Tim Cook's China Cultural Journey
When Apple's CEO visited Shanghai, he didn't just tour factories — he immersed himself in Peking Opera, watched children blend ancient art with iPads, and discovered where tradition meets technology.
Traditional Peking Opera — the 200+ year-old art form that captivated Apple's CEO
Location
Shanghai, China
Duration
3 days (March 28-30, 2023)
Cultural Focus
Peking Opera, Traditional Arts, Tech-Culture Fusion
The Journey (4 Key Moments)
拜访残奥冠军王家超
🎯 The Moment: Apple Watch fitness session with a Paralympic triathlete
Cook's Shanghai visit began with an inspiring meeting at the training base of Wang Jiachao, a paraswimmer and triathlete who competed in the Paralympics. The two discussed fitness tracking and accessibility features on Apple Watch. Cook shared a photo on Weibo of himself wearing an Apple Watch alongside Wang, highlighting Apple's commitment to inclusive technology.
Cultural Context
Wang Jiachao lost his left arm in an accident at age 8 and went on to become a national champion. His story embodies the Chinese saying '天道酬勤' — hard work is rewarded by heaven.
Traveler Tips
- •Shanghai has several adaptive sports centers open to visitors interested in inclusive athletics
- •The Huangpu River waterfront is a popular running route for fitness enthusiasts
- •Apple's Nanjing East Road store offers accessibility workshops in English
瑜音社京剧工作室
🎯 The Moment: Children performed Peking Opera in full costume while Cook watched in awe
The highlight of Cook's trip was his visit to Yu Yin She (瑜音社), the Peking Opera studio founded by renowned artist Wang Peiyu. Upon arrival, Cook was greeted by approximately 20 young performers aged 5 to 10, all dressed in elaborate traditional costumes with full opera makeup. The children performed a scene from a classic Peking Opera repertoire, accompanied by traditional music. Cook was visibly captivated — he complimented the young actors in Chinese, encouraging them to continue learning and practicing. He later wrote on Weibo: 'These talented young performers are using iPad to bring the tradition of Peking Opera to life. Thank you to Wang Peiyu and all the students for sharing this beautiful expression of art and technology!'
Cultural Context
Wang Peiyu is one of China's most celebrated Peking Opera performers, famous for her powerful voice and male-role (laosheng) performances. Her studio's 'little opera class' started in 2022 and now teaches around 60 children the fundamentals of this 200+ year-old art form.
Traveler Tips
- •Yuyinshe occasionally hosts public workshops — check their Weibo for schedules
- •For a deeper Peking Opera experience, book a workshop in Beijing where you can learn movements, try on costumes, and paint your own opera mask
- •Peking Opera performances typically combine singing, dialogue, martial arts, and acrobatics
- •The four main role types are: Sheng (male), Dan (female), Jing (painted face), and Chou (clown)
iPad京剧脸谱绘画
🎯 The Moment: Children used iPads to digitally paint traditional opera masks
At the studio, Cook also watched the young performers use iPads to draw and paint Peking Opera masks digitally. This unique blend of ancient art and modern technology perfectly encapsulates Apple's design philosophy — preserving tradition through innovation. The children showed Cook their digital creations, explaining the symbolism behind different mask colors: red for loyalty, black for integrity, white for treachery, and gold for divinity. Cook's genuine enthusiasm for the project made headlines across Chinese tech and culture media.
Cultural Context
Peking Opera facial makeup (脸谱) is an intricate art form where every color and stroke carries meaning. A master makeup artist can spend 2-3 hours applying a single elaborate Jing (painted face) character's makeup.
