Big-Tree's Views on Life in Yantai

In early 1910s, another businessman, Mr. Li Zaizhi李载之, he also was the chief of business promotion department in Yantai, had established his own apple orchard on the sandy soil in west part of Yantai. His attempting supposed to be the first commercial orchard to grow modern apples in this country. No sooner his orchard produced fruits than he exported apples to Hongkong some years later with a brand name of ‘Yantai Apples ?/span>烟台苹果. That should be where the name of Yantai Apple came from right from beginning.

In ancient time: There was not much to mention about the little fisher village during time of the long history. Perhaps one of the most well known stories was the first Emperor in China, Qin Shi Huang, who had visited this peninsula for three times. Each time Qin Shi Huang had past this area even stopped in Zhi Fu on his way to the east corner of the peninsula. There are some more stories mentioned about is trip amongst local people. One story mentioned that Qing Shi Huang once had tried to shoot big fishes on Zhi Fu peninsula, So there was a fish shooting platform for him former time.

Qin Shi Huang and Xu Fu 秦始皇, 徐福: Qing Shi Huang was fancied about long life secrets during his time. He had a lot of consultants for doing this. Actually these consultants were no more than wizards. He gave orders to his kingdom to search for the medicine which could make him live forever but none of any consultant could fulfill his wish. Some of them were killed. A wizard, Mr. Xu Fu, his home town was in Xu Fu town, Long Kou city 龙口市, belong to Yantai, about 110 Km from Yantai to west, once reported to the First Emperor that he could find the live-forever-medicine if only he would be granted 600 boys together the same number of girls, armed with ships, weapons and necessities. He would try to search for this medicine from the mysterious islands in the east ocean and would not be back if failed.. Nominated by the First Emperor, Xu Fu set out of his convoy trip brought along these boys and girls over the ocean to east and definitely settled down in a place now day called Japan. He never come back to the Qin Dynasty but established a new kingdom. Several Xu Fu’s temples could be seen in Japan and in China to remember his action 2200 years ago. Japanese consider that Xu Fu being their ancestor and worship him throughout their history. Visitor from oversea often would like to have a look of Mr. Xu Fu’s home country in Long Kou if the had a chance to come to Yantai.

Yang Ma Dao养马岛: The horses reined island is about 25 Km from Yantai to east near the coast. It is said that Qin Shi Huang had his horses be reined on this place on his trip to east. Now day more visitors would come to see if there is any horse left by the First Emperor 2000 years ago.

Peng Lai Pavilion蓬莱阁: Another famous site probably is Peng Lai Pavilion. Peng Lai was called Deng Zhou former time. A Pavilion has been constructed in Song Dynasty宋朝[960 ?1279] together with a small temple of Taoism and a light house for seamen. Because of Peng Lai supposed to be one the three most famous mysterious islands[ Peng Lai蓬莱, Ying Zhou瀛洲 and Fang Zhang方丈] which the First Emperor of China used to believe that life- medicines could be found from there, so Chinese used to consider it to be one of the most famous mysterious place for human being. If anyone had a chance come to visit this place he might be lucky to become an immortal and never would die and so on. Legends made Peng Lai well- known in this country and attract millions of tourists come to see the pavilion each year. There is a legend describe about the 8 immortals had crossed ocean and gone to another world from Peng Lai. No matter believe in it or not, more and more people would like to have a look. If you ever had a chance, you certainly would not miss it.  

Archaeological studying has been proved that Yantai peninsula seems as old as other areas in China. There were some tombs and remains of old architecture discovered and some old civilization evidences have been found. Because of its remote location be far away from any political center historic records hardly mentioned it. This should be the reason why there is less written form records could be seen today about this area.

A General’s tomb: In beginning of the Tang Dynasty [618 ?907], the emperor Tang Tai Zhong, decided to conquer Korea. He had organized strong troops and tried for three times. Definitely he fulfilled his wish and took Korea as his territory. During the fought, one of his general named Tie Zhu, in Chinese means an Iron Pole. He died during a battle fighting near a mountain called Jin Gang Shan, in Chinese the Diamond Mount. People believe that he must die because of an iron pole is not as strong as the diamond mount. The Emperor made a huge tomb for the dead general by giving a special order to all of solders: each solder must put earth on his tomb. So the tomb was made by all of solder’s hands. The tomb was located in Qi Xia county where Ya Shan Mount located. Unfortunately the tomb now could not be found any more left only the story.  

