Having lived in China for just over 2 years now, there are things that I do not know that I can live without – these are some of those things.
1
High Speed Rail
Oh my god, how awesome is high speed rail in China? I just cannot express how incredible this is. Earlier this year, I decided to take a high speed train from Shenzhen to Beijing – a 10 hour, 18 minute trip. People thought I was crazy, but I was sure I was making the right decision.
It turned out I made a brilliant decision. I spent extra on a first class seat, which meant that I got a power point to plug my laptop or mobile phone into as I needed to, a very comfortable chair and nobody sitting next to me the whole way! I could stretch out and get plenty of things done, I could even nap fairly comfortably if I was inclined to do so.
The best part was that it departed and arrived on time – throughout the entire journey. I actually flew back and once delays are included, the entire flight and pre-check-in time was more than 8 and a half hours. While in China, I can see myself taking high speed trains far more than flights.
2
Efficient metros/subways, etc
Since I am on the public transport bandwagon, I have to tip my hat in support of the metros, subways and other public rail systems in China. While I have only travelled on those in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing (and Hong Kong SAR), I love the fact that I do not think I have ever waited longer than 8 minutes for a train. In my home country, that would only happen in peak times or during special events so to see this as a regular occurrence is just brilliant.
Having said that, I would personally like to see the Shenzhen Metro start earlier in the morning and finish a little later at night, but that is a minor quibble – I appreciate that it is a business and there are other ways for people to get home.
3
Fruit shops everywhere
I am not sure if this is a phenomenon unique to southern China, but I love the fact that it is incredibly easy to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from pretty much anywhere. I don’t have to go to a supermarket and a specialist store to buy my fruit and vegetables, there are people EVERYWHERE selling them here and I love it.
The quality is normally very good, the price is very reasonable and the range covers everything you might need to pick up quickly on your way home. In addition, the free markets (as my girlfriend calls them) seem to have a better range of fruit and vegetables than the supermarkets and I need to remind myself to shop there.
4
Open container laws
The ability to sit outside a store and drink an icy cold beer was totally foreign to me when I got here but one I quickly adapted to. Let’s face it, China gets hot and a cold frosty beverage feels really good, but it could get warm by the time you get it home. The solution is to grab one of the plastic chairs that the convenience store has stacked up out the front, sit down and crack open the beer.
While working at a summer camp in Beijing recently, it was not uncommon for the foreign teachers to turn to each other and suggest a trip to the village for beers. This meant sitting on plastic stools on a wide footpath drinking ice cold Yanjing beers for 3RMB each for a few hours.
5
Shaokao
Ahhh, the shaokao is something that I am amazed has not made its way into the hearts, mind and stomachs of Western culture yet. Yes, they have barbecues, but the idea of sitting at a large table with your friends on the side of the road or on the footpath as someone cooks meat, seafood and vegetables that you have selected.
The table will inevitably groan with the number of plates of skewers of a variety of products, as well as empty bottles of beer, bowls, chopsticks, tea cups and all the other detritus that remains after the banter and entertainment of a good night of shaokao.
Yes, street barbecue is something I have not done in a while but will long remain as a favourite of mine into the future. I know that it is banned in Beijing (or at least in parts of Beijing), so apologies to readers there but it has not been banned down here in the south (yet).
6
E-commerce
OH MY GOD!!!
I think that is the best summary of e-commerce in China, particularly when you look at the giants of Taobao and Tmall. I do not know about the other writers and readers, but I am actually looking forward to 11/11 to do some shopping for the first time (no, I am not single but no one is going to stop me this time). You can buy ANYTHING on these websites, and the customer service is usually brilliant. The fact that you can get stuff shipped to you across the country in 24 hours is incredible (I am used to stuff taking a week or more).
These are just a small number of things I would want to take back to my home country from China. What would you want to take home with you?