Editor's Note: CCTV.com Panview had taken a 2-week tour of South Texas, visiting Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. We witnessed Texas' economic development, visited tourism attractions and saw how Texans and the Chinese are drawing closer together. We will feature a series of articles on China-Texas ties and its impact on the world-at-large.
Neighborhood homes in a suburb of San Antonio, TX. Photo/Zhou Yawei
More and more Chinese are traveling abroad, particularly the United States, since it's trendy for shopping, partying and living the high-life. As the Chinese enjoy greater prosperity and search for the pleasures of life, they are flocking to the west and east coasts of the US, taking trips to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, New York, and Washington D.C.
The plan sounds reasonable for young Chinese, who are single and looking for fun before embarking on their careers and raising a family. But what about Chinese families who would like their children and spouses to meet regular Americans?
Well, going to Texas should be ideal for them.
San Antonio resident Carlos Zaldivar eats Texas BBQ Photo/Zhou Yawei
Meeting ordinary folks
Compared to glitzy LA or high-class New York, Texas does not seem flashy, but that just raises its appeal. Many people from all over the world have watched Hollywood films that depict Americans as glamorous, fun-loving and big-time party people. But that's not real America.
Most Americans are middle-class, just like today's Chinese. Many Americans are family-oriented and industrious, who are doing their best to maintain normal lives.
Additionally, Texas has thrived under a strong regional economy that has lured many other Americans to live and work there. Houston, 4th most-populated city in the country, is known as the Energy Capital of the World.
San Antonio has emerged as a major tourist destination, while the Texas Gulf Coast offers plenty of sunshine, sand and waves. The Chinese should take a closer look at the Lone Star state.
Deep-water oil well off Port Aransas jetty Photo/Zhou Yawei
South Texas Tour
CCTV.com Panview had visited South Texas on April 14-30 and witnessed how Texans lived on a daily basis. For many Texas families, little seemed out of the ordinary.
Texans love their homes, which are usually single-detached units with back and front yards and a two-car garage. They need cars to drive them wherever they must go, even for a quick stop at a convenience shop.
Yet what makes Texans a bit more unique than other Americans would be their long-held affinity for firearms, fishing and hunting.
Meeting a Texas waitress at South Texas Kitchen, a diner in Refugio, TX. Photo/Zhou Yawei
Meeting a gun-loving momma
Amid a scenic drive from Corpus Christi to Houston, CCTV.com had dropped by the 'South Texas Kitchen,' a cafe located on Highway 77 at 201 S. Alamo in Refugio, TX.
We were greeted by a young blonde waitress who explained how Texas family values can stay so sustainable.
"I've got a 3-year-old boy, his favorite toy is his daddy's pistol," she said. "Before he could walk, he had already received proper safety training to handle a gun."
She added, "But he’s still too young for shooting at our local gun range. But my 7-year-old daughter is old enough to clean, load up and shoot her very own shotgun before you could finish saying, 'Howdy ya'll, don’t mess with Texas.'"
The waitress said all her neighbors and most families in her hometown hold a sincere appreciation for hunting and fishing that the older generations pass down to their children.
Visitors buying tickets for Texas Sandfest in Port Aransas, TX. Photo/Zhou Yawei
Comforts for young-and-old
Texans may love their guns and ammo, but the Chinese can find the state an endearing place to tour. Houston continues to move ahead in boom times with the city offering many high-paying jobs for skilled and hard-working prospective employees.
Meanwhile, the Texas Gulf Coast remains an amazing place for families and friends to relax and get a great tan.
Although, many Chinese love to visit New York and LA, if they want to get a taste of real America, they should head on over to Texas.
