Journey Through China's Cities - Urban Travel Documentary

China is one of the world’s most fascinating and complicated countries, and its cities seem to get bigger every year. Considered a rural society just a few decades ago, China today is home to the world’s largest urban population.

In this travel documentary, I take you on a journey through some of the country’s most interesting cities. While many city centers are filled with modern skyscrapers, we also search for more traditional neighborhoods, historic sites, tranquil parks, special events, and cultural activities. We look at the rapid changes China is undergoing in its urbanization process, and mention some of the challenges the country is facing.

From the modern megacities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou we travel to the ancient centers of Beijing and Xian. We visit the popular Summer holiday beaches of coastal Qingdao, and the exciting Winter festivals of Harbin. From the streets of fusion cities like Hong Kong and Macau we continue our journey to Tibetan Lhasa, located on the Rooftop of the World. We also take a look at the disappearing alleys of old Kashgar, in the controversial Xinjiang region, and the empty streets of Ordos, China’s best known ghost town. And we explore the expanding urban centers along the Yangtze river, including Wuhan and Chongqing, all the way to the fast paced metropolis of Shanghai.

I traveled through China independently for more than a decade, on several occasions. The footage in this video was shot between 2010 and 2019, and is accompanied by background information. For more in-depth information on each place, I recommend to read, watch, and listen to as many different sources as you can.

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Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media

Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video:

We begin our journey in Shanghai, one of China’s most remarkable cities. Its skyline has become a symbol for the country’s economic growth. While we look at the modern face of Shanghai, I also visit some more traditional neighborhoods, even though they are disappearing fast.

We travel onwards to Harbin, in the North of China, to visit a spectacular Winter festival, with sculptures and palaces made from ice and snow, which draws millions of tourists every year. Beijing, the nation’s capital, is our next destination. This is the political heart of China, but also brims with culture and creativity.

In Chongqing, located on the mighty Yangtze river, we witness some of the urbanization process, while in Lhasa we look at the traditions and customs of the Tibetan people. We travel onwards to Xian, where we walk on the ancient city walls, eat some delicious food in the Muslim neighborhood, and visit the magnificent Terracotta Army.

After Xian, we travel to Ordos, China’s best known ‘ghost town’. After which we continue our way to Kashgar, in the now controversial Xinjiang region, where the faith of the Uyghur people hangs in the balance. Qingdao is our next destination, one of China’s most beautiful coastal cities, where we also explore some of the suburbs.

Hong Kong is perhaps the perfect mix between East and West. A short ferry ride away, Macau retains some of its Portuguese history, but is also known as the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’ with its many casinos. Just across the ‘border’ from both, Shenzhen has grown into one of China’s largest and wealthiest cities, while it was just a small fishing village 40 years ago.

The last two cities we visit are Wuhan and Guangzhou, which have their own distinct character. I visited Wuhan before the pandemic broke out, and found a sprawling city. Guangzhou is also a vast metropolis, and is known for its Cantonese culture and cuisine.

Timestamps / video chapters:

0:00 Introduction
2:20 Shanghai
6:53 Harbin
9:31 Beijing
13:48 Message from sponsor
15:39 Chongqing
18:25 Lhasa
23:08 Xian
26:50 Ordos
29:04 Kashgar
34:01 Qingdao
38:41 Hong Kong
44:05 Macau
46:16 Shenzhen
50:34 Transport
51:59 Wuhan
56:09 Guangzhou
59:32 End

[mseebdc]

Hi, just for discussion, I wonder why you use invade at the Tibet part, because simply Tibet region was conquered by Mongolians and become a part of the Yuan Mongolian dynasty, since then is has become a part of China through every dynasty. Including the ROC, and PRC just had the troops walked into Tibet to claim actual control, no violence and combat take part, the remaining ROC soldiers chose to switch to be PLAs. According to your attitude, should I describe Hawi as a independent region invaded by US? I feel your video is very nice made and you spend a lot time to make this a great video, however, I hope you can present less stereotype China to the YouTube audiences.

[kalarmsojib]

The gray camera, the dark sky, the camera angles in Xinjiang and Tibet...you really got the essence of the BBC!

[amberyao]

One correction: Tibet is a part of China since 1288. CPC just inherited the sovereignty of Tibet from the former gorverment.

[smallliu-wslp]

Stef, thanks for your introduction! ❤❤❤
But the difference between the Chinese cities shown in your camera and the ones I have been to is very significant, perhaps because your filming was more than a decade ago. The air in China is noticeably better now, and the streets are cleaner and cleaner.
Also, I am surprised that you used the term 'invasion of Tibet'. Because since the Yuan Dynasty in China, Tibet has always belonged to the Chinese government, and you can even see the Yonghe Palace in Beijing, the place where Tibetan religious leaders lived for a long time during the Qing Dynasty. In 1950, the CPC expelled the Dalai Lama and abolished the serfdom. In addition to the then Tibetan warlord leader, the peasants were very supportive of the CPC

[HKChineseCanadian]

Wonderful compilation of cities. I must say that most of your videos show how polluted China WAS a decade ago. Today's Chinese cities are cleaner, greener and even more developed.

