China Through My Eyes

By Ameena Gaji

Before coming to China， we all had our own ideas about China. I used to think that all Chinese were into martial arts. Also， due to the nations advanced technology， I used to the think all tech-related gadgets and other electronics there would be very cheap.

As time went on， I came to realize that most of my initial ideas were false and proved merely mythical. However， the common belief that the Chinese people are hardworking is very true. During my first few months in China， I was surprised to see my colleagues in the lab spending almost all their time studying. I sometimes wondered whether they had any sort of social life， family time or even recreational outlets—off campus. However， now that Im fully used to life here， I can confidently say that hard work， discipline， humility and perseverance are actually an indispensable part of Chinese culture.

It is fascinating to see how respectful the Chinese are toward their superiors， especially in the academic environment. Im always amazed by the teacher-student relationship， particularly on Teachers Day （September 10）. This is the same form of respect you see on public transport where special seats are designated for the elderly， pregnant women， children， etc. Kindness blooms everywhere. From drivers patiently waiting for pedestrians to cross the road， to street-side fruit vendors giving you a wide smile just for uttering a standard ni hao. The amalgamation of these moral values， I believe， makes up the secret underlying Chinas exponential development.

One cannot speak about the impressive experiences in China without highlighting the advanced level of technology. Can you imagine someones life in China without WeChat—one of the countrys dominant multipurpose social media platforms？ I， for one， absolutely cannot. It is a daily necessity for your payments， bookings， communication， and so on. Taobao， Alipay， Pinduoduo and your general waimai apps （for ordering takeout） make life faster and easier in China.

The Beijing subway， recently ranked as the worlds largest metro network， is a technical masterpiece. It is a 727-km-long railway network with 428 stations and 64 interchanges. In 2025， it will form a 1，177-km underground traffic network with 30 lines. In addition， there are numerous high-speed trains connecting cities throughout the Chinese mainland. Train stations buzz with people and hasty activity， especially during festive periods with a high travel influx.