Beijing China is a Huge Culture Shock For Me

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 1K

  • @spencer7404
    @spencer7404 ปีที่แล้ว +360

    If you spend one year in China and then return to your country, you will feel the reverse culture shock.

    • @fatboyRAY24
      @fatboyRAY24 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      probably not. bro won't even make it a month before deciding to leave.

    • @guliya0000
      @guliya0000 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      definitely yes

    • @heyili1502
      @heyili1502 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      yeah, I agree with you.🤣

    • @guliya0000
      @guliya0000 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      it does not matter. I say yes according to my personal experience.

    • @0397rb
      @0397rb ปีที่แล้ว

      NOT SO

  • @michaelchen2718
    @michaelchen2718 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    7:45 I get that, but I like to watch videos before I travel for two reasons: 1) the anticipation is part of the fun and 2) to plan for the trip!

  • @MRT-co1sd
    @MRT-co1sd ปีที่แล้ว +219

    You shouldn’t be offended if you get stared at. Lots of Chinese get stare at in Africa too. It’s just curiosity, nothing more.

    • @太直白
      @太直白 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Yes, each other want to and you say "hello". But can't speak English

    • @two1delta1
      @two1delta1 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lol oh, I didn't realize this guy is African!

    • @laputa6464
      @laputa6464 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It's basic decency.

    • @two1delta1
      @two1delta1 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@laputa6464 Right? I guess this means it's okay to stare and point if it's strange to you? Like at handicapped people. Lol such strange logic *stare/point at Chinese*

    • @laputa6464
      @laputa6464 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@two1delta1 people will always find excuses for rude behaviour.

  • @basicguy99
    @basicguy99 ปีที่แล้ว +452

    It's incredible how far China has come in 70 years from being one of the poorest countries in the world. I love to see everyday Chinese life like this video, it's not publicized in the US.

    • @jctai100
      @jctai100 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      25 yrs ago, bicycle was the main transport and the country was a distant 6th place in terms of economy.

    • @xy.j8294
      @xy.j8294 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      You should go to china oneday. you are welcome

    • @mikepeng6749
      @mikepeng6749 ปีที่แล้ว

      因为美国只会抹黑中国。

    • @amossutandi
      @amossutandi ปีที่แล้ว

      40 years ago china was poorer than most African countries.

    • @zhangyi5145
      @zhangyi5145 ปีที่แล้ว +56

      We used to be the richest country in the world through most historical time.

  • @KinLee919
    @KinLee919 ปีที่แล้ว +174

    Don't worry about Chinese people stare at u, they mean nothing bad, they just curious. people even stare at me! a Chinese😅 cus im tall(1.92m 6ft3in)

    • @aaabbb-py5xd
      @aaabbb-py5xd ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah, Chinese, and yet we speak English. What a garbage turn of history.

    • @billybob4159
      @billybob4159 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@aaabbb-py5xd?

    • @pamulakmabono
      @pamulakmabono ปีที่แล้ว +5

      ​@@aaabbb-py5xdwhy is it garbage
      is it because you can speak a different language
      what were your thoughts when you sent this reply

    • @mysterioanonymous3206
      @mysterioanonymous3206 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yeah I'm a white dude I get stared at too when I'm in Asia in places that aren't yet used to foreigners. Happens a lot... 😂

    • @aaabbb-py5xd
      @aaabbb-py5xd ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mysterioanonymous3206 And why the fuck would anyone have to justify the obvious???? And look at that Model Race OP so fucking scared that he's pre-confessing exactly the obvious. I bet he's also prime "diSsIDent" material who'd bend every which way at the whip of "free world" "morality". "I surrender" "I surrender". If this is what Chinese is, then the Chinese Communist Party should indeed disband. No need to be the inconvenient thorn if China is going to shit anyways.

  • @dragonfly02490
    @dragonfly02490 ปีที่แล้ว +95

    Staring is not considered a threat in China. Staring means they are curious. Since China is very homogenous and you look different, they stare at you with no malicious intent.

    • @joyjoyoo
      @joyjoyoo ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Exactly

    • @laputa6464
      @laputa6464 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Japan is also homogenous, but people have the propriety not to make others uncomfortable.

    • @dragonfly02490
      @dragonfly02490 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      ​@@laputa6464 Different culture. Also, there are about 38,000 US soldiers station in Japan. So, they are used to see people of other colors. What's proper might not be proper for another culture. For example, casual sex is normal in Japan among friends(it's like sharing a bag of potato chips where everyone gets to put their hands in it), but not in China, Korea, or other countries. Another example, in Germany, it's a crime to deny Holocaust, but in Japan on the other hand, they won't even teach their children what their country did during the WWII and the crimes and atrocities they committed. And every year, their top politicians even visit Yasukuni shrine to pay respect to their war criminals(these are class A war criminals who were tried and convicted at UN tribunal for committing crime against humanity) much to the outcry of Chinese and Koreans. Speaking about propriety, not only are they not being appropriate, they rub salts to their wounds.

    • @Rhaspun
      @Rhaspun ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yes. It's just a cultural thing. Nothing personal or to be taken as an aggressive behavior.

    • @winniec4677
      @winniec4677 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Legit unlike in the U.S. there are guns, I rather be stared at than shot...

  • @GOAT_MESSI53
    @GOAT_MESSI53 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    There are 1.4 billion people in China, they can't all be good people, but most of them are very warm and respectful.

  • @gelinrefira
    @gelinrefira ปีที่แล้ว +180

    A city that is 20 million strong but doesn't feel like it has 20 million people, is the most important and salient point that most people missed on why China is so successful.
    They build cities for people to live in. It means their policies, decisions and laws are made around making their living space livable. It means the government and the people build for their well-being, and the welfare of the society as a whole. They planned ahead of time. They make decision based on whether it will have a positive impact on people's lives. This attitude build strong foundations in a country where the interests of the people are prioritized, not for crude profits or power.
    This is true democracy and why China is so successful.

    • @超翟-c5k
      @超翟-c5k ปีที่แล้ว +13

      智慧的评价 拥有几千年历史的古老国家 我们的统治阶级知道每一个朝代衰落的原因 以及历史给与他们的评价

    • @jupiterli1087
      @jupiterli1087 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@超翟-c5k 你活在中国梦里😂

    • @超翟-c5k
      @超翟-c5k ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@jupiterli1087 当然 并且活的很好 你需不需要施舍?

    • @chunlingtong6137
      @chunlingtong6137 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jupiterli1087 🤣🤣🤣 luckily, NOT a “western dream” or in Disney land where one’s feet are never on the ground - like a castle in the sand

    • @PP-wp2bx
      @PP-wp2bx ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Lol another Chinese "gaslighting" with completely flawed logic and self-deception. People don't want to come out to the streets because they are always mindful of the surveillance cameras watching them 24/7. And then there is the government brainwashing citizens into zombies just like you. Most delusional people in the entire world under this hopeless dictatorship.

  • @orangetube1
    @orangetube1 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    With the staring, now you know what it felt like when I moved from Taiwan to Tennessee when I was 9. It has continued to this day and now I'm 53. So that's 44 years of staring at me and I don't expect it to get better for as long as I live here.

