Want to travel to China, but am scared. Is it irrational?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gee sounds like a fun place. Why give them anymore of our money? I'm sure if you give us a list of all the places you have visited, we could suggest one where you haven't been. Far better than China.

OMG. You likely are buying a ton of made in China things you don't even know. Labor is cheap there which is why American co import from there. This has nothing to do with China and everything to do with US. Secondly, most everything incl Americans leverage and possess was invented by the Chinese. Esp Chinese history is rich and 10000% more interesting than many other cultures when you consider their inventions, length of time they've been around and the complexity of their history before the 1900s. We are talking 5000 years of history yo!

You've heard of the Great Wall right? There are a zillion amazing places to delve into not just in the larger cities but the smaller ones. Transportation wise and technology wise they completely outdo us.

You are an ignorant buffoon if you really feel how your post reads.

My biggest problem with Americans is this basic lack of knowledge that other countries beyond the US are if not just as great, even greater in many ways that they should be respected. All I ever hear is how great the US is but it's just untrue. This is applicable as well to African nations and Middle Eastern ones not just Chinese.

Give me a break about risks going to China. You don't want to see it, don't go. But you are idiots to miss amazing sights thinking they are N Korea!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine that anyone with a security clearance is allowed to travel to China. But to answer your question, there's no way I would do it. I would have 15 years ago, but not now. The government can do and does whatever it wants, tourist or not.

This.

[Anonymous]

Also if you are Chinese American (or Taiwanese American) I would be wary of going to China. I have no intentions of going (as a Taiwanese American). Yes, they are watching you. It’s a police state.

[Anonymous]

I would honestly go to northern Iraq before I went to China.

[Anonymous]

If you’re asking if you’d be arbitrarily detained or charged with espionage or some other crime without justification the answer is probably not. However, you should assume, given your relative prominence, that you will be monitored. No one here can guarantee that the trip would go smoothly. If you’re concerned enough about it to post this thread I’d recommend against going.
As it seems you’ve visited most everywhere else, I’d consider Mongolia or Uzbekistan (or perhaps elsewhere in Central Asia) for something interesting yet off the beaten path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine that anyone with a security clearance is allowed to travel to China. But to answer your question, there's no way I would do it. I would have 15 years ago, but not now. The government can do and does whatever it wants, tourist or not.

Agree with this. I wouldn't go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's say you are someone of fair importance (e.g. CEO, high up in a tech company, work for defense or govt, or some other kinda stuff.like that). Is it a risk to travel to China? I would love to go there and see all of the wonderful sites, experience the history, enjoy the food, and see the people, but I am scared to death of their govt. I mean, they'll obviously know who you are the moment you immediately walk in because of things like your LinkedIn profile. I have this fear that I'd be flagged and followed by the govt over there or at least have my communications hacked at a minimum. Are these fears irrational? Do they generally leave tourists and civilians alone, even if they might be carrying very valuable corporate trade secrets around in their brains and devices?

There was a reddit thread the other day too of a tourist who jaywalked in China. He described how when he got back to the hotel the manager informed him to try to not do it again. The lint of the discussion being that big brother was watching him walk over there and.must have had some kind of facial recognition software and immediately knew where he was staying. They dispatched govt agents to tell the hotel staff to scold the tourist for jaywalking. Stuff like this scares me from trying to travel there.

And yes, I get the geopolitical issues between the countries are a problem, but do the civilians on the street generally care about this stuff and would you get treated with hostility for being an American tourist? I mean here you're average Joe in the streets care little about US Chinese relations and I feel would welcome Chinese tourists. Is it the same over there? Am not Asian, so it is impossible to blend in.

It's not like Russia where they arrest visitors on trumped up charges. Obey the drug laws and don't join a protest.

The reason I wouldn't go is because I cannot abide the illegitimate tyrannical mafia that that runs the country.

CEO types are commonly arrested on trumped up charges of espionage or drug trafficking. Don't go.

[Anonymous]

Yea
Go right ahead.
Support Uyghur concentration camps
https://www.freedomunited.org/advocate/free-uyghurs/

The Great Wall is pretty cool.
but not under Poohxi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:China seeks like an odd choice for a vacay if you are like the CEO at Lockheed or something. Why not wait until retirement or choose some where else? Do not bring any devices other than burners.

I've been almost everywhere else worth going. Europe, South America, allover Asia. China is just the last frontier before I get too old to travel and enjoy everything from hiking to nightlife.

Africa? Australia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's say you are someone of fair importance (e.g. CEO, high up in a tech company, work for defense or govt, or some other kinda stuff.like that). Is it a risk to travel to China? I would love to go there and see all of the wonderful sites, experience the history, enjoy the food, and see the people, but I am scared to death of their govt. I mean, they'll obviously know who you are the moment you immediately walk in because of things like your LinkedIn profile. I have this fear that I'd be flagged and followed by the govt over there or at least have my communications hacked at a minimum. Are these fears irrational? Do they generally leave tourists and civilians alone, even if they might be carrying very valuable corporate trade secrets around in their brains and devices?

There was a reddit thread the other day too of a tourist who jaywalked in China. He described how when he got back to the hotel the manager informed him to try to not do it again. The lint of the discussion being that big brother was watching him walk over there and.must have had some kind of facial recognition software and immediately knew where he was staying. They dispatched govt agents to tell the hotel staff to scold the tourist for jaywalking. Stuff like this scares me from trying to travel there.

