8 More Sounds in China that Drive Expats Insane (Part II)

 8 More Sounds in China that Drive Expats Insane (Part II)
Jun 24, 2015 By Trey Archer , eChinacities.com

You may have read Part I of this series a few years ago, and then probably saw it again on other social media outlets recently. Due to popular demand, we’ve had no other choice but to bring it back. However, this time we will be taking some of your comments into consideration. The comment section in the first article was packed with suggestions of other incredibly annoying made-in-China sounds, so let’s hear what else is driving the expat world insane.

1) Cellphone Shouting

Coineineagh stated that people shouting into cell phones is actually more annoying than the outrageous rings themselves. Thank you for your input, Coineineagh, I totally agree. The only thing that’s possibly more annoying than Chinese cellphone ring tones is the ear-piercing shouts screamed into them. For some inexplicable reason, it’s quite common for people to yell at the top of their lungs while chatting on their cells. The reason? I’m not really sure, my reception is perfectly fine here and I very rarely have problems communicating. In the cases where cell coverage is bad, I send a WeChat or text. Problem solved, ear-drums salvaged.

2) Chinese New Year Fireworks

Zhuxi87 noted that fireworks around Chinese New Year is maddening. In fact, I can’t believe I left this one out on the first article! For about two weeks before AND after Chinese New Year day, there are random explosions of fireworks, fire crackers, and any other gunpowder-filled device that’d be illegal back home. However, the absolute worse is when there are hours left to go before the clock strikes midnight, and a barrage of shock-and-awe that’ll make you feel like you’re in Baghdad circa 2003 rips through the entire country! It’s impossible to sleep, and apart from the noise pollution, there’s major “real” pollution from the smoky aftermath. Despite a recent government ban on fireworks and firecrackers, the people continue this ancient ear-popping tradition.

3) Street Sweeper Anthems

A few of you out there like seansarto ranted about the street sweepers that play goofy little anthems like “Happy Birthday” and “It’s a Small World.” When I first read these comments, a sighed and thought, “It’s not really that bad.” But after careful consideration, I realized the problem with these street sprayers (besides wasting enormous amounts of waters just to keep the streets moist) is that the song gets super annoying after the gazillionth time. And to make it even worse, if you just so happen to live on of the dust-busters’ morning routes, these tunes will surely become your new alarm clock.

4) Horns

DaqingDevilcomplained about car horns. Eureka! Of course! Honking, honking and more honking! This might be one of the biggest nuisances out there. Car horns, scooter horns, e-bike horns… they come in all shapes and sizes, with all different pitches, but the one thing that is certain is the constant sound of beeeeeep that echoes all the live-long day. My personal favorite (note the sarcasm) is when I’m crossing the street with the pedestrian green light shining brightly and some jerk driver with the palm plastered to the horn comes plowing through with no regard to the law or human life. 

5) Loud Speaker Announcements

NightOwl90 is perturbed by the roaring announcements found… well, found just about everywhere! Supermarkets, parks, schools, fake stones (yes, public service announcements blast out of speakers hidden fake rocks for some only-God-knows-why reason), etc. They tell you to pick up your trash, be kind and courteous to others to create a “peaceful and harmonious society,” not to smoke, queue up in line, and ironically not make too much noise. The most irritating thing about all of this, besides the repetition, repetition and repetition, is that no one even listens to the announcements because obviously no one follows any of these orders.

6) Park Dancing Grandmas

Six words: Old women dancing in the park. If you haven’t seen them, you haven’t lived in China. They’re in big cities and villages alike, and they’re always rocking the latest Chinese techno remix of Ibiza Rave Hits 1997 (replaced with juiced-up Mandarin lyrics, of course). The music they bump is atrocious and it always ruins an evening stroll. But maybe I’m being a little too hard on the old-timers; they do seem to be having a blast. Unfortunately for them, nonetheless, the government has started a crackdown on park-dancing nannies, so their days might very well be numbered.

