Trending in Beijing: Glamour Grans and a QR Code Ban

The fun, the strange, and the what-on-earth-is-this? Trending in Beijing is a wrap-up of top stories in Beijing as told by the trending hashtags, local press, and general power of the internet.

Glamma Beijing turns Sanlitun into a classy catwalk

Four members of Beijing's latest fashion squad took off their masks to strut the streets of the city in elegant dress, celebrating Beijing’s return to normalcy. The quartet calls themselves Glamma Beijing, and they are as big a hit online as they are on the sidewalks, where people will frequently gawk and kneel to take a photo. The catch? They are all over the age of 64.

Following their adventures with the hashtag #超模奶奶# ‘Supermodel grannies,’ netizens invariably praised the grannies for their positive attitudes and were thoroughly impressed with their outgoing lifestyle.

“When I get to be that age, I will inevitably end up staying inside, watching tv, and gossiping on Weibo,” remarked one commenter.

As one of the Grannies told CGTN, “You need to face aging, because you cannot go against the laws of nature. If you’re old, you’re old... You need to face it with positivity.”

QR code payment banned at gas stations

Perhaps fearing that a Samsung-esque blast could cause greater tragedy if it occurred near a gas station, Beijing has banned paying for fuel using a QR code on the gas pump, although customers can still use QR code payment if they go inside to pay.

Aside from cries of “safety first!” from the comment section, a number of netizens were understandably skeptical of the move. “I really don’t know what to say,” wrote one commenter. “The static from the human body is more likely to set off an accident than scanning a QR code.”

You too can join the conversation using the hastag #北京加油加气作业区禁止扫码支付# ‘Beijing gas stations ban QR code payment.’

Local movie star Xie Yuan passes away

Award-winning actor and graduate of Beijing Film Academy, Xie Yuan died of a heart attack Tuesday at the age of 61. He was known for films such as The Chess Master and Born Coward as well as his role in the TV show Shanghai Family. Fans expressed their mourning, saying that his death was unexpected and that the actor had walked a good path.

READ: Trending in Beijing: Ducks Knocked Out and Goose Eggs Stolen

Images: Weibo