11 Bizarre Facts About China That Drive Foreigners Crazy
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11 Bizarre Facts About China That Drive Foreigners Crazy
Asian countries have fascinated westerners since the dawn of time, and for a good reason. They are so different from everything we’re used to seeing in the west that even the smallest details impress us. China is one of the biggest countries in the world with a rich history and culture that dates back thousands of years. From acupuncture and Confucianism to flavorful cuisine and amazing art, China has given us many incredible things, gadgets, and trends. And yet, it still has a lot of secrets only locals know about. Here are 11 absolutely bizarre facts about China that drive foreigners crazy.
BUZZ NOTE: I have posted my personal comments on these items after each picture.
Chinese parks
One of the first things that shock foreigners when they come to China is the amount of people who get out of their homes at around 5 a.m. in the morning and go to local parks to practice yoga, play football, do gymnastics, and whatnot. There are also loads of bizarre devices you can use for your workouts.
BUZZ NOTE: These kinds of devices are EVERYWHERE, not just in parks.
‘Luggage rooms’ for husbands
Shopping malls in big cities are all equipped with a type of ‘luggage storage’ for husbands, who can’t stomach doing shopping with their wives. While the ladies enjoy what they came there to do, husbands spend time in small hi-tech cabins with games and soft drinks.
BUZZ NOTE: I've been in shopping malls and big department stores in many cities and I've never seen them.
Chinese babies are born 1 y.o.
This happens due to the concept named East Asian age reckoning, with actual age of a baby starting from the Chinese New Year’s Day, not the day baby was actually born.
BUZZ NOTE: That's news to me.
Foreign tourists
Foreigners are still a big deal in most Chinese cities, especially when you go to the outskirts or rural areas. So don’t be surprised when you get some pretty intense attention from the locals when you visit this amazing country.
BUZZ NOTE: I have previously posted on NT photos of myself on The Great Wall - It's a "must do" if one visits China.
Charity machines
China seems to be the only country that has special charity machines that give you 20 grams of cat and dog food for each used plastic bottle. This idea is purely brilliant!
BUZZ NOTE: I've never seen one, but it's a great idea.
The bike problem
Despite being so good at recycling and creating all kinds of solutions for environmental problems, big Chinese cities still have a long way to go. Like this bicycle problem is getting more serious with each passing year! What was supposed to be a simple solution for rent bike parking spots turned into a real catastrophe.
BUZZ NOTE: I've not seen this problem in Chongqing as yet, but with the huge proliferation of rental bikes it's bound to happen.
Love for street food
In fact, Chinese are pretty crazy about it! In China you will see people eating literally everywhere – in the streets, public transport, even on the go! But what’s even more impressive is the variety of street food that ranges from simple lunch boxes with meat, rice, and veggies, to dumplings, soups, and scorpion kebabs.
BUZZ NOTE: Street food is everywhere. I just read that the city of Beijing has just required that there be no eating food on the subway.
You can buy anything in the Chinese vending machines
Similar to Japan, Chinese vending machines sell everything from usual snacks, drinks, and cigarettes to more elaborate things like fresh foods including meat, crabs, and even cars.
BUZZ NOTE: These things are everywhere, with food, drinks, toys, but the only cars they sell are toy ones.
Not all of China is smoggy
While it is true that big Chinese cities can be quite polluted, we can’t say the whole country is drowning in smog. Head to the Yunnan province and you’ll be taken aback by the rich and beautiful nature of this region!
BUZZ NOTE: Funny that they show a photo with smog, fog or mist. They are right. Not ALL of China is smoggy or foggy or misty, ONLY MOST OF IT. The only time I remember seeing an absolutely clear sky here is when I was on The Great Wall. My photos from that prove it.
Crazy food mixes
Chinese food manufacturers are really good with mixing the unmixable ingredients. This is probably the only country in the world where you’ll find things like blueberry pizza and green tea beer.
BUZZ NOTE: I really don't like the green tea ice cream.
Green tea is not the most popular drink
While China has one of the most ancient and beautiful tea ceremonies in the world, this country’s most popular drink is actually hot water. It is believed that hot water helps from all kinds of illnesses and maintains the balance of yin and yang energies in the body. Basically this is the ultimate cure for everything!
BUZZ NOTE: I really don't like drinking plain hot water since I am used to drinking cold water. What I've been told is that cold water gives them stomach aches. Restaurants always provide hot water with their meals.
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