The Biggest Differences Between China and Canada

The Biggest Differences Between Canada and China I’m not going to argue about whether Canada or China is better in this video. There are already countless videos online debating their pros and cons, all sounding much the same. In truth, there is no simple good or bad in this world. The definition of good and bad shifts depending on individuals, circumstances and perspectives. So in this video, drawing on my 35 years living in China and 5 years in Canada, I want to talk about their “differences”. Let’s start with a macro point. Both Canada and China are huge countries, but China has a population of 1.4 billion while Canada only has around 40 million. So in China, what you feel is liveliness and bustle; in Canada, it’s quietness and desolation. Notice I used two descriptive words for each, because everything has two sides. First, cultural differences. Canada is a multicultural nation, yet it is mainly rooted in Western culture, a blend of European and American culture. China, on the other hand, is an Eastern culture. These two cultures have been vastly different since ancient times. Cultural divergence brings differences to all corners of society, such as marriage, education, the workplace, romantic relationships, outlooks on life, values, and attitudes towards life and death. This cultural shock is an objective reality. In Canada, different ethnic groups have their own social circles, connections and lifestyles. In China, culture is relatively unified, established thousands of years ago after Qin Shi Huang unified the country. Therefore, even though Chinese people are friendly to foreigners, the level of inclusiveness is not as high as Canada’s. Chinese people mostly maintain a distance out of curiosity and politeness. Different cultures shape contrasting ways of interacting with others. Canadians are polite, friendly, open and straightforward in handling things. Chinese people may seem colder on the surface, not smiling as much. They abide by formal rules as well as unspoken hidden rules, and sometimes appear to bend regulations. This selective observance can be seen in driving and personal conduct, leading to widespread behavioural issues, for instance smoking in elevators, pedestrians jaywalking, walking dogs without leashes, and so on. Yet at the same time, Chinese people tend to be simpler. You can mostly tell who is good and who is bad at a glance. In Canada, even a bad person may act politely and follow public morals, but he could be a serial killer — I’m just using this as an analogy. This topic is fascinating. It is not simply a distinction between good and bad, but two entirely different ways of being. There are regions in China with climates similar to Canada’s, so I won’t discuss weather. The second difference I want to talk about is public safety. When I was young, public security in China was not as good. People’s general education level was lower, there were far fewer surveillance cameras, and case solving rates were low. Today, China ranks among the safest countries in the world. You can wander anywhere at any hour of the day without worrying about your personal safety. Canada, though its residents tend to have higher educational attainment, has much lower crime costs. There are not nearly as many surveillance cameras, and investigations often rely on the old method of searching for witnesses. I had several bicycles stolen in Canada, and reporting it to the police was useless; they could never be recovered. In today’s China, even if you leave your bicycle unlocked, nobody will steal it. Since food banks and other charities are concentrated in city centres, downtown areas in Canada tend to have worse security. There is an interesting phenomenon: historically and today, city centres in China are the safest places. Canada is the opposite. Ordinary people avoid going downtown unless necessary because there are real personal safety risks, especially in big cities. Public security matters greatly to ordinary people, for we only live once and we have just one life. Third, the cost of living, including housing, vehicles, groceries and more. To put it simply: Canada is extremely expensive, while China is comparatively cheap and easier to get by. I understand Canada is a high-welfare country, and tax revenue funds initiatives that benefit society. Still, objectively speaking, the cost of daily survival is very high there.