Meeting of experts a clue to when China’s political elite breaks for summer
State media reports said the attendees were experts from hi-tech industries, as well as young talent engaged in fundamental research and scholars of philosophy and the social sciences.
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Where China’s top leaders discreetly go in summer: a brief history of Beidaihe
Cai, who ranks fifth in the ruling Communist Party hierarchy, is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and director of the party’s general office. His appearance indicates that the senior Chinese leadership has started its unofficial annual retreat to Beidaihe, a seaside town 300km (186 miles) east of Beijing.
In recent years, the leaders’ August break has lasted around 10 to 14 days. During this time, top political leaders have a reduced public presence in China, although they appear when urgent matters, such as natural disasters, arise.
Details about how long leaders will stay at the resort are not made public, but Qinghuadao, the city in Hebei province that governs Beidaihe, announced in May that drones and other low-altitude aircraft would be banned in July and August, a clear indication that stricter security measures would be in place.