San Francisco Mayor London Breed's recent trip to China has stirred various reactions as she meets with business leaders and city officials in Shenzhen to strengthen ties between the two cities. Her visit, which includes discussions on shared historical connections with Guangdong dating back to the Gold Rush era, has also seen her going viral on Chinese social media for her reactions to Shenzhen's skyscrapers. Additionally, there are plans to bring back pandas to San Francisco, further highlighting the cultural exchange aspects of her trip. However, the timing of her visit has drawn criticism from some constituents, who question the prioritization of international relations over local issues such as crime and discrimination against the Chinese community in San Francisco. She was welcomed by Mayor Qin Weizhong in Shenzhen.
The Mayor of San Francisco makes a performative visit to China—while at home, elderly Chinese suffer from vicious criminal assaults, Chinese are discriminated against in school admissions, and Chinatown remains the neighborhood with the highest poverty rate in the city. https://t.co/G78iggFZeI
San Francisco's mayor looks forward to bringing back pandas from China https://t.co/NBF38hmXIi
As Mayor of San Francisco, visiting Guangdong has been an incredible journey into the heart of our city's shared history with Southern China. A connection that goes back to the Gold Rush era when many from Guangdong moved to San Francisco, helping to create the best Chinatown… https://t.co/dUf5l3rqUh
What's Mayor London Breed up to on her trip to China? Going viral on Chinese social media for her reaction to skyscrapers in Shenzhen. https://t.co/QVXbodGcud
San Francisco mayor’s YIMBY moment goes viral in China https://t.co/BErOxOqZGn https://t.co/IHx57bpVrB
Why is @londonbreed in China??? 🤔🤔🤔 https://t.co/Xtti8HCpTp
Our Mayor has arrived in China on her recruiting mission! Her pantsuit is looking much less wrinkly and better kept, we love to see this improvement! Though, she does seem to have a pattern of performing better for the Chinese than for the Citizens of San Francisco. https://t.co/G43jiXqGzf
Is it just me or is it weird, when your city is battling multiple crises at once, that the Mayor goes on a boondoggle trip to China? Not sure who is advising her campaign but this is not the slam dunk photo op they think it is. China won't save us - we need leadership here. https://t.co/7vVhim8Dbg
We’ve arrived in Shenzen, where I’ve had the opportunity to start meeting with business leaders & city officials to build stronger connections with San Francisco. Thank you to Shenzen Mayor Qin Weizhong for welcoming us as we start our trip to strengthen ties between our cities. https://t.co/daQF2wy9hA
Look what’s happening in San Francisco. https://t.co/ac6XYokSVS