Mirror Mirror on the Wall: What's new at Chaoyangmen?

Mirror Mirrors All Around, Why Are You Here at Fuxing Guoji Zhongxin?

Irene Li, Associate Editor | Jan 26, 2022 4:54 pm | Add a comment | 175 reads

Fosun International Center has some new mirrors, funhouse mirrors to be exact, all of which are plastered around the building's exterior and covered in some of the latest internet slang.

While it is a bit gimmicky – the mirrors also come festooned with the mall's logos, and scanning the QR codes accompanying each mirror just sends you to the mall's official WeChat – it's still fun to experience.

Besides the fun of being able to see your body contorted to new lengths and shapes in each mirror, they're also something of an educational adventure on the pop culture front. Each mirror comes with a slang term that's popular on the Chinese internet, along with a quote that sheds light on the phrase.

While a few were broken or still being set up, we got the chance to ponder what was said on five of the eight mirrors present.

Here's what they have to say:

**元宇宙 Yuán yǔzhòu, Metaverse**

The mirror reads: "In the metaverse, you'll have another chance to see long-gone relatives once more. If you could have one last opportunity to speak to them, what would you tell them?"

YYDS

In Chinese slang, YYDS stands for 永远的神 Yǒngyuǎn de shén, which is basically the Chinese equivalent of GOAT (Greatest of All Time).

The mirror reads: "Even if you're doing the same old, repetitive job every day and have to deal with all kinds of trivial matters, do not choose to live a life without a goal or to lose your confidence, because you will always be the greatest of all time (YYDS) for your family."

**躺平 Tǎng píng, Lying flat**

Lying Flat is a philosophy that gained traction last year. It encourages China's youth to not give in to the pressures society puts on them – getting married, having children, getting rich, buying a house, being "successful" – and to just go with the flow.

The mirror reads: "When you are tired, lie down to take a break. Don't consider 'lying flat' as something to be ashamed of. Lying flat for a while is just a way to recharge your battery to start over."

**凡尔赛 Fán'ěrsài , Versailles literature**

Versailles literature refers to a way of humblebragging about one's status. For example, if a friend of yours posts about an extravagant dinner they've just had but says they've had better at another high-end establishment, this is them utilizing "Versailles literature." (Incidentally, this phrase landed on our list of hottest slang for 2020.)

The mirror reads: "A lot of times when you think people are exercising Versailles literature, it's just bias. The hardest thing ever is to accept that what’s Versailles literature to you is only someone else's daily life."

**破防 Pò fáng, Breaking point**

Po fang refers to the feeling you have when someone has done things that crossed a line, causing you to break down emotionally.

The mirror reads: "Another day of overworking to see the sunrise at 4am, lying in the hospital room for a conference call and not getting my annual bonuses. It only takes one second to break me down."