Farmer’s lives and mentalities:

In Past: Yantai farmers same like other Chinese farmers in other areas, are basically honest, hard working, saving, have simple lives, but never loose hope for future no matter how miserable life can be they still would keep their hopes for tomorrow. This character is so strong and made them be able to endure any hardship or torture. They could survive under any hard conditions as long as there is grass roots can be obtained for eating. They do not have coffee everyday. The most of them even never know what coffee taste like. They do not have butter for breakfast, no bread. Majority of them never sit on toilet but doing the conventional way. They used to the odd smell from toilet or animal manure. They used to bear their feet and take off clothes working in cropping fields. They would enjoy a lot if there is a small cup of alcoholic drinking available after hard working for the whole day. They used to start working before dawn and finishing after Sunset. They count time not by clock or watch but by the Sun and the Moon. They have their own lunar calendar from which they knew when to plough soil, when to sow and harvest. They used to living where they were born for all of lives and hardly travel over 100 Km away in lives. They known very well about their next door neighbors even their dogs and cats. They used to fetch water by shoulders from a deep well so they save water and never had hot bath at home before solar heating equipments being introduced. They used to light a little oil lamp before electricity be available. They are not often go to city for shopping, may be once or twice a year for preparing of children’s wedding. Pigs, chickens used to their larger part of additional family income because of labor working did not bring cash in hand. They used to put all of their hope on next generation by willing to invest as much as possible to support children to learn better in schools in order to find a chance to jump out from countryside to be no longer live as peasants.. They are mild, easy to be ruled, obey, sincere in believing the God and the Destiny. They would keep old tradition and customs, regular visiting relatives to maintain necessary connection according to local customs. They would regular worship ancestors if the government allowed. They would not have opposite sex friends because of sexual scandal suppose to be the dirtiest thing by old tradition. They would not interested in talking about political affairs simply because of it is too far away from them. They had no chance to change their registration as a peasant in remote countryside. So they had dream to come to cities to have a look or if be lucky, may be get a chance to stay in cities enjoying tap water, high buildings, department stores, cinema, wider and clean roads without much dust and there are buses to travel fast etc.. All of these for them was just a dream because of they were born as peasants and must have different lives. They had no idea where is America and where is UK and had no idea about the world. Former time some poor peasants would try to shift to north east part of China to start new hope. You could see many people originally came from Yantai in N.E. even still speaking the home dialect.

Peasants are fear to be sick. Illness means bankrupt of family economy.  Still over half of their family income is being spent on education of offspring. That should be background of Yantai farmers.

Recent years: Time seems start changing since 1978. They were allowed to plant apple trees in their own fields but had to pay ‘the special economic crops tax?because of all fruit crops belong to special economic crops. They had no hope to be rich [ fortunately now they do not have to pay such tax].

Later they are allowed to be immigrated workers in construction sites in cities to earn some cash. Very often they could not receive payment in time [now the situation seems better]. Now they have electricity for light at home. Some families have a refrigerator, sewing machine, no longer use a donkey or by hand working to make maize flour or wheat flour by turning round the stone mills. Girls could have colorful clothes. Farmers could have watches to judge time now. Every household could have a TV to watch in the evening. Children in schools start learning English from the third year and some of them could have a computer at home if the Internet is being available in their village. Time has been changing. The new generation has better wish for future.

Basically speaking Yantai farmers are friendly to visitors or gusts. They would offer whatever the best they could to entertain visitors if they consider that you are friends. They have only one way of thinking, one mentality to have peaceful lives and better end. A few farmers in countryside became rich benefited from the changing of system. Headmen of villages had better and more chances to go in advance. This is reasonable.

To stay with Yantai farmers in their house, sleep on the traditional Kang made of bricks, light fire underneath to heat it in winter, could have typical farmer’s feeling. Now many city people would like to drive to countryside to taste farmer life. This already became a new fashion. The most part of Yantai actually, majority of Yantai citizens are living in villages. Only less people are living in downtown, somehow less than 10%. If any one would like to know whole China, he should go to countryside.

