AI breakthroughs, cultural milestones, environmental concerns, and evolving social dynamics — explore the highs and lows of the year 2023 through 12 impactful words and phrases.

Live concert

According to data released by the China Association of Performing Arts, there were 1,137 large-scale concerts and music festivals nationwide in the first three quarters of 2023. They accumulated 11.45 million in audience attendance, and over 60 percent of attendees came from outside of town.

CAPA's data also showed that Jay Chou's concert in Haikou, Hainan province, in the summer of 2023 attracted a total of 154,600 audiences, leading to 976 million yuan ($136.90 million) of tourism revenue. This figure exceeded the city's tourism revenue during the Labor Day holiday, and was three times that of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. These numbers show that concerts are a powerful driver of local economies.

The popularity of concerts has also brought problems, including scalping issues and smaller cities coping with a surge in tourist numbers.

"I" or "E"

While the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI, has been around for almost 80 years, it became a social token in 2023, especially among Generation Z. It is common for Gen Zers to ask each other which of the 16 MBTI personality types they fall into when they first meet.

This concept has proven to be highly effective in terms of commercial promotion. Beyond the availability of cups, hats, and phone cases adorned with various MBTI labels, businesses like the hotpot chain Haidilao even divide the waiting area into "E" and "I" in some of their restaurants in Beijing.

However, there are concerns that dividing people into 16 clear-cut groups could lead to habitual labeling and stereotyping of others. Some, on the other hand, believe that MBTI is simply a social tool that contributes to a certain degree of self-confirmation and a sense of belonging.

Belt and Road Initiative

In 2023, the Belt and Road Initiative celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative global infrastructure development.

Launched in 2013, the policy aimed to enhance cooperation among countries, focusing on economic development, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, and cultural exchange.

As the year unfolded, the BRI continued to evolve, leaving a lasting impact on participating countries. When President Xi Jinping addressed a banquet during the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Oct 17, he said: "As long as we remain steadfast in our commitment to cooperation and common development, we will accomplish new feats in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation that reflect the spirit of the times and will create a better future for humanity through our joint efforts."

City walk

Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry has experienced a robust recovery, with "city walk" emerging as a new and popular mode of travel.

The participants could be tourists from outside of town or locals rediscovering their own city through this affordable and relaxing activity. There are even official routes designated by the local government.

According to data from Tongcheng Travel, a travel agency based in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, most popular city walk routes in China among young travelers include those in Beijing, Xi'an in Shaanxi province, Chengdu in Sichuan province, and Changsha in Hunan province.

According to Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures, some of the world's best city hikes include the Great Coastal Walk in Sydney, Australia; the Thames Path, in London, UK; and the Seawall walk in Vancouver, Canada.

The Legend of Zelda

Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, released in May, stood out in 2023 as a captivating and immersive gaming experience. As the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), the action-adventure game once again enchanted players with its rich narrative and breathtaking visuals.

"The level of attention of detail and care put into all of these different interactions, given the sheer scale of how many interactions you can have, it's just a degree of diligence and artistry that you don't see very often," said William Armstrong, a video game developer in an interview with Bloomberg.

In Tears of the Kingdom, players keep exploring the landscapes of Hyrule, but this time with an added vertical dimension — ascending into the sky, which is filled with floating islands, and descending into an entire underworld beneath Hyrule.

Creation of the Gods

According to the box office data platform Maoyan, as of Dec 18, China's box office revenue was 52.9 billion yuan, almost double that of the previous year's 30 billion yuan. Moreover, the top 10 box office films were all domestic productions.

Among the highest grossing films, Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, released on July 20, secured over 2.63 billion yuan in the Chinese mainland and was shown in theaters overseas, including the US, Canada, Australia, and Malaysia.

The film is an adaptation of a famous Chinese legend, and the traditional cultural elements in the movie have attracted significant attention. "Seventy percent of our inspiration comes from Taoist landscape paintings, and 30 percent comes from the history of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC)," said the film's director Wuershan during a promotion event.

