These stories are super interesting, it goes well with the vids. Living so long in China its kinda crazy to see how much it changed. My uncle told me about how open the drug use and other stuff were in the 2000's and how much of it is driven underground now so it's interesting to hear about a real experience from you.
Oh yea I love hefei! Many other good memories there besides this story lol. Was there a few times back in 2012-14.. it’s amazing how much it has changed! Hope you can go back again soon
Ahahaha, it is hilarious to hear that your boss said "Hefei is the wild wild west of China." It is hilarious to me because I am a native of Hefei and I now live in Texas!
@@方春玮 That is kind of you. I don't know if I have specific questions. I am looking forward to a new adventure. My understanding is that Hefei has been developing quite rapidly in the last couple years.
@@genkimachina Yep! Hefei is becoming one of High-tech center city of China. when I finished my college study from USA and came back to Hefei, everything is changed. "going back to Hefei " also is a new adventure for me. Anyway , hope everything goes well during your Hefei-life. Welcome to Hefei!
Must have been real wild out in Kunming back then! First time I went to kunming was 2013 and it was a lot like Hefei was in how I’m describing it here, can’t imagine 6-7 years earlier.
What do you mean ? On a business trip its kind of like go where they take you, they aren’t gonna send you back to the hotel before dinner and ktv and let you take a break.
Anhui province used to be one of the poorest provices of China. Hefei is my hometown, and I am kind of sad to hear the story 10 years ago. The difference is that in China, some old neighborhoods look run down , but they are not unsafe like in America. It is just old, and probably left out from the city rejuvenation process. Some hard working disadvantaged regular people live there since they did not have a better option
Thanks for the story and tour man, I grew up in that town and my god has it changed. There was no buildings and tons of trees near the river. And yea, the ktv thing people can google if they want to know lol
You may not know both the founders of NIO and BYD, the most well-known Chinese EV companies are born from Anhui Province. I am from Hefei as well. 30 years ago, it is just 1/10 of current size. It grows very rapidly.
Traditionaly, Anhui province is known for their "professional" beggars. But things have changed. Hefei has become the fastest growing city in China in the past decade. Nio and Valkwagen have set up EV factories there.
Thanks for your unbiased views on China and some of its true problems. You don't shy away from telling the truth, and I respect that greatly in this day and age!
You must have been in China for quite a while, because all your experience sounds like what my uncle would tell me. In my generation, I’ve never met any in my career even in some tire-4 Chinese cities.
Yea it’s changed a lot in recent years. Back in my early days in china 2012-14 ish it was a lot more freewheeling and wild, things have really been fixed up. China moves so fast. I wish I could have seen how crazy it was 20 years back.
Very interesting story from another time, which in China could be only 10 years ago. You should consider writing a book about your experiences. There is no shortage of local problems reported on big Chinese news sites such as ThePaper. Human nature are more or less the same everywhere. Luckily 1.41 billion Chinese are on the less individualistic side of the bell curve, as amply demonstrated since the covid-19 broke out in human populations around the world.
Yea I have written a ton actually just ... not sure how to go about making it into something that I can or maybe should publish while still living here. I’d love to go into details of everything instead of skating over some topics, but even though what I say wouldn’t be illegal or anti China, it still could reflect poorly in some ways perhaps. Just need to be conscientious of these things.
@@Eric_Garrison I think it is a matter of intention. If the intention is to smear China, which is the MO of all American media, it will show for sure. But if it is written to document the changes over the last many years, first person experience to inform and educate would be an interesting read. I have not read Peter B. Walker's book yet, but the reviews look like it might be an example of how to tackle the touchy issues: "Powerful, Different, Equal: Overcoming the Misconceptions and Differences Between China and the US" (2019)
@@stanbimi Definitely intention matters for sure. Another issue for me personally anyway, a lot of the most intersting stories I could tell involve famous businessmen, celebrities, or hong bao for powerful people if you know what I mean... without naming names it becomes less interesting for everyone, with naming names it becomes dangerous potentially. I don't have dirt on some real scandal or anything, but I do know a lot about how money operates in China (same as everywhere probably to be honest) and I have some tea I could spill if I chose too... Or i could just avoid those juicy topics and tell other fascinating stories that won't cause a ruckus...
Watched many videos of yours but can't believe I missed the one about my hometown. From Hefei and a Nio owner as well. I'm currently in the states but hopefully can meet you in Hefei next time you visit there!
@@Eric_Garrison I'm studying at U Michigan in Ann Arbor, really loving the school. Beautiful campus and very nice people. Went to the football game last weekend cuz I thought it's a must-have experience of college life in the US, which you can't get anywhere else. But it kinda freaked me out that over 100k people are packed in the stadium, considering the number of existing covid cases right now. Hopefully, my 2 shots of vaccine do a good job protecting me lol.
