Shanghai Expat Interview: Living in China, Mandarin, and the

This walk with American in Shanghai changed my view of China

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation:24.9 million
This walk with American in Shanghai changed my view of China
Max Chernov2025-12-0943 min

Meet Paul Ashton, an American who’s lived in China for eight years. He’s a content creator and entrepreneur who became globally famous for the “city, not city” meme. Paul shared why he chose Shanghai instead of moving back to America, whether Chinese people are kind to foreigners, and how living in China drastically changed his view of the US. Enjoy!

--- Max Chernov
December 9, 2025, Winter in China

Video Chapters

  1. 0:00INTRO
  2. 00:34American and Chinese mindsets
  3. 02:23Chinese react to his Mandarin
  4. 06:15First time in China
  5. 09:35How to learn AI (+100% discount for my viewers)
  6. 11:11Living under cameras in China
  7. 17:33Work and business before social media
  8. 18:50Video success changes his work
  9. 20:14The story of "city not city" meme
  10. 24:48The secret of "city not city" meme
  11. 25:39Turning views into income
  12. 27:14What brands pay per video
  13. 33:33Government control and daily life in China

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This walk with American in Shanghai changed my view of China

Max Chernov’s video centers on a revealing conversation with Paul Ashton, an American who has spent eight years in China and became famous for the “city, not city” meme. The interview explores why Paul chose Shanghai over returning to the United States, and whether Chinese people are kind to foreigners. It also touches on how living in China changed Paul’s view of the US and his experiences navigating life under constant surveillance, starting a business before social media, and the evolution of his content as success grew. The discussion covers language learning, adapting to Mandarin, and the general mindset differences between Americans and Chinese. Throughout, Max’s channel aims to bridge cultural gaps by sharing expat stories and insights about life in vibrant Asian cities, emphasizing cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

The travel narrative invites viewers to consider daily life in Shanghai through a personal lens: learning Mandarin, dealing with cameras, and balancing a

Shanghai Expat Interview: Living in China, Mandarin, and the

(100% discount for the first 1000 people, Grab $5000 worth of Bonuses Completely Free) Meet Paul Ashton, an American who’s lived in China for eight years. He’s a content creator and entrepreneur who became globally famous for the “city, not city” meme. Paul shared why he chose Shanghai instead of...

Attractions in this video: Citywalk