Mainland visitors’ impressions of visiting Taiwan for the first time

Note: The "mainland guest" in the title is the name given to tourists from mainland China who travel to Taiwan when they see some signs when traveling in Taiwan.

As a middle-aged mainlander visiting Taiwan for the first time, it has been two days since I returned from Taipei, and the experience of the journey is still unforgettable. When I lay down in bed that night after getting off the plane, I felt that the past few days in Taiwan had become unreal like a dream. But I obviously went there for real. So I started thinking constantly, why does this place bring me such a special feeling? What is its charm?

If I had to use one word to describe my biggest feeling in Taiwan, I would choose "astonishment"! Of course, in the future, these feelings will be slowly digested and more understood, and perhaps the sense of surprise will gradually disappear. But while it’s still in my mind, let’s quickly record it.

I had browsed several articles on Matters about Taiwanese people’s perceptions of mainland China because I was curious about how they compared the differences. But this time I experienced Taiwan as a mainland visitor. It turns out that I have a lot to say from another perspective. When we live in mainland China and internalize many details of humanities and living environment, we will take everything for granted, and our assumptions about Taiwan are only based on the various one-sided remarks and reports we have come into contact with. Here, an important premise to explain is that no matter which country or region we talk about, it should not be absolute (that is, one pole can overturn a whole boat of people); nor can it be limited to a certain period of time and place by an individual. Feeling goes away to bring about the whole.

Into the title. Why do you feel surprised?

Walking on the streets of Taipei, sometimes it feels a lot like being in South Korea, although more objectively speaking, it should be more like Japan. After all, the Japanese occupation period lasted for fifty years (I have not strictly researched the history, I just checked it online. Please forgive me if there are any mistakes). I guess there should be many buildings and living communities built in Japanese style. In addition, if one generation is educated for 15-20 years, two to three generations have already received Japanese-style education. The above are my personal thoughts and conclusions based on my own knowledge and experience. I also need to add that I have only been to Okinawa, Japan, and have not been to other cities in Japan and have not seen the more typical Japanese-style buildings and neighborhoods. But I have been to Seoul, South Korea, and I was relatively impressed. Therefore, sometimes I feel that the street scene in Taipei looks like Seoul, South Korea. Then he carefully looked at the shop signs or street signs around him, and the correct Chinese characters immediately pulled him back: No! yes! Han! country! day! Book!

When you take the MRT to another place, after exiting the station, you will feel that the scene is very similar to that on the mainland. Especially one day in Beitou, there was a straight and deserted street next to the hotel. When I looked out the glass window of the high-rise room, I realized that the opposite side of the road was farmland. No wonder the street is so deserted. Except for some newly built residences on the side near the hotel, the other side is deserted. It really looks like the urban-rural fringe of mainland China (which should be a description unique to mainland China). Looking at the sparse pedestrians, the construction site under construction, the buildings wrapped in mesh, and the motorcycles and bicycles scattered on the roadside, it seems like a scene in the suburbs of Zhuhai on the way to the high-tech zone leaving the downtown area. I feel like I am in my hometown and not "going abroad". At this time, when you see that unfamiliar flag or hear Mandarin with a different pronunciation than Mandarin, you will immediately travel back in time and space: Oh, we are here now! tower! Bay! . I have never experienced this kind of "stunning" feeling of constantly being reminded of where I am during my previous travels. Not even in Hong Kong or Macau, which have been colonized for hundreds of years by Western countries with even greater cultural differences. Based on the life experience of people in inland and non-coastal areas, when you go to Hong Kong and Macao, you will see very obvious differences in geographical environment and urban construction; you can even smell the air mixed with the smell of sea breeze and the appearance that is quite recognizable by the Cantonese locals. and surrounded by Cantonese will always remind you that you are the body! At! outside! land! .

The historical and political aspects are too complex, and there are many different opinions. It is difficult for individuals living in one place to obtain a comprehensive and accurate understanding. I am not capable of talking about it. But the fundamentals of life here are closer to us and feel closer to us than in Hong Kong and Macao. Only the red and blue flags planted on the streets, the election news on TV and radio, a landmark or the place name in the footnotes of a pamphlet are all reminders of its difference.

During the six days and five nights in Taipei, everyone I met was very polite and courteous. I couldn't end the conversation without saying "thank you" many times. It seemed that I was dealing with "Japanese", so I was shocked again. When I entered the country, the official called my child affectionately by the last two words of his name, which surprised me. When entering the train at the MRT station, you can only queue in one direction, instead of queuing on the left and right at the same time, which makes the order really good. Drinking and eating are not allowed on the train, and there are even advertisements stating that you will be fined for eating and drinking, so you should rehydrate before boarding the train or preferably before entering the station. There are very few trash cans on most streets. These rules ensure that pedestrians behave in a disciplined manner and the streets are kept clean and tidy. And our trouser pockets and bags have become temporary garbage bags, which we carry with us to the trash can that we don’t know when we will encounter. Moreover, most trash cans are sorted, and recyclables are separated from ordinary garbage, which is very friendly to me, a recycling geek.

I picked out some pictures to describe my little thoughts. I don’t like the concrete forest of high-rise buildings, but I only love the atmosphere of nature and the city.

I think that the next time I visit, I should be mentally prepared, and I may not feel so surprised anymore. I hope to go to different places to experience the charm of nature and humanistic features.