My Chinese friends have often told me that, culturally, the south and north of China are the opposite of what we have in the states. The northern section of the United States of America is considered to be more industrial and people there are always in a hurry and don’t seem to stop and speak to others they see. The southern part of America is considered to be more hospitable and move at a slower pace than our friends in the north. Southerners are generally thought to not be as consumed with “the next business deal.”
In China, the northern section of the country is considered to be more hospitable and move at a slower pace than the southern part of the country. Conversely, the southern region of China is considered to be more industrial and less friendly. As with the northern section of America, many people in southern China stay busy and don’t seem to take time to enjoy relationships as much as their northern counterparts.
I can assure you that people in Shanghai do take time to relax. Perhaps it is because they have been working too hard on the next business deal, or another reason could be that the warm weather is a natural reason to find a nice place and prop your feet up. As you can see from the picture below, a park in Shanghai makes for a wonderful place to take a break……with your eyes closed.
Another option for taking a break in this wonderful city is in an unoccupied bus. This gentleman found an enjoyable place to relax, and I doubt he was interrupted by anyone. With Shanghai’s climate, you will be wise to open the windows if you choose this option for a nap! By the way, it has been my experience that people in Shanghai are very friendly and they will take time to speak with you.
