Noticing How Daily Life in China and the West Is Becoming Similar.
Written and updated by Ruqin
Last updated: March 9, 2026
Living Between China and Canada
For the past ten years, I have been living on and off between my home country, China, and Canada. This rhythm has given me a quiet way to observe how daily life changes in both places.
Each time I return to Hangzhou, my hometown, I notice something that would have been harder to imagine ten years ago. Materially, I feel very little difference between life here and life in Canada. I no longer experience the small inconveniences that used to remind me I had returned to China.
The reason is quite simple.
In many aspects of daily life, the West is now already “in” China.
Global trade and the internet have gradually reduced the distance between the two worlds.
Sam Club in Hangzhou
A Familiar Shopping Routine
This morning I drove about half an hour to Sam’s Club for my regular shopping. The routine feels very similar to what I do in Canada when I drive to Costco.
Recently, Hangzhou welcomed its first Costco store. When it opened, it immediately attracted what we call in Chinese “People Mountain People Sea”—huge crowds everywhere.
Costco in Hangzhou
Although I do have a Costco membership, I still prefer Sam’s Club at Xixi Impression City in Hangzhou. It is about a thirty-minute drive from my home, which makes it very convenient.
Sam Club in Hangzhou
The Hangzhou Sam’s Club has its own small history. It was the first Sam’s Club Walmart opened in China back in 2013. Since then, the brand has expanded to many major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dalian, and Suzhou.
Check out Counters at Sam Club in Hangzhou
Costco itself is not new to me because I often shop there in Canada. But for many local residents in Hangzhou, it is still something fresh and interesting. When the store opened recently, shoppers came from different parts of the city just to experience it.
Choosing the Quiet Hours
Today is Friday, the beginning of the weekend. I decided to start earlier than usual to avoid the heavier crowds that usually appear later in the day.
The morning rain came and went in light intervals, but it did not stop me from going out.
Toilet affiliated to Sam Club Hangzhou
The Sam’s Club store is located on the underground floor and opens at 9 a.m. After parking my car, I usually walk directly to the restroom near the entrance. It may sound like a small detail, but I always notice these things. The facilities are clean and well maintained—certainly not inferior to similar places in Canada or the United States.
Small details like this quietly reflect how everyday standards have improved.
A Store That Feels Surprisingly Familiar
After showing my membership on my smartphone, I entered the warehouse.
The space is wide and bright. Tall shelves, large carts, and bulk products line the aisles. For a moment, I almost feel as if I am back in Canada or the United States.
What is the difference, really?
Perhaps the Chinese characters on the packages. Or the familiar Mandarin conversations around me. But materially, many of the products are quite similar.
Because I arrived early, the store was calmer than I expected.
My shopping list is usually simple. I mainly buy meat or fish—beef, pork, and salmon—which we store in our freezer and use over the next two weeks. I also buy vegetables, but only enough for three or four days.
For daily fresh produce, our neighborhood supermarket is much more convenient.
Paying With My Face
Checkout in China has also become very efficient.
I usually choose the self-checkout system and pay using facial recognition. Once my face is scanned, the payment is completed almost instantly.
Some people are concerned about privacy. Personally, I do not worry too much about it. I am not a celebrity. For ordinary people like me, the system simply makes life easier.
The process is quick and smooth.
A Smaller Distance Between Two Worlds
People often ask me about price differences between China and Western countries, especially Canada and the United States.
My honest answer is that the difference is not as large as many imagine.
Global trade and the internet have made markets increasingly connected. Products travel easily across borders, and information moves even faster. Over time, prices and consumer habits begin to align.
China is still China, and Canada is still Canada. Cultural differences remain, of course.
But when it comes to everyday material life—shopping, food, technology, and services—the distance between the two sides of the world has become much smaller than it used to be.
Hangzhou, China
September 15, 2023
About the Author
Ruqin is the founder of Ruqintravel.com and has spent more than four decades working in China’s travel industry. Drawing on hands-on experience in cities like Beijing and Hangzhou, he personally researches and updates each guide to help international travelers navigate China with confidence.
