You are aware, aren't you, of Japan's history with China, as well as its current positions?

I think you're right. A repackaged mooncake saved from last year and left over after this year's Moon Day.

Without getting into debates over the Chinese government and/or social policy consequences, my own observation is that over the last 2-3 years in particular, there is a noticeable increase in "negative vibes" coming from Chinese towards foreigners in general. At least in Beijing (can't speak for other cities). I've had no instances of personal violence against myself or even cross words, but there is definitely something different in the wind now, and I'm not the only longer-resident foreigner with this feeling. It's hard to put one's finger on and is more of a sensing-intuitive thing, as if more locals are on hair-trigger, as if they were "looking for insults" or cataloguing perceived grievances. Not just limited to young Chinese, or males, it's actually quite generalized from a large cross-section of the population.

--From a middle-aged lady who isn't often found in bars or clubs anymore, and who certainly isn't a threat to young Chinese males wooing the girls of their choice. And who isn't particularly paranoid. :-)

Absolutely - but Taiwan is a exception.

We love to rant on here about the negatives of life in China but there are indeed just as many positives, or else we all would've left a long time ago.

Actually, we probably all feel that the lifestyle is quite good but that the policies, rules, strange occurrences, etc are worth writing about than the benefits.

My last few rants on here have been about bribes and getting really sick - things that a traveler could maybe learn a bit from. I can't tell you how many of my friends (younger people) are struggling back at home. I'm fortunate that China provides me with JOBS. It's just a lot different from home living and working in the real China and sometimes it's necessary to rant.

Jiejie - I've gone from working in Taipei to HK now to SH and I definitely feel that the 'foreigner' card can be played all the time in Taipei. In HK they respect you if you are working in business because of the diverse crowd there. In SH I think they are just sick of all the foreigners - but they don't treat me poorly (often). But - I'm treated extremely well when I go to Tianjin to eat with my girlfriend's family and friends. They always cook like 50 things just because I'm coming. They even made my favourite kind of baozi just because I mentioned it once. We all sit around - watch 非常勿扰 - and drink fake Champagne that they think is French (it says made in Tianjin on the back...). It's great, and I enjoy stuff like this in China. Back in SH though, there has never been anything like this...some informal stuff, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Just not the same as HK or Taiwan. Maybe we all have high expectations of being the cool foreigner.

benzemalyonnais is absoutely right on this case.

First of all, my wife is Japanese and I am of Japanese heritage. We lived in Taiwan for almost 3 years.

We have never felt so welcomed as we were in Taiwan.

The older generation would speak to us in Japanese. They mention that they never get a chance to use the language. They will go out of the way for us.

It is far different here in China.

The first time I came to China to work in the Yangze delta was precluded by several years of studying, living and working experience in Japan and Korea. The furthest thing in my mind at that point would have been to try stand out for the sake of "coolness".

Inside my family friends company we ate lunch together every day if not with customers. In the evenings I tried to have dinner with the same people I knew through previous visits and contacts at least once a week or two. Of course I also visited expat events in Shanghai and surroundings once in a while but mainly put my "socializing" efforts into a limited number of Chinese persons that were already closer because of earlier guanxi.

In my thinking, it does not really matter what field Chinese friends are working in. Most important is to show unquestionable loyalty, compassion and be ready to help at a moment's notice if necessary. Everything to save and give them more face.

There will come a time when you become part of the family of your Chinese friends if they regard you as sincere and compassionate. Then, just remember there is balance and harmony in giving and taking.

Like the time some of my friends flew to Europe with a certain airline and I had not just managed to upgrade them but also arranged for one of the airlines senior managers who is a friend to wait at the arrival gate and give a tour of the airport including welcome drinks at the lounge. Rather happy faces when the gents came out of customs.

"Cool" moments happen in the big cities of eastern Asia, so "cool" that some of them are unforgettable. But a requirement to experience those with the "right" people are years of building up trust and unyielding commitment. There is no shortcut around that.

We all? Um, no. If "being the cool foreigner" means swaggering about China as if one owns the place or considers oneself a higher form of being, then no, I have never done that nor had those expectations. I'm privileged mostly on two fronts: 1) I can leave China freely and easily if I want or need to; 2) I only have to endure some, but not all, of the p!ssant Chinese bureaucracy and systems that ordinary Chinese have to regularly navigate.

Perhaps you are speaking only of yourself, or maybe only for young foreign males who feel a good salary + Chinese girlfriend = "cool." It's OK, you can admit it, I've seen hundreds of you around Beijing and Shanghai so you are in plenty of company. Frankly, "being cool" is overrated as a life's endeavor (unless you make your living in the entertainment business) but realizing this only comes with a bit more age/mileage. Because ultimately, nobody else cares.

