China is a huge and diverse country with different ethnic groups, languages, cultures and food. If you go to south like Guangzhou, you will see that they love their soups.
China seems a whole different world to me in a good way ofc. I've seen lot of travel videos in different countries but China always hit different like they've built there own world inside the country. Love to visit there one day
well it should be..... do western people who go to other countries just expect another hub for starbucks / maccy ds / kfc etc???? wouldnt it be boring??? holy heck its a nightmare if that was what china turned into thnk god china isnt anything as crazy.... every country should have its own unique flavour..... plus its also a reason there isnt an obesity problem
Thank you for this excellent video. So clear and informative. Ican’t wait to experience China. I watch all Chinese series on Viki. I especially like the costume dramas, Dynasty and historic series. I also love the language because it is musical and soft. I’ve tried to watch some Korean series which are good but the harshness of the language grates on the ear. At one time I worked for some Chinese people and was amazed to find they had the same sense of humour as us and were such hard workers. I was so impressed. I’m trying to learn the language at the moment but as I am in my 70s, find it very hard, it is fascinating though and very interesting to study more so than any other language. I like the Chinese people I have met and can’t wait to go there where the films are made. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and huge, I can’t wait to see it.
Oh, don’t we all love a Chinese palace drama where the imperial consorts and concubines try to poison or kill one another not to mention their constant b1tch fights 😅
And it is not only in Shanghai that's clean and safe. Every other cities in China, big or small, are like that too. You won't feel unsafe walking down a quiet street in China, unlike US where crimes like mugging and killing are so common that people take that as a norm. So who have more freedom in this sense? The freedom to go anywhere at anytime in your own country without fearing for the safety of your life. And lets not even talk abt cleanliness. The streets in some US cities, even the big ones, are so filthy that it makes you wonder whether you are really in a 1st world developed country.
@@YahelevenYes, we don't have the freedom to shoot or take drugs, or we don't have the freedom to defecate at subway stations, nothing else is different
Guess what, Chinese is the most spoken language on earth. Once you can speak Chinese you suddenly can communicate to 1.3 billion more people on earth. Isn't that a cool thing to do?
@@ramxmar thats 1 point.... youre pointing out china and inside china..... outside china there are various other asian or asean countries that read write and consume chinese media and culture...... hk, taiwan, macau, singapore, malaysia, africa XD.... and im just speaking about spoken language..... im not even referring to cultural tv or beliefs then that would widen and include vietnam, thailand, cambodia, indonesia etc...... language is just one commonality..... for example food, chopsticks and everyone has even heard of the monkey king even in south america.... obviously my point is pointing to the wider issue happening with the west! and your point stating that china is the most populated is definitely one reason why china is the hub of the world
1.5 bln would be closer to the truth... or even 1.4..... and thats not including the 10M native chinese outsde of china or non native that also happen to align with chinese language and culture not of chinese descent...... 1.3 is indias population!
You have just described one city, Shanghai but I guess if you have a chance visiting other cities, big and small, you will have a lot of surprises for your Vblog. China is such a huge country so harmoniously diverse and yet uniform. You will have much to report about.
dont think he should report lol, i think he should just enjoy and maybe document..... i just feel that nearly everyone that is foreign and is in china feels the need to set western records straight..... and sometimes it comes across as box ticking or even propaganda..... it depends how the video is done i suppose...... if he wants to report then report or document.... i dont know i just feel like everyone who goes to china feels like theyre making the same videos answering the same questions over and over and i get there are some questions, issues and topics that are unavoidable because its uniquely china etc like transport in china, like paperless money etc... i dont know... im thinking out loud.... im not suggesting he should or shouldnt do this or that.... i like natural sort of diary vids.... i really like stu from china traveller, i love his channel.... i also like afu and abit of blondie.....
I thought the biggest shocks for a foreigner would be the wide use of digital currency, the ease of online shopping and the vast network of high speed bullet trains. Shanghai is the largest metropolitan in China, not exactly representative of the country, go to some of the 3rd, 4th level cities to experience real China. Beijing for example, is very different from Shanghai. Hope you enjoy your stay in China.
The city used to be very crowded because traditionally people all lived in the CBD, however in the past few decades when more and more new MRT lines were built extending to outskirts of the city, the government asked people to relocate to outskirts 2-3 hours from city centre and paid them 3 million to 5 million RMB as compensation depending on the home size and number of people of the family. People were given a choice of either buying a new home with cheaper price or moving to the apartments government built. After people were moved out, government knocked down all the old houses and build skyscrapers, some of the houses demolished were historical and 200-300 years old including these built by Britain and France during 1840-1945 era of international settlements in Shanghai. Shanghai had been ruled by a dozen of western nations and there were British, French, American and Japanese concessions, they were Indian policemen patrolling British concession and Vietnamese policemen patrolling French concession. There were tens of thousands American seamen, Jewish refugees from Europe and Russians living in Shanghai. There is an office building of Korean government in exile in Shanghai after Japan invaded Korea.
@@kwokholuk8723 Correct. Great Britain has contributed a great deal in Shanghai’s city development during its 100 year rule in the city’s international settlement from constructing new roads, buildings and tram routes to schools, hospitals, racecourse and ports, most importantly Britain established rules and western legal system in Shanghai. French influence is mainly in French concession but British influence is everywhere. Shanghai was like another Hong Kong in 1930s and 40s.
Compared to many developing countries, the streets in China are very clean. No homeless people around. Many foreigners living in China have commented that China is very safe country with very low crime rate. People are very friendly too.
@@sosoable Many more people died in America from gun violence and covid infection, and many innocent people died countries invaded by US and allies. In fact millions have died.
@@sosoable So what? Does it affect the whole country of 1.4 billion people? This is not even a tiny drop in an ocean of 1.4 billion people. Furthermore this is connected to people who are colluding with foreign powers, clamoring for democracy and carrying covert terrorist operations insides China. These are cowards who dare not directly fight with Chinese military but carrying out despicable terrorist attacks on innocent people and stirring up hatred against the authorities.
