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Abstract

I am usually very picky when it comes to food and cannot really eat too spicy food, but surprisingly I loved the food in China! It was delicious even though I did not know every time what I was eating. During two weeks in China, I became a fan of dumplings and noodles, and no, I did not eat rice all the time (as many people have asked me). Just try as many foods as you can. China is a cheap country so do not be shy. Beijing is known for the Beijing Duck so do not forget to try that out as well.</p><figure id="2d4b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*4GBgG6ny6qsRXw5L6OsBhA.jpeg"><figcaption>Yang’s Dumpling</figcaption></figure><h2 id="29cb">Traffic</h2><p id="ac00">If you come from a country where traffic rules are always strictly respected you may find China a little bit crazy. China is very chaotic at times. People cross the street when they feel like doing so, cars will not stop for you, neither will motorcycles. I also realized that even when the traffic light is red the cars still have the right to drive if they are turning to the right so keep that in mind. To me the hectic life of China was not that surprising, actually, I had started to miss that kind of life. But you can also find the fastest train in the world in Shanghai, Shanghai Maglev, which travels 301km/h. Give it a try. Within 10 min you will be in the airport.</p><h2 id="926e">Toilets</h2><p id="887b">Okay now, this is interesting. You have to know that when it comes to toilets, in China you will mostly find squat toilets unless you go to an international hotel or building. (However in Shanghai Financial Center not only are there no squat toilets, but they actually are very technological, maybe you should give them a try). Also, something to keep in mind, there are no toilet papers in restaurants, bars, or coffee shops so you better be prepared (thank me later).</p><h2 id="199e">Skyscrapers</h2><p id="0254">Did you know that in China you can find the second-tallest building in the world? That is the Shanghai Tower, 632 meters tall. The tower is surrounded by other skyscrapers and the view is just amazing. You can find skyscrapers also in Beijing. (Probably in other cities as well, but I haven’t visited them, yet).</p><figure id="b6bc"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*BlKzjqIgRmeCgfPyQ266IA.jpeg"><figcaption>Shanghai, Financial Center</figcaption></figure><h2 id="c975">People</h2><p id="15fa">And here comes the best part of China, its culture, and its people. I just loved the people in China. They are so kind and positive. You could see them dancing in the street and enjo

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ying each other company. They would dance in groups or with partners. If you want to learn some Chinese moves just join them, as I did. They looked so carefree and happy! Also, they really like meeting foreigners. If you are from Europe and you climb the Great Wall of China be prepared to be asked many times for photos. People just want to have a picture with you. They also give many compliments. I took more compliments in two weeks in China than I have taken in the entire year. Sometimes they may even hug and kiss you, it is really cute. But this is something I noticed mostly in Beijing but not in Shanghai. In Shanghai, people are used to foreigners since it is more international. Also Chinese are always ready to help you in one way or another. Something else you need to keep in mind is that not everybody knows English in China or they do not speak it that well, so be prepared to use signs sometimes.</p><figure id="c40c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*_JURDuafFXsVJl8ZmdWLew.jpeg"><figcaption>Dancing in the night</figcaption></figure><h2 id="e4a8">The Great Wall of China</h2><p id="2f27">What is the point of visiting China if you do not climb The Great Wall? Only one hour and a half away by bus from Beijing and you will be there. It takes about 2 hours to climb the wall, of course not all of it since it is about 21 thousand km long but just a part of it. In summer it may be too hot so be prepared and take some water with you. You may get tired during the climbing, but as they say, “nothing worth having comes easy in life”.</p><p id="1014">And with this quote, I am closing this article and wish you a pleasant stay in China. You might as well fall in love with it.</p><figure id="8a84"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*9QGx0cU_29DDfqGOjFe3sQ.jpeg"><figcaption>The Great Wall of China</figcaption></figure><p id="91b1">Join <a href="https://keis-newsletter.beehiiv.com/">my monthly newsletter</a> where I share learnings and tips about living a more fulfilling life based on research and Stanford classes.</p><p id="ad88">Want to be the first one to be notified about my upcoming article? Then subscribe <a href="https://keihysi.medium.com/subscribe">here</a>.</p><p id="304d">I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you’d like to support me as a writer, consider signing up to <a href="https://keihysi.medium.com/membership">become a Medium member</a>. It’s just $5 a month and you get unlimited access to Medium. If you sign up <a href="https://keihysi.medium.com/membership">using my link</a>, I’ll earn a small commission. Thank you!</p></article></body>

My first time in China

What to expect there?

