Living in Yangzhou, China for the past 13 months has been an incredible journey, filled with wonderful memories, great friends, a new career, and an intriguing culture.
As our time in China draws to a close, we’re beginning to get a bit sentimental thinking about all the amazing moments we’ve had here. There are countless things we’ll miss, but here are our Top 10:
1. The People: We’ve met some of the friendliest people here in China. They’re not only kind but also incredibly curious, helpful, and genuine. We’ve always felt safe, never been scammed or ripped off. The people here are simply awesome.
2. The Cute Kids: Asian children are adorable, but we think Chinese kids might just take the cake for cuteness.
3. Fireworks: We love fireworks, and in China, we get to enjoy them every day. Residents often light them right near their apartment complexes, giving us a front-row seat from our window.
4. Food: Apart from some unusual street foods, we’ve loved almost everything we’ve tried here. We’ll miss the delicious restaurant dishes, street food, and fresh produce from our favorite market.
5. Special Treatment: As foreigners, we’ve been treated with great respect, almost like celebrities at times. People are always eager to help, take photos with us, and chat – especially here in Yangzhou.
6. Transportation: The transportation system in China is fantastic – efficient, clean, and affordable. Riding a bullet train at 300 km/h is quite an experience.
7. Cost of Living: Living in China is quite inexpensive, especially compared to North America. Rent is only $300 per month, meals can be as cheap as $1, and bus rides cost just $0.16.
8. Culture & Architecture: China boasts one of the oldest cultures in the world. We loved exploring the temples, wandering through old towns, and admiring the stunning architecture.
9. The Beer: On a hot day, nothing beats a cold bottle of píjiu. The large 650ml bottles of beer cost between $0.33 and $0.50 here in Yangzhou. We certainly enjoyed our fair share.
10. Great Service, No Tipping: Unlike in North America, there’s no tipping culture in China. You pay exactly what the bill states and still receive excellent service with a smile.
This list could go on, but these are some of the reasons why living in China has been fantastic. We cherished both our month of traveling and our 13 months living here and might return someday.
Have you ever been to China? What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment below.