China is misunderstood but not in the way you think

So I recently left China after staying there for about 3 weeks and goddamn, what an experience.

Spent most of my time hiking, and all of it was spent in the Yunnan province, and it was pretty lit for the most part. 

Given how huge China is as a country it’s quite difficult to make generalisations about it, especially with only visiting a province as unique and diverse as Yunnan, but I wanted to sort of put my own thoughts about it into writing.

Now my reasonings for visiting China vary;

- it had just become visa free for Australians up to 1 month

- I heard there was good hiking (there def was)

- I personally felt like China has sort of dropped the curtain over the past year, people had suddenly become aware that it wasn’t this North Korea type of place.

- It made sense and was affordable to fly there from Taiwan.

China had always been on my list of places I wanted to visit, but recently, there’s been this mass media flood of people visiting China.

Western media, at least in Oz, has mostly portrayed China in negative light, so it was super interesting as an outsider.

Anyway, whilst I certainly don’t think that China is this mass controlled ethnostate, I also don’t think it’s this ultra futuristic country that’s light years ahead of others.

What I saw was reflective of their recent history, the fall out from Chiang Kai Shek, and the rise of Mao Zedong/the CCP. super super interesting stuff and I 100% recommend you read up on how the CCP came into power, what progress they made for China, and the struggles that came with it if you intend to visit.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty I don’t agree with like the media restriction, lack of democratic rights and the work culture (These are things that I have heard directly from locals living there; when you are a westerner, people tend to be super open with you about their qualms), but I understand why Chinese society functions the way that it does.

Prior to the CCP, there was war, and before that there was chaos under the dynasties. The CCP brought organisation, societal development, and order to China, which in turn gave peace to people.

This is where the individualism vs collectivism ideals come in.

In China, the idea of freedom comes from safety and comfort, even if it means sacrificing civil liberties . And I mean hey, it’s worked pretty dang well as they are a powerhouse country in industry and cash. 

I met plenty of people who were happy living in China with the current government, and of course the opposite as well.

Especially after visiting, it’s definitely put into perspective their place in the world. I don’t think anymore or less of it as a country, but I do have a lot of respect for China and its people.

Idk the nuance of it all is super interesting to me.

Also Tiger Leaping Gorge is fuckin lit and everyone should go do it if u can!!!!!!!!!

(Edited to finish a sentence that was half written lollllllll)