So, Is This The Rural China They Wanted To Hide? ( 

Hope you're appreciating this more frequent upload schedule..

The fact that he's walking around and ppl are so friendly. If an Asian person comes to the US and just walk around and asking questions, I highly doubt ppl here would be this kind. it's quite unfair.

I've seen the before and after on a lot of these aspirational/instructional posters you're pointing out. I saw the tail end of the poverty that China claims to have eliminated; and my in-laws lived it. And I've been back and seen how things have changed. The rural areas are still rural, and they still have many of the problems that rural areas in most of the developed world have (young people leaving, chiefly). But extreme poverty is no longer one of them. People are housed, clothed, and fed. People have the most basic health care, and kids get the most basic education. Beyond that they're still on their own. But how many countries can even claim what China has achieved?

I've lived in China for many years, having married a Chinese woman and gaining a Chinese stepson. I deliberately decided to avoid all the international tourist places, and so I've spent a lot of time living in non-touristy places in Beijing and my wife's hometown of Zhangjiajie, in Hunan Province, though in a small village in the countryside there. Although it's not possible to understand China as a foreigner, i think it's a much more interesting place to live with many new experiences one could never hope to have if one mainly lived in the big metropolitan areas and kept company with many foreigners there. I think I have known less than 5 foreigners during my years of living here, and the vast majority of friends I have are Chinese. Many of them I taught at various universities I held courses at.

Interesting video! I came to Guangxi and married my wife in 2004. Single man in LA for 49 years. After chatting for many years, I truly am blessed and wish that it could've been sooner! Getting married in China was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'll be home from our NC farm in June for our 20th year of marriage! I'm thankful to have learn, seen, and touch China in so many ways! Most folks in our world want simular things but, most of all would be a better lifestyle for their children! Ladies truly are sincere in relationships to have a like ideals to work together on! A good government is one working for their majority of people/citizens! A corporate government can take advantage for stockholder greeds and not interested in what's good for all! NO SLAVES! ENJOY YOUR TRAVELS ANDSHOW THE WORLD THE TRUE CHINA!

After having lived in Shanghai for 6 years, and travelling to various parts of China, I loved watching this video. The people are very friendly especially if you make the effort to speak Chinese. The older people seem more wary of westerners. Funny how the guy in the restaurant just snatched your phone out of your hand to type something. Typical of Chinese forwardness and no nonsense. Love it.

It's not surprising that this rural part is not in bad shape. Zhejiang Province has the most equalized income between rural and city populations in the entire country. Zhoushan is also one of the largest ports on Earth so the government has plenty of money to invest in infrastructure. PS: the old ladies speaking the local dialect thought you were asking about the trees, so she replied: "they grow fruits looking like tangerines ... (some mumbles) ... I was reluctant to remove the trees but I trimmed some branches ... (mumbles) ... they cool down the temperature and can shed from sunlight"

Tommy, this was absolutely fascinating. I so admire your linguistic abilities, communication with the local folks adds so much to the experience. Thank you.

you did great with this one, keep doing it! I just wanted to take a moment to say how amazing your video was! I was really impressed with the quality of the footage, the editing, and the overall presentation. You did a great job of explaining the topic in a clear and concise way, and I learned a lot from watching your video. ;)

From this small village's perspective, the Communist Party has done really damn well.

I just stumbled in your door, and have no idea who you are, but I am enjoying your trip across China enormously. As one of the aunties said, I’m glad you speak Chinese! Your casual style is great and it’s really interesting to see how people react. I’m looking forward to catching up.

what a surprise to come across my hometown on utube! Ningbo is a prosperous but quiet city in my opinion. Wish you and all the visitors have a good time here!

Love your videos Tommy. Love the knowledge / effort you put into each video and the respect / positivity you give to the citizens of each country / city / region .

If this is the Chinese countryside, I love it. It's quiet! You can think and not have overstimulation. That is how I like things. I always love the little things in life. The people are friendly and respectful.

Can we appreciate the fact that Tommy tries to make most of his videos educational & hasn’t changed? We genuinely appreciate you man!

