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THE FUTURE
SOUND OF CHINA
The Conflicting Tides of
Digital Streaming and Live Music
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城市漫步珠
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Editor’s Note FEBRUARY 2020
Welcome back to reality, after the Spring Festival break. I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday and is ready for
big things in the Year of the Rat - I know our team is!
In this month’s edition of That’s GBA, our cover story explores China’s music industry and the successes and
shortcomings of music streaming and live concerts. A big tip of the hat to our national arts editor, Bryan Grogan,
for crafting such an informative look at the PRC’s music scene (page 36).
Elsewhere in the mag, we meet some clowns (page 12) and, on page 17, a Shenzhen-based designer who has
had a fascinating career in South China (he even designed a vibrator!).
Of course, there is so, so much more, but I’ll let you discover and explore the content in this issue on your own.
Surprises are fun, so go forth, flip through this enthralling edition of That’s GBA, and be surprised.
I’ll finish this month’s note by sharing some exciting news: We are in the process of preparing some exciting
new digital content (a podcast, perhaps...), so be sure to stay tuned to thatsmags.com and our trusty smartphone
app!
Ciao,
Matthew Bossons
Editor-in-Chief
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Hourly updates on news,
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4 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM
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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 5
THE WRAP
8 CITY 16 LIFE & STYLE
9 AVIATION ACCOUNTABILITY 17 BENNY DAY
Plane engine coin tosser fined RMB120,000. Founder of Day Design Studio.
12 CLOWNING AROUND 20 WATCH OUT!
Bringing laughter and joy to China’s migrant Time is precious.
children.
26 ARTS 46 EAT & DRINK
30 DIGITAL SPACE INVADERS 50 A SLICE OF THE TOWN
Six PC games set to make a splash. Eight pizzas to die for in Guangzhou.
32 HKRC 53 FLYING PAN
HKRC founder Gavin Wong talk about White out!
building a radio community.
6 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM
36 COVER
STORY
THE FUTURE SOUND OF CHINA
The conflicting tides of
digital streaming and live
music.
56 EVENTS
GZ HK
UNTIL FEB 16 FEB 14-17
Lantern Festival Display at Yuexiu Masters of Hong Kong
Park
GZ MO
FEB 29 FEB 14
Chris Botti Latin Passion – Valentine’s Day Concert
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 7
CITY
Class Clowns
Laughter is the Best Medicine, P12
Slovenian Slapper Chinese Slang
P10 P11
8 | GZ | FEBRUARY2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMTALES OF THE CITY
AVIATION ACCOUNTABILITY
Plane Engine Coin Tosser Fined RMB120,000
By Matthew Bossons
R
emember that idiot that threw coins had thrown coins into the plane’s engine, es estimated to be around RMB140,000. The
at a jet engine in Anhui province last to which Liu answered that he had tossed airline’s quest for compensation reached its
year for good luck? Yah, so do we – two coins. The flight was then delayed while climax last month, when a court in Anhui
him and the hundreds of the other bozos (a maintenance personnel hunted for the cur- province issued Liu a fine of RMB120,000
slight exaggeration) that decided that toss- rency. One of the coins was then found in the for his coin-throwing antics.
ing a piece of metal into a highly complex plane’s left engine. Liu pled guilty in the case, but did take
machine that transports people through the While the flight was originally scheduled the time to blame the airport for not inform-
air is a good idea. to leave Anqing at 3.05pm, the plane was not ing him of the fact that passengers are not
Anyway, we’ll get to the point: A able to leave the airport until 7.30am the allowed to throw items into the plane’s en-
28-year-old man identified in legal docu- following morning. The whole episode was gines (errr – okay, Liu). The defendant also
ments by the alias ‘Liu Qiang’ has been presumably super annoying for passengers, noted that flight 8L9960 was to be his first
fined a whopping RMB120,000 for tossing who had to spend the night in Anqing, and time traveling by air, and that he was igno-
coins at an airplane’s jet engine at Anqing very expensive for the airline, Lucky Air (or, rant of how aircraft operate.
Tianzhushan Airport. The incident occurred as we’ve dubbed it, Unlucky Air). As noted at the start of this piece, Liu is
on February 17, 2019, when Liu (whose ac- In the immediate aftermath of Liu’s mis- far from the first superstitious traveler to
tual surname is Lu) threw two RMB1 coins guided attempt to attain good luck, or bless toss a coin at – or into – an airplane engine;
at the engine of flight 8L9960 to Kunming the flight, or whatever it was he thought he there were at least 10 instances of people
for good luck. was doing, he was detained by police for 10 throwing coins at jet engines in the first half
Prior to takeoff, the flight crew noticed days. Lucky Air also announced that it would of 2019 alone.
a coin on the ground and asked if anyone take legal action against Liu, seeking damag-
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 9THE BUZZ
RANDOM NUMBER DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
Memi Becirovic
210 MILLION Jiangsu Dragons head coach, Slovenian
Memi Becirovic, was ejected from a
Shannon Lee is seeking RMB210 CBA game against the Liaoning Flying
million in compensation from Leopards last month after he slapped a
Guangzhou-based fast-food chain spectator in the face during the game.
Real Kung Fu (Zhen Gongfu) for us- The man was standing courtside when
ing the likeness of her father – Bruce the coach approached him and got into
Lee – without permission or pay- an altercation. The two were eventu-
ment. Additionally, she is asking that ally separated by players and staff. The
Real Kung Fu immediately cease fan on the receiving end of the hit is
using her father’s likeness and make believed to have gotten into a verbal
clear that the company has no rela- spat with the coach’s wife, who was
tion to Bruce Lee. sitting courtside, according to Xinhua.
