片 Fúróng Jīpiàn) has a white chicken and scenery. Piecing cold food together artwork containing harmonious Chinese slice as the main colour; the supportive is the art of shaping different colourful culture and neutralising aesthetic ideal.

Global Insights Issue 3 June 2014 38 China Issue 3 June 2014 39 FEAture interview

FEATURE INTERVIEW

A Dutch Artist’s Mission to Clean China’s Smog

Interview with All photos by Daan Roosegaarde

Daan Roosegaarde Liu Jingyi (刘婧一)

Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde (1979), is the founder of coming; and on the other hand, we have the great itself. You must also have seen the smog rings, letter of intent, with Dutch Minister Bussemaker Studio Roosegaarde, the social design lab with a team of designers and desire to use technology to get there. And when On the one hand, we the jewellery that is made out of actual smog. of Education, Culture and Science and China’s engineers based in the Netherlands and Shanghai (上海). Now Roosegaarde we showed our project DUNE in Hong Kong are working on a We suck up the smog particles and compress it Ministry of Culture (中国文化部 Zhōngguó Wénhuà and his team are developing a safe, energy friendly installation to capture (香港 Xiānggăng) and mainland China, people and make it into a diamond. So when you donate Bù) to make sure the project actually happens. were very enthusiastic about it. DUNE is a public design for the future, or buy the ring, you give about 1000 cubic It is going to be a co-creation, and of course, it’s smog and create clean air in Beijing (北京) and they are also working in China interactive landscape that interacts with human to think about what metres of clean air to the city. And we think very important that the government supports (中国 Zhōngguó) on other intricate designs, such as Smart Highways which behaviour. This hybrid of nature and technology is coming; and on Beijing, as the capital and as one of the most the project and that they are open to it. We are are roads that are more sustainable and interactive because of the use of is composed of large amounts of fibres that the other hand, we serious smog afflicted cities, is a good place working together with the creative industry to interactive lights, smart energy and road signs that adapt to specific traffic brighten in response to the sounds and motion to start to give something to the people. And it make sure it actually gets realised. of passing visitors. Chinese people are very open have the great desire has been great to work together with Beijing, situations. Daan Roosegaarde has gained international recognition with his to that. So we did a lot of exhibitions and public to use technology not only with the government, but also with the You mentioned the agreement signed by the social designs, connecting the world of imagination with innovation. art works in China. But one day I was looking to get there. artists from the Beijing Dashanzi Art District Dutch minister. What is the significance to your out of the window from my room in Beijing and (大山子艺术区 Dàshānzi Yìshù Qū) (also known studio? What does this agreement mean for your Nowadays, one of the top keywords about China on Monday I could see the city around me, but as the 798 Art District), to actually make this studio? is smog. When I googled Studio Roosegaarde, on Tuesday and Wednesday I couldn't see it happen. Roosegaarde: We think it’s an important I saw the remarkable project name, Smog anymore because of the problem of smog. And I project to create incentive, to create a project Project. And many Chinese people know you are was thinking maybe we should design and create So how did the procedure go with you for the future of the city, the future of a ‘smart the Dutchman who has the mission to clean the a solution to fix that problem. approaching the Mayor of Beijing city; did it city’, which is good for the people, good for smog of Beijing. That is very impressive. How take you a long time to get the support from the industry and good for the economy. And we do did you get yourself so much associated with Great thinking! I read that the Mayor of Beijing government? it by making it very tactile, by building it. We smog? city is really supportive of the Smog Project. Did Roosegaarde: We met the Vice Mayor for the know how to do it. We have the technology. We Roosegaarde: We have had some cooperation you initiate the communication with the city? first time during the last Beijing Design Week with China from the day we started the first Roosegaarde: Yes, the project itself was self- (北京设计周 Běijīng Shèjì Zhōu) in October. And studio which was based in the Netherlands, commissioned by our studio. We teamed up with four weeks ago, I met with the President of but quite soon we started the second studio in some experts in the Netherlands, but also in China in the Dutch palace in Amsterdam during Shanghai. What we always appreciate and like China, who are specialists in smog because we his state visit to the Netherlands. We had eight a lot is, on the one hand, we are working on a needed to work together to create the cleanest minutes with him and his wife, and we signed a design for the future, to think about what is park in Beijing as part of the Smog Project MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), a sort of

Global Insights 40 China Issue 3 June 2014 41 feature interview FEAture interview

promoting high-tech innovation, promoting this between the fast and the slow. So that’s what Maybe I am wrong, I don’t know, let’s have kind of science and making the city better again. I love about China: that there is this incredible an open conversation.” What I want is not me So we are not saying that we know everything. desire for the future, especially in my generation, telling them what to do, but I want a dialogue. Absolutely not. I am trying to say: Let’s work like 30 to 35-year-olds. It’s a new generation of I want an interaction. In the beginning, Chinese together to make the city even better. We cannot Chinese people who are becoming bosses of their students are not really used to that, but if you do that alone. We are saying: No, we companies. And they have been abroad, they give them a chance to learn, they learn really, should reset and make have been to London, they know the world a bit. really fast. Sure, that is a great point. I also noticed in your something completely And they are very, very open to new ideas. They CV you have a long list of awards. Among them invite me to their homes to eat and to hang out I know you just had a trip to China in March is China’s Most Successful Design Award. Which new, because the old and to learn. And I think that’s incredibly fun accompanying the delegation with the Dutch project brought you this award? Is it the Smog things don’t work to make new friends and, based on that, start minister Bussemaker of Education, Culture and Project? anymore. I think the to realise new projects. But it takes some time Science. Do you have any new observations on Roosegaarde: I think it was for the oeuvre, to get to know each other, and to build up trust China and new ideas from this trip? so for the whole series of projects that we’ve new generation in because the stuff we do is also very radical. It’s Roosegaarde: I am getting to know it much, done. There are twelve projects we are working China is ready for radical innovation. And we are not optimising an much better. I have been travelling in China on right now. And one of those projects is the that, absolutely. old system. We are saying: No, we should reset for the past four or five years intensively. But Smart Highway project about interactive and and make something completely new, because right now we are building these things, so it is sustainable roads. the old things don’t work anymore. I think important to have a group of people who believe the new generation in China is ready for that, in you and to choose the right client who is really You have the Shanghai studios, with projects like absolutely. interested in the concept, the story, not just in it the Smart Highway and also the Smog Project. for the money, but also believes in the project. How do you like the business environment in You have given lectures in many universities in So I will go there in five or six weeks to talk China so far? China. How do you like the experience? about the first production of the smog rings, and Roosegaarde: You know, it is different from Roosegaarde: University students in China are to meet some Chinese manufacturers, to make Europe, for sure. I think in Europe, there is very eager, incredibly eager. They ask a lot of it happen. You know, it is a city with so much a tendency to spend a lot of money, time and questions and they do their homework quite potential, and so many great challenges. And I energy on Research and Development, on the well and they are familiar with all the projects. think, it forces us to be creative to survive. idea. And then we spend ten to twelve months They are also very interested in the process, like working on an idea before we can realise all the how do you go from idea to realisation. I think I heard about your impressive lecture on the have an idea how to realise it. But of course details. In China, things go much, much faster. I as a Dutchman, as a westerner, I have really future of the world. What is your anticipation it should always be a collaboration with the Which means, sometimes you just start, you been trained to always ask why. Why is it like about the future of China? local government to work together to choose launch and learn, and then you go back and you this? I always question things. Maybe in the Roosegaarde: Well, I think it’s very clear that the park. Where should we do it? When should update. I am not saying it is better or worse, but beginning, Chinese people are sort of shy. When we cannot keep on going like this. We cannot we do it? What's the story? How can we make there is a different rhythm at play. You have to I say something, they always say: “Yes, it’s okay, keep on growing and growing, you know, it will sure that people understand the right message? accept that. While for me the most important because you are the tutor, we believe you.” And eat everything up. So in a weird way, we should The smog-free park is not the solution, but an thing is quality; quality of how people experience I say: “No, no, you have to be critical yourself! not do less, but we should do more, and maybe incentive to work together to make a whole city the quality of materials; that you make invest more in creativity, in new ideas and new smog-free, for instance by cycling more. So it’s something that works, and it remains working. innovation to deal with the challenges and poetry very important to get recognition and support So I love the brightness, the speed of China, and of today’s China. So, we should think about from the official level, especially in China the scale: very fast, very big. But at the same an energy-neutral city which is based on good where government is very important. When the time, I sometimes try to slow it down a bit in energy or about making parks where people can government is supportive, people will accept it order to make sure it has the quality that I have enjoy the weather and just enjoy themselves. That as a valid and important project. That is why in my brain. That is sort of a creative process, a is, I think, as important as economic progress. creating common understanding and getting creative struggle. And I think that is very cool. So, this balance between commerce and official support is part of the design process for creativity is important. And I think if China does me. It’s great to learn and to exchange ideas. It’s Based on your past experiences, how do you that, there is a bright future. If it ignores it, you a lot of fun and I told them that I was inspired define the opportunities in China? might hit a big concrete wall. But I think China by their smog. That was a funny joke, of course. Roosegaarde: There are great opportunities in has conquered many, many challenges before, so But they understood that. And we have also met China. In Europe, they take a lot of time for I am sure a new balance will be established. And with the President and the Dean of Tsinghua Research and Development. But sometimes I think China’s new president is really good at University (清华大学). They are very interested in Europe is too slow. You have to find the balance finding that balance.