    • @abp4708
      @abp4708 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bullshyt.

  • @windsorpang
    @windsorpang ปีที่แล้ว +316

    I admire your unbiased attitude to explore China. Even though I am a Chinese myself (being brought up in Hong Kong),I have little (or inaccurate/ partial knowledge of China because of the little interaction until the recent few years when I decided to go back and explore myself. In general, it is very necessary to equip yourself a phone with Apps such as WeChat or Alipay in order to pay and order things. Most Chinese people are generally more reserved in the beginning, but they can be the most helpful and loyal when they start to know each other. Regarding the staring, it happened to me before when I traveled to a place with me being the only Asian in the neighborhood. I guess the staring may be even more if it is a man holding a phone to film everywhere ( no offense, I may stare at you too). Anyway, I hope you can find some friends in China soon whom you can communicate well with and show you around. Enjoy your trip!

    • @tenchichrono
      @tenchichrono ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Glad you went to check things out. Chinese history was wiped from the HK education. So many youths think they're actually descendants of the British. Self hating Asians/Chinese.

    • @dordorfromhk-hj5vo
      @dordorfromhk-hj5vo ปีที่แล้ว +14

      I was stared by kids when i spent a few months in Denmark many years ago, as an Asian. 😅

    • @banq2878
      @banq2878 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      staring is common, when I was in Lipstat in Germany, in the restaurant the kid pointed at me by finger since I am a few Chinese in that town.

    • @joeawk
      @joeawk ปีที่แล้ว

      Ang kiong:
      🔊🌏ALL CHINESE TO TAKE HEED... LIKE IT OR NOT SOONER OR LATER IT WILL HAVE DIRECT OR INDIRECT EFFECTS ON ALL CHINESE...
      The United States has launched a comprehensive over-the-limit struggle against China, and China has no choice but to completely defeat the United States! The 1.4 billion people in China must abandon all illusions and fully and actively prepare for the arrival of all possible and impossible situations. This is a structural and irreconcilable contradiction between the East and the West, and it is bound to collide with all forces. It becomes a heated battle until the winner is decided! It's not that China wants to compete, but the Americans want to compete!
      What is the ultimate goal of the United States towards China? An old man spoke out 32 years ago! Time: June 9, 1989, the fifth day after the Tiananmen riots on June 4!
      Venue: Politburo meeting of the CPC Central Committee in Zhongnanhai, Beijing.
      Content: Deng Xiaoping's remarks on the events in Tiananmen Square:
      This matter can be seen at a glance, unequivocally, clearly, it is two purposes;
      1) Down with the Communist Party, down with socialism! (to overthrow the central government)
      2) To establish a completely western model of the so-called Federal Republic of China
      The Tiananmen incident of June 4th was part of the "color revolution" instigated by the United States, and the other half was the fact that there were indeed short-term problems such as government downturns, power-for-money transactions, corruption, privileges, and the expansion of the gap between rich and poor in Chinese society just after the reform and opening up.
      Mr. Deng's eyes were like a torch, and he saw through it at a glance, and set the tone for it. Putting down the chaos is absolutely necessary and taken for granted!
      After more than 28 years, U.S. President Trump started and launched a trade war against China, a technological war, and a biological and chemical weapon war. Development, in fact, simply speaking, is still the same as what Deng Xiaoping said, even if the CCP is not in power, the United States still wants to defeat and eliminate or disintegrate China (the old man’s vision penetrates time and space, and he has already stated the true purpose of the United States!
      Looking at the evolution and development of the situation in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and even the United States and China and the new crown epidemic in recent years, it is indeed as Deng Xiaoping said that day: "This turmoil will come sooner or later. This is the international climate and China's own microclimate. When such a thing happens, it doesn’t depend on people’s awareness. No matter how you do things, it will still happen. It’s just a matter of time, big or small. “The same is true for the US-China confrontation. To stop China is to lose ten thousand dollars, no matter who is in power in China, and regardless of whether China's political system changes (Russia is the current example, the world has no Soviet Union, has the United States let Russia go?) The United States will still not hesitate Everything must be done to defeat China, because this is the life and death of two hegemonies. The Americans must decide whether to win or lose until one side surrenders and admits defeat. China has no choice but to "abandon illusions and prepare to fight to the death!" In all In the U.S. battlefield, Taiwan will be the watershed between the U.S. and China in their struggle for hegemony! And the hands of the war clock will only go faster and faster! The situation facing mainland China is just like what Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, said: "The United States wants Huawei to die!" , we have nowhere to go except "victory"! Don't be fooled by the so-called "democracy, freedom and human rights" slogans in the United States, Europe and the West. When did the suppression and control of the two countries ever let go!? Perhaps Beijing is unwilling to expose the U.S. conspiracy behind the June 4 incident based on the principle of fighting without breaking.
      I am no longer afraid to open my belly and let the world see and know the ugliness of the United States! Anyway, they will kill you, so what scruples and reservations do you have?
      Conclusion: Even if the political system of mainland China changes to the Western model in the future, and even is governed by the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan, the ultimate goal of the United States is still to split China. To control China is a regime that is completely submissive to the United States, Europe and the West, and whether China Democratization has nothing to do with it at all. All Chinese, whether they are yellow or blue, whether they are from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan or overseas Chinese, it is time to abandon their illusions. Only by fighting to the end can the Chinese have a way out!
      …………………
      👍👍👍
      (Extremely right, so reproduced)

    • @尿座
      @尿座 ปีที่แล้ว

      我大概10来年前去的香港感觉挺失望的,就不细说了都是兄弟哈

  • @tenchichrono
    @tenchichrono ปีที่แล้ว +92

    Don't feel threatened bro. Most people in the world are super friendly, it's just that curiosity gets them when they see something not standard. People are just people regardless of religion/politics/etc. We just wanna live our lives the best way we can.

  • @kennethhancock2433
    @kennethhancock2433 ปีที่แล้ว +124

    When I visited Xi’an I was sometimes the only foreigner around. My wife took me to one of the ear cleaning places. I wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little scared. It was very pleasant. During the process a young woman stood right behind the person working on my ears and stared trying to see what treasures a foreigner’s ears might hold. I was a bit put off but my wife assured me it’s normal behavior. Some of the people are from the countryside and don’t have the same filters we do. One morning as I was waiting out in front of our hotel for my wife, an older gentleman walked by on the street and seemed to be glaring at me. I gave him a smile then he lit up with a huge smile and waved and nodded. Back in Beijing while in a market with my wife and her friend I fell behind when an older guy started following me and clapping his hands. He was pointing at a plant I had in a basket. My wife informed me he was commenting on a plant we had purchased and letting us know it was a good buy. In other words the people were friendly, curious, and helpful for the most part. Having an interpreter (my wife) is huge. I’m trying to learn a few words and phrases so I’m not so ignorant next time. China isn’t like Kansas for sure. I’m looking forward to returning. Give China a little time. You may love it as much as I do.

    • @gunsroses1293
      @gunsroses1293 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      There are 1.4 billion people in China, but there are only hundreds of thousands of foreigners, which is a very low proportion, so seeing foreigners is like seeing aliens for some ordinary people. At the same time, China has only started to develop in the past two decades. Many elderly people have low education level, or come from remote villages, and the quality of citizens is not satisfactory. Therefore, staring at strangers will happen. But that doesn't mean they are unfriendly.