No graffiti, no gangs of youths, no muggers and place is nice and clean everyone has transsport even if it's a bike or scoooter very few immigrants. It would suit me fine! Great video thanks for posting!

I just discovered you thru this video. I think that you are a great travel reporter compared to many others on RU-vid. I am impressed that you speak some Chinese and talk to people there. Most other vloggers don't speak the local language and are embarrassing in what little they understand and report. You have a great personality and an enjoyable, funny speaking style. Your 3 word sentences and pauses really make me pay attention. Your playful conversations in Chinese are interesting and amazing. I have always heard that it is difficult for Westerners to learn to speak the language. You prove that it is possible. You are doing an awesome thing with this video by demystifying China!

Everyone I met from China speaks about China with pride. But it's different. It's not like being the most powerful or richest. It's about their traditions compared to other countries.

I love your unscripted, friendly, and honest approach to your interactions and commentary.

I just discovered your video, sitting back at home in Xiamen , I so enjoy it . the hilarious Chinese grandmas really make me laugh out loud hahahhaaa

Hi loving your vibe and attitude to China ..thanks so much ..just discovered your channel.

Everything is so clean and well-organised! The people are so friendly and polite! Robbery and violence seem absent! I think I'll start learning Chinese - perhaps I can move there....why can't America be like this? 🤔🤔🤔

It's really intriguing seeing your adventures on the other side of the world! Thanks for the uploads and putting a smile on my face

Enjoyed that. Nice relaxed style. Thanks from just over the water.

Like your video especially your thoughts and interactions with local people.

How fun was this video?! Thanks for taking the adventure, introducing us to that smaller village, and discovering the openness of the people (albeit apprehensive toward meiguoren). Loved the folks at the gym! Gotta go watch your other videos! (Finally, RU-vid algorithm recommended something I’ve actually found enjoyable!).

WOW that temple was unbelievable! It was a cool timing that you stumbled across the temple when they were decorating for Sakyamuni Buddha's birthday! Everyone was so welcoming and friendly! Even on a small island like that homes some pretty stunning architecture! Also those Chinese grandmas were so sweet. It lowkey worried me though when they told you not to go back to America. I'm sure you gave them a funny story for a life time saying you were looking to marry a Chinese grandma.. LOL "Let me tell you the time I met an American who was looking for a Chinese grandma to marry!"

Dear Sir, I hope you will continue your amazing journeys in China Your unique personality enhances the viewing pleasure for many fans of yours. Keep going young man and show us more of your amazing sojourns around the world😊

You're so calm and low key..it's relaxing to watch

Seriously, this rural area in this video is 5x more cleaner than the rural in my country. Look at their road, the width and their local are friendly.

Dude you are the best travel vlogger on RU-vid, these China vids are getting more adventurous and we love it!

Traveling the world is also my dream. I'm currently living vicariously through those travel videos until I can experience it myself. Thank you for sharing your adventures.

Just now found your videos. I love them. Thank you thank you. I just subscribed.

One of the most marvelous aspects of Chinese culture that you showcase here so well is their frankness: Just a raw look at everything. It's such a wonderfully honest way to think and communicate. We should learn from this and stop with the fake politeness in our western world. It also amply demonstrates their sense of humor, so unique in our world. It may sound unvarnished at times because the world is unvarnished and its wonderfully appropriate. This is one invaluable culture that we would be so wise to visit. I find your attitude of carefree acceptance so appropriate for long term travel. It seems little fazes you, again so necessary for travel without a designated end. It allows you to weather the bumps so much better than others that get distraught and anxious. You really bring a unique flavor to travel videos, one that we sorely need on RU-vid. And no cheap shocked clickbait thumbnails! I can't wait to see more of your videos. Finally videos with common sense, honesty and civility. This is what RU-vid should aspire to be like: Truthful.

Love the video yet again man! Educational, funny, and mostly REAL! Look forward to seeing more of the chinese culture through your channel man, safe travels!

How very interesting and a great tour guide. Will be interesting to see more of real rural China.

Thanks for bringing us along with you on your adventure!

Just started watching your videos last week, really enjoying them. I actually have been to Ningbo, where I taught English for a summer in Cixi and Xiangshan while I was still in college. I'll be visiting china again this October, this time going to Xiamen. Thank you for uploading this!