Global Insights 42 China Issue 3 June 2014 43 CHINA CITY CULTURE

CHINA CITY The name Harbin sounds more foreign rather Nan Gang District (南岗区 Nángăng Qū), and a CULTURE than Chinese: it comes from the Manchu (满 Harbin Great Mosque in the Dao Wai District 族 Măn Zú) word for ‘flat’. The first signs of (道外区 Dàowài Qū). These religious institutions human activity in the area appeared 22,000 not only present the distinctive architecture of years ago, and the history of the city can be Baroque, Byzantine, Gothic, classical Chinese traced back to 800 years ago when the Jin and Muslim buildings; but these building are also Dynasty (金朝 1115-1234) was established, later the very expression of these very diverse religious followed by the Qing Dynasty (清朝 1644-1911). cultures. Buddhism was introduced in Harbin Today, 47 ethnic minorities live in the city, of during the Jin Xi Zong period (金熙宗 1119-1150); which the Manchu population is the largest Taoism spread through Harbin about 800 years group. Harbin was the birthplace of ethnic ago; Islam appeared in the Qing Qian Long time minorities, but later it turned out to be location (乾隆 1711-1799); Christianity came in the mid- with the largest Han (汉) majority. Integrating 19th and Catholicism in the late 19th century; different ethnical cultures, Harbin formed its and lastly Orthodoxy was introduced in Harbin in own unique characteristics. The city’s character the early 20th century. Harbin and its residents was reinforced by Russia’s construction of the hold very tolerant views of different religions; Middle East Railway junction centre in late 19th there is little evidence of conflict along religious century, which facilitated relatively large-scale lines in the city. Harbin has eight administrative districts, and Nan Gang, Dao Li and Dao Wai are representatives. Dao Wai District is where the old town is located, and it is the ideal venue to Harbin: find the most native and indigenous flavours of Harbin. It is said that a family named Tian (田) moved to this area in about 1805 and The Harmony founded a winery there, after which, in about 1900, a family named Fu (傅) came to set up a caravanserai, and the city has spread out of Diversity from that. Today, the tradition of living on craftsmanship and small business is still carried on in Dao Wai District. The best example of this Huang Kuo (黄廓) industrious and vibrant lifestyle can be found in the third North Street Bazaar (北三市场 Běi Sān Shìchăng). This market place satisfies almost all of the people’s daily needs from food stands and drapers’ shops, to public baths and theatres. Located in Northeast China, Harbin Similar market places and local communities (哈尔滨 Hā’ěrbīn) is called ‘the bright pearl on help to preserve the relatively simple and easy the bridge of Eurasia land’ or ‘the pearl on immigration: more than 160,000 foreigners life in Dao Wai District. from 33 countries moved to Harbin, promoting The Dao Li and Nan Gang districts tell a the swan’s neck’. With its long winter and the development of a market-oriented economy totally different story. Being the centres for city snow and ice-related activities, it is also and diverse city culture. administration, finance, commerce, education known as the ‘Ice City’; and its architecture Harbin created its unique and exotic cityscape and entertainment, the two districts share a through assimilating external culture, and similar upmarket character of fashion, and conjures up the names ‘Oriental Moscow’ through its vivid representation of being a ‘united the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan culture. or ‘Oriental Paris’. Harbin has earned nation of religions’. Travelling through the Central Street (中央大街 Zhōngyāng Dàjiē) is the all of these names, not least because the city, the visitor can expect to see the Orthodox landmark of the Dao Li District. It was originally city perfectly integrates the Orient and Eastern Saint-Sophia Church (圣·索菲亚大教堂) in built in 1898 under the name ‘Chinese Street’ the Dao Li District (道里区 Dàolǐ Qū), the Chinese and then renamed to Central Street, although the Occident, the classic and the modern, monastery Ji Le Temple (极乐寺), a Christian local people prefer to call it ‘Stone Street’ since © Xinhua calmness and vitality. Church and a Harbin Confucian Temple in the it is covered by precious built-in square stones.

Global Insights 44 China Issue 3 June 2014 45 CHINA CITY CULTURE CHINA CITY CULTURE

