Two Countries in China

Last post, I know I mentioned "across the border to mainland China".  Even though Hong Kong became part of China in 1997, there is still an immigration border between Hong Kong and China.  I don't need a visa to enter Hong Kong but I do to enter China.  Accordingly, my passport gets stamped when I leave the Hong Kong airport and get in my taxi to China.  It then gets stamped as I leave Hong Kong and again when I enter China, and in reverse when I return to Hong Kong for my flight.  All together I end up with about five stamps each time I fly to Hong Kong and take the train or taxi to China.

The number of stamps isn't the only thing that differentiates Hong Kong from mainland China.  When visiting the two "countries", there are definitely developed and developing country differences.  In Hong Kong I can use my credit cards from the US, the city is cleaner, and it has the feel of a western city - at least most of it.  Perhaps Beijing and Shanghai have the same feel, but since I haven't visited them I can't say.  The amenities are more consistently western, especially the toilets.  English is all over.  Nearly every restaurant has English language menus, the signs are in Cantonese and English, and more people speak English.

However Guangzhou and Shenzhen (where I have spent most of my time) are definitely still building.  Construction is a constant sound throughout the city, there are still many people carrying construction supplies on bikes in the middle of the street, and the food isn't up to the same standard.  In the factories, the toilets are porcelain holes in the ground and a trash basket for the toilet paper.  In some factories there is a "VIP" toilet which is a western design.  Finally the language barrier is more significant.  Despite more people in China speaking English than in the US, the language barrier is still a big road block.  It takes a lot of gesturing, patience, and trying out synonyms until one word is understood (like soda, pop, cola, etc.)

It will be interesting to watch mainland China continue to develop over the next 10 years.  I hope I get to keep coming to watch the changes and explore more of the country.  At the rate I'm going with Bamko, I'll be here at least once every year.