    • @jonah_lau
      @jonah_lau ปีที่แล้ว +2

      “Give China a little time. You may love it as much as I do.” 👏👏👏❤

    • @xiawilly8902
      @xiawilly8902 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@gunsroses1293 You underestimated the education level for ordinary Chinese people, compulsory education was required even under mao's rule.

    • @azieg9ygeb
      @azieg9ygeb ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

    • @uwanttono4012
      @uwanttono4012 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I lived in China for 15 years (2004 - 2019) and loved every minute of it! Now that the country has reopened to 老外 (laowai foreigners) I'm looking forward to returning for another extended stay in a few weeks time!

  • @evoGage
    @evoGage ปีที่แล้ว +54

    The staring thing is very normal in China, even if you're Chinese. It's even more extreme if you're a brother.

    • @rocket4433
      @rocket4433 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      你瞅啥?瞅你咋滴🤣🤣

    • @youme1414
      @youme1414 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      When somebody stares at me too much I will wave and say hello in their language. At least, it is an important word to learn in any language of a place you are visiting.

    • @bookert7782
      @bookert7782 ปีที่แล้ว

      bro have not been to india .... china staring is nothing compared to india.

  • @here-and-there1071
    @here-and-there1071 ปีที่แล้ว +178

    I had the opposite problem in China. I'm Filipino and look chinese and when I was there people would just approach me and start speaking mandarin. I blended in so no one stared. I actually visited China after going through Russia and I felt the opposite from what you experienced. It all seemed more familiar with western chains and brands as opposed to Russia which hardly had any English and very little assistance or infrastructure for tourists

    • @pearlblack9753
      @pearlblack9753 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I'm chinese and I don't think u look Chinese.. u look south east Asian.

    • @here-and-there1071
      @here-and-there1071 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      @pearlblack9753 I'm just telling you my experience. Chinese appearance will vary because it's a very large diverse country. Just like not all Europeans look the same. My last trip to my own native country, a few people thought I was a Chinese or Japanese tourist.

    • @werffvbsbhehdccbxjkdi
      @werffvbsbhehdccbxjkdi ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ​@@pearlblack9753他这种长相的,在中国有很多好吧,他不说话,你不会注意到他是菲律宾人的

    • @zepingjin3847
      @zepingjin3847 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      @@here-and-there1071 yes,when we see one SE. asian, we may think he or she comes from Guangxi or Guangdong province

    • @sunnydaysddt2068
      @sunnydaysddt2068 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@pearlblack9753do you think northern Chinese and southern Chinese in GuangXi would have the same facial features. If you are Chinese , you should know china is a big country.

  • @marvinfok65
    @marvinfok65 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I noticed how clean the street is! No litter, no garbage on the street! That's very impressive for a city of 20 million!

  • @iSee109
    @iSee109 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    Yes! I heard about Beijing’s bad air, but when I visited, the skies were clear and beautiful. … Are you developing blisters on your feet yet?! I did a lot of walking in Beijing!

    • @greatH-ky3mp
      @greatH-ky3mp ปีที่แล้ว

      The American media are the worst. They say everyone else is evil, but Americans are the pretty angel, in fact, they are the devils. Bad USA for its political propaganda.

    • @byhyew
      @byhyew ปีที่แล้ว

      Beijing had bad air, then they fixed it. The thing about China is any info over 3-5 years old can be outdated.

    • @Star2bed
      @Star2bed ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Because China has developed too fast, stereotypes can't keep up with the changes in reality. The air quality in China has been in the past ten years.

  • @rocjones6543
    @rocjones6543 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Notice how clean the streets are. No litter 😮

  • @arbs3ry
    @arbs3ry ปีที่แล้ว +88

    I think Beijing locals don't really stare at foreigners as they're used to foreigners, those who stare are usually the same as you--tourists. This is especially true when you visit tourist attractions in Beijing, people will not only just stare but some will come to you for a selfie-together.
    But of course if you appear in a neighborhood that is not a tourist place or business place, people might get curious, like why the hell a foreigner come here.
    I think cities in the south are a bit different from those in the north especially Beijing. There're more bussiness on the streets, more hustle and bustle.

    • @rocket4433
      @rocket4433 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      In China, people in the north are more enthusiastic and direct, while people in the south are more euphemistic,careful。

  • @jlin5493
    @jlin5493 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for the non bias video. And I like your video style too!

  • @ChichiShu
    @ChichiShu ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I'm Chinese residing in the US. I once went to Arkansas. I also got stared at by older people there as well. I generally don't care how other people view me. So it didn't bother me a single bit.

    • @ChichiShu
      @ChichiShu ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @JENNYLEEWORLD I cannot tell if you are being sacastic or not. US made a huge fortune by selling weapons and exporting all kinds of military supplies to Japan when Japan invaded China, before and during WW2 pretty much until Pearl Harbor. US didn't fight with Japan for China. It did it for revenge and for deterring the power of Soviet Union expanding in Asia. Even though objectively, US's later engagement did help China. But Japan, being a small island w/o much resources couldn't have sustained its military supplies w/o US

    • @wsmithe2209
      @wsmithe2209 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@ChichiShu - Don't waste your time here with this person.

    • @janewu7071
      @janewu7071 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ChichiShuyes, don’t waste your time here with this person

    • @tenidasio591
      @tenidasio591 ปีที่แล้ว

      @JENNYLEEWORLD you can literally google it. why would you like something like that?

  • @pythonicentertainment6280
    @pythonicentertainment6280 ปีที่แล้ว +85

    I'm so happy someone posted a video about the real China I was scared to go because all of the craziness I saw on TV eventually I realized it was fake I hope to go there one day to practice some form of martial art like tai chi or Wing Chun thank you for showing me the truth

    • @ivyjeff826
      @ivyjeff826 ปีที่แล้ว

      Come and explore for urself😊

    • @flarefrenzys3046
      @flarefrenzys3046 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Its kind of funny you say so, infact China is the most advanced and safest country in the world, people are very kind and friendly too, just cheack out some foreigner channels who are living in China, "Reporterfy Media & Travel, Katherine's Journey to the East, Blondie in China, Living in China, Sabrina in China, Barrett, guess you'll be more surprised and amazed, welcome to China bro ☺️🎉🎉.

    • @liuyanbo6510
      @liuyanbo6510 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      better to try more modernized lifestyle here such as tons of new EV models, convenient logistics, public traffic, foods. not the things from western propaganda such as kungfu. nobody cares about kungfu here. it's an embarassing joke. ☺

    • @pythonicentertainment6280
      @pythonicentertainment6280 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      one day I will, I draw so my dream is to travel to different parts of Asia to draw the Scenery

    • @flarefrenzys3046
      @flarefrenzys3046 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@pythonicentertainment6280 That is great for you, and of course you are also welcome to learn Kung Fu in China, there are some foreign apprentices who are actually learning in Shaolin Temple.

