Picture: A Fitness Life Zone in Beijing.
Another cultural revolution is underway in China. In preparation of the Olympic Games, which will be hosted in Beijing next year, the Chinese Communist People Party is very concerned with the image of its citizens abroad. Besides building impressive stadiums by internationally acclaimed architects the government is worried that its citizen will not live up to Western standards when it comes to manners. As I know from personal experience spitting is widely practised in China and so is jumping the queue (if there is a queue at all). Also elderly men sporting white sleeveless undershirts are a common feature of many Chinese towns. According to the German weekly Die Zeit has the Chinese government proclaimed a day of queuing in Beijing on the 11th of February when 12’000 volunteers explained to baffled Chinese citizens the joys and techniques of queuing. The government even fostered schools that teach manners and already 5000 courses have been completed. The newspapers in Beijing also print an English sentence each day in order to teach the citizens of Beijing the essential English phrases. And last but not least has the government built “fitness life zones” across the city. Those are little parks with basic exercise machines. 30000 volunteers teach Beijing’s citizens how to properly exercise. Arnold would have loved it!
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