Originally called ‘168 Steamed Meanwhile, local media reports
Fast Food Restaurant’ and ‘Seed claimed that the fan had made an abu-
Double Food,’ the chain rebranded sive gesture towards Liaoning’s Lance
as Real Kung Fu in 2004 after its Stephenson. The Dragons went on to lose 111-103 to the Flying Leopards, and Becirovic
founder sought the services of a received an automatic one-match courtside ban, while the fan has been banned from CBA
veteran marketing firm. Since the games for life.
rebranding, Real Kung Fu has used
the image of a man who looks sus-
piciously like the late Bruce Lee for QUOTE OF THE MONTH
its logo.
“To come across a good boss requires luck
– if you don’t have a kind boss, you might
work strenuously for a year, and in the end
may not get paid for it”
So wrote one Weibo user after news that a company in Dongguan gave two employees
new lake-view apartments as a year-end bonus. The apartments, which are said to be
worth around RMB2 million each, were given away as part of a 10-year plan to help
out employees going through a tough time, according to Zhong Mingyu, the company’s
chairman of the board. Additionally, the company allotted money for furnishings for
both of the lucky employees (100-gallon turtle tanks a top priority, we’d imagine).
10 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COME D I T E D B Y M A T T H E W B O S S O N S / C I T Y @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M
CHINESE URBAN DICTIONARY
A
s we celebrate Chinese New Year, let (yunv wuguan). However, the laconic
us remember how time flies. If you prince wears a clumsy plastic helmet that
saw the original Lion King at age 8, severely restricts his nasal passages. When
you are now in your 30s. Those that spent he utters his catchphrase, it sounds like
their college years watching Friends are yunv wugua, aka “rain girl has no melons.”
now the wrong side of 40. The post-2000s The prince, being a highly aspirational
generation is now in college or entering character, immediately made yunv wugua
the workforce. As they gain internships in the most fashionable way of asking some-
the glossy offices of global conglomerates, one to butt out of your affairs. Kids across
they are already taking over pop culture the nation adopted the phrase and began
in China. to confuse their parents with stern state-
This post-2000’s generation, some- ments of rain girls and melons.
times called Gen Z, has no idea who Marcel In the vein of “ok boomer,” yunv wu-
the monkey is, nor seen Simba in 2D form. gua is today’s kids’ phrase of choice when
They have their own pop culture and older people tell them what to do. When
yunv wugua / yùnǚ wú guà /雨女无瓜
memes inspired by childhood memories their parents tell them that the way to a
“none of your business”
and nostalgia. Yunv wugua is one of them. good life is to get a ‘real job,’ get married or
Literally meaning “rain girl has no melons,” have kids, “yunv wugua,” is what they’ll say
Why are you always on your phone?
Put it down and go play outside. it can be confusing to see when used in back. They know those things can no long-
chats – who is rain girl and why doesn’t er guarantee a good life; they are facing a
she have any melons? vastly different world than their parents,
I am an influencer. It’s my job. The phrase comes from a 2000s kids’ where social classes have solidified, power
TV show titled Babala the Fairies (芭芭 and wealth are entrenched and no amount
拉小魔仙), where a group of schoolgirls of pulling oneself up by the bootstraps can
Playing with your phone all the time
will not give you a good life. cast magical spells and turn into powerful make up for class differences anymore. So
warriors to defeat evil creatures (kinda the phrase is their defense against judg-
like Sailor Moon with more clan members). ment from the older generation. In their
Yunv wugua. It features an icy and aloof prince whose world, rain girl has no melons. Mia Li
favorite phrase is “none of your business”
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 11CIT Y | F E AT URE
CLOWNING
AROUND
Bringing Laughter to China’s
Migrant Children
By Aron Solomons
Bjorn Dahlman has been clowning in China
since 2014. Together with Bian Xiao, they
have been performing as the Toad King and
Frog Emperor since 2017, using the power
of laughter to benefit some of China’s most
marginalized children.
Bjorn Dahlman as the Frog
King and Bian Xiao as the
Toad Emperor
12 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMCIT Y | F E AT URE
C
hina has a long history of comedic per-
formance and clowning. Clowns were
present at Imperial Courts as far back
as the Zhou Dynasty (founded 1046 BC).
The story goes that a clown named Yu Sze,
who served Great Wall-building Emperor
Ch’in Shih Huang-ti, managed to convince the
Emperor not to paint the massive structure.
By doing so he saved thousands of lives, and
became a national hero in the process.
The Frog King and The Toad Emperor
are not national heroes. They are two friends
who, along with the rest of their clown posse
(yes, the collective noun for clowns is ‘pos-
se’), bring clowning to children all over China.
Bian Xiao has been working in Children’s
Theater in China since 2008. He came across
Bjorn Dahlman’s videos on WeChat, and was
immediately attracted to creating a differ-
ent type of children’s theater: one that was
aimed at the kids themselves, rather than the
parents.
“Often in children’s theater, the par-
ents expect the theater production to teach
their kids something,” says Bian. “We have
both experienced wanting to do something
because the kids will like it, only to be told
by production companies that the parents
won’t. Our challenge is always, ‘Who are we
performing for? The kids or the parents?’ and
they say ‘The parents, because they pay for
the ticket!’”
For both Bian and Dahlman, clowning can
be an empowering experience for children.
“We want to empower kids,” says
Dahlman. “Make them feel like the best in the
world for half an hour. We want them to feel
that this is their show. Every single scene is
designed so that kids feel ‘I can do this.’ We
get into problems and the children run on
stage to help us. This little 5-year-old boy
watching knows he is great because he is
helping an adult, and that is the core of it.”
That can be seen in the very physicality
of a clowning performance. Bian Xiao de-
scribes how, “A clown places themselves on
either an equal or lower level to children. In
theater, actors are normally above the audi-
ence. This only enforces a message of ‘I am
an adult and you are a child. You must listen
to me.’ In a clown performance, the kids are
shouting ‘You screwed up!’ ‘You are wrong!’
‘You dropped your hat!’ It’s a very different
experience.”
