What do foreigners, especially Americans think of China?

In the west, one of the favorite questions that foreign colleagues, friends or teachers just met is: "What is the most shocking and strange thing for you when you come to our country?" If you want to answer this question honestly, the answer should be: everything here is similar to what I imagined. There is a simple reason. Today's people in China have a comprehensive and accurate understanding of western politics, culture and life through newspapers, television, movies and the Internet. When I was abroad, I really didn't feel the cultural shock except that the language didn't adapt for a while. Many foreign friends are naturally dissatisfied with this answer. Based on their understanding of China, they think that you come from the hinterland on the "yellow land" where red lanterns are still hung high. When I first arrived in our developed world, I must be dizzy and feel a lot!

2. When did Beijing change its name?

When going abroad, foreigners always ask when "Peking" (the usual spelling of "Beijing" in English in the past) was changed to "Beijing" (now the Chinese pinyin of "Beijing" has become an international common spelling). I always answer this question confidently: Beijing is Beijing, and I have never changed my name, but the pinyin method has been changed to China Hanyu Pinyin. But once, a Frenchman who knows a little Chinese went on to ask: Then why do foreign countries often use "China" instead of Chinese spelling? I was speechless for a moment. Yes, China is "China" in English, "Chine" in French (pronounced "Yin Shi"), "Yin Si" in Arabic and "Jin" in Thai, but it's really not called "China" or "Zhonghua" (Chinese). But don't worry, Taiwan Province Province will return to the motherland in the future, and China's foreign name may be China after reunification.