Reporter's Diary: Thoughts from the Ice and Snow City

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A chance to cover the NPC and the CPPCC. It will be entertaining, and history in the making.

Sadly, if you ask most people in the US what the initials stand for – and how China’s government bodies operate – be prepared to be met with blank stares.

The challenge and the goal is to cover the event from an Asian perspective, so people all over the world can understand what will be going on.

As I write this reporter’s notebook, I realize I have been in China ten days now – and have been so busy I have not talked to any officials in Beijing, attended any news conferences, or even had the chance to meet with my colleagues at headquarters. I have been traveling – a lot.

CGTN interviewing the vice-president of a ski resort in Chongli where many Olympic athletes will stay. /CGTN Photo

Numerous domestic flights, and countless thousands of kilometers driving around the country. We have been talking to everyday people – and will weave in their hopes, and aspirations with the soundbites that come from government officials. It started with a flight to Harbin, and a quick stop at the Ice and Snow City.

If you have never heard of it, or seen pictures, make sure you put it on your bucket list.

It was 2:00 pm when we arrived, and with ice everywhere, it felt a lot colder. Then, we drove to Daqing. Daqing is a source of oil – and perhaps, more importantly, pride for the Chinese people.

Oil was discovered there 60 years ago. While the environment is brutal, Daqing means “Great Celebration” in Chinese.

The man who spearheaded efforts to find oil in the unforgiving region is Wang Jinxi. He is known by virtually everyone in China as the “Iron Man of Daqing” for his heroic efforts in oil exploration.

We stopped in a mechanic shop, and asked the owner about his thoughts on the Two Sessions, and plans for the future. If you ask local authorities, the northeast of China lags behind other provinces economically. But our mechanic friend says he follows the Two Sessions, and with the recent addition of a new car manufacturing plant, there is a lot to be hopeful for.

An oil pump in Daqing /CGTN Photo

Then down to Weifang in the east. A bustling city, seemingly outlined in neon. There, a young Chinese guitar manufacturer is trying to make a go of it selling instruments internationally.

It’s too early to see if his company will succeed, but he is happy China’s government leaders are putting a priority on “created in China, not just made in China,” and supporting Chinese technological advances.

A flight back to Beijing, then a long drive to ski county on the outskirts of the city. While the rest of the world watched the 2018 Winter Games wind down, China is gearing up to host the next Winter Olympics in 2022.

It is a big challenge. Venues are being built. Housing for athletes. Infrastructure – roads and high-speed rails. But the biggest focus might just be on embracing the government’s call for citizens to improve at winter sports.

We met some farmers who have become ski instructors and are working with legions of children, so when the Games roll around in four years, expect to see smiling faces ski up and say, “Ni Hao,” and begin welcoming the world.

I think my most enduring memory of NPC and CPPCC coverage so far will be the breadth of voices of people invested in China’s future.