82% of Americans hate China because China is about to become the most powerful in the world. Americans have few good days... so the news is all about smearing China.
That's because you traveled thousands of miles to come to China for the first time, and brought a different cultural perspective. It would be nice to come more often. welcome back!
I lived in China for more than 15 years. From what I could see, the surveillance cameras everywhere are sort of like dash cams for your car - i.e. 99% of the footage is not watched by anyone until they are deleted, unless there is an accident, then cops will try to figure out what happened using the camera footage.
Yep that is the case. Billions of people no one would look at the footage all the time just to supervise you like who do you think you are lol but when you actually need it for crime resolving no one will be able to help here in Aus, you can be beaten up badly on the street and call the police, 2 hours later they arrive asking you stupid questions in the end you end up in hospital yourself with nothing you can do
I am chinese, this is quite true, camera on the main road is for 1st. monitor violation of traffic rules and have the evidence to fine the driver, which is what the CCP is most interested in. this is their gold mine. 2nd, monitor crime .3rd, there are car accident disputes from time to time on the street, so the footage could be used as the evidence for judge, actually myself experienced a car collision case with another driver, but the camera is some 500 meters far away from our site, so it could not even be used. 4th. To be fair, i also heard that there are driver watching their cell phone and got detected by the camera while waiting for traffic green light, so in terms of privacy violation, it does have.
Cameras in China are not used to monitor people. No one will look at you and no one has time to do this. Cameras are used to help you solve security incidents when they occur.
As someone who lived in the US for 9 years and currently live in BJ and SH, I feel like it could be better to do more researches and planning ahead of the trip. 😢 You guys missed the 99% of the fun places in those cities, and spent too much time on places and restaurants where no locals would go…
As a Chinese, I really really appreciate you being so open-minded and stay positive the entire video. I've been to Beijing during the summer and it was extremely hot which make it super easy to lose patience and be irritated in the situation that you met in the video. Thanks for being honest and objective and show what cities in China really look like. It is also fun to see what western people (without being too biased) think and feel when they visit China for the first time. Hope you enjoyed your trip and visit again soon!
I can understand the frustration there Josie. But to be honest, Beijing is a very popular tourist destination in the summer. Lots of people visit the Forbidden City and temple every day. Even a lot of Chinese could not get a ticket. You are always welcome to visit the city again! Really enjoy your video.
To be honest, except for the trip to the Great Wall, the two of you spent the rest of your time on the road and at some tourist attractions. Beijing has always been very strict about supervision, but there is no privacy issue unless there is a case that requires access. But the really interesting thing about Beijing, how convenient it is, they haven't realized. China doesn't use cash, it's all Alipay\WeChat. Or scan your face after authentication, so you don’t even have to take out your phone. We never go to any popular tourist attractions. If we really want to go, Gubei Water Town in Beijing is a good place. And the food you ate was wrong. Except for the breakfast you ate, the pancakes were the food we often eat, and nothing else. Besides, there are many famous restaurants in Beijing. For example, places like Xiaoqing Restaurant, Sichuan Hotel, or the Eighth Building. What you eat is snacks, not gourmet food. Snacks here are considered street food, while gourmet food should be those restaurants outside the Third Ring Road that are packed every day. If you have a chance to come to Beijing again, I will take you to some places, and your experience will be completely different. The supervision of Tiananmen Square you went to is indeed very strict, because it is the most important place in the whole of China, and of course you will be reviewed. It's very strict. Of course, we walk together every day and there is no problem there. We pass by Tiananmen every day.@@josieliftsthings
The issue of cameras actually does not involve your privacy. Beijing should have the most cameras in any city in the world. But only bad people are afraid of cameras. Beijing is a place where 22 million people live permanently, and there are also many floating people, a total of about 40 million people. But they still open the door at night and are happy all night long, relying on the camera system. No one will steal your privacy, and the camera will only be called after a crime is committed. In our own words, we are too small, China is not interested in paying attention to us, and the population is too large. Ha ha.@@josieliftsthings
as a San Francisco resident, to be honest, i even want more surveillance cameras in town, our city is a mess now. Actaully, thats why china is safe, and western media has given it too much negative connotation
Ty for that compliment but China isn’t safe, many scams actually , toxic working culture, always overtime working for free, badly paid, companies ripped off ppl, you can’t complain your company or you facing fired, and can’t criticize our govt, it’s a serious criminal if you dares criticize govt publicly
@@josieliftsthings I really like your point of view. Have a positive and optimistic attitude, you are kind and gentle Australians. A 6-day transit visa is too short for visiting China. China is huge. I hope you will have enough time to visit next time you have the opportunity. If necessary, I can serve as your free guide. With a local guide, you can explore China more deeply. Remember, I will never refuse at any time, just because of your last paragraph.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtwhy keep quite on the war in Ukraine, Syria n Palestine? China wanted peace and unite peacefully with the land that lost! Mind your own business, Chinese affairs nothing to do with your Indian name!.. Lol
The reason for passport checks everywhere in China is because most public transport in China need name verification like plane tickets. This also applies to very popular tourist locations where reservations are needed. The main reason for this is to avoid people purchasing tickets on the bulk and selling them on the black market for a profit. This used to be a huge problem. Before named railway tickets were introduced it was almost impossible to get a ticket at a desirable time, and you have to get them from some shady individuals hanging out of railway stations at an extortionate amount (multiple times of the original price). After ID checks and name verification for all tickets, it pretty much cured the problem. Chinese people use their national ID cards and most of these checks are automated. Because foreigners dont have these they have to use passports and manual checking.
@@olinda013 Absolutely not possible, because in any foreign country, you must use your passport. Resident identity information from each country is not interchangeable.
Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world, and they do have a lot of cameras. with 18.04 cameras per 1,000 people, per research by Comparitech, Singapore is among the most surveilled cities in the world. However, tourists traveling in Singapore are not particularly sensitive to cameras. I'm frustrated by the stereotypes about China.
I just love Josie and Michael's positive attitude towards new things, people and culture! I am especially impressed by how Michael just figures things out (like the warm cake thingy) and keeps his cool about everything. The world really needs more positive people like you two :) P.S. Yeah...Beijing is cool but will not be on the top of my list, especially the touristy places. It's precisely because they're so splendid that everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) wants to visit, it makes things even harder for tourists (hence the booking system is in place but that also causes another round of trouble.) Now that you and Michael have been there, next time maybe you can try other cities, I'm sure they would be super fun as well! ❤
To be honest, apart from the trip to the Great Wall, the two of them spent the rest of their time on the road and at some tourist attractions. Beijing has always been very strict in supervision, but there is no privacy issue unless there is a case that requires access. But the really interesting thing about Beijing, how convenient it is, they haven't realized. China doesn't use cash, it's all Alipay\WeChat. Or scan your face after authentication, so you don’t even have to take out your phone. We never go to any popular tourist attractions. If we really want to go, Gubei Water Town in Beijing is a good place. And the food she ate was wrong. Except for the breakfast she ate, the pancakes were the food we often eat, and nothing else. Besides, there are many famous restaurants in Beijing. For example, places like Xiaoqing Restaurant, Sichuan Hotel, or the Eighth Building.
I'm Japanese but I have visited China for work and holidays severael times. Going all the way to Beijing and not eating traditional peking duck should be a crime haha, hopefully you get to try it next time.
Thank you for the video. It is so refreshing to see how you survived and most importantly, enjoyed it all with positive mindset instead of complaining. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you and your partner especially in that kind of weather. Please do come back to China during a different season, Autumn in Beijing (and the rest of China) is simply the most romantic and lovely time of the year.
As Chinese ,we must admit that there many obstacles that exist to visitors like language payment and some checks.I appreciate you could overcome those things that local people may meet too.Good luck to you.
As a Chinese, I also experience these obstacles while visiting other countries. It would be great if all the countries can keep improving their services to tourism from all over the world.👏👏👏
I love what you said at the end, “everyone wants prosperity, love, wealth, health and happiness.” I hope your videos will inspire others to travel to places they thought were too scary. I really want to visit China.
You were surprised you did not feel hostility from Chinese. I'm neither Chinese nor Australian, but you ought to be ashamed of your government's hostility toward China, mainly because of US influence.
@@aaronangeles6368 If you can only reply with literally the dumbest comments I’ve ever read, I feel sorry for you and I’m not wasting my time on you now if you can’t see that 😂
Your ending brought me tears. Thank you and Michael for being so respectful and friendly about China and Chinese people and the culture. We are all one ❤
CCTVs are common in all East Asian countries like Japan, China and S Korea, and also SE Asia like Singapore. Personally, the cameras are in public places, so locals don't really care because they are there not so much as to track individuals, but useful when crimes occurred and footages can be obtained. Part of the few reasons East Asia is safe even for women to walk in the streets even past midnight. If one does not have criminal thoughts, it shouldn't matter apart from privacy. But nothing is private once you are in public places, people can take snapshot of you and you won't even know. On a per capita basis, UK and esp USA have more CCTVs in their countries actually. It's always amusing to me that westerners are very worried about CCTVs in public places. I mean if that's your major concern, then you should skip East Asia and some countries in SE Asia, and travel in European countries instead. I'd advise non-mandarin speakers who still wish to go to China and not overly concerned about your privacy or being "watched" by the numerous CCTVs, to make life a little easier getting around, learn some basic phrases in Mandarin, download a VPN on your mobile and install a translation app that can scan and translate menu in Chinese as well as translate what you speak in English real-time to Mandarin. English speakers should not expect every country you go to speak your own language, and it'd be presumptuous for one to think so. France for eg is such a country, and the French may even be offended if you assume they speak your language. A little humility in a foreign country goes a long way.
I must say Chinese people went through a lot, as well as the Chinese government. In fact most people are satisfied with the goals we’ve achieved these years and our government is a foresighted one. Every step counts. China is not perfect, but it’s definitely a good place. We are proud to make this position now in the world after a hundred years of humiliation. And welcome to China again❤
I don't know what hundred years of humiliation you went through. But what did India do to you for your government's animosity towards India? India never tried to occupy your territory or anything. Still Chinese government see India as a threat! What is the reason for that?
@@weizhang2834 Totally agree. It is exact the remark “Chinese people, not Chinese government, …” that drives me to leave this comment. I disapprove it and find it ridiculous. I bet the bulk of Chinese people have at least one relative or friend who works in the government. The Chinese government is consist of the very Chinese people. How can they be separated from us? As a citizen, not a criminal, I feel free to walk under the surveillance cameras. Safe for people to come out and enjoy their night on the street. Hope one day my English will be as good as yours and I will keep this work and speak out for my country.
@@UNNIKRISHNANKARUMATHIL As an ordinary Chinese, I can tell you it’s your illusion that Chinese government see India as a threat. Whatever the media says, most of them are propagandas. To my understanding, India is not friendly towards China. I read the reports about the border dispute. To be honest, no offense, at present, I think India is no comparison to China. If you want Chinese government to see you as a threat. You have a lot of progress to make. Good luck.
Born and bread in Beijing. As a local kid, I find this city warm and cozy just like any western cities that i’ve visited( London D.C. Vienna etc) So sorry that it hasn’t been a pleasant journey for you guys. In my opinion the media has given us all, to some extent, prejudice and hostility towards each other, which makes it especially hard for foreign friends to enjoy the authentic Beijing charm. But anyhow, I’m still glad and grateful that you made this video and shared your firsthand experience. It means a lot to us. We have a shared future and only through friendship and face-to-face communication can we reach that bright future. Thanks again for producing this amazing video!!
