Interview and review by Ginnie Liang
These days, young people in mainland China have a strong desire to travel, and they have the spending power to do it. They are passionate about travelling to new locations, trying out local cuisines, and visiting attractions. Notably, the buzz surrounding “Macau Tourism” topics on popular social media platform Sina Weibo has seen a significant increase recently.
Also, there is a growing trend for mainland Chinese variety TV shows to film in Macau, and one of the variety show’s crew from the mainland talked to The Macau Post Daily in an online interview earlier this month about how variety shows allow viewers to experience the vibrant atmosphere of the city’s streets and alleys, and motivating them to visit in person.
Earlier this year, José Chan Rodrigues, a well-known local TV host in Macau, took on the role as a “City Ambassador’’ for the first two episodes of the Mangtan Coming - Mango TV variety show presented by Mango TV. José described it as a great opportunity to take mainland Chinese celebrities and personalities around Macau.
“This show allowed me to meet a lot of first-time visitors to Macau and I was fascinated by their unique perspectives and reactions to the city’s culinary delights and various locales,” said José.
José has a very confident and relaxed on-screen presence, but he admits that he actually didn’t know the artistes before collaborating with them - including well-known TV hosts, singers and actors. However, he quickly found that he could connect with them because of the similarity in their work.
“After becoming familiar with each other behind the scenes and developing a rapport, the way we appear on the show looks natural, like we have been friends for a long time,” he comments.
Accompanying guests as they explored Macau for the first time also provided him with a new understanding of and appreciation for the culture of his hometown.
“It reminded me that as Macau residents, our understanding of our own city should not just scratch the surface. Starting from the neighbourhoods we live in, if we pay more attention, we can discover many things worth exploring and delving into. We can learn to understand our own culture more through the eyes of others and discover the hidden values of Macau that we often overlook,” he noted.
The concept of the variety show Mangtan Coming - Mango TV Show is to invite local personalities to accompany mainland Chinese celebrities and personalities on a tour of Macau. Alex Ao Ieong, a local actor, host, and singer, was noticed by the Mango TV production team and also invited to become one of the local ambassadors on the show.
“What I find interesting about being an ambassador is the opportunity to share stories that have a real taste of Macau,” said Ao Ieong.
While making the show, he tried to uncover a different side of Macau beyond the typical tourist attractions like the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Portuguese egg tarts, and instead showcase Macau’s everyday life and charming simplicity.
Ao Ieong appeared in four episodes, one of which involved visiting the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion with a mainland artiste who studies in Sichuan province. The connection between pandas and Sichuan is well-known, but for Ao Ieong, a local person, it became a catalyst for shared memories.
“The panda pavilion holds memories of my childhood. My parents used to bring me here,” reminisced Ao Ieong, who is in his early twenties. Seeing that the pandas opened a long-forgotten box of memories, and the two were able to share cherished anecdotes on screen.
“When someone visits a new place, the true understanding of that place should come from the locals.”
One of Ao Ieong’s most unforgettable times during the production was playing a game of throwing arrows into a small bamboo tube resembling a chopstick holder. The objective was to throw five arrows and get three of them in.
“We tried over 10 times before finally succeeding once. Then, we had an idea and tried throwing all five arrows together, and miraculously, all five went in at the same time!”
Ao Ieong said he believed it was the “god of variety shows” looking after them!
“When I used to watch others on TV, I often wondered if those funny scenes were just for show. But when I experienced it first-hand during filming, I realised that some moments cannot be replicated. Even scripts that writers wouldn’t dare to write can happen in reality if you’re lucky. Every genuine emotion captured on camera adds depth and warmth to the show.”
In recent years, mainland China’s enthusiasm for variety TV shows has been increasing. Behind the appeal of these shows lies the desire for audiences and fans to gain practical perceptions and participate in the experiences showcased. One producer of these shows, Cao Shuang, the chairman of Vanilla Media, said that the show as a brand has successfully created a “Macau travel trend.”
“Macau is a city with a rich cultural heritage, and there are many cultural products worth exploring. Our concept is to show the audience a different side of Macau. Macau is not just about gambling and luxurious buildings. It also has a vibrant local life, traditional craftsmanship, and talented individuals. Our show aims to delve deep into these aspects and showcase another kind of beauty of Macau”, Cao said.
José Chan Rodrigues takes on the role as a “City Ambassador’’ for the first two episodes of the Mangtan Coming - Mango TV variety show presented by Mango TV. - Photo provided by José Chan Rodrigues
Local actor, host, and singer Alex Ao Ieong appears in four episodes of the variety show. - Photos provided by Alex Ao Ieong
