Your appearance

Let's start with your appearance. Are you a fair-haired person with green or blue eyes? Then be prepared to be pointed at and shouted “Hello!” Following you, because even outwardly you are different from the entire mass of Chinese, and you are very easy to notice in the crowd. They will be especially interested in you.

With dark hair dark color skin and brown eyes You are less noticeable, but still, the Chinese usually easily distinguish you from people with Asian appearance.

However, when in Shanghai, in a wide-brimmed summer hat and sunglasses, I asked for directions to the Jade Buddha Temple, even the Chinese man listened to my question, began to explain, and then asked: “Are you Chinese or what?” To which I took off my glasses and, smiling, replied that I was Russian. And then the Chinese also smiled and continued explaining the road.

There are already a lot of foreigners in Shanghai and Guangzhou. They will pay attention to you, but, however, they will treat this more calmly than in the provinces. There are generally more foreigners there, as it seemed to me in the summer, than there are Chinese.

You will definitely be noticed

But in Beijing, not everything is so simple, especially in the summer. I have already said that Beijing, with its “Forbidden City,” is a kind of “Mecca” for the Chinese of all provinces. I was in Beijing in July this year.

At first, I approached passers-by and asked them where this or that street was, to which most of them said that they themselves were also visitors, from such and such a province, and also did not know anything here. But this is in the summer, and from autumn to spring you can often meet native Beijingers on the street.

They will want to take a photo with you

While strolling the streets or sightseeing in China, don't be surprised if people ask to take photos with you. Charge yourself with a smile, take a comfortable pose and please the Chinese with your Laowai face in the photo! (Laowai - 老外 - respected foreigner, this is what the Chinese call all guests of their country).

Often a Chinese mother, grandmother or father may ask you to take a photo of their son or daughter. I also liked helping the Chinese make joint photos: The two of them take turns photographing each other, and I offered to help them and photograph them together. They were always very grateful. The Chinese generally know how to be grateful, and that’s why I want to do something nice in return, just to make them happy.

Most Chinese people are quite welcoming to foreigners. During my entire stay in different cities of China, I did not see a single dissatisfied face. On the contrary, a Chinese man will smile at you with pleasure, even if you are just passing each other on the street.

The Chinese treat Russians very kindly

The historical past of our countries is also reflected here: during socialism, China considered Soviet Union his big brother in matters of politics and economics.

Therefore, respect for Russians has remained to this day.

Many Russian folk songs or songs that have become such were translated into Chinese by the great Chinese translator Xue Fan. And when a girl says that she is Russian, any Chinese man or woman will say “俄罗斯美女!” (Beautiful Russian girl!)

They won't say that about a French woman or an English woman. Our Russian beauty is understandable and pleasing to the Chinese eye more than any other European beauty.

What if I need help?

If you need something (for example, you are lost; you don’t know which way to go; you need to change large bills), they will always help you, and they will do it with great pleasure and cordiality, since ordinary Chinese have the slogan in their blood: “Serving is life.”

This also explains the fact that when you enter a store (or restaurant), salespeople (waiters) immediately run up to you and ask what you need to buy (how many people are you and where do you want to sit).

Their main task is to make your stay with them pleasant for you, and not only because they are employees of any establishment and not because they are service personnel. It is important for the Chinese to make the life of the person next to them a little better.

And if you look at history, you can see interesting fact: When Korea (at that time Karyo) was a vassal of China, it had to pay tribute to the Chinese emperor.

However, when the empty cart returned from the emperor back to Korea, like hospitable hosts, the Chinese sometimes gave gifts to the Koreans in an amount even greater than what they brought in duties. So the custom of cordially welcoming a guest has ancient origins in China.

The people are friendly but cunning

However, many travelers note that the Chinese are cunning people. In addition, there is a stereotype among them that foreigners usually come to travel and therefore bring a lot of money with them. If they don’t steal, they will definitely try to cheat you or deceive you in the market.

Therefore, when hearing the words “laowai”, “wai guo zhen” (foreigner), you need to smile and be alert. For the Chinese, foreigners are, first of all, “overseas dolls”, and, if you are a traveler, then also bags of money.

