“Pulse on China” is a series of articles comparing Mainland China’s media coverage of key events with those outside of China. Analysis is conducted by graduate students with native Chinese language skills and focus on Chinese affairs.Zibo, a small industrial city in Shandong Province, became China’s hottest travel spot in 2023. Its unique barbecue — a mouth-watering combination of skewered meat, flatbread, Shandong green onion, and a generous helping of cumin barbecue sauce — have ea