As the world’s second-largest video game market， China boasts 674 million gamers， generating an impressive 302 billion yuan （42 billion US dollars） in revenue over the past year. Its homemade games are becoming increasingly popular in the global market， with recent hits like Black Myth： Wukong and Genshin Impact. Gaming is also affecting almost everyone in China’s highly digitalized society， with apps designed using gamified systems to hook users.

In this issue’s cover story， we explore a new generation of gamers and parents challenging China’s traditional view of gaming as a vice. Experts argue that at the heart of issues like game addiction lies low gaming literacy—the inability to engage with video games critically. We also delve into the world of China’s female gamers， developers， and professional players， who continue to face gender discrimination. More female producers in the industry may be the key to driving change.

In our other feature stories， we traveled to former coal mines to find out about their difficult transformation into public gardens and tourist sites. Dubbed the “garment kingdom，” Guangzhou’s Kanglu villages are also undergoing a lengthy urban renewal project. We talked to textile workers and factory owners about how their livelihoods have been affected.

In our travel column， inspired by the hype surrounding Black Myth， we traced the ancient temples and sculptures featured in the game to Jincheng， Shanxi， a city grappling with the challenge of balancing tourism and preservation.

Elsewhere in the issue， American roller coaster enthusiast Natcher Pruett shares his journey to find good rides and a fan community in China; food writer Paul Chen uncovers how his hometown， the Chaoshan region on the southeastern coast of Guangdong province， became a global capital of beef hotpot; and much more. We hope you enjoy reading！

Liu Jue

Managing Editor