7) Karaoke Singers

Gweilo Grievances: My sister who just moved to Hong Kong has her input. One thing that really ticks her off are the karaoke singers found all over Hong Kong (but mostly in Kowloon). Pretty much, they’re the HK version of Mainland dancing nannies, but you can hear some truly horrendous voices belting Teresa Teng classics at all hours of the day and night. Again, their situation is similar to the park dancing grannies, but different since years of smoking, baijiu, and pollution truly do some incredible erosion on the vocal chords. 

8) Laowai Laowai!

Last but not least is the word laowai itself. Almost everywhere you go, especially in smaller towns but also occasionally in larger places like Beijing and Shanghai, you are guaranteed to hear it if you have a non-Chinese face. There’s much debate on whether the word laowai (meaning “foreigner” in Mandarin) is derogatory or not, but no matter what your stance is, getting called out for looking different is never fun, especially when it happens over 20 times in one day. All joking aside, I played the laowai-count game when I was in a small city in Henan and heard laowai a record breaking 28 times within a three-hour period. Beat that!

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Keywords: Annoying sounds in China Expats in China

28 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.

Lauwrence

Sound of the dice games... Anyone? When I arrived in China I simply changed my name to "Lao Wai" and felt like a bloody rockstar everytime they'd call me :-P Coincedentally my (Dutch) nickname is Lau...

Oct 26, 2016 15:08 Report Abuse

Guest14335250

Laowai! Hahahaha certainly annoying!

Jul 15, 2015 07:49 Report Abuse

q8chine

  (3)(0) exploitation of desperation

Jul 12, 2015 03:24 Report Abuse

fortyuyao

Oh no, for me and my wife the worst zaoyin wuran is e-bike alarms. Do they do any good at all or are they just horribly annoying?

Jul 03, 2015 18:02 Report Abuse

Benjamin321

The noise levels from general conversation in most restaurants, canteens, or hell even cafes is something you just have to block out.

Jul 03, 2015 03:09 Report Abuse

marionraimbault

You forgot another major noisy nuisance in China, the guttural noisy spitters!! I've been living in the South of China for a year now and I'm not sure if it's a BAD habit particularly spread over here but GEEZE how noisy and nasty it is!! Impossible to walk 10 meters without hearing deep throat clearing, and not only from old men but also young women or old grandmas, everybody joins in!!

Jul 01, 2015 20:17 Report Abuse

Guest2239322

WHat about sound that chinese make which comes from their mouth such as burping or clearing the throat before spitting.

Jul 01, 2015 10:01 Report Abuse

dashuconsulting

I am a large laowai. Married to a Chinese. All these sounds are part of the experience. In smaller towns, I am treated like a rock star. Chinese take pictures of me holding hands with my wife. In many years, I have found Chinese people to be curious, and polite. I try to return this politeness. China rocks!!

Jun 30, 2015 13:48 Report Abuse

XiaoMe

That's the spirit, rock star. It's funny you put it that way. mix the cultures and mutual respect that is the attitude from world citizens. And I think this kind of article is rude to generalize the spitting and speak on the phone or whatever, I know so many Chinese that aren't like this. So as our friend say, take the complete package and enjoy the experience. We are not good or bad, we are simply the product of the place we were born.

Jun 30, 2015 15:42 Report Abuse

XiaoMe

I just wonder how a person like Mr Archer that traveled the world, more than 80 countries , still don't learn how to be a proper guest . When you fell uncorfartble in somebody home just leave and go back to your American dream, ok the part about the dream it's a joke. I've being in USA among other 3 world country's and I have to say I never seen so many rude, arrogant and uneducated persons anywhere in the world, so it's better start cleaning home than start complaining about others. I think it's very USA article, rude and arrogant as always. For a expatriate I think there are more helpful articles. PS. Sorry about my English and all the mistakes.

Jun 30, 2015 09:54 Report Abuse

seansarto

I've been namechecked. Still can't stand the dust trucks.

Jun 25, 2015 22:13 Report Abuse

petecowell

A few years ago I was having a pint at the bar in Sasha's, in Shanghai, minding my own business, when several garrulous, bright young things from the UK and North America breezed through the door. They ordered champagne - then sent it back claiming it was too warm - and settled on Tsing Tao. All the while they were clicking their fingers at the staff. The sound of that was pretty annoying.

