Chinese people’s reaction to foreigners in Wuhan

From the first day I arrived until now on a daily basis I’ve noticed people looking at me, if you’re with friends chatting away you don’t notice it quite as much but if you’re alone then it’s more obvious and can be a little disconcerting. Most people are merely pointing out that they can see a foreigner whilst others may want to start a conversation with you so expect to hear the same questions regularly. I don’t go a week without a few people asking me “Where are you from?” “How old are you?” “Can you speak Chinese?” “How much money do you earn?” Everyone is just curious and it’s harmless although it is a little monotonous responding to the same questions everyday so it can depend on what mood I’m in as well as how many people have asked me already that day to what my reaction will be. Admittedly its poor manners on my behalf but on numerous occasions I’ve told people I don’t have time to talk or have pretended I don’t understand. This is pretty rare and I probably sound like a miserable sod although in my defence I have had days when I’ve been approached 5 or 6 times in the same day.

About 95% of the time when people start talking to foreigners in the street it’s to ask those questions. The majority our teachers that come to China gain an anecdote or two from their time here. Often you might get parents approaching you in the street asking if you can teach their child English which is a nice little bonus and a good way to earn some extra cash in the evenings or at the weekend. From my experience its best to accept that people are always going to look at you and embrace it. It probably won’t be too long before the staring dies down a little as foreigners are becoming more and more common in China with each passing year. In Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou it’s more common to walk past a foreigner in the street than it would be in a second tier city such as Wuhan. But with the rate of development in Wuhan and growth of business, more foreigners living and visiting the city is inevitable and has been evident to me over the 3 years that I have lived here.

There can be a sense of adventure about being approached on the street by a stranger and it’s not great to always keep to yourself refusing talking to anyone who may approach. There have been a number of occasions when people have approached me and it’s resulted in me taking part in something that I wouldn’t have stumbled across otherwise. The first year I was in China a guy started talking to me at a bus stop, he was asking me where I was from and did I like playing football? I replied yes and he went on to invite me and my friend to play football with his team. I went on to play with them for a year and a half and it was a great chance to spend some time with Chinese guys as we always went out for dinner and drinks after the game. I have since moved house and live a little far away now but still try to get over to play when I have the time. I think when living in China it can be difficult especially during your first few months, it can feel a little lonely at times. However if you have a good attitude, take up people on their invitations and are open-minded to trying new things then you’ll give yourself a better opportunity to enjoying live in China.

New bars and restaurants opening up in Wuhan

This could have more to do with the fact that I didn’t know the city well when I first got here, but it certainly does seem like there is a recent glut of bars opening up in Wuhan. Whether this is a reflection of the rising incomes in the city or the growing proclivity amongst young Chinese people to go out for the odd drink I don’t know, but either way – I like it.

Bars in China tend to come in two forms; those that cater to groups looking forward a lively night out and those that cater to patrons looking for a nice drink in a good atmosphere. The former type of bar tends to stock cheap drinks, play loud music and attract a younger crowd. The latter will often stock better quality beer and spirits (though it will be expensive) and will not be quite so loud. In terms of cheap bars to start a night out, Helen’s is a popular choice amongst a younger crowd. With the first Helen’s opening in Wuhan 3 years ago, there are now 3 in Wuchang and 2 in Hankou, all of which regularly fill up on the weekends. Another bar similar to Helen’s is Coco, a recently opened bar near Guanggu that shows sports on big screens on the weekend – definitely worth a look. For sports fans in Hankou, the recently opened London Bar near Dazhilu plays most football games as well as other sports upon request. One other benefit of many of these bars is that they usually have an array of bar snacks and food for pretty reasonable prices.

Beyond the bars there has also been a number of new restaurants opening up that cater to western tastes. Admittedly the western food in Wuhan often leaves a lot to be desired but this is gradually changing. In the Lingjiaohu Wanda there is a new Italian restaurant that has authentic pizza and pasta, whilst the bakery at Wuhan Tiandi has a number of items worth looking into. In terms of fast food the new Burger King at Baotong Si offers a choice beyond KFC and McDonalds (though the huge lines of people queuing out the doors is a bit much..).

From the 3 years in which I have lived here the city has changed greatly. Not only the new roads, subway system and bridges but also in the new shops, restaurants and bars. One of the things I like most about Wuhan it still retains much of its character and is very much a Chinese city. The growing number of international outlets and cuisines have not changed this – though for people living away from home they certainly provide a comfortable reminder every now and again.