China] Hundreds of plastic bottles on used bicycles…! The traffic situation is too dynamic.

An old bicycle is pulling a cart carrying hundreds of plastic bottles and huge, bulging Zuda bags.

Overloaded cars and motorcycles carrying large numbers of people are a dynamic sight often seen on the streets of China. This is a unique traffic situation that is unimaginable in Japan and has been overlooked despite its illegality. The reason for this is said to be related to the vast land area that the country has occupied since ancient times and its large population, which is said to exceed 1.4 billion people. Chinese journalist Zhou Laiyu explains.

In order to efficiently transport large numbers of people over long distances, it is necessary to carry as much cargo as possible in a single vehicle. At best, it is rational, but at worst, it is cheating. It’s probably also because people don’t want to pay the highway, gasoline, and other fees that come with splitting their cargo between multiple vehicles.”

The surprising reality is not only overloading. A car that cleans the road as it drives by spinning several brooms in the back. A passenger car with thousands of golden coins pasted on it to show off its wealth. …… However, it seems that these “famous Chinese” scenes are gradually disappearing. Mr. Zhou continues.

Especially in urban areas, traffic regulations have become stricter, and there are now fines for carrying more than the standard amount. In rural areas, it may still be a common sight, but in a big city like Beijing, it will probably disappear in a few years.

A typical Chinese scene is in danger of extinction. It may be a trend of the times, but it’s still a bit sad!

From the December 1, 2023 issue of FRIDAY