Forums > Living in Kunming > Chinese Tourists I am only mildly surprised that writing on a forum re "Chinese Tourists" has degenerated into being seen as "bitching" at locals. As I have said, I say nothing to local people about their customs ..I won't call it culture.....they are theirs to do with as they please....(unless they are specifically demanded to desist by authorities ). If Chinese people choose to tune in to a forum (which is a discussion on a specific topic) about Chinese Tourists....then that is not criticising publicly....it's a specific medium to voice opinions. If however, foreigners in any country, go,out into the street or railway stations and berate nationals for their customs, then hey.....totally not acceptable. Start a discussion about what Chinese think of us as guests in their country, our behaviour and anything else and then let the games begin.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Chinese Tourists That's an old and well outdated cliche. In Rome I don't necessarily do what many male Romans do....usually grabbing unknown women's backsides in a bus or queue for example, then when sprung give a lecherous grin and move away. In Thailand I don't wai to the various stone deities as I walk along a busy street or when driving my motorbike, in Los Angeles, I don't eat huge calorific restaurant meals because they are placed in front of me. None if these are good for my wellbeing. So what's different about China? I don't like to sit and inhale tar. I'm not telling Chinese not to smoke, just not to smoke in places their own authorities say its not acceptable (or wéifãn guīzé). My Chinese friends agree and are the first to say something... Anyone who thinks its culturally acceptable in short term or long term should go visit an emphysema ward. Enough on the smoking from me. Lets not start on the cultural acceptance of spitting on the floor of restaurants. By the way I like slurping my noodles, and I like shovelling rice into my mouth up close and personal. but dont do it in my country because it would offend.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Chinese Tourists Actually Tony, it's not a matter of simple perception. I have absolutely no problem with kids being allowed to shit in the street in China. Not my country, not my kids and not my streets and I certainly don't ridicule anyone for their traditional and accepted behaviour. I don't do eyerolling either. But, as for the 2nd hand smoke being only a problem for non smokers ...not true. Its all about lungs, in this case mine. If its in the open street, I couldn't care less if smokers want to clog their lungs with tar, 1st hand, 2nd hand whatever. However if there's a sign in a closed in space that says no smoking ...possibly for the valid reason of damage to air, and it is disregarded then yup...I dont like it. Whatever the country. There's a reason for the sign being there. If however it is in a closed space, I cough, my lungs are affected and then my clothes and hair smell as bad as the smokers'. As for the spitting. Well again, you want to spit in the street, away from my open mouth and nasal passages ...go for it ...no eye rolling from me, I just cover my mouth best I can so I don't catch whatever is in the phlegmy breeze and walk away. But in a bus or a restaurant, theres no escape from the bacteria/virus laden sputum floating around in the atmosphere, or landing on my miàntāng. Ridicule doesn't come into it. Its all about health...mine and others. Education will change it hopefully. Beijing govt tried to stop it prior to the Olympics for a good reason....it ain't a good look for a super civilised country to still be behaving in an uncivilised and unhealthy manner. So, your suggestion that if someone doesn't like somethings about a country they go home, well thats a sad and dare i say, narrow way to look at the foreign travel experience. To only travel and live and learn about places you approve of would be comparable to only eating stuff you knew the taste of, or food which could, if allowed, be improved with some beneficial suggestions. I could spend hours banging on about all the things i like about China, what has kept me coming back, but this forum was not about those. Just saying and I guess this long missive is more than 2 cents, sorry about that and cheers back at you.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Chinese Tourists Yey.....love this tourist thing. I have to agree about the Americans in London...or Europe. But only if its their first time. Those kind usually don't return a second time.....only the taxi drivers are sorry.
The Americans who live there so desperately want to fit in they try to outdo to Brits at being British. They stop shouting anyway and don't gather in groups on buses and the Tube. But except for the shouting thing, American tourists don't impact on other people, except perhaps in a humorous way. Whereas I think most of what people writing on this forum re Chinese tourists are commenting on, are those things that actually do impact negatively on other people. A forum on how kind and helpful and generous and funny Chinese people are would be just as prolific. And by the by, I don't want to "suck up"the 2nd hand smoke of anyone...French, Italian, Brits, or Chinese.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Chinese Tourists I agree with all of the comments, especially re hotels and guesthouses, but lets not forget trains. No Smoking? I don't think so. It is apparently ok to sit by the window and light up, even if the window is locked closed. The signs say please keep floors free from rubbish.....I don't think so on that one either. It doesn't actually mean "WO" (sorry, no tones on my keyboard)..Peanut shells, the aforesaid wrapping paper, pieces of food not actually swallowed and of course the spitting. Not all Chinese tourists are like this in trains, but it is the norm unfortunately. I have a Chinese friend whose lovely middle aged parents want to visit Australia and I asked if they are aware that in a restaurant, or anywhere really, you can't spit food onto the floor or table if you can't actually bite it...like tough pieces of meat or meat bones, or stuff they don't like. And no spitting, even at the SIDE of the road. They were surprised that it would be a problem, and after he discussed it, they decided not to go. I have another Chinese friend with a guest house that caters to foreigners and Chinese, who when asked the worst nationality guests he has, replied "Chinese". "Why?" I asked. They always want big discounts for nothing, they leave the rooms so filthy, they make so much noise with music and shouting all the time, they have no respect for strangers. The best nationality? According to him, it's "Holland people". So, here's a clap for the Dutch......and no I'm not Dutch, and yes I like all of my Chinese friends and most others.