The Chinese are very friendly and polite in their communication, but there are often cases when people went to the bank to change money and did not bring it there.

The main thing is to keep your documents and money with you at all times; without a phone or camera, you can safely complete your trip, but unfortunately, without documents, you cannot.

And it’s best to always take your passport with you, because without an ID card you can’t buy a train ticket, check into a good hotel, or change money at a bank.

In order to be confident in positive emotions from traveling in China, of course, you need to know at least a little Chinese and be able to express yourself in at least simple phrases.

To prepare you for your trip to China, I created basic course Chinese language for travelers “Chinese box”.

During the course, we analyze not only phrases. But also communication situations, we learn a lot about Chinese culture and learn to ask and answer questions correctly.

First come first served?

It should come as no surprise that the concept of a queue is virtually non-existent in China. There are a lot of people in China, and everyone is trying to get to where they want to go. You will not see any queues on the subway or when boarding a bus. People are a solid mass that strives in one direction, so be careful and vigilant.

But even during rush hours, in a large but already cramped Beijing bus, you still feel like a person, no one deliberately pushes or shouts in displeasure. Everyone talks calmly and noisily and gets off the bus on time. There is simply no need for a queue, since the Chinese find harmony, order and balance in every day even without it.

Unusual about the Chinese

The Chinese also have several habits that are not accepted in our society: spitting in the streets, talking with your mouth full, slurping while chewing, talking loudly and shouting in the streets. By this behavior they do not at all show that they treat you badly. Quite the contrary. They are just used to behaving this way and this is the norm.

Yes, the Chinese are different from Europeans. And not only with this set of habits, but also, for example, with absolute patriotism and love for the country, the chairman of the country, your province, your city, your people and your family.

And this contributes to the unity of the entire Chinese people, making them strong and friendly. The way the Chinese behave has evolved over years and millennia, and you can’t change these habits in a couple of weeks. And why change it if, by and large, it does not complicate communication with them at all.

Are you going to travel to China? Then learn to accept him as he is, along with the customs and habits of his interesting people.

And you will always be greeted with cordiality and attention in China!

"Chinese box"

Ellina Arefieva,

Correspondent of the Free Travelers Club in China

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It was love at first sight with China. After two years passionate romance when in the object of adoration you see exclusively positive qualities, our relationship has become more like a marriage. We have gotten used to each other, come to terms with our shortcomings and exist very comfortably together. I'll tell you about some of the features of my beloved country.

• The concept of “one’s own” for the Chinese is decisive in relation to a person. If you are a fellow countryman, a friend of a friend, and even more so a relative - no matter what distance - you can expect special treatment. If you are “one of our own”, then they trust you, they give you best price, they will always help you, but, of course, they expect the same from you in return. China is a society based on the provision of mutual favors. Here it works better than money.
• Context is very important when talking to the Chinese. “Yes” is rarely heard here, and “no” is even rarer. If they say “maybe” to you, then depending on the situation it can mean “yes”, that is, “I will try very hard, but only heaven knows whether it will work out.” “No” - “I definitely can’t, I just don’t want to offend you with a refusal” or “maybe”, “I would like to do it, but I’m not sure if it will work out.” Such a multiplicity of meanings puts Western Europeans in a state of constant stress, but for people who grew up in Russia, which, whatever one may say, is still Asia, after a while it becomes easier. Well, at least for me personally. (Although overlaps still happen).
• According to my observations, all Chinese have the rare ability to sleep whenever and wherever they want, completely oblivious to the noise or light around them. It's like they have an off button. By the way, almost everyone practices afternoon naps, with the exception of residents big cities. For example, in small town, where I lived, from 12:00 to 14:00 almost all shops close, and certainly all government institutions, where the lunch break lasts from 11:30 to 14:30: an hour to eat and two hours to sleep.

• There is no such thing as “Chinese cuisine” in China. There are very specific regional traditions. Depending on where you are in China, different products, different spices and different ways preparations. The Sichuan province is famous for its spicy dishes, the north for dumplings, the city of Wuhan for noodles with peanut sauce and spicy duck necks, etc. Culinary tourism is one of the most common leisure activities among the Chinese. Regional cuisine is as much an attraction as the mountains, temples and museums. When I asked what we would do in Chengdu - a city famous for its huge reserve and panda breeding center - my Chinese friends looked at me in amazement and said: “Like what? Eat!"

