I was impressed that a couple from Britain and Italy, on their YouTube channel, said that people in China completely blew them away because they “never expected anyone could be so lovely, so friendly, so helpful, so welcoming and so patient”, and “so nice”. It was the first time I had seen someone put so many kind adjectives together to describe Chinese people.
In a video posted to Douyin, a father from Britain said he took his son to see a dentist in China. He was shocked by how efficient and affordable it was to go to the hospital. He said the whole process, from the professional consultation and X-ray to his son getting the filling, took just a few hours and cost them 287 yuan (US$40).
These videos are just the tip of the iceberg. To be honest, the China travel rush has shocked not only foreigners who had no idea of China, but some Chinese people too. Perhaps some of us have taken the positive aspects of our country for granted, as we live with them. But look at this phenomenon from another perspective. Can you think of any better way to tell good China stories to the international community?
In Confucianism, a central school of Chinese philosophy, the principle of the “golden mean” advocates for the pursuit of impartiality, harmony and balance. This idea permeates into daily life; people tend to be implicit in their expressions to avoid direct conflicts or hurting the feelings of others.
Confucianism also advocates self-discipline and propriety, which also might lead to an implicit culture. Examining oneself every day, a concept from The Analects of Confucius, encourages people to repeatedly reflect on their conduct to identify their shortcomings and improve themselves.
Influenced by this traditional culture, when facing criticism or stigma, what many Chinese do first, maybe unconsciously, is check if we’ve done anything wrong. If we have, we will immediately adjust. To paraphrase a popular idiom, “the wise man knows he knows nothing, and the fool thinks he knows all”.
We believe in “winning people over by virtue”. China is just doing its best to develop and create a better life for its people. It is always ready to welcome friends from around the world with open arms, letting them see the country as it is. So it’s heartening to see that foreign visitors are sharing their positive experiences, debunking misconceptions and showcasing China’s warmth, progress and diversity. Their firsthand accounts are invaluable in offering a balanced and genuine portrayal of China to the global audience. No doubt, these are perfect China stories.
Wei Wei is the former chief correspondent of the Eurasian bureau of China Central Television, based in Moscow