Josie, I loved your closing statement, "Travel isn't about me." When your goal is cultural tourism, immerse yourself, explore, and enjoy the joy and frustration of it all. I also liked your summation that people everywhere really want the same things, food, shelter, security, opportunity, friendship, and love.
“China has been through a lot, not the government, but the people", "if you listen to the news, we're not supposed to like each other" This right here shows the effectiveness of Western propaganda. The Communist Party made huge sacrifices and long term plans to pull the country from the doldrums and turn the country into what it is today in a short span of just 70 years. Nothing that you've seen on your trip would have been possible if the Chinese government wasn't half competent. Many foreigners are surprised that Chinese people are friendly towards them, but may be more surprised to know that it's because the Chinese government does not overtly push negative news to its people like what Western media does to China. Despite the pain the West has inflicted on China in the past, the Chinese government does not want its people to hate the West. Much of what the Western media says about China is either misinformation, half-truths or intentional mistranslations, yet many Chinese are oblivious to the kind of hate the West has on all things Chinese. And you can thank your governments for the passport checks and the great firewall. The Chinese government had to do what was necessary to shield its people from the vitriol, misinformation and sabotage by the West so that its people can have a stable and peaceful environment to prosper in. As they become more educated and discerning, they will be more equipped when consuming Western "news".
I get your sentiment and I’m glad you understood mine. But some of the comments I’ve received from Chinese people on my content in China would say that some of what you’ve said may be untrue.
This is not true. Chinese government hides the bad stuffs so much and paints Western countries in a bad way just watch any local news or even CGTN. I thought everyone knows this
@@luismvg11 It is not simply true or not true. Chinese media doesn't report everything like all other country does, media all choose their narrative. the different thing is western media make up stories about China, Chinese media quote stories from other countries media, can be bad or good, but not faking.
@@josieliftsthings No GOV is perfect, we Chinese knows for sure our GOV had its flaws, but like @networm78 said, Chinese people can't have this peaceful great times if it won't be our GOV, so actully most of us is satisfy and greatful for what we have now. Anyway, welcome and hope you can have more good times in China~
During the summer times and national holidays, most Beijing's popular museums require reservation as so many people want to visit. Even with 3 phones, we failed to book tickets to Forbidden City. I hope they figure out a way to make the lottery system a bit more friendly for private visitors.
The great wall was completely filled in the last national holiday. She just need to watch the South China morning video, it was so crowded that you can't even walk. Might as well stay in the hotel 😅
I went to the same section of the Great Wall some 12 years ago. It was definitely the highlight of the trip. BTW, I can understand the frustration in Beijing. But it's basically the same in many other tourist destinations in the world. I was in Amsterdam just a few months ago and couldn't get into any museum without a reservation. The Anne Frank House was completely booked for the next 3 weeks while the Van Gogh Museum was fully booked for a week. Can't blame them if you didn't plan ahead, right?
Indeed, I think the basic thing to do when visiting a new place, above all when travelling abroad, is to inform yourself . Like price, opening times.....
This girl thinks she can enter everywhere she wants to without making reservations. Just imagine China, a country with 1.4 billion people rushing into a certain place without making reservations or permits? She's kinda dumb to be honest for making such claims just because she can't go in. 😂
@@周星星-b4yI mean.. look at her title of her video. She clearly blames herself and not others. She even says in the video that she would have not made the same mistakes if she did more research. Pretty simple to understand.
Thanks for the vlog. As a fellow Aussie, I really appreciate your perspective. Based on the comments from Chinese natives, I'll plan to spend more time in the south (like Guangzhou and Chengdu) and less in Beijing. I was really impressed by how safe it is and the friendly locals. I don't care about CCTV, my city has it everywhere too lol.
Totally, we made a decision to do a short trip - to see if it’s somewhere to come back to. It is but out of the cities like these next time. I hope you enjoy your trip!! Thanks for watching 😁
@@josieliftsthings I am already 20 in a small city in Shandong province, Weihai. Only 2 million people and sea on 3 sides. I had many people over in these 20 years and they all understood why I liked living here.
Maybe the cities in the North like Qingdao and Dongbei (the Northeast China) has a more friendly experience, without that much political meaning in Beijing.
I love this video. Its not some instagram type showing only the best moments vlog. It shows how travel is really like and the types of problems u run into if u go unprepared. To be fair, a lot of the information for stuff in china isnt properly translated into english and if it is, its difficult to find with the english internet.
Just let you know that most public museums or libraries in China (not only in Beijing but other cities) are closed or partially closed on Mondays. Hope it helps you to arrange your traveling plan. Have a nice tour in China. :)
@@JzjsjsnDhshsnn It is the day when they arrange all the stuff, sometimes small changes such as activities need to be posted, certain exhibits are removed for care, and some new exhibits need to be arranged.
Hello, I went to China few years ago, that was the best trip ever. The first thing I did in China was to visit the great wall, wonderfull otherwise I managed to go visit everywhere without any problems. I visited all the temples I found myself in a temple praying for ages. I walked all the way from Beijing to the olympic camps. It is hard to believe you coming from Australia went into trouble in China
Beijing is different from Shanghai, Shanghai is a modern city, while Beijing is the political center, the strict safety checks and restrictions is because it is where the central government is located. Also, you wouldn't see those super tall buildings because of the policy to protect the historical sites. As an international student currently in Australia, I am happy to see you go to Beijing. The sounds in your video are so familiar and full of memories, I miss my hometown so much.
@@mcexplorer2081 it gets very different vibes compared to Shanghai. It gives me the feeling that the modernity by planed while the modernity of Shanghai is grown by itself.
London, UK, has the most street surveillance in the world. Because China has surveillance, it has deterred criminals and given tourists a great sense of security, allowing them to go out late at night. China is a country without drugs, violence, guns and homeless people. Ranked among the top 10 in global safety factor.
"chinese people, not the chinese government" Ma'am, as far as i know, 94% of chinese people support their government. And china has become this rich and independent because of this government. ofc like every other damn government it has its flaws, but the chinese government doesn't spread hatred against other countries like america does. Chinese people are safe and prosperous because of their government. 😂❤
i love these series. the thought of going to china crosses my mind from time to time (i live in japan so it is not too hard to schedule a weekend or week trip for a holiday). thanks for this video so i can keep in mind for when i travel to china eventually :)
Unfortunately, in China, almost all museums close on Mondays. in addition there are too many tourists in Beijing, so the most popular tourist attractions need to be booked in advance. If you are a Chinese, you may have to wait for seven days to get a spot. We will take care of foreign tourists, but we also need to make a reservation one day in advance
Yep same in Europe. Most museums are closed on either Mondays or Tuesdays. In some popular tourist destinations, like Florence or Rome, many places require passport checking.
In the west people assume the worst, absolutely the worst about their own governments. They are not expecting to be robbed raped and murdered by criminals. They expect to be robbed raped and murdered by their government.
There are many people got kidnapped and the parents lost their kids. I don't think you understand the pain. I hope this surveillance camera would help. I wouldn't say the same thing in the west, where people steal things like it is nothing.
Let me set this straight for you. The vibe you see in US and Europe is just areas for rich people or private resorts to make money. Everywhere else is just trash. In China, everything everywhere is for common person not for rich people or elites. I bravely rate China as most beautiful country on this earth be it rural China, ancient China and urban China.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt free CALIFORNIA, FREE TEXAS, FREE FLORIDA, FREE HAWAII AND OF COURSE FREE ALASKA.THESE ARE INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES. USA HAS NO FRICKING CONTROL ON THEM.
Thank you so much for your positive videos Josie! I love your vlog so much! I am responsible to say that your video is by far the most objective movie I have ever seen of a foreigner's visit to China. As a Chinese I deeply know China is not prefect and there's still a lot of things I don't like about China. However, I also deeply love this country so much, because China is my motherland and I am so proud that I could born in such great country has rich history and hard working people. I agree with a lot of the shortcomings of China you brought up in the video, and also I know that in the summer it is very hot in China, and even for you sweating profusely you actually manage to walk that much or even climb the Great Wall. I respect that a lot. If it were me I would not have wanted to do these at all, but even if you're already tired you're still able to stay very positive all the way through the trip, which I think is a very difficult thing to do. Anyway, thank you so much for your video. I miss China so much and I wish I can come back to visit China soon. If you want to visit China next time, please try to Guangzhou, Chengdu, Changsha and some other cities! There's so much amazing cities and foods waiting for you!谢谢！❤❤❤
Oh thank you so much!! What a lovely comment. Thank you for loving my videos!! Definitely was a great trip for us, even though some was hard and with the heat. We both want to come back one day so I will save your recommendations for next time! 😁😁
thanks for visiting china and glad you mostly enjoyed it! i had a fun time watching your videos 🥰 if you ever have the time to come back and see other places outside of the typical big cities, please do! it's really worth it
along with the southern places others are suggesting, qingdao is a northern city that I think would be nice to visit (southern chinese food and northern chinese food is quite different so you might be able to experience that)!
I’m a Chinese now live in the states, and was from Beijing. I went back to Beijing this summer and had similar frustration on the heat and how hard to get an appointment. Wasn’t able to show my kid to many historical sites. At least the frustration is fair for everyone. If that makes you feel better
Why do you think cameras invade your privacy? But when you shoot a video on the street, you put countless people on the Internet for people all over the world to see. Have you ever asked the people you photographed if they have violated other people's image rights?
If you see me with a camera please politely ask to not be filmed then and I won’t include you. I’ll also await your confirmation that you have emailed the government asking for the removal of cameras in China as it bothers you to be recorded.
Josie's expressions and reactions are just so funny - just the thumbnail she chose for this video cracked me up before watching it. I've been a subscriber since she only had like a few thousand subs and I knew she would blow up just from her personality of reacting to spicy foods or being frightened by noises etc. She's like a little kid discovering the world around her for the first time.
As a preparation for traveling to China, I don't think you have done a good job, such as how to use phone cards conveniently and how to use electronic payment software. I believe there will be relevant information online, and there are also many foreigners in Beijing who can get help or just find a Chinese tour guide
We’ve literally explained it in every single video I’ve made in China that the online payment and app system did not work for us. WeChat didn’t work - and is not easy to get as a tourist and Alipay connected our cards but didn’t let transactions go through. Actually, despite it being pretty hard to travel in, we actually did a great job. Especially considering one of these places had an 8 month waiting list, so we literally would not have gotten in, which is not our fault and another one of them said it was closed on Mondays except for August - which is when we were there, also not our fault. We don’t travel with a tour guide, and we don’t want to 😁👍🏻
Actually after 2020, we do not have full prepration for the comming of the foreigners and the travelling experience is even not nice for local Chinese. I do think our travel sevice can be improved to serve us not just the foreigners, the Chinese citizens is our travel market's priority. @@josieliftsthings
I would agree, it seemed like things weren’t ready for non-locals yet. Which is fine, we’ve been to a few other countries who aren’t ready yet either, despite reopening
@josieliftsthings Thanks for responding. I just shared my thoughts. Especially 5 eye's always do many bad things in China. It helps to protect residents and visitors. Enjoy your trips 😉 We are likely we can live in peaceful places. ❤️
the cameras are not guarding people ,just a way of help make social public places more safe , this is what chinese think about ,in usually daily time , if you do not do criminal things, then you can 100% ignor those cameras
@@josieliftsthings That's a reasonable and valid concern actually. But, on the flip side, you can also ask what if a horrendous crime happens and you can't catch the criminal? It really depends on what you value more. I do think chinese people are more comfortable with having extra security while sacrificing some things that people from other cultural backgrounds may value more. btw, I enjoyed watching your China trip! It helped me procrastinate on my assignments lol.
just a culture difference. We most think there is no private things in public places and cameras can protect and ensure the justice when something unusual happens.@@josieliftsthings
@@josieliftsthingsi am not sure what you are suggesting here though, criminal activities are determined by the law, if you get arrested and you disagree you can go through legal process, just like any other countries in the world.
if Josie will visit Beijing again or Josie's followers, I highly recommend to stay with the local resident in the village under the Great Wall, that was sooo amazing. The Great Wall is so long, only a small part of it is touristy. Love your video!