And yes, I get the geopolitical issues between the countries are a problem, but do the civilians on the street generally care about this stuff and would you get treated with hostility for being an American tourist? I mean here you're average Joe in the streets care little about US Chinese relations and I feel would welcome Chinese tourists. Is it the same over there? Am not Asian, so it is impossible to blend in.

It's not like Russia where they arrest visitors on trumped up charges. Obey the drug laws and don't join a protest.

The reason I wouldn't go is because I cannot abide the illegitimate tyrannical mafia that that runs the country.

CEO types are commonly arrested on trumped up charges of espionage or drug trafficking. Don't go.

It's not common but it has happened. And if/when you're detained, you're really stuck - there's not a lot the US or other governments can do to extricate you. I talked recently with a business exec who used to travel to China all the time and he said he's unwilling to go back now unless maybe as part of some organized group that might have greater insulation from issues.

It's a huge tragedy in my view. We can't understand China without robust people-to-people contacts, but even the flow of US students has not bounced back from the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gee sounds like a fun place. Why give them anymore of our money? I'm sure if you give us a list of all the places you have visited, we could suggest one where you haven't been. Far better than China.

OMG. You likely are buying a ton of made in China things you don't even know. Labor is cheap there which is why American co import from there. This has nothing to do with China and everything to do with US. Secondly, most everything incl Americans leverage and possess was invented by the Chinese. Esp Chinese history is rich and 10000% more interesting than many other cultures when you consider their inventions, length of time they've been around and the complexity of their history before the 1900s. We are talking 5000 years of history yo!

You've heard of the Great Wall right? There are a zillion amazing places to delve into not just in the larger cities but the smaller ones. Transportation wise and technology wise they completely outdo us.

You are an ignorant buffoon if you really feel how your post reads.

My biggest problem with Americans is this basic lack of knowledge that other countries beyond the US are if not just as great, even greater in many ways that they should be respected. All I ever hear is how great the US is but it's just untrue. This is applicable as well to African nations and Middle Eastern ones not just Chinese.

Give me a break about risks going to China. You don't want to see it, don't go. But you are idiots to miss amazing sights thinking they are N Korea!!!!

Huh. The average everyone, regardless of where they are from, knows nothing about other places and is chock full of chauvinism and misconceptions.

China is not NK but you will be spied on and tracked. Leave your phone home and expect everything from your hotel room to your museum visits (everyone knows that the best Chinese museum is in Taipei) to be under watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gee sounds like a fun place. Why give them anymore of our money? I'm sure if you give us a list of all the places you have visited, we could suggest one where you haven't been. Far better than China.

OMG. You likely are buying a ton of made in China things you don't even know. Labor is cheap there which is why American co import from there. This has nothing to do with China and everything to do with US. Secondly, most everything incl Americans leverage and possess was invented by the Chinese. Esp Chinese history is rich and 10000% more interesting than many other cultures when you consider their inventions, length of time they've been around and the complexity of their history before the 1900s. We are talking 5000 years of history yo!

You've heard of the Great Wall right? There are a zillion amazing places to delve into not just in the larger cities but the smaller ones. Transportation wise and technology wise they completely outdo us.

You are an ignorant buffoon if you really feel how your post reads.

My biggest problem with Americans is this basic lack of knowledge that other countries beyond the US are if not just as great, even greater in many ways that they should be respected. All I ever hear is how great the US is but it's just untrue. This is applicable as well to African nations and Middle Eastern ones not just Chinese.

Give me a break about risks going to China. You don't want to see it, don't go. But you are idiots to miss amazing sights thinking they are N Korea!!!!

NP. China is not that amazing enough for me to go there. That is one messed up country. Like North Korea, they repress anyone that speaks out. Chinese praise Putin and support Russia in the war against Ukraine.

No thanks, I’d rather visit Taiwan, Japan or South Korea! But no to China!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gee sounds like a fun place. Why give them anymore of our money? I'm sure if you give us a list of all the places you have visited, we could suggest one where you haven't been. Far better than China.

OMG. You likely are buying a ton of made in China things you don't even know. Labor is cheap there which is why American co import from there. This has nothing to do with China and everything to do with US. Secondly, most everything incl Americans leverage and possess was invented by the Chinese. Esp Chinese history is rich and 10000% more interesting than many other cultures when you consider their inventions, length of time they've been around and the complexity of their history before the 1900s. We are talking 5000 years of history yo!

You've heard of the Great Wall right? There are a zillion amazing places to delve into not just in the larger cities but the smaller ones. Transportation wise and technology wise they completely outdo us.

You are an ignorant buffoon if you really feel how your post reads.

My biggest problem with Americans is this basic lack of knowledge that other countries beyond the US are if not just as great, even greater in many ways that they should be respected. All I ever hear is how great the US is but it's just untrue. This is applicable as well to African nations and Middle Eastern ones not just Chinese.

Give me a break about risks going to China. You don't want to see it, don't go. But you are idiots to miss amazing sights thinking they are N Korea!!!!

Ok, pengyou.

I hope they lock you up for espionage and throw away the key.

[Anonymous]

There is an active genocide in China right now. Concentration camps and forced labor are real. Please go somewhere else and don’t support this regime with your tourist money.

[Anonymous]

Lol. How important are you op?