Most of what I share on Steemit has to do with China. Before I moved here 4 years ago, I didn't know too much about the country even though I'm half Chinese. I knew some things but with the Internet being closed off from the rest of the world and of course, the language, it was a bit difficult to gain perspective. I'm hoping I can help those of you outside China understand this mass of humanity a little better.

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5 Words That Come to Mind When I Think "China"

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1. WHITE

Photo by MJ Breiva from Pexels
Wait.

White?

Isn't China...Yellow?

I say white because it's a central part of Chinese culture. One of their most popular alcoholic drinks here is called bai jiu or "white wine".

"Is it like Japanese sake?"

No. Not at all. It's 56% and it's made out of sorgam, not rice. You're meant to drink it straight and I find it utterly disgusting:

Wikimedia Commons

In China, the more white or pale your skin, the more beautiful a person is. It's to the point where people buy whitening creams and use umbrellas on sunny days. If a person has dark skin, that indicates that they work outside and they are a laborer or of low class. For this reason, people seem to go to extreme lengths to avoid direct sun exposure.

One other interesting part about the color white in China is that it's the color of mourning. While in the west, we tend to wear black - in China, they will wear white.

Finally, China has recently opened it's borders so Chinese people aren't so used to foreigners yet. I generalize but tall, white, foreigners are idolized here. It's to the point where some foreigners will get jobs pretending to be businessman or just to stand there. I saw one video where two foreigners were "rented" to dress up like the Queen's Guard and stand there. Apparently, it helped sell houses and resulted in it looking more professional or prestigious.

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2. FOOD

This one is likely what most people think of when they hear China. Before I came here, I mostly ate southern Chinese food...dim sum, chow mein, wonton soup, and the like. When I got here, I discovered that the rest of the country is completely and utterly different. Each region has it's own style of specialty. In the north where I used to live in Shandong province, they were known for shao kao or barbecue kebabs.

While Chinese food is delicious, I must say it can be overly oily though.

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3. HAIR

People REALLY pay attention to hair here. Not just women. I see a lot of guys with styled hair and they look like pop stars or something. It's also common to see Chinese women here with really long hair. Like all the way down to the ass long. Of course not all of them are like this but it's far more common than in Canada.

As a result, there are hairdressers on every corner and they are usually full service and cheap. You can pay about $5 to $10 US and you'll get a cut, two washes, and a head massage. This usually includes some tea too. From what I've noticed here in China, the majority of the hairdressers are guys. Back in Canada, it was the opposite unless you were going to a barber.

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4. BASKETBALL

Pixabay

If you were to ask the average person what sport they think is most popular in China, most would say ping pong. A select few might say badminton. The truth is, Chinese boys and men are OBSESSED with basketball. To be fair, a lot are big fans of soccer/football too.

One of the main questions I get when I meet a new Chinese guy is, "do you like basketball"? The NBA plays on their TV here and the other day, my main coffee shop guy was watching basketball on his phone. It seems to be a main activity with a big portion of the male population here. Or at least the active ones. The others seem to be pretty big on phone games and computer games like LOL (League of Legends).

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5. SINGING

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If you go to Mexico, you'll see that dance is a huge part of their culture. Here in China, it's song.

KTVs or Karaoke as more of you might know it, are EVERYWHERE. This is a huge part of nightlife here. You can rent a private room, buy a bunch of booze and snacks, and then sing your heart out with your friends.

Not only that but most malls nowadays have KTV booths. You can go in with a friend and sing along as a break from shopping.

This doesn't only translate to entertainment though. It's also a part of their everyday life.

Late for class? Sing a song.

At a wedding? Sing a song.

Oh, you're a foreigner? Sing us a song! (I actually did it once. It was awkward.)

It's Halloween? What songs do you sing for Halloween?

For people who are known to be shy, they aren't shy about singing. Sometimes I'll use it as a "punishment" in my classes and some of them will belt it out with no shame. I mean giving their all and really putting their heart into it too. Good on them. For me, it'll take a few drinks before you get me to sing anything.

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