Lifestyle in China

It is modern and vibrant at the same time and Chinese know they and their country are going to shape the world’s future.

 

Quick facts about China’s demographics

• Population: more than 1.3 billion citizens
• Ethnicities: 94% Han-Chinese, 6% are minorities
• Growth rate of population: 0,47%
• Life expectancy: 73,18 years

 

Chinese modern lifestyle

Today, Chinese lifestyle is not different at all from anywhere else in the world due to Western influence. China’s economy and businessmen have adopted various ideas from foreign countries at a high speed resulting in a situation where many people enjoy a satisfying standard:

• Buildings: you can find everything from apartment complexes to towering high-rise buildings through to modern style homes like apartments. However, in rural areas you can still find rural mud and straw houses with a stronger influence of traditional cultures.
• Clothing is quite similar to Western culture. However, it is also influenced by local designs and create.
• Family life is still very traditional and family importance as well as family reputation is highly rated in Chinese culture.
• Gender equality: Women are working the same amount as men do. One side-effect might be that grandparents take care of kids or they’re sent to nursery school or kindergartens. Besides domestic work like cleaning, shopping or cooking is equally shared between boys and girls.
• Respect: Chinese parents today, although much more lenient and reasonable, are still strict and expect a good deal of respect.
• Marriage: As for marriage, young people today generally choose their own marriage partners on the basis of shared interests and mutual attraction. However, parents still play a role in arranging some marriages, especially in rural areas.

 

Chinese nightlife

Chinese adapt more and more Western culture, this includes going out during the night, enjoying the time at pubs, bars, cafes, party districts and disco clubs. Beijing's nightlife has really taken off in the last few years. New bars and clubs are opening up every month with some serious music venues attracting the world's finest artists. Take a look at China’s most favoured cities by international students.

 

Beijing	Shanghai
Sanlitun Worker’s Stadium Houhai Nanluoguxiang Chaoyang Park West Gate Wudaokou The Bund night scene Xin Tian DI Fu Xing Park Nanjing Road

 

Visiting those areas you will definitely find a place, which offers karaoke. It is one of the most popular ways to spend social time amongst the Chinese. There are karaoke houses, or more commonly known as “KTVs” in many of the big cities in China. If you’re not familiar with a KTV just imagine a western movie theatre, which pretty much looks the same. In case you have the chance to go there you will get an insulated room that has distorting speakers, microphones, a television, a large central table and couches lining the walls. For sure, you are expected to sing. While you’re entertaining the mass others can have a buffet dinner or slam down dice on the table – all included in the entry price.

 

Chinese holidays

As a student you come in the lucky position to stay in China for a longer time and you might be able to enjoy one of the holidays. There are plenty of short holidays like the Labour Day, the Dragon Boat Festival or the Mid-Autumn-Day. Depending on the area or town you stay in, you should check out if there are some local holidays. However, the major holiday periods are:

 

Chinese New Year

It takes place in January/February. Common tradition is that Chinese families gather together, celebrate a reunion dinner and give money in red envelopes on the evening of China New Year’s Day. Besides – and this can be seen everywhere – windows and doors are decorated with red paper-cuts and couplets. Besides late in the night firecrackers are lighted.

 

Qingming Festival

This festival is for up to three days in April. Traditions include sweeping tombstones and dancing on gravestones in order to pass energy to the dead and entertain them at the same time.

 

National Day

The National Day is on the first of October most of the people have a week off. Pupils and some students on the other hand enjoy between four to six weeks. It should be expected that shops are closed for a while. Thus, don’t forget to buy enough groceries in advance.

 

During the major holiday periods (Chinese New Year, National Holiday) you can either enjoy your free-time at home or – in case you’re really adventurous – buy a ticket for a bus, train or plane and travel to some of the sights or visit one of the mega cities like Shanghai and Beijing. However, if this is really the case make sure you’re not shocked by the horde of people because literally everybody in China is travelling back home to their loved ones during the holiday period.

 

Places to visit

China is the third largest country by area on earth. Thus, it has dozens of beautiful places. For instance you can check out Beijing. The mix of modern architecture and ancient sights makes China’s capital to a unique city. While you’re staying there you can go to places like the Forbidden City, which is a former imperial palace or the Great Wall, which is an endless wall and open for visitors. During summer, there is even a marathon taking place.

A breath-taking ancient city is Xi’an, which has emerged to the largest city in the north-west of China. It played a crucial role in China’s history and was even the capital for more than 1000 years. This can still be seen if you visit the City Wall, protecting the former capital of threats. Besides it is famous for its Terra-cotta army.

However, if you want to enter the modern world and if you want to see something else you can go to Shanghai, which is located in central Asia at the East China Sea. Like Beijing it has an amazing nightlife, which is worthwhile visiting with one karaoke bar next to another.

There are so many places to visit and things to do in China, we have listed some of the best visitable places below.

Sight	Place
Great Wall Forbidden City Tiananmen Square Temple of Heaven	Beijing
Shanghai Tower Yu Garden Oriental Pearl Tower Jin Mao Tower Jade Buddha Temple	Shanghai
Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Famen Temple	Lintong, Xian
Hai River Tianjin Eye Taku Forts	Tianjin