• Most common medicine traditional Chinese medicine- hot water. It doesn’t matter if you have a cold, a stomach ache or a headache, you will definitely be advised to drink more hot water. Everyone drinks hot water here, regardless of whether they are sick or healthy. Large titans with boiling water can be found in all public places- from airports and railways stations to parks. That’s why there are free public toilets at every step here, including in the metro.
• On Chinese trains, linen does not change with each new passenger. If, say, you boarded at an intermediate station and not at the final station, then the best you can count on is a slightly tidied bed by the conductor. But it is completely unknown how many people slept on this very bed before you.
• In Chinese restaurants, dishes are often served wrapped in plastic wrap - it all looks very hygienic. But Chinese friends always rinse these “clean dishes” with boiled water (which is served to you immediately) before they start eating.

• Diapers for babies are a very sign big city. In all other places, Chinese kids wear pants with a slit at the bottom (in any weather) and, if necessary, satisfy their natural needs aside on the sidewalk, naturally, under the strict supervision of their parents.
• When describing appearance, the Chinese break down the face into its component parts. They say: "You are beautiful because you have big eyes/ high nose (high bridge of the nose) / small mouth / white skin.” Antique Chinese proverb reads: " White skin erases three deformities.” Local young ladies (and often young men) make incredible efforts to whiten their skin and avoid exposure to the sun in every possible way. To do this, they carry umbrellas on a sunny day, wear caps with a dark glass mask in the style of a welder, and constantly use bleaching creams. The idea that there are people somewhere who specifically spend time and money to make their skin darker seems absurd to the Chinese. As you understand, there are no solariums in China.

• Relationships are always started with marriage in mind. For the vast majority of Chinese, family and children are main goal in life. Chinese men are incredibly caring and love children very much. A crowd of twenty-year-olds cuddling babies is a completely common sight here. As my Chinese friend says, a Chinese boyfriend is expected to clean the room, cook the food, and peel your grapes. And this is not a joke.

• In traditional China, it is not customary to publicly show your feelings and touch each other. Couples holding hands in big cities- rather the influence of the West. Public hugs and especially kisses are considered indecent. Moreover, if a man touches a woman, everyone will assume that they are in a relationship. Chinese friends (even of the same sex) do not hug each other: the Chinese generally do not like to be touched; a crush in the subway does not count. The words “I love you” are very rare even between husband and wife and between parents and children. Feelings are expressed in care and in increased feeding of the object of feelings.
• Skirt and shorts Chinese women They can be as short as you like, there is nothing reprehensible in this, while the chest and shoulders are always covered. They don't wear low necklines here, but when it's hot, Chinese men roll up their T-shirts like short tops, exposing their bellies. This is folk sign: “If Chinese men bare their bellies, summer has come.”
• Learning Chinese from a phrasebook is the most useless activity you can think of. Not to mention that the sounds of Chinese are very different from Russian, main problem is that Chinese is a tone language. This means that the same word, pronounced with different intonation, can mean completely different things. Trying to explain what you want using books like this is like trying to sing an unfamiliar song with the words right in front of your eyes. The sounds may be similar, but you don’t know the melody, and without the melody, it’s impossible to understand what you’re singing there. You might as well speak Russian. In big cities there is a good chance to meet those who know a little English, but take a step to the left, a step to the right - and no one understands you. It's better to accept it right away. Speech will be useless. Good news: They really want to understand you, so they will try their best.
• Russians are loved in China. Russia is a friend and neighbor. They explain everything that the Chinese know about Russia with one phrase: “Because it’s very cold there.” In Russia they drink a lot. This is because it is very cold. After girls get married, they always gain weight (there is such a stereotype about Russians in China). Because it's very cold. But Russian girls are very beautiful. Big eyes, high nose and white skin.
• The Chinese explain all their problems by the number of people. Is the environment bad? Because there are a lot of people. Rules are not followed traffic? Because there are a lot of people. And so on ad infinitum.