The Frog King in his
flippers
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 13CIT Y | F E AT URE
This empowerment is very important in
the social outreach of the project. The pair
work with Clowns Without Borders, an inter-
national organization that seeks to spread joy,
laughter and hope to children in crisis. When
Dahlman came to China in 2014, he did some
work for a Swedish theater company which
wanted to arrange some test performances.
“At that time, I had just come from India
doing a Clowns Without Borders tour,”
Dahlman says. “I thought, if we are doing a
rehearsal performance for free, why don’t
we find kids who are struggling and do it for
them? So we performed at a center for the
children of sex workers, and then did a joint
workshop with the parents and kids.”
In China, Bian and Dahlman often per-
form for the children of migrant and sex
workers – those unable to get a hukou, and
thus access to state services, and always
work with local NGOs. As a Swede, Dahlman
in particular is very conscious of avoiding a
politicized narrative.
“We don’t want to step in and say this is a
message we want to spread in your country,
we are coming from Sweden to save you.”
He also notes the suspicion that exists
towards NGOs in China, especially ones
with foreign connections. They work with
Stepping Stones, a not-for-profit charitable
organization with a mission to improve the
education and general welfare of disadvan-
taged children in China, and YouDao, which
runs kindergartens.
Their next big goal is to reach out to left-
behind children in the countryside – those
kids who remain in rural regions of China
while their parents leave to work in urban
areas. They are also always looking for col-
We want to empower
laborators, and have recently performed with
local jugglers and magicians.
“Since 2017, the door is open,” says “The core is the same,” Dahlman sum-
kids, make them feel Dahlman. “Anyone that is willing to get up at
5am and get on a metro can join the show. It
marizes. “You’re a kid, we make you laugh.
You’re an adult that wants to feel like a kid,
like the best in the
is designed in such a way you can just add a we make you laugh too!”
person.”
They have also recently started a channel
world for half an hour on short video platform Douyin. Fittingly for
two clowns, Bian started the Douyin page as a
Additional reporting and translation from Alex
Gomar. All photos supplied by Bjorn Dahlman.
joke, not expecting many people to watch, but
one of their first videos racked up an incred-
ible 7.5 million views.
“In China, you have loads of people in of-
fices and their pressure is massive. When you
have that much pressure you need a release,”
says Bian, who has done many corporate
performances. “When your boss isn’t looking,
you go on Douyin and have a quick watch and
you feel fulfilled.”
14 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMCIT Y | F E AT URE
More satisfied
customers
A little boy reacts
to a clown show by
the posse
Bjorn Dahlman performing
level with a child, which to clowns
promotes a sense of equality
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 15LIFE
&
STYLE
You and Whose Army?
Exploring Imperial Capital Xi’an, P22
Big is Beautiful Watch it!
P18 P20
16 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMSPOTLIGHT
BENNY DAY
What was the process like when you start- few good things: relationships are everything,
ed your own design company? and don’t rely on one thing. I’ve diversified
my company. Instead of just interior design,
FOUNDER OF
I was freelancing for four years, and regis-
I’m doing a bit of branding and graphics. It’s
tered the company two years ago. When I
about having that balance, and never focus-
first arrived, I worked for a company and
ing on just one client. Lastly, you’ve got to be
DAY DESIGN
that year we did 41 projects. To put that in
resilient, and you don’t necessarily need a
perspective, some large UK studios may do
Chinese partner.
40 projects in their career. Being in China,
STUDIO
everything happens very quickly. By the end
Any advice for any designers who are just
I realized I understood the process, but was I
starting out?
experienced? Did I have a style? Perhaps not,
but I jumped out anyways and flopped quite It’s not your project until the money is in the
By Phoebe Kut
early. My growth and placement right now bank. Never guarantee timelines to clients as
is all built on failure. It was definitely a jour- they may come back and say they don’t have
ney. But a year went on with one client and the budget or they’ll delay the timeline. Have
Day Design Studio is the brainchild of British-
I started to build momentum and have been other options. If you’re green, try to learn on
born Benny Day, who’s been living in Shenzhen going since. someone else’s time.
for the past six years. His design company
focuses mainly on F&B and commercial Why do you prefer designing for F&B cli- Tell us a bit about designing vibrators?
ents in particular?
interiors, in addition to branding and product Yeah, this project is actually for a Singaporean
design. Day speaks with us about starting a F&B is quantifiable; it’s data-driven. Say, if company called Smile Makers and they’re a
you’re designing a restaurant, they need a great company. They’re educating beginners
business in China, offers advice for budding
kitchen, a certain amount of seats, an en- about the vibrator world while also providing
designers and discusses one of his more trance and fire exits. After that, it follows education and awareness about sexual health
intriguing projects, designing vibrators. trends, fashion and the project lifecycle is and sexual wellness to a lot of people who
much shorter. In comparison, hotels take on may not openly talk about sex. For them we
How did you get started in interior design, average three to four years to design and cre- designed two vibrators, condom packaging
and how did you end up in Shenzhen? ate and you’re not really following trends or (which will be in Watsons) and we’re in talks
fashion. That’s what I find more exciting: the for their lubricant range too. I think I got into
I went to university in London to study interi-
fun, fashionable elements and the quantifi- this space because it was more about brand
ors, but with a focus on architecture, and had
able data. strategy, launching and brand identity – each
a cool friend whose older sister had a large
product has its own name (ie. the Romantic,
interior design company, so I started working
Is starting a business as a foreigner in Explorer, Ballerina) and personality. We did a
in the summers with her. After finishing uni-
China hard? lot of mood boarding, about the personality,
versity in London, my lecturer recommended
shape and product goals.
that I try out a job in Shenzhen. I thought I’d As one of my clients put it, “It’s like you’re
do six months here, six months in Japan and growing up in public.” China has such a differ- Check out more of Day Design Studio’s work on
Korea, then go back as the Asia expert and ent market than anywhere else, and you don’t Instagram (@daydesign.studio) or contact him on
finish. But nope, got here and realized I didn’t have time to hide; you’ve got to work it out in WeChat: bennyday
know anything and stayed! public and if you fail, you fail. I’ve learned a
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 |GZ | 17STYLE RADAR
HOT ON TAOBAO
Diva Ring Light
China’s e-commerce livestreaming-mar-
ket is big business. The practice of re-
viewing and featuring products in vid-
eos designed for consumers has made
waves throughout Chinese e-commerce
platforms in recent years, with celeb-
rity livestreamers cashing in.
