Taiwan's little brother mainland travel: mobile phone payment came out, dumbfounded! Electric cars are running all over the streets, and there is a mystery behind it?
I just finished reading an article about the impressions of Taiwan netizens after traveling to the mainland, and to be honest, it made me cry and laugh. This Taiwan compatriot went on a trip to Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, and when he returned, he shouted that the mainland was not as developed and prosperous as he imagined. I wondered, is this guy wearing tinted glasses?
If you want to talk about the degree of prosperity, which is not a well-known big city in Suzhou, Hangzhou, or Shanghai? Take Suzhou, where I often go, for example, the rows of skyscrapers on the shore of Jinji Lake, brightly lit at night, are comparable to Manhattan, New York. Those high-end hotels on the edge of Hangzhou's West Lake, any one of them costs thousands of yuan a night. As for Shanghai, not to mention, the night view of the Bund can make people stunned.
But then again, this Taiwan friend is not entirely unreasonable. He mentioned an interesting observation – the difference in payment methods. In our mainland, there are fewer and fewer people who go out with cash now. I myself have a few cards in my wallet, and I usually rely on my phone to buy things. After scanning the code, the money will be on the merchant's account, which is very convenient.
Taiwan, on the other hand, is said to be mainly cash-based. I suddenly remembered that when I went to Taiwan a few years ago, it was indeed like this. Every time I buy something, I have to take out a handful of bills to count, and I feel like a rich man. Now that I think about it, I really miss that feeling.
Speaking of which, I'm reminded of an interesting episode. Once when I was shopping in a small shop in Suzhou, I habitually took out my mobile phone to scan the code. The proprietress smiled and said, "Big brother, we don't need to be so high-end here, just cash." I was stunned for a moment, and then I realized that I had almost forgotten how to use cash.
The Taiwan friend also mentioned a phenomenon - the popularity of electric vehicles. Indeed, there are more and more electric cars running on the street now. I have several charging stations downstairs in my house, and electric cars are parked every night. It's quiet, eco-friendly, and comfortable to ride.
However, this friend's concern that the popularity of electric vehicles will push up electricity prices is a point that struck me. To be honest, I really didn't think about it. But if you think about it carefully, it doesn't seem to be unreasonable. After all, so many cars have to be charged, so a lot of electricity is used, right?
But then again, isn't the government's promotion of electric vehicles to reduce pollution and protect the environment? Even if the price of electricity goes up even a little bit, I think it's worth it. Besides, who knows if there will be cheaper and cleaner energy in the future?
In the end, the observation of this Taiwan friend is quite interesting. While some places may not be fully understood, they also give us a new perspective. Sometimes, what we take for granted may seem new to outsiders. Doesn't this just show that there are still many things worth learning and exchanging between the two sides of the strait?
Think about it, if one day, Taiwan's night market food stalls can also use Alipay to pay bills, how interesting it would be! Or one day our convenience store can be open 24 hours a day, like Taiwan, and you can buy whatever you want at any time. Isn't this kind of integration exactly what we are looking forward to?
Therefore, I think the perception of this Taiwan friend is not so much a criticism as a kind reminder. It allows us to see our strengths and reminds us that there is still room for improvement. After all, whether it is the mainland or Taiwan, we are all Chinese and hope for a better life.
Speaking of which, I'm quite curious, what do you think of this Taiwan friend's impression? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. Let's discuss and discuss together, maybe we can collide with new sparks!