My China Trips: Two Things That Are *Consistently* Night-and-Day Different.
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Hello! I would like to share some observations and minor frustrations from my recent trip to mainland China:
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Alert: Second-hand smoke is somewhat common on the streets.
- While walking around, you might notice how many people light up, and there's often a heavy smell of cigarette smoke in the air. This could be more prevalent than you imagine in some cities in mainland China.
- I happen to be particularly sensitive to smoke smell, so I usually wear a mask while out and about
. - Sometimes I forget and end up inhaling second-hand smoke, triggering a series of violent sneezing fits. Itās really unpleasant!
- A heads-up for those with sensitive noses: If you fear that cigarette smell too, remember to carry some extra masks with you.
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Also, about queues... you might face some ālittle challenges.ā
- Sometimes, while queuing to buy something or waiting for transportation, you might find that though the queue ahead isn't moving, people behind continue to push their way forward.
- Honestly, I donāt understand why doing so doesnāt help the queue move fasterā¦ it just feels helpless.
- Suggestion: When you face this situation, stayå·é and patient, and don't take it personally. Sometimes, maintaining some distance might actually improve your experience.
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Despite these minor inconveniences:
- I still havenāt tried the authentic local dishes in mainland China yet, and Iām even more excited for my next exploration.
- Moreover, both accommodation and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Grab provide relatively inexpensive and cost-effective services.
- So, I should still head back to China again to travel around.
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I had to update here since my comment wasn't at the top of the thread:
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This post was written spontaneously while waiting for a flight, and I didn't expect so many people to read it.
- Thank you all for your advice; honestly speaking, though, Iām not sure how to report such issuesāI wouldnāt dare cause a conflict with anyone while traveling alone.
(The 12345 complaint hotline, is it only accessible to people with mainland Chinese phone numbers? Perhaps online channels of complaint might be more suitable for me.) - Iām very genuine in my love for traveling, and every place has its own cultural differences. In Tawain, not all streets look pretty (and not all Taiwanese girls speak so sweetly
). - Some people who insulted me or even said they didnāt welcome me to mainland China on my other postsā¦ well, I simply donāt care. I will keep traveling there regardless.
- During my travels, Iāve met lots of kind and helpful people from mainland China whose hospitality made my experience beautiful.
- After all, the ācluelessā (people who aren't wise in the ways of social behavior) are everywhere, right?
- Thank you all for your advice; honestly speaking, though, Iām not sure how to report such issuesāI wouldnāt dare cause a conflict with anyone while traveling alone.
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Even when I was in Beijing, I'd often inhale secondhand smoke just walking past a bus stop.
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If we all have the courage to step up, report, and call out these issues, things will definitely get better.
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It's not just you who are bothered by it; everyone is.
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Smoking, spitting, and coughing all at once! And the worst part? The sidewalk was really long, with reckless mopeds darting all over the place, so you had no choice but to just follow behind them.
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There's seriously so much spitting. Last time I visited Zhangjiajie, I saw many older men spitting directly onto the stair handrails.
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It's genuinely awful, and we find it incredibly frustrating too.
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That's a fair point. And on top of that, so many people misuse public restrooms and don't even flush.
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Well said. Absolutely right.
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I really hope you all come and file lots of complaints about the smoking! Please, I'm begging you!
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Is it really that bad in Guangdong too? I was planning on taking my elderly relatives to Guangzhou.
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Well, they rake in over a trillion yuan in tobacco taxes every year, so...