Officers usually have two faces, two mentalities, two different lives in their working and at home. They would act officially in offices or in public to follow government order or policies, show power to weaker, holding privileges in hand, enjoy banquets and entertainments, smile to bosses to maintain better relationship, answer telephones of friends to keep social connection, try best to be promoted for higher positions. They look like really official.

But after back home they would have totally different lives acting as real human being. They do all things human doing, cooking in kitchen and doing washing, clean floor, talking about money, enjoying with concubines or play with pet if they had one etc.. This is typical Chinese phenomenon. Foreigners should recognize this when deal with officers.

City people:

City people are more in marketing way or in business way. They are practical in different level compare with farmers. They are good in calculating costs and feedback. They have no land to grow anything for themselves and have to buy everything needed. They need cash all the time [ Farmers sometimes did not care about costs and return]. They have been trained to be good in investing and earning. Electricity, water, gas, rental, even throw rubbish they always have to pay. City toilets would charge some money. Nothing is being free to live in city. This made city people paying close attention on managing financially. They have to take care of their wallets. Recently housing became more expensive. They have to try best to make sure their son could have a shelter to get marry.

Friendship and social circle in cities become more and more important than ever before. In the most of cases social relationship would bring benefits. In Chinese: relationship plus social position means productivity. If you want to do something properly you have to know the right persons. Without this there is hardly could anyone be success. This should be the number one policy for foreigners to enter China. Many foreigners who have been living in this country understand this very well. The better connection you have made with the important persons the easier and better result your business could achieve. This is the key.

Friendship and social circle need to be maintained from time to time. This is another kind of investment. You need to invest not only money but also time. Many Chinese have to spend a lot of time with friends, bosses or their relatives in order to maintain proper connection for future. To invite these persons for lunch or for diner is a basic practicing. China is a country has a lot of restaurants, the most one in the world. Chinese is the most well known nation for eating. They really enjoy eating. In some way they are living for eating while people in western countries are eat for living. A luxury banquet will cost a fortune. The most expensive banquet in a five star hotel would cost over 20,000 Yuan[RMB]. In a city like Yantai, a luxury banquet would cost over 10,000 Yuan. Normal dinner will cost over 1,000 Yuan depends on what kind of drinks you ordered. Traditional alcoholic drinking such as ‘Mao Tai,?will cost 600 Yuan for one bottle and a bottle of imported wine will cost 0ver a thousand Yuan. Guests could judge how friendly the host be by simply have a look on what drink the host ordered and what dishes served on table. The more expensive the meal cost, the more attention the host have been paid to your coming. Remember, a normal worker’s monthly salary is only about 1,000 Yuan[RMB]. To cost his one month salary to invite some people for lunch or dinner, that means he really urgently need help from the persons he has invited. Nearly all of better hotels are busy in serve dinners everyday. That shows that there always are some people need help from others and, there are always some people could offer help for others.

Here I have to point out that it is not easy to have a chance to invite an important person for dinner or lunch. These people have luxury food everyday and consider eating is a burden. One has to know someone first in order to make time arrangement. 

Now day marketing economy offers more and more means of entertainments: guests could be invited to have their hairs or feet to be washed in special place so called head-washing shop or feet washing shop, or doing massage etc. . of course sex service is reasonably available but in a secret way. Policemen would irregularly come to check up sexual services in hotels, feet-washing shops etc. according to the regulation if these sites fail to contribute anything. Foreigners to have a call-girl at night in a hotel have to be careful for two things: one should be hygiene. In spite of AIDS in Yantai is less known but it has to be seriously controlled including other kinds of sickness infected through sex touch. The second is: make sure pay the girl reasonably for her services to make her happy. By Chinese law, any woman had complained a man’s action, her words could be taken as evidence by the court for raping.  Marketing economy have been taught local people how to offer better services to empty customer’s pockets. As long as you are willing to pay any service is being available.

Chinese do pay a lot of attention on their reputation, in Chinese: taking care of their faces. City people even more so. They would live simple lives at home but try best to serve guests even they have to pay by themselves if it is really necessary. For instance, if a relative being ill and need an operation, the family normally should deliver a red envelop containing reasonable sum of money for the doctor, nurses who will take part of the operation next day [legally speaking this is forbidden but hardly anyone could change this tradition]. In this case, the patient’s family would act generously for seek of the patient’s life.