Now, the 22-metre-wide, 1450-metre-long street flavours, typified by heavy sauce, deep-fry is for pedestrians, thereby protecting the roadbed and mixed stew. The most popular dishes as well as the historical and cultural buildings, include Guo Bao Rou (锅包肉) (a form of sweet mostly shops and restaurants that flank the two and sour deep fried pork), Eight Hearty sides. Stews (八大炖 Bā Dà Dùn) (eight dishes of Dao Li District has the most beautiful natural stewed meet and vegetables, including scenery in Harbin, which is found along the chicken braised with mushroom, stewed Songhua River (松花江). Three joint parks on the spare-ribs with green-been, braised pork with south side of the river form the longest park vermicelli, braised catfish with eggplant, region in China. On the north side of the river, the stewed fresh fish De Mo Li style) and Fried Sun Island (太阳岛 Tàiyáng Dăo) - named after its Pork with Pickle and Vermicelli (猪肉酸菜炖粉条 shape - has been developed into a tourist zone, Zhūròu Suāncài Dùn Fěntiáo). which is unique as it is the only riverside wet Besides traditional Harbin food, Western Ice and snow are grassland ecology in a central city in the whole of style food is also popular in the city. Walking natural gifts to China. People can access it either by crossing one along Central Street, the long queues waiting of the three bridges or by taking a river cruise. at the authentic Russian-style restaurants will © Xinhua Harbin, and the In 1980, the popular song On the Sun Island definitely draw in the visitor’s attention: it city uses them to its spread the name of Sun Island far and wide and seems Harbin people never get tired of Hua Seasonal activities cultivated art and culture of art, which uses gardening skills, architecture fullest advantage. made it the pride of the locals and a popular Mei’s (华梅) borsch and Madieer’s ice cream in Harbin. Harbin has four distinct seasons, technologies, sculpture techniques and lightening tourist attraction for visitors. The river sides are (马迭尔冰棍儿). There are two reputable bakery and the activities in both summer and winter equipment. Ice lanterns are colourful and bright ideal places for sightseeing, boating, fishing, shops in Harbin: one is Lao Ding Feng (老鼎峰) are world famous. Harbin was recognised as at night, making Harbin a fairyland at winter swimming as well as picnicking. in Dao Wai District, famous for cakes mixed a ‘Music City’ by UNESCO in 2010 not only nights. The Ice Lantern Fair in Zhao Lin Park, Harbin has a diverse and rich dining culture. with Chinese and Muslim characters. The because China’s oldest symphony orchestra which is part of the Harbin International Ice Harbin cuisine is strong and rich in both taste other is Qiu Lin (秋林) in Nan Gang District, and first music school were both established and Snow Sculpture Festival (哈尔滨国际冰雪节), and colour. The tradition of ancient local well known for its sour and chewy big bread in Harbin, but also because it has hosted the attracts domestic and international tourists nomadic food mingled with the influence of Palestine (大列巴 Dà Liěba), weighing 2.5 Harbin Summer Music Concert (哈尔滨之夏音乐会) every year. modern imported European dishes combines to kilograms each. Tourists find Harbin’s main every two years since 1958, assembling artists Harbin is a city with multiple cultural origins form Harbin’s famous culinary characteristic of specialty particularly interesting: smoked from all over the world. Ice and snow are natural and influences. It adopted the cultures in a ‘appearing beautiful in being sincere, containing savory red sausage (红肠 Hóngcháng), famous gifts to Harbin, and the city uses them to its way like separating the wheat from the chaff, quintessence in being rough’. Harbin dishes for its European flavours. Visitors’ stomachs fullest advantage. From December to March, and united them to make something with predominantly contain Chinese northeastern are never disappointed in Harbin. the whole city is decorated by various styles of Harbin characteristics. Harbin is not a city to ice and snow sculptures. The annual Harbin be glanced at over a couple of hours, its sheer International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, diversity, plurality and richness make it a place started in 19852, is one of the four worldwide ice of experience, enjoyment and enlightenment for and snow festivals along with the Sapporo Snow endless reasons. Festival in Japan, Quebec City Winter Carnival in Canada and the Ski Festival in Norway. Ice lanterns and snow sculptures are predominant at the Harbin International Ice Huang Kuo (黄廓) and Snow Sculpture Festival. The ice lantern Associate Professor in the Center for in Harbin can be dated back to when fishermen International Communication Studies, China used ice and candles for lighting. In the early International Publishing Group. She holds an 1960s, Harbin ice lanterns developed into a form MA in Communication from the University of Westminster, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in 2 It was an annual event until 1966, then stopped and International Communication from Macquarie restarted in 1979. University, Australia. © Teng Fei (腾飞) Email: [email protected]

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consideration in protecting endangered geological epochs. The sixth and last Wild China: species. One of the reasons why, for episode entitled Tides of Change focuses example, the freshwater turtle is close to on transformation in terms of migration. extinction is because these animals along Human migratory flows in China have had Beautiful China with 25 other freshwater species are a massive impact on urban centres, the considered gourmet delicacies in China. In majority of which are located on the eastern John Goodyear a rather matter-of-fact tone, the narrator coast. Now home to half of the country’s puts it like this: “Some animals are rare, population of 1.3 billion people, the eastern even close to extinction because the Chinese coast from Shandong (山东省) in the north to From record-breaking growth rates to are accustomed to eating them.” Guangdong (广东省) in the south does not just the smog of Beijing (北京), China often Although rarity of endangered species play host the migration of humans though; makes the headlines for its economic is a recurring theme in Wild China, the it is an important migratory route for birds. rise and its environmental problems. documentary does highlight examples of But the last episode, just like the six before But the country is rarely considered for animal conservation projects that seek it, gives a mixed picture of the impact of © Li Shujun (李树军) its highest mountains, hot deserts, cold to protect species from total extinction. these and other transformations. On the one terrains, sceneries of outstanding natural It shows how the Chinese, often with hand, people and animals (including birds) beauty as well as plant and animal life on beauty in that memorable Olympic year. faced an herculean task in choosing a unique tropical biodiversity that boasts government assistance, have pursued coexist alongside each other in harmony which China and the Chinese so greatly For Phil Chapman, the series producer, the the kinds of species to capture on film, some of the rarest plants on earth, a policy of direct intervention to save and have done so for centuries; and yet, depend. The nature documentary series documentary was just as much for internal especially as China is home to some of something that the documentary likens to species from absolute extinction. The fifth the documentary reveals instances of an Wild China, a pioneering series capturing as for external consumption though: “We the rarest primates, over 3000 unique that earthly paradise and home to mythical episode Land of the Panda elaborates uneasy relationship between the wildlife and China’s spectacular array of creatures want the Chinese to feel proud of their plant species as well as animals on the Himalayan (喜马拉雅 Xǐmălāyă) utopia: on the examples of the Chinese alligator humans in modern China. which inhabits the country’s most beautiful countryside and wildlife, to care about it verge of total extinction, such as the wild Shangri-La. and crested ibis. The same episode also This unique joint BBC-CCTV landscapes, aims to put that right. and to seek to ensure its survival,” he wrote. Asian Elephant. In a tour de force, the Just as physical geography plays an contrasts the more enlightened approach to documentary journeys through a country Wild China is a six-part nature Chapman would go on to add: “We also documentary cleverly took commonly important role in the documentary as a conservation of endangered species of recent of spectacular national beauty, revealing documentary co-produced by the British hope to redress the negative view of China’s associated aspects of Chinese geography as whole, so does human geography and the governments compared to mismanagement to the unsuspecting viewer a plant and Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) and environment propagated in western media.” well as Chinese animal and human culture, impact of human behaviour on the wild. during the Mao administration. animal kingdom which they might not Chinese Central Television (CCTV). It Because of the unique collaboration using them as titles for each episode and It would be far-fetched to say that the Wild China also tells the story of have initially associated with China. was first aired in the United Kingdom in between the BBC and CCTV, the six enticing potential viewers to learn more documentary presents a one-sided, overly transformation processes over given periods Through exceptional camera work, plain- May 2008, just three months before the episodes went further than any other nature about Tibet (Episode 3), Beyond the Great positive view of the Chinese environment. of time, some of which encompass the speaking and, at times, witty narration as opening of the Beijing Olympic Games. documentary beforehand in presenting Wall (Episode 4) or the Land of the Panda It does not. Instead, it speaks some truths lifespan of animals and humans; others well as its wide geographical reach, Wild The timing was intentional on the side China’s lesser-known natural history to the (Episode 5). Instead of focusing purely about the lack of care, conservation and are much broader, spanning eras, even China succeeds in painting a picture of of the Chinese authorities, who granted widest possible audience. Unprecedented on animals or solely on human culture or the diverse Chinese animal kingdom and permission for the documentary to be access was given to the BBC to film in physical geography, the documentary blends natural environment, of which its human made: It wanted to showcase China as a remote parts of China. The film crews them all together into one. It tells of an citizens can feel a great sense of pride. The tourist destination of outstanding natural painstakingly filmed a number of creatures interaction between humans and animals in series also counterbalances this projected, using a blend of traditional filming the varied environs which they both inhabit. positive image with the vital importance of techniques with special ones, such as time Geography plays a key role in the conservation and protection of this special lapse sequences and the use of the thermal documentary as a whole: It pinpoints animal environment so that future generations can imaging cameras. Never before seen on and plant life to a particular place and respect, admire and enjoy it as well. Highly film, viewers witnessed on their television conveys in an easy-to-understand language recommendable viewing, the six-part Wild screens the spectacular sight of Rickert’s explaining why specific locations are China documentary leaves the viewer with mouse eared bat catching a fish in the favourable to certain species. In the second a readjusted perception of China that is dark and the rare primates Francois’ leaf episode entitled Shangri-La, for instance, considerably more diverse, more varied, monkeys entering their caves at night in the viewers learn of the special meteorological even more exotic than the image generally first episode entitled Heart of the Dragon. conditions in the south-western Yunnan portrayed of this country elsewhere in the As the country with the world’s largest province (云南省) that stem from the Indian media. population and third biggest in terms of Ocean and force monsoon rainclouds further © Ding Xiyuan (丁喜媛) © Li Shujun (李树军) landmass, the documentary filmmakers north than usual. The result is spectacular:

