Background: I am Canadian citizen and soon in a few years it be close to 50 years in this country I am from the east Indian heritage. I have had worked in the Canadian dairy/food/flavor industry from managerial to executive positions. I had a good run in this profession for about 30 years and took very early retirement to chase my own dream in another line of work and it has been 15 years and hopefully I keep counting for a long time.
In addition I have two master’s degrees one from u of Punjab India in dairy science and the other from u of Guelph Canada in food science.
此外,我有两个硕士学位,一个来自印度旁遮普邦大学,乳品科学,另一个来自加拿大基辅大学,食品科学。
My Chinese connection: I was born in a small town in Indian region of Punjab our primary school teacher used to tell us that our neighbor China is very civilized country in fact when most of the world was living in caves they were studying astronomy. They invented several things which contributed to the advancement of the world.
This fired my brain (imagination) and sowed the seed about China/Chinese also being Indian due to Buddhism and neighbor we saw China very friendly and very good country in the mid 50s. Our relationship with China became sour after 1962 conflict and China then was very closed country visa was impossible and travelling from India was not a joke though my family was reasonably okay. Regardless my teacher described the word picture and from a tender age of 5 used to imagine the beauty and very nice country of our neighbors.
Then I migrated to Canada but my dream did not die and then in Canada I had nothing but positive interactions with Chinese as my professors class mates coworkers neighbors friends reports and now business dealings.
Finally I made my first and then second trip and now several are in the planning to go back to China. My ultimate goal is to see/explore this country from one end to the other so far my health allows it I want to keep exploring this great countrycivilization and people.
I am very thankful to Chinese authorities to give 10 years visa without any restriction on visits with maximum stay of 6 months. My Canadian citizenship might have helped to grant such a nice visa also my Nexus status might have contributed to positive decision.
I am law abiding citizen: when in Rome do as Romans do I am standing in Tienanmen square however I was very scared I had heard that security is very tight in there. Regardless I was free to move around with total freedom. No one bothered me and I had very nice visit to the Forbidden City.
Now the answer to the Question: Simply breath taking beautiful unbelievable mega country with no substitute on the earth for me. Salute to China and Chinese for such a huge leap. It is totally different what media had played and the impression people have in my books not even close what so ever. I am no fear to go back again and again and even live there. My teacher 60 years ago or so was not wrong he was in fact very conservative in firing my imagination of this great country.
I started with very positive attitude towards China and Chinese and I was totally blown away the with greatness politeness cleanliness discipline personal safety law and order and shear grandeur of land mass and huge population. I already had in my mind but after the visit I am 100 percent decided that my grand kids must learn Mandarin visit the country several times and see the length breadth and height of this continued civilization of over 5000 years. They must learn from it all positive things of hard work discipline fine arts architecture above all one of the best food in the world. One life may not be enough to try all the cuisine variety and food culture of China therefore they should start very early. What more tribute I can give to this great country and people that I wanted to enroll my American born grand kids with endless choices to live and study anywhere they want but if I had a say I want them to go to school in China at least for a few years where they must learn first hand what is called hard work and studies and ying yang of the proper balance in life.
Sure China/Chinese have problems but who does not?
中国确实有一些问题,但是谁没有呢?
Sure China has mega problems which country does not but I am very sure China/Chinese have a long history fighting and solving their problems they have resilience and come through. I know I know I know I will hear ‘ freedom of speech slave labor poor quality pollution still lot of poverty dirty wash rooms people spitting on the road ……………………………….this list goes on….. sorry not to mention Google and Facebook are not available there but they will just fine without those two luxuries in life I learned to live without it and did just fine….well may be a little withdrawal symptoms in the beginning and got over it. Well Beijing roasted duck and dim sum helped a lot sooth that pain.
Please let us check our own back yard first are we as squeaky clean as we portray?
我们先来看看我们自已的国家,真的如我们描述的那样一尘不染吗?
My answer to all those : I have lived here in the west soon it be 50 years and let us check our own back yard in my view we will find lot of things which are not as glorious as we portray.
我的答案是:我在西方生活了快50年了,我对我们自已的看法是:有很多地方都不像我们描述的那样辉煌。
China has seen lot of ups and downs such as Mongolian and Manchurian regimes some of the modern time injustices which included physical financial respect and humiliation and lose lot of wealth it is called 100 years of humiliation which included losing HK opium wars favorable settlement to other countries after the fall of The Last Emperor one visit to Nanjing museum will open your eyes. Well guys now the Dragon is wake and it is not imaginary anymore as Phoenix has risen from ashes. Say Hello(nihoma) to the new very powerful guy on the street in modern times he was very powerful in the ancient time but he is back now.