11/03/2012

St. Petersburg resident Viktor Ulyanenko, one of Russia’s best specialists in Chinese language, wrote a book about the Celestial Empire, “Shocking China.” He traveled the length and breadth of China, more than once advised Russian businessmen who were planning to open a business in China, and translated the words of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev at international conferences.

- TO How do the Chinese treat foreigners?
— In general, patronizingly. It always has been and always will be. Almost every Chinese has an ancient belief that he, regardless of his education, upbringing, material wealth, is better and smarter than any foreigner. In China, it is customary to say about Europeans: “Si zhi fa da, tou nao jian dan.” Translated: “The arms and legs are healthy, but the head is dull.” Behind their backs, foreigners may be called “Yangguians” (“overseas devils”) and “Daobizi” (“big-nosed”). The fact is that most Chinese have small, flattened noses with a very low bridge. Therefore, almost any foreigner, from the Chinese point of view, is endowed with a huge ugly nose. But Russians, among other things, are called hairy people. In Chinese it is “laomaozi”. This nickname is often used in the northeast of the Celestial Empire, where there are the most Russians. The Chinese are mostly hairless. For them, even weak hair on the arms, legs or face is primitive wool. Therefore, bearded Russian men with manes of hair cause horror among the Chinese. And finally, the most important definition of Europeans is “laowai”. You will hear this word within the first five minutes of your stay in China. It means “incompetent”, “loaf”, “a person who knows nothing.” But the Japanese were most unlucky. They are often called "eastern ocean pygmy devils."

— Why did the Europeans displease the Chinese so much?
“The Chinese call us that not because they are evil and treacherous. Residents of the Celestial Empire do not at all want to offend anyone, shouting at the back of the first foreigner they come across: “Laowai!” It's just a habit, a tradition. For a long time, China was the center of civilization in the Far Eastern region. He was surrounded by underdeveloped tribes. Therefore, the Chinese had every reason to consider themselves the center of the earth, the most enlightened race. This feeling has not gone away even now. Until now, the Chinese call their country “Zhonghua renmin gongheguo” (Middle Blooming people's republic). And, which is significant, even for a Chinese who has lived for twenty years in Russia, the USA, Australia, the entire local population continues to remain “laowai”, and only natives of the same Middle State are full-fledged, highly educated people. Therefore, when they talk about some kind of “strategic partnership” and “equal cooperation” with China, it makes me laugh.

— Do the Chinese really not even try to hide their attitude towards foreigners?
- IN major cities- Shanghai, Beijing - you will not notice a disdainful attitude towards yourself. A professor at Beijing University will be impeccably polite to you. But the further inland the country, the worse it gets. For a Chinese peasant, any European is not even a person, but something like an alien animal. As soon as you get off the train in some relatively small city, you will immediately be surrounded by a crowd of 20-30 loafers. The Chinese don't just look at a foreigner, they stare at him with their mouths open. Some can follow the unfortunate Europeans for hours. Others are able to pull a guest’s hair to check whether it is real or not, or feel clothes or a bag. I personally know people who came to China to work, and then could not stand such attention and were treated for serious nervous disorders.

— How should you behave in a crowd of curious Chinese?
- It's best to follow the old one Chinese proverb: “If you entered a village, behave like a peasant.” You need to react with humor. You can’t be offended, shout, or sort things out. Residents of the Celestial Empire simply will not understand what they are to blame for. A classic example: a foreigner falls off his bicycle, and a crowd of Chinese around him begins to giggle happily. The first desire is to finish off a couple of the most wildly amusing idiots. And people actually don't find it funny at all. For the Chinese, laughter is also an attempt to smooth out their own embarrassment and lack of understanding of what to do next in a sticky situation. They simply don’t know how to help a fallen foreign cyclist - he’s so ridiculous, unfinished, big-nosed, and doesn’t even know how to ride a bike.

