Second-tier city virgin: Wuhan

Like many people who live outside Mainland China, I'd never been to a second-tier Chinese city. (There's no formal definition, but for a better idea, read an old article about it here). Wuhan, the capital of Hebei province in central China, is one such city.

Outside the Environment Preservation Office/Dept (or something to that effect). How far can you see?

These are sprawling metropolises like first-tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai) with most 'mod cons', skyscrapers and even a subway in the works, but the people are decidedly different. They've had very limited contact with the outside world. Foreigners are scarce, media and education talk about other countries like they're some alien planet that they'll never reach... Propaganda Committee messages are easily distributed in these parts. The most dangerous thing is, they're also becoming filthily rich (and that's not just because this is China's dustbowl). This means they'll make buying decisions on whatever info they can get, which are often half-truths or blatent fabrications. They'll believe stuff like - the air quality's bad because we had fireworks last week. Factories? Exhaust? Shenme? Just give me another ten of those Burberry trenches so I can keep the dust off my Zegna shirt, okay?

Pool by the lake

Most people are leisurely country folk making a living in the city, they don't go mile-a-minute like their first-tier counterparts. You'll see people playing majiang (or mahjong), cards, dancing in the park almost anytime of day. The pic is of some pool tables laid out next to one of the many city's lakes (nice, until you see the rubbish and oil bobbing about in them).

Chinese medicine, massage, fate and coffee. Something for everyone

For some reason there's also a slew of "coffee shops", which of course don't just sell (bad) coffee, some are massage parlours and majiang clubs too. I guess it says something about their laid-back mentality, and maybe a local legend who 'made it' by opening a chain of coffee shops all over the country?

This isn't exactly a coherent post, just some random thoughts on what it's like over there.