Austin Li, a widely-known male
beauty blogger and KOL, reportedly
sold 15,000 tubes of lipstick in 15 COVET
Style and Structure
minutes during one of his live-stream
sessions. Even older consumers are
buying into the world of livestreaming,
Ladies, what’s the perfect accessory that can tie a whole outfit together? A staple handbag.
as made evident by the ayi we sat next
You’ve been searching for it far and wide. Do you pick a trendy bag that will (hopefully) last a
to on the bus recently who watched a
season, or opt for an investment piece with craftsmanship? Enter SELECTIV, a Shanghai-based
live-streamer feature two vinegar prod-
Nordic fashion and lifestyle brand for the design-conscious individual. Their signature mini
ucts. Vinegar!
handbags (RMB2,800) are a chic statement for the modern woman (or man, we don’t judge).
Aside from a phone and a product
Lead designer Kashan Sing, an architect by trade, wanted to design a timeless and special piece
to sell, this growing legion of lives-
for his first foray in fashion. Made with genuine leather, the optional crossbody bag can hold all
treamers relies on one key component:
your essentials and is perfect for day or night. SELECTIV’s line also includes tote bags, leather
a diva ring light. Used to enhance your
notebooks (which are perfect for journaling) and leather bracelets.
look during video shooting, no live-
streamer would dare to feature that > Pictured is the SELECTIV vintage mini handbag, shop their WeChat store by searching SELECTIV
new makeup item or clothing product
without this essential lamp. So, if you’re
thinking about throwing your eggs into
the livestreaming basket, consider this
must-have equipment. UNDER THE LENS
> The diva ring light is available on Taobao
by searching 手机直播光灯. Prices start from
‘Micro-fat’ Influencers
RMB39.
and Industry on the Rise
The Chinese plus-size market is a multi-
billion-dollar opportunity. Four decades ago,
11.3% of Chinese adults were overweight;
now that number is closer to 25%. However,
there aren’t English equivalents to terms like
‘plus-size’ or ‘curvy’. Vogue Business reports,
“the most common words used are the cutesy
‘micro-fat’ (微胖) or the slightly patronizing
‘meaty’ (肉肉).”
A niche group of micro-fat influencers are
on the rise, like Deng Deng, who has amassed
2.5 million followers on Douyin since appear-
ing on the scene a year ago. Deng explains,
“In 2018, there were almost no influencers
like me, fat girls dressed down, not up. This
is changing. Big girls are seeing women who
look like them wearing beautiful clothes, and
they want in.”
18 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMRMB48 and up.
TAP THAT APP
Interesting Sports 趣运动
Anyone who enjoys sports and lives in China has likely
faced the daunting task of finding a venue at which to
play. With millions of residents in your city and – de-
pending on your Chinese skills – a language barrier to
overcome, locating a good basketball court or football
pitch can be a nightmare.
We came across ‘Interesting Sports’ (趣运动, Qu
Yundong in pinyin) while having trouble finding a de-
cent tennis court in Guangzhou. The app proved to be
a big help by providing a list of courts around the city
with venue phone numbers and a map. Best of all, you
can book a reservation through the app (or website)
for your next outing.
Interesting Sports serves 80 cities in China, linking
users with venues for football, basketball, badminton,
tennis, swimming and more. You can book by the hour
up to a week in advance. It’s worth noting that the app
is only offered in Chinese, but you’ll have an easy time
navigating once you know your go-to sport’s name in
Chinese. Now that you’ve got the tool to get you back
on the field, it’s time to lace up those cleats and go
beast mode on Wesley from sales. > Interesting Sports (趣运动, Qu Yundong) is available on iOS and Android devices. Visit quyundong.com
or add their official WeChat account (趣运动) to learn more.
SPRING OF LINGNAN ( 岭南春晖 )
AD
MEET CELEBRITY CHEF JACK LIN AT INTERCONTINENTAL
GUANGZHOU EXHIBITION CENTER
C
elebrity Chef Jack Lin ( 林述巍 ) is famous bring his treasured recipes of modern Canton to
for his appearance in popular reality TV blend with Chef Andy’s expertise in traditional
show Chinese Restaurant ( 中餐厅 ) Season Shunde and Chaozhou cuisine. Chef Norman will
3 and for his commitment to bringing innovation take care of the overall menu design to ensure the
to Chinese fine dining. Chef Lin was recently menu is well structured and perfectly presented.
promoted to be the Insider Chef Ambassador The menu boasts Guangdong’s coastal
by InterContinental brand. By partnering with delights, and will feature both fresh and
experienced InterContinental chefs with strong dried seafood. Guests will enjoy a fascinating
reputations, the Insider Chef program aims to combination of classic light saucing presented
provide global travelers with an unforgettable by Chef Andy and the increasingly popular spicy
culinary experience. flavor by Chef Lin, favored among the younger
From February 25-27, Chef Lin’s fans in generation. One course guests will absolutely
Guangzhou will have the opportunity to meet love is the steamed lobster with egg white and
him at InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition yellow wine, presented by Chef Andy, which is a
Center where Lin will work with hotel’s Chinese medley of textures and soft, elegant flavors. Chef
Executive Chef Andy Wu ( 吴玉擎 ) and Executive Lin’s braised abalone and beef ribs with truffle is
Chef Norman Zhong ( 钟荣华 ) to present another stand-out dish, and it contrasts well with
“Spring of Lingnan” special menu to Guangzhou. the silky eggs of Chef Andy’s aforementioned
Trained as a specialist in Cantonese cuisine, Lin’s dish.
short visit in Guangzhou will be a homecoming “Spring of Lingnan” special menu will
occasion for him. be available at Canal Luna, InterContinental
The three chefs will create an eight-course Guangzhou Exhibition Center from February 25-
menu to pay tribute to Cantonese cuisine. Lin will 27.