@@sunyingshuo9983 😂 yea we are psychopaths with regard to covid. At least you aren’t an anti vaxxer lol. I’ve never been to Ann Arbor but I’m glad that you are enjoying it and the USA… hopefully we treat you as well as china and the people there have treated me. I fear that we don’t but maybe it’s just my bias as a dirty lib that doesn’t trust my American brethren to be decent humans
@@Eric_Garrison Absolutely, I had known better about China. The country I was born in is quite sad!!! I can’t wait to return and touch the soil again!!
I have lived here every day for more than ten years, but the feelings you take in photos are different from what I see. The photos you take are more colorful. I have never met reporters on the street for interviews, photos taken by wanghong, etc. , Your video seems to take me to travel abroad. You said that the people here are very enthusiastic. I don’t agree with it. Maybe because you are a foreigner, but we are not bad. We are not as arrogant as some foreigners. , Despise, think that they are superior, Chinese people have never been like that. I have been in contact with foreigners, they are good on the surface, but they are selfish and arrogant in their hearts.
Every tier 1 Chinese city like Shanghai have the prostitute ktvs and saunas you describe, does not make hefei the dark heart of China. Only the lower tier cities it's much cheaper, I can only imagine in 2012 Hefei how cheap it must have been.
Great changes in China during the past few years. Anti corruption drive has been successful and able keep illegal businesses and vices out of China. 👍 to you for not getting involved in illegal and immoral activities.
Better enjoy the ‘real China’ as you called it before it all disappeared. Most local government and councils are working hard to upgrade their city. Their promotion depends on it...not on propaganda or money or connections. Meritocracy is the only way in China.
The real china is the fast and loose for the last 20 years. But with wealth people will demand more just like any other society. Guangzhou used to have street food anytime of the day but now more restrictions and street food allocated to plaza and clear market location.
That's normal with the girls in ktvs. As Chinese as hongbaos and Chinese new year. Also the massage places and spas. It's amazing. In my opinion nothing wrong with it if you're single. 😉😂
I don't know why I feel so much calmer every time I watch your videos when I'm depressed, magical.
keep pumping out those videos Eric!!!!
These stories are super interesting, it goes well with the vids. Living so long in China its kinda crazy to see how much it changed. My uncle told me about how open the drug use and other stuff were in the 2000's and how much of it is driven underground now so it's interesting to hear about a real experience from you.
Ao nice video. Waiting next
Hefei is My hometown!! Unfortunately I haven't been there for 3yrs since 2018 due to the covid 19😭😭 I miss my family there! I hope u like hefei!
Oh yea I love hefei! Many other good memories there besides this story lol. Was there a few times back in 2012-14.. it’s amazing how much it has changed! Hope you can go back again soon
我也是，童年在合工大校区度过的
@@billyboy8888 现在想回合肥，不容易咯
Hello fellow Hefei friend! I was born there but I was adopted in 2006 and moved to America. Never went back.... maybe someday, I will.... hopefully
Ahahaha, it is hilarious to hear that your boss said "Hefei is the wild wild west of China." It is hilarious to me because I am a native of Hefei and I now live in Texas!
Hi from Australia. Great story :)
我的家乡， my hometown , i am living at London so haven’t went back for many years , i see lots of great changes !
Meanwhile london moves very slowly right? China is incredible in that sense. I also can’t believe how much hefei changed in just a few years.
为什么不会去呢 十几个小时飞机而已
@@Eric_Garrison Hefei is the fastest growing city in China.
More videos like these please! Enjoyed it so much
Hefei ,my home town. I was born in 92'. The city was pretty small when I grow up and got expanded massively in recent years.
Ha! Hit subscribed right when I see my home in the film! Shouchun Rd and Huaihe Rd neighborhood are my childhood memories!
Hefei people, can always count on you 😁
Cool channel. My wife and I accepted jobs at an international school there. Hopefully we can get there...
Hope so. You’ll have fun I’m sure
I am living in Beijing right now ,but I will move back to Hefei next year. If you have any questions about Hefei, maybe I can help.
@@方春玮 That is kind of you. I don't know if I have specific questions. I am looking forward to a new adventure. My understanding is that Hefei has been developing quite rapidly in the last couple years.
@@genkimachina Yep! Hefei is becoming one of High-tech center city of China. when I finished my college study from USA and came back to Hefei, everything is changed. "going back to Hefei " also is a new adventure for me. Anyway , hope everything goes well during your Hefei-life.
Welcome to Hefei!
Me too. I am waiting border.
Your story remind me of the memory when i worked in Kunming ,China during 2005-2008. Such a great place.
Must have been real wild out in Kunming back then! First time I went to kunming was 2013 and it was a lot like Hefei was in how I’m describing it here, can’t imagine 6-7 years earlier.
