Optimism and resilience in China's northeast

[@tonysoviet3692]

Even China got their own rustbelt. Struggles do not discriminate, and I imagine the hard-working factory workers of Liaoning would have a great time sharing a beer with workers from Pittsburg.

[@larrysmith2123]

its not the West opposites in every way

[@armandobond7736]

@@larrysmith2123I think you’d be surprised… we all have much more in common than anyone thinks

[@DmoneyS44]

@@larrysmith2123no its not the west. There are differences. But some things are common across humanity

[@DmoneyS44]

I was just watching the wire recently. Compare this place to the union bar in season 2 of the wire in baltimore…. Similarities are striking

[@GGWP-gm5cq]

⁠@@DmoneyS44Well, I grew up in Northeastern China and I am now spending time in Baltimore due to my study. There are still some differences in both city’s degradation. Baltimore seems to had a far more drastic exodus among wealthier population. This is somewhat evident with the fact that proportion of ethnic minority who are usually worse off economically (so they cannot afford to relocate) has been increasing over the years. This problem is less evident in China since the Hukou system prevents residents from freely relocating between cities (to the better or the worse). I walk into Baltimore and see a corpse of a city, but walking into Shenyang or Dalian I see one on life support. Both have passed their glory sure, but Northeastern is not completely dead just yet.

[@Chromebeetle_]

i greatly appreciated this video, which shows a very authentic and genuine side to the people of this region

[@godzillamothra5983]

Cheap tavern like this is an oasis for people who battered by harsh life out there. Few people make it in their life, achieving their dream life. Some hate their life, while most of us tolerate our life. This tavern is an oasis for people who didn't make it. Not every one can turn their life around, and not every problem can be solved by going to shrink, sometime you can only seek solace through cheap beer and drown your sorrow. It is somewhat like a palliative care for those who don't make it in life.

[@Javy_Valen_Tain]

Your words are a whole poem...

[@GeorgeMartinus]

That feels after reading your paragraph 🥲

[@mahonewithaheart]

well said.

[@dojisatchivi1664]

very interesting, and I'm a fan of the journalism style which lets the people there do most of the talking for themselves, really cool

[@evengoal1989]

"There is only one heroism in the world: to see the world as it is and to love it." --

[@jzeng2022]

This reminds me of a Japanese TV series called "Midnight Diner", and "Wanshun Beer House" also warms my heart!

[@yogitam2372]

Love Midnight Diner. That is a wonderful show.

[@xoener]

Love this showing normal people doing what they can to make a living but also at the same time doing it because she wants to support others who are just trying to make it as well

[@VREmirate]

Very cool mini-documentary. SMCP should do more of these.

[@rares1966]

As a non-Chinese, having visited some areas of the Northeast and spent some time in the smaller cities, I was deeply attracted to these local spots. I feel places like this are the heart of the communities and you get to meet some genuine and heart warming people. Many Chinese are worried that foreigners will see such places selling "basic" and "cheap" food as backwards but it is rather the opposite. These places have so much more to them than any high tech skyscraper or business districts. Really hope to see these places get the attention and recognition they deserve, the heart and soul of Chinese neighbourhoods 🙏🙏

[@luislima1438]

So many Great memories from this city ,studied there for 4 years. Don’t believe what social media tells you about China ,it’s a great country and welcomed people.

[@龚术]

谢谢你。

[@xxlxxl3153]

Thank you.

[@kristiankho]

Thank you SCMP for taking the effort to publish this piece. Very heartwarming

[@ivannovotny4552]

Absolutely amazing video presentation.

[@mypetscatsandfishes4535]

这种地方，人情味是最浓的!东北人👍🎉🎉🎉

[@KET1979]

a very touching story

[@ShengYu1995]

I miss Northeast 东北 very much. Everyone was so warm and genuine. I wish I got opportunities to go back more often. 辽阳 ❤️ 沈阳 ❤️

[@jamesfullwood7788]

Very nice film Thomas!!!!

[@ericzhang1565]

more of these types of documentaries please!

[@idreamofmusic]

Thank you for the heartwarming documentary!

[@charlesskidd]

What a great documentary. This reminds me about all the things people in the NE provinces went through.

[@havencat9337]

i come from a poorer european country and lived in France and UK many years, now im in China for the last 3 years. I can tell you in the west sadly theres many poor who cant find a place like this. in China theres a restaurant for poor and for rich, thats a big difference and makes the country great.

[@jeremyjackson7429]

Most of the blue collar workers in cities keep all their meals under $1. Rice, egg, and a few pickled vegetables.

[@Hkchinese888]

You can't even find a proper job in your own country, let alone in Western Europe.

[@Hkchinese888]

But I agree with you, chyna is a better choice for a loser like you.

[@Hkchinese888]

But I agree with you, chyna is a better choice for a lo ser

[@yeeeeeha]

Lol, losers keep whining that jobs stolen by other countries

[@vzs1108]

That's my hometown. My lovely people. I miss them.

[@GeoLord6277]

Wow such an interesting and touching story! 🥺More videos like these please!

[@felixfelucci6955]

More documentaries like this please!