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 |GZ | 19LIFE & STYLE | FASHION
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20 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMFASHION | LIFE & STYLE
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to WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 21L IF E & S T Y L E | T R AV E L
F
XI’AN ew cities in China can lay claim to
as rich a culture as Xi’an. Famous
for being the home of the Terracotta
Xi’an was also the eastern terminus of
the Silk Road. It was here that merchants,
envoys and traveling monks would trade
Looking for more expert
guides to China’s biggest cities
and hottest destinations?
Warriors, Xi’an’s 3,000-year history has their wares, particularly valuable silk and
Scan the QR code now to
played an enormous part in shaping China’s live horses, and prepare for the long and
purchase our Explore China
cultural heritage. frequently perilous journey to the West.
travel guide, which offers
Xi’an got its big start as a city during Such was the extent of trade and civilization
insider tips, detailed city
the Zhou Dynasty, for whom Xi’an was the in Xi’an that the city became the largest in
guides and awesome day trips.
capital, from 1046-256 BCE. Under the rule the world by the 8th century.
of the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 Xi’an’s fortunes changed, however, with
BCE), China became unified for the first time. the fall of the Tang Dynasty, and it was not
Obsessed with longevity, Emperor Qin com- until the Ming Dynasty, in the 14th century,
missioned the construction of an ‘army’ of that the city would be fully revived. Several
terracotta warriors to guard his mausoleum lasting emblems of the Ming era are today
and protect him in the afterlife. Today, the some of Xi’an’s most prominent sights.
Terracotta Warriors are considered one of
China’s must-see attractions.
22 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMT R AV E L | L IF E & S T Y L E
Ming-Era City Walls
Inner-city Xi’an has plenty of its own charm. Nearly
14 kilometers long, the imposing city walls were built
to protect the city during the Ming Dynasty, and are
an astonishing 15 meters thick.
One of the best ways to get acquainted is on two
wheels. Bike rentals start from RMB40 for 100 min-
utes (RMB80 if you choose to go tandem), and afford
great views of the heart of Xi’an.
The ride itself is fairly leisurely (and entirely flat,
for the effort-opposed), and can be accomplished in
two hours depending on pace. Be sure to bring hydra-
tion, as vendors in the area are few and far between.
If you’re lucky you’ll catch the changing of the guards
at the South Gate, which happens three times a day.
Terracotta Army Hot Springs at Huaqing
No trip to Xi’an is complete without a visit to
Palace
its most famous attraction, the most signifi-
cant archaeological discovery of the 20th cen- After you’ve ticked the requisite Terracotta Army visit
tury. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a lit- off your list, it’s time for the next chapter of Xi’an’s
eral treasure trove of Chinese history that can history – the Tang Dynasty. At the foot of Mount
easily take a day for history buffs to explore. Lishan are the hot springs at Huaqing Palace, which
With thousands of unearthed military were the setting for the famous romantic tragedy
figures, the Terracotta Army was designed to Song of Eternal Sorrow, written by celebrated Tang
guard over the tomb of China’s first emperor, poet Bai Juyi (772-846 CE).
Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BCE). Following his A classic imperial tale, the poem describes a
death, it was believed they would travel with tragic love affair between Tang emperor Xuanzong
him to the afterlife to continue their service. (685-762 CE) and his beloved concubine Yang Guifei
Fascinatingly, no two members of the (719-756 CE). Visitors can enjoy daily performances
army are identical – their various parts were of the classic poem during the spring and summer,
made modularly and assembled so that each and soak up imperial vibes at the neighboring hot
would be unique. spring baths.
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 23L IF E & S T Y L E | T R AV E L
Mount Hua
One of the most famous mountains in China, Huashan is a must for
active travelers. Stunning vistas and precipitous peaks are a given,
and your trip here can easily take up a whole day.
The mountain has five peaks that top 2,155 meters, each with
its own charm. Reach the top by gondola, and expect a fairly ter-
rifying hike to the tallest peaks. During the summer months, high
numbers of visitors can make the narrow walkways crowded, so
do be aware of that when planning your visit.
True daredevils can get their adrenaline fix along the Chang
Kong Plank Road – a ramshackle wooden pathway just 50 cen- Muslim Quarter
timeters wide affixed to the near-vertical rock face. The pathway
was first laid out by the Taoist priest He Zhizhen nearly 700 years Xi’an’s vibrant Muslim Quarter is a wonderful place to pick
ago, when monks would journey to the mountain’s remotest peaks up souvenirs and sample Xi’an’s local delicacies.
in search of prime meditation spots. A RMB30 deposit for safety Situated in the heart of the old town, the Muslim
harnesses is required. Quarter encompasses a neighborhood of just 1,800 square
meters, but is home to 10 mosques and over 20,000 resi-
dents. During the heyday of the Silk Road, this district
played host to travelers from the Middle East, India and
beyond, who would barter their wares and stock up on
supplies for the next leg of their voyage. Some historians
have suggested that the notoriously dangerous Silk Road
journey gave rise to the establishment of numerous tem-
ples of Islamic, Buddhist and Taoist faiths, as merchants
would visit to seek blessings for safe passage.
Make sure to arrive with an empty stomach – the
Muslim Quarter is teeming with local street food, including
grilled meat skewers, hearty fried dumplings, hand-pulled
noodles and, of course, roujiamo. The main action starts at
6pm, when the vendors start setting up shop for the even-
ing’s service.