Thank you for your videos, they’re great to watch and very insightful! I will be moving to Shanghai in a few months, so these introductions to the city are very useful 👍🏼 Keep them coming!
Not all soup dishes the soup is supposed to be eaten. It depends on the dish type. Some soup noodles for example, the soup is equivalent to condiments like soy-sauce, ketchup etc, just used to flavour the noodle but not supposed to be eaten by itself once the noodles' are finished. Some soup noodle the soup is supposed to be finished, because it's not made to be condiment to the dish itself. So be careful, by finishing 'soup' when it's not really soup.
maybe its me, i just finish everything in the bowl..... ive just been taught not to waste.... and i also get that not everything is supposed to be soup, soup base or broth.... which is why that point also stuck out like a sore thumb to me..... chinese do not waste anything.... i mean the majority..... obviously im not saying waste doesnt happen of course its sometimes unavoidable..... i was just shocked when he said "everyone" doesnt finish? and i also have never been to shanghai to know if thats true.... let alone watch every single shanghainese finish their bowl of soup lol but have to point out the difference is im chinese born and bred overseas in the uk but taught not to waste anything and also would point out that my parents would probably say guandong or canton is the area that i would mostly associate with or be familiar with as my parents are from hk and yes they do finish everything etc.... ok disclaimer before theres any crazy misunderstanding.... obviously talking generally when i say we finish everything...... its usually more rare to find plates unfinished unless its bad..... even when people cant finish, theres an option to take the food home.... i think my point is or maybe a few people have cottoned onto the point in the video where it sort of paints chinese or in this case shanghainese people as wasteful when it comes to food? and for me that point is very jarring..... AGAIN ive never been to shanghai personally..... ive only been to hk.... so maybe shanghainese people dont finish everything and is wasteful???? and also disclaimer im aware that some of the foods it would be impossible to finish off everything like say for example the TONS of chillis and chilli oil in a hotpot... thats for the flavour, thats essentally like soy sauce for flavouring or for dipping..... when i see that going to waste its sort of hurts but i understand thats impossible to drink all of it lol.... anyway not a negative comment or whatever i was also coming down the comments wondering if shanghai people waste alot of food lol..... again im chinese but in the uk and have never been to shanghai and this fact alone n the video would be culture shock for me lol!! i would personally WANT to finish everything served to me and not let any of it go to waste.... barring erm big bowls of chillis or chilli oil in a hotpot or dips obviously
You really don't have any idea about "Western Food". Take the soupy Chinese beef noodles for example. You get the noodles in a nice beef broth and it cost about 12 - 15 yuan in a small restaurant. In western country, you order that broth as soup and it cost you over USD$10/-. So next time, drink that damn broth.
Awesome video and great editing! 👏 The way you speak to us, viewers, is captivating and it makes the vid all the more interesting. 😁 I haven't been to China in over 8 years, so it's cool to see how modern the cities have become!
I have more experience of Chengdu, which is also a mega city with 21 million people living there. May I add a a couple of things that was a positive experience for me when I first came to Changdu in 2015. It's very clean. - No trash or grafitti. There is none of that. - Well dressed people. Especially the young (maybe up to their fourties) dress very well. No sloppyness, showing their crack, wear down jeans och shoes. Very tidy people. (Except from some who spit in the street. There are more of that than back in Sweden I can tell - Sense of safety. I can walk ANYWHERE in the city and not feel threated by violence. Girls sit in parks after dark doing their homework and noone approach them. And in coffee shops. The chair and tables and be left outside without them getting thrown around, stolen och trashed. They are not chained down at all. And public toilets. Very very clean, atleast in Chengdu. And again, you can go there without someone approaching you. I'm aware that the above is not 100% true all the time. What is your experience? I'm asking the people in the comment section here :)
haha you just made me miss chengdu even more... nowdays young people on the red or xiaohongshu (a chinese version of Pinterest/insta) promote chengdu as china's berlin becuase of its inclusivity of lgbtq and subculture stuff. weirdly i start to love Chengdu more after i studied aboard in canada...it's just way more fun, energetic, and convenient
@@Julia1khabarovsk I live in Sweden.Yes, after closing time tables and chaorvget chained/wired together and locked. Otherwise they most likely get stolen or thrown around and trashed by less lovable people. Seen this in many countries atleast in Europe.
Such a beautiful city. I hope I can visit there as well and stay there for a month or two. I was told the food there is so delicious. I plan to lose some weight before I go, in case I'll eat too much.😅🤣
I went back to Shanghai after almost 4 years of studying in the UK. This video is also relatable to me cuz I kinda feel that reverse culture shock! :) and I would say that Shanghai wasn’t that empty until the pandemic and lockdown started.
Not right about not finishing your soup. I am a Chinese and I always finish the soup whenever possible, hate wasting good food. Only when the soup is too salty or not so nice, do I leave it unfinished. If you have a meal at a Chinese home, it is best to finish everything, it shows your appreciation of the food, that it is good food (just the opposite of what you said in the vid). Your host may offer you more if he sees your bowl is empty, just politely refuse (it is OK) by saying you are full already.
Depends the soup, modern days some restaurants don't make the real soup like they used to, instead they put msg giving it a more strong favour, therefore some people may not drink the whole thing aside from being full already.
As a chinese, i was really thrill to see who as a foreigner spreading the real things in china. Very appreciated！I strongly recommend to go to many other cities in china. For instance,Suzhou and Chengdu, as china is a such huge country that no city is totally representitive.🙂
Nice video. Also as Shanghainese, I feel for no.6 it really depends on which area you live. The shopping malls, restaurants, KTV and bars usually have more people, but the most “Loud” crowd is the old people who dance and sing near your home hahaha( But it’s true that there are fewer people on streets after the Covid :()
In fact, the preference of Chinese people for white skin is a historical phenomenon, as in the past, people who engaged in heavy physical labor were usually outdoors, which led to their skin being very dark. Chinese people, due to their desire to become wealthier people, have led to an aesthetic trend towards white skin. This is also why Europeans initially described Chinese people as "white people like us" when they arrived in China, because their hosts were wealthy people who did not need to work outdoors, so their skin was not tanned, and most of them had white skin
Not only China, it is popular for the whole East Asia that people prefer whiter skin. For Japan, Korea, Vietnam etc., they have the similar preference.