[@thomaslong8448]

Please, please, please...

[@andyroach420]

This was beautiful. A place for working people to share enjoy and relax. The female owner has a beautiful heart. Grat video.

[@chenghonggoh4746]

I remember the late 90s northeast. It wasn't an easy time for a lot of people . A lot of moved to Japan to find work.

[@zacksmith5963]

@@chenghonggoh4746 source ? Proof ?

[@saginaur]

​@@zacksmith5963 In the mid-to-late 1990s, China had not yet joined the WTO, and the reforms of state-owned enterprises led to many workers being laid off. This was a very hard period.

[@zacksmith5963]

@@saginaur again . That's story for everyone . China in 90s was still thriving and moving forward faster then many nations

[@NPJGlobal]

7:59 Nice touch how the lights turned off in sync with the music! Well done to whoever edited the video

[@CabbageMan23]

Love the production. ❤❤

[@pandadaggy2383]

Great film! ❤

[@yijiequ662]

Is Shenyang somewhat like the Rust Belt? My part of Canada, once a thriving coal mining town, used to have a vibrant pub scene. However, since the government declared war on carbon and natural resources, things have changed dramatically. Beer now carries some of the highest carbon taxes due to its CO2 emissions, leading to the closure of one pub after another. These days, even the middle class in Canada can no longer afford to dine out regularly. Compared to China, I believe that since Canada embraced Woke policies, the overall quality of life has declined.

[@PCDisciple]

Wonderful video, one of my favorites of yours. I would love to visit

[@acidbronson9712]

This was lovely. The piano bit at the end perfectly in sync with turning out the lights was perfect

[@prabhugautham]

Very nice video presentation.

[@indianrunner666]

hace mucho no veía algo tan bueno

[@harrycallahan6623]

Fascinating look at life in China. More please!

[@joshzhang7041]

the SCMP is so great for videos like this on China.

[@rangeewang7383]

whoever did the subtitles did a very poor job translatiing their dialects...

[@ChaoticDarko]

such a interesting story it really is sad what covid did to everybody my blessings go to everybody

[@phillip76]

I love this so much.

[@lokesh303101]

Yes!

[@dankshirt4085]

amazing video

[@raymondacbot4007]

These captions are very inaccurate

[@tarostartic8833]

oversimplified, definitely

[@taahirkamalchagan4018]

Beautiful ❤️

[@lazyboyterry]

there is no optimism, only realization of there is no hope and accept it .

[@_MANASYt]

Nice story..and my wife is from Fushun... Next door to Shenyang 😊

[@zwartepeat3552]

Simply human

[@jonathanputrahartono4774]

shenyang miss you so much.. !! wo ai shenyang !!!

[@AbahTongseng]

the editing is amazing. simple, but perfect

[@yulei9721]

Great place

[@Gpenguin01]

China’s “rust belt” is 1000x more vibrant than America’s “rust belt”

[@scarlet_phonavis6734]

Well yeah, that’s where the jobs went. The shutdown of the American rust belt is very well documented No worries though, the chinese one will dissappear too if forced to deal with things like “The fourteenth amendment” or “Labor standards” or “The currency not being devalued for an export economy”

[@cooltwittertag]

​@@scarlet_phonavis6734being against labor standards is a major piggie moment

[@hehe-mq2bk]

well with violent crimes in America on the rise, what can anyone really expect?

[@zacksmith5963]

​@@scarlet_phonavis6734 source ? Proof ???

[@XanSter856]

But it still cost money

[@ThisPartIsAndrew]

I seen the video of the dude peeing in the beer and I will not be partaking

[@thomaslong8448]

For 6 yuan, less than 1 dollar, he got a healthy dish, bowl of rice and rice spirit -- i wish i am living in China. 😢

[@larrysmith2123]

there is nothing healthy about Mainland Chinese food now. it's disgusting better go Taiwan

[@GeorgiaClark-j7m]

Blessings!

[@XanSter856]

I know the poor do not get to receive a formal education. But I do hope they now somewhat about financial litriture. Cheap or not. Money will run out, without income.

[@vzs1108]

The Northeast still has the most education region. It has the highest number of colleges and universities per city.

[@GxTENG]

沈阳我的故乡❤

[@personwithnomeans709]

东北唯一不太好的地方就是太冷

[@danielctgoh6790]

could you please provide the address of this place so that I can go to this place. I am from Australia. Thanks.

[@MacKinffinBridges]

53 Fuxin 2 St, Heping District, Shenyang, Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110002. It's on google map. Just type Wanshun Beer House.

[@一朵小红花]

In China, every city has such a place. Welcome to China for experience.❤

[@thomaslong8448]

For less than 1 dollar, you can fill up your stomach with healthy food and get tipsy too. Paradise!

[@thomaslong8448]

I wish to meet you there so we can drink together. 😊

[@Korhleax]

Hold my 🦇🍺

[@DavidFoo-kh4ri]

It's not unfair to compare Shenyang to Detroit😢

[@holdinmuhl4959]

There were many of such places in West Germany and earlier in many places in Germany as well. A culture that has gone with the traditional working class.

