Louis Vuitton’s “Beijing Fun” Project Uncovers the City’s Hidden Gems

From July 10th to July 28th, Louis Vuitton is hosting four pop-up spaces spread across Beijing, as part of an event called “Beijing Fun” (北京范儿). The project aims to explore lesser known histories of Beijing through arts and fashion. Found by the Drum Tower in Beijing’s old city, Liangma River on the east side of the city, the post-industrial 798 Art District, and the capital’s Central Business District, the pop-spaces take the form of bookstores and cafés. Special activities fitting with the theme of each location have also been arranged, for example Chinese chess at the Drum Tower (a favorite pastime of the neighborhood’s elderly residents), and kayaking along the Liangma River. All of the spaces are painted red, an auspicious color in Chinese culture which also resonates with Beijing’s imperial history.


The event marks the latest iteration of the “Louis Vuitton City Guides,” a series of travel guides which was established in 1998 and now catalogues more than 30 cities around the world. The series is known for its novel perspective on cities, narrating their stories through the lens of their unique histories in art and fashion design.


As such, “Beijing Fun” sees the launch of the latest edition of the Beijing City Guide, and, in light of the upcoming Paris Olympics, a new Paris City Guide. Underlining connections between Beijing and Paris as Olympic host cities, the event’s opening day saw Olympic snowboarding champions Eileen Gu and Su Yiming spotted in 798, as well as actor Bai Jingting.


Eileen Gu

Eileen Gu at the 798 pop-up. Image via Weibo.


Online, many netizens were surprised by this large-scale project by a major fashion house, but also praised Louis Vuitton’s engagement with local culture.


All pop-up spaces are free to the public. Those interested in special Louis Vuitton-hosted tours exploring Beijing’s hidden travel gems can sign up via the brand’s WeChat mini program.


Banner image via BANG!

Why Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Are Hot New Destinations for Chinese Tourists

As China’s Xinjiang region continues to develop its transport connections with neighboring countries, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are emerging as increasingly popular travel destinations for Chinese tourists. Although neither Central Asian country ranks among the top 10 overseas destinations for Chinese travelers, their popularity has been steadily rising in recent years. So, what are some contributing factors?


A major factor behind this trend is visa-exempt travel, which has made it much more convenient and accessible for Chinese citizens to visit the two countries. In 2023, around 500,000 and 42,000 Chinese tourists visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, respectively.


Another reason is the affordability and convenience from Xinjiang. For example, to head from Urumqi (the capital of Xinjiang) to Almaty is a day trip of around 1,000 kilometers by bus, which only costs around 200 RMB.


Kazakhstan Graffiti

Xiaohongshu user Eating Udon Today (今天吃乌冬面) in Kazakhstan, from a post praising the country’s European vibe. Image via Xiaohongshu.


Apart from these advantages, both countries are also noted for their safety. Many Chinese influencers posting about their trips to Central Asia are solo female travelers, and they often mention the warmth and hospitality of the locals they have encountered.


The appeal of both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as travel destinations lies in their diverse array of attractions, which are promoted in great detail via social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu.


Kazakhstan Ski Resort

Xiaohongshu user Shudao’s (舒岛) collage of views from Shymbulak ski resort. Image via Xiaohongshu.


For example, Almaty (Kazakhstan’s former capital city) is known for its blend of European and Central Asian culture: one of the city’s most famous buildings is the Ascension Cathedral, which coexists with mosques, traditional Kazakh music, and handmade embroidery. The nearby Shymbulak ski resort and Ile-Alatau National Park are some breathtaking spots for the country’s natural beauty, where the latter offers experiences like shooting and hunting — seldom on offer in China.


Similar to Kazakhstan, neighboring Uzbekistan is a country rich in history, especially considering its status as a trading hub during the Silk Road era. Appearing in One Thousand and One Nights, cities such as capital city Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara shine brightly with their unique blend of Islamic, Iranian and Turkic architecture through key sites such as the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Registran Square and Gur-e-Amir (mausoleum of 14th-century Turkic-Mongol conqueror, Timur).


