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Car Culture
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Growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a small city surrounded by endless plains, I've found unexpected echoes of home in China's smaller towns — from the warmth of locals in Huaihua, Central China's Hunan province, to the quiet charm of Yangshuo, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. With an itch to see more of China's lesser-visited regions, I began planning a trip to the northwest with seven friends — five Americans, one Pakistani, one Zimbabwean, and one Colombian. We bought round-trip tickets from Shanghai to Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, for less than $120 each. From there, we planned to rent a car and drive to Xining in Qinghai, then on to Qinghai Lake, and finally to Lanzhou, Gansu. To make that possible, several of us applied for Chinese driver's licenses, a process that involved translating our US licenses into Mandarin and passing a short test on traffic laws. Within a day, we were licensed. As we piled into two rental cars in late March to begin our eight-day journey, it became clear that this wasn't just a road trip — it was the culmination of our four years in China, the Mandarin we had so diligently studied, and our ongoing effort to contribute to US-China people-to-people relations. Right away, we drew curious reactions. At the Yinchuan airport, taxi drivers offered us rides into the city, only to stare in astonishment when we told them we had rented cars. "You're driving? In China?" one driver asked, visibly surprised. It was a reaction we'd encountered multiple times during our trip, as foreign drivers are rare in China, especially in remote regions. In Yinchuan, we stocked up on snacks and adjusted to the chilly desert air. From there, we headed west, navigating wide highways framed by dramatic landscapes: arid plains, jagged mountains, and occasionally, a herd of sheep crossing the road. The vastness of the Northwest was humbling — and as someone who grew up on the wide-open prairies of South Dakota, it felt oddly familiar. One of the highlights of our trip was camping by Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China. A few summers ago, Santiago Solano, one of my classmates from the US, cycled from Xi'an in Shaanxi to Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region over the course of a month and met many kind strangers along the way. One of them was Geng San, a Tibetan lamb herder who managed a piece of land right next to Qinghai Lake and graciously invited us to camp there. "That's what China is — it's the people. The quiet generosity of an old Tibetan nomad who, years after we first met, still offered us a place to rest on his land," said Solano, who is also part of the group on this trip. But apparently, we underestimated just how cold it would be to camp next to Qinghai Lake in late March. It was deathly freezing. In preparation for the trip, we had ordered two tent kits and eight sleeping bags. However, when the temperature eventually dropped to — 10 C, all of us piled into the cars and turned the heaters on. So much for camping. From Qinghai Lake, we drove to Lanzhou, where we visited many food markets and tried every type of noodle on offer. Since we are college students, we rented a gaming hotel room — something I've only ever seen in China. At night, instead of attending local parties as we had before, we stayed in the hotel and gamed late into the morning. For me, the trip was as much about the journey as it was about the destinations. Driving through Northwest China gave us a unique perspective on the region's natural beauty and its people. At gas stations, shopkeepers greeted us with curiosity and kindness, often offering recommendations for nearby attractions. At roadside carts, we sampled local specialties, grabbing a quick skewer and a mango for the road. And at every stop, we were touched by the warmth and hospitality that make traveling in China so rewarding. As an American who has lived in China for several years, I'm often asked about my experiences here. Trips like this one remind me of the similarities between the two countries, despite their differences. Just as road trips are a quintessential part of American culture, they've become my favorite way to explore China. Whether it's driving through the rolling hills of South Dakota or the deserts of Ningxia, there's something universal about the freedom and camaraderie that come with having complete control over where you end up. Written by Charlie Howes, a 22-year-old American who has lived in China since 2019. He completed his final year of high school at Beijing No 80 High School and is currently studying at New York University Shanghai. He has founded a company in China focused on facilitating US-China trade and plans to continue living in Shanghai long term. He enjoys road trips, cycling around the world, learning languages, and meeting new people.A. Arundhati Roy B. Jhumpa Lahiri C. Salman Rushdie D. Anita Desai ________________________________________ 2. The Lowland was published in: A. 2001 B. 2013 C. 2010 D. 2005 ________________________________________ 3. Which earlier work earned Lahiri the Pulitzer Prize? A. The Namesake B. Unaccustomed Earth C. Interpreter of Maladies D. The Lowland ________________________________________ 4. The novel is primarily about: A. Technology and modernity B. Immigration, family, and political violence C. Business rivalry D. Mythology and folklore ________________________________________ 5. The two central