On China

Going to China today feels like going to the US used to feel: a glimpse into the future. Some parts I want to see in Europe, some parts I really don't. Neither is unrealistic. They're just continuations of trends we already have. You extrapolate the trend line and you end up here.

Last time I was here I got picked up in a Volkswagen Santana 2000. Now everything is electric. EV penetration feels like 100%, even the buses. Super impressive. Noise pollution is real though. I honestly have no idea how I would work productively here without AC, with noise and air pollution on top.

Things that just make sense: aggressive surveys for DiDi drivers. A super convenient food experience. Super apps, the whole app-in-an-app concept. Hotels that return your Taobao orders for you.

Everything here is an experience. The shops are polished, everything is super convenient to pay for, everything is cute, everything is amazingly illustrated. The food photography is in my opinion world class. I'm just in awe.

Massive competition everywhere. In the national park there were like 20 stalls, same food, same old woman selling corn, sausages and snacks. The only question was who got the better spot. I think this competition is amazing. These tiny three-foot stalls actually enable cheap meals, and compared to Germany that's a big advantage. But at some point it stops making sense. Why do I need hundreds of identical small stores?

Patriotism is visible too. Very few international brands, and there's always a Chinese copycat.

Then the stuff I don't get. Flossing at the table after a meal. Women with sun covers over their whole face. Crazy smoking. Not caring about ambience at all — Jesus Christ, feels Southern European. The lighting is sometimes actually good, not Scandi level, but the arrangements just don't make you feel comfortable in a room. Not really feng shui. Hot liquid with hot food. Everyone glued to their phone. Pale beauty standards that are honestly obscene. A crazy amount of plastic waste: you buy two beers and get a cooler bag for zero RMB that you don't even need. And everything comes in increments of four. The eating culture favours bigger groups and I don't get why. There's no need with small stalls everywhere, but everything has to be a communal experience.

And livestreaming is everywhere. People with foldable chairs, or just standing in front of a tripod. A guy in an army uniform with a headset, and another guy with a little gimbal running circles around him on a public square, doing live stream challenges.