Great article. I had exactly the same thought as you on the train across rural China - so much agricultural work that looked backbreaking. I was also struck by just how many biomes China has that are relatively densely packed. I thought Macau was a total dump, like what I imagine North Korea to be plus some big casinos.
The thing that stood out to me about the police state was when a bus I was on going through the countryside in Yunnan was pulled over and everyone except us was brought out and briefly interrogated by the police. Unsure if there was genuinely a manhunt on (in which case fair enough) or if this was routine police harassment in this part of the country.
Great article. I am actually considering a visit to China with my dad at some point. He is a massive Sinophile. I think I would lean to going more western and more rural though. I loved the idea that the CCP are powerless against smart phone slop.
I have been on clinical bullet trains in Japan where to so much as cough seems an ancient taboo, vs the polar opposite in India where you travel cheek to jowl, swap snacks, and your little compartment becomes family by the end of the journey. Where does China lie on this railway spectrum? Awesome article
Thank you. Honestly the main impression was just people looking at their phones and no taboo against noise pollution. Didn't seem like people really interacted with strangers much, but as I barely speak Chinese I couldn't tell for sure.
That's just 3rd world culture. I'm Chinese born in America and my parents constantly blast and scroll social media in public and on public transit.
The majority of people in my neighborhood (35% black, 60% Latino iirc and 75% foreign born, average HHI around 20k) in NYC scroll and blast social media in public and on public transit as well as make very loud phone calls, watch full on movies etc.
I was worried I'd give that impression. It was actually a lot of fun, but it's not so interesting to write about walking through a lovely park and having coffee.
How do the big cities compare to, say, Dubai? I was in Dubai for 3 days and felt it was enough. There was a soulless feel to it, even though the architecture is impressive.
Does China have more soul, for lack of a better word?
I guess they feel a bit soulless but then, I am not Chinese. I imagine to Chinese people they feel proud of what they have achieved in their country, which gives them some soul. Whereas Dubai for most is just an economic zone.
What's no longer valid? Some of these things would have been present in 2019, but the dominance of home grown EVs, and the ubiquitous smartphone loudspeaker slop are likely to be significantly different.
Great article. I had exactly the same thought as you on the train across rural China - so much agricultural work that looked backbreaking. I was also struck by just how many biomes China has that are relatively densely packed. I thought Macau was a total dump, like what I imagine North Korea to be plus some big casinos.
The thing that stood out to me about the police state was when a bus I was on going through the countryside in Yunnan was pulled over and everyone except us was brought out and briefly interrogated by the police. Unsure if there was genuinely a manhunt on (in which case fair enough) or if this was routine police harassment in this part of the country.
Yeah the villages really did look premodern (aside from the buildings), with very small plots of land right next to the houses.
Great article. I am actually considering a visit to China with my dad at some point. He is a massive Sinophile. I think I would lean to going more western and more rural though. I loved the idea that the CCP are powerless against smart phone slop.
Yeah you should definitely go. I'd love to visit a more rural area (bet they still have smartphone slop though)
If only we had a supreme leader who would liberate us by turning off the internet
I have been on clinical bullet trains in Japan where to so much as cough seems an ancient taboo, vs the polar opposite in India where you travel cheek to jowl, swap snacks, and your little compartment becomes family by the end of the journey. Where does China lie on this railway spectrum? Awesome article
Thank you. Honestly the main impression was just people looking at their phones and no taboo against noise pollution. Didn't seem like people really interacted with strangers much, but as I barely speak Chinese I couldn't tell for sure.
That's just 3rd world culture. I'm Chinese born in America and my parents constantly blast and scroll social media in public and on public transit.
The majority of people in my neighborhood (35% black, 60% Latino iirc and 75% foreign born, average HHI around 20k) in NYC scroll and blast social media in public and on public transit as well as make very loud phone calls, watch full on movies etc.
Sounds strangely depressing
I was worried I'd give that impression. It was actually a lot of fun, but it's not so interesting to write about walking through a lovely park and having coffee.
I went in 2012 and couldn't wait to leave after two weeks.
You do start to crave a McDonalds
How do the big cities compare to, say, Dubai? I was in Dubai for 3 days and felt it was enough. There was a soulless feel to it, even though the architecture is impressive.
Does China have more soul, for lack of a better word?
I guess they feel a bit soulless but then, I am not Chinese. I imagine to Chinese people they feel proud of what they have achieved in their country, which gives them some soul. Whereas Dubai for most is just an economic zone.
This is a blast from the past. Very 2019.
What's no longer valid? Some of these things would have been present in 2019, but the dominance of home grown EVs, and the ubiquitous smartphone loudspeaker slop are likely to be significantly different.