Big Wild Goose
Pagoda
Terracotta
Built during the Tang Dynasty, the Warrior Replicas
1,300-year-old Big Wild Goose
After seeing the real thing, pick
Pagoda is perhaps Xi’an’s most
up a vivid replica of the ter-
eye-catching heritage site, stand-
racotta sculptures for all your
ing at seven stories and 64 meters
friends who have yet to see the
high. The pagoda is dedicated to the
famous archeological wonder.
Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who is
They’re available in a variety
credited for aiding the dissemination
of sizes, from small to life-size
of Buddhism by bringing back sutras
(you know, if you’re into over-
from India and translating them into
the-top home decor), and each
Chinese. His journey also served as
have a different appearance
inspiration for one of China’s best-
and facial expression. We sug-
known works of literature, Journey
gest heading to the Xi’an Art
to the West.
Ceramics and Lacquer Factory,
Today, tourists can climb to
where they still cook clay in
the top of the pagoda to take in the
large outdoor kilns and hand-
sights of the city and expansive
paint and finish every single
pagoda square below. Here, locals
exemplar.
brush up (literally) on their callig-
raphy by using calligraphy brushes
dipped in water on the flagstones.
24 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMT R AV E L | L IF E & S T Y L E
Roujiamo and Liangpi
Wherever you find roujiamo (sometimes translated as
‘Chinese hamburger’), you’ll also find liangpi (cold noo-
dles). For Xi’an locals, the two go together like horse
and carriage. The former consists of a leavened flat-
bread, typically cooked on a hot iron furnace, stuffed
with braised meat that is stewed with 20 different spic-
es. Locals will tell you that the best roujiamo is found
in the Muslim Quarter, where the filling is lamb rather
than pork. The cold noodles that so often accompany
are made from rice flour and topped with a spicy red
oil and sliced cucumber.
Biangbiang Mian
Not only are these deliciously thick noodles unique to Shaanxi province,
they are also famous for the notorious 57-stroke character used in their
name, one of the most complicated in the Chinese language. As thick and
wide as a belt, a single noodle can fill a bowl, and biang is an onomatopoe-
ia for the sound that the noodle dough makes as it hits the counter while
being pulled into shape. The chewy noodles are usually cooked with spicy
oil and steamed bok choy.
Yangrou Paomo
Arguably the signature dish of Xi’an, this Arab-
influenced delicacy might appear unusual to
the uninitiated. You’ll be served a bowl of hot,
gravy-like mutton soup with vermicelli and
a leavened flatbread; but before you tuck in,
pull apart the bread into pearl-sized pieces
and drop them in the soup. A time-consuming
effort, yes, but for locals of Xi’an the ritual is
therapeutic, and besides, the dish tastes better
when hand-pulled.
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 |GZ | 25ARTS
Welcome To The Club
Cutting Edge Nightspots Around China, P34
Digital Space Invaders HKCR New Albums
P30 P32 P35
26 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMDRUMROLL
KARP
BurgerSuicideClub and Silver Spoon
Founder Talks Experimentation
By Bryan Grogan
We caught BurgerSuicideClub at a RADII event in ALL Club
in late 2019 and were blown away by the four-person group.
Making a soup of sounds that incorporates industrial music,
punk, experimental electronic beats and spoken-word
poetry, the music felt transporting and fresh. Musician
and artist Karp (who identifies using the pronoun ‘they’)
started the project themself, intending to focus it around
their solo work, but over time the group expanded and new
musical ideas were introduced. A member of psychedelic
group Peaking O, Karp also founded a performance art event
called Silver Spoon a little over two years ago. Blending
together music, poetry, performance, video and more, Karp
takes the lead as director-curator of the show. We caught
up with them to speak about the influences that drive
BurgerSuicideClub and Silver Spoon.
Tell us about BurgerSuicideClub. [spent] harnessing her skills, is now an adept
producer who makes beats with an Ableton How important is it for Silver Spoon to
It was originally a solo project. Later, the
and various other hardware. combine various mediums, such as music,
musician Fish joined and we became a duo.
Sanky was influenced by the early proto performance art and fashion?
We were originally called Eraser Head, but
punks, such as Patti Smith, and later got into
later renamed ourselves BurgerSuicideClub, At present, a lot of groups and labels that per-
rougher and more provocative industrial mu-
mainly due to the influence of a group in form in China tend to combine various me-
sic by bands like Throbbing Gristle.
Berlin called Pizza Suicide Club. Fish exited diums. Silver Spoon is not the most special.
All four of us like industrial music,
at the end of 2018, and the musician Empress The only difference with Silver Spoon is that I
and this is the basis of the music for the
CC! joined. She has used an Ableton, drum see the performance as a work of art and take
BurgerSuicideClub.
machine and synthesizer to bring a new the role of a director. My favorite director is
musical expression to BurgerSuicideClub. Alejandro Jodorowsky from Chile. His films
We heard that you are planning to release
Later again, guitarist Zongshi and poet Sanky are very visual and dramatic, using costumes,
some music. What form will it take?
joined one after another to make the current color and discussions about life and religion.
four-man lineup. Yeah, we plan to do a digital release of an Films with a large proportion of narrative
album. We’ll probably also publish a CD, or, scenes are for me organized art events and
The sound of the group is very unique. Can if we have enough money, maybe release on act as inspiration. Although I don’t do much
you talk about what inspires the music? vinyl. visual creation, I always think that the visu-
als and the music are equally important in a
Each of our four members is affected dif-
As well as BurgerSuicideClub, you organ- Silver Spoon event.
ferently by music, so the final sound is very
ize Silver Spoon. What exactly do you try
strange. When I was young I became attract-
to show with Silver Spoon? Can you talk about your upcoming plans
ed to dark music. Later, I came into contact
for Silver Spoon?