"政府也没那么闲天天监视你‘’ auto translated to "and the government is not too busy to monitor you everyday" - which is wrong here, it should really be "and the government is not too FREE to monitor you everyday".
My family has a habit when travelling, we buy some postcards in the country we're travelling in and mail it to our home from there. After returning home and resume our life for maybe weeks and even a month, we get to receive our little packet of memory.
For foreigners , they can still use Google/UA-cam/Twitter etc. through VPN , or proxy in China. VPN/proxy are allowed to be used by foreign visitors as I know. Plan in advance and everything will be much smoother.
it's always lovely to see your presentation of your trip. Sorry for the unfourtunate issues in Beijing. It's just that in a country of 1.4billion people, all the major tourist place(unlike Shanghai) have to do some control plan, such as reservistion and ID check, to make sure not too much people crouded into one place, that would be dangrouse. If you are going to another famous tourist place in China, you can try to find some help just like you did at the Great Wall, that will make your day much easier. ❤
you need to book tickets previously, because too many people want to visit the scenic spots in Beijing，especially the forbidden city. It is not safe for too many people crowded inside at the same time. your Michael needed to prepared more detail infos about tour in Beijing.
I mean - not really. A lot of thing we had to book on WeChat - which didn’t work for us (not really our fault). A few of the venues also had promoted closed on Mondays besides august (when we went - yet they were still closed - also not our fault). If a website of a site says it’s open, then you turn up and it’s “closed”… you quite literally can’t plan for that. It just kind of shows how difficult it is to travel in, to be honest.
I literally have over 200 videos of me travelling the world on the channel you’re commenting on. Are you literally slow? You’ve left upwards of 10 comments that I can see, attacking and harassing a woman online - and then making numerous new accounts to continue to do it on. You are seriously scary and I hope you aren’t as dangerous as this in real life. I fear for women around you. Seriously psychotic behaviour spamming my page and everyone’s replies to me with incorrect, uneducated, poorly written abuse. Get help.
@@josieliftsthingsThere're some people online unfriendly, you don't need to care those rude messages. I am really appreciated your unbias opinion about China. And I believe most people such like me really thank for your sharing. In addition, I think in most cities of China, the mesuem should be reserved in advance in case too much people in there. Maybe you could find further information on official website of these mesuems. In deed, people usually use Wechat to reserve appointment, but museums usually provide website you could visit and reserve by Chrome or other browsers.
@@josieliftsthings😂feel sorry to hearing your disappointment, but this level of sites all have their international websites and foreigners could purchase tickets through there
There are many delicacies worth trying in China, including Beijing roast duck, Jiangsu cuisine, Shanghai cuisine, Wuxi pork ribs, Guangdong and Sichuan cuisine, Xinjiang barbecue, and seafood in coastal cities. There are too many. It will be better if you make more preparations and plans before traveling. .
China is not Australia. China has 1.4 billion people compare to 25million we got here in OZ . So they must have some control or security system like any other country. The most cameras in one city is actually London. So there must be more assholes in the UK then.😂😂😂😂
Understand each other, people need to communicate, and the same is true between countries. I really hope you can go to more places in China. China is friendly, and the Chinese people are friendly. It is up to you to give feedback to Australia. Feedback To all over the world, thank you for experiencing China firsthand, and welcome to come again!
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtthere always trouble maker like u do ，u think u are pure justice ？such a joke it's only depending what u prospective 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ go f ur self do some research ,Anyone who doesn't investigate just go shut ur mouth first , it takes two to tango !! Ok
Truth be told, their cuisine is indeed amazing! 'Peking duck' isn't just a meal; it's a culinary masterpiece, and 'hoisin sauce' is basically duck's favorite accessory. The last time I tasted it was way back decade ago. I would love to go back soon and hopefully, my travel dart would allow me to go there very sooner!
Hoisin sauce is not part of Peking duck. Hoisin with thick buns is how Cantonese restaurants serve it. Also their Beijing duck is actually Cantonese roast duck that has spices and a maltose glaze. Traditional Peking duck is more plainly seasoned and is eaten with thin pancakes and yellow bean paste with sugar
Why do many foreign friends think that surveillance video is equal to being monitored, maybe these tools are used for different purposes with foreign countries, perhaps Western countries surveillance video is used for surveillance, but in China surveillance and surveillance are two words, of course, the meaning is not the same, China's surveillance video more role is, if there is a bad event, you can know what happened, Investigation and evidence collection, which was first used to investigate car accidents on the road, is considered by foreign friends to violate privacy. It is very interesting that in China, ordinary people prefer activities in places with surveillance, so they think it is safer, and the more monitoring they think, the higher the knowledge of safety. In China, only fugitives detour to monitor the place
I have been learning English since i was a kid, but when I started my schools here in the US, I still found it so hard to adapt. Even after 10 years, sometimes I still finds it difficult. So I understand how hard it is for you to travel in a foreign language country. Beijing is the place where I grew up. The local people here are extremely friendly and hospitable. Hope you could get a chance to experience the beauty of Beijing, but the system now is not easy for travelers after the pandemic, especially in Beijing. I could imagine the anxiety you feel with the culture shock and the population density, but as a first time traveler to Beijing, I think you did a really good job. Hope you enjoyed your time in Beijing.
@@sosoable As a large country with a population of 1.4 billion, many people visit Beijing every day. Scenic spots limit the flow of people to prevent stampede and crushing incidents. Every Monday, the scenic spots are closed. In fact, people who travel start making reservations at the scenic spots two weeks in advance. Failure to plan well results in videos like this, and the blogger did not consult local people, otherwise he would not have been unable to use WeChat Pay in advance.
Yeah, it takes at least a week to familiarize with China and how everything work (apps, paiement, reservation, travel...), it's a learning curve for foreigners because it's quite unique. Locals are usually happy to help, but it's a pity you leave soon. That was fun to watch, I hope you had a good time!
We will 100% be back. It was a short trip to reset our Thailand visa (where we live when we’re not filming) and we thought to get a taste and see if we liked it. Well.. like is an understatement. We loved it. We want to come back and explore smaller cities and the villages too. I can’t wait.
It's really pleasant to see how easy Michael is. If you notice in heat of china .men and woman carry umbrellas against the heat . Good to see blue skies in Beijing. In past sand storms and pollution put Beijing way high in world polluted city . China changes by the week and for the better. Cameras keep the good guys safe.
Really amusing to see how tourists make every choice wrong in somewhere new.Maybe you could do some prework or consult someone living in china ,another Utuber 'Blondie in china' for example,also aussie
Not sure how I can get anything “wrong”. There’s literally no right or wrong way to travel. I had a great time, I don’t need to do the things you personally would do. Really amusing that you think I have to lol.
it's mainly because it's the summer holiday time and very close to the national holidays, so many many people are going to Beijing so you kind of need to have a reservation for everything, previously you didn't but that will lead to chaos in many places, especially popular tourist places. Also, if you don't visit Beijing during these times, things should be much better.
Another way to look at it, China is technically sovereign which is a great achievement that practically no other country in the whole world is able to claim that! All the rest of the world is either fully or heavily dependent on Google and various other Western-dominated apps and social media platforms, but China has developed ITS OWN technologies that are tailor-made to meet its people's needs. They also do not need to worry as much as other countries with all the crazy sanctions and spy wares...etc. As a Taiwanese, I cheer them on so much for this!! Respect that China tries as much as she can to be sovereign!!! As far as surveillance camera is concerned, I don't know about other countries but the UK has plenty of cameras on every corner too. For the Great Wall, around 15 years ago I climbed ancient Jiànkòu, the less-visited session of the Great Wall and the view is absolutely wild!!! You guys should have made appointments for a good Chinese massage after all the walks. Beijing is great in every bit of my memory during my 2-month stay...but seems to me that the price has spiked up crazy these days.
Honestly super impressed with how you traveled around Beijing. Having grown up in Beijing, I can't imagine traveling there without speaking the language or having Chinese WeChat. They should really work on making Beijing more foreigner friendly but it was great to see you had a good time :)
There’s pros and cons of everything. I don’t like the heavy control and omnipresent restrictions in the city of Beijing, but I also remember in the past the sights of interest were absolutely packed on the city. During the national holiday a few days ago, 12 million people visited beijing, that’s half of Australia’s population
It's amazing all the obstacles you overcame. You're very inspirational. I'm amazed at how you can do so much in so little time. I spent a year in Hong Kong and Guangdong and never had to deal with issues paying for things, language, running into places that are closed or foods that I don't like. Your Mandarin is excellent too. You really represent Australia well when travelling, you don't fit the stereotypes at all. I particularly like how you say Xièxiè, if I closed my eyes, I would swear you were Chinese.
Everyone is exposed to different things and sees things from different angles. Therefore, what you see and feel during the trip is more important than any evaluation. You are a sincere person and you can be seen through the lens like this place very much, so I hope you can come often. There are many places in China worth experiencing. I wish you a happy life.🤜
I mean, those surveillance cameras keep the city safe. You can walk at 2am in the night without worrying about anything. Theft is a rare occurrence. And Chinese people mostly support their government. The government is not an oppressive one which "chinese people have been through a lot". Thr government is not perfect but genuinely wants to improve peoples lives and enjoys massive support (94% approval ratings).
Sigh. Chinese people have been through a lot refers to the hate and vitriol Chinese people have received from the world over the pandemic. Just take something not on the defensive for once.
@@josieliftsthings sorry a lot ma'am. I have seen the hatred so many years and that's why have become so defensive of China. Sorry to misinterpret your message 🥺
Loved this video! We have all had those travel days where everything goes wrong 😂 but the life lesson you took from your trip to China was inspiring. 🙌🏻
I think the hot weather might affect your experience too. You can see other foreign travelers vlog. Even with the booking system. The touristy places gets really crowded. People just stick to each other. That might give you bad experience as well. Each country is different. That’s the beauty of traveling.
Hi Josie I’m was born and raised in Beijing and I appreciate your effort in making this video. It’s quite difficult to visit tourist sights in Beijing during the high season aka summer Holliday. I was wanting to go to the national museum for a limited time exhibition but couldn’t get a reservation for the whole summer 😂 also I think you are probably robbed by ordering Beijing duck on that street 😂 I won’t buy food there cuz it’s def not going to be good
Hi Josie, I really hope you and Michael had a great time in China. It's so nice to see real people experiencing China and sharing their genuine thoughts and experiences. There are always pros and cons to everything; cameras can be problematic when used to invade privacy, but they are also helpful for capturing and preventing bad incidents. I've had similar thoughts about identity checks, but I also understand that they serve as a necessary security measure to prevent potential attacks at famous and significant locations, which hold historical and political importance to both China and its government. I hope that when people in the West learn about China through news and stories, they can distinguish between Chinese citizens and the government, just as they would with any other countries. It's essential to approach with an open mind and objectivity, and see things from a normal person's perspective rather than solely through criticism and judgment. I hope you'll return to explore other cities in China because our country is quite big, with distinct cultures, foods and histories.