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Even now, according to Dr. Feng Keli establishment of Sino-American diplomatic Deng Xiaoping and the (冯克利), a professor at Shandong relations, the historical evaluation of University (山东大学 Shāndōng Dàxué) Mao’s chosen successor Hua Guofeng (华 who translated this book into Chinese, 国锋), the rocky road to economic reform, the Chinese people are still living the relations between Deng Xiaoping and Transformation of China: in Deng Xiaoping’s time to a great Communist leader Chen Yun (陈云), the extent. To understand China today, you demonstration on Tiananmen Square (天安门 Ding Xiyuan (丁喜媛) must understand Deng. Mr. Vogel’s 广场 Tiān’ānmén Guăngchăng) and the issues A Book by Ezra F. Vogel prodigious biography offers a sweeping of Hong Kong (香港 Xiānggăng), Taiwan (台湾 overview of Deng’s background (1904- Táiwān) as well as Tibet (西藏 Xīzàng). 1969), recounts his tortuous road to The author Ezra F. Vogel, who worked the top (1969-1977), provides accounts on this book for a decade, spent one year to of his vision, courage, political and learn the Chinese language in order to study According to former US President as “the world’s most important award world over the past 30 years, raising the organisational skills in modernising Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of Jimmy Carter, Deng Xiaoping and the for non-fiction” by The Economist. The standard of living of hundreds of millions of China and opening it to trade with the China. His volume is not only enormous but Transformation of China is “an impressive Chinese mainland simplified Chinese edition people. West (1978-1989), and also collects also well researched. He interviewed dozens and important biography of one of the was published in January 2013 and this “Deng could be tough, but he was direct challenges to the Deng era (1989- of Deng’s colleagues and acquaintances, most important men of the twentieth edition was commonly regarded a huge and engaged. He played an extraordinary 1992). The book is, to a great extent, China experts as well as Deng’s family and century”. It is a comprehensive and breakthrough in the release of sensitive role, bringing the world’s most populated a detailed chronology of Deng’s roller he did exhaustive documentary research. informative biography, written by Ezra information. The book is, as the subtitle nation into the modern world,” said Mr. coaster career. Vogel also visited a lot of places in China, F. Vogel, one of Harvard University’s top indicates, about Deng Xiaoping (邓小平) and Brent Scowcroft, who served as Deputy Vogel’s book supplies plenty of like Deng’s birthplace in Sichuan Province China scholars. The book was published by the political and economic revolution that Assistant to the President for National impressive details about and extensive (四川省) in the southwest of China, Jiangxi Harvard University Press in 2011, entered China has experienced in the past 30 years. Security Affairs in the Nixon and Ford in this uniquely researched biography.” insights into Deng Xiaoping. It offers Province (江西省) where Deng was exiled the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Deng Xiaoping launched China’s market- administrations. “We are fortunate Strictly speaking, the book is not a typical an enormous amount of material about during the Cultural Revolution (文化大革 Awards ‘finalist’ list, and won the 2012 oriented economy and developed China into that Vogel, one of our foremost China biography for it does not dwell much on Deng’s leadership and struggles within the 命 Wénhuà Dà Gémìng), as well as special Lionel Gelber Prize, which is described one of the fastest growing economies in the scholars, has now brought the man alive Deng’s personal life and readers can only elite power circles in China over several economic zones in Guangdong Province get superficial psychological insights into decades. Howard French from the Wall (广东省) in the south of China. “With this Deng. Instead, it tells a story of reform Street Journal said: “The book is at its book, I thought I could write something and opening-up through exploring the life best in portraying the tense interplay of new that would educate Americans about of Deng Xiaoping. The 876-page study of personal relations and ambition among China,” Mr. Vogel said in an interview. Deng Xiaoping’s life offers little information Mao’s many lieutenants.” Deng was a From the perspectives of Chinese people, about Deng’s life and experiences in his first master of administration and diplomacy. the author also educates the Chinese about 65 years, which are compressed into a mere The comprehensive description of Deng’s Deng Xiaoping and China reforms as well as 30 pages. The core of the book provides a skills when dealing with foreign affairs, about what China is facing and where China detailed examination of China’s politics and like facing the Soviet-Vietnamese threat or is going right now. economic reforms from Deng’s assumption opening up to the United States, is also one This is an important book on one of the of the top position in 1978 to the end of of the highlights of this book. This massive most influential leaders in the late 20th his own life in 1997, which, comparatively biography also details how Deng triumphed century who was the driving force behind covers over 700 pages of the text. over repeated setbacks, overcame the China’s transformation. Generally speaking, Deng Xiaoping was a pragmatist, a seemingly insuperable obstacles to it is essential reading for anyone who wants statesman with an iron will and he was the transform China from the oldest civilization to know more about Deng and his life, wants key architect in opening up to the west and into a modern, leading industrial nation. It to understand how China went from being economic reforms, transforming China is worth mentioning that this fascinating an impoverished country to a great power economically, politically, and socially. He book Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation today, or wants to understand China today was the driving force behind China’s radical of China also touches on many potent more deeply. © Du Yongle (杜永乐) transformation in the late 20th century. and sensitive issues in China, like the

