Some say New York City is the “city that never sleeps”. I too was impressed with the energy and liveliness of NYC at 2am until I came to China. The photos below are pictures of the village across from my campus (Pingshan Village) at 2am. EVERYONE is awake. In NYC, it is merely the intoxicated college students and young professionals bar-hopping at 2am. However, in China, it is the infants, children, parents AND grandparents eating, chatting, drinking, dancing, roller-blading and playing games in the street. The streets are bustling with vendors selling sticks of meat, Chinese BBQ, fried noodles…you name it. Junk stores overflowing with fans, cosmetics and electronics (and “clutter” in every shape and form) are reeling in customers. When do these people sleep? And how the heck do the Chinese have such an incredible work ethic and performance if they are all awake at this hour?! It remains a mystery to me.
