On October 28, the last themed shooting event of the third "Beijing·A Global City" Short Video Contest took place. More than 70 foreign experts from over 30 countries, including Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, visited Pinggu District to taste the specialty coffee, explore leisure homestays, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Jinhai Lake. This visit provided them with an opportunity to experience the vibrant leisure industry and the harmonious, livable, and international leisure environment of Beijing.
Autumn paints Yaji Mountain in vibrant colors, creating a splendid landscape with hillsides, lawns, and other natural beauties. The foreign experts participating in the shooting event couldn't help but exclaim, “It’s so beautiful!”
A cup of coffee at Yexing Café starts a day full of energy. A young couple engaged in the design industry transformed an old residential house into a café, skillfully blending artistic, living, and rural elements. The foreign experts savored their coffee and embraced the leisurely countryside life. William Henry Allen, an American expert from the Communication University of China, marveled, “This place is incredibly beautiful that I can spend the entire day here! While my hometown also boasts a leisure industry, I prefer the tranquil and relaxing atmosphere of Pinggu. I hope that tourists from both China and the U.S. can experience this model of leisure tourism together, getting closer in their leisurely lives.”
Culture and tourism are the advantageous industries of Pinggu, where more than 240 homestays are nestled in the mountains, lakes, fields, and villages, seamlessly integrating with nature. At the Red Oak Tree Homestay, one can appreciate the scenery, stars, and enjoy farmhouse meals. During the visit, foreign experts expressed their fascination with the tranquil life of brewing tea in the breeze and admiring the nearby mountains, considering it an attainable ideal way of living. James Mc Crory, Middle School and High School Principal of the Canadian International School of Beijing, said, “This place has exceeded my expectations. We are able to connect with nature and escape the hustle and bustle. Pinggu is an ideal destination for leisure travel and family outings.”
As the foreign experts boarded a pleasure boat to catch a glimpse of the picturesque Jinhai Lake, they couldn’t resist capturing the beauty on their cell phones and cameras, taking numerous selfies and group photos of the emerald lake and mountains.
Known as the “l(fā)ittle Switzerland in the suburbs of Beijing”, Bibo Island of Jinhai Lake offers a fashionable and internationalized setting featuring a leisure mode integrating camping, dining, afternoon tea, music festivals, bazaars, and business meetings. Komani Mayentao, a foreign expert from Beijing International Studies University, shared after the visit, “Many foreigners working and living in Beijing are unaware of these excellent ecological resources and stunning lake scenery available here. I will recommend this place to my friends. My hometown Mali can also learn from this travel mode integrating in-depth, rural, and green tours, and its superb support facilities.”
Beijing is international in every aspect
Renata Penchova, a Macedonian language expert from Beijing Foreign Studies University, said, “Beijing is international in every aspect, with comprehensive public facilities, prevalent Chinese-English bilingual signs, and widespread mobile payments. I’m grateful for the opportunity to witness the vibrant and dynamic nature of Beijing.”
The themed shooting event of the third “Beijing·A Global City” Short Video Contest came to an end. Throughout the eight sessions, diplomats, foreign journalists, influencers, and international students were among the participants invited to witness Beijing’s achievements in building the national center for international exchanges and its high-level openness and high-quality development. The deadline for submissions to the third “Beijing·A Global City” Short Video Contest is November 10. Please post your videos on new media platforms such as Kuaishou, Weibo, WeChat Channel, and Douyin as soon as possible, using the hashtag #Beijing - A Global City 2023#.
