The BEAUTY of CHINA!

The beauty of China!

No, it's not the Bund with its majestic high rises that enchant everyone with their structure during day and with their lights at night nor is it the Great Wall that never fails to awe the world generation after generation. Neither is it the Forbidden City with its mythic history and tails....!

All these and much more like Terra-cotta Warriors, The Ming dynasty tombs, The Temple of God, The Silk Road, etc are great treasures and unique in their beauty but to me the most beautiful thing about this most populated country of the world is the simplicity of her people.

They laugh easily and readily like innocent children. There is a clarity in their characters that remind me of crystal vases which are clear, delicate, solid in their form and ready to be filled with bunches of flowers and water. No matter what you put in those vases, the structure of the vase remains the same but shows whatever goes inside. They can be heavy yet breakable simultaneously.

Chinese people are like those vases. They adapt very easily, always ready to learn. They are extremely reluctant to take the initiative but are excellent followers, (perhaps one of the reason China produces a copy of everything made anywhere else around the world). They keep a watchful eye on outsiders and strangers but give them room to maneuver.

There is a shyness about them as they are very self conscious around others but at the same time they never hesitate to ask questions that arise. They are vulnerable and anchored at the same time.

There is a contentedness in their nature that comes from lack of high ambitions. They dream but their dreams are real. They don't try to steal the dreams of others. They live in their world and work hard to live in it. I have often heard that they work like ants which is, in fact, given as a compliment. Yes, they do what they have to do, no questions asked. They don't complain about their circumstances, they improvise and strive to survive.

Centuries of oppression has left its mark. They are afraid to think outside the box. The fact that the Chinese government controls and regulates everything snubs the growth of individualization. They move in masses and stick to each other. At the same time, there is an instinct of survival at work to look after themselves within those masses. There is a certain kind of selfishness combined with shortsightedness that is often found in villagers. It exists due to lack of exposure and absence of greed. Their desires are contained and they are happy with who they are but they have to look after themselves. China's one child policy has given rise to an inbred loneliness which has introduced a buddy system. Chinese people enjoy the company of their peers and their friendships are enduring but at the end of the day, they only think and tend to their own personal needs and wishes.

One admiring characteristic is sincerity. They do not cheat on their friends. It was my personal experience that Chinese students always stayed together and helped each other out. They always exchanged notes with one another but never with non Chinese students. Within China, I have observed how they help each other within friendly circles but tend to cheat others. They do not hide their sources from friends. Women are not threatened if their friends wear or use the exact same product like them. They enjoy similarities, something very unique to them and quite rare anywhere else in the rest of the world.

They are good friends to non Chinese but best friends to only their own, i.e. Chinese. Patriotism and national pride runs deep in their veins. A long history of seclusion has made them wary of others and the  recent exposure to the outside world is welcomed with a cautious eye by the elders. They are probably right in their fears as the influx of foreign currency and influence is rapidly changing their ancient ways and Western values are quickly tainting the infamous Eastern traditions.