We could think about poverty slums homelessness corruption frauds drive by shooting drugs sex scandals and the list goes on………in the west also. Is democracy that great…….really ?? if it is the question should be: will it work for massive country in land mass and population in China? let the political pundits decide….I may have my ideas…..but they are not qualified.
I decided long time ago that I will look only positive things in people living and non living things write about it so that I may leave some legacy for my grand kids or who so ever find some merit in it.
You want to visit China : please go with very positive attitude leave the pre conceived ideas in your own country and you will only see beauty in everything (well almost in everything) but no one is perfect let us say “ Glass is more full than empty) and as the old saying goes wear green glasses you will see everything green.
Now let us start with changed impressions after the visit one by one:
现在,让我们一个一个开始展示访问后改变的印象:
China is very safe country:
中国是个很安全的国家:
After the visit/s based on my observations experience and confirmation by my host who is born and brought up Suzhou guy China is literally free of violent crimes petty thefts and other low level crimes may be there but I was not too concerned. I saw young girls working in the night shifts by themselves and walking freely in the middle of night to their home/or night shifts travelling in the public transports.
Women are power houses working shoulder to shoulder with men:
妇女是力量的源泉,与男人肩并肓工作:
I have seen women involved in every walk of life they are handling the baby in the crib and watching the small shop/stall at the same time with flare grace and politeness. Bargaining like a very wise small business person at the airport they are sitting at customs immigration and other official duties handling the business without getting flustered with total politeness and respect. To me it looked like most likely Chinese respect their women from heart I did not see any sign of disrespect or looks. I saw hundreds of school girls dressed in school dresses with load of books on their back more heavy than their tiny body’s could carry showed me that Chinese are very supportive of their daughters for going to school. In my view China has become so powerful because the women are sharing heavy burden of house hold and outside jobs.
Very healthy smartly dressed teenage school girls enjoying equal opportunities to get education.
非常健康聪明穿着得体的青少年女学生享受平等的教育权利。
Tiny adorable kids have equal opportunities to enjoy field trips and education
可爱的小孩们通过实地考察享受接受平等教育的机会。
Women working shoulder to shoulder with men in every walks of life
女人们与男人在生活的各个方面肩并肩工作
Women are power houses in China they are working shoulder to shoulder with men.
在中国女人是力量的源泉,她们与男人肩并肩工作。
Women are power houses they seem to be very hard working and productive in the progress of China.
女人是力量的源泉,她们努力的工作,在中国的发展进程中发挥了应有效率.
-------------译者:wdxxy-审核者:荆楚老贼------------
Once you visit China you realize it is not homogeneous country:
一旦你访问中国你就会了解到这不是一个均一人种的国家。
No all Chinese are not same there are 56 recognized minorities with their own culture and main majority is called Huns they make 90 percent but there there are further classifications.
Bravo still they all live in relative harmony ( at least I have not heard any mass scale and riots) Sure there may be some issues with some ethnic groups and I under no circumstances will make a comment because I do not have any real knowledge of the issues or qualification to say.
I visited famous Muslim Quarters in Xian and found hustle bustle and tremendous amount of life.
我参观过西安著名的穆斯林区,发现十分拥挤喧嚣,人们熙熙攘攘。
Author and his wife Sue visited world famous Muslim Quarters in Xian they found the market very nice tourists and locals were shopping and eating and walking through the streets. These muslims are settled in the area for about 1000 years
Bravo Chinese and China. These Muslim Chinese are called Hue people of China.
中国人和中国都很棒,这些中国穆斯林被称为中国回族。
-------------译者:天羽屠龙舞-审核者:菲儿尹泽厚------------
Muslim Quarters or Street as it is called in fact there may 100s or 1000s of restaurants and snack shops
穆斯林住宅区或者说是穆斯林街区正如它的名字一样,事实上它可能有100多或1000多家餐馆和快餐店。
World famous Muslim Quarters.
世界闻名的穆斯林街区。
It is not Beijing and it not Shanghai the biggest city in China it is Breath taking city Chongqing I found out on this trip it has over 30 million people.
Breath taking Chongqing sky line Yangtze River flow with all its might.
重庆的天际线呼吸之间与扬子江流动合乎一脉。
Author with his wife enjoying a moment of Chongqing beauty.
作者正与他的妻子享受重庆的美景。
Here are some natural beauty of this country:
这里是这个国家的一些自然风景。
Following three pictures are taken by the author on the Coast line of Yangtze river between Chongqing and Shanghai.
