New envoy to shoot wedding in city
Print Edition
WHILE Marco Polo recorded lots of exotic stories during his 17 years in China, he did not write about any romances. But 700 years later, a “Modern Marco Polo” will.
Meet Liam Bates, a Swiss national and the new Hangzhou ambassador who was selected from thousands of candidates earlier this year.
The 26-year-old and his fiancée are to have their wedding photos taken in Hangzhou, dubbed “city of heaven” by the Chinese people and described by Marco Polo as “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world.”
“Hangzhou is one of the most romantic places in the world,” Bates says, citing two sites he favors most. “The charming and serene tea garden and the tranquil sunset off the lake are fantastic.”
Bates is earning a 40,000-euro (US$54,750) salary for being the Hangzhou ambassador for a year, working part-time to promote the city.
He posts pictures and text about Hangzhou’s scenery and culture on social media almost every day.
Bates is a television host and adventurer with strong ties to China. He first came to the country 10 years ago to study Chinese and kung fu.
He speaks fluent Mandarin and in 2010 won both the first and eloquence prizes in a Chinese language contest, which aired in front of a TV audience of nearly 300 million.
He has traveled to China many times. In 2009, he rode a motorbike from Lhasa, Tibet, to Shanghai.
The Hangzhou Tourism Commission initiated the “Modern Marco Polo” competition over a year ago on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest. Within 5 months, Bates’ Facebook account “Modern Marco Polo Liam Bates” (www.facebook.com/MMPLiamBates) followers reach 4,500. More than 25,000 people entered the competition, and 700 were selected for further consideration.
Bates took a 15-day trip to Hangzhou and toured nearly every corner of the city, a trip that made him determined to have his wedding photos in the city.
He and his fiancée, an overseas Chinese based in Beijing, will take photos at West Lake, Xixi Wetland, the Grand Canal, the Qiantang River and the Dragon Well Tea Garden, all landmarks of Hangzhou.
Five local wedding photo agencies will provide services for the couple, who will wear Chinese and Western wedding attire.
Hangzhou is traditionally a place for wedding photos. Its tea garden, mountains, green landscapes and antique architectures are all great backdrops for couples.
The Hangzhou Tourism Commission that sponsors the “Modern Marco Polo” competition recommends Dragon Well Tea Garden, Aman Fayun Resort, Baochu Mountain (standing at its peak allows you a bird’s-eye view of the West Lake) as ideal spots for wedding photos.
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