Poll of the Day > I want to go to China.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Mostly because I just want to see what it is actually like.

People in America act like it's some awful place, but I have never met a single person who lives there or has visited there that can confirm any of the anti-chinese propaganda we are told. In fact, most people who have been/lived there will say most of it isn't true.

Im sure it depends on where you go, China is bigger than the entire state of Delaware

I've been there twice. Any questions?

VampireCoyote posted...

Im sure it depends on where you go, China is bigger than the entire state of Delaware

One thing I experienced while riding through China is appreciating the sense of scale. Even small Chinese towns are massive. And it's all under the same government that's more centralized than what were used to.

Chinese culture is normal for more people than American culture.

Its one of those places where they make the areas people visit seem very very nice and enjoyable. However, step outside of those places and it can be pretty damn bad.

hypnox posted...

Its one of those places where they make the areas people visit seem very very nice and enjoyable. However, step outside of those places and it can be pretty damn bad.

you can say this about literally anywhere though. Orlando, Florida is one of the most visited places in the country. Outside of Orlando, most places around the state are pieces of shit.

The people that are unhappy there don't get to leave.......or sleep....eat.......have fun.....avoid tanks....etc.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

you can say this about literally anywhere though. Orlando, Florida is one of the most visited places in the country. Outside of Orlando, most places around the state are pieces of shit.

Bad Florida is still better than bad China.

Blightzkrieg posted...

I've been there twice. Any questions?

Does the cuisine really have sewer oil in it?

Blightzkrieg posted...

I've been there twice. Any questions?

Do they really eat cats?

aHappySacka posted...

Does the cuisine really have sewer oil in it?

wolfy42 posted...

Do they really eat cats?

Again China is super super big, so probably in some locations but not usually.

The individual cuisine for each province is a big point of pride.

Actually I suppose "do you have any questions" isn't a super helpful prompt so Im going to start with some minor things based on my experiences there. I was primarily staying in Harbin with inlaws so this won't necessarily apply to all locations. I don't speak Chinese.

- public restrooms in China don't generally have toilet paper, you are expected to bring your own. If you're in an area for international tourists (Disney world Shanghai) they might have some. Expect squat toilets.

- the difference in quality betweens public and private areas in China is enormous. People will spit in the lobbies of their own apartment buildings while keeping their apartments immaculate.

- maybe obvious, but assuming you're white, if you're not in a tourist area you will stand out enormously. China has its own ethnic minorities and such that have their own languages and stereotypes, but that won't be near as notable. It is much more homogeneous, especially as the government is trying to create a homogenous han state. Outsids of the airport, downtown and Shanghai I saw 1 other white person in 2 weeks.

- driving in China is a completely different skillset. On a technical level, the drivers are probably better in China by necessity as they need drive within inches of other cars and pedestrians, but they don't use turn signals or follow most road rules (they honk to signal intent). As a pedestrian, you need to walk straight and predictably into the street so that cars will swerve to avoid you in unison. If you stop to let cars pass, not only will you not get to go but you'll cause an accident as they'll be caught off guard.

- they don't wear seat belts in China. Taxis will have their seat belt locks blocked off so you can't use them.

- China is well know for poor treatment of animals. Don't be surprised if you see live animals (birds) kept in extremely small cages as decoration.

- services are generally much cheaper in China than in the west.

- most places (even big public buildings) will not have air conditioning as it is seen as unhealthy. Similarly, water is served hot, again because cold water is seen as unhealthy. Alternative Chinese medicine is seen as a serious discipline and point of national pride.

- Food is served on a table with all the dishes together, and you are expected to grab from them (if you're familiar with Chinese cuisine you probably know this). Big dinners will involve lots of toasts and speeches. Smoking is extremely common.

- KFC is the biggest American fast food restaurant in China, I went there for coffee every morning. Pizza hut is also extremely popular as a western sit down restaurant.

I tried to focus more on things that could be viewed externally than what the actual attitudes of Chinese people are. I could make a seperate post about their various manners or political opinions though. I'm obviously not an expert but I've picked up a lot through osmosis.

Its a pretty commonly held belief in china that torturing your food makes it taste better.

I have no interest in visiting such a culture myself, but you have fun.

LeggomyEggos posted...

Its a pretty commonly held belief in china that torturing your food makes it taste better.

I have no interest in visiting such a culture myself, but you have fun.

Sounds legit.

Revelation34 posted...

Sounds legit.

They think adrenaline makes it taste better. Thats why they boil and skin animals alive, or split them apart in front of their puppies or just about any other inhumane thing you can think of doing to another living creature.

I used to say "fuck the Chinese government" until I learned the sort of shit that the majority of their citizenry gets up to.

