China is the world's most populous nation. Unsurprisingly then wherever you go in China there are lots of people. Whether the Chinese are out in the country in tour groups, or whether you are visiting another huge city, or even discovering how many people can be involved in changing a light bulb, you cannot escape 1,321,000,000 people.
The Chinese apparently love travelling in large groups. If you are unlucky enough to be visiting a Chinese tourist attraction over a weekend you will come across large groups of Chinese tourists. They are led by tour guides with their own microphone and speakers, as well as a flag and hats for all of the group. These groups do not pull any punches. The Chinese treat one another like members of one very large family, so they have no inhibitions about barging one another and you out of the way.
Chinese cities are enormous. While I have heard of Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi'an. I had not heard of other enormous cities that I came across on my travels, such as Nanning, and Wuhan. These cities have not reached their limits but are continuing to grow. Everywhere you go in China the sight of construction and cranes is common. The journey into Shanghai seemed to be through one colossal construction site for two hours.
Not only are there lots of people and the cities huge but there always seems to be more people than the Chinese know what to do with. The seemingly oversupply of people was best illustrated in every shop, restaurant, or just about anywhere employing anyone. In the Beijing West Train Station Cafeteria at 11pm there were possibly 15 customers. It was not quiet however because of the raucous yelling between over thirty members of staff. Of the thirty perhaps ten were doing something. The high levels of staff across China do not necessarily equate to high customer service levels rather the reverse. Service is generally more akin to a McDonald's teenager. I can only assume that people are cheap to employ. With all these people there are strange ways that jobs are created. In a bookshop in Shanghai they had at least five cashiers with shop assistants on each floor. When I purchased a book I took it to the cashier and paid I then had to go to the door where two security guards stamped my receipt, put my book in a plastic bag and sellotaped it shut. In restaurants the till is often separate to the kitchen so that one person takes your order, the other person takes your receipt and some other people cook your food. There are a million security guards hanging around business who do not look particularly secure. Government buildings are even worse with army guards, police guards, and security guards. Security guards in China are a mixed bag. They are often dishevelled looking. If their job is to walk around then they wear trainers which spoils the big hat and uniform look. The large uniformed presence can be intimidating, however, in all my encounters they have been harmless and somewhat bored. Tiannamen Square has to have the largest guards I have come across on my travels. To enter the square your bags are often searched, there are security cameras watching your every move and guards spread out across the square. As a foreigner you wonder whether they are watching you but it seems that authority fears more from the locals.
Not only are there lots of people and the cities huge but there always seems to be more people than the Chinese know what to do with. The seemingly oversupply of people was best illustrated in every shop, restaurant, or just about anywhere employing anyone. In the Beijing West Train Station Cafeteria at 11pm there were possibly 15 customers. It was not quiet however because of the raucous yelling between over thirty members of staff. Of the thirty perhaps ten were doing something. The high levels of staff across China do not necessarily equate to high customer service levels rather the reverse. Service is generally more akin to a McDonald's teenager. I can only assume that people are cheap to employ. With all these people there are strange ways that jobs are created. In a bookshop in Shanghai they had at least five cashiers with shop assistants on each floor. When I purchased a book I took it to the cashier and paid I then had to go to the door where two security guards stamped my receipt, put my book in a plastic bag and sellotaped it shut. In restaurants the till is often separate to the kitchen so that one person takes your order, the other person takes your receipt and some other people cook your food. There are a million security guards hanging around business who do not look particularly secure. Government buildings are even worse with army guards, police guards, and security guards. Security guards in China are a mixed bag. They are often dishevelled looking. If their job is to walk around then they wear trainers which spoils the big hat and uniform look. The large uniformed presence can be intimidating, however, in all my encounters they have been harmless and somewhat bored. Tiannamen Square has to have the largest guards I have come across on my travels. To enter the square your bags are often searched, there are security cameras watching your every move and guards spread out across the square. As a foreigner you wonder whether they are watching you but it seems that authority fears more from the locals.
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