I was in Spain and despite being able to speak a bit of Spanish, I was often ignored. Once I went to a cafe and asked for some food in broken Spanish. The staff made it clear they didn't want a non-Spanish eating in their cafe.
I found the 7th very interesting! Haven’t noticed that before. There’s a lot of reasons to explain why people don’t finish their food. The one you mentioned counts one. And sometimes as a restaurant owner or a host if you don’t provide enough food (to some extent it means beyond regular size) people might not think you’re as friendly as they expected. Though there’s another Chinese traditional culture is don’t waste food. But I’m confused as well because from my experience I think it really depends on situations and it is very hard for us to finish noodles, especially the noodles dish when you eat out. 🤣 On the other hand, modern Chinese culture cares more about the way they look, like the 3rd culture shock. Eating less is another way to show how they care about the calories they intake, for the young female generation especially. I’m living in a western city and I found it’s very easy for me to finish a pasta dish but there is always something left in my Asian noodle bowl. 😂
The culture shock you experienced is very interesting! We should know that China is not a country but a civilization in a sense. Imagine that it is composed of 1.4 billion people with different customs. Even the dialects of people in the southeast and northwest are different. In China, most Chinese people do not understand the dialects of other regions, which is totally different from the accent. Different cultural customs have created different food cultures, and the differences are beyond imagination! You can assume that China is regarded as a unified European country. The core of Chinese culture lies in cultural identity, ancestral identity, and the pursuit of inclusiveness and harmony. Chinese people love peace and do not take the initiative to provoke disputes. They advocate moderation and benevolence. They have a completely different world outlook from the West. There is no zero-sum game thinking in the West! I wish you have a good time in China and everything goes well! Greetings from a Chinese!
It was a lot more crowded before the pandemic. Tourists are less because of the Covid policy. It’s just inconvenient to travel around. If you came 5 years ago, Nanjing road would always be full of tourists. Also welcome to Shanghai😊You have a lot to explore. I would recommend you go to some sub centers instead of just the center of Shanghai. If you like greeneries, Gongqing forest park is a great place to go and you’ll see how families enjoy their weekend.
I watch a lot of Chinese drama's and always assumed that the empty streets I was seeing were filmed very early or late in the day, to avoid the crowds. Your comments on that shocked me.
or it was all filmed on a set or wherever that place is called.... i also assumed china is packed 24hrs a day.... but it makes sense it isnt thank god lol
if you want night life go to southern part of China. or find some teens they will teach you where to have fun during mid night. generally speaking big city has midnight life. but you need to know where is it. BTW covid19 made a lots interest place closed...
Its easy for westerns to enjoy the convenience, efficiency and modernization in China , but maybe harder for them to enjoy China’s culture, especially those cultures identifying race. It’s natural and understandable, cause to sincerely embrace or enjoy a new culture, it always comes with a little bit of humble about your past.
Chinese culture emphasizes seeking common ground while reserving differences, which is also suitable for communication with countries around the world. However, the aggression of Western countries and Japan has made us more aware of the importance of unity
I find your videos about Shanghai both informative and entertaining. I would be interested in a video about you: how and why did a Bolivian come to live in Shanghai; do you plan on staying for a long time; do you have a job there; I believe you are somewhat fluent in Chinese but not sure; did your educational experience prepare you for your living in China, etc. Thanks.
All interesting "shocks," and even after 12 years in China, some I hadn't really given much thought to. Looking back over the time I've been here, there are a couple of things that continue to pleasantly surprise me. One is how safe it is. I've lived in a few different cities, and all of them are safe to walk around in anywhere and any time, even alone at night on darkened streets or back alleyways. No problem! The other is the quality and affordability of medical and dental care. Not to go into details, but as an American and senior citizen (74), I can say that even without insurance, my costs are considerably lower than my net costs would be back in America. Recently, I had a surgery which had me in the hospital for 5 days (total out of pocket was $4,000). However, I do need the help of my Chinese wife to navigate the system, because I have been lazy about becoming even close to fluent in Chinese.
Beggars have long been out of work in China, where few carry cash. All payment, top-up, shopping, consumption, check a variety of procedures, bills, bills, taxis, tickets, looking for moving, looking for a repairman, looking for a variety of mechanics. Hair and nails, everything in life can be done on one phone. China's various departments, institutions, industries have their own two-dimensional code, mobile phone scan to solve related problems. .
Actually, there are no panhandlers in China. It’s illegal to beg for money on the streets in China. Poverty in China has been eradicated and the government has implemented many programs to help the poorer people. Unlike the western countries, panhandlers and homeless people are everywhere. I recently visited San Francisco in California USA and stayed at a 5 star hotel in downtown. I paid $300 US dollars per night. I didn’t see any homeless people around the street of the hotel. But as soon as I walked down 2 blocks, I saw so many homeless people sleeping on doorways, tents, cardboard boxes. They urinate and defecate on the streets. If you’re not watching your steps, you can easily step on the urine and feces if not the homeless person. They panhandle very aggressively and if you don’t give them any money, they will call you names and make derogatory racial remarks. They don’t want food. they just want cash so they can buy alcohol or drugs. Their government needs to resolve the homeless problem or else no tourist will go there.
really respect that you really dig to experience and observe the life in china. i live in another country now and sometimes i just feel lack of courage and patient to get involved.
Not all Chinese noodles pays attention to the broth. Some broths are just soy source/MSG mixed with water; hence, people don't really empty their bowl unless the place is known for their broths.
Before the pandemic, it was more crowned, and a lot of night time lives such as night markets, street snacks and restaurants, ktvs, bars, clubs, game centers and etc.
Thank you for your video. I'm Chinese and I was shocked that the people are much stronger than us after I went abroad. In my mind, old people are usually slim haha.
That was interesting, thank you. I hadn't been to SHH in 30 years. The soup in the noodle bowl - how amazing. I never knew that soup was a priority in any country, unless it's a soup dish. Soup in noodle to me , is just water. Proper soup I expect lots of ingredients, to be very nutritious as you may know by now, Chinese people always emphasize if the food is good for you, good for your body.
