While China is advancing at a rapid speed, the hygiene eduction is playing catch up.

Since the younger generation despise it, I believe this unique behavior will disappear.

Before that, let’s make some theories about why do they spit on the street.

Because of diet?

Photo by Thomas Evans on Unsplash

China has variety of cuisine. One of the most prominent flavor is spicy.

麻辣(Mala) , is the most common flavor you could find for hot pot, seafood cuisine. Even White Castle has a tofu burger with this flavor.

Spicy food irritates the mucous membrane of mouth, nose, throat and sinuses.

Therefore, the diet habit could lead to the mucus clogging throat of elder people.

Because of environment?

Photo by Joey Huang on Unsplash

When you grew up in poverty, you don’t think about if the street is clean or not. You only think about survival.

The poverty line in China is defined as living with annual income of 2300 yuan($334) or less.

From 2013 to 2016, China brought 55.64 million people out of poverty.

This is only the number within three years. Imagine how many people have transcended out of poverty.

Although they are no longer poor, some habits have ingrained in them since childhood.

Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped. — Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Because of the pollution?

AQI — Air Quality Index is used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air is. The higher the number indicates a higher chance of adverse health effect.

Mucus and phlegm act as the cleansing system and defend us from pollutants.

After being exposed hazardous air condition, it’s understandable that this airway surface liquid will build up in our respiratory system.

The question is how do we expel this liquid in a civil manner?

Because of smoking?

Photo by Irina Kostenich on Unsplash

As the People’s Republic of China is the world’s largest consumer and producer of tobacco: there are 350 million Chinese smokers, and China produces 42% of the world’s cigarettes. — according to source.

When the chemicals from burning tobacco come in contact with mucous membrane of respiratory tract, it generates irritation which increase saliva production.

While it’s not an excuse to spit on the street, because other country has smokers too, this could also explain the expectoration.

Conclusion

While spitting on the street is not patented by Chinese people, this certainly affects Chinese tourists’ reputation.

China and Chinese people are improving everyday. I would urge people not to judge in haste.

An individual’s behavior doesn’t define an ethnicity’s character.

Thanks for reading

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