CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
Packed
There are too many fucking people in China. Living and traveling is a hassle because the population has exceeded the capacity of its systems. These include car lanes, subway ticket machines, bank teller counters, restaurants, and the size of public transportation areas (subways themselves, bus stops, and train stations are usually full). Having traveled to Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou over the past couple days, I am not inclined to domestically travel again anytime soon. It was such a hassle buyingtickets, waiting in line after line and then being shoved into a train/subway. Perhaps it's my fault for not flying, but for as convenient as China promotes it's high speed rails to be, it's clear government officials don't use them themselves.
With that said, I think the bigger contributor to the mess is Chinese people. Hong Kong is physically smaller and crammed full of people, but they wait for traffic lights, queue, apologize if they bump into you, and generally respect the rules of public space. Upon my arrival into Shenzhen customs, people were pushing, running to the immigration lines, and arguing. Again, I understand that Shenzhen is the main port in which to transport goods bought in HK and inevitably will be busy, but the behavior was beyond unnecessary.
On one hand, it was super cool to see some of the major cities in the south of China. However, doing so reinforced my negative thoughts and opinions about Chinese people. It was a zoo and it absolutely didn't need to be. Traveling anyway besides a plane was an experience, and one that I will work to avoid again at all costs.