If there is nothing to do with investing and benefits, city people would keep away from it no matter who is him or what a thing. Popular singers or film starts only could attract young fancies, neither for adults nor for elders. Believe or not, there are quite a number of people in city do not know their neighbors even they keep living as neighbors for many years. They hardly visit to each other and know nothing about neighbor’s kitchen or sitting room. This is very much different from farmers in countryside. Farmers would know every household in one village. When farmers shifted into city to live, they would have problem to get used to the city relationship amongst neighbors especially old people who living in villages for the most of their lives.

City people are more selfish than farmers regarding to ‘public? They would keep their own home clean, but rarely would clean outside of their apartments even these stairs. They would not care of walking on grasses in a public park, would not care about if a tree fell down on road or a tap water running for months. That seems nothing to do with them in spite of they enjoy a lot from public. One typical phenomenon is how city people deal with their family rubbish bags. Many of them would just simply throw rubbish bags to where seems convenient for them and rarely bothered to think about these dust cleaners. So you can find many rubbish bags everywhere from the evening to before dawn. Some of city people who living upper stairs, say in 5^th or 6^th floors, used to take easy, just throw their rubbish bags from their windows and let the bags landed on streets. They save their own time but create working for others. As long they are convenient, that is all[ now this kind of act become less and less].

City people are not often go to church apart from some old citizens. They have no conception of the God or religious. They would not fear about to be punished after died in another world. They do not believe in ghosts or spirits. They are living in real substance world, more degrees of materialized. There are less churches in the city[fortunately there are some old churches being kept and not destroyed all]. Some retired people start to believe in God and attending to churches on Sunday.

More and more retired people would like to have pets to keep themselves busy. They take care of the pets. Feed them well, wash them, take walking with them but do not want to pay the fees. Local government would charge 4000 Yuan for each dog to have a number. But few people did. The most of pets have not been registered as they should do. Very often somebody would walk on dog’s manure on walkways make shoes dirty. They would complain, but on the other hand, their digs at home might do the same thing. There is nobody takes care of dog’s manure on streets besides these dust men..

Farmers would try to sell their agricultural production in city. It is too expensive for them to rent a place in the supper markets. They have to sell on street sides. Get up in early morning rushed into city to try their luck. Former time these farmers was not allowed to sell vegetable or fruits in city. Now this policy has been changed. City offers good chances for them to market their production to make relatively better income. Actually government officers also need these farmers to sell vegetable everyday. Employers could give these officers everything for free, from electric kitchen ware to clothes, rice, everything they need could be offered by the government welfare. Still they need something fresh.

City toilets will charge 0.3 Yuan for each time. There is a person take care of collecting toilet fees.  This is a good paid job in spite of the name of profession, toilet keeper, is not be respected. 0.3 Yuan of toilet fee keep many people away from using public toilets toilet. Men would do it anywhere they want as long as there is not any woman watching. Where are some trees growing, where you could smell men’s easy private business. Public toilet does not really serve for the public. There seems something should be changed.

There are more unemployment in city since the last 10 to 15 years. These unemployment were most workers in companies. Now companies belong to private owners. So former state masters now lost job and have to live in hard situation. If a couple both have no job, life can imagine. Young people are relatively easy to find a job. But some of them rather to be fed by their parents than to do a hard working to earn their own breads. Labor working does not make much money. Cheap labor offer more benefit to these joint venture companies. 500 Yuan is the minimum monthly salary for workers. Many workers have to do over time working in order to earn more income. In some companies, workers are being forced to work longer time to fulfill working task. Labor union is only a tool of the government and does not play real role to protect working class. There is nobody would be dare to analysis present society in this country. But there are certainly different classes in the reality as somebody described a few years ago:

- the first class occupying political positions and deposit money in oversea accounts,

- the second class wear special hats[judges, policemen,  prosecutors etc.] and benefited from claimers and these be claimed.

- the third class owning companies and even fees for paying call girls could be paid by the budget.

- the fourth class holding an operation knife in hand and always will receive red envelops from patients?families.

- the fifth class working in banks or insurance, wear clean shirts and be paid well.

- The sixth class control power or water supplying and always being asked for helping.

- the seventh class are scientists or teachers, they do hard working and cost low, last long.