  • @may-zy7ju
    @may-zy7ju ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Thanks for sharing! 15 years ago, I went to Beijing and I was shocked they do not accept credit cards. 4 years ago I went to Chongqing, I can't even pay with cash/credit card because all shops used eWallet. I wish next year when I visit, I can survive the shock of all those futuristic robots and automation there.

    • @liuyanbo6510
      @liuyanbo6510 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      yes hotels are fulfilled with delivery robots now.

    • @leeming2781
      @leeming2781 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Now there is a face recognition payment system, and you can pay without a mobile phone in the future

    • @Konamakona
      @Konamakona ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Just started palm scan…..

    • @chunlingtong6137
      @chunlingtong6137 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      😂😂😂 welcome to China! the country that will never stop developing

  • @joanofarc6402
    @joanofarc6402 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent observations. Have fun. Much 💕 from 🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • @jahachan9617
    @jahachan9617 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    When I backpack on a trip to Africa, in Cairo, Kinshasa, or Johannesburg, almost everyone stares at me whenever I appear on the street.
    Because my east asian skin color and backpack are out of place with the locals, it has aroused the curiosity of most people. and you are only encountering the same confusion as me in China,don't mind too much..

    • @afroabroad
      @afroabroad ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm curious though do people stare at you in America or Canada?

    • @davenobody407
      @davenobody407 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Exactly when I traveled around the Europe - whether in Scandinavia or Eastern Europe, it is pretty much on daily basis that someone is staring at me - some people are just a bit slow to process my face in their mind - they don’t know if I was Jackie Chan or Mr Wong from the local Chinese Takeaway - they need a bit time to process, that’s okay.

    • @downtomars6268
      @downtomars6268 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@afroabroad Suppose you are asking as it's regarded as rude in those countries, but I have had that experience. I saw more eyes than use to - some stares and glances - on me in a couple pubs probably because I was one of a few Asians there.

    • @jahachan9617
      @jahachan9617 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@afroabroad I don't know, because i haven't been to north America 😄

    • @afroabroad
      @afroabroad ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jahachan9617 Exactly and where is the guy making these videos from?

  • @FoodforThought12345678dsds
    @FoodforThought12345678dsds ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm from the Uk and have lived in China for over 15 years. It just gets better and better. I would never move back to the UK.

  • @Laker123abc
    @Laker123abc ปีที่แล้ว +3

    NO homeless. NO trash. No drug user.

  • @frankyPtb
    @frankyPtb ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You should know the fact that the number of people who speak Chinese or Mandarin is much bigger than which who speak English. We Chinese don't speak English because we don't need to and we don't have the history of colonized by English-speaking countries.
    China is not the immigrants country or tourism country and had no history of enslaved africans. As a foreigner, that is you jump into there lives, so you may need to respect the local people living habits.

  • @panyaboonc5621
    @panyaboonc5621 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    @Sly's Life, Beijing China is a Huge Culture Shock For You. But I am shocked to watch your video showing Beijing city. What I am shocked is I used to read and watch western media and India media reporting how bad China is especially Beijing air pollution, bad safety for foreigners and bad hygiene.
    But I have watched your this entire video of 8:35 minutes while you have walked and doing the video recording on the street. What I am shock is even the back alley is so clean I don't see any trash on the roadside. Just lots of bikes and bicycles. Also you can walk and do video recording so freely without anyone bother you. It is shocking to see the real life filming and media reporting is so much different.

  • @mglee1431
    @mglee1431 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Hey Sly, i just returned from a 6 days Beijing tour trip. The English speaking tour guide told us he has not spoken English nor seen foreign tourists for the past 3 years until now. We were the first group. Most other tourists are domestic, meaning Chinese from other parts of China who visited Beijing for the first time with their friends or family. The child who stared at you was probably a tourist from other less urban city where foreigners are few. Those who stare at you might not be the Beijinger. High concentration of foreigners staying in China would probably be in Shanghai. People are curious but not hostile , just smile back and they will do the same. Visit the parks and you will be surprised to see how energetic the older folks are as a community. I was at the hutong near the Bell and drum towers in 2019. Back then, i enjoyed the surrounding quietness and the relax vibe of the neighbourhood. But in this trip those hutong area has become touristy amd many on-going renovations. Honestly i really dislike the touristy area and pass thru it as fast as i can.

  • @blardymunggas6884
    @blardymunggas6884 ปีที่แล้ว +85

    Great to see the real china. Thanks for taking us along. I see great infrastructures and lots of great cars on the road. Not as many people as I thought there will be. Maybe you’re not in the prime area. Overall I must say the chinese government is doing a great job for their people. The public infrastructures does show how much their government spend on their own people

    • @tristancui2091
      @tristancui2091 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      as you mentioned, the so-called non-prime area you referred to is the place where those houses enven look old and not modern but the most expensive ones in Beijing.

    • @blardymunggas6884
      @blardymunggas6884 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Armament Armed Arm and you know how? Mind elaborating?

    • @onkycui
      @onkycui ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The very old small house shown in the video is the most expensive house in Beijin😭

    • @blardymunggas6884
      @blardymunggas6884 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@onkycui wow really? I guess it makes sense since it has historic value. Thanks for the info

    • @json-gi2bi
      @json-gi2bi ปีที่แล้ว

      Most foreigners who think China is good are those who have not experienced working life in China😂

  • @xgguo3531
    @xgguo3531 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    From the video looks to me you are living in the old part of Beijing (some small/narrow streets called Hutong), which people are not very good in English. Beijing is too big to be judged through a few streets . Suggest to visit : Tiananmen Square , Forbidden City , Financial Street, Olympic Park , Summar palace , Hou Hai (lots of bars there) , Great Wall (far away from the centre of Beijing) .

  • @SunnySzetoSz2000
    @SunnySzetoSz2000 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    air quality improve a lot many years ago, just those media keep saying china still in high pollution.

  • @cchu319
    @cchu319 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Don’t worry about the staring. It’s nothing negative at all and don’t feel offended by it.
    There’s no judgment going on in their minds. It’s never something unwelcoming or what are you doing here. Most of them have never seen a black person in their lives up close and in person especially those who come from rural countryside. They’re just likely curious and fascinated especially the children. The smaller children may want to play with you and touch your hair too.
    If you say hello “ni hao” smile and wave to people looking, they will say hello with a smile back. You may catch them off guard especially the females and grannies, they may giggle or blush. Generally, they are very friendly and helpful and are welcoming to foreigners.

  • @ricotheman8139
    @ricotheman8139 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    If I were in the US, I would not expect anyone to speak Chinese to me, even in the hotel or airport. Common sense, right? Every public sign in big cities in China has English translation on it, I think it’s friendly enough.

  • @michael511128
    @michael511128 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Also in your last you happened to pick a pretty ugly hostel in Donghuamen. And today you walked in Xichengqu. These are about the places in Beijing with the least things to see and enjoy. The actions are east ant north of the Forbidden City. Taxi in Beijing are cheap, make use of them, no tip. I have already recommended Wangfujing St, Oriental Plaza, and Houhai. And you’ve got to try Beijing Duck if you haven’t. You can ear half a duck on empty stomach, not that expensive maybe probably less than 150 RMB total with beer.