There is a lot of preception that the soup of the Chinese noodles soup is just MSG in hot water that's why we don't drink it. A "good Chinese soup" that we would consume is made by very different ingredients.
Very nice vlog and hope you enjoy your stay in China. Many of your so-called "cultural shocks" are actually not caused by culture, but by the way that your media portray China and Chinese. Some of them are ignorant, while some of them are racist.
As a local Shanghainese, I also don’t understand why people only eat the noodles and leave the soup.😂actually I like the noodle soup a lot. I think it’s very tasty.
I guess the time you filmed this video, shanghai was still under the impact of covid. You'll probably feel it less quiet by now lol. Hope you enjoy the time in Shanghai
Interesting take. I can relate to a lot of it. The only thing I would caution people watching is not to generalise Shanghai to China as a whole. Shanghai to the rest of China is a bit like Paris to the rest of France. You see a much different side of China in third tier and below cities or the countryside.
In terms of nightlife, it depends on where you go in China, and you'll get a very different impression of China. Shanghai doesn't really have nightlife. But if you go to some other cities in China, you'll find very busy exciting nightlife. For example, I think parts of Chengdu don't seem to go to sleep! Even 3am is completely filled with people on the streets!
Talking about the “soup” huh? I want you to do it whe having the hotpot, hahaha Also, no impression 9n the infrastructures, the scales and designs of the their cities, the futuristic public transport system, the cars, THE CARS they having! Or the immense dynamic and almost heavenly the beauty of this land? You will get more shocks if you explore it further.
Thanks for your cultural shocks, did you mention how modern and technological advanced China is, how many foreigners you can see in the Bund, how friendly locals with foreigners, how many electric cars on the road, how different it was depicted by western media, etc etc...these are shocks as well lol
China is a huge and diverse country with different ethnic groups, languages, cultures and food. If you go to south like Guangzhou, you will see that they love their soups.
Hahaha I love this comment!
For Guangdonger, soup is the main dish, noodle is decoration.
reminds me of hot dry noodles I Wuhan...
@@shanghaiandi768 Time to learn Cantonese
China seems a whole different world to me in a good way ofc. I've seen lot of travel videos in different countries but China always hit different like they've built there own world inside the country. Love to visit there one day
Welcome to China🎉🎉
well it should be..... do western people who go to other countries just expect another hub for starbucks / maccy ds / kfc etc???? wouldnt it be boring??? holy heck its a nightmare if that was what china turned into thnk god china isnt anything as crazy.... every country should have its own unique flavour.....
plus its also a reason there isnt an obesity problem
@@antwango well good for you. I Don't know about "Western people ". I'm not from there. I wasn't saying about Western things either 🤔
A town in China is equivalent to a nation in Europe, so the whole China is like a scaled down version of the United Nations.
欢迎
Thank you for this excellent video. So clear and informative. Ican’t wait to experience China. I watch all Chinese series on Viki. I especially like the costume dramas, Dynasty and historic series. I also love the language because it is musical and soft. I’ve tried to watch some Korean series which are good but the harshness of the language grates on the ear. At one time I worked for some Chinese people and was amazed to find they had the same sense of humour as us and were such hard workers. I was so impressed. I’m trying to learn the language at the moment but as I am in my 70s, find it very hard, it is fascinating though and very interesting to study more so than any other language. I like the Chinese people I have met and can’t wait to go there where the films are made. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and huge, I can’t wait to see it.
Oh, don’t we all love a Chinese palace drama where the imperial consorts and concubines try to poison or kill one another not to mention their constant b1tch fights 😅
Welcome to China!!!(^･ｪ･^)(o^∀^o)
@@never4ever386 what is better than British killers who burnt Summer Palace and push opium all over China, blood suckers were finally kicked out
It is very interesting to me that seventy-year-old foreigners like Chinese court dramas. Hahaha. In any case, China welcomes you.
@@谭某人-b1v costume dramas simply means set before modern times. They can be about anything and not necessarily court dramas.
i was impressed with how clean and safe when visiting Shanghai, high contrast with San Francisco.
They don’t have libberaliism
And it is not only in Shanghai that's clean and safe. Every other cities in China, big or small, are like that too. You won't feel unsafe walking down a quiet street in China, unlike US where crimes like mugging and killing are so common that people take that as a norm. So who have more freedom in this sense? The freedom to go anywhere at anytime in your own country without fearing for the safety of your life. And lets not even talk abt cleanliness. The streets in some US cities, even the big ones, are so filthy that it makes you wonder whether you are really in a 1st world developed country.
@@Yaheleven Yeah freedom is evil, people need to be controlled
@@Yaheleven有钱或权利才是绝对自由
@@YahelevenYes, we don't have the freedom to shoot or take drugs, or we don't have the freedom to defecate at subway stations, nothing else is different
Guess what, Chinese is the most spoken language on earth. Once you can speak Chinese you suddenly can communicate to 1.3 billion more people on earth. Isn't that a cool thing to do?
It's the most spoken language because China is the most populated country in the world.
@@ramxmar thats 1 point.... youre pointing out china and inside china..... outside china there are various other asian or asean countries that read write and consume chinese media and culture...... hk, taiwan, macau, singapore, malaysia, africa XD.... and im just speaking about spoken language..... im not even referring to cultural tv or beliefs then that would widen and include vietnam, thailand, cambodia, indonesia etc...... language is just one commonality..... for example food, chopsticks and everyone has even heard of the monkey king even in south america....
obviously my point is pointing to the wider issue happening with the west! and your point stating that china is the most populated is definitely one reason why china is the hub of the world
1.5 bln would be closer to the truth... or even 1.4..... and thats not including the 10M native chinese outsde of china or non native that also happen to align with chinese language and culture not of chinese descent...... 1.3 is indias population!
@@antwango The point is majority of those who speak Chinese are Chinese/partly Chinese whether they are from Mainland or outside China
@@ramxmar You misunderstood my point buddy.
