Yaoyaojiang in Washington: Searching for Supporters and Opponents of Xi Jinping

The video records Yaoyao Jiang's walking tour in Washington D.C. as she searches for supporters and opponents of Xi Jinping. She introduces government agencies, free attractions, filming locations, and urban traffic conditions. At the site of events related to President Xi's visit, she observes Chinese citizens gathering, waving flags, wearing pink hats, and playing gongs and drums, while repeatedly attempting to interview supporters, only to be refused.

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Hello everyone, today is September 24th. It's another early morning, and I've started another day of walking around D.C. Actually, there are very few people in D.C. You don't see many people on the streets, but there are so many traffic lights, so sometimes taking an Uber, a taxi, or driving ends up being stop-and-go, which is a hassle. But if you use your own two legs, it's very convenient, as long as you don't mind walking. I heard that 30% of the residents in D.C. are government employees; it is the capital, after all.

This is Georgetown University. I'm basically staying in a place very close to Georgetown University, and it's not far from the White House either—a 15-minute walk. The building across the street looks like a government agency, but it's actually the Interior Museum. This is a government agency called the Office of Personnel Management. Do they manage themselves? On the road, you see many people wearing ID badges; it feels like they are all government staff heading to work because they need key cards to enter.

The building in front of me is the Department of Transportation. I understand it should be related to aircraft management, Vertical Transportation. This is a place for breakfast near the White House that I looked up today. The key is that I can sit here for a while and wait. Look at my breakfast, simple and nutritious; it's mainly for a quick bite here.

I don't know if it's traffic control, but early in the morning, there are big trucks stuck near the government agencies, and police cars are driving everywhere. But I really wanted to run into a member of the public who genuinely supports Xi Jinping's visit and welcomes the great Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States. However, it's a pity; I didn't have the chance yesterday, and the people I occasionally ran into all refused.

This makes me feel frustrated. Why won't you speak up? If you love him, just say it; if you love him, don't hide it. And you're already here, right? Just express your feelings, what are you afraid of? Even if they were provided with food and lodging, or banquets and drinks, I think it's understandable. Because do you know how expensive hotels in D.C. are right now? A very ordinary three-star hotel that would normally cost around 100 to 150 dollars has now risen to 300 or 400 dollars.

You make an elderly person take a train from New York, that must cost at least 100 bucks, and then they have to pay for their own food and lodging here for two nights, who can stand that? So I think I could accept it, but the problem is, since they came and spent so much money, you just say a couple of words, what are you afraid of?

But they are very cautious, and they really want to figure out where your media outlet comes from and what side you are on. I can't understand it either. I mean, for those I call rebels, or opponents, if CNN interviews them, they would be overjoyed; if CCTV interviews them, I think they would feel like it's a holiday, because they want more and more media with the largest broadcasting reach to interview them, they aren't picky. But if they are supporters, they are very cautious, and they must see how you are going to frame them.

This is the Department of the Interior, let's show everyone. The Department of the Interior putting President Trump side by side with George Washington, that's some good bootlicking. There is also a statue of the liberator Bolívar here.

Tiny DC, not many people on the street, cars aren't on the road, it's all cars. Wow, is this going to be filmed as a movie? The crew is here, maybe a certain TV station is going to broadcast live. Look at how lavishly they prepared this breakfast, all kinds of fruit. Suddenly I deeply understand why Clare in House of Cards likes morning jogging in DC so much, because this place is indeed very suitable for running. Not only is there not a single person early in the morning, but the scenery is also very good.

The lake is not deep either, don't know what it's like in the middle, not even a single fish. This place is really a key shooting area today, because I see a lot of crew members pulling suitcases, lights, and cameras walking over there, but this is too miserable! They have to drag it all the way across!

This is the obelisk, I went up there many years ago. All the tourist attractions here in Washington DC are free, so it's a waste not to go. Museums, art galleries, natural history museums, and various government agencies, like the White House has a Visitor Center, Congress has a Visitor Center, all of these are free.

Beautiful, right? Right on the periphery of this idyllic, peaceful lake, there are now blaring sirens, traffic congestion, various TV station equipment being hauled around, and the clamor of protesters and supporters, yet this place alone preserves its original tranquility.

This person is quite interesting, dressed like an astronaut in red pants. This is a sculpture in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC, on display until October this year.

Continuing to stretch my legs and walk forward, guess what this is? Very interesting, it's called the "Silent Witness" because it has been through a century. It was built in 1837, used to be the home of someone called a lock keeper, later became a public toilet, as well as a police station and similar places, and finally became a museum.

Continuing to stretch my legs and walk forward. Is this traffic control again? These should be supporters, already gathering here. More kids are walking over there, they just got off a bus. Wow, there are really a lot of supporters gathering here, it seems I am now on the route Xi Jinping must take, more citizens, Chinese citizens are gathering here.

Isn't it joyful? And they really all wear pink hats, doesn't this just echo that clown's line? Drums beating and gongs clanging, flags flying, Chinese citizens are immersed in the joy of Xi Jinping's upcoming arrival.

Hello, are you guys here to welcome Xi Jinping? Are you willing to say a few words? I'm not filming you right now, I'm just asking. Just asking, are you excited? Express yourselves, whatever you like.

It's a great pity, just now I caught two aunties wandering outside the organization holding red flags, but they still refused my interview. I think usually people standing inside have a higher alertness, maybe advised by others, they won't accept. But when you stand out just a little bit, some aunties might think it's fine to chat with people for a couple of words, yet she still refused me. Their vigilance is still quite high.

I am sincerely trying to hear their voices, truly without any intention of maliciously editing them. Hopefully, I'll have better luck later, as there are still many welcoming crowds ahead. Look, I even call them welcoming crowds, I don't even call them Little Pinks. I really hate labeling people, truly.