@@ninozhang Agreed, and here we go: Public surveillance doesn't intrude on anyone's personal privacy, such as their intimate body parts or secrets; it's primarily for the sake of public safety. Think of it like when we're vlogging and inadvertently capture strangers in the background - can we call that an invasion of their privacy too? It's worth pondering. Cameras themselves don't imply malicious intent; we should refrain from hasty judgments. In fact, there have been numerous cases where crimes occurred due to a lack of supervision, making it easy for criminals to act with little risk and high frequency.
What you eat in Shanghai is called egg pancake（鸡蛋灌饼), which is soft, and what you eat in Beijing is called Jianbing (煎饼果子a specialty of Tianjin), the difference is that the former is soft, the latter is a little harder, and the latter is generally sweet soybean paste.
As a Chinese I would definitely recommend you guys go to some popular chain restaurants making local Chinese Cuisine! For example sijiminfu making Beijing Duck. BTW Having some Chinese friends to guide you would upgrade your whole experiences a lot more!
Great video! As a Chinese, I also sometimes found it was very frustrating to visit these super famous places. Unfortunately, the reservation system has to be there to limit the number of tourists otherwise it is unsafe and one can see nothing but people sea and people mountain. Your Great Wall video is amazing!
Yep, same thought exactly. The scale of people moving around those super famous places is beyond imagination. I'm just glad that they got to have fun after all the frustrating troubles :) Beijing is just so cool that everyone wants to go there~
This was a beautiful trip. There's a moral in it for all of us everywhere around the world as well. Very important during these times of global instability. Thanks!!!
Going to Tiananmen Square used to be so easy that you can just go there. I remember going there once when it was full of ice because it snowed the previous day, and I had to form a line with my friends to make sure we do not slip and fall. It was really memorable. In the recent years, they implemented ID checks and since then I believe it is one of, if not the most highly surveilled place in the world.
Please do some research before going 😢. China do regulate no. of ppl at famous tourist destinations, otherwise, the amt of ppl will be insane, esp during holidays
I can’t believe we had so many things go wrong 😂🤦🏼♀️ Try my new best friend Magic AI out for free here!: www.magictravel.ai/?r=josie
82% of Americans hate China because China is about to become the most powerful in the world. Americans have few good days... so the news is all about smearing China.
When Beijing have foreign leaders visiting the city. It get a lot more security checks everywhere
That's because you traveled thousands of miles to come to China for the first time, and brought a different cultural perspective. It would be nice to come more often. welcome back!
Xinjiang force labor topic 🐼🐼🐼
中国疫情后国内旅游报复性增长，尤其在各个假期期间，仅十一国庆期间，中国国内旅游达7亿人次。所以，以后有机会来的话，尽量避免假期来北京。
I lived in China for more than 15 years. From what I could see, the surveillance cameras everywhere are sort of like dash cams for your car - i.e. 99% of the footage is not watched by anyone until they are deleted, unless there is an accident, then cops will try to figure out what happened using the camera footage.
That's true.
yes，you are right
Yep that is the case. Billions of people no one would look at the footage all the time just to supervise you like who do you think you are lol but when you actually need it for crime resolving no one will be able to help here in Aus, you can be beaten up badly on the street and call the police, 2 hours later they arrive asking you stupid questions in the end you end up in hospital yourself with nothing you can do
I am chinese, this is quite true, camera on the main road is for 1st. monitor violation of traffic rules and have the evidence to fine the driver, which is what the CCP is most interested in. this is their gold mine. 2nd, monitor crime .3rd, there are car accident disputes from time to time on the street, so the footage could be used as the evidence for judge, actually myself experienced a car collision case with another driver, but the camera is some 500 meters far away from our site, so it could not even be used. 4th. To be fair, i also heard that there are driver watching their cell phone and got detected by the camera while waiting for traffic green light, so in terms of privacy violation, it does have.
exactly
Cameras in China are not used to monitor people. No one will look at you and no one has time to do this. Cameras are used to help you solve security incidents when they occur.
没人会在乎那些摄像头，除非你心里有鬼👻
Exactly!
i dont think so,i m from china
@@xiaowutongxue692需要监视老百姓的国家才是鬼
你每天在做（或想做）违法的事？如要人不知除非己莫为！@@user-bf3nz4gd8s
As someone who lived in the US for 9 years and currently live in BJ and SH, I feel like it could be better to do more researches and planning ahead of the trip. 😢 You guys missed the 99% of the fun places in those cities, and spent too much time on places and restaurants where no locals would go…
exactly
Agreed😆
Indeed😂
True
我今年去了北京兩次，確實很多景點都需要實名預約，而且也有安全檢查，但這麼做也是可以理解的，如果你進入景點看到驚人的遊客數量就能明白沒有實名預約的數量限制，這些景點將會塞滿遊客而毫無樂趣，並且在這麼多人數的情況下，如果有人使用危險物品，將會對人群造成多大的負面影響，可以參考之前的韓國人群踩踏事件。
天安门是政治中心，只有做好安保才能杜绝犯罪。任何在天安门发生的事故都可能城内世界头版头条
不期待他们理解这些，能够被那些虚假资讯洗脑形成刻板印象的人本身是不具备思辨能力的😂，他们喜欢享受不期而遇的爆炸和枪击可以呆在泰国或者美国🎉
这位up主都是为自己想罢了，好几次她没办法进去某个后就在哪里阴阳怪气。也不想想中国人那么多，每个地方都随便给你们没预约乱进的话，那安全和秩序怎么办？不就乱套了？ 无语
我去过悉尼，墨尔本，布里斯班，黄金海岸，凯恩斯，卧龙岗，他以为他们政府不想要么，是人口密度真的太低投入产出不划算，也就歌剧院和南岸这两个点人多点😂哪能理解管理一两千万人的城市的压力😂😂
@@winlong8883 其實預約搶票似乎都被旅行社壟斷，如果真的想去還是得提前花錢請旅行社搶票，人是搶不贏機器的。
As a Chinese, I really really appreciate you being so open-minded and stay positive the entire video. I've been to Beijing during the summer and it was extremely hot which make it super easy to lose patience and be irritated in the situation that you met in the video. Thanks for being honest and objective and show what cities in China really look like. It is also fun to see what western people (without being too biased) think and feel when they visit China for the first time. Hope you enjoyed your trip and visit again soon!
As a human, I appreciate your comment.
😂😂 western bot
I can understand the frustration there Josie. But to be honest, Beijing is a very popular tourist destination in the summer. Lots of people visit the Forbidden City and temple every day. Even a lot of Chinese could not get a ticket. You are always welcome to visit the city again! Really enjoy your video.
Totally there's a lot to come back to! :)
下次来我们四川省旅游，我请你吃火锅。
To be honest, except for the trip to the Great Wall, the two of you spent the rest of your time on the road and at some tourist attractions. Beijing has always been very strict about supervision, but there is no privacy issue unless there is a case that requires access.
But the really interesting thing about Beijing, how convenient it is, they haven't realized. China doesn't use cash, it's all Alipay\WeChat. Or scan your face after authentication, so you don’t even have to take out your phone.
We never go to any popular tourist attractions. If we really want to go, Gubei Water Town in Beijing is a good place.
And the food you ate was wrong. Except for the breakfast you ate, the pancakes were the food we often eat, and nothing else. Besides, there are many famous restaurants in Beijing. For example, places like Xiaoqing Restaurant, Sichuan Hotel, or the Eighth Building.
What you eat is snacks, not gourmet food. Snacks here are considered street food, while gourmet food should be those restaurants outside the Third Ring Road that are packed every day.
If you have a chance to come to Beijing again, I will take you to some places, and your experience will be completely different. The supervision of Tiananmen Square you went to is indeed very strict, because it is the most important place in the whole of China, and of course you will be reviewed. It's very strict. Of course, we walk together every day and there is no problem there. We pass by Tiananmen every day.@@josieliftsthings
The issue of cameras actually does not involve your privacy. Beijing should have the most cameras in any city in the world.
But only bad people are afraid of cameras. Beijing is a place where 22 million people live permanently, and there are also many floating people, a total of about 40 million people. But they still open the door at night and are happy all night long, relying on the camera system.
No one will steal your privacy, and the camera will only be called after a crime is committed.
In our own words, we are too small, China is not interested in paying attention to us, and the population is too large. Ha ha.@@josieliftsthings
as a San Francisco resident, to be honest, i even want more surveillance cameras in town, our city is a mess now. Actaully, thats why china is safe, and western media has given it too much negative connotation
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtFree Palestine
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt蠢🐷
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt Free Palestine！
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtyou seem to be a SB
Ty for that compliment but China isn’t safe, many scams actually , toxic working culture, always overtime working for free, badly paid, companies ripped off ppl, you can’t complain your company or you facing fired, and can’t criticize our govt, it’s a serious criminal if you dares criticize govt publicly
The world needs people like you who are open-minded and peace loving!
So lovely to read, thank you 😭🥹🥹🥹
@@josieliftsthings I really like your point of view. Have a positive and optimistic attitude, you are kind and gentle Australians. A 6-day transit visa is too short for visiting China. China is huge. I hope you will have enough time to visit next time you have the opportunity. If necessary, I can serve as your free guide. With a local guide, you can explore China more deeply. Remember, I will never refuse at any time, just because of your last paragraph.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtwhy keep quite on the war in Ukraine, Syria n Palestine? China wanted peace and unite peacefully with the land that lost! Mind your own business, Chinese affairs nothing to do with your Indian name!.. Lol
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtSo lame, dude.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtWell, why don't you support FREE SCOTLAND first. Nearly half of their citizens wanna to be independent.
The reason for passport checks everywhere in China is because most public transport in China need name verification like plane tickets. This also applies to very popular tourist locations where reservations are needed. The main reason for this is to avoid people purchasing tickets on the bulk and selling them on the black market for a profit. This used to be a huge problem. Before named railway tickets were introduced it was almost impossible to get a ticket at a desirable time, and you have to get them from some shady individuals hanging out of railway stations at an extortionate amount (multiple times of the original price). After ID checks and name verification for all tickets, it pretty much cured the problem.
Chinese people use their national ID cards and most of these checks are automated. Because foreigners dont have these they have to use passports and manual checking.
Can I take my Argentinian card ID instead of the passport? I'm afraid to loose the passport
@@olinda013 No
@@Auxphi-ex4sb :( thank you for the info!
😂exactly what I was going to say
@@olinda013 Absolutely not possible, because in any foreign country, you must use your passport. Resident identity information from each country is not interchangeable.
Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world, and they do have a lot of cameras. with 18.04 cameras per 1,000 people, per research by Comparitech, Singapore is among the most surveilled cities in the world. However, tourists traveling in Singapore are not particularly sensitive to cameras. I'm frustrated by the stereotypes about China.
its about pandering to her audience, the click baity thumbnail also shows this.
At least we can eat gum and the camera doesn’t really matter
But in China, there are 372.8 per 1000 people. BTW these two countries are undemocratic, so...
@@user-ii2cg8yo8d you have no idea how ridiculous about the number you metioned, making up a lie takes your brains.