— Do the Chinese look at Russian girls or do they also look down on them?
— Marrying a Russian is the cherished dream of any normal Chinese man. The fact is that most Chinese women do not know how to dress beautifully and take care of themselves. Residents of Beijing can easily wear red or green woolen underpants (maoku) with their dress, and put on nylon tights on top. What's ugly? But it's warm! Of course, after this the Chinese instantly fall for our girls. Another thing is that such marriages quickly break up.

- Why?
— One of the reasons is the absolute unmasculinity of the Chinese. It seems to me that Russian women love strong, confident men who are capable of punching people in the face to protect their loved ones. So, the Chinese are far from this image. As a rule, they are rather frail, mannered, and feminine. Most Chinese men can't even screw in a light bulb properly. But they treat their children with touching tenderness. For a Chinese, a child is a priceless treasure. And it's not just about parental love. China has a very poorly developed pension system. Therefore, residents of the Middle Kingdom, with the exception of public sector workers, in old age can only hope for the help of children.

— One gets the feeling that everything is very bad in China, and it is dangerous for a European to be there...
- Not at all. China is changing very quickly better side. For example, the police there are polite, always sober and correct. Moreover, they work very well. In 2004, my bag was stolen in Shanghai. I contacted the police and they immediately cordoned off several blocks. The thief was found half an hour later. And Chinese law enforcement officers practically do not take bribes. And not at all because they don’t want to. In Beijing, police officers have small webcams on their uniforms that monitor the slightest violations of their “masters.” In general, police service in China is very prestigious and lucrative. They don't take everyone there.
— The Chinese look at Russian women. Our Far East Are they interested too?
- Naturally! Now at Chinese villages There are about 100 million unemployed young people. Many peasants have already moved to the cities. But Chinese megacities are not rubber; they are already packed to capacity. 100 million young Chinese are ready to set off on a long journey at any moment. But where should they go? Of course, not towards Southeast Asia, where there are many of its own inhabitants. No, they will go where there are more resources and fewer people. To Russia.

Of course, China is trying to somehow solve the problem of excess population. For example, recently the authorities have banned the allocation of land for golf courses (although it has become popular among the Chinese due to growing prosperity). Formally, it is forbidden to build cottages in the Middle Kingdom, since this is considered an irrational use of land. So for the Chinese, a separate house is very expensive, status item. Of course, because in cities they live in cramped conditions. For example, in the old quarters of Beijing there are no toilets in residential buildings. And people are forced to go outside to a public restroom all their lives. Of course, they will stare at the half-empty Russia that looms under their noses.

— What surprises the Chinese most about our country?
“They are amazed by our parks. When they see the Sosnovsky Forest Park or the Park of the 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg, they are perplexed. They ask why no one works on this land and where the owner of this territory is chilling. Of course, educated Chinese know the purpose of parks. But they understand this with their minds, not their hearts .

Katerina KUZNETSOVA

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- What shocked you most when you entered China?

Beauty, roads... They have very smooth roads. They lay them with concrete. Very smooth, very wide roads. There are few cars, and none of the drivers follow traffic rules.

- Why are there few cars? Not every Chinese can afford a car?

Probably yes. Most of them ride bicycles, scooters and mopeds. A lot of things.

- Is the contrast really that noticeable?

The contrast is noticeable right at the entrance to the country. We drive literally 100 meters - and construction already begins. At the entrance to Manchuria (they are preparing for the Olympics), there is a street with nesting dolls laid out everywhere. There are a lot of nesting dolls there, just a parade of nesting dolls. There are nesting dolls that are human height, nesting dolls that are about five meters high... Awesome!

- Is there any myth about the Chinese that you personally dispelled for yourself?

No. I didn’t dispel any myths. They were struck by...some kind of freedom...They don’t have complexes because of their appearance, they are not embarrassed by any natural factors. They can calmly spit on the ground on the street, they can say whatever they think... It’s easy for them, somehow at ease. That is, we are shy, we don’t do it openly... They do it openly.

- How is the relationship between boys and girls? Have you had the opportunity to observe how they behave together?

I saw couples, a girl, a guy were roller skating... I didn’t notice any special differences between their couples and ours.

- Do they also kiss on the streets?

