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Hello TWOC readers!
At the grand military parade that commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War this Wednesday, 80,000 pigeons were released into the sky at Tian’anmen Square as a symbol of peace and unity.
What you might not know is that these birds aren’t specially bred for the occasion but are borrowed from pigeon enthusiasts across the capital. These enthusiasts have long volunteered their birds for commemorative events, including the 2019 military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC.
Online, many wondered how the pigeons would find their way home, while others, citing past experience, reassured them that the birds, at least those worthy of keeping for future races, would return safely.
Yet behind the spectacle lies a lesser-known, billion-yuan pigeon racing industry. Read this piece from our archive to discover how this time-honored sport has turned into a high-stakes race.
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With big money invading pigeon-racing, hobbyists wonder about the future of their time-honored sport, as cases of bird-napping and fraud arise. Read more
Despite years of health campaigns and growing awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke, smoking in public remains a problem across China. Now, with both government action and public pressure intensifying, are smoke-free environments finally within reach? Read more
Fishing, once seen as a pastime for retired men in bucket hats, has surged in popularity among China’s stressed urban youth for its accessibility, flexibility, and supposed mental healing powers. Read more
Where We’re Traveling
How the Mountain God’s Messenger Becomes A Man-eating Monster
Over the past two decades, rising conflicts between rural Tibetan communities and wild bears in Yushu, Qinghai province, fueled by misinformation on social media, have turned a once sacred creature into a villain in the eyes of younger generations. Read now
What We’re Eating
Beyond Seasoning: The Story of Chinese Vinegar
Though not as omnipresent as soy sauce, vinegar has long been cherished in China, and now a new generation is discovering its tangy appeal. In recent years, vinegar has come to be valued not only as a culinary staple but also for its alleged health benefits, from weight loss to blood pressure reduction to skin whitening. Read more
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