These cultural and natural assets, coupled with accessible transport links to Xinjiang and the rest of China, appear to have positioned these two Central Asian countries to become increasingly popular amongst Chinese tourists seeking novel experiences beyond more established overseas destinations such as Japan and Thailand.


Banner image via Xiaohongshu.

New York Is Going Crazy for Soup Dumplings

With the opening of the newest Din Tai Feng in midtown Manhattan last week, it is officially hot dumpling summer in New York City.


Before the Taiwanese chain even opened its doors to customers, the restaurant already had all of its reservations fully booked for the next month. Din Tai Fung’s sole East Coast location is also its largest restaurant in the world. The location seats around 450 people and its chefs are slated to produce over 10,000 dumplings per day.


As a global chain with over 170 restaurants around the world and Michelin acclaim at its Hong Kong location, Din Tai Fung’s instant popularity in New York should not come as a surprise. Yet, their timely grand opening has also been fueled by a soup dumpling craze taking over New York City.


After almost 30 years in Flushing, Queens, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao opened its first Manhattan location in October 2022. Later, the soup dumpling restaurant expanded near New York University to attract the student crowd there.


The restaurant soon captured attention on TikTok and Instagram. Reviews such as “My honest review of Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao” had over 17k views, and a recommendation titled “New Favorite Affordable Restaurant in NYC” had over 30k views. Michael Ma, a spokesperson and partner at Nan Xiang, explained that these popular videos also teach diners in New York how to properly eat their first soup dumpling without literally burning themselves.


Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao NYC

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao’s dumplings. Image via Instagram.


Netizens on Xiaohongshu who have already tasted the new Ding Tai Fung during its soft opening this week were quick to post about their experiences, and notably, the bill. 10 soup dumplings cost 18.5 USD, at almost 2 USD per dumpling, while most other items on the menu are also between 10 to 20 USD.


In terms of taste, Xiaohongshu reviews from the soft opening were resoundingly positive. In the comments, however, onlookers are raising more doubts. Many feel put off by the high prices at the fancy new location, skeptical that the dumplings will taste authentic enough for Chinese expats to open their wallets.


Banner image via Eater.

Should Young People Give Their Subway Seats to the Elderly?

Recently, a video of a young woman being attacked on the Beijing Subway for refusing to give her seat to an elderly man circulated widely online. After the woman refused to give up her seat to a 65-year-old man on Line 10 of the city’s subway system, he began knocking her thighs with a wooden cane.


In the video, the woman is seen pointing at the man and saying: “I would give up my seat to anyone else, but you.”


The man then threatened her: “Sue me, go ahead, let’s go to the police and you can tell them I threatened you.” The man was eventually arrested and ultimately detained for ten days.


Netizens across China have taken to the internet with videos of similar incidents. On the subway in Shenyang, security was called when a young man refused to give up his seat after an old man demanded he stand up. In the video, which soon went viral, the young man screamed: “Are you giving me money? No? Then don’t bother me! I’m just happy to be sitting here. What’s wrong with me grabbing a seat?”


A similar incident last year in Shanghai. Image via Xinwen Fang.


The topic has prompted heated discussion online. Most netizens agree that physical violence on the subway should be taken seriously with legal action by the police, regardless of the person’s age.


Netizens also accused the old man in Beijing of using his age to claim authority over the young girl in a condescending and pretentious manner, encapsulated by the expression “act old, sell old” (倚老卖老, yīlǎo màilǎo). Many pointed out that there were so many other passengers on the subway but he specifically picked on the young girl, blatantly targeting her for appearing “weak.”


Other netizens commented that giving up public transit seats to older passengers is a display of the classical Chinese teaching to “respect the elderly, love the young” (尊老爱幼, zūnlǎo àiyòu). While as a society, young people should be encouraged to respect the elderly, clearly many Chinese youth feel that older generations should in turn treat them with the bare minimum of courtesy and politeness.


Banner image by Haedi Yue.

Chaoshan’s Auntie Ru Skyrockets to Viral Video Fame by Singing in English

If you haven’t seen her on Douyin, you’ve probably seen her on Tik Tok, or maybe Instagram. Let’s be honest, videos of Auntie Ru singing to English songs while swaying gently to the music are everywhere, but who is she?


