On August 20, the Chaoyang special edition of the “Foreign Journalists Visit Beijing” series and the second offline shooting of the 4th “Beijing - A Global City” Short Video Contest was successfully held. A total of 55 journalists from 48 countries such as Argentina, Pakistan, Jamaica, and Georgia, visited Silk Street, THE BOX Youth Energy Center, Beijing Olympic Tower, Langyuan Station, Liangma River International Style Waterfront, and other popular attractions. The trip offers them an opportunity to take a deep dive into Beijing’s diverse new consumption scenarios and feel the city’s enormous dynamism and modern vibe.
Chaoyang District is renowned for fashion and vitality. The first stop of the trip was Silk Street, one of Beijing’s famous consumption landmarks. As an epitome of “smart products made in China” and “designed in China”, it is a must-visit destination for international tourists shopping in Beijing. Diverse traditional Chinese cultural products such as delicate embroidery fans, elegant porcelain, and graceful garments, attracted many foreign journalists. They praised the quality and design of these products, as well as Beijing’s convenient payment services. Enrique Gamarra Fernadez, a host from Paraguay’s Megacadena, remarked, “In Beijing, you can choose from various payment methods such as cash, bank card, and online payment, with the latter being particularly convenient. For example, when taking public transportation and shopping, users can handle transactions directly through an app. In my view, online payment represents the future of payment options, and I hope this approach can be widely adopted in my country as well. It is not safe to carry large amounts of cash in my country, while mobile payments offer greater security and convenience. Additionally, China’s digital payment apps are very well-developed.” According to reports, Beijing is focusing on enhancing its payment environment across various scenarios, including dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, and shopping. The city will strive to meet the diverse payment needs of international visitors and other groups as it improves its role as a center for international exchanges and becomes a top international consumption center.
If you want to see the most vibrant “youth energy” in Beijing, look no further than THE BOX Youth Energy Center. Upon entering this large experiential commercial complex, the journalists were immediately struck by its “cyberpunk industrial style”. Cement beams and pillars were adorned with dynamic screens, and the extensive, dazzling visual effects quickly captured their attention. THE BOX Youth Energy Center was filled with a free and casual atmosphere, with mind-boggling futuristic spatial design and trendy consumption scenarios. Astonished, the journalists quickly took out their phones and cameras to record everything they saw. At the “light and shadow” skyline basketball court, many foreign journalists were impassioned by the young players, and picked up basketballs to showcase their skills. Angelo Jedidiah, a reporter and producer from Trinidad and Tobago’s Guardian Media, said, “Many shopping malls and centers in Beijing are making great efforts to add more fun to the shopping experience. I can see the trendy side of Beijing through THE BOX. Besides, the city is full of vitality and appeal, showing immense enthusiasm and inclusiveness towards all groups and age cohorts, including tourists and locals, young people and seniors.”
At the promotion session, officials from Chaoyang District gave an overview of the district’s industrial structure, efforts in building Beijing into an international consumption center, and development as a national cultural and tourism demonstration city. They hoped that foreign journalists can take this opportunity to appreciate the unique charm of Chaoyang as the primary area serving the international consumption center. At the same time, they also expressed their expectations for more outstanding enterprises and talent to invest and start businesses in Chaoyang and achieve more success in this fertile ground.
Foreign journalists also visited the Beijing Olympic Tower, a landmark in the central area of Beijing Olympic Park, where they saw an exhibition, ascended the tower, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The tower, located on the northward extension of the world heritage site “Beijing Central Axis”, has born witness to Beijing becoming a dual Olympic city. It is the world’s first landmark composed of five independent towers. “It is an incomparable experience to reach the top of the Olympic Tower. While the grandeur and magnificence of the building can be appreciated from below, it is only from the top, overlooking the breathtaking cityscape, that you truly realize its profoundness and awe-inspiring beauty,” said Luis Michael Caceres Villafane, a reporter at TV Perú. The Olympic Tower, which perfectly blends modern technology and architectural design, is an exceptional vantage point for viewing the whole city.
The veil of Beijing’s renowned creative area, Langyuan Station, was gradually lifted along the tranquil forest trails. A range of creative studios and specialty stores attracted foreign journalists, such as the handcraft shop highlighting oriental aesthetics, the film-themed cultural complex, the century-old pastry brand Lao Ding Feng, and the hamburger restaurant converted from a textile warehouse. “Langyuan Station represents a good integration of diverse cultures with tourism and commerce, where you can immerse yourself in a array of cultural elements, including art, history, cuisine, music, and film. It also boasts excellent film production facilities and visual effects teams, laying a solid foundation for the ongoing development of China’s film and television industry,” praised Gavin Nigel Riley, a reporter and editor from Jamaica’s Our Today.
The Liangma River International Style Waterfront used to be a royal horse feeding ground. As the river weaves its way through the embassy zone, connecting the Solana, Lufthansa, and Sanlitun commercial areas, it not only showcases a trendy and lively Beijing but also integrates the allure of different civilizations along its course. “The dazzling nightscape by the river seems to merge with the water itself. This journey feels like a dream, overflowing with vibrant colors. The gentle breeze, the sound of the water, and the light shows make the nighttime Liangma River both breathtaking and soothing, creating a comfortable and relaxing experience for visitors. I really enjoyed this trip,” said a reporter from Chile’s El Ciudadano. The reporter also praised Beijing’s efforts in urban renewal, noting, “I learned that Liangma River was once filled with silt and overgrown with weeds before dredging and re-development. Today, it has become one of the most international stretches of water in Beijing, thanks to the government’s sound planning and effective measures. This transformation will benefit future generations as well.”
This event combines the Chaoyang District special edition of the “Foreign Journalists Visit Beijing” series with the second offline shooting of the 4th “Beijing - A Global City” Short Video Contest. Co-organized by the Office of Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and Chaoyang District, the event aims to highlight the capital’s development in the new era and boost its image as an international city. Through field visits and immersive experiences, foreign journalists were able to explore Beijing’s investment environment and opportunities, thereby furthering international exchanges and cooperation, and telling the compelling stories of Beijing and China in a more vivid way.