No, they still behave somewhat more modestly. They hold hands, ride together... They kiss, but it’s more like light kisses, not like ours. That is, a modest kiss - and they continue to ride, communicate...

- How are things with alcohol in China?

They hardly drink. Their alcohol is very cheap. They get drunk very quickly. It’s not customary for them to drink much at all. That's probably why they get drunk...

- Tell me, how do they treat Russians there, and specifically you? I don’t mean how the salespeople in the store treat you, but just people... Do they pay special attention to you?

They constantly paid special attention to me because of my height ( Oleg - 196 cm tall - author.), and probably because I have long hair, all the time they said “Wow!” I noticed that even their girls have worse hair than ours. They have very bad hair. Their attitude towards Russians is, in principle, bad... They even call us “ big noses" It all comes from history.

- ???

I don’t remember exactly this myth, the translator said that during the Great Patriotic War for some reason they began to call us “big noses”. I know that they consider our girls ugly. They say that "they have big eyes and they look like frogs." In my opinion, they have problems with beautiful girls. I’ve probably seen only about 10 of them in total. There were Russian girls in our group, but the Chinese didn’t look at them with lust. On some subconscious level I felt that they did not understand our beauty just as we did not understand them.

- It’s strange, I always thought that the Chinese treat us well...

In principle, their attitude is not so bad. But I personally concluded for myself that the Chinese will do it first for themselves, and only then for the tourist. That is, when we were placed in a hotel, it was simply ugly. We were shuttled from hotel to hotel for a very long time... And there were many different nuances.

- Is this problem of overpopulation in China so noticeable?

In the city I was in, this was not noticeable at all. I even forgot that it existed, because I expected to see “rivers” of people’s heads on the streets, but there you walk absolutely freely.

- What about the prices? How much would it cost for three people to eat at a Chinese restaurant?

Prices are quite low. Again, there are cities where it is cheap, and there are those where it is expensive. But to eat once... A family of three can easily order an excellent set lunch in a restaurant for 75-100 yuan, which, translated into Russian money, is no more than 350 rubles. And eat at the same time. This lunch will include a salad, a side dish such as French fries (very popular now in China) or rice with egg. There will also be two meat dishes, or meat and some seafood food. Wine and beer will also be served, followed by coffee later. That is, more than a set lunch.

- French fries alarmed me... Has fast food started to develop in China?

Yes, they have fast food, it is developed quite well. In the city we were in, I noticed three McDonald's not far from each other. They are no different from regular McDonald's.

- And the Chinese visit them?

Yes, some people sit during the day, but mostly these restaurants are visited by Russian tourists, or tourists from other countries. The Chinese don't really go there yet. They have their own fast foods, I think they are called “Mr. Sammy”, that is, they are like an alternative to McDonald’s, but the food there is not exactly hamburgers and cheeseburgers, the cuisine there is still closer to their national, Chinese.

- How do the Chinese treat Americans?

I haven't seen a single American, I don't even know how the Chinese treat them.

- Well, what do you think, is the “Americanization” of China underway?

No, this is not the case at all...They are great in this regard, they have everything of their own.

- What about publicity in the country? Would a person express disapproval at the authorities on the street? Or do they respect authority so much that they don’t allow themselves to do so?

Unfortunately, I don’t know Chinese...I only know that they still revere Mao Zedong. On each of their banknotes, from the smallest to the largest, there is a portrait of Mao.

- In general, do they easily allow strangers into their culture?

They have now started making very good money from this. They literally make money out of everything. Some of our own cultural values they turn them into museums and take tourists there. For example, I was on the Great Wall of China. The part of the wall called “Dragon’s Head” is now a prop, that is, a reconstructed wall. Once upon a time there was a real one in its place, but it has already been completely destroyed. I only saw 5 stones from the real wall, so big they were hidden under plexiglass.

- Their official religion is Buddhism, right?

Yes, they are Buddhists.

-Have you seen the Buddhist temple yourself?

I didn't see it myself, but I saw two Buddhist monks.

- And your very first impression of the Chinese? How is he dressed, what does he look like?