- The eighth class is drivers and made enough for surviving.

- the ninth class is workers in factories, they are no longer master anyway.

The tenth class is peasants in countryside to deal with the earth.

Some of these should be just a joke, not really true, but shows something in real.

More young people now have learned English in schools, but hardly could speak well when meet foreigners.

To have a son in city would cost more than a son in countryside. Especially for the son to get marry. Parents have to prepare a house which will costs 3000 to 9000 Yuan per square meters depends on vary locations in the city. On wedding ceremony, parents of the newly married young couple would invite relatives, friends, former classmates to attend the wedding for eating a lunch in a restaurant. These people who come for the wedding will bring a ‘red envelop?containing 100 to 200 Yuan to be present. This kind of custom created big burden for some people. Wedding is a time to collect money from these who you know. Later on this debt must be returned year after year. These who have no younger child only have to loose and never hope it could be paid back.. Compare with a son, to have a daughter seems easier in the city. But majority of Chinese still wish to have a son even under the one child policy for birth control .

Presents

China is a country with highest frequency in sending and receiving presents in the world. Chinese enjoy a lot of in exchanging presents to each other and they also be burdened by presents in lives. There are countless reasons for giving presents to others. Older generation would give pocket money to younger during the Spring Festival morning when the younger showed their respect to them. The younger one should bring presents to older after a long distance trip. People in the same generation would exchange gifts when they feel it should be and so on. This is only in a family or in a family line among relatives.

Presents can be a key to open boss?door for all of junior clerks in offices or in companies. It should be a normal practice for any employee to have better connection with bosses. But how? Presents play the most important role. Clever junior clerks would soon remember the bosses home address and know everything about the family. Careful study must be made about when, how, what presents would be the most efficiency and would bring the best result. Presents can be considered as seeds for success. Once sowed, the seeds will sure grow and then bear fruits. No seeds to be sowed there will be no fruits can be expected. China has been producing a lot of presents. Presents markets always being very active no matter in which season and which city, all are the same. Presents can be glue to make both parties closer. The more expensive the presents being, the glue would be more sticky and powerful. Chinese know this phenomenon for over thousands of years. There is a saying talking about this: ‘employ money to be the horse when one feels hard to go through a pass. Make wine to be solders when the general feels hard to win the battle.?If one need help from others, OK, prepare some presents. If one has some social positions or value could helpful for others, OK, his home must be full of vary kinds of presents.

Everything valuable can be used as presents. Many years ago, a box of apples, a bag of rice, a pair of shoes for children, sweet candy, cloth, watch, cakes, wine, beer, kitchen stuffs etc. as long as it being useful, it will do when all of the society was in poverty. By time going, people’s income had become higher. Value of presents has been raised year by year. Motor bike, share of a company, shopping cards, cashes, checks, deposit books, cars, antiques, famous paintings, houses, apartments in China and in oversea, house service girls etc. all can be presents. Skillful arrangement sometimes must be made to make the deal done properly. Now day to offer a free holiday to oversea or to send somebody’s child to study in oversea countries with free of charge is already too cheap to be a present. Thinking about Chinese officers?salary is not very high. But lives they have been enjoyed and treasure they have owned could be thousands times more than that they should earn. Many people did not use their true names to deposit money in Banks some years ago. This made good chances for these present receivers. Later the government ordered Banks: everyone has to use true name in banks, but not these former depositors. The government would not dare to let all of money depositors to reveal their names, amount of money they owned and how they had earned etc.. This rule has protected large number of newly rich people in China. Otherwise millions of newly wealthy upper class people would have problems to declare how they made their huge money. Wise rich people would have accounts in oversea Banks.

Recently the government started to control so called ‘commercial bribery?and ‘money washing? In this country, when the government try to control something, that means that the situation must be very serious, these earlier dealers had already earned enough and it could not harm the whole country.

Majority of foreigners hardly realize this in this country when they first step their feet on this land. They need time to understand. When foreigners realized that why officers?faces were cold and the red seals were hard to get or took too long time to wait for the paper etc. in most of cases, that means they have not found where these officers?homes located. They have not gotten the keys to open these officers?doors. They have not sowed any seeds for future fruits. Remember, close relationship plus powerful social position could represent productivity. If one wants to stand his feet on this land he needs to know the right persons to build up necessary social web. It would save a lot of time, money and energy. The most efficiency investment in this country, right through the long history, is to invest in building up friendship and social connection. I guess this cold be true in any developing countries, only here might be more so.