with experimental music and minimalism. Silver Spoon is a plan that I started in Xiamen
I also started to make music based around in 2017. At that time, I began a public account We will have a performance after Spring
noise and beeps. After a while, I became in- called ‘Water Ripple,’ mainly to interview lo- Festival related to intimacy/artificial intel-
terested in the Western psychedelic rock of cal artists in Xiamen, as well as consulting on ligence. We’re currently selecting the venue
the ’60s and krautrock. Industrial music also art and performance activities. After publish- for that show. We can’t disclose the specific
had a profound impact on me. ing a few times, I wanted to present my own details at the moment, so everyone will have
Zongshi is more influenced by traditional content. to wait and see.
rock bands like Sonic Youth, Radiohead, etc. The first activity was called ‘Eat
At the same time, he also produces electronic Sunflower Seeds and Sound Quartet.’ It was To hear more from BurgerSuicideClub,
music, with people like Aphex Twin providing inspired by Yan Jun’s exhibition How to Eat scan the QR code:
inspiration. Sunflower Seeds. I found four artists to create
Empress CC! is an electronic music fanat- a fusion of sound, music, performance, video
ic. Originally inspired to become a musician and poetry at a livehouse. Later, I did live For more information about Silver
by Einstürzende Neubauten and Kraftwerk, shows for Silver Spoon, mainly when I was Spoon, scan the QR code:
she began producing experimental electronic triggered by a concept, bringing people from
music, and, over the course of a long period different fields together.
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 27COLL AGE See the QR codes on this page? Scan them with the That's App when you see them to find more
multimedia, photos and videos related to the feature you are reading. Genius, eh? Download the
That's App at www.thatsmags.com/app
COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU TRANSCRIBED
“Can anyone judge? If the judges don’t even know
the most famous logo in the world, how can they
be a judge?”
That’s what one netizen said after learning the
FEB
14 news that the Dalian tourism board had bla-
tantly ripped off the Walt Disney logo (as well
Horror Shark
as a bunch of other famous logos). The comical
news came to light in December and pointed to
a general lack of awareness from
Not the most inspiring film title in the world,
judges overseeing the competi-
this horror slash thriller slash adventure mov-
tion to design the new logo for
ie’s Chinese name translates directly as ‘Blood
the Northern tourism board.
Shark,’ and sees its main characters attempting
to out-maneuver mutated, man-eating sharks.
Simple enough. Building on the continued in-
terest in adventure films, and also the global
love for shark-based thrillers, this blockbuster
should pique the interest of fans of these genres. HAO BU HAO
Hao
A bunch of excellent Chinese film releases in January,
including Lost in Russia, Detective Chinatown 3 and the
spiritual successor to Ne Zha, Jiang Ziya • In a similar
vein, the news that international films Marriage Story,
Jojo Rabbit and Little Women have been taken on by
Road Pictures for distribution in China • The continued
insurgence of clubs that are straddling the borders of
FEB fashion and art throughout the country • Awkwafina be-
22 came the first woman of Asian descent to win a Golden
Globe in a lead actress film category, winning for Best
Troll: The Tale of a Tail
Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her role
in The Farewell.
Created by Quebec-based company Squeeze,
Troll: The Tale of a Tail is an animated adventure
telling the story of a troll prince who has three
days to save his father, King Grom, who has been Bu Hao
turned to stone and had his tail stolen by an Shanghai’s Dada closed the doors on its Xingfu Lu venue
evil presence. The perfect flick for a family with after 10 years • Ne Zha missing the cut as a nominee
young kids. for Best International Film Feature at the 2020 Oscars •
For more new movies releases, scan the QR code While the news that iQiyi is seeking international invest-
below: ment may sound good, it also points toward the slowing
market for TV streaming sites in China • The Farewell
was not among the nominees at this year’s Oscars, de-
spite Awkwafina’s success at the Golden Globes.
28 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COME D I T E D B Y B R Y A N G R O G A N / A R T S @ U R B A N A T O M Y. C O M
SINO CELEB
Eddie Peng Yu-yen
He’s the US military-trained revenger in the 2018 Jiang Wen-directed Hidden
Man and he’s the Monkey King in Chinese fantasy-action film Wu Kong. Taiwan-
born Canadian actor Eddie Peng Yu-yen stumbled across an opportunity to star
in a TV idol drama when returning to the island for a funeral in his sophomore
year of college. It turned out to be a stepping stone to his immense popularity
in show business. The handsome actor was recognized for his Golden Horse-
nominated portrayal of a gymnastic athlete in 2011’s Jump Ashin!, for which he
trained professionally for eight months. You can catch him on the big screen in
Chinese adventure film The Rescue this month. But first, here’s five fast facts
about Peng before you grab yourself some popcorn.
Child Gourmand
As a child Peng loved to chow down. These days, he has retained his
love for snacks, but maintains a muscular figure by exercising on the
regular.
Great White North
At the age of 13, Peng immigrated to Canada, where he later studied
economics at the University of British Columbia.
College Dropout
The excitement of studying economics was not enough for Peng and he
dropped out of university to pursue a career in acting.
Sea Turtle Savior
Peng is the ambassador of global conservation organization WildAid’s
mission to save sea turtles, and his journey to help the reptiles was fea-
tured in marine conservation documentary Between the Sea and Shore.
Filial Son
When not shooting movies Peng travels the world, bringing his mother
along while he’s at it.
