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."