I'm a Portuguese American living in China. Super glad to be a part of Steemit and I choose to use it as an avenue to help give more insight to people about the world of China, specifically Jinan, China. I've been living here for about a year and a half. I grew tired of my complacent life back in the states and wanted to chase something more meaningful and obtain an experience of a lifetime. This city is pretty dope and full of wonders. Jinan is huge. 9-million-people-huge.
This is practically the heart of Jinan, China. Quancheng Guangchang or Spring City Square in English, attracts many tourists from all over China. It's most beautiful in the summer when the trees and flowers are in full bloom and the sun illuminates the whole square. Near the square are huge shopping malls, many awesome restaurants, springs, lakes and other wonderful sightseeing locations.
Shunhua Circle. Located in the east of Jinan, where i used to live. The circle illuminates beautifully at night allowing for me to take this wonderful shot.
Jellyfish Springs. All throughout the city there are pockets of awesomeness like this one that can easily be missed. It's practically a huge natural pool surrounded by a mountain. You can chill out, go for a swim and just be at peace. On the outside is the busy and bustling life of the city but inside it's as if you're away from it all.
The iconic "dick building", Ludi Zhongxin. Many foreigners here call it the "dick building" because, well, just look at it.
Almost anywhere in the city you can find delicious and amazingly cheap food like the ones above. Both dishes cost less than 3 U.S bucks each and sometimes I can barely finish my plate!
This wasn't so delicious. But hey, at least i can say I tried it.
Jinan has been an amazing experience for me so far and I've matured much and learned a lot throughout my time here.
The natives here are super friendly, the food is amazing and plenty, the city is full of spectacular scenery and life here is just overall great. But it's not for everyone. To fully enjoy what China has to offer, one must be open-minded and have patience. The culture here, while full of history and incredible, is still worlds different than western society. One huge negative about living here is dealing with the quality of the air. Jinan is one of the most polluted cities in China and it shows. The country is actively working to clean the air but as of now it is still a big issue.
Despite the smog, Jinan is still a spectacular city. On a clear and sunny day, the city really comes to life.
Lastly, this is me. So, if you care to learn more about what life is like out here in China and just have an interest in what China looks like, then go ahead and follow me. There's no harm in learning something new. Also, a friend and I have a YouTube channel further showing more about everything China. Check it out sometime! He's also on steemit so give him a follow.
https://steemit.com/@capone145
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCekbXJGpVxs-xPXwph49j2Q