I really enjoy the frequent uploads.

You've got a new subscriber (and fan). 🙂

As an ethnic Macedonian this has intrigued me and made me want to visit China even more. No matter what anyone says the Chinese know what they’re doing and they improved their country immensely.

Absolutely love the content Tommy, cant wait to watch this. If you ever come to Scotland I'd be happy to show you about!

First video ive seen by you. Was looking for more videos on someone just exploring china. Seems like a really interesting country. Awesome video. Earned a subscriber

It's incredible how you make my day by doing some goofy stuff like TikTok with Chinese girl scout grandmas even though nothing good happened for me today. Godspeed and keep up with the good work!

Thank you for sharing with us your journey across China. It really nice to see the quality and peaceful village life.

My wife's family is in the middle west of China, used to be a very remote and poor village in the Big mountains (秦岭). In the 90s, they needed to take a bus for over a night to go to Xi An. And even from 10 years ago, the local government helped local farmers to build modernized houses for each family. Each family needs to spend around 5000 Euros, and the rest was covered by the governments. The houses are better the ones on this islands in this video. And may be someone think it's not a big deal. Well, it is for the local farmers, some of them even lived in small rooms built with soil. And most important thing is the Education for the kids, government spent really a lot of money and efforts to make all the kid to have a proper education, including the infrastructures and better systems for the teachers.

A very interesting video. Bravo with your fluent Mandarin, amazing.

My new favorite channel❣️ Almost feel like crying 🥰 Thank you so much. PS: Where did you learn Chinese? Most commendable. One Love For All People ✨💖✨

Hey Tom. This is the first video I have seen from you and I wanted to let you know that I absolutely loved it! Your relaxed and friendly attitude is great to watch. I love the sincerety in which you speak to the people. May you stay healthy and joyful! Wun

Interesting vlog Lots of E-bikes/scooters Everyone seemed friendly No traffic and lots of fresh-air Seems sophisticated and orderly Stay safe, have fun. Looking forward to more.

What an awesome video, a complete eye-opener! I have been watching Joe & Nic's roadtrip around the US, and the differences between rural USA and rural China are, to this NZ'er, absolutely stunning. Tommy didn't even seem to see any policemen in is trip, even when walking around with a toy gun in his hand.

I love watching these. Thank you.

It was never hidden, in fact rural China has progressed much. It's just that the rate of development is the fastest in the world. They're just an innovative people. And I like your thorough explanations when you narrate. Good stuff, subbing

I love your video. It’s really eye opening to see what’s happening on the island. We love your smile and you are relaxed with a great sense of humor and humility.

Love your video! it's informative for a subscriber from the Philippines

please continue making these type of videos so basic and cool videos high quality videos :)

I love when your videos come out. The China series especially is excellent.

Wow, no violence, shoplifting, druggies etc. That's better than central Australia and many parts of the US.

You are so cool. I noticed the mood change from the grannies too.

Brilliant videos!!!!! After living in China for 4 years I "enjoy" revisiting with this gentleman narrating with authentic and real content. Thank you for posting.

It's really pretty there. I'm fascinated by the architecture and that cobblestone road lined with the fencing. The Chinese definitely know how to build.

I was also living in China from 2007 until end of 2010. Beautiful country with lovely people and one of the best food world wide. Hopefully one day I can return. Really miss China ❤

An amazing video. Great documentary. Thank you. 🤗

Interesting!! I'll take a look at your other videos!!

Great video as always, really interesting to see some unusual places, keep em coming!

Glad you took the time to visit the off-the-map places which in a way showed the side not your regular tourist might end up seeing. What was even more surprising, you, and of course yours truly - me not disappointed at all. I will be visiting China next month and see for myself all the terrible and dark secrets of the rural cities and back alleys that I have had been spoonfed ever since I could remember by my elders and the mass media whenever the US wanted demonize a certain country or their governments. Thank you and looking forward to your more in-depth video, hopefully before I leave. Good luck and enjoy your stay.

Awesome, thanks for sharing👍💯❤

I love watching these videos of China. It's very different than what I expected things to look like. The architecture is and decorations are very nice.