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 29ARTS | VIDEO GAMES
DIGITAL SPACE INVADERS
Five PC Games Set to Make A Splash in 2020
By Bryan Grogan
P
C gaming has been popular in China ever since the govern-
ment banned video game consoles in 2000, a restriction
which lasted for 15 years. That love for the PC format has
never gone away; Chinese is now the most popular language
on major video game platform Steam, according to PC Gamer. Sense: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story
Reacting to this, platforms like Steam host games like Chinese
This game, made in 2.5D format (in order to appear to be 3D
Parents and The Scrolls of Taiwu, only heightening the appetite
when it is, in fact, not) takes the player through a terrifying
that gamers, and game developers, have for the increasingly lu-
world that mixes cyberpunk and mythology. Developed by Toge
crative market. Below, we highlight five games that we think will
Productions, the game’s official Twitter account places the ac-
prove to be smash hits in 2020.
tion in Neo-Hong Kong. Players take the role of Mei Lin Mak, a
de facto detective, investigating technological glitches that have
infected Neo-Hong Kong. She must break a family curse in order
to fix the spooky real-world glitches. The game has been receiv-
ing a ton of hype for the unique scope of the story and gorgeous
visuals, and is set to be released later this year on a variety of
platforms and consoles, including Windows PC, Mac, Nintendo
Switch and Xbox One.
To learn more, scan the QR code below:
Luna: The Shadow Dust
Set for release in February of this year, this long-awaited release,
developed by Lantern Studio and published by Coconut Island
Games, has already received awards for its music and artwork.
After gaining global recognition for the excellent Chinese Parents,
which was released back in the middle of 2018, but has enjoyed
a fabulously long lifespan on Steam, Coconut Island Games is
a company to watch. Luna: The Shadow Dust is just one of the
games that it has slated for release this year, alongside Rascal
Fight, a “fun and exciting fighting game,” and A Perfect Day,
which rewinds to 1990s China. The point-and-click game has
gorgeous visuals, while gameplay is wordless; a young boy and
his companion make their way through an adventure inspired by
games of old.
To learn more, scan the QR code below:
30 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMVIDEO GAMES | ARTS
Sands of Salzaar
This surprise (read: under-the-radar) hit was released on January
3 through Steam, and quickly climbed to the top of the week’s
best sellers on the gaming platform, selling 50,000 copies in
under a week. Developed and published by Han-Squirrel Studio,
based out of Shenzhen, Sands of Salzaar is an open-world fan-
tasy game that takes place in a desert, with players tasked with
recruiting a variety of characters to shape the future of their
world. Reviews of the game have been largely positive; gamers
and media outlets have been impressed by its ambitious scope,
which takes place across an unfolding world, with large battle
sequences.
To learn more, scan the QR code below:
Wanba Warriors
Now for something a little bit different. This super zany fighting The Rewinder
game is based around the idea of calligraphy combat, with fight-
ers using blobby characters holding calligraphy ink brushes to Taking China’s reinvigorated mania for mythology and packag-
defeat their opponents. Purported to make use of bizarre swing ing it in game format, indie developer Misty Mountain Studio has
mechanics, and with characters capable of harnessing incredible made this 2D side-scrolling point-and-click game, The Rewinder.
supernatural abilities, this game sounds like a blast. It also sup- Artwork for the game has already been called gorgeous by a num-
ports local multiplayer mode so you can battle with or against ber of media outlets. Due to come out in 2020 on Steam (though
your friends. Developed by game company BigYu, a demo for a specific date hasn’t been assigned), The Rewinder should appeal
Wanba Warriors was released in mid-2019, with the full game ex- to fans of animation and mythology alike. Taking on the role of a
pected to drop in 2020. Beijing-based Zodiac Interactive, the same special agent, gamers are tasked with interacting with monsters
folks who brought us the super-weird Candleman, is also behind and deities and helping spirits to achieve a rebirth and to return
publishing for this one. to the living world.
To learn more, scan the QR code below: To learn more, scan the QR code below:
WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | GZ | 31ARTS | MUSIC
TURN ON YOUR RADIO
Co-founder of HKCR Gavin Wong Talks About Building Communities
By Bryan Grogan
W
e’ve been covering online radio we really need this kind of tool to convene the location. We’re very appreciative to ACO
more and more recently, as a broader ideas and connect with other people who show us massive support in our project.
number of new stations crop up locally and globally.
around Greater China. One of the first to get When it comes to the music side of things,
off the ground was Hong Kong Community There’s quite a bit of equipment and other how do you decide on what international
Radio (HKCR), which has been a vital strong- stuff to take care of. How are you funded? acts or China-based acts you like to have
hold for underground music in the Fragrant on the show?
We don’t receive any funding at the mo-
Harbor since 2016. Founded by Gavin Wong,
ment. Davy Law and I bought everything. We I try to not dictate who’s going to come in and
the mind behind essential Hong Kong label
started out with a webcam and a borrowed who’s not. The station is obviously
Absurd Trax, and Davy Law, who runs anoth-
CDJ in a corner of a friend’s leather jacket not about a single musical style or idea; most
er excellent Hong Kong-based label, Neoncity
shop (shout out to Oldies Leather Jacket). We people who came around before were people
Records, HKCR has become one of the most
kept the setup mobile so we could stream in who got in touch with us to ask if we could
important music outlets in the Asia Pacific re-
different spaces (we streamed at a bookshop, host them for an hour on the radio stream.
gion. We spoke to Wong about the station.
a clothing shop, my friend’s cha chaan teng They may or may not know anyone here, so
and so on). we facilitate as a connecting hub for travel-
When and why did you start HKCR?
Eventually we invested in a CDJ (digital ers and locals. We try to accommodate the
We started out in late 2016. I found radio cul- music player for DJing) and found all the best we can, but obviously due to the afore-
ture so amazing when I was studying in the other pieces by scavenging through second- mentioned limitations we can’t really take
UK. Even though pirate radio isn’t something hand recording gear and leftover furniture. everyone.
new here, I don’t think there was an online Of course, from time to time we receive help
radio that was solely dedicated to music shar- from the community as well. The station gives a platform for crea-
ing. We moved into the Foo Tak Building two tives in Hong Kong to express themselves
I wanted to create a platform that is dedi- years ago. The rent is at a remarkably dis- through music. What kind of feedback do
cated to people in music, primarily because counted rate, which is amazing considering you get from musicians and producers to
32 | GZ | FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COMYou can also read
