Growing up in the '80s and '90s in rural USA, here’s what I remember:
poverty and starvation are big problems (also how moms got kids to eat all their food)
it was mostly extremely rural and undeveloped
they were communist and not to be trusted
they are not welcoming of outsiders at all
I have a couple of Chinese friends today and would love to visit at some point, but I’m not a huge fan of what’s been happening in governance in the last decade and change so will probably hold off on that.
I really want to go to Xi An and some other historical/archaeological sites. Shanghai is also on the list as I’ve met some cool folks from there over the years. I used to watch a YouTube channel about cooking that I think was short there (日食記 or something similar).
Growing up in the '80s and '90s in rural USA, here’s what I remember:
I have a couple of Chinese friends today and would love to visit at some point, but I’m not a huge fan of what’s been happening in governance in the last decade and change so will probably hold off on that.
I worked there a while.
Feel free to visit, but also feel ready to be disappointed.
They’re broken in a very fundamental way, a sad way. There are good people there, but also a lot of sociopaths.
Shanghai is a wonder of the world though, I recommend everyone visit, truly beautiful.
I really want to go to Xi An and some other historical/archaeological sites. Shanghai is also on the list as I’ve met some cool folks from there over the years. I used to watch a YouTube channel about cooking that I think was short there (日食記 or something similar).
Oh, you should see the history, it’s incredible.
But … the modern culture is… sad? Like a horrible cheap 70s ripoff of capitalism, but in a mean way.
For the modern culture, I recommend Taiwan heartily.
Yeah, wife and I are talking about going to Taiwan. I’ve seen it before (from Yonaguni on a clear day), but never been there.
In my opinion, it is chinese culture as it would and should have been without the CPC.
So take that as you will.