Sabbatical or Tommy is one of my most anticipated vloger's that I watch. Always some great content.🍻

Love your videos from China, and the more frequent schedule. Look forward to more adventures.

love your video man

Best video I watched today. Probably the first time I watched your video, and I loved your balanced perspective. In the US, we hear so many negative things about China. I visited China a few days ago, and I was SHOCKED by how much they have advanced. In terms of infrastructure and convenience, they are far ahead of the US at this point. I spent most of my time there in a tier 3 city and a day or so in Shanghai. My comment about infrastructure and convenience applies equally to both. However, I was actually wondering what the countryside looks like, and whether it's in poor shape. Your video answered my question.

I’ve never been to China before, but really looking forward to visiting there one day. I’ve seen a lot of videos on RU-vid, and China absolutely looks very beautiful, diverse and peaceful.

I've lived here for six years, going into my seventh. Will be here for a long time, as I have a wife, kid, and another on the way. I live in a Tier 1 city, Guangzhou, and it's high-tech beyond most cities I've ever visited. My wife is from Guangdong and comes from a 'village'(population around 200,000) that resembles many of the places visited in this video. My Chinese, and Cantonese, suck, because I have relied on my wife who I've been with for five years, to translate almost everything for me. My bad. But people here are damn friendly and helpful, even with a language barrier, once you show them some common decency. We're all people at the end of the day. I feel a lot safer here than back home. It's a strange place at times, with unique customs people from outside struggle to understand at times, but it's home for me now, and I enjoy it for most of the time.

First video I've ever seen very interesting thank you for sharing this experience.

As a Chinese, there are tons of fun of watching your video. All the people you met are similar to me and I can imagine every sentence they might say. That's too normal for me but the funniest part is your reaction. What you've seen is the true Chinese life. It is really the one that I experienced day by day. By the way, I about died laughing when you said you were going to marry a grandma.

Loved the island tour!!! Its amazing they have such wonderful paths even in a small island village.

I came across your videos just a few weeks ago. I cant stop watching your clips especially the ones on China. Your natural ability to connect with strangers and find interesting characters even in places you describe as boring is really commendable and also very entertaining to watch. As far as your cultural intelligence goes …respect.. the world would be much more peaceful place with people like you around. Looking forward to watch more videos...

Love your video!

Really love this. So many precious memories of my time in China and of the wonderful, warm people.

Looks better than half the rural parts of the USA I’ve lived in and been too.

Loving these videos. Absolutely binge watch worthy.

It would be very cool to see you visit vietnam and! btw, this video is a gem of a vlog!

Man! You were in my hometown Daishan!!! Whaaat?? Lollllll I thought it was the last place any Laowai would pay a visit!!! This is probably my most surprising Youtubing moments! Since I started using VPN to watch RU-vid since 2008!! Welcome to Daishan/Zhoushan!

Awesome video! As a Brazilian who is well travelled within and without Brazil, these rural areas are excelent, they remind me a bit of some japanese rural areas. Now for the demografic problem, small towns disapear in every country that goes through recent industrialization and urbanization, it happens here in Brazil too.

I love these series can't wait to see more of the countryside.

love seeing the outback, thanx!

Brilliant video thanks

Thank you for talking us with you on your adventures

Seeing new videos is a bright spot in my life! You've got a unique way of developing a rapport with folks everywhere! That's a rare gift!☮️

Awesome video! 👍💛

I went to the same restaurant once..., love your video!😀

Wow such a beautiful countryside town. And the people over there seem very friendly! There seems to be something to see and learn about everywhere. It seems so peaceful.

Wow I love China such a beautiful country hope I can visit someday when I am older.

Excellent. Very intresting video. No bias, just facts. Thanx

Amazing video!

Loving the chinese series , stuff we don’t get to see. Chinese have a good sense of humour, their language is so literal. Thanks again Tommy .

Dude, you make the best content. It's so easy to see into countries such as Russia through social media but China is a different story. Thanks for the education!

Very interesting video and China is alot more modern and friendly than people might think it is. I have just sbscribed to your channle Tommy and will look forward to more videos.

great video tommy