When it came time to go through our “You Know You’re In…” file for China, it was bulging at the seams! A country that doesn’t give a damn what other people think, this behemoth is bold, brash, and beautiful. While some stereotypes like incessant spitting were true, the streets were cleaner, the people friendlier, and nature was more pristine than we’d ever imagined. Then there were things we could never have dreamed up (carnival dentistry, really?), always keeping us on our toes. From the Great Wall to the Great Language Barrier, You Know You’re in China When…
– When you need your iPhone translator, hand signals and a calculator to buy a train ticket or a piece of fruit.
– A country’s most passionate tourists are the people who live there.
– Chopsticks are the utensil of choice for just about everything, trash collection included.
– Western tourists are so rare in central China (we were the only two white people out of 500 tourists on our Yangtze river cruise) that you become an instant celebrity.
– Your parks are more likely to host a Tai Chi class than a soccer game.
– Your forests are so magical they inspire $230 million movies.
– Western toilets are so exotic they can inspire porcelain seating and a chocolate-based menu for a restaurant.
– You realize the Chinese restaurant paintings of misty mountains dotted with temples are not just a throwback to ancient times, you can trek through that painting today.
– A Dremel is not just a tool for cutting bathroom tiles, but your traveling dentist’s tool of choice. (Photo taken at a carnival in Benzilan)
– Cities are so futuristic they star in sci-fi films without any CGI.
– A slit in the back of a kids pants is the next best thing to diapers (For best results, hold child over a sewage drain … we saw this happen in Fenghuang!)
– A short walk through a Yunnan meat market might just turn you vegetarian.
– Spitting is accepted in restaurants, carpeted trains, and office buildings…but they draw the line at Buddhist monasteries.
– Your toilets look more like crime scenes than restrooms.
– Sightseeing usually begins with name tags and follows with a yellow telescoping flag pole, an obnoxious microphone, and 200 of your newest friends.
– Anything less than one million people is considered a village.
The good, the bad, the ugly…China is what is and we loved it! Let us know what you liked best!
Split pants are the best. I saw a kid let loose over a magazine in the middle of a public square while his mom, dad and grandma watched.
I laughed so hard when I read this…split pants are the best and pampers be damned! Now the mental image on this magazine debacle is a bit blurry in my mind but perhaps that’s for the best ; ) glad you had china diaper experiences and more!
Haha, these are great! Having lived in Shanghai for over a year and half now, you’d think I’d be used to all these cultural differences. Just today, a man nearly fell off his seat on the metro trying to get a better look at me (I’m blonde). Never gets old 🙂
What are you doing in Shanghai? Not sure you will ever get used to them…haha. it is amazing how few westerners there are in China right?
Looks like you’re having a great time!
@twitter-33996946:disqus oh yeah, you know it! China was a blast….so many funny encounters.
Jealous!
Love this so much!!!! You summed it up perfectly – such a strange, crazy but exceptionally beautiful land. Thanks for the trip down memory lane (but I missed that damn toilet restaurant!!!)
So Glad you could relate to the quirkiness! Get back to shanghai as fast as you can, I have a feeling the potty restaurant won’t be in biz forever ; )
You are a celebrity there and here!!!!!!! That must have been funny having your picture taken by so many people. Is it not illegal to take naked pictures of children there? I think you may have to censor the but for the US. We love tracking your adventures! I loved this highlight!!!!!!!!
i am not sure if celebrity is the right word, but we were in a heck of a lot of photos…it was too funny. naked children…after visiting Laos (where nearly half the kids had no pants at all) we realized Chinese kids were quite well clothed 🙂
Love this!
Yeah, the double nudie girl…that looks like the hat of a trustworthy dentist
essentially the same as a surgical masks, kappa hats are only awarded to md qualified dentists! toothache anyone?
I had totally forgotten about the “You Know You’re in….”
I don’t know if it is what I liked best, but I was shocked at the way their bathrooms look. I know I lot of people who would use diapers before using that bathroom. I’m pretty laissez-faire about things, but diapers even sound better to me.
oh @facebook-1482017535:disqus lol…trust me, most of the bathrooms were nothing like that, but we did come across that crime scene on one of our bus rides. it was quite an experience, haha. reminds me of my grandmother’s stories from her visits to China in the 80’s
that feels far away …
even when you are there, things seem far away. But we wouldn’t trade our 35 days in China for anything….it was such a wonderful part of our journey, great people, wonderful food, and surprisingly unique natural phenomenons
Love the photo of all the girls in traditional garb with their Chucks and sneakers! We’ve also noticed the same thing about Japanese landscapes and art at our office–why do mountains always look like that? Because they DO look like that here! Congrats on finishing the China leg of your update; we’re looking forward to your Japan leg!
@twitter-396959836:disqus i was also counting the numberof Chuck Taylors in that photo when i posted it….too funny. And those landscapes through China and Japan are unreal….in the USA our main exposure to those scenes is Chinese restaurants….then to see that come to life was quite a trip. JAPAN NEXT!!!! oh we are excited. you guys have been so supportive of the HoneyTrek, can’t wait to share all the Art of Travel love with our followers!
you seriously brought me right back to my days in china… the chopsticks, the bare bottoms, the “toilets”… what a place. think of you guys often! lots of love 🙂
jess…..when were you in China? did you go solo or with a friend/group? we think of you often kid….have any carrots? no matter what…always….Ride The Bull! Mike & Anne
Hah! These are great!
Thanks @KenWeb:disqus we always love bringing a smile to your face! Hopefully we get to cheers you in person in July when we swing through the East Coast (you are East Coast right?)
Yep. East coast. Charlottesville VA.
I so can’t wait for the “You Know You’re In Japan When…” article 🙂
Loved the post. The picture of the baby with the slit pants and the toilet made me laugh so much. I travelled around China for a month, the year before Beijing hosted the Olympics. As a young woman (only 21 at the time) I found it a very challenging place to travel around and I ended up booking all my train tickets through hostels – something I feel rather guilty about now after a few more years travelling experience! I must admit I wasn’t too fond of China the first time round – I felt ill constantly which put me off trying too much of the food, the language barrier was very different to overcome, and I found the staring and spitting thing just a little too much. Looking back though, I do want to return to China and try and explore the parts I didn’t manage to see last time.
we freaking love your attitude @travelbllgr:disqus – that is totally what travel is about, looking at all sides of the coin, and giving people a second chance as well. i think if you went back with someone and had someone to laugh about all the hardships, and have stairing contests back at people…..yeah i think you would love it. that said, it was super tough traveling for us too….no cake walk there 🙂
Great article, love the kids outfit solutions LOL
we still laugh about that to this day. the parents would just hold the kids over any drain or hole in the grown, and the kids just go. No daipers!
Im not sure is it living hell or heaven! Lol
Lots of china kids (1-3yo) still use that kind of pants. Their parents think it is much easier, when their kids need to go, they just go. From economic side, save lots of money :p
Anyway the slit on the pants, not only at the back of the pants. You can also see their “little bird” from the front side 😀
LOL Hui. we loved the lack of diapers, definitely environmentally friendly and less in landfills. Thanks for chiming in, and welcome to HoneyTrek
Great summary.Starting my 3rd year in China and still get treated like Angelina Jolie when I walk down the street!
glad you enjoyed that post @disqus_pKp8m0h93h:disqus….thanks so much for connecting up with us on Twitter as well. So great to have you along for the ride 🙂