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hours. During this period, the contestants seen such an endless stream of fans and Where are we going, dad? has been firmly known, is undoubtedly the one who benefits have to complete several missions, such as visitors. Ticket prices and accommodation in first place, and is drawing in the biggest most from this show. He experienced his catching loach (a kind of fish) in the field fees in the show´s locations, such audience according to statistics from ’boogie nights’ after this reality show. After together and then cooking it, or fishing in as Shapotou (沙坡头) in Ningxia Hui CSM Media Research (索福瑞媒介研究有限公司 the first episode, a lot of people had no idea a pond and then selling the fish to cover autonomous region (宁夏回族自治区), Puzhehei Suŏfúruì Méijiè Yánjiū Yŏuxiàn Gōngsī) - a who he was. However, ever since episode travelling expenses. The audience can easily (普者黑) in Yunnan (云南), Snow Kingdom Chinese research centre dedicated to TV four, Zhang Liang’s popularity suddenly sky be attracted by the plot: the fathers are in Heilongjiang (黑龙江) have risen by about & radio audience measurement research. rocketed. The number of fans he has on Sina household names and fans know everything 50%. Not only the show, its sponsors and All ten episodes rank first among other TV Weibo (Chinese Twitter) rose from 110,000 about them, but they have been placed in its locations are successful, but peripheral shows that air at the same time. Based on to 2.2 million, and it is now more than 17 a context where they have to demonstrate products like Where are we going, dad? data provided by CSM Media, more than million. Twenty years ago, he was nobody their less familiar parental side. Also, the video games and movies are also real 40 million viewers are watching Hunan TV with an income of only a few thousand Yuan challenges presented by the show’s creators best sellers. The economic ripple effect of at the same time on Friday evening at 10 every month. Today, he spends millions often create big problems for the famous Where are we going, dad? is immeasurable o’clock, making Where are we going, dad? buying a house in Beijing (北京). As a young fathers. For example, all the fathers were and can be noticed everywhere. The total the most popular TV show in China. I can father, Zhang is surely the biggest winner requested to teach their kids a very old song revenue of the same-name movie Where are also see the show’s popularity among my and he deserves it because he is delicate and although most of the children could not we going, dad? has surpassed 460 billion own friends and relatives, who are all in gentle and has a lot of humour and personal focus on that for more than ten minutes. I RMB (€54.5bn) after it was released; different age groups. I often see many of my charm. Where are we going, dad? gave him was immediately fascinated by the premise online games’ downloads rank in the top ten friends and relatives write some something a chance, provided a platform for him to of the show and I wanted to know more lasting for one week; peripheral products, on WeChat (a mobile text and voice really take off. about the programme, so after the first such as clothing, have become big online message communication service developed Also, the five children learned a lot episode I began to search for information, stores’ best sellers. by Tencent) about the show. from this programme. They learned how Where Are We collecting and analysing data and news Besides the economic effect, Where are Of course, the participants in the show to get along with their peers, which can about Where are we going, dad? we going, dad? has also given Hunan TV also benefit: the adult contestants shoot seldom be taught in the classroom by their Wang Qing (王青) My research on Where are we going, a huge competitive edge in the ‘battle’ to the top of the stars’ A-list and the teachers and is especially important for Going, Dad? dad? mainly resulted in information about between the Chinese TV stations. Before names of both the children and the fathers ’only children’. They learned how to deal the show’s economic aspects and influence. Where are we going, dad? aired on Hunan regularly appear in the headlines of the with problems, getting rid of some of those What surprised me most is the huge profit it TV, the different platforms of China’s daily newspapers. The five fathers in the bad habits along the way: it is obvious that Some clean clothes, two big suitcases, a dad without the mothers, to live in unfamiliar makes, which should be described as a ’win- entertainment TV were battling for ratings, show are actors or sportsmen, and the in the end Cindy cried less than ever before with his child having no idea about life, not places which are mostly villages with win’ situation or ’killing two birds with one but after the show aired, Hunan TV difference between them is their popularity: and Kimi was able to be less dependent knowing what the destination is, without beautiful sceneries that are rarely known stone’. There is no doubt that via this reality undoubtedly won. From the second episode, some have already been famous for a long on his daddy. All five children now have mum, cannot bring the Teddy bear… All to the contestants. From the moment she TV show, the first beneficiary, Mango TV time; others have rarely ‘child star’ status; they took part in the this is the start of a fantastic journey. When first saw it, my mother was fascinated with (Another name for Hunan TV) has got a been seen before or are same-name movie shooting, advertisement the first episode of Where are we going, the show and continually talked about the lot of applause and support from Chinese even unknown. Guo Tao endorsements and various TV shows. They dad? (《爸爸去哪儿》 Bàba Qù Năr), a TV ’characters’, like the always crying girl audiences and sponsors. Also, the sponsors (郭涛), Lin Zhiying (林志 enjoy the bright spotlight much earlier than show imported from South Korea, appeared Cindy, the charmingly naive Angeles, the have benefitted tremendously from the show 颖), Wang Yuelun (王岳伦) others. on Chinese TV, no one could have imagined girly boy Kimi and a group of overwhelmed because the show’s popularity has increased and Tian Liang (田亮) are A final group that also benefits from the that such an unknown reality show would fathers. It sounded interesting, so I waited the sponsors products’ brand value. So as a extremely famous show show’s popularity is the audience. Where become a legend of Chinese entertainment in front of the television for the rerun that result, at the tender meeting for Season 2, business starts and are are we going, dad? has definitely brought programmes in the future. afternoon. the final yield was 312 million RMB. all well known in China. its viewers joy. Laughter erupted when the I can still remember on a Sunday I found that this ninety-minute TV show The show not only increases the sponsors’ For them, participating awkward dads could not find a place to put morning. I had just woken up and my presents a clear story: five father-and- profit, but also the familiarity of villages in this programme is like their hands when cooking; the audience mother came to me and cheerfully told me child couples go to a strange place, which and the beautiful locations where the adding wings to a tiger: was in stitches when the children expressed about a TV reality show she watched last is usually a rural area on the outskirt of a episodes were shot. These locations now it just makes them more themselves in very strange ways; all the night. The programme is about several city with beautiful scenery or a plain native attract numerous tourists from all over popular. Zhang Liang week’s pressure from studying or working is Chinese male stars who take their children, village, © Xinhua to experience life there for 72 China - the locals say they have never before © Xinhua (张亮), who is less well easily relieved by those two hours on Friday

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evening. In addition, watching the show is in China not one TV show has had so much business, education, and even culture in not only a nice way to relax and laugh after influence and made such a difference as Chinese society. With so much positive a busy week, but it is also a casual way to this one. However, such success also raises feedback and little media criticism, no learn more about family ethics and child some questions, such as why has China not wonder that Zhang Tingting (张婷婷), GCI Calendar care. Some situations in the programme developed its own original programme? the media critic, once said “Where are reflect the dilemmas faced by millions of As a TV show imported from South Korea, we going, dad? is a programme with no fathers and sons. In China, the father has people can easily associate it with other negative evaluation.” Today in China, the long been a spiritual mentor who fulfilled popular entertainment shows, such as The majority is speaking highly of Where are the role of guide in the relationship with Voice imported from the Netherlands, The we going, dad? For it has brought profit their children, rarely involved in the daily Super Brain (Deutschlands Superhirn) to the Chinese entertainment industry and GCI OVERVIEW care for the very young boys or girls. At imported from Germany, etc., for they joy to Chinese society. And most of all, it the same time, what I appreciate most are all imported from overseas. Perhaps, had made viewers re-think the relationship Groningen Confucius Institute is that the organisation of Where are we in addition to importing, how to make a between parents and their children, as well The Groningen Confucius Institute (GCI, 格罗宁根孔子学院) is a going, dad? provides educational experts better original programme should be a main as how to teach children. It is certainly an partnership between the Communication University of China (中国 who review and provide feedback on the concern for producers today. enlightening TV show since it has raised 传媒大学 Zhōngguó Chuánméi Dàxué) and the Groningen Confucius behaviour of the fathers and the children in Another question the show brings up questions and has made the audience think; Institute Foundation, which consists of the Hanze University of the TV show, as well as explaining how to is about children, is it reasonable to put undoubtedly a product with huge economic Applied Sciences Groningen, the University of Groningen and handle similar problems to the audience. children in the public eye, prematurely benefits, for it has already generated the city of Groningen. GCI is part of a wide network of Confucius Because of the scientific approach of Where exposing them to public attention? It is millions of RMBs for the local TV, film institutes all over the world and is supported by Hanban (汉办) are we going, dad?, the show offers vivid still to be carefully considered whether we makers and sponsors; a science education China. Our goal is to strengthen mutual ties between China and lessons to both parents and children. should encourage these fledgling birds to film with realistic appreciation, because it The Netherlands and north-western Germany. By combining our Where are we going, dad? has led to a participate in the games of the adult world. teaches many young parents how to treat strengths and knowledge at GCI, we offer services in the areas of development of an entertainment industry, The show has become a brand or a their kids properly; and a show that really language (Chinese courses, HSK Tests and English/Dutch-Chinese Hosting the event, Hao Cui (郝翠), a GCI Chinese teacher, opened which is impressive for most people because symbol. It has had a positive effect on makes you continually keep eyes on it. translations), culture (cultural courses, tailor-made training and the ceremony by expressing gratitude for the students’ efforts in cultural events) as well as business (business training, networking learning Chinese, after which she reviewed events organised by activities and consultancy). GCI in 2013. The launching ceremony of the second issue of Global Chinese Insights involved an interview about the journal between Hao Cui and the editorial team, John Goodyear and Ingrid Fischer. GCI Events They introduced the journal’s goals, ideas and originality, and shared their own personal China experiences with the audience, DECEMBER 2013 to may 2014 which was well received. For the graduation ceremony, GCI issued certificates to those who GCI’s Annual Graduation Ceremony in 2013 and the completed their Chinese language courses at GCI. It started with Launch Ceremony of the Second Issue of Global China GCI’s youngest student, 7-year-old Alexander, who also delivered Insights a speech in Chinese on behalf of all the students. Afterwards, Wang Qing (王青) graduated from On the evening of Thursday 19 December 2013, Groningen Communication University of China (中国传 Confucius Institute (GCI) held the 2013 Annual Graduation 媒大学) with a Master’s degree in Teaching Ceremony and also launched the second issue of Global China Chinese as a Second language. He is now a Insights at the Van Swinderenhuys in Groningen. More than 60 Ph.D. student at the College of Education, guests, including student representatives, Chinese teachers from Purdue University in the United States GCI as well as GCI’s Global China Insights Senior Editor John of America. His interests and research Goodyear and Editor Ingrid Fischer were in attendance at this areas include multicultural education, ceremony. minority student educational issues and communication.

