My First Time in Shenzhen: What I *Really* Thought

[Barry Kuphal]

Sure thing! Here's an English translation of the text with details and emotions carefully preserved:

• Wow, the cars here are incredibly friendly and considerate towards pedestrians!

  • Even when I'm just standing on the sidewalk at a crosswalk or zebra crossing, cars will slow down and stop even if they could turn right. This has happened to me several times already!
  • Just encountered this while crossing the street again, and I couldn't resist recording it. In Chengdu (another major city in China), there were also cars that would yield, but it seemed more common in Shenzhen. The drivers here are especially patient.

• The traffic lights here change very quickly, and there's no need to wait for long periods of time!

  • If you want to cross the road diagonally, meaning you have to pass through two streets to your destination, the traffic lights here are connected!
  • What that means is, after the first green light allows you to cross the first street, the second red light across will usually change to green just in time, making crossing the road diagonally convenient without having to linger in the middle of the intersection for a long time.

• A small reminder:

  • You might encounter many people selling perfume on the streets. Once, even though I had repeatedly refused several times, the vendor still insisted on unzipping their small bag for me to see.
  • At that moment, I was really annoyed and replied loudly, "I've said 'no', don’t show me anymore! This has happened to me so many times before! You guys are driving me crazy!!”
  • Do you want to know what they said in response? "Insurance salespeople are way more annoying!" After hearing this, I didn't feel angry anymore, as it was too funny. I haven't come across any insurance salespeople in Shenzhen yet.
  • How to respond: if you don’t want to buy anything, make sure you firmly say "No, thank you!" and simply walk away. Avoid giving them any chance to further harass you.

• A minor complaint:

  • There are a lot of people smoking here!
  • On a positive note, it seems like there are fewer people spitting in public, compared to what I saw in Chengdu.

• Useful tip:

  • Good news! Public toilets here mostly offer free toilet paper! (Many places in Asia do not provide toilet paper in public toilets, so this aspect is a great plus!)

• In addition,

  • Many people here are really kind and friendly, willing to help others, making me feel warm inside.
  • I've written another article documenting all these great acts of kindness!

[Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert]

It's because they actually fine you for not yielding to pedestrians.

[Antoinette Ferry]

But there aren't always traffic police around when cars yield. Do the surveillance cameras also enforce yielding to pedestrians?

[Andrea Hand]

As a student from Wuhan who came for an exam, I found the traffic experience amazing. Cycling was incredibly smooth.

[Lena Oberbrunner]

Yes, exactly! That 'smooth' feeling is spot on!

[Sally Breitenberg]

If someone shows you a cosmetics bag, don't get too close. Rumor has it they might use knockout drugs.

[Israel Koss]

Huh? On a main street in the city center... that sounds a bit much, doesn't it? Maybe in a more remote area, it could happen.

[Dr. Guadalupe Homenick]

Actually, Shenzhen's indoor smoking ban is pretty effective. Could it be that you see more smokers outdoors precisely because everyone has to go outside to smoke? When I travel to other parts of mainland China, I'm practically suffocated by all the men smoking in hotels.

[Miss Alison Collier]

I don't know about that. When I'm out enjoying milk tea or other drinks, there are always so many people smoking. I also end up inhaling secondhand smoke a lot when walking on the sidewalk. Maybe it's just because the places I frequent are crowded.