Now I just say "Fuck China"

LeggomyEggos posted...

Its a pretty commonly held belief in china that torturing your food makes it taste better.

I have no interest in visiting such a culture myself, but you have fun.

Ive never heard of that before but after a search yeah seems like it is a thing in their culture.

Thats really horrific and fucked up.

I went to Shanghai once. Had I not lived in Japan and Korea before visiting it would probably have been nice and impressive. As it is, it felt like a weird bad attempt at copying Tokyo. Its also the only place I've ever been robbed before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDrfE9I8_hs

I would be killed protecting animals if I went to china, so I guess I better avoid doing that.

Seriously, I know humans are crap, but why?

wolfy42 posted...

I would be killed protecting animals if I went to china, so I guess I better avoid doing that.

Seriously, I know humans are crap, but why?

there is not really a reason besides the fact that they wrongly believe that adrenaline makes meat taste better.

think about that: a very large number of people take part in this disgusting practice daily just so that their meal will taste better. the fact that it doesn't even work is besides the point.

you would have to be an actual fucking monster.

VampireCoyote posted...

Im sure it depends on where you go, China is bigger than the entire state of Delaware

That's a weird size comparison, China's almost as big as the entire US.

I went there 10 years ago. It's full of scammers and counterfeits. The ice cream tasted good and McDonald's actually tasted like it was made of fresh ingredients.

Employees follow you around in the store. I'm assuming to keep you from stealing. Motor bike taxi is a thing.

A restaurant in Beijing was full of flies. Like hundreds. So much we couldn't keep it off the food.

I was in China for 2 weeks.

It's amazing, but I had a really hard time finding palatable food in many places, and I am typically not fussy. I just got tired of being served a big bowl of chicken hearts, or if I got a vegetable - it would be swimming in grease. I also went 8 years ago without a cellphone, so it was 2 weeks of miming with people. That was a mistake lol.

Saw some extremely beautiful nature. Definitely preferred getting out of the city. Yangshuo, Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces, Fenghueng and Zhangjiajie were definite highlights. I'll put some pictures up :).

Avoid any 'offers' in the big city - you're going to get charged for a fake 'ceremony' or something. Especially if you try to ask someone where something is, and they tell you that it's 'actually closed, for a Buddhist holiday'. I really didn't enjoy my time in Shanghai, Changsha or Nanning, to be honest.

As for the 'anti-Chinese propaganda' - you're kind of just dealing with an exaggerated perspective, but it kind-of is true. It felt like 'The America of Asia' being in China, as a Canadian. China was by far the most overall rude and unhelpful place to be, especially contrasted with Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. I'm a lanky white guy, so I literally had people pointing and laughing at me, and taking pictures right in my face. I don't really care, but it's a major difference. Way more garbage in nature too in China, unless you really get far out.

The nationalism was pretty wild too, if you actually get into conversation with folks. It definitely has merit, seeing as China's been an entity for...what, 3000 years? A young man I met that owned a hostel seemed super 'with it' in that he used a VPN to use Google, YouTube and Facebook. Once I saw him searching with it though, I could tell he didn't really know how to use it properly. He was really nice, but once we got drunk and into conversation, he was very against racial mixing. It was quite the night.

There's the pics from China:
https://imgur.com/a/8DBsbbB

ReturnOfFa posted...

There's the pics from China:
https://imgur.com/a/8DBsbbB

2014 was probably the best time to go as well.

There was a period from the 2000s to mid 2010s when China was very receptive to western culture. But now they've amped up the nationalism, censorship and xenophobia as the government thinks it's extracted what value it can from the West. Attitudes in China are likely to get worse.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

Mostly because I just want to see what it is actually like.

People in America act like it's some awful place, but I have never met a single person who lives there or has visited there that can confirm any of the anti-chinese propaganda we are told. In fact, most people who have been/lived there will say most of it isn't true.

You can watch any number of vloggers who live there. Apparently, it's a pretty fucking crazy place. While I wouldn't mind visiting, I don't think I'd want to live there.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

you can say this about literally anywhere though. Orlando, Florida is one of the most visited places in the country. Outside of Orlando, most places around the state are pieces of shit.

No, most of the state is pretty nice, although the non-resort area just outside of Orlando is shit and it does have places as bad as Pennsylvania (although nothing as bad as Detroit).

Bligh_with_no_T posted...

Expect squat toilets.

That's one of the big reasons why I'd never consider living there. Although they have Western-style toilets available in apartments and hotel, anytime you're out anywhere it's a gamble.

Count_Drachma posted...

You can watch any number of vloggers who live there. Apparently, it's a pretty fucking crazy place. While I wouldn't mind visiting, I don't think I'd want to live there.