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all the other students were called up one-by-one to receive their was followed by a dual keynote speech, jointly delivered by two Berg installed the first Student Ambassadors for the Province of Opening Confucius Classroom at Kandinsky College, certificates. China experts: sinologist Mrs. Tabitha Speelman and researcher at Groningen. These student ambassadors, Zhu Yan (朱衍), Jin Jian Nijmegen After the official ceremony, three of GCI’s Chinese teachers treated the Clingendael Institute Mr. Jan Melissen. They emphasised the (靳建), Tang Ting (唐婷) and Wu Di (吴迪), are Chinese students from The first day of school in 2014 at the Kandinsky College in Nijmegen the audience to some traditional Chinese entertainment: Li Yunxuan importance of Sino-Dutch relations. Hanze University of Applied Sciences. The student ambassadors had a festive Chinese touch. It was the opening day of the Kandinsky (李韵譞) performed a beautiful traditional Chinese classical dance, After the plenary session, the conference offered a nice range of will become actively involved in promoting the North Netherlands, College Confucius Classroom. Over the past few years, interest in Hao Cui very gracefully performed 24-style Taijiquan (太极拳), and Chinese cultural elements and a variety of workshops on Dutch- particularly Groningen, in China, e.g. by increasing name awareness China, the language and the culture has rapidly grown throughout to close it off Zhang Di (张笛) expertly performed the traditional Chinese cooperation and Chinese language teaching and testing. A in China or by convincing students to study in Groningen. the Netherlands, but in particular at Kandinsky College. The school’s Chinese tea ceremony. poll among the participants made clear that the number of Dutch Once the student ambassadors have returned to China, we hope cooperation with Groningen Confucius Institute offers many more schools who intend to offer Chinese language as an option to their to establish and develop contacts through their mediation. Their possibilities for special activities such as summer camps at Beijing First Dutch Conference on China and Chinese Language students will double from 35 to 75 over the next two years. efforts may prove helpful in acquiring apprenticeships, graduation universities. On 6 January 2014, all Kandinsky College students in Secondary Education The participating organisations considered the conference a great projects or research opportunities. During their stay and studies, were able to have a taste of China in the form of Chinese cakes Inspiration, Information, Interaction success and intend to repeat this initiative in the future. these student ambassadors will act as contact people for the that were offered. During the official ceremony in the afternoon Rosanne Severs, Pieter Hettema province of Groningen at special events, such as the reception of many guests attended. The Mayor of Nijmegen, Mr. Bruls, held a On 28 January 2014, the first Dutch Conference on China and Spring Festival Reception official Chinese delegations. motivating speech, as did Dr. Liu Jingyi (刘婧一) of GCI. There were Chinese language teaching took place in Leiden. More than 200 On Friday 31 January 2014 Groningen Confucius Institute held a beautiful performances in martial arts and Chinese dance by GCI participants, mostly principals and teachers of Dutch secondary Spring Festival Reception to celebrate Chinese New Year at Hotel Opening Confucius Classrooms teachers. Two students of Kandinsky College performed the official schools, took part in this lively conference. The conference was Corps de Garde in Groningen. In order to be more supportive in developing Chinese teaching opening by striking the Chinese gong. The Confucius Classroom at initiated and organised by Jialei&Co (嘉蕾) and Public Leadership The visitors of the reception were able to experience the true and learning in local secondary schools, Groningen Confucius the Kandinsky College is made tangible by a life-like photo of the in cooperation with Groningen Confucius Institute, the Confucius culture of China: Li Yunxuan (李韵譞), Chinese language instructor Institute is actively exploring cooperation with outstanding Great Wall (长城 Chángchéng) on the wall in the classroom. It is Institute at Leiden University, the Dutch European Platform, Leiden and dancer, started the evening with a brilliant Chinese dance secondary schools to establish Confucius Classrooms. The Confucius almost as if you are walking up the wall when you see this photo. University (ICLON), the Netherlands Institute for Curriculum performance. The dance was followed by a traditional tea ceremony Classroom is a non-profit institute with the purpose of enhancing Development and networks of school leaders and Chinese teachers. performed by Xiao Yingying (肖盈盈) and Ding Xiyuan (丁喜媛), both understanding and friendship between the young people of China The conference was opened by Mrs. Anke Buiteveld, the Director Chinese language instructors, which gave the audience a complete and the Netherlands by sponsoring the teaching and learning of International Policy of the Dutch Ministry of Education, who experience of the Chinese culture. Xuefei Knoester-Cao, Director of Chinese language and culture. explained that from 2015 Dutch schools are allowed to start with Groningen Confucius Institute, opened the reception. Chinese Language as an official examination subject. Her speech During the reception, the King’s Commissioner Mr. Max van den