Foods

Yantai is the place where Shan dong dishes originally initiated. Seafood supposed to be the best because of close to ocean. It is said that there was a cooker made Yantai dishes famous in Qing Dynasty: Once the Emperor ordered some cookers to cook the same dish with same materials in the palace.  A cooker from Fushan district secretly took some dried spices made from a kind of special sea worm which in a little bag. He secretly put some of this powder into the dish he cooked during the competition. Certainly his dish was more tasteful than others. So the Emperor asked where he came from and praised Shandong dish should be the most delicious under the Qing’s sky. Soon more upper class people would try to taste Shandong dishes. This made Fusahn cookers well-known in and out of China. 

Chinese food supposed to be one of the most well known in the world. Foreigners really could enjoy a lot when come to China. No matter where you visit, local people would like to entertain guests to show their hospitality. Inviting foreigners for lunch or dinner also offers a chance for local officers to eat. Eating is the most important thing for most of Chinese. They are living for eating. Chinese are paying a lot of attention on eating. People would greet to each other when meet: ‘have you had your meal?rather than say ‘how are you?

When foreigners are being invited for dinner, they had better to understand local dinner custom. One could judge how the host treats you during the dinner table. Further more, many important things are discussed during drinking and eating. Contract could be signed after drank but not before. That means foreigners should pay attention on eating to make better connection with local people, to be harmonious with them, at least not let local citizens feel that you dislike their custom and tradition. Time has been spent on eating is not wasted but on the contrary, in most of cases it worth. Eating and drinking is the best time for Chinese to make friends. To be friends first and business follows. That is typical Chinese way of doing things. If you are being considered as good friend or could be good friend in future, then everything could be easier. Otherwise costs must be more and time consuming.

When you walk into the restaurant, the first host person [ normally is the bigger boss] would take the host seat towards to door. His right hand seat is the number one guest and the second guest should take his left hand seat.. Opposite the number one host is the second host [ he should be payer for the meal]. His right hand seat is the third guest and the fourth guest would sit on his left hand seat. Other seats are not so important. Meal started from drinking. Now day the host would ask guest what would you like to drink. Many years ago they did not ask, just fill up all of glasses with white spirit over 50%. The No.1 host would bring his first toast welcome guest for coming. Usually he will drink it up just in one time to show he is sincere and be honest to treat friends. He would make two times of toast and may, or may not, to serve for you by taking food to guest’s dishes. In larger hotel, serving girl would help to share food to everyone, but small restaurant may not offer such service. During the eating everyone could use his chopsticks to touch any dish you like. Better restaurant would serve additional spoons or chopsticks for sharing food. Even could put your spoon into the soup bowl to take soup. In better hotel, soup should be shared into everyone’s bowl. After the first host’s two toasts, the second hot would make the same two times of toasts. The interpreter will have to translate.

It should be the number one guest’s tune to bring his toast after the two hosts finishing their duties. Then the second guest could make his toast if he like. Following should the third and the fourth one. This should be the normal procedure. Foreigners could ask for folk and knife if you feel hard to use chopstick. Chinese would praise if foreigners could handle chopstick properly. Chinese would try to let foreigners to drink as much as possible. They would try to create many reasons for drinking. They are professional drinkers. Be careful Chinese drinking. Many foreigners consider themselves have big drinking capacity but may loose during the Chinese banquet. Foreigners who visited China normally have better table manner as they have been educated while growing up. There is hardly anyone did anything wrong or to be un-polite during eating. Go to Roma, just behavior as Roman do.

Festivals and local Customs

The Spring Festival春节: this festival supposed to be the most important one for all of Chinese, especially the HAN people. The date is according to the Lunar Calendar: the first day of the Lunar year. This also being called ‘Chinese New Year?or ‘the Lunar Year?/span>阴历年 . Spring Festival seems like Christmas for people in the west. People would return home to meet all of family members, have better foods and change new clothes on etc.. Children like it the most. Older people might think in different way. They might consider that the Spring Festival for them means another one year older.