@@user-ii2cg8yo8dDon't you need a brain to make up lies?
I just love Josie and Michael's positive attitude towards new things, people and culture! I am especially impressed by how Michael just figures things out (like the warm cake thingy) and keeps his cool about everything. The world really needs more positive people like you two :)
P.S. Yeah...Beijing is cool but will not be on the top of my list, especially the touristy places. It's precisely because they're so splendid that everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) wants to visit, it makes things even harder for tourists (hence the booking system is in place but that also causes another round of trouble.) Now that you and Michael have been there, next time maybe you can try other cities, I'm sure they would be super fun as well! ❤
To be honest, apart from the trip to the Great Wall, the two of them spent the rest of their time on the road and at some tourist attractions. Beijing has always been very strict in supervision, but there is no privacy issue unless there is a case that requires access.
But the really interesting thing about Beijing, how convenient it is, they haven't realized. China doesn't use cash, it's all Alipay\WeChat. Or scan your face after authentication, so you don’t even have to take out your phone.
We never go to any popular tourist attractions. If we really want to go, Gubei Water Town in Beijing is a good place.
And the food she ate was wrong. Except for the breakfast she ate, the pancakes were the food we often eat, and nothing else. Besides, there are many famous restaurants in Beijing. For example, places like Xiaoqing Restaurant, Sichuan Hotel, or the Eighth Building.
If you complain about camera in China, trying London. London has most dense cctv camera in the world. You are monitored 24/7
然而我电动滑板车在火车站正门口丢了，警察却说周边都没摄像头
@@leoma2746 因为你的滑板车不够格他们查看摄像头。
Shut tf up China and it's CCP are worse than the Nazis
not by a single party though. In china, everything is literally watched by one party
I'm Japanese but I have visited China for work and holidays severael times. Going all the way to Beijing and not eating traditional peking duck should be a crime haha, hopefully you get to try it next time.
Peking duck is too fake, I have to eat 便宜坊 duck
Don’t 全聚德,most 便宜坊
@@user-ne3pl2if8ehow abt 大鸭梨
@JerryM-wt8hlda dong is not that good anymore, the taste has completely changed 😢
四季民福is the goat🎉
Thank you for the video. It is so refreshing to see how you survived and most importantly, enjoyed it all with positive mindset instead of complaining. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you and your partner especially in that kind of weather. Please do come back to China during a different season, Autumn in Beijing (and the rest of China) is simply the most romantic and lovely time of the year.
As Chinese ,we must admit that there many obstacles that exist to visitors like language payment and some checks.I appreciate you could overcome those things that local people may meet too.Good luck to you.
As a human, I appreciate your comment.
As a Chinese, I also experience these obstacles while visiting other countries. It would be great if all the countries can keep improving their services to tourism from all over the world.👏👏👏
@@JianHuang-bd9ge Ummm China being worse than the Nazis with 2100 registered concentration camps...how tf is this good...
I love what you said at the end, “everyone wants prosperity, love, wealth, health and happiness.” I hope your videos will inspire others to travel to places they thought were too scary. I really want to visit China.
欢迎来中国
You were surprised you did not feel hostility from Chinese. I'm neither Chinese nor Australian, but you ought to be ashamed of your government's hostility toward China, mainly because of US influence.
Oop - a nationalistic nerd who doesn’t understand that governments don’t = people
I feel sorry for you
@@josieliftsthings lf you can't understand that governments are elected by its people and thus represents its people, then i feel more sorry for you.
That is the most base human smooth brain response I’ve ever heard. Well done Mr first grade
@@josieliftsthings If you can only reply by name calling then I truly feel sorry for Aussies like you.
@@aaronangeles6368 If you can only reply with literally the dumbest comments I’ve ever read, I feel sorry for you and I’m not wasting my time on you now if you can’t see that 😂
Your ending brought me tears. Thank you and Michael for being so respectful and friendly about China and Chinese people and the culture. We are all one ❤
CCTVs are common in all East Asian countries like Japan, China and S Korea, and also SE Asia like Singapore. Personally, the cameras are in public places, so locals don't really care because they are there not so much as to track individuals, but useful when crimes occurred and footages can be obtained. Part of the few reasons East Asia is safe even for women to walk in the streets even past midnight. If one does not have criminal thoughts, it shouldn't matter apart from privacy. But nothing is private once you are in public places, people can take snapshot of you and you won't even know. On a per capita basis, UK and esp USA have more CCTVs in their countries actually. It's always amusing to me that westerners are very worried about CCTVs in public places. I mean if that's your major concern, then you should skip East Asia and some countries in SE Asia, and travel in European countries instead. I'd advise non-mandarin speakers who still wish to go to China and not overly concerned about your privacy or being "watched" by the numerous CCTVs, to make life a little easier getting around, learn some basic phrases in Mandarin, download a VPN on your mobile and install a translation app that can scan and translate menu in Chinese as well as translate what you speak in English real-time to Mandarin. English speakers should not expect every country you go to speak your own language, and it'd be presumptuous for one to think so. France for eg is such a country, and the French may even be offended if you assume they speak your language. A little humility in a foreign country goes a long way.
在东方，人的生命比人的隐私重要，在西方，人的隐私比人的生命重要，这就是区别。所以西方不是应该销毁所有手机的摄像头吗？
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtfree your mummy's vagina😂, oh yeah
Those cameras don't work just like nothing works in China. I had my electric bike stolen twice. SORRY CCTV BROKEN
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt
😘Incompetence + rage.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt
Your Ukrainian flag avatar. It means your speech must be "intellectually disabled"
I must say Chinese people went through a lot, as well as the Chinese government. In fact most people are satisfied with the goals we’ve achieved these years and our government is a foresighted one. Every step counts. China is not perfect, but it’s definitely a good place. We are proud to make this position now in the world after a hundred years of humiliation. And welcome to China again❤
I don't know what hundred years of humiliation you went through. But what did India do to you for your government's animosity towards India? India never tried to occupy your territory or anything. Still Chinese government see India as a threat! What is the reason for that?
你讲这么废话干什么啊？欢迎这些偏见的外国佬干什么啊？让他们享受中国的生活吗？凭什么呢？
@@weizhang2834 Totally agree. It is exact the remark “Chinese people, not Chinese government, …” that drives me to leave this comment. I disapprove it and find it ridiculous. I bet the bulk of Chinese people have at least one relative or friend who works in the government. The Chinese government is consist of the very Chinese people. How can they be separated from us? As a citizen, not a criminal, I feel free to walk under the surveillance cameras. Safe for people to come out and enjoy their night on the street. Hope one day my English will be as good as yours and I will keep this work and speak out for my country.
@@UNNIKRISHNANKARUMATHIL As an ordinary Chinese, I can tell you it’s your illusion that Chinese government see India as a threat. Whatever the media says, most of them are propagandas. To my understanding, India is not friendly towards China. I read the reports about the border dispute. To be honest, no offense, at present, I think India is no comparison to China. If you want Chinese government to see you as a threat. You have a lot of progress to make. Good luck.
@@c雨颖彻头彻尾的偏见者压根都不会想来中国，受制于多年来的教育和媒体浸润下的偏见，她的表达一定程度上会我能接受，所以我会回复这些。我喜欢也尊重那些在反中媒体仇中言论下坚持为中国说话的有理有据的国人，所以我也会去表达。最后一句你当我在客套行不行
Born and bread in Beijing. As a local kid, I find this city warm and cozy just like any western cities that i’ve visited( London D.C. Vienna etc) So sorry that it hasn’t been a pleasant journey for you guys. In my opinion the media has given us all, to some extent, prejudice and hostility towards each other, which makes it especially hard for foreign friends to enjoy the authentic Beijing charm. But anyhow, I’m still glad and grateful that you made this video and shared your firsthand experience. It means a lot to us. We have a shared future and only through friendship and face-to-face communication can we reach that bright future. Thanks again for producing this amazing video!!
Josie, I loved your closing statement, "Travel isn't about me." When your goal is cultural tourism, immerse yourself, explore, and enjoy the joy and frustration of it all. I also liked your summation that people everywhere really want the same things, food, shelter, security, opportunity, friendship, and love.
that's right！ its interesting
exactly, China and Chinese are different, but human natures are all the same.
“China has been through a lot, not the government, but the people", "if you listen to the news, we're not supposed to like each other"
This right here shows the effectiveness of Western propaganda. The Communist Party made huge sacrifices and long term plans to pull the country from the doldrums and turn the country into what it is today in a short span of just 70 years. Nothing that you've seen on your trip would have been possible if the Chinese government wasn't half competent. Many foreigners are surprised that Chinese people are friendly towards them, but may be more surprised to know that it's because the Chinese government does not overtly push negative news to its people like what Western media does to China. Despite the pain the West has inflicted on China in the past, the Chinese government does not want its people to hate the West. Much of what the Western media says about China is either misinformation, half-truths or intentional mistranslations, yet many Chinese are oblivious to the kind of hate the West has on all things Chinese. And you can thank your governments for the passport checks and the great firewall. The Chinese government had to do what was necessary to shield its people from the vitriol, misinformation and sabotage by the West so that its people can have a stable and peaceful environment to prosper in. As they become more educated and discerning, they will be more equipped when consuming Western "news".
I get your sentiment and I’m glad you understood mine. But some of the comments I’ve received from Chinese people on my content in China would say that some of what you’ve said may be untrue.
This is not true. Chinese government hides the bad stuffs so much and paints Western countries in a bad way just watch any local news or even CGTN. I thought everyone knows this
@@luismvg11 It is not simply true or not true. Chinese media doesn't report everything like all other country does, media all choose their narrative. the different thing is western media make up stories about China, Chinese media quote stories from other countries media, can be bad or good, but not faking.
@@josieliftsthings No GOV is perfect, we Chinese knows for sure our GOV had its flaws, but like @networm78 said, Chinese people can't have this peaceful great times if it won't be our GOV, so actully most of us is satisfy and greatful for what we have now. Anyway, welcome and hope you can have more good times in China~
@@tianjiaodai5678 Get off my channel - seriously. Stop spamming it with annoying shit
I am enchanted with China and the Chinese people. So nice! This couple is so refreshing to watch!
During the summer times and national holidays, most Beijing's popular museums require reservation as so many people want to visit. Even with 3 phones, we failed to book tickets to Forbidden City. I hope they figure out a way to make the lottery system a bit more friendly for private visitors.
Same thing when you go to London. No reservation, no visit.
并不是对团体游客和个人游客差别对待，而单纯就是人太多，旅游景点能容纳的人数也是有限的。人挤人，你去了也玩不好。
地球不是围着自己转的，世界需要你方便，别人也方便。
@@joey-u3w这是政府强迫让游客在当地停留更长时间，或者来更多次的手段。
@@joey-u3w 主要问题是他们不会用微信，不是自我为中心的问题，而是准备工作不足。其实他们去欧洲他们也就会意识到好多景点是需要预定的了。
The great wall was completely filled in the last national holiday. She just need to watch the South China morning video, it was so crowded that you can't even walk. Might as well stay in the hotel 😅
I went to the same section of the Great Wall some 12 years ago. It was definitely the highlight of the trip.
BTW, I can understand the frustration in Beijing. But it's basically the same in many other tourist destinations in the world. I was in Amsterdam just a few months ago and couldn't get into any museum without a reservation. The Anne Frank House was completely booked for the next 3 weeks while the Van Gogh Museum was fully booked for a week. Can't blame them if you didn't plan ahead, right?