  • @eri7-11
    @eri7-11 ปีที่แล้ว

    nice video, i wish you included some of the street sounds as you talk, even just quietly :D

  • @Voxabonable
    @Voxabonable ปีที่แล้ว +5

    China is unique. If you adapt to it, then you should quickly discover it to be a truly fasinating country unlike anything we've been told by the mainstream media. China is accomendating, but it will not adapt to you, a strange concept to chew on.

    • @Voxabonable
      @Voxabonable ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@Banmuyuan hmmm, I'd rather see more visitors learning Chinese. Just my 2 cents

  • @jw1218
    @jw1218 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wow, street is super clean

    • @y.s936
      @y.s936 ปีที่แล้ว

      @JENNYLEEWORLDthat’s simply untrue

  • @TracyUnplugged
    @TracyUnplugged ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Sly, we are here with you on your travels. We appreciate you so much for showing us these different parts of the world. I love ❤ these first impression videos. They are amazingly informative. I love that you don’t watch other people’s vids first, and that you go off of YOUR experiences not others.
    Thank you so much!

  • @jennifergala
    @jennifergala ปีที่แล้ว +1

    So brave. Wow.

  • @John_259
    @John_259 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Very interesting. I hope you get the opportunity to take a trip on one of the Chinese high speed trains sometime. BTW there are quite a few places to see the Great Wall and it would probably be worth doing a bit of reseach to avoid the most crowded areas.

  • @Van_Wilder
    @Van_Wilder ปีที่แล้ว +18

    The staring is something getting used to I suppose but they don’t mean to be rude. It’s more a case of most Chinese haven’t seen a foreigner or more so a black person. So that in itself is foreign to them.

    • @ianchen8582
      @ianchen8582 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I can’t speak for Beijing, but I lived in Shanghai for 3+ years, and I see foreigners literally every time I go outside of my immediate apartment complex area

    • @jayy1980
      @jayy1980 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@ianchen8582Shanghai yes, Beijing not so much, and tianjin guizhou etc even less. Basically foreigners go to shanghai, stay in Shanghai,then claim they have seen China. But China is so large and so varied that they actually have no idea what China really encompasses

  • @Ivan6161bl
    @Ivan6161bl ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I travel a lot and if you cant take the "stare" my advice is don't travel!!

  • @shanghaidiscovery2664
    @shanghaidiscovery2664 ปีที่แล้ว +120

    The air quality improved massively in last 10 years so unless you experience a sandstorm then you are unlikely to see real bad air quality
    In terms of how many speak English, it really depends where you go and who you meet. In hotels nd at the airport, you have to remember the last 3 years the country was pretty much closed off so a lot of these skills were not needed in those jobs. and closed borders for last 3 years also probably explain why a number of people do stare. as you say it is mostly curiosity.... usually most people are pretty friendly

    • @塵世中一個雜種小書僮
      @塵世中一個雜種小書僮 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Western media always promote that Chinese people have been imprisoned for three years, but the fact is that you can travel freely within China because the epidemic has not fully erupted in the country, but only sporadically in some areas of several cities. Therefore, our family has visited half of China in these three years, and the travel experience is even better than when there was no epidemic. The city where I am located has experienced three outbreaks of the epidemic in three years, I have been locked down for a total of 2 months, and the rest of the time is very safe and free. You can go out to eat, drink, go to bars, and have a massage with peace of mind

    • @carlosmante
      @carlosmante ปีที่แล้ว +2

      people visiting China should learn Chinese........

    • @tperk
      @tperk ปีที่แล้ว

      @@carlosmante I did and still got treated like crap. Taxi drivers were openly racist, although I gave most Beijingers the benefit of the doubt seeing they'd only seen European, American or African foreigners in the movies or on TV.

    • @Informativeeye
      @Informativeeye ปีที่แล้ว

      @@tperk They are taxi drivers.

  • @SunnySzetoSz2000
    @SunnySzetoSz2000 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    also remind you every small old style housing you see in Beijing, they are all super rich. Government order not to change all the old style housing to keep the old style. Or you will see some super mordern building just like Shanghai or Shenzhen.

  • @peterpan121983
    @peterpan121983 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    You say that the locals stared a lot at you but the people in the video barely even acknowledge that you exist. 😅

    • @andrewdegozaru74
      @andrewdegozaru74 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      If not the locals, the 'security' cameras were. There was narry a street without one - even the alleys.

    • @hotrib
      @hotrib ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@andrewdegozaru74 that makes u can walk alone at midnight without worrying about the safety issue.

    • @andrewdegozaru74
      @andrewdegozaru74 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@hotrib speaking for myself, countless times I've walked the streets at midnight without government supervision. I've never had a problem. Besides, in this case it is more about monitoring for subversive behaviour, not safety.

    • @homoduran
      @homoduran ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@andrewdegozaru74 fun fact: which city has the largest amout of cctv cameras ==! London

    • @andrewdegozaru74
      @andrewdegozaru74 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@homoduran objective / reliable reference to support your assertion (not BS wu mao sources or 'facts')? Chat GPT States based on it's search of the web it is Beijing. Moreover, London's high level of monitoring doesn't include a social credit scoring system or anywhere the level of identification technology. Besides, just because London has it, doesn't make it acceptable.

  • @youme1414
    @youme1414 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I would like to visit China one day. I like the people for many reasons.

  • @Dumb-Comment
    @Dumb-Comment ปีที่แล้ว +1

    most Chinese almost never seen a black guy, just seeing one is once in a lifetime opportunity, they went from a back water country, farming fishing villages to the China we know today within just one generation, the old people especially

  • @rol6835
    @rol6835 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    May I say just from your camera lens,I don’t see much people staring,maybe you cut those contents out? Good job making this video,Thanks for sharing.👍🏻

    • @do_chill_regular
      @do_chill_regular ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yea, on the first video I was going to comment how I was surprised no one was paying him any attention 😂. Even in this video it seems like people aren’t really staring

  • @davenobody407
    @davenobody407 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    As a Shanghainese I can say Beijing was a huge culture shock to me, when I visited for the first time 20 years ago.😂

    • @andyliu7922
      @andyliu7922 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      lol china comprises of many diff cultures. so true

    • @diversitylove5460
      @diversitylove5460 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes I watched a parade and there were so many different Chinese cultures. I think like India but China has even more.

    • @阿污卵
      @阿污卵 ปีที่แล้ว

      😂

  • @Values-008
    @Values-008 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Is it a bit extreme to say that it is difficult to settle in after only staying for a week? This is not an English-speaking country, but an Asian country with a completely different culture, so of course there will be difficulties. However, it is a safer and more convenient country than any other country in the world. An America where gunfire rings out every day? A Europe with outdated convenience systems? can't even compare

    • @abp4708
      @abp4708 ปีที่แล้ว

      Is that why millions are immigrating legally and illegally to u.s.? Safer?? Haha

  • @peaceonearth1971
    @peaceonearth1971 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    very safe there, brother no needs to get afraid at all

  • @jieliu8088
    @jieliu8088 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    China is clean and safe,also tech advanced and convenient. So what’s more you ask for? Not many countries could achieve this level.

  • @peterpph126
    @peterpph126 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    When, as a black person, and ventured into the older neighbourhood where there are less foreigners, the locals are going to stare.

