to the conquest of the Chinese Dream

by Mohcin Bounadar (Morocco)

A leap into the unknown China

I am delighted to share with you the story of my journey in China or the empire of the middle as some people like to call it.the events of my story took place in Lianyungang city, a small town in Jiangsu province, located in the northeast of China, as soon as you set foot on the beijing airport, you realize the technological mutation that the country of Confucius is undergoing, everything in the airport is automated, even robots can present themselves to provide support and assistance. It must be said that Chinese people are very hospitable and love foreigners and Western culture. After waiting 4 hours at Beijing airport, I took my second plane to lianyungang. As soon as I arrived I noticed that the climate is totally different from our Mediterranean climate, it was really cold at night with an unbearable heat during the day.The hotels in Lianyungang largely meet international standards in terms of hygiene and organization. There are hotels for all tastes and budgets, from youth hostels to luxury hotels. Chinese people are very active, as can be seen from the large number of people who ride e-bikes, bicycles, it should be noted that China is a leader in electric transport. Don't be surprised if you find public stations for electricity . E-bikes are the most commonly used means of transport by Chinese people women to get around every day. The second thing that attracts your attention, is the square dancing, it is about old women who gather in groups and dance to the rhythms of traditional Chinese music. You can even join them, they will be very happy to welcome you among them. The Chinese people are passionate about meditation sports such as Yoga or Tai chi, which explains their close relationship with spirituality.You can't talk about travel without talking about cuisine, Chinese cuisine is among the most diversified in the world, with fruits and vegetables that only exist in China. The Chinese are big consumers of see food and big fans of spicy food, they put paprika in all their meals. Rice and noodles remain the main companions of all Chinese dishes, you can eat them with vegetables or meat, at breakfast , lunch and dinner. There are several very popular Chinese meals in Chinese culture that every foreigner in China must try, such as dumplings, the famous potstickers filled with pork and some vegetables, in second place the famous HOTPOT, this famous pot with boiling water in which you put a variety of vegetables and meat. in third place, comes the famous Beijing Roast Duck, certainly the name refers to the city of beijing, but there are several restaurants in all the cities of China that serve this dish in their menus, there are even Roast Duck burgers.The Chinese people are a big consumer of liquor, there are for every taste and budget.Culturally speaking, liquor is an essential element in Chinese life, a necessary companion in meetings between family and friends, in restaurants, the famous KTVs and anywhere. Concerning the places that I visited in Lianyungang, first of all its famous mountains that surround it and offer you a panoramic view of the whole city, there are ancient Chinese houses, the monkey king's temple: according to legend the monkey king lived in the mountains, there is even a cave that illustrates his daily life with a bed, a dining table, etc. I had the opportunity to see temples with their large Buddha statues. It is worth mentioning that the natural landscapes in China are breathtaking, even unimaginable,mountains with small rivers that cross them and small bridges, so I let you imagine the decor with the colors of autumn. Lianyungang is a city both modern and authentic, so if you are a fan of window shopping , you can find refuge in its malls like WANDA PLAZA, SUNING PLAZA, LIQUN SHIDAI, DA JONG FA. And if you are a fan of authenticity just like me, you can visit the old town with its famous old houses, the big park for your night walks, the beach side and for sure the popular traditional restaurants where you can find some nice people and delicious meals.