Indeed, I think the basic thing to do when visiting a new place, above all when travelling abroad, is to inform yourself . Like price, opening times.....
This girl thinks she can enter everywhere she wants to without making reservations. Just imagine China, a country with 1.4 billion people rushing into a certain place without making reservations or permits? She's kinda dumb to be honest for making such claims just because she can't go in. 😂
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt Troll, U want Taiwan be the next Ukraine or Palestine?
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt what's your problem？
@@周星星-b4yI mean.. look at her title of her video. She clearly blames herself and not others. She even says in the video that she would have not made the same mistakes if she did more research. Pretty simple to understand.
Josie you really bring out the kindness of Chinese people! I feel so healed watching your videos!
Thank you SO much!! 🥹🥹🥹 How kind!
Thanks for the vlog.
As a fellow Aussie, I really appreciate your perspective. Based on the comments from Chinese natives, I'll plan to spend more time in the south (like Guangzhou and Chengdu) and less in Beijing. I was really impressed by how safe it is and the friendly locals. I don't care about CCTV, my city has it everywhere too lol.
Totally, we made a decision to do a short trip - to see if it’s somewhere to come back to. It is but out of the cities like these next time. I hope you enjoy your trip!! Thanks for watching 😁
Try the city of Chongqing. You probably never heard of it but with 30+ million people and subways going into appartement blocks worth a visit.
It’s been the most recommended in the comments, when we come back we willl definitely visit!
@@josieliftsthings I am already 20 in a small city in Shandong province, Weihai. Only 2 million people and sea on 3 sides. I had many people over in these 20 years and they all understood why I liked living here.
Maybe the cities in the North like Qingdao and Dongbei (the Northeast China) has a more friendly experience, without that much political meaning in Beijing.
I love this video. Its not some instagram type showing only the best moments vlog. It shows how travel is really like and the types of problems u run into if u go unprepared. To be fair, a lot of the information for stuff in china isnt properly translated into english and if it is, its difficult to find with the english internet.
Just let you know that most public museums or libraries in China (not only in Beijing but other cities) are closed or partially closed on Mondays. Hope it helps you to arrange your traveling plan. Have a nice tour in China. :)
is it because china hate monday as much as we all are? XD
Maybe these places are open to the public so they need to take a break on monday lol@@JzjsjsnDhshsnn
@@JzjsjsnDhshsnn It is the day when they arrange all the stuff, sometimes small changes such as activities need to be posted, certain exhibits are removed for care, and some new exhibits need to be arranged.
@@JzjsjsnDhshsnnhhhh it's true, we do hate Monday, everyone hates Monday
lol, because weekly inspections are required, including sanitation, safety, etc. @@JzjsjsnDhshsnn
Hello, I went to China few years ago, that was the best trip ever. The first thing I did in China was to visit the great wall, wonderfull otherwise I managed to go visit everywhere without any problems. I visited all the temples I found myself in a temple praying for ages. I walked all the way from Beijing to the olympic camps. It is hard to believe you coming from Australia went into trouble in China
As a Chinese person, it makes me really happy seeing people visiting my country and enjoying it! Im really happy you liked this visit :D
Which region? South or north of China?
Beijing is different from Shanghai, Shanghai is a modern city, while Beijing is the political center, the strict safety checks and restrictions is because it is where the central government is located. Also, you wouldn't see those super tall buildings because of the policy to protect the historical sites. As an international student currently in Australia, I am happy to see you go to Beijing. The sounds in your video are so familiar and full of memories, I miss my hometown so much.
Beijing is also a modern city
@@mcexplorer2081it's modren and classical
@@mcexplorer2081 it gets very different vibes compared to Shanghai. It gives me the feeling that the modernity by planed while the modernity of Shanghai is grown by itself.
London, UK, has the most street surveillance in the world. Because China has surveillance, it has deterred criminals and given tourists a great sense of security, allowing them to go out late at night. China is a country without drugs, violence, guns and homeless people. Ranked among the top 10 in global safety factor.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt 最后的疯狂
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt西藏香港跟台湾 在现在中国前生中华民国也是归我们管 如果你了解过以前的西藏你就知道什么才是真正的独裁者
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt散播谣言除了被嘲笑，你得不到其他东西。
@@user-nq9nd4bj8j😂😂😂
"chinese people, not the chinese government"
Ma'am, as far as i know, 94% of chinese people support their government. And china has become this rich and independent because of this government. ofc like every other damn government it has its flaws, but the chinese government doesn't spread hatred against other countries like america does. Chinese people are safe and prosperous because of their government. 😂❤
Yeah you didn’t comprehend it correctly.
@@josieliftsthingsi mean, i know most of my chinese friends have relatives working in the government.
Maybe i did comprehend your message wrong
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtwow,, you r Indian, all these populations were Chinese, no Indians! You got it wrong.. Lol
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt 感觉你好无聊，见不得中国好啊
i love these series. the thought of going to china crosses my mind from time to time (i live in japan so it is not too hard to schedule a weekend or week trip for a holiday). thanks for this video so i can keep in mind for when i travel to china eventually :)
Unfortunately, in China, almost all museums close on Mondays. in addition there are too many tourists in Beijing, so the most popular tourist attractions need to be booked in advance. If you are a Chinese, you may have to wait for seven days to get a spot. We will take care of foreign tourists, but we also need to make a reservation one day in advance
Yep same in Europe. Most museums are closed on either Mondays or Tuesdays. In some popular tourist destinations, like Florence or Rome, many places require passport checking.
为什么对摄像头那么敏感，它又没有装在你家卧室。当你遇到困难找警察时你就知道它有多重要了。
In the west people assume the worst, absolutely the worst about their own governments. They are not expecting to be robbed raped and murdered by criminals. They expect to be robbed raped and murdered by their government.
There are many people got kidnapped and the parents lost their kids. I don't think you understand the pain. I hope this surveillance camera would help.
I wouldn't say the same thing in the west, where people steal things like it is nothing.
Your comment came because I mentioned in a video I observed there was cameras. Take a long hard look at yourself.
China is damn so beautiful ❤️ Some parts give vibe of US, some of Europe, some of ancient China 😍
Let me set this straight for you. The vibe you see in US and Europe is just areas for rich people or private resorts to make money. Everywhere else is just trash. In China, everything everywhere is for common person not for rich people or elites. I bravely rate China as most beautiful country on this earth be it rural China, ancient China and urban China.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt free CALIFORNIA, FREE TEXAS, FREE FLORIDA, FREE HAWAII AND OF COURSE FREE ALASKA.THESE ARE INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES. USA HAS NO FRICKING CONTROL ON THEM.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt 沙雕
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt别叫了傻逼
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt Ukraine is part of Russia forever😊😊😊
Thank you so much for your positive videos Josie! I love your vlog so much!
I am responsible to say that your video is by far the most objective movie I have ever seen of a foreigner's visit to China. As a Chinese I deeply know China is not prefect and there's still a lot of things I don't like about China. However, I also deeply love this country so much, because China is my motherland and I am so proud that I could born in such great country has rich history and hard working people.
I agree with a lot of the shortcomings of China you brought up in the video, and also I know that in the summer it is very hot in China, and even for you sweating profusely you actually manage to walk that much or even climb the Great Wall. I respect that a lot. If it were me I would not have wanted to do these at all, but even if you're already tired you're still able to stay very positive all the way through the trip, which I think is a very difficult thing to do.
Anyway, thank you so much for your video. I miss China so much and I wish I can come back to visit China soon. If you want to visit China next time, please try to Guangzhou, Chengdu, Changsha and some other cities! There's so much amazing cities and foods waiting for you!谢谢！❤❤❤
Oh thank you so much!! What a lovely comment. Thank you for loving my videos!! Definitely was a great trip for us, even though some was hard and with the heat. We both want to come back one day so I will save your recommendations for next time! 😁😁
一个国家的好坏不是靠别人赞美出来的。我不喜欢一些国人一看到有外国人稍微赞美一下中国就对他们掏心掏肺的，生怕怠慢了别人一样。记住，花若盛开，蝴蝶自来。国家还有多缺点，要靠每一个中国人一代代努力一点点去完善她
see, that's how propaganda works, I wonder if you go to London will you notice the large amount of CCTVs😂
Probably, if they’re everywhere like this, yeah. Not sure why this comment is needed on an observation haha
@@josieliftsthings Maybe UA-cam detected the word '"propaganda" 😂😂😂
@@josieliftsthings what’s the meaning of “why this comment is needed on an observation”?
看了上海那期就有点惊讶了，因为那期视频里感觉你们这次旅行没有做太多的攻略😂北京的绝大多数景点都是需要提前预约的。热门景点比如故宫，更是需要定点抢票才行。
嗯，感觉为了打卡而打卡~~~或许，语言障碍是最大的问题！！！当看到他们去北京了，我就开始担心怕他们去了假长城~~~
外国人少不需要预约，而且他们似乎也不知道中国几乎所有博物馆周一闭馆。博主也许不喜欢有计划得旅行，为旅行提前做各种准备和攻略吧，随意了，各有各的玩法
出去旅游应该要先做攻略的，不过这个博主来中国本来就很随意
拉倒吧，加拿大去哪儿都要预约
@@SS-cf7sm欧洲也是
thanks for visiting china and glad you mostly enjoyed it! i had a fun time watching your videos 🥰 if you ever have the time to come back and see other places outside of the typical big cities, please do! it's really worth it
along with the southern places others are suggesting, qingdao is a northern city that I think would be nice to visit (southern chinese food and northern chinese food is quite different so you might be able to experience that)!
I’m a Chinese now live in the states, and was from Beijing. I went back to Beijing this summer and had similar frustration on the heat and how hard to get an appointment. Wasn’t able to show my kid to many historical sites. At least the frustration is fair for everyone. If that makes you feel better
Why do you think cameras invade your privacy? But when you shoot a video on the street, you put countless people on the Internet for people all over the world to see. Have you ever asked the people you photographed if they have violated other people's image rights?
Overly sensitive comment to what was an observation, and a truthful one.
My Sony camera does not have facial recognition tied to a database.
But you publish them on the Internet. If I am filmed by accident, I hope my face will be masked. It is as bad as facial recognition.
If you see me with a camera please politely ask to not be filmed then and I won’t include you. I’ll also await your confirmation that you have emailed the government asking for the removal of cameras in China as it bothers you to be recorded.
Josie's expressions and reactions are just so funny - just the thumbnail she chose for this video cracked me up before watching it. I've been a subscriber since she only had like a few thousand subs and I knew she would blow up just from her personality of reacting to spicy foods or being frightened by noises etc. She's like a little kid discovering the world around her for the first time.
You're the best! I’m so glad when I see your comments pop up ☺️☺️
So lovely and cute.
My gosh what a wonderful vlog - so helpful for trip planning based on your experiences. Great work with the channel Josie!
The final summary gives me goosebumps as a Chinese person. Thank you for your objective evaluation and love for China~
@@weizhang2834 既然看得懂英文还这么呆？
Wha? She basically said the government evil people good, the typical westoid narrative
As a preparation for traveling to China, I don't think you have done a good job, such as how to use phone cards conveniently and how to use electronic payment software. I believe there will be relevant information online, and there are also many foreigners in Beijing who can get help or just find a Chinese tour guide
We’ve literally explained it in every single video I’ve made in China that the online payment and app system did not work for us. WeChat didn’t work - and is not easy to get as a tourist and Alipay connected our cards but didn’t let transactions go through. Actually, despite it being pretty hard to travel in, we actually did a great job. Especially considering one of these places had an 8 month waiting list, so we literally would not have gotten in, which is not our fault and another one of them said it was closed on Mondays except for August - which is when we were there, also not our fault.