You have just described one city, Shanghai but I guess if you have a chance visiting other cities, big and small, you will have a lot of surprises for your Vblog. China is such a huge country so harmoniously diverse and yet uniform. You will have much to report about.
Thanks! Eventually I will! Have been to many big and small cities here! But not since I started shooting videos, so no records about it 😅
dont think he should report lol, i think he should just enjoy and maybe document..... i just feel that nearly everyone that is foreign and is in china feels the need to set western records straight..... and sometimes it comes across as box ticking or even propaganda..... it depends how the video is done i suppose......
if he wants to report then report or document.... i dont know i just feel like everyone who goes to china feels like theyre making the same videos answering the same questions over and over and i get there are some questions, issues and topics that are unavoidable because its uniquely china etc like transport in china, like paperless money etc...
i dont know... im thinking out loud.... im not suggesting he should or shouldnt do this or that....
i like natural sort of diary vids.... i really like stu from china traveller, i love his channel.... i also like afu and abit of blondie.....
so harmoniously diverse and yet uniform，wow, cant find a better way to put it.
you are right but don't ask people to do so
I thought the biggest shocks for a foreigner would be the wide use of digital currency, the ease of online shopping and the vast network of high speed bullet trains. Shanghai is the largest metropolitan in China, not exactly representative of the country, go to some of the 3rd, 4th level cities to experience real China. Beijing for example, is very different from Shanghai. Hope you enjoy your stay in China.
True indeed, I talk about those things in another video, check it out!
The city used to be very crowded because traditionally people all lived in the CBD, however in the past few decades when more and more new MRT lines were built extending to outskirts of the city, the government asked people to relocate to outskirts 2-3 hours from city centre and paid them 3 million to 5 million RMB as compensation depending on the home size and number of people of the family. People were given a choice of either buying a new home with cheaper price or moving to the apartments government built. After people were moved out, government knocked down all the old houses and build skyscrapers, some of the houses demolished were historical and 200-300 years old including these built by Britain and France during 1840-1945 era of international settlements in Shanghai. Shanghai had been ruled by a dozen of western nations and there were British, French, American and Japanese concessions, they were Indian policemen patrolling British concession and Vietnamese policemen patrolling French concession. There were tens of thousands American seamen, Jewish refugees from Europe and Russians living in Shanghai. There is an office building of Korean government in exile in Shanghai after Japan invaded Korea.
@@icebaby6714
Yeah, India was a British colony and Vietnam was a French colony before.
@@kwokholuk8723 Correct. Great Britain has contributed a great deal in Shanghai’s city development during its 100 year rule in the city’s international settlement from constructing new roads, buildings and tram routes to schools, hospitals, racecourse and ports, most importantly Britain established rules and western legal system in Shanghai. French influence is mainly in French concession but British influence is everywhere. Shanghai was like another Hong Kong in 1930s and 40s.
@@icebaby6714 Wow 😊 Thanks for that new information. Your written presentation is clear ...like the Domino effect.
Safety , friendliness and amazing food ✌️ ☮️
Nice, I am excited, I will be going to Shanghai next month for a few days.
Great summary! Keep doing and Share!
Compared to many developing countries, the streets in China are very clean.
No homeless people around.
Many foreigners living in China have commented that China is very safe country with very low crime rate.
People are very friendly too.
@@sosoable
How many people are killed in Foxconn?
@@sosoable
Then you tell me. How many people were killed in Foxconn Zhengzhou?
@@sosoable
But no one is killed there.
@@sosoable
Many more people died in America from gun violence and covid infection, and many innocent people died countries invaded by US and allies.
In fact millions have died.
@@sosoable
So what?
Does it affect the whole country of 1.4 billion people?
This is not even a tiny drop in an ocean of 1.4 billion people.
Furthermore this is connected to people who are colluding with foreign powers, clamoring for democracy and carrying covert terrorist operations insides China.
These are cowards who dare not directly fight with Chinese military but carrying out despicable terrorist attacks on innocent people and stirring up hatred against the authorities.
Thank you for your videos, they’re great to watch and very insightful! I will be moving to Shanghai in a few months, so these introductions to the city are very useful 👍🏼 Keep them coming!
You'll love it
This is really interesting. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!!
You're welcome!
Very interesting point of views! Like it!😊
Not all soup dishes the soup is supposed to be eaten. It depends on the dish type. Some soup noodles for example, the soup is equivalent to condiments like soy-sauce, ketchup etc, just used to flavour the noodle but not supposed to be eaten by itself once the noodles' are finished. Some soup noodle the soup is supposed to be finished, because it's not made to be condiment to the dish itself.
So be careful, by finishing 'soup' when it's not really soup.
most soups are not supposed to be eaten, that's why Chinese people don't eat the soup
maybe its me, i just finish everything in the bowl..... ive just been taught not to waste.... and i also get that not everything is supposed to be soup, soup base or broth.... which is why that point also stuck out like a sore thumb to me..... chinese do not waste anything.... i mean the majority..... obviously im not saying waste doesnt happen of course its sometimes unavoidable..... i was just shocked when he said "everyone" doesnt finish? and i also have never been to shanghai to know if thats true.... let alone watch every single shanghainese finish their bowl of soup lol
but have to point out the difference is im chinese born and bred overseas in the uk but taught not to waste anything and also would point out that my parents would probably say guandong or canton is the area that i would mostly associate with or be familiar with as my parents are from hk and yes they do finish everything etc....
ok disclaimer before theres any crazy misunderstanding.... obviously talking generally when i say we finish everything...... its usually more rare to find plates unfinished unless its bad..... even when people cant finish, theres an option to take the food home....
i think my point is or maybe a few people have cottoned onto the point in the video where it sort of paints chinese or in this case shanghainese people as wasteful when it comes to food? and for me that point is very jarring..... AGAIN ive never been to shanghai personally..... ive only been to hk.... so maybe shanghainese people dont finish everything and is wasteful???? and also disclaimer im aware that some of the foods it would be impossible to finish off everything like say for example the TONS of chillis and chilli oil in a hotpot... thats for the flavour, thats essentally like soy sauce for flavouring or for dipping..... when i see that going to waste its sort of hurts but i understand thats impossible to drink all of it lol....
