You think that the people in China acted liked savages?

I understand that you've been all over the world (though I wonder whether your travels took you to other parts of south-east Asia, India, Africa or even, for that matter, places like Guadaloupe in the Caribbean). It seems to me there are a couple of things operative here. First, there are some significant cultural differences between China and the west (for example, the acceptability of staring, lack of queuing, etc.) with which you don't seem familiar. As you travel a lot, I'm sure you're familiar with good guide books and have found a series or two that you like. These would explain these cultural differences, so that you wouldn't have confused differences in culture with rudeness. Which one(s) did you read thoroughly before visiting China?

The second thing that comes to mind is that you may simply not be comfortable with cultures that depart too far from your own. That's okay if that's the case, but it's hardly the fault of the culture.

Finally, you seem focused on the idea that China is poor. Though there is certainly no shortage of poor people in China, it has a huge and increasingly affluent middle class. If your only experience was with poor people, I'm wondering exactly where and how you spent your apparently limited time in China. The middle class in China is larger than in the U.S., and in major cities, the quality of life is, generally, better (that's why we're thinking of retiring to China).

As I indicated, there are a number of reasons why people might not take to China. However, another reason might be attributable to simple xenophobia and racism. So, you think the Chinese are savages? No, they are not (or, at least, not any more than any other nationality and considerably less than many others). My wife is not a savage, nor are my Chinese friends and family, business associates, or the countless numbers of Chinese people I have met there on my own travels, and I find it personally offensive that you'd suggest they are. If you think otherwise, I'd sincerely recommend that you avoid FT "DOs" because, though I wouldn't violate the FT TOS by providing my opinion here of people who describe Chinese as "savages," I'd feel no constraint against doing so if I were to meet you in person.