Beijing News You Might Have Missed this Week, Feb 20
Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news.
Vaccine update: With more than 2.5 million already vaccinated in Beijing and another 200,000 receiving their shots per day, the city is aiming to have its vaccination drive largely wrapped up by May.
With the exception of a few key industries, few foreigners have been able to book an appointment for the vaccine so far, but all residents of the capital should be able to receive the vaccine sometime in the near future.
Cash for crypto: Beijing launched its biggest test yet of China’s upcoming digital currency, releasing millions of RMB in a lottery to residents of the capital. Users could spend the money on JD or at certain locations in Wangjing, but some were surprised to learn that the currency could actually be converted into cash – an important step in the proof of concept for this digital coin.
Still online, okay, fine: Despite an 18-day streak of no local COVID-19 infections, 16 universities in Beijing have announced they will continue to delay in-person classes following the Spring Festival holiday, including Beijing Normal University and Beijing Language and Culture University, both of which host a sizable population of foreign students.
Pekeyboard Opera: Finally, the consumer demographic of PC gamers who love Peking Opera have had their voices heard with the release of the Varmilo MA87M Beijing Opera Keyboard – a Peking Opera-themed mechanical gaming keyboard. It’s apparently a high-quality keyboard, but gaming with Beijing pride will set you back a few hundred bucks – RMB 939 to be precise.
Best of the blog:
- What better way to wrap up the holiday than with a series of mind-boggling stats about this year's Spring Festival (as is tradition)?
- Speaking of the Spring Festival, weren't fireworks banned? You wouldn't know it by the ample smog that filled the city.
- Redecorating? Remember, IKEA isn't the only spot to look for furnishings.
- If you were born in the year of the ox, don't forget to stock up on plenty of red undies for the year.
READ: TGIF: Hiking Getaway, Temple Yoga, Photography Workshop
Images: KKnews, Varmilo
