Huangpu is a district of pigeon fanciers and the skies over Shanghai have seen birds racing back to their coops for the best part of a century. Words and pictures by Jonathan Browning.
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- Mar 3, 2013
- Updated: 11:26pm
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Chiang Mai locals shocked by 'rude' Chinese tourists
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Children at a snack stand in a Chiang Mai market. Photo: Amy Li/SCMP
The successful, low-budget Chinese comedy Lost in Thailand has lured tens of thousands of Chinese tourists to Chiang Mai, but they left locals in Thailand’s historic and culturally rich northern city complaining.
After seeing a record number of Chinese tourists over the Lunar New Year holiday, some locals described what they experienced as “cultural clashes”, others simply found the visitors' behaviour disturbing and rude.
In a Letter to Editor published in Thailand’s English daily The Nation, Lamphun resident Vint Chavala wrote:
[Chinese tourists] tend to drive speedily on the wrong side of the road, and often go against traffic on one-way streets. Chinese tourists also often stop in the middle of busy intersections - just to argue among themselves about directions.Some hotel and guesthouse operators are turning them away because they say Chinese tourists often rent a room for two, but stay overnight in a group of four or five. They also deplore their tendencies to litter and hang their clothing on the balcony railing.
Chavala then went on to urge the Thai government to work with the Chinese consulate to better educate its tourists so Thailand will “thrive” instead of “suffer” from Chinese tourism.
On social network sites and local forums, locals posted more evidence of what they say are offensive acts by the Chinese:
- A tendency to not flush the toilet.
- Flouting traffic laws when driving, riding a bicycle, or parking their car.
- Being loud - even in five-star hotels.
- Littering, spitting, queue-jumping.
- Allowing children to defecate in public pools.
- Terrible English-language skills that lead to difficulties in communication.
Even Chinese people living in Chiang Mai said they found the behaviour of their fellow countrymen shocking and embarrassing.
“In the past I’ve always told people with pride that I am Chinese. I will be reluctant to do that in the future,” wrote one local.
"Please stop bringing shame to our people," wrote another.
Still, more Chinese tourists are bound to visit. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expected more than 1.5 million Chinese to visit by 2014.
Why the increase in visitors? When Chavala asked a Chinese tourist why he came to Chiang Mai, the man in his 30s "stabbed a thumb to his chest and said 'I am rich'."
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rae Mar 3rd 2013
11:40pm
11:40pm
In China,we drive on the right side of the road, it‘s not easy to get used to driving on another side immediately. Language should not be the complaint of the communication.If so, people who can't speak English shouldn't go aboard? I know there are many problems in manners and behaviors of Chinese. However, are all foreigners except Chinese polite and self-discipline？I had seen a foreign cellist put his feet on the top of his front seat which a woman was sitting ,in a train to Beijing.The man felt no shame and kept arguing. The foreigners often stayed in pubs late in night and made loud noise,influencing others' rest.is this so forgiveable and understandable? PLS just pay some patience to Chinese and I believe that most Chinesd people are sincerely friendly to Thai and love Thailand.
william.ma.71 Mar 3rd 2013
10:18pm
10:18pm
To become more civilized is a process and people need to get educated and be exposed to the outside world; until the people are better educated, you will continue to see the problems and terrible behaviors. China government can definitely and should do something to educate the tourist traveling outside of China so they don't disgrace the Chinese people. As an American Chinese living in Hong Kong, I have to endure the cultural differences but I must say I have never seen or heard of any Chinese tourist in the US letting their children defecate or urinate in the public. They are generally better behaved and less annoying when they are in the United States.
marnus.karmeaungleu Mar 3rd 2013
8:34pm
8:34pm
Ahm unfortunatly i am in chiangmai ...yes that really torrible with this situation to be honest in my possition i worked in tour agent and guesthouse i didnt take any chinese people cause other will be ... Same problem every where in chiangmai if group from this people come ..no one want hanging around not at all no rule for them yes their hanging cloths on the balcony and washing in the washing tabs wow that amazing no one wanna use toilet after them pretty dirty aeww.... But it true they was only 2 person but louding like a hundred people so i wanna beg from deep of my heart please be polite and respect culture rule and open your eyes what local should do or dont do really annoyed
crbfile Mar 3rd 2013
9:24am
9:24am
everyone is upset, but it sounds like a great comedy movie that would write itself.
come one everyone, this could and should be turned into something useful, a
laughfest that also embarasses and educates
come one everyone, this could and should be turned into something useful, a
laughfest that also embarasses and educates
tksiow Mar 2nd 2013
8:15pm
8:15pm
Terrible English language skill should not be a complain of the Thai when they themselves kill the English language.
nd49 Mar 3rd 2013
2:18pm
2:18pm
It's one of the complain because of tourist behavior. not the language skill.
Situation is old chinese tourist woman come to a man and ask for something in chinese (may be direction?). The man can't understand so he try to ask if the woman can talk in English.Still, the woman doesn't give up and try to talk to him in chinese. few minutes later the man try to walkaway and after he walk away. the woman seems to be angry and start complaining.
If you go to another country you have to prepare yourself. Many japanese that couldn't use english come to thailand with a guidebook that translate their need into Thai. So when they want something they just ask the local by pointing at the book.Don't upset if locals don't understand you because you too don't try to understand them.
Situation is old chinese tourist woman come to a man and ask for something in chinese (may be direction?). The man can't understand so he try to ask if the woman can talk in English.Still, the woman doesn't give up and try to talk to him in chinese. few minutes later the man try to walkaway and after he walk away. the woman seems to be angry and start complaining.
If you go to another country you have to prepare yourself. Many japanese that couldn't use english come to thailand with a guidebook that translate their need into Thai. So when they want something they just ask the local by pointing at the book.Don't upset if locals don't understand you because you too don't try to understand them.
goncalo Mar 2nd 2013
12:48pm
12:48pm
You don't need to go to Chiang Mai to witness the lack of manners of Mainland tourists. I've seen them spitting to the ground inside five star hotels in Macau, for example. It seems that the Comunist Party is incapable of educating the masses.
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