Life and Travel in China

Out of habit, I often compare China to Poland (even though it usually doesn't make much sense), but still... For example, renting an electric city bike in Wrocław costs about the same as taking a taxi in China (maybe not in major metropolises, but in smaller ones, meaning those comparable to Wrocław). A 10-minute bike ride costs almost 6 PLN, which is around 12 RMB. Taking a taxi in China for about 10 minutes costs a similar amount—around 10–12 RMB. Most of these taxis are electric nowadays. We also recently checked a taxi ride from Ningbo to Jiaxing (about 100 km, including crossing a 38-km-long bridge)—the cost was around 200–250 PLN. If 3 or 4 people are traveling together, the per-person cost is comparable to taking a train in China. Using the same app in Poland, a 100 km ride would cost around 700–800 PLN. There really are noticeable differences!

I'm thinking today that this WeChat was cleverly introduced in China. First, an application for calls and free calls over the Internet, via Wi-Fi. Of course, exchanging photos, then videos, files, documents, etc. Convenience, modern solutions, easy communication. The program was created by a private company from Shenzhen - Tencent. But the Chinese authorities quickly see the potential in it and the program is no longer private at all. This is our mCitizen now plus a payment card, ID card, passport, everything. Now it is also a combo that connects other applications, e.g. taxis, ordering food, purchasing train tickets, various types of verifications, logins, identity confirmation, etc. For us, it is space. Imagine Gadu-Gadu with such functions. Nice idea, because if the government created such an application and forced people to register and use it, some percentage would probably rebel or give up smartphones. But first you get "convenience", facilities. You can make calls, send files, share photos with friends, create groups, etc. However, the government is slowly turning it into an application that allows you to pay, verify your identity, and travel. Still many facilities, but at the same time full, "permanent surveillance", to quote a classic. You should add "I can't stand it!", but the Chinese can stand it.

I have the impression that Western culture is constantly at war with Eastern culture. For years, the task of the English media was to present China as a backward, dangerous and poor country. Even until 2010, this was implemented quite effectively. It is known that a small percentage of people traveled to China, maybe it was only after the Olympic Games in Beijing (2008) that the world "opened its eyes" a bit. Now, however, when we have a flood of reports from TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, where many people show ordinary life in China, tourist attractions of the Middle Kingdom, modern cities, means of transport; recipients realize that China is not so backward after all, and is even a very modern, developed country. Only China has been modern since 2000, because it was then that skyscrapers, large bridges, modern highways, subways in many cities, and a little later the high-speed railway network were built. Only now many people are "discovering China". On the one hand, it's very good, but on the other hand, this delight shows how little people know about the world. How little they read, how little they look for information outside the mainstream media controlled by large corporations and, therefore, indirectly by governments. The West cannot speak well of China or Russia. Now some successes and facts about the Middle Kingdom are left unsaid. Since they cannot openly criticize China, they try to remain silent about China. The worst thing is that geopolitically Poland is between these two worlds - east and west. The worst thing, however, is that our diplomacy and our politicians are hopeless and instead of taking advantage of this situation, we are really losing a lot!

China — it is developing incredibly fast. Technology is already entering every industry and every aspect of everyday life. Foreigners visiting the Middle Kingdom are often amazed by all the modern solutions, but some Chinese people are beginning to find it a little frightening, perhaps even overwhelming. Basically, an ordinary day can now pass without any real contact with another person — headphones on, apps, online tickets, robots, touchscreens, ordering food online, and so on. Then you return home and scroll through WeChat Moments or the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. Of course, it is convenient. These technologies make many things easier. But honestly, the changes are happening far too quickly. Maybe I’m simply a person from another era, more traditional, perhaps with a bit of a romantic soul, because I used to enjoy talking to people. Sometimes I would help someone; other times, someone would help me. There were no maps on our phones, no apps. Sometimes you simply got lost, looked for your way, and asked someone for directions. Those situations had their advantages, too. Sometimes, by accident, you would discover interesting places, fascinating buildings, or great little shops. Once, while wandering around with no particular destination, I ended up at the famous Dongmen, a historic pedestrian street that is now one of Shenzhen’s most popular shopping districts. People were also curious about the world — curious about other people and other nationalities. Today, there are so many tourists in the Middle Kingdom that most Chinese people seem to avoid them. People are talking to each other less and less. Everyone is busy with social media, filming whatever is happening around them, or simply captivated by the sight of some robot, an autonomous car, a robotic chef, and so on. The world has changed so much. The only question is: are we really ready for all these changes?

China has changed so much. The holiday period in early October is slowly approaching. 15 to 20 years ago, during Chinese holidays, a lot of people simply returned to their hometowns to spend time with their parents and grandparents. They didn't really have the means or money to travel anywhere. Sure, there were crowds at train stations and bus depots, but when it came to tourist attractions, it was moderate, without major crowds. Now, people in China can afford to travel all across the country—from the Gobi Desert to Hong Kong, from Tibet to Shanghai. Traveling abroad to places like Korea, Japan, or Thailand is also no problem for Chinese people. They can simply afford it and have more free time. In the past, they worked hard and saved every single yuan for apartments, private lessons and tutoring for their children, or cars. Priorities have changed in recent years. Chinese people enjoy sightseeing (even though doing so in a crowd of millions is neither easy nor pleasant), they like spending time in restaurants and bars, drinking coffee in cafés, spending their days actively in parks, and so on. They also willingly invest in various hobbies. Years ago, you wouldn't see people running outside of parks, riding road bikes, or driving race cars and motorcycles. Many people spend money on camera equipment and modern action cams like the DJI Action series. They are simply enjoying life and spending money. This has its pros, but certainly the biggest downside is the crowds, queues, and congestion around major attractions. When I first visited the famous Terracotta Army back in 2003, there were only about a dozen people around me; now... hundreds of thousands. I suppose my only regret is not taking even more photos back then—today, they would have immense historical and educational value.