Some of my fav things about China….
Safety
My Chloé (13-year-old) goes out by herself quite often, sometimes even bringing her younger sister. Something I would never allow them to do in the US. I've left them home without a babysitter. I enjoyed walking home around 11pm by myself, it was pleasant with other pedestrians around me, some shops/restaurants were open till 3 am, and some 24hr. Since the majority of the cars are now EVs, the streets are not noisy, and no unpleasant exhaust odor, and CLEAN.
Now it is not 100% crime-free, but the crime rate per capita is significantly lower than most countries. Very common to see families with kids out late at night, groups of older ladies dancing with music in public spaces. I’ve encounter a group of people having a small EDM party by the river which was fun to watch.
Cuisine
Surprisingly I still encounter new dishes/ingredients every visit. Each province has its own specialty flavor and dish. Hotpot in Chongqing, Dimsum in Guangzhou, egg noddles in HK, dumplings in Shanghai, Ducks in Beijing, and Seafood in Fuzhou, the choices are endless.
One of my favorite things to do is pick out which live seafood I want and how it will be prepared. I've been to restaurants that can be easily mistaken for an aquarium.
Mall / Entertainment
Malls in the US are dying, but in China is more like a lifestyle/entertainment center filled with EVERYTHING. Something that’s not ordinary would be grocery stores, gyms, kid's entertainment, spas, car dealerships, escape rooms, karaoke, ice skating rink, educational classes, museums. The closest thing to this scale is the American Dream in New Jersey and is the only one in the US that can compare to the ones I've seen in China. One can easily spend a whole day inside the mall.
I have my girls doing crafts and visit cat cafe while I go shopping, and meeting up for dinner. Massage chairs are available for a fee, even a gaming section setup for those who has been waiting around! I’ve seen shows/performances take place in the mall center.
Club culture is still thriving in China. COMPLETELY different style, dress code is more casual and not heavily enforced. Having a table in a club can be very costly, but affordable in China. Hookah, snacks, fruit platter, graffiti guns, dance performances, DJ host, quite the experience. 🤭
Live house is becoming popular in China where you can find live bands on stage with different genres of music from different era, something for everyone to enjoy.
Infrastructure
China has the fastest high-speed train that goes over 200MPH, Shanghai Maglev: 460km/h. The rail network in China is the world's longest and most extensively used. COMFORTABLE AND PUNCTUAL.
Walking around the city is the best way to explore! Some Red light stops gives you countdown, also linked to navigation apps so you know exactly how long the wait time is. Brilliant! 👍
When you travel by rail in China, no paper ticket is provided, an ID or passport is required for scanning. Mobile payment and digital currency are no news in China, some places even accept facial recognition as a form of payment as it is linked to your financial account.
Subways are CLEAN and air-conditioned, you do have to go through security screening before entering.
Interior building is often cleaned by robots, and the sanitation team is on duty day and night throughout the city. I’m guessing the government has been doing a lot of work to prepare foreigners to visit, so take advantage of the transit visa policy.
People
There is no racism or discrimination. They might stare at you because of your blue eyes or dark skin but is simply because is new to them! Imagine a country full of people who share the same skin, eye, and hair color with you....therefore something different comes along yes they will be shocked and stare, but more common in rural areas.
Chinese people are one of the most hospitable people in the world! Growing up my mom would bring out the best of whatever we had in the house for the guests, for ex: Beijing Olympic 2008. It is very common for Chinese to fight over the bill at the end of a meal. I guess it is just something in our DNA 🤷♀️🤭
Culture
In 5000 yrs of history, so much has been preserved and passed down. The most recent craze is Black Myth WuKong. Wukong is part of the Journey to the West, which is something almost every Chinese growing up watching. Do visit the big museums in China as it is full of national treasures and history. Chinese civilization is one of the very few civilizations that has been great multiple times throughout human history.
As China continues to grow, which leads to its culture becoming more widely known and loved. Many of the things people love from Japan and Korea were originated/inspired from China. Ex: Dragon Ball Z (WuKong), ramen, bonsai，katana, etc…. Similarities can be found throughout cuisine, language, art, religion, and much more. China has the longest history in East Asia, and because of its proximity, it is not a surprise that Eastern Asian countries are very much intertwined.
Cost / Expense
That's probably one of the main factors I love to visit China. 1 USD = 7 RMB (fluctuates)
Purchasing power is roughly 5x.
DIDI(Chinese Uber) in my city Fuzhou, the average wait is less than 3 min, average cost per trip is $2-4 (10-30min ride). Haircut+wash+styling= $5. HR massage is roughly $20-$30. subway rides are less than $1 each way. The best part is NO TIPPING is needed except in certain international chain hotels and restaurants, and I sincerely hope this stays the same.
from my experience:
My 7-year-old (Ayla) somehow managed to get a little thing like rice into her ears and we just can't get it out. I got a DIDI went to a nearby children's hospital, made a card (registration), waited, and a kind female doctor flushed it out within minutes, took the DIDI back, all done within an hour, I was impressed with this whole experience! hospital fee less than $30
I had my wisdom teeth removed last year for 200RMB that's less than $30! Completed a comprehensive physical exam in 1/2 day visiting different doctors' office in 1 location. Super convenient and affordable. My dear sister got an MRI for her torned muscle because it was available. 🤦♀️😆
NEGATIVE….
As much as I am proud of China, is not perfect. I've noticed personal space isn't a thing in China (1.4 billion pop), many places like elevators, public streets, and popular tourist destinations can be very crowded. 🤦♀️ You have more people to share public resources. Is very common to have 2-3 beds during hospital stays, waitlist, and more students in a classroom, but the Chinese have found a way to be productive and efficient. Because of its large population, sometimes is hard to manage sanitation, especially in public restrooms, which can smell especially on hot summer days. Squatting toilet 🤷♀️, which is not uncommon in some Asian countries, but bigger cities have more 🚽. I've also encounter some of the cleanest/modern bathrooms in high end malls.
You will encounter a vast amount of people, especially during high peak travel season, some people might find this overwhelming.
Food sanitation especially street food. It is not as heavily regulated as in the US. Don't shy away from it completely, but avoid places where you can not see how it is prepared, and not overindulge.
Overall China travel is very much underrated at the moment. Check out videos from people who has actually travelled/lived there, see it to believe it.
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