I've lived here for six years but I'm not chinese. My mandarin is not good enough to read newspapers beyond headlines and bits and pieces, so my knowledge of local politics is mostly second hand.

I've found that old people distrust the west more than the young. Middle class and rich people often think of europe as an ideal holiday destination, a good place to study abroad, and that european imported products are good quality. North europe is well developed and have solid welfare states. Italian food and french wine is famous. They might also think the US is a good place to study or do business in, despite their government. Australia is a good place to import milk powder and cheese from.

And I know you're kidding but what does "evil and authoritarian" mean exactly? Day-to-day life here is not more oppressive than in the west. The standard of living has increased immensely for pretty much everyone in the last two generations (:deng-smile: :xi-lib-tears: ) and you can point to all the tuhaos in imported sports cars and laugh (please do) but it's most noticeable for the inland and countryside woring-class people. THere's still a long way to go though.

Propaganda is everywhere and very noticeable, but not dystopian in my opinion, and probably not more omnipresent than in the west (especially the US), it's just more noticeable because you don't need They Live glasses to see it, it doesn't try to disguise itself as much.

If you need something to watch tonight:

Beyond the Mountain (Documentary about one of the poorest places in the country, rural Sichuan, also heartwarming and not propaganda)

My People, My Homeland (Anthology comedy movie, also obvious propaganda but utopian rather than dystopian propaganda, also it's an all-stars of mainland comedy actors)