Tradition meets modernity
Liangma River’s Chinese meaning is the river where horses are sunned. It is said that in ancient China some businessmen and guests would normally ride their horses here to rest and use the river water to wash their horses. That gave the River the name of “Liang Ma ( Sunning Horse) River.” As years passed, people replaced the Chinese character “Liang ( Sunning)” with the homophone “Liang ( shiny).”
For a long time, the Liangma River was an unremarkable tributary on the eastern outskirts of Beijing, once putrid and infested with mosquitoes.
In the 1980s, China’s first Sino- foreign joint venture five- star luxury hotel, the Great Wall Hotel, and the first Chinesebuilt and managed five- star hotel, Kunlun Beijing hotel, were built along the Liangma
River. Later, more globally renowned retail businesses and brands joined the foray. In 2019, the local government revamped it into an international waterfront park.
“What I love the River most for is how its historical culture intersects with contemporary fashion. It’s like combining a scented tea with aromatic coffee, which is mixed to develop a unique charm – nostalgic culture resting in an energetic city; a tradition that is integrated into modernity,” said Gou.
The embassies area near Liangma River is one of the three major diplomatic areas in Beijing. The Liangma River connects some of the city’s most exclusive communities with the business district, and the foreign language signs everywhere give the entire length of the river an international look. It directly presents the openness, inclusivity, the fashionable nature, and livability of Beijing as a cosmopolis.
Cale Holmes, a US expat living in just around 200 meters away from the Liangma River, felt himself as being “very lucky” to still access the fun community once Beijing suspended dine- in services in restaurants and bars, and closed entertainment venues amid the new outbreak.
“Many friends have gathered to walk, talk, and drink there since the holiday. I’ve even run into old friends during strolls along the river. I’ve even met some new friends during the May Day holiday. It’s great for so much – hanging out, dating, exercising, even just personal calm. You get a takeaway beer, coffee, or juice and just mingle,” Holmes told the Global Times.