Unprecedented prosperity during the holiday
The increasingly strict epidemic control measures did not stop Beijing residents from camping along the Liangma River over the May Day holiday. Among them, expats and middleclass locals gathered there for a “pursuit of the exquisite life” along the river.
Online posts and pictures show that the bank along the breezy Liangma River was packed with picnic blankets, lounge chairs, and benches under the setting sun. On the table, bottles of wine chilling on ice, highball glasses or fine bone China teacups next to the candles gave off a soft glow reminiscent of the sunset.
The river bank, during the holiday, was a hive of activity with people sitting on the riverside, some quietly drinking coffee and reading, while others working with their laptops; but many more choosing to add a typically Western summer pastime element to this beautiful scene – picnicking with friends while competing in social board games, tossing frisbees, walking dogs, and doing tandem workout dance choreography.
“After the notice to suspend gyms and in- door activities was released, my members immediately discussed the possibility of outdoor classes in our WeChat group. When it came to the location of the workout, most of us coincidentally thought of the Liangma River,” Helen Xu, an instructor at a yoga club in Beijing’s Chaoyang district, told the Global Times. During the May Day holiday, Xu took two small classes of five members to the riverside in the morning for a workout and to enjoy the al fresco Beijing summer.
Currently, posts using the hashtag “Liangma River” have hit an all- new high on Chinese social networking platforms. Some netizens have summarized 8 things that one must do on a walk along the river, such as looking for the mysterious coffee cart, watching the sunset on the suspension bridge with your romantic partner, and enjoy the night view on a boat ship.
“The Liangma River has always been an artistic area. Some people love playing guitar and singing by the riverside, while young expats love gathering here. It is good to see how this place is so greatly sought- after now,” a 26- year- old resident in Beijing surnamed Gou said.
However, with the popularity of the Liangma River, the beauty of riverside “camping” has gradually gone sour. A bunch of photos showed some visitors gathered for a picnic, who had even called in pedicurists to pamper their feet along the riverside walkway.
On May 3, the local authority began restricting these over- crowded picnics due to risks presented by the recent COVID- 19 resurgence in the capital and sealed off some popular gathering areas.
Most of the residents showed understanding of the epidemic prevention measures imposed by the local authorities. “The purpose of suspending dine- in activities was to reduce the potential risk of the virus spreading in such close- contact environments. A mass picnic is simply moving the gathering place from inside the restaurants to the outdoors. There is still a risk of COVID transmission amid the outbreak,” Gou said.
Videos across social media show that police officers patrolled with the help of loudspeakers along the river on May 4, politely dissuading foreigners from trampling on the lawn in English.
At present, the adjacent water walkway along the Liangma River has been cordoned off. After that, the unbridled hustle and bustle disappeared, but the river bank still teamed with the activity of those who were shuttling through it.
Lance Le, the manager of 49 Bar & Coffee shop near the river, told the Global Times that currently his in- door bar business is completely suspended and only sells packaged coffee in the afternoon. But Le said he fully supports the government’s COVID- 19 prevention initiatives. “Only by strictly implementing and complying with these measures can the day of real relaxation come faster,” he said.