Just returned from my sixth trip to China. Last one was just before Covid. I came back on 12/05/2019 and was patient zero. A lot has changed since then.
We planned to do a lot of driving around Yunnan Province and my father in-law doesn’t like long drives. Mrs. Lee got her DL only after coming to the US, so cannot drive in China. And since she’s still a PRC citizen, cannot get a permit there. For citizens it’s license or nothing. But I’m a foreigner, so I was eligible for a permit. Oh man, that DMV experience was something to behold. Anyway, I’m legal there now.
China is now a total surveillance state. This was in the Beijing airport, but cameras are absolutely everywhere, even over every table in every restaurant.
I saw almost no police and not a single gun in two weeks, other than in a museum, and I think even that one was fake. The cameras keep everyone honest and I’m told there is just no more street crime. You can leave your phone and wallet at your table when you go to the restroom and they will be there when you return. In fact, Mrs. Lee’s folks left a gift in an “unauthorized” taxi who picked us up at the airport and were able to track him back down from the guard shack camera at their apt. complex to get it back.
This was a breakfast place we went to in Kunming. They butchered the cow right there in front of the door, had to walk through the blood to get in.
Excellent and cheap breakfast. Hey, the beef was fresh.
China is almost totally cashless now. Even the roadside fruit stand only accepts cash app payment via QR code. I had about $150 USD equivalent leftover from my last trip and it was very hard to get rid of.
Wedding photos are a ginormous industry in China. I felt sorry for all the couples hiking up into these mountains with full wedding attire on. This one was at probably only 7000’. But there were plenty headed up to 14,000’ in the gondola.
My reading glasses always tend to break when I’m traveling and away from all my spares at home. So we went to buy more. Hadn’t heard of this brand before.
More to come.