We don’t travel with a tour guide, and we don’t want to 😁👍🏻
Actually after 2020, we do not have full prepration for the comming of the foreigners and the travelling experience is even not nice for local Chinese. I do think our travel sevice can be improved to serve us not just the foreigners, the Chinese citizens is our travel market's priority.
@@josieliftsthings
I would agree, it seemed like things weren’t ready for non-locals yet. Which is fine, we’ve been to a few other countries who aren’t ready yet either, despite reopening
the same for locals out beijing, actually@@josieliftsthings
It's just like I'm living in the US, i think the presence of guns makes me uncomfortable. This doesn't mean I'm racist.
I am very happy and support the surveillance camera settings in the public areas. 👍🏼👍🏼❤️❤️👍🏼❤️👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Good for you! 😁😁 No one’s saying you can’t support it 🙏🏻☺️
@josieliftsthings Thanks for responding. I just shared my thoughts. Especially 5 eye's always do many bad things in China. It helps to protect residents and visitors. Enjoy your trips 😉 We are likely we can live in peaceful places. ❤️
the cameras are not guarding people ,just a way of help make social public places more safe , this is what chinese think about ,in usually daily time , if you do not do criminal things, then you can 100% ignor those cameras
What happens if what is considered “criminal” changes to something unreasonable?
@@josieliftsthings That's a reasonable and valid concern actually. But, on the flip side, you can also ask what if a horrendous crime happens and you can't catch the criminal? It really depends on what you value more. I do think chinese people are more comfortable with having extra security while sacrificing some things that people from other cultural backgrounds may value more.
btw, I enjoyed watching your China trip! It helped me procrastinate on my assignments lol.
just a culture difference. We most think there is no private things in public places and cameras can protect and ensure the justice when something unusual happens.@@josieliftsthings
@@josieliftsthingsi am not sure what you are suggesting here though, criminal activities are determined by the law, if you get arrested and you disagree you can go through legal process, just like any other countries in the world.
@@so-965 My question was straight forward so I'm not sure why you're confused, however that is exactly my point. Thanks for confirming 😂😂😂
if Josie will visit Beijing again or Josie's followers, I highly recommend to stay with the local resident in the village under the Great Wall, that was sooo amazing. The Great Wall is so long, only a small part of it is touristy.
Love your video!
大多數監視器是用來記錄車輛是否違章、中國的駕駛執照是計分制。每年每個人的駕照有12分，闖紅燈扣6分，不系安全帶扣1分，違章停車不扣分不過要罰款。酒後駕駛直接扣12分；如果計分滿了，需要吊銷駕照。如果吊銷了駕照，需要重新去考。只是為了大家的安全讓大家開車注意一點。另外很多攝像頭都是商戶自己裝的，包括公共攝像頭，這是一個阻止犯罪的有效方式。任何地方只要有犯罪，通過攝像頭可以很好的追蹤。除此之外，無論你幹什麼，沒有任何人在乎你，只要你不犯罪、政府根本不關心你在做什麼。這毫無意義。
攝像頭是紀錄證據，比如交通警察會給你發信息說你開車違章，那你可以申訴否認；這個時候他們會提供你違章的照片。這就是這些攝像頭的意義所在。
good！
"政府也没那么闲天天监视你‘’ auto translated to "and the government is not too busy to monitor you everyday" - which is wrong here, it should really be "and the government is not too FREE to monitor you everyday".
True
我是真不理解为什么那么多国外的对大陆的摄像头那么感兴趣，或者说反感，棱镜曝光也没见那么大呼小叫
My family has a habit when travelling, we buy some postcards in the country we're travelling in and mail it to our home from there. After returning home and resume our life for maybe weeks and even a month, we get to receive our little packet of memory.
Agree, I buy postcards too ( best photos made by professionals)
you love the people sooooooo much until things don't go you way. we get that.
Lmao 😂😂😂
For foreigners , they can still use Google/UA-cam/Twitter etc. through VPN , or proxy in China. VPN/proxy are allowed to be used by foreign visitors as I know. Plan in advance and everything will be much smoother.
用他们自己的sim卡不需要vpn,我用的澳门卡直接上UA-cam！
@@ModelX3 应该可以， 就是不清楚澳洲的5G漫游费是不是太贵了，一般都会选WiFi来省漫游费，这样VPN就需要了。 VPN服务很便宜。
it's always lovely to see your presentation of your trip. Sorry for the unfourtunate issues in Beijing. It's just that in a country of 1.4billion people, all the major tourist place(unlike Shanghai) have to do some control plan, such as reservistion and ID check, to make sure not too much people crouded into one place, that would be dangrouse. If you are going to another famous tourist place in China, you can try to find some help just like you did at the Great Wall, that will make your day much easier. ❤
you need to book tickets previously, because too many people want to visit the scenic spots in Beijing，especially the forbidden city. It is not safe for too many people crowded inside at the same time. your Michael needed to prepared more detail infos about tour in Beijing.
I mean - not really. A lot of thing we had to book on WeChat - which didn’t work for us (not really our fault). A few of the venues also had promoted closed on Mondays besides august (when we went - yet they were still closed - also not our fault). If a website of a site says it’s open, then you turn up and it’s “closed”… you quite literally can’t plan for that. It just kind of shows how difficult it is to travel in, to be honest.
I literally have over 200 videos of me travelling the world on the channel you’re commenting on. Are you literally slow? You’ve left upwards of 10 comments that I can see, attacking and harassing a woman online - and then making numerous new accounts to continue to do it on.
You are seriously scary and I hope you aren’t as dangerous as this in real life. I fear for women around you. Seriously psychotic behaviour spamming my page and everyone’s replies to me with incorrect, uneducated, poorly written abuse. Get help.
@@josieliftsthingsThere're some people online unfriendly, you don't need to care those rude messages. I am really appreciated your unbias opinion about China. And I believe most people such like me really thank for your sharing. In addition, I think in most cities of China, the mesuem should be reserved in advance in case too much people in there. Maybe you could find further information on official website of these mesuems. In deed, people usually use Wechat to reserve appointment, but museums usually provide website you could visit and reserve by Chrome or other browsers.
@@josieliftsthings😂feel sorry to hearing your disappointment, but this level of sites all have their international websites and foreigners could purchase tickets through there
Actually, things seems to go wrong sometimes. WeChat is a problem for foreiner.@@josieliftsthings
There are many delicacies worth trying in China, including Beijing roast duck, Jiangsu cuisine, Shanghai cuisine, Wuxi pork ribs, Guangdong and Sichuan cuisine, Xinjiang barbecue, and seafood in coastal cities. There are too many. It will be better if you make more preparations and plans before traveling. .
China is not Australia. China has 1.4 billion people compare to 25million we got here in OZ . So they must have some control or security system like any other country. The most cameras in one city is actually London. So there must be more assholes in the UK then.😂😂😂😂
Who equated cameras to bad people? Only you 😂
You guys have so much knowledge on the architecture of the buildings, I’m impressed
Understand each other, people need to communicate, and the same is true between countries. I really hope you can go to more places in China. China is friendly, and the Chinese people are friendly. It is up to you to give feedback to Australia. Feedback To all over the world, thank you for experiencing China firsthand, and welcome to come again!
China is a terrible terrible place, from my experiences at least. I tell everybody how horrible it is.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtthere always trouble maker like u do ，u think u are pure justice ？such a joke it's only depending what u prospective 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ go f ur self do some research ,Anyone who doesn't investigate just go shut ur mouth first , it takes two to tango !! Ok
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt This is a traveling blog, also please stop spamming. You action actually make it harder to sympathize with your cause.
Truth be told, their cuisine is indeed amazing! 'Peking duck' isn't just a meal; it's a culinary masterpiece, and 'hoisin sauce' is basically duck's favorite accessory. The last time I tasted it was way back decade ago. I would love to go back soon and hopefully, my travel dart would allow me to go there very sooner!
Hoisin sauce is not part of Peking duck. Hoisin with thick buns is how Cantonese restaurants serve it. Also their Beijing duck is actually Cantonese roast duck that has spices and a maltose glaze.
Traditional Peking duck is more plainly seasoned and is eaten with thin pancakes and yellow bean paste with sugar
歡迎再次到中國旅行✈️
Why do many foreign friends think that surveillance video is equal to being monitored, maybe these tools are used for different purposes with foreign countries, perhaps Western countries surveillance video is used for surveillance, but in China surveillance and surveillance are two words, of course, the meaning is not the same, China's surveillance video more role is, if there is a bad event, you can know what happened, Investigation and evidence collection, which was first used to investigate car accidents on the road, is considered by foreign friends to violate privacy. It is very interesting that in China, ordinary people prefer activities in places with surveillance, so they think it is safer, and the more monitoring they think, the higher the knowledge of safety. In China, only fugitives detour to monitor the place
I have been learning English since i was a kid, but when I started my schools here in the US, I still found it so hard to adapt. Even after 10 years, sometimes I still finds it difficult. So I understand how hard it is for you to travel in a foreign language country. Beijing is the place where I grew up. The local people here are extremely friendly and hospitable. Hope you could get a chance to experience the beauty of Beijing, but the system now is not easy for travelers after the pandemic, especially in Beijing. I could imagine the anxiety you feel with the culture shock and the population density, but as a first time traveler to Beijing, I think you did a really good job. Hope you enjoyed your time in Beijing.
确实😂大多数国人对首都的感觉也是一生一定要去一次，去了之后就无感了
@@sosoable As a large country with a population of 1.4 billion, many people visit Beijing every day. Scenic spots limit the flow of people to prevent stampede and crushing incidents. Every Monday, the scenic spots are closed. In fact, people who travel start making reservations at the scenic spots two weeks in advance. Failure to plan well results in videos like this, and the blogger did not consult local people, otherwise he would not have been unable to use WeChat Pay in advance.
London has more cameras than Beijing. But London has security cameras and Beijing's are labeled as surveillance cameras.
Nice observation!
This is typical double-standard of those white people. They always right and nice and China always wrong and evil.
Yeah, it takes at least a week to familiarize with China and how everything work (apps, paiement, reservation, travel...), it's a learning curve for foreigners because it's quite unique. Locals are usually happy to help, but it's a pity you leave soon. That was fun to watch, I hope you had a good time!
We will 100% be back. It was a short trip to reset our Thailand visa (where we live when we’re not filming) and we thought to get a taste and see if we liked it.
Well.. like is an understatement. We loved it. We want to come back and explore smaller cities and the villages too. I can’t wait.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtfree your mind first 😂
YES please! We want more videos of you and Michael trying new things in smaller cities/villages! Must be super fun to watch! @@josieliftsthings
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtcrazzzy
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt狗皮膏药😅😅
It's really pleasant to see how easy Michael is. If you notice in heat of china .men and woman carry umbrellas against the heat . Good to see blue skies in Beijing. In past sand storms and pollution put Beijing way high in world polluted city . China changes by the week and for the better. Cameras keep the good guys safe.
As a Chinese resident, I'm literally crying hearing your last lines in this video. So nice of your video.
