Inside Wuhan 🇨🇳 - Are They Hiding Something? (#159)

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Published 2023-09-10

In early 2020, in a little known Chinese city, an event that would change the world forever began. That city, of course, was Wuhan. I’ll never forget it. I was living in Shanghai at the time, and was getting ready to take a vacation for the upcoming Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday in the country. A little over a month later, as the outbreak slowly spread to other cities and eventually other countries, I decided to catch a flight back home to New York and ride out the madness there. I figured it’d all be over in a few months. Little did I know, that decision would change my life. China closed the borders soon after, and I was stranded abroad. I had never been to Wuhan during the 7 years I lived in China. To be honest, I never gave it much thought. Many people assume it’s some backwater place, the kind of city where people were eating bats. On my return trip to the country, I wanted to actually visit the city and see if that was a fair description. Wuhan is hardly a small town: it’s the 8th largest city in China. It also has a very important history that stretches way back past 2020. But of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see where everything began 3 years ago. I had to see it for myself.

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All Comments (21)

@SabbaticalTommy 10 months ago

People are people..
@itravelworlds 10 months ago

You being able to chat with locals in their native language definitely sets this channel on whole another level. Love it.
@J-217 10 months ago

Your videos do a great job of showing off the friendliness that the average Chinese person has towards foreigners. So disarming to be reminded that they’re like people anywhere else. Sad to see how geopolitics warps our perceptions of our fellow humans. This is important work you’re doing
@JobOthoniel 9 months ago

4:04 , This is the example of real chinese people, all are very friendly, some are mad or had bad days, but in general are very friendly.
@passby8070 9 months ago

That grandpa is the coolest hommie I've ever seen! Absolutely love that interaction!
@MishaElRusito 10 months ago

Lmao that grandpa is a character. Your videos are part of the reason I started learning Chinese, and they are very helpful for practicing it.
@tonepoet 10 months ago

I love it, the dude is choking down a smoke while exercising. THAT'S the way you do it!! Thanks for the tour, Tommy.
@rlwings 8 months ago

I love your calm approach. Many travelling Youtubers come across waaaay too hyper. I tire of these guys very quickly. But you are very good at cultivating peace and serenity... Very enjoyable, thoughtful and informative. Thank you!
@nyrbsamoht 9 months ago

3:53 This type of dude is so typical of my time in China - In the more rural areas or in parks - people who are not rich or snobby like in the middle of the citys. These were consistently the nicest and most generous and friendly people I have met anywhere in my travels around world. The middle or lower class chinese. So generous and genuinely interested. They really really appreciated a foreigner taking time to learn the language. The men would always ply you with cigs and always give you a couple for the road aswell. very fond memories.
@mmuzzwell3654 10 months ago

Absolutely brilliant start to this... They should make that smoking tennis player an ambassador. What a cool guy. The environment of Wuhan and it's people wouldn't be that out of place in Europe. Great vlog.
@liyu_cn 9 months ago

as a wuhanese, i would like to tell you that the old man treated you in the most friendly way as he could. it's really hard to totally understand a culture as a foreigner, either any special culture in different parts of china.
@shanghaiffgg 21 days ago

I am an Irishman who has been living in China for 17 years. I think your representation of China is fair and balanced. Amazing people and horrific government sums it up for me. the foreign community was devastated during covid when most people left and never came back. It's common for me to go days in Beijing without seeing a single foreigner.
@owenayre8797 9 months ago

I'm glad you accepted the smoke. On a recent trip to the Pudong airport, the driver busted out the smokes at the end of the ride. Not being in a rush and not really a smoker, it was worth taking the time to chat with the man over a cigarette. It is a form of greeting, bonding experience, and a ceremony of sorts.
@peetiegonzalez1845 10 months ago

I love the wholesome uncle exercising with a cig hanging out of his mouth. What a great encounter. Thanks for documenting these amazing travels. I hope you got out of there before posting these!
@waynem7186 10 months ago

The people of China are so kind, warm, and generous it seems. This is a great series. I'm really enjoying this and looking forward to my trip throughout China.
@marttivallila 6 months ago

Very well done. This is one of the most entertaining and informative travel videos I have seen. What comes across strong and clear is how appreciative the Chinese are of any foreigner that speaks their language. I am prepared to follow you around the country to other places. Happy travels!
@xingyuw7868 1 month ago

Even I am a Chinese, I still can get a lot of fun from video through your communication with the local people. Thanks
@bsr6823 10 months ago

Chinese people are so amazing. Such a beautiful country with so many thousands of years of history. I dream of visiting there once in my lifetime.
@NowInIwoN 10 months ago

Amazing job. This is high quality travel "vlogging" imo. You added so much dimension to a city that definitely is viewed in a skewed ignorant way by so so many people. You humanized it. Thats a successful mission I'd say. Thank you. The old dude smoking while working out is the Man!
@paullewis6213 5 months ago

I visited Wuhan last June and had an amazing few days there. I too was one of the few foreigners and went to the site of the wet market. It’s an overwhelming feeling to be at the centre of an historic event that had such a profound impact on the world. Now the city has regained its energy. People were friendly, food was wonderful and so many beautiful sites along the river and East Lake. Absolutely worth a visit!