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on Chinese Language and Culture at the University of Groningen. Earlier this academic year, the university already established an endowed Chair on East Asian studies at CEASG. The new Chair on Chinese Language and Culture will contribute to the development of CEASG and GCI, and position the University of Groningen as the Opening Confucius Classroom at CS Vincent van Gogh, Opening Confucius Classroom at Theresialyceum, Tilburg University of Groningen Launches East Asian Studies second university in the Netherlands to develop a Chinese language Assen On 21 February 2014, Theresialyceum opened their Confucius Programmme programme. On Saturday 8 February 2014, the Christian Comprehensive Classroom. This large-scale event was a giant leap forward Tjalling Halbertsma, CEASG Director International For further information, visit the CEASG website www.rug.nl/ceasg Vincent van Gogh opened its doors to future students and in widening the Chinese language and culture provisions. Mr. Following the successful establishment of or subscribe to the quarterly newsletter of CEASG: [email protected] their parents. More than 2000 visitors admired the brand new van Gastel, Coordinator of the Chinese Section and Mr. Tomas the Groningen Confucius Institute in 2011, building for the intermediate and upper school years and were Oudejans, Principal of Theresialyceum opened the event, which was the University of Groningen has launched Chinese Evening informed about the educational choices and possibilities. Many generously sponsored by SAA Insurance, before a real lion dance an East Asian Studies programme. The GCI’s monthly event ‘Chinese Evening’ which takes place every of the visitors also witnessed the grand opening of the Confucius was performed by the Dutch Wushu Academy Xia Quan (侠拳). Guest programme is being developed and coordinated by the Centre for third Friday of the month at Café Atlantis in Groningen has gained Classroom, a special classroom for Chinese language and speakers Dr. Liu Jingyi, Chinese Director of Groningen Confucius East Asian Studies Groningen (CEASG). CEASG was launched popularity since its debut on 19 April 2013. This event brings literature. The Confucius Classroom is equipped with teaching Institute, Mr. P. Eijlander, Rector of Tilburg University, Mr. P. as an inter-faculty initiative at the Faculty of Arts to initiate and Chinese and local people together who are interested in practicing and learning materials from China which gives the classroom a Noordanus, the Mayor of Tilburg, gave the event a ceremonial support inter-disciplinary teaching and research on China, Korea, their Chinese language skills and in tasting Chinese culture in a genuine Chinese outlook. However, the classroom is more than the touch and declared the classroom open. Teachers and students Japan and Mongolia; and to increase cooperation with partner comfortable and quiet atmosphere. The theme on the evening of physical learning environment: it also imparts cultural awareness gave a performance, singing: Moli Hua (茉莉花) and showing universities in East Asia. In China, the Centre partners with the 17 January 2014 was Chinese Spring Festival (春节 Chūn Jié). Li in that it coordinates museums visits, cultural festivities and some basic Wushu (武术) routines: Wu Bu Quan (五步拳), Chenshi Groningen study centres at Tsinghua University (清华大学 Qīnghuá Yunxuan (李韵譞) introduced the origins of Spring Festival and the exhibitions, including, for instance, a visit to the Ming Exhibition Taijiquan (陈式太极拳) and Yangshi Taijijian 32 Shi (杨式太极剑32式). Dàxué) in Beijing (北京) and Fudan University (复旦大学 Fùdàn Dàxué) activities that are typically undertaken during that time, and taught in Amsterdam. The Confucius Classroom will not only enhance the The day concluded with the opening by Dr. Liu Jingyi after which in Shanghai (上海). participants how to weave Chinese knots. Gineke ten Holt brought quality and further development of Chinese at CS Vincent van Gogh, the participants were able to get insights into the new Confucius The Centre hosts a monthly lecture series and organises regular delicious dumplings with a variety of flavours, which left a good but it is hoped to widen the popularity and stature of Chinese as a Classroom. As one Chinese guest said, “it all looks very Chinese”. seminars and conferences on East Asia, including the recently lasting taste. Hao Cui (郝翠) organised games ‘look and guess’ and regular subject among the other languages offered at the school. For GCI, the classroom provides a conductive environment to teach convened launch conference East Asia and the European Union: ‘shorthand master’, which were designed for beginners, aimed After speeches held by Mr. A. de Gruijter, Chairman of the Board the Chinese language and culture. strong Economics, weak Politics? The conference was attended at helping them grasp the words or expressions of New Year’s of Directors and Dr. Liu Jingyi, Chinese Director of Groningen by a representative from Fudan University and various European greetings. Participants learned how to give celebratory wishes in Confucius Institute, a spectacular lion dance rounded off the scholars working on China. Chinese, such as Chunjie Kuaile (春节快乐 Happy New Year), Gongxi opening ceremony. The inauguration was covered by both local and In September 2014, CEASG will start a new Master’s specialisation Facai (恭喜发财 May you be prosperous). The topic on the evening regional media. East Asian Studies, focusing on the political economies and of 21 February 2014 was Chinese celebrities. Ding Xiyuan (丁喜媛) international relations of East Asia. The programme, affiliated to unfolded the various lives of the ancient and modern celebrities in the MA International Relations and International Organisation China before the participants. After that, Li Yunxuan organised at the Faculty of Arts, strongly encourages students to study at a partner university in East Asia, particularly in China. The Centre and Groningen Confucius Institute stimulate such student exchange through Hanban’s (汉办) new Confucius China Studies Programme (新汉学计划 Xīn Hànxué Jìhuà). In the long run, CEASG looks forward to the development of a Chinese studies and language programme. To this end, CEASG and GCI have proposed to Hanban the establishment of a Chair

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a Q&A session and ‘counting’ game. On the evening of 21 March Jiang Liping (姜丽萍), a senior expert at Hanban, and Zhao Lin Jiang Liping (姜丽萍) Liu Jingyi (刘婧一) 2014, Xiao Yingying (肖盈盈) told several famous Chinese folktales (赵琳), Associate Professor at Communication University of China Jiang Liping, Professor at the Liu Jingyi, Chinese Director of to the participants, such as The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid (中国传媒大学 Zhōngguó Chuánméi Dàxué) who has presented on Beijing Language and Culture Groningen Confucius Institute, (牛郎织女), Legend of White Snake (白蛇传), the Butterfly Lovers Chinese national TV, will be invited from China to give lectures University (北京语言大学) and Editor-in-Chief of Global China (梁祝), and played the violin concerto The Butterfly Lovers. entitled How to Design Your Teaching and The Art of Chinese senior expert at Hanban. Her Insights, Associate Professor at Teng Jiaqi (滕嘉琪) organised games which showed how to learn Presentation and Practical Skills respectively. These three experts main areas of research include the Communication University Chinese characters in an easier way. The participants were will also offer comments on teaching demonstrations by Chinese teaching methods and teaching of China. She holds a Master’s stimulated to practice and improve their Chinese skills in this language teachers. In addition to language teaching, the topics of theory in the field of teaching degree in Cultural Philosophy relaxed atmosphere. The theme on the evening of 25 April 2014 lectures will also cover culture, such as From Beliefs to Behaviour: Chinese to foreigners. She has and Ph.D. in Communication. was regional peculiarities. Hao Cui showed some impressions that A Philosophical Annotation of Chinese Culture by Dr. Liu Jingyi published a few monographs and She was the Research Director exist with regard to regions in China, and Chinese expressions (刘婧一), Chinese Director of GCI, Cross-cultural Communication: developed a series of textbooks of Panmedia Institute, China’s that refer to them. The participants learned about the differences Circles and Straight Lines by Ardi Brouwers, owner of the China for teaching Chinese to overseas first Media Think Tank and among different regions from the perspectives of geological Circle and programme coordinator for the China Lectures Series. students. As a senior trainer, she conducted research for two environment, climate, people’s character, food, culture, habits and There will be a seminar dialogue between teachers and principals has been teaching Chinese and giving lectures in many countries. years respectively in Media Economics and Political Marketing customs. centered around the theme of The Challenge, Expectation and Strategies at Michigan State University before joining GCI. Opportunities for Chinese Teaching. Experience Chinese Zhao Lin (赵琳) Launch of Global China Insights in Germany On 8 May 2014, GCI’s Chinese teachers Hao Cui (郝翠) and Keynote Speakers: Zhao Lin, Associate Professor at On Thursday 19 June 2014, 7:30 p.m., this third edition of Li Yunxuan (李韵譞) gave a workshop at Leon van Gelder Secondary the Communication University Global China Insights will have its German launch in Groningen’s School. They introduced several aspects of China, such as the Joël Bellassen of China (中国传媒大学), was a German twin city, Oldenburg. Organised by the Senior Editor population growth, Chinese cuisine, the panda and Chinese Professor Joël Bellassen, journalist and anchor for China of GCI, Dr. John Goodyear, the journal will be launched at the characters. In addition, they also performed martial art, Taijiquan Inspector General of Chinese Central Television. Currently she monthly gathering of the Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Chinesische (太极拳), the lute and classical dance. Language Teaching, Ministry teaches the courses Radio and Freundschaft (translation: German-Chinese Friendship Society) at On 12 May 2014, they gave a further workshop at Bladergroen of Education in France, is a TV Presentation and Voice and the Shanghai Restaurant, Am Damm 22, 26133 Oldenburg. The Secondary School, where they also performed Taijiquan and distinguished sinologist in Vocalization for the School of event will be attended by both representatives from the Groningen classical dance. After the performances, they taught the children France and works as Professor Presentation Art (播音主持艺术学院) Confucius Institute as well as members of the Friendship Society in to sing a Chinese song and how to use chopsticks. of Chinese at the National at CUC. She also gives lectures Oldenburg. These two workshops made a deep impression on the students and Institute of Oriental Languages on Language Communication Over forty members strong, the Society was set up in Oldenburg their teachers, giving them a sense of Chinese culture. and Civilization in Paris. He and Public Image at the Chinese in northwestern Germany in 1979. Its principle aim is to create is the founder and the first University of Hong Kong and Air a bridge between Germany and China, widening understanding president of the Association for Chinese Teachers in France and China. She is the author of the book Arts of Bilingual Broadcasting and awareness of China and Chinese in Oldenburg. To that Vice President of the International Society for Chinese Language Presentation. end, the Society regularly organises informal gatherings, talks upcoming events Teaching. and excursions. It also has a vibrant programme of insightful presentations, hosting guest speakers from China and across Chinese Language Teacher Training Programme Ardi Bouwers Germany, who deliver talks on themes related to China and Chinese Date: 19-22 June 2014 Ardi Bouwers, sinologist and expert on cross-cultural management Location: Nederlands Interdisciplinair Demografisch Instituut and communication. Besides (NIDI), Lange Houtstraat 19, The Hague teaching Chinese Studies at From 19 to 22 June 2014, Groningen Confucius Institute, Amsterdam University College sponsored by Hanban, is organising the Chinese Language Teacher and giving the Emerging China Training programme in The Hague. Its purpose is to share teaching course for the Institute of experiences, improve teaching skills and strengthen understanding Interdisciplinary Studies at of Chinese culture. Mr. Chen Xu (陈旭), the Ambassador of the the University of Amsterdam, Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, will address the event. she is owner of the consultancy Professor Joël Bellassen, a renowned French sinologist and company China Circle. She Inspector General of Chinese Language Teaching for the Ministry writes columns and acts as a in France, will give a lecture entitled Teach Chinese from the debate moderator on a variety

