I lived in China as a kid and been back a few times (though last time I been back was over 10 years ago) so I only have a limited experience but here are roughly some of my memories. Though China is extremely diverse given its geographical extent and I lived in Shanxi province.

The big cities are like a lot of other big cities in the world: busy, noisy and polluted (though air quality has improved since the last time I visited). The country side and small towns are pretty much the opposite and the people are pretty friendly even to foreigners. (In contrast to a lot of American small towns who feel like they want to murder you especially if you're not white)

Littering and public smoking are pretty commonplace (both in big cities and small towns and rural areas) and Idk if it's changed in the last 10 years (wouldn't surprise me if it hasn't)

A lot of cities and towns have "market streets" where farmers would sell produce directly off their trucks or wagons and you could buy street food. Street food is pretty common as well and some of the popular stuff I remember are: skewered cumin lamb (羊肉串), candied hawthorn (糖葫芦), fried doughnut sticks (油条), savory tofu pudding (豆腐脑/豆腐花), meat bun (肉夹馍)

The village I grew up in is very different from North American villages in that the houses and shops are all grouped together like a small town and the farmland surrounds it. (rather than each person has their own house and land) Personally I think this kind of development is better because you can easily visit your neighbours, and buy stuff without needing a car and it fosters a sense of community. I remember there would be a daily morning broadcast which would announce stuff on sale at the market and any events happening.

The trucks that the farmers use were often small tricycle style trucks (like tuk-tuks) but usually with an open cab or a motorcycle like front, some also had to be started with hand cranks. Sedans and motorcycles are used for driving to other villages or into the city.

The houses themselves are made of stone and concrete and the general style is a open air central area with the "rooms" around it. The central area would often have gardens and sometimes manual water pumps (so basically you don't have a "front yard" or "back yard" but a "central yard"). Most houses would have solar water heaters (and you'd have to boil water in the winter). You don't really have a "garage" but some houses have a oversized front entrance where the car or truck would be parked. When I was a kid there was only very basic electricity (lights, fridge and TV) and no plumbing (the bathroom was literally a hole in the ground and every few weeks a guy would come take your poop for fertilizer). Most houses today would have more electricity available (so you could have more electric appliances and internet). I'm unsure as to the plumbing situation.

The culture is very family driven and the small towns are usually very close knit. Most family members are very close even to their extended family. I think members of my extended family probably have more friends than I do which really highlights the shortcomings of atomized western culture. Patriarchal beliefs are also fairly commonplace and I remember one of my uncles exhibited some toxic masculinity. Most people I feel just live pretty normal lives. (work, go home, have holidays, etc)

The thing I remember the most fondly were the trains (and subways). HSR wasn't a thing when I was a kid and only in the early stages the last time I went back in the early 2010s but the slower trains have a :comfy: vibe of their own and the tickets are very affordable for most people.