Great channel, deserve more subscription.
I am a Hefeinese and I am now back in hometown from Europe. Enjoy～
Thanks, enjoy Hefei while you are there. IT's a nice place.
Hefeinese 哈哈😂化的了
You may say " thanks. I am not available today for work. But I will call you back anotherday". Best unharmful excuse for either side.
What do you mean ? On a business trip its kind of like go where they take you, they aren’t gonna send you back to the hotel before dinner and ktv and let you take a break.
I was born in Hefei and live there for about 22 years, now I am in AU. missing Hefei street food and my family
Aus is nice too though! Lots of good Chinese food. But family of course can not replace. Welcome back when this pandemic ends
Same bro!
So nice to see words like this. I’m also from Hefei and now in Canada, really miss it
Anhui province used to be one of the poorest provices of China. Hefei is my hometown, and I am kind of sad to hear the story 10 years ago.
The difference is that in China, some old neighborhoods look run down , but they are not unsafe like in America. It is just old, and probably left out from the city rejuvenation process. Some hard working disadvantaged regular people live there since they did not have a better option
Thanks for the story and tour man, I grew up in that town and my god has it changed. There was no buildings and tons of trees near the river. And yea, the ktv thing people can google if they want to know lol
hah long time since you've been back?
@@Eric_Garrison I have no desire to go now, I would not recognize anything there lol
Haha well at least you aren’t clinging to some non existent past like so many people
What a touching story ...
🥲
My hometown, lived here for 30 yrs.
Dear, are you still in Hefei?
When you talked about dongguan, it likes your first trip to heifei was almost 7 8 years ago. gov now is more strict with 'yellow' industry everywhere
Definitely. It all changed so drastically. It’s still there just far less open and far less wild. China changes sooo quickly with everything.
@@Eric_Garrison nice work !
You may not know both the founders of NIO and BYD, the most well-known Chinese EV companies are born from Anhui Province. I am from Hefei as well. 30 years ago, it is just 1/10 of current size. It grows very rapidly.
Traditionaly, Anhui province is known for their "professional" beggars. But things have changed. Hefei has become the fastest growing city in China in the past decade. Nio and Valkwagen have set up EV factories there.
Hefei has changed sooo much. Crazy the development there. It’s shocking when you see it with 7 years or so in between visits...
I aslo live in Hefei city, it is a great place
Hefei is hometown of my mother! love hefei!
It’s a great place . You are lucky
Thanks for your unbiased views on China and some of its true problems. You don't shy away from telling the truth, and I respect that greatly in this day and age!
Thanks a lot for saying that. I try to call it like I see it as much as possible.
Good story.
Thanks :)
You must have been in China for quite a while, because all your experience sounds like what my uncle would tell me. In my generation, I’ve never met any in my career even in some tire-4 Chinese cities.
Yea it’s changed a lot in recent years. Back in my early days in china 2012-14 ish it was a lot more freewheeling and wild, things have really been fixed up. China moves so fast. I wish I could have seen how crazy it was 20 years back.
@@Eric_Garrison I would like to see what Shenzhen looked like back in 35 years ago lol.
and this is essentially why the mass supports Xijin Ping. ppl from the west who interested in the subject will never understand why.
About 40 years ago, when we graduated from elementary school, the teacher promised to take us to Xiaoyaojin Park
sun Quan dislikes this park.
Did they take you?
@@Eric_Garrison I don’t know if they went to the park. I moved to Shekou Industrial Zone with my parents.
Oh ahha. See you in shekou next time
I didn’t see one homeless and gun attacks around that’s much better than developed countries. More like Civilised culture today.
China is very safe for sure.
It's totally fine to tell the story. Everyone in China knows
what do you mean by dark heart?
Unknow city in the middle of China
Yea unknown, “mysterious” maybe even dangerous... but as you can see it’s not bad at all. I like Hefei
Very interesting story from another time, which in China could be only 10 years ago. You should consider writing a book about your experiences. There is no shortage of local problems reported on big Chinese news sites such as ThePaper. Human nature are more or less the same everywhere. Luckily 1.41 billion Chinese are on the less individualistic side of the bell curve, as amply demonstrated since the covid-19 broke out in human populations around the world.
Yea I have written a ton actually just ... not sure how to go about making it into something that I can or maybe should publish while still living here. I’d love to go into details of everything instead of skating over some topics, but even though what I say wouldn’t be illegal or anti China, it still could reflect poorly in some ways perhaps. Just need to be conscientious of these things.
