When I was on the train to Anhui, I didn’t know what to expect. I wondered, what did a second-tier Chinese city mean? Before this trip, my perception of China, which I received from Beijing, was that it was a modern society with advanced technology and social structures.
Another question I was wondering was how come I have heard about my friends traveling to other second-tier Chinese cities such as Chengdu and Xian, meanwhile, I rarely heard about people traveling to Anhui. Although Anhui is looking to increase its tourism, Anhui
is also famous for its technology. I was excited to see a new part of China, a part of China that many foreign tourists do not travel to and a city that is not catered to them. This also means a new China that I can experience.
Hiking Huangshan left a lasting impression on me. My first thought on the mountain was, “Wow, 好多人(so many people)”. This was the moment I better understood China’s massive population size. That was the first time I experienced a traffic jam and lining up on a mountain! There were just that many people on a normal Sunday hiking one of China’s famous mountains.
At first, I was extremely frustrated. I wanted to turn around and leave since I had never experienced this kind of situation before. However, I am glad we did not leave the mountain as we ended up discovering the beautiful views of China. In China, I am experiencing new situations that I have yet to experience anywhere else and am developing a more open-minded mindset.
Compared to America, the mountain had many more tourists from all different age ranges. I was surprised to see the number of people who were able to and wanted to hike this mountain! The mountain had a large number of kids hiking and I even spotted some fathers carrying their babies uphill. Additionally, there was a decent proportion of older people on the mountain who were hiking just as fast as I was. I was surprised by the fearlessness of these Chinese citizens. Through the number of tourists, I could also tell that the standard of living for
Chinese people is rising. Many people now have enough time to go on vacation and hike as a family.
Before coming to China, the first thing that would come to mind when I thought of the country was its big cities (such as Beijing) and advanced technology (such as high-speed rail). However, now when I think of China, I think of its diverse environments and beautiful nature. Hiking Huangshan showed me a new perspective of China, one filled with natural environments and scenic views. I hope to continue to explore this part of China and experience all types of environments the country has to offer.
One topic that came up a few times was the discussion of China as a civilized society. I had countless interactions with citizens across China at popular areas in Anhui such as hiking Huangshan. I think these are valuable experiences as I do not often interact with domestic tourists while in Beijing. My interaction with Beijing locals compared to Anhui domestic tourists was vastly different. In Anhui, many Chinese tourists did not follow social rules. One of the biggest frustrations that I ran into while traveling was the lack of people lining up. Although something so natural to me, I did not realize how much this social norm helps keep order in society. I experienced both young and old people not complying with this rule as everyone cut
the line! When this occurred, people would also let themselves be cut as if it were normal. I found this ironic because China is a strict society based on control and order, however, lining up is a foundational construct that keeps rule and order and is not valued here.
It also seemed that Anhui domestic tourists were less aware of others around them. For example, when I was hiking Huangshan, a small child was struggling to walk at the same pace as everyone else. The child’s mother was not with her and was continuously being pushed to the ground and crying. No one stopped to let the child stand up until one of our classmates yelled to give the child space. Similar to lining up, many citizens, most likely, from less developed cities, put themselves before others. These experiences demonstrated to me that many Chinese cities still have more room for development not only technologically but also socially. Traveling to a second-tier city made me wonder how economic development impacts people's actions and values. I am even more curious to see how China continues to develop and how its people decide to shape the city and country. Although I have lived in China for three months now, I still run into culture shock and am grateful for the opportunity to observe Chinese society from a critical lens.
In Huangshan, I had a great time experiencing the cultural activities the school had planned for my classmates and me. One of my favorite days in Huangshan was when saw the 墨 条production process and picked tea leaves. These two activities reminded me of China’s rich culture and history.
Seeing and interacting with the locals who helped in the production process made this trip memorable. I did not realize how long it takes to make these ink sticks. From molding and shaping the sticks to letting them harden, it takes countless days. I am so happy to partake in this experience and will keep my 墨条for a long time.
I also had a memorable experience picking tea leaves. I did not realize what tea leaves plants looked like and I thought they were normal bushes at first! It was amazing to see the tea-making process as I am always exposed to the final product in China. Although I picked tea leaves in a comfortable setting I was able to understand a little bit more about the work of those who lived in rural China and the lives of those who performed this work in the past. Picking and
producing tea is arduous work that is done every day in the hot sun. I have more respect for the tea I drink now and savor every sip a little bit more.
I enjoyed the tea-tasting session we had after picking the leaves. In this session, I learned more about Chinese customs and culture such as tapping the table with two fingers every time someone pours you tea as a form of thank you rather than saying 谢谢. I learn new customs every time I partake in a Chinese cultural activity and am reminded how beautiful and different our lifestyles and cultures are. I am always excited and happy to learn more about Chinese
customs and can't wait to partake in more cultural activities to further my understanding of the country.
In the tea-tasting activity, we tasted three types of tea: black tea, green tea, and white tea. I always thought I liked green tea the most but I think that's because I had yet to have authentic tea. I discovered that green tea is more bitter when comparing it to the other types of tea and realized my new favorite tea is black tea! I can’t wait to share this delicious tea with my friends and family back home.
Finally, I enjoyed exploring Huangshan at night. I think that many developing second-tier cities all have a similar feel to them. They are big cities with a bustling population yet are in limbo as they don't have the infrastructure and activities that a first-tier city might have. I think entertainment and nightlife are effective methods in gauging the development of a city because these businesses only thrive in an area that has a wealthy population with enough free time to spend their money. Taking my experience in Huangshan as an example, the city had a lively street where many friends, family, and tourists all gathered to experience Anhui culture. However, this large city was also missing the entertainment and enthusiasm that more developed cities have. The majority of restaurants and stores closed at 10 p.m. and it felt like the city had fallen asleep soon after.
My classmates and I explored the city of Huangshan one night after 10 p.m. and I was surprised by what I saw. Most people were enjoying late-night skewers and beer along a packed street. Everyone looked like they were having a great time and my classmates and I felt like we had to join in on the fun. We picked a restaurant, sat outdoors, and became part of the crowd as we experienced Anhui like a local. This was one of my favorite nights during the trip because I was able to experience what it's like living as a young adult in a second-tier city. Unlike in Beijing and Shanghai where everyone goes to clubs and bars, this lifestyle felt more intimate. Although Anhui’s nightlife was lacking compared to other cities, I enjoyed feeling like I was a part of a community. As Anhui continues to develop, more locals will flock to clubs and bars, and Anhui’s nightlife will flourish. I also hope that the city keeps some of its current aspects and doesn't lose this unique environment.