Perspective of Cross-cultural Communication. Professor of China-related issues. © Ma Quan (马铨)

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culture, geography and society. June 2014 marks the month that Noorderzon: Festival for Performing Arts Newcomers GCI will launch its magazine at one of Oldenburg’s most established Dates: 31 August 2014 intercultural societies. Location: Groningen, the Netherlands Dr. Ruud Vreeman Xu Wenjia (续文嘉) is a graduate On Sunday 31 August 2014, GCI is planning a one-day promotion Zwolle-born Ruud Vreeman student at the Communication Summer Camp of its language courses and cultural activities at the Noorderzon has been Mayor of Groningen, University of China, studying Dates: 11-25 July 2014 Festival. Along the Leliesingel, GCI’s workshop will be delivered to the northern Dutch city, since Linguistics and Applied Location: Beijing (北京), China a wide audience, and flyers on its courses and the upcoming events 1 November 2013. He is a Linguistics. She has been working After a very successful first Summer Camp, GCI, in cooperation as well as planned GCI programmes will be on display. This event graduate of the University of as a Chinese language teacher with the Communication University of China and sponsored by shall provide a unique opportunity for those interested in China or Groningen and Delft, and for since October 2011 at the Central Hanban, is organising its second Summer Camp to China. GCI Chinese to find out much more. several years he worked for China Normal University students are invited to join this Summer Camp to learn Chinese and the NVV/FNV Trade Union. (华中师范大学) and later at the experience Chinese culture in China, enabling them to experience In 1992, Vreeman was elected Beijing International Studies the realities of China. During this Summer Camp, students will Chairman of the Dutch Labour University (北京第二外国语学 院). In take part in Chinese language training and cultural tours and an Party (PvdA), a function he addition to classroom teaching exchange of ideas between teachers and students from China. GCI PEOPLE DYNAMICS fulfilled up until 1997. From 1994 to 1997, Vreeman was a member (including teaching HSK 4 level), she has co-hosted tours for of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament. After foreign students to the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) that, he was Mayor of Zaanstad (1997-2004) and Tilburg (2004- and other historical sites in Beijing. In the summer of 2013, she ACKNOwLEDGEMENTS 2009). In addition, as a writer Vreeman has published on various completed a full-time teaching programme, Princeton in Beijing, topics, such as labour and economy, sports, arts, politics, history a high-quality intensive Chinese language programme provided by Zhang Di (张笛) worked as a volunteer Chinese teacher for GCI from and the development of towns. Princeton University. Having a close affinity for her students, she October 2012 to January 2014. Active and enthusiastic at work, teaches Chinese with great passion. Her expertise includes Chinese her professional teaching background, extensive expertise and Guo Xin (郭新), English knotting, paper cutting and singing. innovative ideas have been a teacher at the Communication great contribution during her University of China. She Chen Bo (陈博), Editor of stay in Groningen. GCI is very received her Bachelor’s degree Global China Insights, is grateful for her contribution, in English from the Beijing currently doing his Ph.D. especially in teaching Chinese Institute of Technology (北京理 research at the Institute of language, co-hosting cultural 工大学 Běijīng Lǐgōng Dàxué) Public Administration of © Xu Shun (徐顺) events and being the lead in 2000 and obtained her Leiden University. He holds a teacher for the 2013 GCI Master’s degree in English Bachelor’s degree in Public Sino-British Students Exchange Activity Programme Summer Camp to Beijing (北 Linguistics and Literature Administration (2003), and Tri-exchange between Groningen Confucius Institute (NL), 京). We would like to wish Ms. from Nankai University (南开大 a Master’s degree in Political Academy of English (DE) and the High Arcal School (GB) Zhang Di all the best in her 学 Nánkāi Dàxué) in 2003. Her Science (2008). Prior to On Thursday 21 July 2014, a group of students from the Gifted and future career. academic research is mainly in the fields of language teaching and his Master study at Xiamen Talented cohort at the High Arcal School in the West Midlands, English-Chinese translation. Up until now, she has been teaching University (厦门大学), he worked Great Britain will take part in a one-day programme with teenager English courses, including English Intensive Reading, English as a news journalist at Henan TV Station (河南电视台) for two years. journalists from Beijing, China. Spearheaded by the Groningen Listening and Speaking and English-Chinese Translation at CUC for Chen has been a visiting student at Sciences Po in Paris and the Confucius Institute, the Academy of English in Germany and the more than ten years. She has recently moved to Groningen to build European University Institute in Florence.His academic interests High Arcal School in Great Britain, the event will provide unique on her teaching career and will be teaching Chinese as a Foreign are primarily focused on EU foreign policy, new institutionalism and opportunities for young people from both Great Britain and China Language at GCI. political liberalism. to learn about each other’s culture through a range of activities in the Netherlands: tasting Chinese language, calligraphy experience, Tai Chi experience, tea ceremony, Chinese songs, Sino-British team presentation, word guessing game, Q&A session, etc. GCI intends to create more opportunities to expose teenagers to Chinese culture in the future.

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Horasis 10th Global China Business Meeting

First row from left to right: Teng Jiaqi (买⭤䭷), Zheng Jing (㺅ⲹ) Lake Como, Italy Second row from left to right: Xiao Yingying (㨒㱗㱗), Ding Xiyuan (⛃㥢䪄), Hao Cui (⧜▊), Liu Jingyi (⽁䩼㮥), Xuefei Knoester-Cao (␆㫕➩) Third row from left to right: Li Yunxuan (⹼㴵㻹), Jasna Ros, Ingrid Fischer, John Goodyear 13-14 October 2014

The Global China Business Meeting is the foremost Malpensa Airport. A programme full of visits to annual business meeting on China. The event is open the locations that make up Lake Como's to the Chief Executive Officers of China’s and the magnificent heritage will help to assure a world’s leading companies. Earlier editions of the rewarding stay. meeting were held in Geneva (2005, 2006), Frankfurt (2007), Barcelona (2008), Lisbon (2009), The Global China Business Meeting aims to present an interdisciplinary and systemic view of Oude Boteringestraat 42 T +31 50 - 363 46 88 Luxembourg (2010), Valencia (2011), Riga (2012) and The Hague (2013). the major economic, societal and technological 9712 GL Groningen E [email protected] drivers currently at work in China. Also, Chinese The Netherlands I www.confuciusgroningen.nl The Meeting is hosted in partnership with the China and foreign entrepreneurs will discuss the Federation of Industrial Economics and The opportunities and challenges that lie ahead to European House - Ambrosetti. Lake Como is achieve China's next step of economic conveniently located 45 minutes from Milan development.

Horasis: The Global Visions Community is an independent international organisation committed to enacting visions for a sustainable future. In addition to the Global China Business Meeting, Horasis hosts regional meetings with focus on India, Russia and the Arab world.

64 Global China Insights 全球中国洞察

荷兰格罗宁根孔子学院2014年6月总第三期