No, most of the state is pretty nice, although the non-resort area just outside of Orlando is shit and it does have places as bad as Pennsylvania (although nothing as bad as Detroit).

That's one of the big reasons why I'd never consider living there. Although they have Western-style toilets available in apartments and hotel, anytime you're out anywhere it's a gamble.

Not in any of the hostels I stayed in lol

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

Mostly because I just want to see what it is actually like.

People in America act like it's some awful place, but I have never met a single person who lives there or has visited there that can confirm any of the anti-chinese propaganda we are told. In fact, most people who have been/lived there will say most of it isn't true.

My friend lived there, and while he didnt say it was bad, I basically never talked to him because he had to sneak online to check his e-mails. Also, some guy attacked him, and he punched the guy in the head. The guy he punched got deported back to Sweden and he spent seven months in prison. Take that info how you will.

zebatov posted...

I basically never talked to him because he had to sneak online to check his e-mails.

seems weird. I have friends who live in China who I speak to nightly on Discord and they don't have to "sneak online" lol

https://youtu.be/YYmAnDggmpE?t=205

zebatov posted...

My friend lived there, and while he didnt say it was bad, I basically never talked to him because he had to sneak online to check his e-mails. Also, some guy attacked him, and he punched the guy in the head. The guy he punched got deported back to Sweden and he spent seven months in prison. Take that info how you will.

7 months for absolutely nothing.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

seems weird. I have friends who live in China who I speak to nightly on Discord and they don't have to "sneak online" lol

Having to use a VPN for everything because Discord, Gmail, Facebook, WhatsApp, and and endless list of other normal apps/sites/services are blocked in China kinda qualifies as "sneaking online".

Go to Macau China, lots of casinos and great nightlife.

I live in a provincial capital in central China, posting from here right now.

It's definitely worth visiting. If you're a westerner, you'll have a hard time finding anywhere on the planet that's more different and fresh. It'll be a sensuous experience, just like your first time to go abroad.

Don't delude yourself about the government or the Party, though. They're really just as bad as people say they are.

PMarth2002 posted...

That's a weird size comparison, China's almost as big as the entire US.

Mainland China's bigger than the US, dude. And if you count dry land area, no lakes, China's even bigger than Canada too.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

seems weird. I have friends who live in China who I speak to nightly on Discord and they don't have to "sneak online" lol

China is a huge place, things are totally different depending on where you are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONsmJAyFAAw

It's too bad they tore down the CircleVision Theater at Disneyland because The Wonders of China in 360 was really awesome.

Thunk00 posted...

Mainland China's bigger than the US, dude.

Technically wrong.

https://www.thecoldwire.com/is-china-bigger-than-the-us/

Thunk00 posted...

Don't delude yourself about the government or the Party, though. They're really just as bad as people say they are.

They're worse than most people think, considering they locked up doctors to conceal COVID (and some of those doctors wound up dying from COVID). Then there's China's use of slavery (specifically against the Uighur minority), which isn't even getting into things like their suspected organ harvesting programs.

China seems insane with the Covid regs. I mean you have dudes on the hoverboards rolling around and spraying people with bleach or gosh knows what as well as breaking into people's homes and drenching thier refrigerators, beds & couches with disinfectant. Seems a little nuts

I don't feel like getting 40 years in a labor camp for sneezing at the wrong time, so I'll pass

Muscles posted...

I don't feel like getting 40 years in a labor camp for sneezing at the wrong time, so I'll pass

that's North Korea.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

that's North Korea.

And China.

Revelation34 posted...

And China.

Maybe if you're a Uighur, but generally no.

Wait until China gets democracy before going, it's not safe to go right now. To be fair 2008-12 was actually a good time to go though before shit hit the fan and all those controversies such as the gutter oil and plastic rice came to light.

Hop103 posted...

Wait until China gets democracy before going, it's not safe to go right now. To be fair 2008-12 was actually a good time to go though before shit hit the fan and all those controversies such as the gutter oil and plastic rice came to light.

So you're saying never go to China?

Yeah China will fracture before it becomes democratic tbh.

Id avoid china. Too much tension. Only places id travel outside the U.S would be Canada, maybe Ireland, maybe Japan. The rest is too dangerous yall did that etc

teddy241 posted...

Id avoid china. Too much tension. Only places id travel outside the U.S would be Canada, maybe Ireland, maybe Japan. The rest is too dangerous yall did that etc

This is funny, because as a Canadian, the US is now fairly 'off the table' as far as travel goes for these reasons. And there'd be dozens of countries that are way less dangerous than the US.

yeah i would never recommend someone international travel here anymore. who knows when there's going to be a time a tourist gets caught in a huge mass shooting and it becomes an international issue