Jun 25, 2015 20:33 Report Abuse

AAAUSA1983

Candy crush on extra loud volume, the chirps, whirls and buzzes from phones, even in meetings, screaming instead of talking, constant construction, slamming doors, poorly behaved children. It would take me all day to list all of my grievances.

Jun 25, 2015 14:54 Report Abuse

The-Final-Say

There is a sound I really dislike. It is the sudden sucking sound between the two front teeth and touching the tongue like a slurp/snap sound, much like the sounds rodents make. They do this sound when showing disgust or frustration. One example would be when I get into a taxi and tell the driver where I want to go which happens to be "inconvenient". He will make this sound through his teeth all the way to the destination. Another is when taking the buses and the traffic is very bad, half of the passengers are snapping air through the teeth in an annoying manner. How about the Tarzan callers and caterwallers of the early morning recycling, shoe repairing people, and knife sharpeners? They start doing this at 6am in the morning in some places, really loud with their blair horns.

Jun 24, 2015 17:39 Report Abuse

Guest14204170

Well for them it's just a way of thinking/remembering, the same as saying "well..." or "eh..." in English... I guess your taxi driver is just not sure about which road to take or unhappy with the traffic situation...

Jun 26, 2015 08:07 Report Abuse

Robk

Another extremely annoying noise (well to me at least) is when the old aunties or Grandmothers are gossiping outside. They are EXTREMELY loud, they all talk at once (it is really weird) and they all sound like someone is strangling a rooster or a duck with high pitched arrogant tones. I would prefer them dancing than gossiping.

Jun 24, 2015 17:00 Report Abuse

Guest2781358

I do the same but my Chinese is really really basic and they've figured out that they can speed up or switch to a older way of speaking and I'm oblivious.

Jun 25, 2015 07:55 Report Abuse

henry.lam260988

Don't forget the people on buses or the subway who watch their annoying TV shows on loudspeaker. Buy some headphones damn it!

Jun 24, 2015 15:54 Report Abuse

Nessquick

Or those who talk at top of their lungs, it always scare me as their bark out of nothing in a loudness that next city can hear them and continue this "talk". and, often don't forgot to add tamada in every sentence at least twice.

Jun 24, 2015 13:40 Report Abuse

knightly

Its e-bike alarms and firecrackers setting off e-bike alarms and firecrackers setting off e-bike alarms making dogs bark and ....

Jun 24, 2015 13:02 Report Abuse

Guest2368048

"My sister who just moved to Hong Kong has her input. One thing that really ticks her off are the karaoke singers found all over Hong Kong (but mostly in Kowloon)." There are a few sealed off streets in Kowloon's shopping area where street performers are allowed, from singing to painting. If you find it in other areas you call the police. I did that with a 'malfunctioning' car alarm. The police came in less than three minutes, called the owner who came back in two minutes and drove off, never to return. If you are unfortunate enough to have karaoke maniacs living next door you can bet they are from mainland china who generally live in Kowloon where rents are lower. Now you know why hongkongers call mainlanders locusts. A call to the police will sort them out. HK is still ruled by law. If that doesn't work ask hongkongers how they clean toilets.

Jun 24, 2015 06:54 Report Abuse

coineineagh

A new style of article that takes feedback from board members into account? Sounds like a successful tactic to me, and I'm not just saying that because I got a mention. Though I am chuffed.

Jun 24, 2015 06:52 Report Abuse

royceH

Bored members.

Jun 24, 2015 12:06 Report Abuse

smcurrey

why isn't noodle slurping on here? That is one of the first things that comes to my mind.

Jun 24, 2015 06:41 Report Abuse

Guest2781358

The frequency of "Laowai!!! grr pth spit on floor" is directly proportional to the amount of foreigners grouped together. If you're four abreast in a fifth tier city it sort of makes a mexican wave as you walk down the street, like some sort of radio letting all the townsfolk know your location.

Jun 24, 2015 05:49 Report Abuse