Chinese in particular, have a different attitude to natural places and personal behavior. To American's and Europeans, they appear rude, but to them, in a very crowded country, apparently it is normal, a way-of-life and even expected.
ie; Touring a major university on Long Island as we dropped our daughter off to study for a science degree. 4 Chinese students walking side-by-side on a side walk approached us, as anybody here would do, the 4 of us instinctively fell into single file on the right side. They continued on, 4 abreast leaving no room on the cement or consideration for us, and actually bumped into the first guy in our column. I thought it was weird because they were looking right at us- not like they didn't see us. These were not thugs in NYC.. students- well dressed-on university grounds. I watched to see if they were challenging us or something- they continued on as if nothing had happened... ok so I'd d normally discount that- except it happend 4 more times in the same day in varying circumstances- always chinese, during our self guided tour. I took the front- being a big guy, and I "hardened up" when i saw the next group approaching, that next guy who ran into me- hit a brick wall, I leered at him- jerk.
During the commencement speech, well they apparently are hard of hearing as they speak to each other in very loud voices- (Drove my daughter nuts in the library) i could not hear the speaker because of the conversation they all were having to each other, totally ignoring the speaker who was speaking through loud speakers. Not sure why they were there in the first place, they never once paid attention... My Daughter spent 4 years among them, and her opinion did not change one bit- nor did the friends she made there- i asked them about it, they all shared the same bad opinion. It was a diverse group- Her suitemates were, Indian, Black, Polish & Japanese... They became fast friends! They went everywhere together and had a blast! The Polish and Japanese girls still get together with my daughter when they can- they have dispersed across the globe- but get back once in a while. - I expect they always will.
Just yesterday i was talking to a colleague, who had just visited Watkins Glenn- how beautiful it is , etc, etc ( I was curious as to photographing it) . He laughed and volunteered this story about a Chinese group they followed up the rather long trail from the bottom, he was dumbfounded to find they left all their lunch refuse wadded up and on the ground behind the bench- one threw his empty water bottle right into the water while he watched!, these were adults. There was no other garbage anywhere. It's a state park!
But we are not alone- After my much earlier experiences, I read some things online that backed up my 3 days observation on that campus. Apparently, its' a bon-fide issue.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/travel/china-tourist-behavior-egypt-vandalism/index.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3028796/China-discipline-citizens-behave-like-unruly-tourists-abroad-following-string-embarrassing-incidents.htmlhttp://www.ibtimes.com/chinas-guidelines-civilized-travel-abroad-offers-these-25-pearls-wisdom-1414236