I landed in China about 10 days ago to visit the country (and East Asia) for the first time. My thoughts:
There are a lot of Chinese people. The demographic statistics are not lying. Even cities that you have never heard of are as packed, bustling, and dense as New York/Paris.
This likely contributes to the fact that every Chinese city has a modern metro system, and cheap rentable bikes are everywhere. Coupled with the amazing highspeed rail system, I am doubtful many people would actually need a car in China.
The metro trains are also air conditioned at different temperatures. You can pick which carriage you enter based on what temperature you want.
The incredible public transport, historical sites, and large number of interesting cities in close proximity really struck me as a mirror image of Europe.
But unlike Europe, China is currently building and expanding areas with traditional architecture. At every historical site there are girls taking photos of themselves in hanfu (traditional clothes).
Given their recent construction, all the metros and bikes are designed in exactly the same way, and can be easily engaged with using China's super apps: WeChat and Alipay. China found a good model and scaled it.
WeChat and Alipay are used for everything, with the structure of the apps being somewhat confusing for a westoid. The apps have a matryoshka structure in that they support numerous "mini-apps" to offer services from 3rd parties.
China is a near complete cashless society. Everyone pays for everything using these apps, which is certainly part of a surveillance strategy. China loves surveillance and is extremely concerned with security.
China is one of the physically safest places I have ever been to. On the other hand, it took 8 security checks to see the body of Mao Zedong. The security checks at every metro entrance are annoying.
China is exotic for Westerners because it is East Asian, but also because it is one of the last remaining Communist states. China does not hide the Communist element.
Compared to Russia—which is relatively depoliticized—China is far more open in pushing its state ideology. Xi Jinping's book seems to be in every other shop.
Mao also remains highly revered among large parts of the Chinese population. I did not fully understand that the Cultural Revolution was actually successful in cementing a positive image for Mao. At his mausoleum some Chinese even appeared to be praying (?) to him.
It seems likely that the current Chinese government is more sober and objective about the legacy of Mao, but uses his image to bolster their legitimacy among the Chinese population.
Everyone I spoke to seemed to express support for the current government, and celebrated its economic achievements. The only exception was someone telling me they had recently conducted interviews with Hui Muslims, some of whom expressed radical Islamist thoughts.
I was also impressed by China's economy. Seemingly every time I ordered a taxi, a car appeared from a new Chinese brand I had never heard of. Most appeared to be modeled after Teslas.
Nearly every car in China is an EV, meaning the roads are extremely quiet. This is especially true in Beijing, where there also seems to be a ban on honking.
But China still suffers from what I would call residual Third Worldism. Tap water remains undrinkable. Squat toilets still dominate. Traffic laws are more like suggestions. In the interior, children can be seen pissing in busy streets.
There is a noticeable age gap. Older generations are worse, prone to spitting or shoving through crowds. The youth are more conscientious and civilized.
It's also worth mentioning that every metro train has screens playing constant messages aimed mostly at civilizing the population. Do not spit. Do not cut in line. Do not give photos of military equipment to foreign agents. (real) Do not lean on doors.
The crowds and residual Third Worldism are still enough to keep me from wishing that I was Chinese. But it seems inevitable that China will eventually "Japanify." It is a nation of over a billion practical and reasonable people. How could they remain poor forever?
@Sven_Etienne China is indeed a juggernaut and has made amazing strides since Deng opened China up to the world. Some very good observations but it is clearly your first time and feels like someone (a minder) took you on a North Korean style tour. Some specifics: 1) yes China has a ton of
@grapeshot88 I will definitely visit the country multiple times and try to explore more widely. Agree on the seriousness of the country's demographic issues. Definitely the biggest strategic weakness.
@Sven_Etienne Really nice post!!
@levelsio Thank you man!
@Sven_Etienne did you have a minder following you during your visit?
@chart747 First half I was with a longtime Chinese friend, second half I was solo.
@Sven_Etienne Good recap! I noticed similar things, which cities did you visit I found that experienced definitely varied depending on city and the main industry in each.
@Sven_Etienne Very good thread. Highlighted some things I haven’t seen discussed as much in other “first time in China” threads. Followed.
@Hazara501 Thank you!
@Sven_Etienne Very interesting! Thank you so much for sharing!
@Sasquatcher2 Glad you found it interesting!
@Sven_Etienne Great thread!
@williameijer Thank you!