Really amusing to see how tourists make every choice wrong in somewhere new.Maybe you could do some prework or consult someone living in china ,another Utuber 'Blondie in china' for example,also aussie
Not sure how I can get anything “wrong”. There’s literally no right or wrong way to travel. I had a great time, I don’t need to do the things you personally would do. Really amusing that you think I have to lol.
Don't know if you had another version of roast duck later ,would be a massive pity if not.
it's mainly because it's the summer holiday time and very close to the national holidays, so many many people are going to Beijing so you kind of need to have a reservation for everything, previously you didn't but that will lead to chaos in many places, especially popular tourist places. Also, if you don't visit Beijing during these times, things should be much better.
I like your videos and your vibe! You were smiling, saying hello and thank you all the time, and always enjoyed food! So cute!
😊 thank you
Another way to look at it, China is technically sovereign which is a great achievement that practically no other country in the whole world is able to claim that! All the rest of the world is either fully or heavily dependent on Google and various other Western-dominated apps and social media platforms, but China has developed ITS OWN technologies that are tailor-made to meet its people's needs. They also do not need to worry as much as other countries with all the crazy sanctions and spy wares...etc. As a Taiwanese, I cheer them on so much for this!! Respect that China tries as much as she can to be sovereign!!! As far as surveillance camera is concerned, I don't know about other countries but the UK has plenty of cameras on every corner too. For the Great Wall, around 15 years ago I climbed ancient Jiànkòu, the less-visited session of the Great Wall and the view is absolutely wild!!! You guys should have made appointments for a good Chinese massage after all the walks. Beijing is great in every bit of my memory during my 2-month stay...but seems to me that the price has spiked up crazy these days.
Honestly super impressed with how you traveled around Beijing. Having grown up in Beijing, I can't imagine traveling there without speaking the language or having Chinese WeChat. They should really work on making Beijing more foreigner friendly but it was great to see you had a good time :)
Thank you! It was tough, but still a great trip. Thank you for your understanding! 😁😁
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtu are just a fuching bot
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt yea man. As someone who grew up in Beijing, I had total control over Chinese politics and should've done all those things
蠢貨！為什麼在這裡討論不合時宜的政治問題？@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtcute
Great video. The thing i really enjoyed the most in this video is to see you guys being adventurous and really take in China with an open mind.
There’s pros and cons of everything. I don’t like the heavy control and omnipresent restrictions in the city of Beijing, but I also remember in the past the sights of interest were absolutely packed on the city. During the national holiday a few days ago, 12 million people visited beijing, that’s half of Australia’s population
It's amazing all the obstacles you overcame. You're very inspirational. I'm amazed at how you can do so much in so little time. I spent a year in Hong Kong and Guangdong and never had to deal with issues paying for things, language, running into places that are closed or foods that I don't like. Your Mandarin is excellent too. You really represent Australia well when travelling, you don't fit the stereotypes at all. I particularly like how you say Xièxiè, if I closed my eyes, I would swear you were Chinese.
Everyone is exposed to different things and sees things from different angles. Therefore, what you see and feel during the trip is more important than any evaluation. You are a sincere person and you can be seen through the lens like this place very much, so I hope you can come often. There are many places in China worth experiencing. I wish you a happy life.🤜
I mean, those surveillance cameras keep the city safe. You can walk at 2am in the night without worrying about anything. Theft is a rare occurrence.
And Chinese people mostly support their government. The government is not an oppressive one which "chinese people have been through a lot". Thr government is not perfect but genuinely wants to improve peoples lives and enjoys massive support (94% approval ratings).
Sigh. Chinese people have been through a lot refers to the hate and vitriol Chinese people have received from the world over the pandemic.
Just take something not on the defensive for once.
@@josieliftsthings sorry a lot ma'am. I have seen the hatred so many years and that's why have become so defensive of China. Sorry to misinterpret your message 🥺
Well I’ve seen a lot of hatred my way today too. For sticking up for Chinese people. Can’t win.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt free Donbas
Free Ukraine from Nazis
Free europe from NATO
If you only have 1 day in Beijing, then use it to walk around the Hutong (historic alleyways) within the 2nd ring road.
That's the charm of Beijing
Loved this video! We have all had those travel days where everything goes wrong 😂 but the life lesson you took from your trip to China was inspiring. 🙌🏻
I think the hot weather might affect your experience too. You can see other foreign travelers vlog. Even with the booking system. The touristy places gets really crowded. People just stick to each other. That might give you bad experience as well. Each country is different. That’s the beauty of traveling.
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vt解放印第安人！
加利福尼亚州独立！
夏威夷独立！
墨西哥州独立！
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vtwhats wrong with you
@SLAVAUKRAINI-cb5vttouch grass
Pretty much all the museums in China close on Monday. Pay attention while planning your trip.
It said with the exception of august - we did.
Hi Josie I’m was born and raised in Beijing and I appreciate your effort in making this video. It’s quite difficult to visit tourist sights in Beijing during the high season aka summer Holliday. I was wanting to go to the national museum for a limited time exhibition but couldn’t get a reservation for the whole summer 😂 also I think you are probably robbed by ordering Beijing duck on that street 😂 I won’t buy food there cuz it’s def not going to be good
Hi Josie, I really hope you and Michael had a great time in China. It's so nice to see real people experiencing China and sharing their genuine thoughts and experiences. There are always pros and cons to everything; cameras can be problematic when used to invade privacy, but they are also helpful for capturing and preventing bad incidents. I've had similar thoughts about identity checks, but I also understand that they serve as a necessary security measure to prevent potential attacks at famous and significant locations, which hold historical and political importance to both China and its government. I hope that when people in the West learn about China through news and stories, they can distinguish between Chinese citizens and the government, just as they would with any other countries. It's essential to approach with an open mind and objectivity, and see things from a normal person's perspective rather than solely through criticism and judgment. I hope you'll return to explore other cities in China because our country is quite big, with distinct cultures, foods and histories.
我记得很多年前好像是一个听证会还是什么之类的，有人问天网工程是不是会侵犯隐私，有一个法学专家说“公共场所就没有隐私“，天网换来的是安全。
没有偷拍隐私部位，在公共场合的监控，这算什么隐私呢？不喜欢就别进入那个场合不就好了？
我想看她回到她的宗主国的首都亲口抱怨摄像头或亲手拧下摄像头，你猜她会不会这么做？
有个评论说的好，她也用摄像机对着其他人拍，那其他人的隐私呢，其他人的隐私就不是隐私了？她有为所有路人打码吗？如果没有的话，那算不算侵犯了其他人在公共场合的隐私呢？
双标的人就是这样的，自己做可以，别人做不行。😂
@@ninozhang Agreed, and here we go: Public surveillance doesn't intrude on anyone's personal privacy, such as their intimate body parts or secrets; it's primarily for the sake of public safety. Think of it like when we're vlogging and inadvertently capture strangers in the background - can we call that an invasion of their privacy too? It's worth pondering. Cameras themselves don't imply malicious intent; we should refrain from hasty judgments. In fact, there have been numerous cases where crimes occurred due to a lack of supervision, making it easy for criminals to act with little risk and high frequency.
@@ninozhang对啊，最重要的他也不是拿着摄像机到处拍嘛，不也侵犯了别人的隐私 被上面一个网友反驳他的观点，还有英语的问题，她还在反驳，而且反驳的很苍白无力
I’m impressed by your openness to try new food, overcoming obstacles. Great job!
Do you know that that city of London has the most surveillance cameras in the world?
What a great observation!
It is better not to go out in Monday in China since lots of sites and museums are closed on Mondays in China. Hahah....
视频看着真累，看着某些老外在中国怎么这么事事儿的，哪来那么多傲慢，都2023了，你们有鸡毛优越感啊😅
评论看着真累，某些人怎么这么听不得实话和不好的，哪儿来那么多玻璃心，都2023了，你有鸡毛资格不让人说北京就是对中国人来说都很不方便的城市？
用VPN违法你知道吗？
那你赶紧报警吧@@jonpeirce9306
整个视频中干成的就是：一直惦记着的世界七大奇迹之一长城，和众多外国游客一样，终于到了。70年代来访中国的人也是这样。（和2023没球关系）
Your closing speech is WONDERFUL in every way.❤
Thank you Jo! Good to see you again 😁😁🥰🥰
What you eat in Shanghai is called egg pancake（鸡蛋灌饼), which is soft, and what you eat in Beijing is called Jianbing (煎饼果子a specialty of Tianjin), the difference is that the former is soft, the latter is a little harder, and the latter is generally sweet soybean paste.
Isn’t Jianbing from Shandong???
@@Walterkooy shandong jianbing is another branch of Jianbing，different from those two
@@Walterkooy you wont like jianbing from shandong. Hardest piece
@@bubukaikai I like them. Eating them for many years already.
不是鸡蛋灌饼啊。那是个煎饼果子。
只有罪犯会担心摄像头，摄像头只针对坏蛋，它们的作用是让好人变得安全
I totally believe that you believe that! ☺️
我去路上天天拍你，你会好受吗？
@@lishiy-hj6qg 你只是普通人，不是公权力，我凭什么让你拍？？
@@MLee-vt2zw ？？？敢问油管上有几位博主有公权力，你怎么不问他们？问我干嘛？
那么多摄像头，有的是交警，有的是警察，在中国很多人愿意牺牲一些隐私来换取社会更安全。你的整个视频很棒，说的很好，加油！@@josieliftsthings
As a Chinese I would definitely recommend you guys go to some popular chain restaurants making local Chinese Cuisine! For example sijiminfu making Beijing Duck. BTW Having some Chinese friends to guide you would upgrade your whole experiences a lot more!
Great video! As a Chinese, I also sometimes found it was very frustrating to visit these super famous places. Unfortunately, the reservation system has to be there to limit the number of tourists otherwise it is unsafe and one can see nothing but people sea and people mountain. Your Great Wall video is amazing!
Yep, same thought exactly. The scale of people moving around those super famous places is beyond imagination. I'm just glad that they got to have fun after all the frustrating troubles :) Beijing is just so cool that everyone wants to go there~
This was a beautiful trip. There's a moral in it for all of us everywhere around the world as well. Very important during these times of global instability. Thanks!!!
Going to Tiananmen Square used to be so easy that you can just go there. I remember going there once when it was full of ice because it snowed the previous day, and I had to form a line with my friends to make sure we do not slip and fall. It was really memorable. In the recent years, they implemented ID checks and since then I believe it is one of, if not the most highly surveilled place in the world.
Please do some research before going 😢. China do regulate no. of ppl at famous tourist destinations, otherwise, the amt of ppl will be insane, esp during holidays
They are from the west, you know..
@@zhongguono1 博主的体验很正常，一个外国人不了解中国，会碰到一些小麻烦，也是整个体验的一部分，这就是旅行的意义。我看这位澳洲的博主还是很乐观积极的。
韩国 日本也经常抱怨😂 来中国旅游就是挑战 人民不会英语 安检处处有 感觉被监视
@@SAMPark-g8y 中国人不会英语，很正常啊，中国人说中文。 在机场之类的设施，工作人员会说英文是工作要求，但是小地方就没有了。 中国人去西方，日本，韩国旅游，也是要克服语言障碍的， 住酒店说中文也大概率没人能懂吧。
机场安检是哪里都要有， 地铁安检，热门景点有安检，也是中国体验的一部分，更安全。
@@zhongguono1 小西八 小日子 到香港呆湾没这个说法 机场 高铁站工作人员也不会英语 这是事实呀