An international traveler in China is still a relatively new experience from the Chinese perspective.  Although the country officially opened back up to the outside world in 1978, there has been a few number of outsiders coming to China (although that number is increasing and has been increasing since after the Beijing Olympic Games).  However, there are parts of China that still have never seen a person that isn’t Chinese before.  With the traveling season, a large influx of these Chinese travelers flock to big cities to see the famous sites, and Beijing is a prime destination for all of them.  Thus, going to the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace, The Bird’s Nest, etc, you will encounter a wide variety of people from extremely rural areas who have never encountered a foreigner before.  The results for a foreigner like myself can be an interesting mix of flattery, excitement, and extreme annoyance and frustration.  You feel like a celebrity when people come up to you and take photos with you, or sneakily take photos of you from a distance; but after this happening hundreds of times…..you begin to feel like an animal trapped in a zoo.

There are several ways for them to do get their coveted foreigner photos.  The first is simply asking you to take a picture with them, which is obviously the most polite method.

Ask and you shall receive! The best way to get a photo is just to ask.

Then there’s the classic, candid shot of foreigners from a distance,  This is the paparazzi money shot when they think you’re not paying attention.

Taking photos at a safe distance is the best way to prevent injury

These photos will never come out the way you want, it’s best just to ask nicely.

Then there’s my personal favorite.  The “They still haven’t discovered i’m not one of them” shot.  They sneak into your group and act like they’re listening to what you’re saying, infiltrating your group and taking surprise photos when you least expect it!

Taking photos with a group works best when you’re part of the group yourself.

You only need one brave soul to infiltrate a group for that perfect shot

Last but not least, there’s the “Pose with foreigners in their natural environment” shot.  They pretend to be on a wildlife safari and take photos posing with these wild animals that aren’t native to China.

It’s not wise to turn your back to a herd, always keep wild animals in plain sight

In all seriousness, with China’s growing economy and global influence on the world, it is sometimes difficult to imagine China as a place where people are still surprised to see a non-native face.  Despite having 56 different ethnic minorities in China, some of which appear very different from the others, there are in fact many Chinese who have never encountered someone different from themselves.  When you think about it, it makes sense.  While there are projected to be over one million foreigners living in Mainland China, the vast majority of those are in Beijing or Shanghai.  Similar to Chinese migrant workers, international traveler’s and workers flock to the big cities which offer more western amenities and comforts that are simply not available in the countryside.

The ultimate problem with this phenomenon directly mirrors problems within China as well.  The developed areas are developing both economically and culturally, but the rural countrysides and villages aren’t getting the support necessary.  There’s every reason to leave and no reason to stay unless you own land, and even then, land can only make you stay for so long when riches await in the big cities.

Location: Beijing, China