Internet cafes are a big trend in China for the past years. After the developement that two many teenagers were spending all their free-time (and probably class-time) playing computer games in these public places, the government restricted access to 18+.
Now, internet cafes are the meeting points for those game freaks, chat maniacs and internet junkies with the legal right to be so.
The atmosphere in this cafe here could be quite nice, but the heavy consumption and the computer screen make it hard to keep your eyes open. The friendly and nice looking lady at the service desk makes you hope better, but it looks like a worn-out pub with people who have partied (or played computer games) all night long. It feels a bit haunted - only the about 3 year old son of one of the players gives it a nicer touch, when running around and screaming. That is lively.
I read in some articles that there is a real "playing computer games business", where young Chinese players work for rich Western people in form of earning credits or whatever to their virtual character. Doing so enables the white collars from the West to even play a computer game, while not playing. And gets them a thrill after working hours to return home and check out what the Chinese "playboy" as earned for them.
More from Beijing later!