@@Eric_Garrison I think it is a matter of intention. If the intention is to smear China, which is the MO of all American media, it will show for sure. But if it is written to document the changes over the last many years, first person experience to inform and educate would be an interesting read. I have not read Peter B. Walker's book yet, but the reviews look like it might be an example of how to tackle the touchy issues: "Powerful, Different, Equal: Overcoming the Misconceptions and Differences Between China and the US" (2019)
@@stanbimi Definitely intention matters for sure. Another issue for me personally anyway, a lot of the most intersting stories I could tell involve famous businessmen, celebrities, or hong bao for powerful people if you know what I mean... without naming names it becomes less interesting for everyone, with naming names it becomes dangerous potentially. I don't have dirt on some real scandal or anything, but I do know a lot about how money operates in China (same as everywhere probably to be honest) and I have some tea I could spill if I chose too... Or i could just avoid those juicy topics and tell other fascinating stories that won't cause a ruckus...
Still exists!
Not only ten years ago 😂
City looks much developed now
Definitely seems to have changed a ton
Watched many videos of yours but can't believe I missed the one about my hometown. From Hefei and a Nio owner as well. I'm currently in the states but hopefully can meet you in Hefei next time you visit there!
How are you liking the states? 😂.
Yea def next time in china hit me up, I can’t wait to get back next month.
@@Eric_Garrison I'm studying at U Michigan in Ann Arbor, really loving the school. Beautiful campus and very nice people. Went to the football game last weekend cuz I thought it's a must-have experience of college life in the US, which you can't get anywhere else. But it kinda freaked me out that over 100k people are packed in the stadium, considering the number of existing covid cases right now. Hopefully, my 2 shots of vaccine do a good job protecting me lol.
@@sunyingshuo9983 😂 yea we are psychopaths with regard to covid. At least you aren’t an anti vaxxer lol. I’ve never been to Ann Arbor but I’m glad that you are enjoying it and the USA… hopefully we treat you as well as china and the people there have treated me. I fear that we don’t but maybe it’s just my bias as a dirty lib that doesn’t trust my American brethren to be decent humans
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 Great to know your perspective about China!!
Thanks!
@@Eric_Garrison Absolutely, I had known better about China. The country I was born in is quite sad!!! I can’t wait to return and touch the soil again!!
*Greetings gentlemen*
欢迎
I have lived here every day for more than ten years, but the feelings you take in photos are different from what I see. The photos you take are more colorful. I have never met reporters on the street for interviews, photos taken by wanghong, etc. , Your video seems to take me to travel abroad. You said that the people here are very enthusiastic. I don’t agree with it. Maybe because you are a foreigner, but we are not bad. We are not as arrogant as some foreigners. , Despise, think that they are superior, Chinese people have never been like that. I have been in contact with foreigners, they are good on the surface, but they are selfish and arrogant in their hearts.
didn't get it, you have not been to Hefei long enough to leave a right-to-the-point comment
什么意思
Oh God, that girl at 5:50 was so cute, though I don't understand what she said XD
He praise the girl beautiful and the girl reply thank you.
Every tier 1 Chinese city like Shanghai have the prostitute ktvs and saunas you describe, does not make hefei the dark heart of China. Only the lower tier cities it's much cheaper, I can only imagine in 2012 Hefei how cheap it must have been.
Free Market. Invisible Hands at play.
That's an intersting story about dating with KTV girls .
Great changes in China during the past few years. Anti corruption drive has been successful and able keep illegal businesses and vices out of China.
👍 to you for not getting involved in illegal and immoral activities.
Lol last thing I want is to be in Chinese prison
You really should've put "NIO" in the title to get more views :)
Clickbait 😇 我太乖了
Better enjoy the ‘real China’ as you called it before it all disappeared. Most local government and councils are working hard to upgrade their city. Their promotion depends on it...not on propaganda or money or connections. Meritocracy is the only way in China.
Definitely “real china” in the quotes as you put it. One thing I’ve learned in china is that it is all the real china, good bad ugly and everchanging
The real china is the fast and loose for the last 20 years. But with wealth people will demand more just like any other society. Guangzhou used to have street food anytime of the day but now more restrictions and street food allocated to plaza and clear market location.
Haha, Vegas-style! What happens in Vegas? Stay in Vegas!
Are there any Muslims in Hefei ?
That's normal with the girls in ktvs.
As Chinese as hongbaos and Chinese new year.
Also the massage places and spas. It's amazing.
In my opinion nothing wrong with it if you're single. 😉😂
hahahaha "im not admitting to anything but"
I didn’t admit to anything I think 😂
You are way better person than SerpentZa and Laowei86!! Cheers.
Much better than NYC though.
你瞎还是？ 合肥最近几年才开始好转白痴
Find a wife
Dat beter
O...
D same d worl ovr
Nothg unusual
Boy / gurl
Al hv updwn xprience
Jus c tv, dere it is fr al 2 c
Go holan, go london, go tokyo
Same2
Sounds like you were very naive.....