7 Differences in Everyday Life between China and the U.S.

As a Chinese-American who grew up in the U.S., moved to China as a teenager, then returned to the U.S. for college and work, cultural differences between the two countries is often on my mind.

I just returned from a two-week trip around several major Chinese cities, and this trip, in particular, made me realize the many differences in everyday life between China and the U.S., many of which I did not consciously notice before.

Here is a few of the them, along with some history, context, and my own hypotheses.

1. Paying with phones and scanning QR codes is ubiquitous.

QR codes for Alipay and WeChat Pay are everywhere. (Image source)

Since its launch in 2014, the payment feature in WeChat has dramatically accelerated digital mobile payments throughout China. Alipay, or zhi fu bao (支付宝) in Chinese, was the first mover in this space, starting in 2004, and is also a commonly supported payment method.

Digital, mobile payments are now the standard in China for online and in-person purchases, for everything from groceries, rent and utilities bills, taxis, and plane and train tickets.