Dazi

The Chinese term dazi, translating to "activity partners", captured the essence of contemporary social dynamics in 2023.One can have a "meal dazi", "shopping dazi" or "working out dazi", among others.

While the strength of interpersonal relationships was traditionally measured by factors like endurance and emotional connections, dazi challenges these metrics, existing only for the immediate satisfaction of shared activities without heavy commitments.

"This signifies an increased emphasis on personal time and space," wrote an opinion piece in Guangming Daily. "People are intentionally filtering out less cost-effective and less efficient social interactions, along with the associated stress and anxiety. Instead, they are channeling their limited time and mental energy into constructing a life centered around a 'me-first approach'."

Dopamine dressing

Characterized by vibrant colors, bold patterns, and expressive designs, "dopamine dressing" goes beyond the aesthetic appeal of clothing, focusing on the idea that our outfit choices can influence the neurotransmitters in our brain, including dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward.

The concept suggests that by selecting and wearing clothes that make us feel good, it can positively impact our mental well-being in turn.

"Typically, we're dressing for external factors — the weather, other people, special events," said Dawnn Karen, a psychology professor at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, in an interview with TODAY. "During the pandemic, there was a shift that occurred. Since no one was around to tell you what to wear, you gave yourself permission to find styles that make you happy."

AIGC

The application of artificial intelligence-generated content, or AIGC, has become increasingly popular globally in 2023.

According to the video platform Bilibili, as of October, video content related to AIGC has exceeded 9 billion views.

"If we can effectively utilize this technology, it can significantly improve the user experience, enhance the content creators' experience, and also boost the efficiency of business conversion," Chen Rui, chairman and CEO of Bilibili, said at a scientific event held by the platform in October.

Videos like Taylor Swift speaking Mandarin and Harry Potter series characters posing for the Balenciaga fashion show have gone viral globally.

However, as AIGC gains popularity and attention, it is also facing heated debates and rejection regarding copyright issues due to its strong text, audio, and image-generation capabilities.

Hangzhou Asian Games

The 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, held from Sept 23 to Oct 8, were a grand celebration of athletic prowess, cultural exchange, and technological innovation.

Esports debuted as a medal event, mirroring the evolving landscape of competitive sports. The event also showcased groundbreaking initiatives, including a digital torchbearer, electronic ID registration, and the use of robot dogs to retrieve sports equipment, demonstrating a commitment to a smart Asian Games.

The competition witnessed unforgettable moments, such as tennis player Zhang Zhizhen's triumph in the men's singles final. The diving competition saw China securing all 10 gold medals, exemplifying a perfect performance in the discipline. The women's basketball final added to the excitement as China secured the championship in the closing moments against Japan.

War and peace

As we bid farewell to 2023, the world remains entangled in the complexities of conflict, with two hot spots capturing global attention: the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Multiple countries in Africa and South America are also facing potential conflicts due to regional disputes.

While wars persist globally, China's commitment to stability and peace provides a valuable lesson in diplomacy and internal cohesion. As the world navigates uncertain waters, the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and a commitment to peace becomes increasingly evident.

"Conflicts drive record numbers of people from their homes," said Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, in a speech on the 2023 International Day of Peace on Sept 21. "This year's theme reminds us that peace is not automatic. Peace is the result of action."

Nuclear wastewater discharge

On Aug 24, 2023, Tokyo Electric Power Company officially announced the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant's plan to discharge nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. On Dec 18, TEPC announced that the fourth round of nuclear wastewater discharge, estimated at 7,800 tons, will begin in February of 2024.

Chinese representative Liu Jing, vice-chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority, voiced China's concerns and opposition against Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge plan at the 67th General Conference of the Atomic Energy Agency in September in Vienna, Austria. Liu insisted that nuclear-contaminated wastewater is not only harmful to the ocean but also poses a threat to human lives and health.

To prevent the risks of radioactive pollution, China issued a clear order for the complete suspension of imports of aquatic products from Japan.