Traveler Tips
- •You can try traditional opera mask painting at workshops in Beijing — no iPad required
- •Each color in Peking Opera makeup has specific meaning: Red = bravery, Black = honesty, White = cunning, Gold = supernatural
- •The most iconic mask is that of Guan Yu, the red-faced god of war symbolizing loyalty
- •Digital artists in China have created popular NFT collections based on traditional opera mask designs
Children painting opera masks — the moment that inspired Tim Cook's Weibo post
参观米哈游总部
🎯 The Moment: Meeting the creators of Genshin Impact, Apple's 2020 iPhone Game of the Year
Cook's cultural exploration extended to miHoYo, the Shanghai-based video game company behind the global phenomenon Genshin Impact. The game won iPhone Game of the Year in 2020 — the first domestically produced mobile game to receive this prestigious recognition. Cook met with the development team and shared on Weibo: 'Thank you to miHoYo's phenomenal team for showing me how they create immersive fantasy worlds that everyone can enjoy on the App Store.' The visit highlighted how Chinese creators are blending traditional cultural elements (Liyue region in Genshin is heavily inspired by Chinese architecture and mythology) with cutting-edge game design.
Cultural Context
Genshin Impact's Liyue region draws heavily from Chinese landscapes, architecture, and folklore — including the karst mountains of Guilin, the floating abodes of Zhangjiajie, and mythical creatures from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Traveler Tips
- •Shanghai's game development district in Xuhui is home to many innovative studios
- •The ChinaJoy gaming expo in Shanghai (July) is Asia's largest gaming event
- •Genshin Impact fans can visit real-world locations that inspired the game's landscapes in Guilin and Zhangjiajie
- •miHoYo does not offer public tours, but their games are available globally on the App Store
Experience Peking Opera Like Tim Cook Did
Peking Opera 101: What Tim Cook Learned
- Sheng 生Male roles, including old men (laosheng), young men (xiaosheng), and warriors (wusheng)
- Dan 旦Female roles, from virtuous ladies (qingyi) to lively maidens (huadan)
- Jing 净Painted-face roles representing powerful, bold characters — the most visually striking
- Chou 丑Clown roles, often the only characters who speak directly to the audience
- RedLoyalty, bravery, and righteousness (e.g., Guan Yu, the god of war)
- BlackIntegrity, impartiality, and fierceness (e.g., Judge Bao)
- WhiteTreachery, cunning, and cruelty (villains like Cao Cao)
- Gold/SilverSupernatural beings, gods, and spirits
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Shanghai from March 28-30, 2023. His itinerary included meeting Paralympic athlete Wang Jiachao, visiting Wang Peiyu's Peking Opera studio 'Yuyinshe' where he watched children perform opera and paint masks on iPads, and touring miHoYo headquarters (creators of Genshin Impact).
Yuyinshe is a Peking Opera studio founded by renowned opera artist Wang Peiyu in Shanghai. The studio runs a 'little opera class' that teaches children aged 5+ the fundamentals of Peking Opera, including singing, movements, and makeup. It represents a modern effort to preserve and pass down this 200+ year-old traditional art form to younger generations.
Yes! Beijing offers several Peking Opera experience workshops designed for international visitors. At these workshops, you can learn basic opera movements, try on traditional costumes and headdresses, paint your own opera mask, and watch live performances. Some venues offer English explanations of the art form's history and symbolism.
Tim Cook wrote on Weibo: 'These talented young performers are using iPad to bring the tradition of Peking Opera to life. Thank you to Wang Peiyu and all the students for sharing this beautiful expression of art and technology!' He also encouraged the young performers in Chinese to continue learning, saying their prospects were 'beyond measure.'
While Yuyinshe does not offer regular public tours, you can have a similar cultural immersion experience by booking a Peking Opera workshop in Beijing, visiting Shanghai's traditional arts districts like Tianzifang, exploring the city's historic concessions architecture, and combining ancient cultural experiences with modern tech attractions.
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Experience Chinese Culture Firsthand
Tim Cook watched from the sidelines. You can go deeper — paint your own opera mask, learn ancient movements, and wear the costumes yourself.
Do You Need a Visa for China?
Many nationalities can visit China visa-free for 30 days. Check if your country qualifies before booking your cultural adventure.