[@8pija22]

底特律没有收到改革开放的影响而且沈阳市没有那么的人口不同，但是没错他们两个都是工业城市

[@CTOInformation]

东北必须独立！❤❤❤❤❤

[@0Chujo0]

Is it me or are there a lot of young people in that tavern for the unemployed?

[@KET1979]

no worries, go and find a job and stop whinning..lol

[@szbxa-x4c]

going to taverns in general is a young people's thing in China.

[@godzillamothra5983]

it is not tavern for the unemployed, it is a tavern where even unemployed can enjoy. Do you seriously think that young people who said he has visited many countries, unemployed?🤣

[@suckmemore]

R u a loooooooooser?

[@0Chujo0]

1:23 paradise for the poor 😂😂😂😂😂

[@texassabre7214]

A pitch of beer for 1 dollar?

[@CharlieSui-o4n]

在中国有句俗语，"民以食为天"，无论生活是否艰难，吃饭一定要体面 we Chinese have an old saying, "Food is the most important thing for the people." No matter how tough life gets, one must always eat with dignity.

[@KaerKing]

China's Rust Belt

[@VivaLaEdits]

❤

[@数根朽木]

真·宝藏餐厅

[@Richard-l7u5b]

Remained me of the tv show "Cheers".

[@doandaihiep8515]

ppl do spit a lot

[@web3wizard381]

true female entrepeneur. beautiful

[@xihuantiyu]

Painful to watch

[@twa9342]

SCMP still probably the best media out there - always people focused

[@krnpowr]

Seems like a cool place to hang out.

[@waynenathan2608]

Detroit of china

[@larrysmith2123]

no Bangkok of China or some other undeveloped Asian city. USA is an advance Western civilization bye

[@shundi4264]

Much better than guns, drugs and tents on American streets.

[@misterbig9025.]

Cheenk bot spotted

[@shundi4264]

@misterbig9025. I speak the truth. When you blindly accuse people with opposing views as bots, you are the real bot.

[@torelloBank]

@@misterbig9025. he was telling the truth, no need to be salty

[@misterbig9025.]

@torelloBank he is a cheenk liar

[@wenyewlee]

that's real. would love to see more of this content telling stories from across China 👍🏽👍🏽

[@isleephungry]

Argentine barbecue + beer😍😻😋😁

[@wsd1984]

纪实72小时的风格

[@HoldMyCowsberg]

In Eendian taverns, we only serve 🐄🍺👍🏻

[@DavidFoo-kh4ri]

And to relieve yourself..anywhere and everywhere is the norm😂

[@HoldMyCowsberg]

@DavidFoo-kh4ri Superior culture, sarr ✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻

[@Hkchinese888]

In chyna we serve Tsingtao urinary beer

[@HoldMyCowsberg]

@@Hkchinese888 F 🇹🇼 😎

[@DavidFoo-kh4ri]

​@@Hkchinese888while in your "area" you can only afford plain water mixed with poo

[@monzurchowdhury6082]

Real time video

[@larrysmith2123]

I bet the beer is fake for that price sorry nobody in the world believes this story 😂

[@thomaslong8448]

Please cope better and don't forget to take your medication. 😅

[@larrysmith2123]

you can't accept criticism hah

[@Jonathan-Pilkington]

@@larrysmith2123 what is fake beer?

[@user-vv7ir1pl4j]

scmp not making anti china news 😬😬😬😬

[@kocokan]

Working class pov

[@MinLi-p7s]

深夜食堂

[@PKP1]

Theyre not being told the truth.

[@Hkchinese888]

Impossible, our leader told us there were 5% gdp growth, everyone has highly paid job, chyna had become a developed country. 🤣🤣🤣

[@DDDrumpf]

Well, China is developing country, yet it is much much better than the so-called advanced developed economies!! So???

[@josephdewuhan]

This was 20 years ago.

[@Hkchinese888]

@@josephdewuhan but the video said there were unemployed ppl

[@hahahaffffffffff]

the city Shengyang has been growing fast in the last 30 years compared to most countries, however, it was slow compared to other region in China, so the GDP share of Northeast dropped from 20% to 5%, just because other regions in china grew much faster.

[@Hkchinese888]

@@hahahaffffffffff the myth of 600 million live in poverty must be a lie

[@edwinhsugiono]

This is why the country is stalling

[@xanderpiz8770]

Which country is stalling? China's economy is transforming again to adapt to new challenges.

[@maje9448]

Separate

[@maje9448]

separate, headquarter, dispute

[@easychang4261]

Their resilience comes from their Mongolian ancestry 🎉

[@extrastout1111]

you know nothing. majority are from the central plains region during migration in the late 1800s

[@suckmemore]

This "rust belt" soon will be rich!

[@proud_chinese_traitor]

Still president XI spend our tax money in Africa or himself

[@DDDrumpf]

You are wrong. China use its forex to create market for Chinese products and services all over the world, including in Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, everywhere ...

[@datamagic7214]

你的思维和傻子一样

[@misterbig9025.]

​@@DDDrumpfwhile cheenk corona land has 600 million in poverty, xi jinpig happily sends money to africa