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I have traveled to China on business many times over the past 16 years and mostly enjoyed the new experiences there, but a few things that bothered me…not in any particular order. (All of these are quite tolerable for me, and I likely have a longer list for for other countries, including my own.)
Driving in the evening in Shenyang, many vehicles, including public buses that operate without headlights - - seems quite dangerous. This was about a dozen years ago, so maybe this is no longer a problem?
Smoking during business meals - before the food started to arrive, the servers bought packs of cigarettes to the table, likely at the request of our Chinese friends. The smoke became quite heavy at times and continued through the meal.
Heavy drinking at most business meals. I enjoy a few drinks and can even tolerate a “good drunk” but the extent of the drinking, endless toasts with frequent “ganbei” ( did i spell this right?) often had me returning to the hotel past inebriation into sickness. Drinking is common all over the world during business and many overdo it, but in my experience, China wins this one.
Excessive prostitution - on my first visit in 1999, I arrived late in the evening at a prominent hotel in Beijing and wanted to walk and see my new adventure. The hotel staff advised that it as quite safe to walk on the major city streets. Although I wasn't in danger I was approached quickly by street prostitutes and when I attempted to ignore them, they spit at me. On each trip to many different locations, Luoyang , Shenyang, Shanghai, Ningbo, etc. it as common to be approached in the hotel or in the elevator by prostitutes, not to mention the open sex offered at the many spas where our hosts took us after dinner. Yes, I know, that sex is an old business practiced the world over, but should be much less obvious than I have seen in China. i.e., KTV shops
Pollution in winter in Shenyang - the smell of coal dust took me back to my youth in the 1950′s near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ( USA) when everyone heated with coal and all the electricity was produced by coal
But overall, I love traveling to and doing business to China. The people are the same as all over the world and perhaps the Chinese are not so arrogant as many travelers from the USA, if at all!
I can say nothing negative about the food, the variety is endless and awesome everywhere - oh, I did not like the stinky tofu (least-liked food)!
I had to dig to find these few things that need correction, and for the most part, things I enjoyed overwhelmed the negatives.
EDIT: After a comment by a reader I have to add anther regarding toilet facilities in many public places and restaurants… still cant get used to the squat hole with some fellow urinating next to me in his hole, but more than that - NO TOILET PAPER, fortunately my hosts asked me if i needed papers and i figured it out, This was some years ago has this changed yet? Do all Chinese carry toilet paper ? |
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