[salbkbatlitec]

Am 100% sure you can't do a same video showing modern China instead of the one of 2010.. the question is what purpose to show decade old video its quiet deceptive.. China changes so fast even 5years would have a noticeable difference.

[lordnk]

Once I start working and save money, I really want to visit those big cities, to learn how those people go on and with their lives while having millions of other people around.
I am from a small island in Africa and I have never experienced what is like to live in one big mega city .

[newageoffreedom]

China is really a middle kingdom. You can enjoy the west and the east with comfort that we're used to. From American to Russian and far-flung Asian. It truly has everything. Wishing you all the best, Stef!

[tlphwfq]

I am Chinese, and by the way, I would like to answer the question raised by the blogger about our country's network blockade. What I want to say is that being able to speak here actually means that the country's control over this area is relatively relaxed. Our country's network blockade is actually for two purposes. 1. It is to break away from the control of American hegemony. We have learned from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that our country must have an independent network, Because these two countries were randomly cut off by the United States during their war with the United States, resulting in the paralysis of the entire national network, our country attaches great importance to this. 2. To prevent unrest, many people do not know that our country used to be able to use Google services, but a major event occurred in 2008 when a terrorist organization planned a terrorist attack on Facebook, The location took place in our Xinjiang region, causing widespread unrest in our country. The country put in a lot of effort to govern without success, so it made representations to Google and Facebook. However, the two companies refused to provide information about terrorist organizations on the grounds of violating personal privacy rights. As a result, our country realized that it was necessary to firmly control technology and talent in its own hands only by independently building a network, So our country has developed the Great Firewall of the Internet to prevent interference from foreign forces. Now, our country has relaxed many controls. Although we still cannot use Google services, we can use some special means to search for foreign inquiries. Our country's original intention is to prevent some brainless and simplistic people from being brainwashed. Most of the people who search for information are neutral in concept and have their own judgment ability

[Mobai.]

In the minds of Westerners, there are some prejudices and inherent impressions about China. What I want to say is that China has uneven development and a large gap between rich and poor. China is a super-large developing country, but China’s development, the speed of change is much faster than what Western countries think. Thanks to the rapid economic development, low production costs and high efficiency, highly educated workers, and industrial upgrading towards high technology, it is happening every day in many places and cities. Earth-shaking changes, your video reminded me of what it was like when I was a child, and obviously there have been too many changes now. I don’t think this is a fair and objective video that can provide many people with a correct understanding of China. I hope everyone will come. Walk around China and take a look. Maybe you still don’t like China, but your impression will definitely not be too bad.

[sgjner]

Stef, I have to applaud you for using half truth for soft propaganda, it is really a good technique, much better than Winston’s work! Purposely omitting some facts mixing with outdated videos footages while display “Stef Hoffer 2023” through out your entire video is also a good choice! It makes people believe all are taken recently, especially that part about Xinjiang - such a underdeveloped placed for Uyghurs in sharp contrast to those modern none Uyghur cities. I love your occasionally using the word “invade Tibet” “ million of Uyghur in concentration “, it blends into your soft propaganda narrative so smoothly yet it can definitely leaves the ‘desire’ impression on your audience quietly.

[cnbigonion]

Generally a good, informative video depicting the China of about a decade ago. Although regretably, you mentioned the Xinjiang "concentration camp" story as if it is a proven fact, not a mere political speculation.

[marcusarphaxad]

A beautiful and well presented documentary - thank you!

[hi]

You need to update to the latest version in 2023.

[dqpoodl]

Most of the content in the video is not current, but from ten years ago. The current Chinese cities are very different from the ones in the video. I hope you to update the latest city scene.

[kolviczd]

Looks like an old footage of like 5-6 years ago. People are not wearing mask and fashion sense seems a bit out of date too compared to present time. A lot has/can changed in just 5 years especially in China. In all other recent vlogs I've seen from China, most people are still wearing mask even without government mandate.

[frankyao]

I am Chinese, hope you can visit China again, we are much better than several years ago, air is much better, street is cleaner, and even rural areas are much better, we are changing so fast

[wlee]

The contents in this video seem to be so out of dated about China. I've just come back from China, everything there is so amazing and developed.

[sandifenandes]

China is already very different in 2023.

[hvhqlqx]

Amazing video, must been a loooottt of job, thank you for making it :)