Gosh - I was completely being sarcastic with the 'cool' line....I don't think that a good salary and a Chinese girlfriend is cool - and I HATE those guys.

A lot of friends who come to China to have fun and see the sights do have that expectation though. They're always amazed when they end up being taken advantage of instead of being able to take advantage of their foreigner status.

I agree - no one else cares at all.

Merely a hypothesis, not self-serving comments or misstating facts.

When you essentially eliminate words from the Chinese vocabulary such as:

Brother, sister, bobo (伯伯) the older brother of father, shushu (叔叔) the younger brother of father, and jiujiu (舅舅) for the brother of mother,
variations of the term “aunt” guma (姑妈), gugu (姑姑), yima (姨妈), or xiaoyi (小姨), what consequences might that cause?

Responses to the bolded.

1. I don't know how high level that makes someone. I've seen LOTS of audis and other cars in Beijing and big cities with such plates. There are lots of people in the CCCP. It's all relative. Ok - not secret service, but you mised that your friend could be in the "secret police" - look let's not split hairs. I was referring to post 81.

2. True you didn't - but its really the only point you hammered on. Unemployment - whilst seemingly discounting everything else quite heavily. There is also underemployment and lots of it. On unemployment, Do you have any figures? Official ones are challenging since they probably understate the numbers. Can you break that down by age demographics? Origins? Gender? Tough since a lot of what we see on the labor front is most certainly regarding undocumented folks who don't have hu kous.

It can translate to hostility depending on the situation, sure. I've never had such an experience. I am, however in no position to judge the French and make sweeping generalisations, especially since France is a much more hmm what's the word - globalised nation in the make-up of its population , whereas China is most certainly not.

3. That was just to cover myself for the potential onslaught of "China is great, your experiences or the ones you talk about are only negative blah blah blah" argument one often sees.

4. Ok, perhaps not a "cause" but I would assert that it probably plays an incredibly significant role in a number of phenomenons in China including "increased violence" against foreigners or others in general for the reasons a few of us have mentioned previously. I don't see it being ludicrous that as a result of the one child policy that there are a lot more spoiled brats, more men than women (hence tougher competition in the dating/marriage game), more furstration which could lead to more violence. That's not even taking into account inflation which is making it unaffordable for so many to afford any real sort of housing in the big cities, which then hurts marriage/dating prospects of local men... I have dealt with plenty of local Chinese who have great jobs and are making solid money but still complain they cannot afford a house/apartment or a car that their girlfriends, or potential in laws or that society demands them to.

5. Dude plenty of people go to clubs to hook up. Westerners, Chinese, boys, girls. It's how it is in amny countries, including China. PLenty of people also don't. In China, most girls are Chinese therefore most girls who get picked up will probably be Chinese. That's how it usually is, no?

6. If you don't go clubbing great. No big deal. But plenty of Chinese and non Chinese do go to clubs to hook up and as said above in China, most of the girls in the club will be Chinese.

7. Perhaps the headline: Beijing police round up and beat African expats"

8. See above. It just did.

9. I'm more of a Wudaokou guy anyways. Those Korean students in Shanghai I do either Zapatas or Xintiandi - Seriously, your take on sanlitun is quite outdated. It's much more family friendly. Go any day or evening and its overwhelmingly Chinese. Many upper and middle class folks who have more disposable income or just come to look. The Apple store, high class Chinese brands, foreign brands you name it - it's all there. It's not the "expat-only" watering hole that you make it out to be. Sure it was say, 2007 and before but its 2011 now... Although Sanlitun is not representative of the "majority of China" it does represent something that is China whether you or me or anyone likes it or not. Let's face it not many of us have to deal with "the majority" of China much or at all.

Unrelated to the type of violence being discussed here.

One of those iPhone switch-a-roo scam artists almost stabbed me the other day. Long story but the moral is, don't interfere with their scam and learn to run away fast when a knife if within 10cm of you.

So tell us what happened.

Short version:
I interfered with the scam.
He kicked me to the floor.
He took out a knife.
I ran the hell out of there as quick as possible.
I called the police and reported the event.
The end.

Moral: Do not interfere. They are crazy.

I'm glad you're okay. As a general rule anywhere, don't interfere unless someone's life or well-being is in immediate danger.

Nanjing Peng Yu case comes to mind.

Another incident of violence I remember in China. Back in the days of old silk market in Beijing. I was checking out the carved balls inside one another.
A Chinese friend interceded in my negotiations, the vendor elbowed my Chinese friend in the gut for attempting to interfere with the price gouging.
Not life threatening, but nonetheless an assault.

An interesting article in China Daily (which, one can safely assume, reflects the government position) about this incident:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion...t_13636204.htm

My wife will do that all the time. Never had a problem.