以下三张照片是由作者在重庆和上海之间的长江沿岸拍摄的
Who Says Chinese do not smile that is a myth when you go there you will find they are real people ( well almost all of them) they smile a lot.
谁说中国人不会笑,这是一个谎话,当你来的这儿,你会发现他们活得很真实(和我们一样)他们经常笑。
-------------译者:大汉故土-审核者:龙腾翻译总管------------
I know this is very sensitive topic to discuss but for me it is very important to shed more light on this misconception Religion in China.
我知道这是个敏感话题,但是澄清外界对中国宗教信仰的误解,对我来说非常重要。
I have heard before going to China that most of the Chinese are atheists well I was pleasantly surprised in fact most of the Chinese have found real meaning of the religion and God because most of them talk about Karma reincarnation honesty hard work no theft family values and good deeds. To me they found the ultimate truth they do not have to go any religious place to learn anymore.
However what I saw the devotion of some devotees in Buddhist temples it knocked me over I will not be the same.
但是,当我看到佛寺里那些信徒依然虔诚如斯之后,我倍感吃惊,也让我悄然发生改变。
Here are some pictures of Grand Buddha of Ling Shan this is 88 meter Buddha statue the largest statue of my lord and other is bathing of baby Buddha ceremony I never ever seen anything like this I and my wife sue visited this temple two times still not enough I could stay there for ever.
Ultra modern state of the art mass transportation at reasonable prices.
价格合理的超现代先进的大众交通
I never ever realized length breadth of their subway systems in Shanghai subway lines are becoming world model and who can compete with this monster speed of 431 Km/hr. Here pictures of this train which covers 30 km in 8 minutes at a reasonable price these are real pictures taken by my wife Sue and I in Shanghai.
China’s pride and joy Maglev train which attains maximum speed of 431 km/hour and covers 30 km in 8 minutes down town Shanghai to the airport. Well done China/Chinese fastest train in the world.
Chinese love and affinity for gardens beautiful landscapes greenery water falls lakes lush trees and tranquility are praise worthy and I learned lot of lessons.
The country is humming with manufacturing activity and as you see ship loads of finished products raw material traffic produce and other goods are moving.
这个国家充满了工业活力,你可以看到满载成品,原材料的交通工具在移动。
A great lesson for me in the hard work devotion and determination.
我学到了努力工作的热情和决心。
Ship load of new cars being transported via Yangtze River.
满载着新车的船通过长江运输
Truck and trailers are humming the national highways with raw finished and produce through ultra modern highways and toll booths.
装载着原材料成品的卡车和拖车在国家高速公路上嗡嗡作响着通过超现代的高速公路和收费站。
Chinese have total mastery of foods they know arts science and business end of the food industry ( in my view Chinese did to food industry what Henry Ford did to Auto industry)
When in China you will never go hungry there is food for every one with a few yuan in his/her pocket Chinese can feed an emperor/queen and man in the street with a few yuan in his/her pocket. If you are hungry in China is has to an extreme bad luck.
Following is a snap shot of some of the places where author and his lovely wife ate including sitting on the streets of Beijing/Shanghai/Xian and eating it some of the most delicious foods in the world.
Here are some pictures of their resilience will power most of them very happy content with cards fate dealt them and they have found true happiness of contentment. This motivated me to work more harder and it recharged my batteries.
Rather than bitching complaining and finding bad ways to make a living these are the true “ Karam Yogis and Yoginis” which my scxture described in the holy book of The Gita (Hinduism) FYI Buddhism is off shoot of Hinduism. Lord Buddha was born Hindu Prince. I saw that spirit where ever I traveled great work ethics in their blood per sure ( for most of them exceptions are and will be there)
One of the most impressive things was their dances in the parks and I believe it is a good exercise socializing and getting out your stress.
我印象中最深刻的就是她们在公园里跳舞,我认为这能很好的锻炼,社交并释放你的压力。
These are my general observation Chinese people are very proud some may have physical handicap but their self pride is in tact
还有一些我注意到的非常自尊的中国人,一些人也许有身体上的残疾,但他们却总是充满自信。
Following two pictures are great source of inspiration to me I class them entertainers and not beggars they my personal inspiration. Bravo hats off to your dignity pride and this will linger in my mind for ever.
Chinese people are too proud to beg they may have physical handicap but they spirit and dignity is in tact. I do not class him beggar I class him an entertainer and my inspiration.
Chinese seniors are respected and taken good care off most of them will die in the arms of a grand son/daughter or loving son/daughter/daughter in law.