anyway not a negative comment or whatever i was also coming down the comments wondering if shanghai people waste alot of food lol..... again im chinese but in the uk and have never been to shanghai and this fact alone n the video would be culture shock for me lol!! i would personally WANT to finish everything served to me and not let any of it go to waste.... barring erm big bowls of chillis or chilli oil in a hotpot or dips obviously
@antwango 面汤这种喝不完也带不走的就不要硬撑了啊_(:з」∠)_为了节约喝坏肚子就不值得了
老一辈确实比现在的人更有节约意识，这一点确实没错，可能现在都没饿过不知道食物是好的：（
You really don't have any idea about "Western Food". Take the soupy Chinese beef noodles for example. You get the noodles in a nice beef broth and it cost about 12 - 15 yuan in a small restaurant. In western country, you order that broth as soup and it cost you over USD$10/-. So next time, drink that damn broth.
Awesome video and great editing! 👏 The way you speak to us, viewers, is captivating and it makes the vid all the more interesting. 😁
I haven't been to China in over 8 years, so it's cool to see how modern the cities have become!
interesting perspectves! Hope to see more! Thank you!
I have more experience of Chengdu, which is also a mega city with 21 million people living there. May I add a a couple of things that was a positive experience for me when I first came to Changdu in 2015. It's very clean.
- No trash or grafitti. There is none of that.
- Well dressed people. Especially the young (maybe up to their fourties) dress very well. No sloppyness, showing their crack, wear down jeans och shoes. Very tidy people. (Except from some who spit in the street. There are more of that than back in Sweden I can tell
- Sense of safety. I can walk ANYWHERE in the city and not feel threated by violence. Girls sit in parks after dark doing their homework and noone approach them. And in coffee shops. The chair and tables and be left outside without them getting thrown around, stolen och trashed. They are not chained down at all. And public toilets. Very very clean, atleast in Chengdu. And again, you can go there without someone approaching you.
I'm aware that the above is not 100% true all the time. What is your experience? I'm asking the people in the comment section here :)
haha you just made me miss chengdu even more... nowdays young people on the red or xiaohongshu (a chinese version of Pinterest/insta) promote chengdu as china's berlin becuase of its inclusivity of lgbtq and subculture stuff. weirdly i start to love Chengdu more after i studied aboard in canada...it's just way more fun, energetic, and convenient
@@fightlab6467 sorry :p
Chained chairs and table?
In what country they are chained?
I'm really curious. I'm from Russia and visited only asian countries .
@@Julia1khabarovsk I live in Sweden.Yes, after closing time tables and chaorvget chained/wired together and locked. Otherwise they most likely get stolen or thrown around and trashed by less lovable people. Seen this in many countries atleast in Europe.
crack is so fk weird,dude...
Thank you for your video that was very interesting ! Well done, explained and edited !
Such a beautiful city. I hope I can visit there as well and stay there for a month or two.
I was told the food there is so delicious. I plan to lose some weight before I go, in case I'll eat too much.😅🤣
I went back to Shanghai after almost 4 years of studying in the UK. This video is also relatable to me cuz I kinda feel that reverse culture shock! :) and I would say that Shanghai wasn’t that empty until the pandemic and lockdown started.
Not right about not finishing your soup. I am a Chinese and I always finish the soup whenever possible, hate wasting good food. Only when the soup is too salty or not so nice, do I leave it unfinished. If you have a meal at a Chinese home, it is best to finish everything, it shows your appreciation of the food, that it is good food (just the opposite of what you said in the vid). Your host may offer you more if he sees your bowl is empty, just politely refuse (it is OK) by saying you are full already.
Depends the soup, modern days some restaurants don't make the real soup like they used to, instead they put msg giving it a more strong favour, therefore some people may not drink the whole thing aside from being full already.
shut up! you can only represent yourself
这没关系吧，现在比较年轻的人都不太注意这个了
Great take on Shanghai.Enjoyed it.
Amazing videography, really beautiful.
As a chinese, i was really thrill to see who as a foreigner spreading the real things in china. Very appreciated！I strongly recommend to go to many other cities in china. For instance,Suzhou and Chengdu, as china is a such huge country that no city is totally representitive.🙂
Agreed! Thanks for your comment
Nice video. Also as Shanghainese, I feel for no.6 it really depends on which area you live. The shopping malls, restaurants, KTV and bars usually have more people, but the most “Loud” crowd is the old people who dance and sing near your home hahaha( But it’s true that there are fewer people on streets after the Covid :()
lmao,"Shanghainese"????
In fact, the preference of Chinese people for white skin is a historical phenomenon, as in the past, people who engaged in heavy physical labor were usually outdoors, which led to their skin being very dark. Chinese people, due to their desire to become wealthier people, have led to an aesthetic trend towards white skin. This is also why Europeans initially described Chinese people as "white people like us" when they arrived in China, because their hosts were wealthy people who did not need to work outdoors, so their skin was not tanned, and most of them had white skin
The opposite in the west, well modern times really. The tanner your skin it mean the more money you have to go on vacation to somewhere warm.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your thoughts😊
Love this video! Your observation is accurate and tbh these are things I never really notice but they are true 😂😂
Not only China, it is popular for the whole East Asia that people prefer whiter skin. For Japan, Korea, Vietnam etc., they have the similar preference.
I was in Spain and despite being able to speak a bit of Spanish, I was often ignored. Once I went to a cafe and asked for some food in broken Spanish. The staff made it clear they didn't want a non-Spanish eating in their cafe.
Really?
Omg ! Sorry to hear that ...
offtopic?
Wow, way to prop up tourism that one.
That is surprising, I've only heard of small local Japanese restaurants do that but never thought of what you had. Thanks for sharing.