When you’ve been living and traveling in Europe all your life, visiting Asia feels like a very exciting experience. At least that’s how it was for me when I visited China for the first time this year, and I know that is how many people feel (the same is for people who have been living in Asia all their life and then visit Europe). Before starting my trip to China I decided to read as much as I could about this country so I could prepare myself for what to expect there and it did help a lot. In this article, I want to show you what to expect in China and my experience there.

High Security

The first thing you need to know about China is that security is very high in this country, as you can imagine. The moment you enter the country, at the airport, you have to give your fingerprints. After that, you are allowed to enter the country. Also every time you will use the train your bags will be scanned, sometimes even your bottle of water. And do not forget, there are cameras everywhere in the city. So as you may have realized already, China is a safe country.

Technology

It really surprised me how much-addicted people were to technology in China. Everybody had a phone in their hands all the time while walking, running, in trains, literally everywhere. Also, everything worked with a QR code. Nobody asks for your number in China, instead, they ask for your QR code (the old days are gone, my friends). Also, wanna use public transportation? Scan the QR code. China is famous for using lots of apps. But the main app that you definitely should have to survive in China is WeChat. WeChat is everything in one app. You use it to chat with people, use it as your business contact, you use it to pay for the purchases you make, and many other things, I still have to figure out. Of course, there is no Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Google in China. Instead, there is WeChat so you better install it before going there. But you can still access everything if you get a VPN. You can get ExpressVPN as I did, which you can cancel within one month and get refunded, but keep in mind that sometimes it may not work (It also has a 7-day free trial if you plan to stay only one week in China or you get 30 days free usage if your friend installs it as well and you both benefit).

Food

Traffic

If you come from a country where traffic rules are always strictly respected you may find China a little bit crazy. China is very chaotic at times. People cross the street when they feel like doing so, cars will not stop for you, neither will motorcycles. I also realized that even when the traffic light is red the cars still have the right to drive if they are turning to the right so keep that in mind. To me the hectic life of China was not that surprising, actually, I had started to miss that kind of life. But you can also find the fastest train in the world in Shanghai, Shanghai Maglev, which travels 301km/h. Give it a try. Within 10 min you will be in the airport.

Toilets

Okay now, this is interesting. You have to know that when it comes to toilets, in China you will mostly find squat toilets unless you go to an international hotel or building. (However in Shanghai Financial Center not only are there no squat toilets, but they actually are very technological, maybe you should give them a try). Also, something to keep in mind, there are no toilet papers in restaurants, bars, or coffee shops so you better be prepared (thank me later).

Skyscrapers

Did you know that in China you can find the second-tallest building in the world? That is the Shanghai Tower, 632 meters tall. The tower is surrounded by other skyscrapers and the view is just amazing. You can find skyscrapers also in Beijing. (Probably in other cities as well, but I haven’t visited them, yet).

People

And here comes the best part of China, its culture, and its people. I just loved the people in China. They are so kind and positive. You could see them dancing in the street and enjoying each other company. They would dance in groups or with partners. If you want to learn some Chinese moves just join them, as I did. They looked so carefree and happy! Also, they really like meeting foreigners. If you are from Europe and you climb the Great Wall of China be prepared to be asked many times for photos. People just want to have a picture with you. They also give many compliments. I took more compliments in two weeks in China than I have taken in the entire year. Sometimes they may even hug and kiss you, it is really cute. But this is something I noticed mostly in Beijing but not in Shanghai. In Shanghai, people are used to foreigners since it is more international. Also Chinese are always ready to help you in one way or another. Something else you need to keep in mind is that not everybody knows English in China or they do not speak it that well, so be prepared to use signs sometimes.

The Great Wall of China

What is the point of visiting China if you do not climb The Great Wall? Only one hour and a half away by bus from Beijing and you will be there. It takes about 2 hours to climb the wall, of course not all of it since it is about 21 thousand km long but just a part of it. In summer it may be too hot so be prepared and take some water with you. You may get tired during the climbing, but as they say, “nothing worth having comes easy in life”.

And with this quote, I am closing this article and wish you a pleasant stay in China. You might as well fall in love with it.

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