The Chinese dress quite normally. Some flip flops, trousers, T-shirts. It's quite hot for them in the summer, so they don't show off too much. Their young people dress quite casually: shorts, bright T-shirts. By the way, they dress quite stylishly. If you go to supermarkets with clothes, then all the things there are European. That is, trousers, sweaters... Although I personally have not seen the Chinese dress in what is sold in supermarkets.

- That is, European clothing is not popular?

No, he doesn't use it. Popular with the Chinese bright colors, but in such a way as to dress like Americans: a shirt, a collar from under a sweater... Although they have it hanging in their stores, they don’t walk like that.

- Chinese girls do they take good care of themselves?

Chinese girls don’t wear makeup at all, that is, as I understand it, it may be prohibited for them until a certain age... I don’t know. In principle, they all look good, that is, they are all quite cute, although their appearance is not at all attractive to my taste. I was a little confused by the fact that Chinese women neglect to shave their armpits.

- Are Chinese guys handsome?

Oddly enough, things are better with guys than with girls. I've seen a lot of handsome Chinese guys. By the way, it’s very cool that the Chinese really like vegetation on male body. That is, hairy arms, legs, beards, mustaches... If a Chinese man has a thin beard, he will cherish it like the apple of his eye.

What do Chinese residents really think about Russians? How the Chinese speak about Russia in an informal setting, when they can speak from the heart, without any admixture of politeness and tact. It’s not difficult to find out. Exists effective way. We need to invite the Chinese to name three associations that come to mind when talking about Russia. This is the most the right way see the true attitude towards something, according to psychologists.

This is what came out of it. Despite the fact that the experiment involved Chinese people from different walks of life and different ages, many have similar associations.

Below are the most interesting and popular answers:

— New Russians, luxury, alcohol. Russians love our technology very much. They are always interested in all sorts of new products. Some of them - you call them new Russians - are ready to pay more than an American or Japanese. And then they spend a lot of money in a restaurant, ordering vodka or champagne with caviar. (Tan Latun, consultant at a household appliances store)

— Russians? Perseverance, strength and understanding. A couple of Russians come to work with me. They learn very quickly and become excellent fighters. Not even all Chinese have the same zeal as them. (The Dzeo, master oriental arts)

- Sugar, milk and sweets. They do not know how to drink tea at all, as they often spoil it with these products. (Yuan Qikzan, tea master)

- Literature, music. Of all the Russian writers, I really like Fet and Dostoevsky. And in our class they really like to listen to Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Well, the flag, however, is Soviet. After all, the flags of the USSR and China were so similar. (Wai Wang, teacher high school)

— Sports, mountains and sea. I flew to the Olympics in Sochi to support my team. I really liked the city. It’s a pity that it was winter, although it is much warmer there than here in China. You are very unusual nature. I'll definitely go there in the summer. (Peck Wai Jay, athlete)

- Beer, vodka. Russian fans love alcohol very much. But these are the most sincere fans of their team in the world. I really want to go to the football championship in Russia in three years. (Kao Penghu, football fan)

- Vodka, sincere conversations. They drink a lot. That’s why our man works much better than the Russian. We had a team of builders from Khabarovsk who worked with us on the construction of the skyscraper. But if something bothers you, the Russians will sincerely listen and help in any way they can. I really remember their ditties. (Ban Hao, builder)

— The Red Army, the Kremlin, Gorbachev. I remember how we had general exercises in 1988 and the Secretary General came to us. I recognized him immediately. In our unit we often watched speeches by Soviet leaders on television. (Den Seotin, retired colonel)

- Space. Oil. A large and wooded country. Russia is very rich. In geography lessons we were told how big and strong it is. (Li Zheng, schoolgirl)

— Theatre, cinema, music. Russian art always inspired me to do something new. Their culture was able to take a lot from Europe, but remain special in its own way. (Pek Wang Ju, designer)

— Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Stalin. Russia has always been a very strong country and influenced the world. (Hong Wenbin, historian)

Based on these answers, a full-fledged image of Russia through the eyes of the Chinese was obtained. They highlighted our strengths and weaknesses. The first, by the way, is more. It turns out that our neighbors highly value our history and respect our culture! And most importantly, these answers can be trusted.