Before she became known as Auntie Ru to netizens far and wide, she was Li Deru from Shengzhou Village, Chenghai District, Shantou City in Guangdong Province. In China, fans call her Auntie Chaoshan (潮汕阿姨, Cháoshàn āyi), in reference to the culturally distinct region of Guangdong she hails from.


Auntie Ru said her love for English language songs began three years ago when she first discovered the song “Scarborough Fair” by Simon & Garfunkel. Having never learned even the English alphabet before, she began learning English songs purely for the love of music.


At first, Auntie Ru learned English purely from listening to songs and marking the words with her own interpretations, including using Chinese words to piece together English pronunciations with a Chaoshan twist.


Auntie Ru Village Gala

Auntie Ru sings at the “Village Gala.”


Auntie Ru’s first shot to fame through a video of her singing at the local village talent show, known to netizens as “Village Gala” in reference to the annual Chinese Spring Festival Gala. With the encouragement from her son and friends, she began posting her singing videos to Douyin. Currently her cover of “Sweet But Psycho” by Ava Max has received over 148k likes on Douyin, and the same video was reposted to TikTok with over 9.5 million views.


However, Auntie Ru told Shantou Fabu that she’s not singing or posting for fame, “I just do the thing that I like to do, not for fame. I like English songs, no matter what others say, I will continue pursuing it. This is my passion,” she said.


On Tik Tok and Instagram, international viewers seem genuinely impressed and entertained by Auntie Ru’s singing, captivated by the confidence that she exudes while performing


Netizens in China are equally in awe of her, shall we say, unique musical approach, and Auntie Ru’s English pronunciation, mixed with her Chaoshan accent, makes them nostalgic for their own experiences learning English. Many praise Auntie Ru for singing the songs despite her accent and representing the culture of rural China through English songs.


All images via Nanfang Dushi Bao.

Daily Street Dance Videos Bring 11-Year-Old Chinese Boy Global Fame

For over five years, BBoy Larry (段玉哲 Duan Yuzhe), an 11-year-old kid from Jinzhou, Liaoning province, has been captivating audiences worldwide with his extraordinary dedication to street dance. His journey began on Douyin, where he started documenting his daily street dancing practice. With each video, he showcases his agile spins and intricate footwork, supported by remarkable wrist and core strength.


However, what really made Larry’s online fame skyrocket was a poignant video in which his dance moves are less successful than usual. In a 15-second clip posted on December 18, 2023, Larry cries has he practices, having stumbled off screen. His hand then twists as he falls out of frame. Douyin viewers were touched by his weeping face, and found the sight of a breakdancer who at first glance appears to match the stereotype of a studious and quiet Chinese kid to be a breath of fresh air.


Memes made by fans appear in the comments of every one of Larry's Douyin videos, image via Douyin

Larry’s fans have also turned his dancing clips into memes, here comparing him to a fish. Image via Douyin.


Larry’s family dynamics have also piqued the curiosity of his followers. After he rearranged his practice room at home, his mother found a spot by the door to watch him dance. On one occasion, Larry accidentally collided with the closet door, causing a loud crash. His mother was taken aback and briefly got upset. Similar incidents have occurred a number of times. When Larry accidentally bumps into his mom, she often shouts at him, asking him why he can’t be more careful.


Larry has also gained attention beyond Chinese internet, sometimes leading to cultural misunderstandings over Chinese parenting styles (to others, the mere presence of his mother in his videos shows her support). In early 2022, he expanded his online presence by launching his own Instagram account, where he shares behind-the-scenes moments and showcases his evolving skills. Unlike the sometimes critical atmosphere on Douyin, Larry’s Instagram followers from around the globe have embraced him with overwhelming positivity and support.


As Larry continues to hone his craft and share his passion for street dance, his impact grows beyond borders, inspiring young dancers and enthusiasts worldwide. He also has started to join in local street dance competitions, bringing his stereotype-challenging dance moves offline.


Banner Image via Instagram.