Zhu Yunxi reflects on experiences in cultural fairs

The Chinese social system is typically gregarious. One of the most important reasons is 16% of the world population is Chinese. Moreover, they love to celebrate their daily life with friends and families at the fair. Hundreds of thousands of fairs are attracting people to constantly visit China.

One of the most modern recreational centers in China, Chu River-Han Street, is always attracting millions of people to visit this fair in Wuhan City.

Visitors can taste different foods from hot and dry-noodles, to the best French dishes. Others like to learn the culture, they can watch anything from the folk performing to the world’s top show stage Han-Show. Some fair goers enjoy the Ferry Chu River or the Soaring Hubei shows in the word’s biggest flying cinema theater.

The new fair no longer resembles an old fashion fair. People walk on the street, looking for anything that interests them. Bright lights surround the Chu River, crowds cluster around musicians performing, and the scent of delicious foods fills the walkways of Han Street.

Fair culture developed from the seasonal market. In the Middle Ages, many fairs emerged as volatile markets and were especially important for long-distance and international trade, as wholesale traders traveled. Sometimes they were traveling for many days to fairs where they could be sure to meet those they needed to buy or sell.

Almost each city at least has one fair, even in the small village, there are the most traditional Chinese fairs. The traditional Chinese fair is much like a farmer’s market.

There is almost no way to visit a traditional fair in the city. However, visitors can experience traditions that the Chinese people used to have, but one thing they do not see is the livestock. Do not ask the reason; none of the Chinese city government allows the livestock to run around people in the public area because they have to hire many cleaners and buy millions of cans of sprayers.

Unlike the U.S. a smaller density of population causes a phenomenon that is difficult to see many people walking on the road especially at midnight. This is when the opportunity for visitors to see the livestock walk around presents itself.

Chinese people gradually ignore the history on the way catching up with and surpassing advanced world. There are not many entertainments advertised in China. It seems that China’s 5000-year history becomes to a big package for Chinese people.

On the other side of the world, Americans do excellent to protect America’s 300-year history. The Big Fresno Fair shows a part of the traditional transaction. It seems the educational purpose of the Big Fresno Fair is to see and learn things out of a student’s daily school life.

Visitors can not see the bustling business, but the true people’s working. Stock farming is the characteristic, at The Big Fresno Fair; they pride themselves on showcasing one of the best livestock pavilions in California’s fair circuit.

There are many rides designed for kids in the little Disney. It is a very popular area, the mini ferry wheel is definitely the conspicuous ride. With this as the highest building in the Big Fresno Fair, the bright lights light up the fair grounds and night sky.

Chinese people’s aesthetic is definitely one of the world best. If visitors have seen the National Stadium (the Nest) and the Water Cube of Peking Olympic Games in 2008, also, China Pavilion of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, these destination all prove to be some of the favorites among tourists. Same as Wuhan, the biggest city in the central China.

In the Chu River-Han Street, those buildings designed as either Chinese style and Europe style; the Chu River excellent locates those patterned. Three of the best-designed buildings in China locate around the Chu River and Han Street:

1. Wanda-Wuhan Movie Park

2. Han-Show

3. The Green-Land Center (2087 ft, highest in China, second in the World).

Visitors can take the Ferry Chu River, to feel the modern-traditional difference between the high business buildings on one side and the low traditional buildings on the other side of the Chu River.

However, if visitors want to see more, the Soaring over Hubei, which shows in the word’s biggest flying cinema theater in the world, is the best choice.

When taking a stroll on the Han Street, there visitors can see Chinese traditional instruments show. Performers describe the moonlight at night by the famous instrument — “Eruhu,” the mournful sound always brings a peaceful noise.

At the Fresno fair, clowns are seen entertaining the crowd with tricks and comical games. However, clowns are not very popular in China. Surrounding the fair grounds are food trucks, selling other cultural food besides American.

The Hot-Dry Noodles is one of the most common dishes sold on Han Street. The chef takes the noodles out of the bowling water, drains it and mixes it with sesame paste. Out comes a bowl of fantastic noodles. However, do not try it at the Han Street, it is much more expensive due to the many customers. Also, tofu pudding, pan-fried dumpling, ‘sugar-coated haws on the stick’; are all customer favorites.

There are a number of differences between Chinese fairs and American fairs. Modernization of Chinese fairs over the years has managed to embody the spirit of China. China had managed to become the world’s second-largest economy in a short period of 31 years, but does not reflect the traditions and history well.

American fairs mirror its agricultural livestock spanning over the years and reflects the country’s value in the short history of 396 years. However, its aesthetics and attraction to tourists are ruined by its fair obsolete facilities, excessive neat ranging, and disorganized touting.

Fairs seemingly exists like a window to imperceptibly mirror the local humanistic culture. They reveal the local architectural style by its buildings, express the local folk culture by the performance and show the local food culture by its snacks. But fairs also act as a joyful place where its visitors can forget about their worries, have a little fun out and experience a different culture.

Although China and America are from two very different cultures, and the style of the fair is significantly different, both of them reflect a unique culture and vibe that can only be truly created by natives in that country.

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