I found the 7th very interesting! Haven’t noticed that before. There’s a lot of reasons to explain why people don’t finish their food. The one you mentioned counts one. And sometimes as a restaurant owner or a host if you don’t provide enough food (to some extent it means beyond regular size) people might not think you’re as friendly as they expected. Though there’s another Chinese traditional culture is don’t waste food. But I’m confused as well because from my experience I think it really depends on situations and it is very hard for us to finish noodles, especially the noodles dish when you eat out. 🤣 On the other hand, modern Chinese culture cares more about the way they look, like the 3rd culture shock. Eating less is another way to show how they care about the calories they intake, for the young female generation especially. I’m living in a western city and I found it’s very easy for me to finish a pasta dish but there is always something left in my Asian noodle bowl. 😂
no waste food to myself or my families, but provide enough food to my guest and friends.
too much salt in the soup, getting thirsty if you drink up.
Great observations, thanks.
Thank you!
what a fresh air, your beautiful channel earns my sub
Cool video brother, success always
your observation are very precise and on the point, good.!!1🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍
I love Chinese community. I want to visit China one day. I have been learning Mandarin.
加油！
感谢你，真实的报道你看到的一切。
Thank you for truthfully reporting what you have seen.
The culture shock you experienced is very interesting! We should know that China is not a country but a civilization in a sense. Imagine that it is composed of 1.4 billion people with different customs. Even the dialects of people in the southeast and northwest are different. In China, most Chinese people do not understand the dialects of other regions, which is totally different from the accent. Different cultural customs have created different food cultures, and the differences are beyond imagination! You can assume that China is regarded as a unified European country. The core of Chinese culture lies in cultural identity, ancestral identity, and the pursuit of inclusiveness and harmony. Chinese people love peace and do not take the initiative to provoke disputes. They advocate moderation and benevolence. They have a completely different world outlook from the West. There is no zero-sum game thinking in the West! I wish you have a good time in China and everything goes well! Greetings from a Chinese!
Thank you! Is true what you say!
是的，如果中国用西方的哲学思想来统治和治理，这么大的国家根本不可能延续五千年不分裂。这就是东方智慧。
@@baiyun7810西方说中国没有人权，但是中国讲究纪律，从不散漫。中国从来不干涉任何其他国家的内政，向来尊重别国的主权独立和完整。而讲究人权的西方国家例如美国，干涉了多少国家的内政，发动了多少战争，考虑一下。😂
You made me want to visit Shanghai! I wasn't expected those either at all!
Oh! That's so great, you wont be disappointed, for sure
Great video! Reminds me of my happy days in Shanghai.
夜生活的话长沙晚上比较热闹，上海还是相对安静许多。
Great videos, keep it up. 辛苦了
It was a lot more crowded before the pandemic. Tourists are less because of the Covid policy. It’s just inconvenient to travel around. If you came 5 years ago, Nanjing road would always be full of tourists. Also welcome to Shanghai😊You have a lot to explore. I would recommend you go to some sub centers instead of just the center of Shanghai. If you like greeneries, Gongqing forest park is a great place to go and you’ll see how families enjoy their weekend.
Shanghai as a whole doesn't feel crowded. Certain touristy areas are crowded, though.
Quality upload. Keep up the good work.
The noodle soup thing is a good catch! I am overseas Chinese. I never noticed that
I watch a lot of Chinese drama's and always assumed that the empty streets I was seeing were filmed very early or late in the day, to avoid the crowds. Your comments on that shocked me.
or it was all filmed on a set or wherever that place is called.... i also assumed china is packed 24hrs a day.... but it makes sense it isnt thank god lol
Shanghai is a busy city...when you go to tie-2 cities like Wuhan Chengdu Chongqing, you will find life is very different
Beautiful video, good editing
Thank you!
if you want night life go to southern part of China. or find some teens they will teach you where to have fun during mid night. generally speaking big city has midnight life. but you need to know where is it. BTW covid19 made a lots interest place closed...
thanks for your video! I love Shanghai! I did not except that Shanghai is less crowded than Newyork!
I wonder if it has to do with certain areas still under lock down?
Nice sharing!
I miss my city a lot...havent been back for 4 yrs. Thanks for your video, it helped with my homesickness, hope you have a happy life in Shanghai :)
thanks！ check out my other videos about Shanghai, you'll feel closer to home!
BEAUTIFUL video.. subbed!
Appreciate 🙏 🙏
Buenísimo video como siempre! Espero que algún día podamos estar ahí! 😁😁👌🏼👌🏼👍🏼👍🏼
ohh acabo de ver, gracias bubits!
Its easy for westerns to enjoy the convenience, efficiency and modernization in China , but maybe harder for them to enjoy China’s culture, especially those cultures identifying race. It’s natural and understandable, cause to sincerely embrace or enjoy a new culture, it always comes with a little bit of humble about your past.
wow you speak my mind
Chinese culture emphasizes seeking common ground while reserving differences, which is also suitable for communication with countries around the world. However, the aggression of Western countries and Japan has made us more aware of the importance of unity
Thats was really great observations.
Thank you!
Thank you for your comments. Quite interesting
I find your videos about Shanghai both informative and entertaining. I would be interested in a video about you: how and why did a Bolivian come to live in Shanghai; do you plan on staying for a long time; do you have a job there; I believe you are somewhat fluent in Chinese but not sure; did your educational experience prepare you for your living in China, etc. Thanks.
Hreat suggestions! I wi eventually reveal more about me and my journey in China
Cool video! Peace and Blessings
Thank you!
哈哈哈好神奇😂😂面汤造成的困惑……如果是鸡汤面可以喝汤啦，只要那个汤看起来不是很淡的颜色or很清爽的口味，那就就别喝了！会很撑的（不过螺蛳粉汤太香了我也会忍不住大喝一碗…
All interesting "shocks," and even after 12 years in China, some I hadn't really given much thought to. Looking back over the time I've been here, there are a couple of things that continue to pleasantly surprise me. One is how safe it is. I've lived in a few different cities, and all of them are safe to walk around in anywhere and any time, even alone at night on darkened streets or back alleyways. No problem! The other is the quality and affordability of medical and dental care. Not to go into details, but as an American and senior citizen (74), I can say that even without insurance, my costs are considerably lower than my net costs would be back in America. Recently, I had a surgery which had me in the hospital for 5 days (total out of pocket was $4,000). However, I do need the help of my Chinese wife to navigate the system, because I have been lazy about becoming even close to fluent in Chinese.