  • @Jazman233
    @Jazman233 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Hey @Sly, one of the reason the streets are not noisy is because half of the vehicles on the road are electric. They have green plates - take a look for yourself. I was just there 2 weeks ago and I felt like I saw the future, where streets are quiet and smell fresh.

  • @windywendi
    @windywendi ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As a Chinese person I'd like to suggest that China doesn't really have a "cultural capital". Indeed many tourist attractions are in Beijing like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, but China is a very culturally diverse place, and the culture in the South is very different from that of the North which Beijing is an example of.

  • @constantineding8700
    @constantineding8700 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    You get a lot of stares in Beijing probably not just because you are a black man but you being a black man with a camera in hand.
    When you go to some small places in inland china, you would catch all the eyes with or without a camera. Don't be too surprised to be surrounded by all the kids on the street like a movie star. Haha. They don't get to see a black man in person everyday.
    But just like you said in the video, it's just a cultural thing. Hope you get used to it and have a great time in China.

  • @TommyDJr45
    @TommyDJr45 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Yea the language barrier is a big one. Once you speak the language it gets easier. The stares is just a thing, they don't see many black people except of TV, it is what it is. It's just curiosity and them being surprised lol Get further into the city, it's a vibe. Shanghai is better imo

  • @IanCassanova
    @IanCassanova ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Your'e making it easier for the next person of colour to visit China & the next. It's on my list of places to go as well & your videos will help. I like a challenge.

  • @Lctns
    @Lctns ปีที่แล้ว +2

    When locals stare you in South Korea, they probably think you’re a military person stationing there.

  • @jukio02
    @jukio02 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    If you're going to be in China for a few weeks, you gotta travel to other places too. China is a huge country with so many things to see.

  • @0.0LEE-n8i
    @0.0LEE-n8i ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Yes, in China, it's harder to find a place that doesn't use WeChat or Alipay than a place that doesn't use cash. Even many self-employed people are unwilling to accept cash, even though it is illegal

    • @yuzhang2339
      @yuzhang2339 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's why I always ask if they accept cash before paying when I want to use cash.

    • @imretiredtruestory2867
      @imretiredtruestory2867 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      A Shanghai couple that at a store by the Bund got me for all my yuan and then the lady said 'we take American dollars'. I had to run away when they said I needed a nice Chinese girl to marry. I was going to ask to see a picture. 🤣🤣

    • @Storm4155
      @Storm4155 ปีที่แล้ว

      Everywhere accepts cash as well as payment by phone. Everywhere accepts WeChat.

  • @jasonyen123
    @jasonyen123 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Hey Sly, welcome to China! I personally got back to China after a long trip abroad because I was locked in China for the past 3 years due to COVID.
    Please, allow me to share some opinions and perspectives as an East Asian guy (who moved around since birth in multiple continents and countries and now, at the ripe age of 27, having lived and worked in China for the past couple of years).
    Staring is quite common, this comes down to two things:
    1. Generational gaps: young people ('95 & after) rarely stare, they're extremely open and unbiased in their way of life. Whereas the older generations, especially '50-'70, tends to stare quite a lot more. Youl'l have to understand that the whole country was closed off, a lot of them was raised in the uttermost traditional Chinese way of life. They are very curious, want to help, but they realize they don't really know how to help. The funny thing is when you approach them, a lot of them tends to be a little frightened (who wouldn't be if a foreigner goes directly up to them and speak to them in a different language that they've been accustomed to ever since birth)
    2. Where they're from within China: Bigger cities within China, you'd get much much less staring (ie: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen - these we call "first-tier cities" obviously Hong Kong, Taipei...not the debate for today), however, please remember that China is a HUGE HUGE HUGE country - both in terms of the land mass and population. A large majority of the Chinese population do not come from the first-tier cities. Meaning they might have grown up in a city where they might have only seen a handful of non-East Asian looking people in their life.
    In terms of culture shock, Chinese people are very friendly, most of the time you'll realize they don't want to either hurt or harm you in any malicious way; they're just a little bit more reserved and hesitant to throw themselves outwards (part of their education system). However, feel free to drop by Shanghai and I can show you around - I'd like to remind that the first-tier cities are NOT a representation of how the rest of China is! China is awesome, a lot of these things have to be experienced first-handedly. Yes, the media says one thing, but the reality and the circumstances that caused these things all have to be taken into consideration. Regardless, welcome to China Sly

  • @ZungaBungalunga
    @ZungaBungalunga ปีที่แล้ว +1

    If you are shocked by the fact that few Chinese speak English ask yourself how many Americans speaks other language except their own, beginning with yourself!!!!!!

  • @OPK2819
    @OPK2819 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    They stare because you are exotic. Especially because you are black. I am a Nigerian. Been to Beijing 4 times. Got the same look each time. Especially so if you are tall/muscular. The typical Chinese physique is dainty. So they will stare.

  • @Sniperyeti
    @Sniperyeti ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As a New Yorker all I gotta say is wow it looks very clean

  • @michaelzm76
    @michaelzm76 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    As a Shanghainese in China, I will feel the culture shock when I go to northern China, such as Beijing for vacation or business travel. As a foreign traveler, you will certainly be impacted more...

    • @michaelzm76
      @michaelzm76 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @JENNYLEEWORLD China has the third largest land area in the world, with a vast territory beyond your imagination. There are numerous developed and underdeveloped regions. You can judge the situation in China by only watching a video. You are really genius🤣

    • @jzvr5842
      @jzvr5842 ปีที่แล้ว

      @JENNYLEEWORLD In your dreams lol, nice try little jealous cia bot. korea was a slave of China in the past and is a slave of the us now lol, forever a little slave cities in korea are little villages compared to cities in China.

    • @hanmi1216
      @hanmi1216 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ​@JENNYLEEWORLD lol it's vice versa. Learn the history correctly. Even the Korean hanbok is a copy from Chinese hanfu Tang dinasty period. Even their country flag has Chinese ying yang symbol in it 😅😅😅

    • @michaelzm76
      @michaelzm76 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @JENNYLEEWORLD Human beings also originated in Africa, so according to your inference, Mongolia and Korea are both African natives. You are really genius🤣

    • @russelfang7434
      @russelfang7434 ปีที่แล้ว

      @JENNYLEEWORLD I wonder if you have read history. First, Han people themselves are a cultural concept, and there is no Han nationality in terms of blood. Second, the Tang Dynasty was founded by Han people, just because Li Shimin's maternal blood had Xianbei blood is not enough to show that he was Xianbei. Most importantly, the Mongolian nationality has nothing to do with the Xianbei nationality. The biggest relationship between the two is that they both originated in the northern steppe.
      I don't know why you are so obsessed with Koreans and Mongols, the Mongols only ruled China briefly in the Yuan Dynasty before being pushed back to the grasslands by the Ming Dynasty and eventually unified by China in the Qing Dynasty, and the Manchus in the Qing Dynasty were also Chinese even though they were not Han Chinese, as for the Koreans, well, the Koreans never even defeated the Chinese dynasty militarily, How will they conquer China?

