I'm studying abroad in Hong Kong. The semester is over save for exams, and since I have a bit of a break before them, I figured I should travel a bit.
I'm in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It's a two hour train ride from Shanghai. It's decently sized - I think 6th most populous city in China. It's a popular travel destination for the Chinese themselves because it's situated on a really beautiful lake - it's so famous that Chinese people here have asked me if the Great Wall or West Lake is more famous in foreign countries.
Even though it's not that small, there are so few foreigners here that you will get stared at if you're outside by literally everyone. Yesterday my friend and I had three or four people ask to take our photo: not with them, but literally just a photo of us because we're foreigners.
I'll be here until the 9th and speak a decent amount of Chinese. If there's anything you ever wanted to know about real China, or anything you want me to do while here, let me know!
Hows the pollution?
[QUOTE=Jmir 54;43063959]Hows the pollution?[/QUOTE]
There's no pollution here. I was in Beijing a few weeks back and after stepping out of the train I could feel the pollution at the back of my throat, but here it's just blue skies.
How are you treated there? Being a North American and all. Are there a lot of fake products or is that just in the big cities?
How do you like drinking hot water?
[QUOTE=Dr. Evilcop;43064047]How are you treated there? Being a North American and all. Are there a lot of fake products or is that just in the big cities?[/QUOTE]
Typically they just stare. Age doesn't matter, everyone stares at you. The big factor is language from what I can tell, not race. Nobody can speak English. If you speak English to them, they just kind of shove you around but if you speak Chinese to them they love you and would be happy to give you discounts. The difference between here and North America is that in North America, everyone can look different racially but here for example if a blonde walks by hundreds of Chinese guys get whiplash.
There aren't many fakes here. There are fake stores - for example knockoffs of milk tea stores or something - but products are mostly real. There's no tourists to sell fakes to and it's cheaper to use real stuff as it's made here.
[editline]4th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=ZenX2;43064080]How do you like drinking hot water?[/QUOTE]
They tell me it's good for my body. I've just been drinking orange juice instead :(
How's the food? Have you tried out any special Chinese cuisine?
What do they think of Mongolians?
What's the housing like?
Do you feel like you have to watch what you say or anything now that you've entered PRC?
Any interesting conversations with the natives thus far?
[QUOTE=Disseminate;43064116]but if you speak Chinese to them they love you and would be happy to give you discounts. [/QUOTE]
that's what you think
[QUOTE=ashxu;43064267]that's what you think[/QUOTE]
I would assume they try to rip you off at every opportunity.
Jeez guys :v:
Show us some pictures of your travels and stays.
[QUOTE=Gwoodman;43064137]How's the food? Have you tried out any special Chinese cuisine?[/QUOTE]
Greasy as hell but really delicious. Nothing like you get in the west - even authentic restaurants back home are nothing compared to this.
[QUOTE=Moustacheman;43064163]What do they think of Mongolians?[/QUOTE]
Next time I get a chance I'll ask
[QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;43064187]What's the housing like?[/QUOTE]
It's mostly apartments, and it depends on the tenant. I was in some Chinese guy's apartment yesterday and in the washroom there was literally piss all over the floor, but that's not because of the apartment.
[editline]4th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Rangergxi;43064195]Do you feel like you have to watch what you say or anything now that you've entered PRC?[/QUOTE]
Only when a soldier or cop walks by. You can say literally anything and they don't care unless it's anti-CCP. You can spit at people and it's normal for them. Chinese people don't give a fuck. Stare at them, yell swears, whatever.
[editline]4th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Dr. Evilcop;43064220]Any interesting conversations with the natives thus far?[/QUOTE]
Last night two friends and I went shopping. We went by a tea shop and my one friend was like 'I want his shirt' essentially so I asked the clerk where he got his clothes and didn't really understand what he said. Eventually it devolved to hand gestures and by then everyone in the shop was trying to help us get this guy's clothes. The entire store then had a longish conversation with us after that (we're students, she teaches english, we're travelling etc) and they gave us 10 kuai off our tea. Never did find the shirt.
Another time, we were in a cab and it was basically silent until the end when my friend says in the shittest Chinese "do you hate us?" and the cab driver laughed and gave us 2 kuai off.
I'd post more but I'm on a phone :v:
Mention Taiwan or the "Republic of China" and see what happens. :v:
[QUOTE=Rangergxi;43064285]I would assume they try to rip you off at every opportunity.[/QUOTE]
Not really. Foreigners are a sign of progress in China, the more foreigners in your city the 'better' your city is because it's more progressive. I was in a Chinese nightclub last night, drinks were like 60-100 kuai there ($12-20) but for foreigners they gave out 12 drink tickets for 100. Looking back that was a bad idea since Chinese liquor is the absolute shittest.
[editline]4th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Aide;43064383]Show us some pictures of your travels and stays.[/QUOTE]
I would but I'm on my phone
[editline]4th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=TerrorShield;43064459]Mention Taiwan or the "Republic of China" and see what happens. :v:[/QUOTE]
"As we all know Taiwan is a part of China"
that's awesome, chinese sound like nice people.
GET OUT OF MY HOMELAND STUPID YANKEE
[highlight](User was permabanned for this post ("gimmick" - Orkel))[/highlight]
[QUOTE=Disseminate;43064470]Not really. Foreigners are a sign of progress in China, the more foreigners in your city the 'better' your city is because it's more progressive. I was in a Chinese nightclub last night, drinks were like 60-100 kuai there ($12-20) but for foreigners they gave out 12 drink tickets for 100. Looking back that was a bad idea since Chinese liquor is the absolute shittest.
[/QUOTE]
Drinks in Beijing clubs and bars at Sanlitun go for less than 30 kuai. Me and my mates used to go to a pub and always get several rounds of Tiger beer every weekend. Clubs sometimes have foreigner specials/days where they discount certain drinks. I'm not sure that's how they run clubs in Hong Kong though.
Also, have you seen a Mojito Man.
[QUOTE=chongvon91;43064504]GET OUT OF MY HOMELAND STUPID YANKEE[/QUOTE]
he registered just to post this
lol
[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;43064515]Drinks in Beijing clubs and bars at Sanlitun go for less than 30 kuai. Me and my mates used to go to a pub and always get several rounds of Tiger beer every weekend. Clubs sometimes have foreigner specials/days where they discount certain drinks. I'm not sure that's how they run clubs in Hong Kong though.
Also, have you seen a Mojito Man.[/QUOTE]
A lot of bars in Sanlitun sell drinks for 10 kuai. (1,5 USD)
They're great.
How long have you been learning Chinese?
I always thought it'd be really neat to go somewhere to live for a few months and learn their language, and I feel like China would definitely be beneficial.
Google Tiananmen Square repeatedly.
how's the internet there? are they assholes too?
How awful is the internet there?
[editline]4th December 2013[/editline]
oh WOW
Are you afraid of getting gutter oil in your food? I would be, it's one of my biggest fears about food.