如果你有中国得社会保险你只用支付800美元😊
I usually walked to home after 12 a.m. in Tianjin.
I'm from China. The video is very accurate about our life.
Beggars have long been out of work in China, where few carry cash. All payment, top-up, shopping, consumption, check a variety of procedures, bills, bills, taxis, tickets, looking for moving, looking for a repairman, looking for a variety of mechanics. Hair and nails, everything in life can be done on one phone. China's various departments, institutions, industries have their own two-dimensional code, mobile phone scan to solve related problems. .
Actually, there are no panhandlers in China. It’s illegal to beg for money on the streets in China. Poverty in China has been eradicated and the government has implemented many programs to help the poorer people. Unlike the western countries, panhandlers and homeless people are everywhere. I recently visited San Francisco in California USA and stayed at a 5 star hotel in downtown. I paid $300 US dollars per night. I didn’t see any homeless people around the street of the hotel. But as soon as I walked down 2 blocks, I saw so many homeless people sleeping on doorways, tents, cardboard boxes. They urinate and defecate on the streets. If you’re not watching your steps, you can easily step on the urine and feces if not the homeless person. They panhandle very aggressively and if you don’t give them any money, they will call you names and make derogatory racial remarks. They don’t want food. they just want cash so they can buy alcohol or drugs. Their government needs to resolve the homeless problem or else no tourist will go there.
Are you 브레드 피트 ?
Thank you for your broadcasting for China experience 👍
감사합니다.
Привіт внучок. У тебе такі гарні коментарі. Молодець, заслужив значить їх!.
really respect that you really dig to experience and observe the life in china. i live in another country now and sometimes i just feel lack of courage and patient to get involved.
Not all Chinese noodles pays attention to the broth. Some broths are just soy source/MSG mixed with water; hence, people don't really empty their bowl unless the place is known for their broths.
Before the pandemic, it was more crowned, and a lot of night time lives such as night markets, street snacks and restaurants, ktvs, bars, clubs, game centers and etc.
Thank you for your video. I'm Chinese and I was shocked that the people are much stronger than us after I went abroad. In my mind, old people are usually slim haha.
Hahha true, in China people are quite slim in general
I agree with what you said 👊
That was interesting, thank you. I hadn't been to SHH in 30 years. The soup in the noodle bowl - how amazing. I never knew that soup was a priority in any country, unless it's a soup dish. Soup in noodle to me , is just water. Proper soup I expect lots of ingredients, to be very nutritious as you may know by now, Chinese people always emphasize if the food is good for you, good for your body.
That contrast of "hotspots" of night life but the rest of the quarter "empty" at night You could also find in Tokyo, Japan. Nice impressions
thanks for share，really objective
I want to visit China!! Thank you for sharing!
This video was very well edited. I’m a Chinese diaspora and i would like to visit Shanghai one day.
come to Guangzhou, and you will understand where all the people is!
There is a lot of preception that the soup of the Chinese noodles soup is just MSG in hot water that's why we don't drink it. A "good Chinese soup" that we would consume is made by very different ingredients.
Thank u for sharing this❤
My pleasure 😊
i love china and the chinese people they are very warm and nice. id definately recommend you to go there
Very nice vlog and hope you enjoy your stay in China. Many of your so-called "cultural shocks" are actually not caused by culture, but by the way that your media portray China and Chinese. Some of them are ignorant, while some of them are racist.
As a local Shanghainese, I also don’t understand why people only eat the noodles and leave the soup.😂actually I like the noodle soup a lot. I think it’s very tasty.
I guess the time you filmed this video, shanghai was still under the impact of covid. You'll probably feel it less quiet by now lol. Hope you enjoy the time in Shanghai
Beautifully filmed WHAT CAMERA AND MIC DO YOU USE? Thanks
Sony 7iii, and a rode mic, small one
Interesting take. I can relate to a lot of it. The only thing I would caution people watching is not to generalise Shanghai to China as a whole. Shanghai to the rest of China is a bit like Paris to the rest of France. You see a much different side of China in third tier and below cities or the countryside.
North city is quiet at night, South city is busy at night.
In terms of nightlife, it depends on where you go in China, and you'll get a very different impression of China.
Shanghai doesn't really have nightlife. But if you go to some other cities in China, you'll find very busy exciting nightlife.
For example, I think parts of Chengdu don't seem to go to sleep! Even 3am is completely filled with people on the streets!
Muy bueno. Me gustó como siempre tu trabajo, investigación , estadística, relato, sigue adelante con más videos, los espero.
TQM papi!
巧克力豆！你好，我是你在Bilibili的粉丝，在TH-cam上看到你啦！
欢迎光临！ 哈哈
Regarding the green spots in shanghai...i did not know that! This fact is sooooo under reported by foreign media!!
Yo amo💕💕 la cultura Asiática desde niña. Pero que mas aprecio y que debemos aprender es la disciplina en todos los aspectos de su vida .
Talking about the “soup” huh? I want you to do it whe having the hotpot, hahaha
Also, no impression 9n the infrastructures, the scales and designs of the their cities, the futuristic public transport system, the cars, THE CARS they having! Or the immense dynamic and almost heavenly the beauty of this land? You will get more shocks if you explore it further.
I laughed hard when you talk about the soup
Hahaha I was confused when I saw nobody eating it
Thank you for debunking many false myths
You have great hair!
actually，noodles is not preferred for us;in north people take mantou as main,in south is rice,sometimes we eat dumplings and baozi.
The absolute safety is what shocks many, especially if they are coming from the “west”.
I will say hello to you when i see you in Shanghai😊
Thanks for your cultural shocks, did you mention how modern and technological advanced China is, how many foreigners you can see in the Bund, how friendly locals with foreigners, how many electric cars on the road, how different it was depicted by western media, etc etc...these are shocks as well lol
Totally agreed! ❤️
I think the cold weather and worse pendemic status is the major reason for the “quiet” ，next summer when the pendemic is gone you will see different
good as a Chinese I hope you can tell China to everyone, thanks!!!
I'm on it, sir!