  • @namastewoke5197
    @namastewoke5197 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I was highly suggested to by my friends in Shanghai, Tianjin, Hangzhou and Beijing that I really should know at least a bit of basic mandarin Chinese to get by, because no one really speaks English (most of them use a type of translator app to communicate). As a new career change getting my teaching certification to teach English as a foreign language in China, I am also working on Mandarin and Vietnamese even though it is not required to know the language to teach English in China, it will certainly ease the transition and culture shock as a black female American teaching in mainland China. I am not sure many sistas are jumping planes to go to China to teach English which is a shame because the people and places seem to be very energetic and gorgeous from all the pictures and videos I have seen here and from my friends. I look forward to new experiences and adventures like you Sly! Thank you for sharing your adventures with us! 🙏🏾

  • @jasontan7523
    @jasontan7523 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Could they be possibly staring because you're recording? I know people in general can be wary of that.

    • @rocket4433
      @rocket4433 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      你瞅啥
      瞅你咋滴
      🤣?It's normal to star other people in China, especially if you are a little different. But if you don't care about that, people will look at it and then avoid it. They won't keep looking at it. If you react in a different way, people will stare at you longer 🤣🤣 be open to curious stares, people will just casually glance, no harm, just relax and no longer attract attention。

    • @jasontan7523
      @jasontan7523 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@rocket4433 true hahah, you get normal curious stares in any part of the world but I think if you stare back with a cam then people will definitely end up starting longer at you 🥴

  • @sachinchauhan7775
    @sachinchauhan7775 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    One complaint I could never understand is 'People stare'
    OfCourse people will stare. We live among humongous population which is mostly homogenous. So yes, people will stare when people from other parts of the world visits these places.
    Staring does not automatically mean abuse, racism, discrimination.

  • @richardlo4867
    @richardlo4867 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    I enjoyed the walkabout, looks like everyday life in a part of Beijing. My wife is caucasian and we were visiting the southen city of Xiamen in 2019 and waiting in a lounge for a ferry. She was stared at pretty thoroughly by two women who are tourists from the countryside. She was pretty ticked off even though I tried to let her know beforehand that, yes staring is going to happen, it's a huge country and alot of people never had a closeup with a foreigner.

  • @WeAretheWorld89
    @WeAretheWorld89 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    You went there, they didn't come to you. They speak what they have been spoken for thousands of year. If they will to travel to France , they dont expect French to speak Chinese. Similarly u go Vietnam you got to know how to communicate if they don't understand.

  • @MrTubesong
    @MrTubesong ปีที่แล้ว +25

    In tourist areas, you would not get much staring, but in residential areas yeah you will 😂

  • @stinkybeam
    @stinkybeam ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm born and rise in Beijing, now living in Beijing. let's explain why "crazy stare", because in Beijing, there is very few people with dark skin, how few? I has never encounter a black people until I was 23, and first black people I met was a TSA guy in LAX airport. Beijing now have more black people now, but still, very rare.

  • @xinzhiwei1722
    @xinzhiwei1722 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I want to mention that for our new generation born in 2000s, we generally don't prefer staring anymore due to the fact that we have encountered many foreigners on the Internet, the street, etc. I believe in the following two decades, it will not be the case anymore.

  • @parasitius
    @parasitius ปีที่แล้ว +6

    God bless you China, never change. I actually really genuinely enjoyed hearing that what I experienced in 2002 is still there for the travelers to get a taste of. Globalization and the whole world becoming one grey monoculture with English all enveloping is actually a fear I have, the world would be such a boring place for people born in the future.... glad to hear at least 1 billion are safe, for now!!
    It's too bad you don't speak Chinese, you'd get a chance to see Chinese people at a whole different level. As far as I know, it is the only country where you can end up getting invited into the home of a complete stranger (and their family) for dinner with just the most trivial of initial interactions with them ~ or end up invited to join them at a restaurant. Chinese hospitality is next level (out of countries on the face of the planet), it puts any bit to which they seem "reserved" into a different perspective. And I'm not talking about something you'd need to go to a village to witness, right in Beijing etc.

  • @jaimeduncan6167
    @jaimeduncan6167 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I belive the air quality issue is basically under control nowadays. A few years ago it was bad.

    • @duzhuo
      @duzhuo ปีที่แล้ว

      This year, due to the sandstorm in Mongolia, the air in spring is also very poor

  • @cheungchingtong
    @cheungchingtong ปีที่แล้ว +5

    1. I live in another metropolis in China, Shenzhen, honking for no reason is against the traffic law here, buzzing and noisy, you will get fine ticket for that, cities like Beijing may be the same. Overall, China may not be the most discipline country when it comes to traffic, but certainly not one of the worst.
    2. Some people in China will look at foreigners more often, not in a bad way, it is not a migrate country after all. But you don't need to be a foreigner to be stared at if you hold a camera in your hand lol.
    3. The pollution that happens in Beijing and all those windy and sandy kind of things that you saw on news started from at least 800 years ago, due to the massive forest loss in northwestern provinces and the desert expansion. But things are getting better n better all these years, most of the days you get to see the blue sky and sunshine.
    Highly recommand you to visit the central area in Beijing, try some food and go feel the vibe.

    • @constantineding8700
      @constantineding8700 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The sandstorm is getting worse because Mongolia has a serious problem with desertization. In spring the sandstorms from Mongolia cross the border and affect northern part of China.

    • @cheungchingtong
      @cheungchingtong ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@constantineding8700 Though that really happened this year, but I think it is getting better compared to the last few decades. Besides, the afforestation campaign is still ongoing.

    • @constantineding8700
      @constantineding8700 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@cheungchingtong I'm not very optimistic about it because no matter how much afforestation China does it cannot be done across the borderline.
      The sandstorm would always be a problem until Mongolia does the same thing.

  • @georgezheng8142
    @georgezheng8142 ปีที่แล้ว

    Here is my two cents on staring:
    1. Most (90%+) Chinese people have never encounter a foreinger in their entire life. Yes there are many foreigners in Beijing and Shanghai, but their activities are very limited in CBD/universities/tourist spots.
    2. As Chinese, my wife and I were stared in a restaurant in a small Arizona village by an old couple. After being stared for 5 min, we actually started a conversation with the couple, and learned that the couple have never seen an Asian in their village (there aren't any living there, and the village is not a tourist spot).

  • @mittao86
    @mittao86 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    People in the big cities dont stares anymore because City people is use to see all kind of people from diffrent part of the world, people that stares is tourist from rural places or workers from other small cities or rural places. Also that your eyes is dry, is becuse Beijing is a desert city and the air is dry. I live in China for more than 10y, from 2005 to 2015, China have change alot and i think its impossible for westerners to understand how fast China change. Also you better get use to be stare on really, we talk about barely 20y of extreme changing and many Chinese people havent seen Black people, its innocent stares, if you start talking to them, people will open up and help

  • @weij5123
    @weij5123 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi, actual Beijinger here.
    Just couple notes to explain some of the points from this video:
    1. Of course we got A LOT of foreigners in Beijing, but foreigners tend to be centered in one or two areas, which most part of Beijing still never seen/rare to see a foreigner walking on street (Beijing city is actually 21 times the area of New York City).
    2. The air pollution problem is actually much better than 10 years ago, before it's like 8/10 days are polluted, but now is more like 4-8/100 days are polluted. Winter tend to be more polluted beause we use the radiator which provided by boiling water from a control center.
    3. Bikes/bycicles. Those bikes are really big problem for us. It's good becuase the delivery driver are using bikes for food delivery, and shared bycicles can be found and return basically anywhere. BUT, they made it quite chaotic from time to time and sometimes dangerous to walk on the street cause those delivery drivers have no mercy on pedestrians, and if you drive, you will know the pain of those shared bikes are everywhere blocking the public parking lots or so.

