The emblem of Jinan

The first two month in China I spent in Jinan to study Chinese. For our understanding Jinan is a quiet a big city with nearly 5 mill. Inhabitants - but for China’s relations this is rather a small and rural city. They have here an "Everbright Bank" and the "Evergrowing Bank" and not to forget the "Book Foreign Language Bookstore" …so obviously this is the place to be :)

Compare to Shanghai, Jinan is very Chinese... that means very loud due life takes place on the streets, very chaotic (especially the traffic – advice: never ask the taxi driver to get you very fast to the airport...rather book another flight or just close the eyes ;-))) and a bit dirty.


Food is very often prepared on the streets


Street market in Jinan...


Another street market picture..


A family eating on the street

Most of the people do not speak English which leads to very interesting situations...especially when you go shopping, try to by an airplane ticket or try to explain the taxi driver where you would like to go (even with a map in your hands ;-)). But usually it works out fine…somehow.

One of the main hobbies of the Jinan inhabitants is to observe the foreign people living in Jinan very closely :) (There are not so many foreigners in Jinan). So, if you wandering though the streets in Jinan it is not very seldom that the people start staring at you. After a while you get used to it :).
Another interesting experience was when I tried to buy a spoon in the supermarket and ask one of the employees where to find a spoon (of course in Chinese ;-)). After a view seconds I caused traffic jam within the supermarket, due suddenly everybody stopped and watched me how I desperately try to explain in Chinese that I want to buy a spoon.


Me and Daniel trying to buy tea....in china green tea is not just tea :)


Chinese people like to buy their food fresh as possible :)


Turtle soup?

Another very famous hobby of the Jinan inhabitants – especially the taxi drivers – is to start a conversation with you. It does not play a big role here if you able to understand them...they just keep on going...very patient people ;-)).

But the most famous hobby of the Chinese people is to get photographed with European people. So, if you dreamed of getting a model....China offers some opportunities for European people :).


Me and my new best friend the taxi driver