Visiting and Enjoying China – Crowds

Is China crowded?  Sometimes.  It’s not so crowded in my neighborhood around 7 in the morning.  In fact, it’s quiet and there is almost no traffic on the street.  Go to Hua Qiang Bei on the weekend around 2pm, however, and you may feel like you’ll suffocate from so many people.  There, the crowds dictate the flow of traffic more than the lights.

Here’s my crash course in managing crowds in China.

There’s a big difference in inadverdent touching attitudes between the US and China.  I still remember during my last visit to the US, slightly brushing against a woman in the grocery story.  I didn’t think much of it but recall hearing her say something to me.  “I’m sorry, what?”, I replied.  She dryly pointed out to me that she had touched me and was apologizing.  “Oh right”, I remember thinking.  I get touched and bumped and pushed frequently in China and I don’t take the time to stop and ponder it anymore.  Someone can smack me pretty hard across the shoulders and we both keep walking.  At first, it can make you feel…off balance, but, being aware of it and adapting can make it a non-issue.  So, remember this:  You will be touched and bumped incessantly.

The touching and bumping helps lead to the chaotic process of getting in line in China.  Well, there isn’t really such a thing as getting in line in China.  About the only time that I’ve noticed that lines matter is in customs, where there are officials watching you.  Oh yes, department stores are pretty good too.  Fast food places like the ubiquitous McDonalds and KFC are another matter.  Unless you’re right behind the person in front of you or are leaning on the counter and sometimes motioning for a cashier, you will be cut in front of.  I cut off a 12-year old girl the other day at KFC.  The cashier was even asking for my order when the girl pushed herself to the counter and thrust some coupons at the cashier.  For a moment, I almost lost out; I saw the cashier make eye contact with the girl.  So, I simply countered by continuing my order while turning my back and leaning in to the counter.  “Hey, I’m getting the hang of it”, I thought.

This sort of stuff happens all the time.  I was talking to a salesperson about some sheets I was about to buy when two other shoppers just waltz in and start barking questions at the salesperson.  Dang!  I feel sorry for the salespeople.  Sometimes it gets on my nerves too.  For example, though there are indicators about where to stand when entering and exiting the subway, nobody pays attention to it.  it’s quite common to be greeted by a hoard of people boarding the subway from every direction.  Sometimes it irritates me enough to where I don’t bother moving; I just walk straight out and bump people.  I know, bad attitude; haven’t done this in a while.

As for escalators, Hong Kong citizens are well-trained by the British to stand on the right, walk on the left.  This rule is unilaterally not observed in China.  In fact, every single day, I see two people blocking the entire escalator from people who are in a hurry.  Sometimes, I politely ask to pass by, but lately I’ve been just taking the stairs.  In China, escalators are basically for standing only.

Though I don’t have the courage to do this yet, I’ve seen plenty of native Chinese people who don’t want to lose their place order potential line-breakers to “wait in line!”

The key point to remember is that asserting yourself, legitimately, isn’t viewed as rude at all.  Sure, it’s one thing to force your way in front of a bunch of people; that’s bad.  But, if you’re the next in line and assert yourself in front of other people who want your spot, no one will think badly of you.  Well, I think so.  Maybe I should say that I’ve never seen anything bad come of this.  Reminds me of the traffic.  People just cut in and don’t bother slowing down or speeding up.  Yet, I rarely see road rage.