  • @DensterNY
    @DensterNY ปีที่แล้ว +14

    A lot of people in China haven't been exposed to a lot of different people and this doesn't just apply to different races. I'm an American of Chinese descent and I've visited there with my family and they stare at us too because we're from New York and we got that style and swagger and look hella out of place, haha.

    • @KinLee919
      @KinLee919 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      😂

    • @DensterNY
      @DensterNY ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Armament Armed Arm It's likely a combination of the way we speak, dress, look and carry ourselves. We just ignore any staring and accept we're in someone else's backyard.

    • @rainman5428
      @rainman5428 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@DensterNY yeah If you were born in the US then people can easily tell the difference, the behavior and the look, and in a homogenous society people are curious about it.

  • @clarkzhang9476
    @clarkzhang9476 ปีที่แล้ว

    keep it real and keep it you my brother, geniune first impression of a city or country is usualy about you rather than the desination itself.

  • @imseein
    @imseein ปีที่แล้ว +4

    In this video I didn't see that many people staring at you non-stop.

  • @kennyz6271
    @kennyz6271 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for the videos .I just love it .

  • @Softerhaze
    @Softerhaze ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Everywhere just looks so clean! Everywhere online is stuff about how polluted China is, bad air quality etc but in all the genuine videos I have seen of people travelling in China, everywhere just seems the exact opposite. They are really advancing with green energy technology and most cities have many green spaces and trees

    • @楠楠-q4n
      @楠楠-q4n ปีที่แล้ว

      有些媒体故意抹黑中国。有机会过来中国看看吧,你会明白一切😊

  • @XLJMcrystal
    @XLJMcrystal ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As a Chinese, i can tell you that you will get a culture shock even moving from Beiking to another Chinese city

  • @christopherheselton9421
    @christopherheselton9421 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thanks for sharing. It was good seeing the street I used to live on 15 years ago. I hope you have a good time there.
    While many foreigners live in Beijing and many are used to it, there are not as many black Americans or Africans there, so it can be something unusual for some people. As a white American, I used to be stared at in 03' when I first went there, but by about 06' I rarely was stared at, but some of my black friends complained they had to deal with stares. Another thing to keep in mind is that not everyone you meet in Beijing is from there or grew up there. There are many tourist and migrant workers from other parts of China. Some of them are from the countryside and have never seen foreigners. Those usually tend to be the people who stare in my experience. Local urban residents are too self-absorbed and unfazed by anything to notice a foreigner. I'm also wondering, as I've heard that there are far fewer foreigners in Beijing than there used to be. When I last lived there, in 2016, there were about 200,000 foreign residents in Beijing. I don't know what that number is now, but likely far far less.

  • @janinevance9917
    @janinevance9917 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    In the video it doesn’t appear as if they’re staring tho.

  • @asiandramablackwomen2572
    @asiandramablackwomen2572 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Hey Sly! I view several Black TH-camrs who live in China. The stares are said to be common but what makes the difference is how/whether you’ll choose to respond. There’s a TH-camr who chooses to interact with the people & capture the reactions on video…& it does seem to boil down to genuine curiosity. And when the conversations start it’s amazing how there’s such a willingness to learn, understand & communicate. It’ll be interesting the see what path you decide to take…outsider or insider???

  • @TheLinama
    @TheLinama ปีที่แล้ว +1

    it's more likely because you are filming, not because you are a foreigner. People don't see many foreigners filming all the time. Also, you stay in areas that don't see many foreigners. Most of them live in more modern areas.

  • @disallusionment4449
    @disallusionment4449 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I love China! I went there for spring break when I was in highschool as a part of our Mandarin language curriculum. I won't lie, I've forgotten a lot of what I learned but one of my life goals is to finish learning Mandarin and visit China again. The people are so welcoming and the food is amazing!! Chinese people are very curious about tourists though lol and random people might ask you for selfies!

  • @yishi9603
    @yishi9603 ปีที่แล้ว

    There are some recommend:Sanlitun village、798 art zone、Wudaoying hutong、Shichahai。super recommend to go to Jingshan park and climb on the hill ,you will see the whole Forbidden city and Beijing

  • @GLOBALALLIANCE
    @GLOBALALLIANCE ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Sly, just smile and make eye contact whenever you noticed someone staring at you I bet they will do the smile and wave back.

  • @ER-kh7rz
    @ER-kh7rz ปีที่แล้ว

    great video and enjoyed the thought process

  • @leeming2781
    @leeming2781 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Why has it been emphasized that no Chinese speak English? If you feel inconvenient, you can learn Chinese. China is not a western country, the Chinese learn English only for use in specific areas, rather than taking English as the main language

    • @dennisliuxinlu
      @dennisliuxinlu ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @JENNYLEEWORLD Not trying to be antagonistic here, but China literally kept the bulk of the Japanese forces on their home turf, if they weren't there, the US would've been overwhelmed by more IJA manpower. Not to mention, the US wanted to nuke China during the Korean War. They sanctioned china for decades until the 1970s which I would argue caused millions of starvations.

    • @dennisliuxinlu
      @dennisliuxinlu ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @JENNYLEEWORLD You make absolutely no sense. China pushed both the US and their vassal SK past the 38th parallel.

    • @jhsf777
      @jhsf777 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      ​@JENNYLEEWORLD and China helped the US recover from the 2008 financial crisis by buying their debt. The least you guys can do is remove your millitary bases from South Korea and Japan.

    • @wsmithe2209
      @wsmithe2209 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@dennisliuxinlu - Don't waste your time on this person. It's totally useless.

    • @festusbojangles7027
      @festusbojangles7027 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@dennisliuxinlu the only thing causing starvation in china before the 70's was the policies of Mao and the CCP. 三年大饑荒. the famines caused by the crazy policies of the CCP

  • @zhenchang9579
    @zhenchang9579 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    To be honest, African American is not so often seen in BeiJing except for Beijing Language University. Same thing in San Francisco, most people who stare at me usually have not seen a lighter skintoned, 6.3feet northern Chinese like me before .

  • @jennyohara4011
    @jennyohara4011 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    They might stare but never will they tell you to go to the back of the bus..China is such a Beautiful society

  • @BlackwellGlass
    @BlackwellGlass ปีที่แล้ว

    It takes about 3-4 weeks for the rose colored glasses to come off and get settled in! I lived there for about 2.5 months for intensive language courses.

  • @gamingbtc
    @gamingbtc ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The staring is really just because you are so unique to be visiting there and it is special for them. I had people running out of the local shops to say hi to me when I visited China 10 years ago. Especially if you go to more local areas, some people have literally never seen a foreigner. You're special to some of them and like a celebrity in a way. Enjoy it! :)