brothers in the novel are: A. Rahul and Anil B. Subhash and Udayan C. Gogol and Ashoke D. Amit and Nikhil ________________________________________ 6. Where did the brothers grow up? A. Mumbai B. Dhaka C. Calcutta D. Delhi ________________________________________ 7. Udayan becomes involved in: A. Peace activism B. Cinema C. Naxalite movement D. Business ________________________________________ 8. Subhash moves to: A. London B. Rhode Island C. Toronto D. Chicago ________________________________________ 9. Udayan is killed in: A. Jail B. A riot C. The lowland near his house D. A car accident ________________________________________ 10. Why does Subhash marry Gauri? A. Love B. To protect her and her unborn child C. Financial benefit D. Family pressure ________________________________________ 11. Gauri eventually: A. Becomes a politician B. Starts a business C. Leaves her family D. Returns to India ________________________________________ 12. Subhash raises Bela: A. With Gauri B. Alone C. With help from his parents D. In India ________________________________________ 13. Bela grows up believing: A. Udayan is her father B. Subhash is her father C. She has no father D. Her father died in war ________________________________________ 14. The setting of political unrest is linked to: A. Partition B. Naxalbari uprising C. Independence movement D. Civil War ________________________________________ 15. The narrative style uses: A. Magical realism B. Non-linear structure C. Poetry D. Second-person narration ________________________________________ 16. Gauri’s character represents: A. Traditional motherhood B. Obedient wife C. Intellectual autonomy and emotional detachment D. Political activism ________________________________________ 17. Bela’s character signifies: A. Rebellion against education B. Second-generation identity struggle C. Complete assimilation D. Materialistic living ________________________________________ 18. Memory in the novel functions as: A. A simple recollection B. A haunting presence affecting identity C. A forgotten history D. A symbolic decoration ________________________________________ 19. The lowland itself symbolizes: A. Wealth B. Stability C. Transitional, unstable space D. Escape ________________________________________ 20. Lahiri’s prose style can be described as: A. Flowery and ornate B. Minimalistic and restrained C. Dramatic and verbose D. Highly poetic ________________________________________ 21. Water imagery reflects: A. Joy and happiness B. Power and victory C. Memory and emotional fluidity D. Evil ________________________________________ 22. Which theory applies strongly to this novel? A. Structuralism B. Postcolonial hybridity C. Absurdism D. Modernism ________________________________________ 23. Postcolonial hybridity is linked to: A. Complete assimilation B. Identity in-between cultures C. Traditional values D. Language fluency alone ________________________________________ 24. Which character best reflects second-generation identity conflict? A. Gauri B. Bela C. Subhash D. Udayan ________________________________________ 25. What does Subhash struggle with most? A. Career failure B. Language C. Guilt and secrecy D. Wealth ________________________________________ 26. Udayan’s ideology centers on: A. Business growth B. Armed communist revolution C. Religious reform D. Education ________________________________________ 27. The novel shows how political violence leads to: A. Personal healing B. Economic prosperity C. Emotional trauma across generations D. Cultural unity ________________________________________ 28. Betrayal appears as: A. Only political B. Only emotional C. Both political and familial D. A background idea ________________________________________ 29. The genre of the text best fits: A. Fantasy B. Realistic political family saga C. Science fiction D. Thriller ________________________________________ 30. The narrative constantly shifts between: A. Dream and reality B. India and America C. Past and future India D. Fiction and nonfiction ________________________________________ 31. Homi Bhabha’s "third space" represents: A. Physical land B. A zone of cultural in-betweenness C. A literal building D. A heavenlike vision ________________________________________ 32. Gauri symbolizes: A. Traditional widowhood B. Female agency vs social expectation C. Blind loyalty D. Economic dependence ________________________________________ 33. Bela unknowingly inherits: A. Udayan’s ideology B. Gauri’s academic passion only C. Subhash’s calmness D. Grandparents’ wealth ________________________________________ 34. Lahiri uses silence to: A. Avoid details B. Deepen psychological complexity C. Reduce story relevance D. Simplify events ________________________________________ 35. A major structural device is: A. Letters B. Non-linear flashbacks C. Mythic storytelling D. Metafiction ________________________________________ 36. Which text offers a migrant theme comparison? A. The God of Small Things B. The White Tiger C. The Namesake D. Train to Pakistan ________________________________________ 38. The Naxalite movement first emerged in: A. Mumbai B. Naxalbari village C. Delhi D. Kerala ________________________________________ 39. Which theme repeats strongly? A. Celebration of success B. Silence and secrets C. Fantasy D. Heroism ________________________________________ 40. What does Bela do as an adult? A. Becomes a doctor B. Engages in environmental activism C. Joins corporate life D. Moves into politics ________________________________________ 41. The immigrant experience in the novel is portrayed as: A. Full belonging B. