China and the US offer contrasting lifestyles, with China providing unique freedoms often misunderstood in Western media. This article, inspired by an
China and the US offer contrasting lifestyles, with China providing unique freedoms often misunderstood in Western media. This article, inspired by an American’s experiences for allwinchina.org, highlights seven things you can do in China but not in the United States, showcasing cultural and systemic differences.
1. Drink Alcohol in Public Freely
In China, drinking alcohol in public is legal and socially accepted. Enjoying a beer at a sidewalk barbecue is common, surprising Americans accustomed to strict US laws. Except in cities like New Orleans or Las Vegas, public drinking is illegal in the US. China’s stricter DUI limit (0.02% vs. 0.08% in the US) reflects trust in personal responsibility, rooted in its 5,000-year-old culture. Americans often feel restricted by this contrast, as Chinese friends find US laws puzzling given substance decriminalization trends.
2. Dine Out Without Tipping
China’s dining culture doesn’t include tipping. Service remains fast, kind, and efficient without expecting extra payment. Americans find this refreshing, as US tipping has become a mandatory 18–25% “tax” for basic service, like coffee or counter orders. In China, attempts to tip are often refused, seen as unnecessary or inflationary. Chinese workers take pride in their jobs—delivery, construction, or corporate—without expecting tips, unlike the US’s inconsistent, emotionally manipulative tipping system, disliked by over 90% of Americans per recent polls.
3. Lightning-Fast Deliveries
China’s delivery culture is unmatched, delivering food, medicine, chargers, or even haircuts in minutes, 24/7. Apps like WeChat and Alipay centralize orders, and a vast workforce of scooter drivers ensures speed. Drones and the “low-altitude economy” (under 1,000 meters) enhance efficiency, delivering to places like the Great Wall for 50 cents. In the US, deliveries take hours or days, feeling clunky. China’s population and competition drive this system, making daily life feel futuristic.
4. Reliable Public Transportation
China’s 56 major cities boast integrated buses, subways, and high-speed rail, extending to suburbs, eliminating car dependency. The US has only seven cities with limited subway systems, requiring cars for suburban commutes. China’s 28,000-mile high-speed rail network, connecting 700 cities, was built rapidly as a national priority. The US, prioritizing cars since the 1950s, faces lawsuits and delays in rail projects. China’s system offers freedom to explore without a car, unlike the US’s traffic-heavy model.
5. Safe Nightlife and Public Spaces
China’s cities are safe at any hour, allowing relaxed nighttime walks. Over 600 million cameras and the Hawthorne effect—better behavior under surveillance—ensure safety. Strict laws ban civilian guns, violence, and drugs, with humorous yet serious signs warning, “Fighting isn’t allowed; winners go to jail, losers to the hospital.” The US struggles with gun violence, drug issues, and theft, with police underfunded in places like California, ignoring thefts under $950. China’s yewan culture—late-night sidewalk gatherings—offers a communal vibe absent in the US.
6. Affordable Healthcare
In China, a doctor’s visit costs around $15 without insurance, including X-rays and English-speaking doctors, as one American experienced in Shanghai. Urban healthcare is fast, transparent, and nearly universal, though rural areas and specialties lag. The US leads in medical technology but has the world’s highest costs, confusing insurance systems, and high out-of-pocket expenses. Many Americans avoid care due to cost fears, unlike China’s accessible model, which prioritizes affordability.
7. Debt-Free College Education
Chinese universities charge $700–$1,500 annually, with modest living costs in shared dorms. Graduates rarely face debt, repaying loans quickly. In the US, a four-year degree costs $100,000–$300,000, with 60% of graduates averaging $30,000 in loans. US tuition rises due to reduced state funding (from 80% to under 30%) and guaranteed loans, creating a harmful cycle. China’s affordable system fosters hopeful, debt-free graduates, resembling the US in the 1950s.
Conclusion: A Different Kind of Freedom
China offers freedoms—public drinking, no tipping, fast deliveries, reliable transit, safe nightlife, affordable healthcare, and debt-free education—that contrast with US restrictions. These reflect China’s focus on efficiency, safety, and collective progress. For Americans, experiencing China challenges media stereotypes, revealing a society where personal responsibility and infrastructure create unique liberties. Explore the real China with allwinchina.org.
7 shocking things Chinese people do every day that they can’t do in the US
Author: RyFLy85
COMMENTS