Xiong’an New Area
From the moment I knew that Dave wanted to join me for some time in China, I started organising “our” trip. I searched for areas that weren’t too hot during August, were easy accessible and had sights of interest for both of us.
Dave had seen several Youtube films about high technology and wanted to visit a city that would offer some of those new “gadgets”. Drones delivering food, cars without a driver and robot butlers. While asking AI, the only city that came up for our trip was Xiong’an New Area.
Well, so much for AI….
China’s city of the future
Xiong’an New Area is one of China’s most ambitious urban development projects. Located in Hebei Province, about 100 kilometres southwest of Beijing, and often described as “China’s city of the future“.
The city is being built as a modern, green and highly connected city, with smart technology and sustainable urban planning at its heart. There is nothing visible at our hotel though, except for the robot butler next to the elevator!
We decide to visit a museum about Xiong’an’s development.
The first thing that strikes us: WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE?!
During my three months in China, I have never visited a place so empty. It almost felt abandoned, as if there would have been a war, but without anything destroying anything. Instead, new, fascinating architecture is everywhere! But… when you take a closer look… most buildings are completely empty! Probably built, because they can!
We walk around this “Ghost city” for a while and are speechless. Dave admires the way the roads are built at different levels. But to me, a feeling of sadness overcomes me. It all just makes me sad. Very sad. I imagine all the people struggling in a small apartment, and here… building after building is just sitting there: EMPTY.
The Mall
Eventuelly, while looking for a place with people to have lunch, we find a shopping mall. Hurray… life again!
It’s the weirdest mall I have ever been to! Very pet-friendly, especially dog-friendly! In search of a toilet, I find several ones for dogs! Even a “family toilet with pets!” Hilarious! And of course, it makes me miss Tibor now.
The next building of the mall is, instead of pets (dogs), dedicated to children. There are four (yes, no less than four!!!) floors, with only shops and activity rooms for children. Robot simulators, playrooms for toddlers with mobility games and a ball bath. Mini-Steck, Lego, a whole room with beads to make jewellery,…. you name it, they have it!
Dave and I are very much impressed… and it definitely brings out the inner child in both of us. Xiong’an New Area keeps surprising us!
Baiyangdian Lake
Since we cannot find the high-technology Dave was hoping for, we decide to visit Baiyangdian Lake, one of the sights nearby. It is a bit of a rainy/cloudy day. Not ideal for a boat tour on the water, but anyway.
The Didi brings us to the wharf, where we buy a ticket at the Tourist Area. A beautiful wooden boat brings us to several stops. Included in our ticket are the Baiyandian Cultural Court, the Baiyangdian Lotus Grand View Garden and another place with a water amusement park for children.
We have a quick look at the cultural court and visit a museum dedicated to the war with Japan. Afterwards, we visit the temple, but there is not so much to see. It almost feels a bit neglected.
Once we arrive at the Baiyandian Lotus Grand view garden, we pay for a little shuttle bus, that drives us around with a hop-on – hop-off system. I am glad, that we do, because this place is bigger than we thought it would be.
There’s a school, a lotus pavilion and wonderful lotus flowers everywhere. At the end, there is even a “mountain“, which is nothing more than a pile of sand, maybe 20 metres high, with apparently a great view. It’s funny to me. The trees are higher than this mountain… so there is no view at all!
I imagine a Chinese person coming to Austria and seeing the Alps after “climbing” this mountain! The thought makes me chuckle!
