Personal perceptions of China

Personal perceptions of China

Our speaker was Mr Will Smail , he commenced by saying he had whittled his talk down to three main topics Culture, Food and Technology . He explained that his connection to China stems from marrying his wife, Lee, who was born in Beijing and later lived in Guangzhou, southern China. Over the past decade, he has typically travelled to China about once a year.

To paint the picture, China is the third largest country in the world, it covers 3.7 million square miles or 9.78 Million square kilometres, making it about 40 times larger than the UK, with a population of 1.4 billion—nearly 20 times that of the UK—and shares borders with 14 countries and has five main religions, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism.

In cultural contexts, Chinese people hold deep respect for their forebears, relatives, and ancestors. The Chinese New Year is the most significant festival, during which a considerable portion of the population takes up to two weeks off to return to their ancestral homes. Practices rooted in superstition, such as beliefs concerning colours and numbers, are common; for instance, the number 8 is considered auspicious, while the number 4 is regarded as unlucky. As a result, many couples choose to marry on August 8th each year. During Chinese New Year, it is customary to give money in red envelopes to family members, including symbolic offerings for deceased relatives, reflecting the belief that loved ones require resources in the afterlife. Traditionally, the eldest son assumes responsibility for caring for elderly family members. Additionally, small animal figures are sometimes placed on rooftops, like the use of weathervanes elsewhere, as a means of warding off evil spirits. In certain cases, major buildings are constructed with specific orientations or large openings to permit mythical creatures, such as dragons, passage between mountains and the sea.

Chinese cuisine varies by region. Coastal populations consume a wide range of seafood and marine plants, while inland residents eat grains, fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, livestock products, dairy, eggs, and occasionally wild animals such as reptiles and birds. If something is edible, Chinese people have developed methods to prepare and eat it. They enjoy their food and are skilled cooks, although preferences vary individually.

The Chinese government has made substantial investments in technology, establishing itself as a global leader in the production and development of electric vehicles. Considerable funding has also been allocated to computer technology, armaments, electronics, automation, and robotics. Recognising that the working population is declining, the Chinese government is dedicated to advancing robotics as a long-term solution.

There were only a few questions from Members , primarily concerning the day-to-day control of the population by the Communist State and whether he was aware of government controls or any monitoring of his activities while on holiday. He stated that foreigners are always conscious of state monitoring, though it is conducted in the background. He reported that he had never encountered any issues during his visits to China and that all Chinese individuals he interacted with had consistently been extremely courteous and friendly.

Rtn. Stephen Mortimer thanked Will for a very interesting and enlightening talk