GTA: Yantai

Driving in China is like playing Grand Theft Auto, only with more bicycles, pedicabs and carts full of watermelon. Now, I’m not exactly a great driver myself, but because privately owned cars are so new in China, most drivers have had their license for much less time than I have. Here, traffic lights are more of a suggestion than a rule. You can make a right on red, as well as a left on red, and even go striaght through on red if you want. If you miss your turn, you can just back up down the street. There isn’t really any right of way, and horns can be used to signal anything from “Look out for the cart full of watermelon!” to “Hey, there’s my second cousin!”

If driving in China is like GTA: Yantai, then crossing the street in China is like playing Frogger, if all the cars in Frogger slowed down to shout “Hello! Look, it’s a real frog! Hello!”