There are many reasons why people are hesitant to travel to China. Below are a few that I typically hear, and the reasons why travelers should not be afraid:
- The food is weird: I think this is a funny misconception. While there are opportunities to buy and eat insects, snakes and exotic creatures, on our trips, we enjoy chicken, beef, shrimp, tofu and a wide variety of vegetables. Dumplings abound in the north, and there is always rice or noodles with each meal. I encourage travelers to venture outside their comfort zones with all experiences, including food, but just enough to make it exciting and new.
- It's not safe: This is truly a misconception. Personal guns are illegal in China, only the military and some police carry firearms. In addition, the punishment for most crime is severe, which serves as a great deterrent. I have never worried about my safety or the safety of my travelers when in China, but I would not say the same when I visit many cities in western countries. Visitors from China traveling to the US read about mass shootings in the news and wonder why the government allows citizens to own guns. We often base our opinions on the information from the media, but we cannot truly understand a country, people or government until we experience it ourselves.
- It's too far away: China is far from the U.S., and the flight is long. But the anticipation of the visit, lots of great movies, and a good sleep allow the hours to pass quickly. During our pre-trip meetings, we talk about the things we should do on the flight: sleep during the night-time in China; drink water whenever possible; get up, stretch and walk around every hour when awake; don't stare at the screen that shows how many hours are left. I've been to China more than 30 times. Every journey is a new adventure worth every minute on every plane.
- Squat toilets: Perception, perception, perception. The practices of people halfway around the world are different, but that doesn't make them wrong or uncivilized. Many public toilets are squat toilets, but so were the toilets in France and Spain years ago. The story I tell my students is that when western toilets were introduced in Chinese cities, we would often see footprints on the seats. The Chinese women (and men, I presume) would stand on the toilet and squat down to do their business. When I asked my friends in China why this was the practice, they said, as if it was obvious, "Because it's disgusting to sit on a seat where everyone else has put their bare butt."
- It's expensive: The upfront cost can definitely be scary, but authentic travel experiences are priceless. As a family, we have never valued luxurious cars, big houses or expensive clothing and jewelry. We value travel together. When we experience a new country, tradition, interaction with locals or food, we shift our focus a little bit. We see the world through a new lens that takes into account these experiences. These are the experiences I want to have with my own children and students, but I also want to share with friends, neighbors, community members and even strangers.
- It's dirty: Since the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the Chinese government has spent billions on cleaning up the cities. Communist party members are given the opportunity to work. With such a large population, there are tens of thousands of people whose jobs are to pick up trash, sweep streets, trim hedges, water gardens. In addition, the government has been a world leader in reducing their carbon footprint and creating renewable energy sources. Travelers are amazed by the cleanliness of the cities.
- Indecipherable language: The spoken language is gibberish to those unfamiliar with the language, but that's true of many spoken languages. The written language, however, is impossible to comprehend unless one has studied extensively. Chinese is the only written language left in the world without an alphabet. Every character represents a word. To learn to read or write Chinese, one must memorize a picture for every word. This is more tedious than it is difficult, but for the layperson, the idea of entering a country filled with indecipherable symbols is understandably concerning. What I would say is that the people make the difference. If the person you ask for help does not speak English, they will find someone who does. When in doubt, travel to China with someone proficient in the language.
- People there are poor and unhappy: Of all the misconceptions I've heard, this one is the most naive. As Americans, we equate poverty with unhappiness, but this is not the case everywhere in the world. In fact, some of the happiest people I have ever encountered are subsistence farmers who live in shacks with their families, eating what they grow. All they need to be happy is rain, sun and family. A simple life. A poor life by some standards. But definitely a happy life.
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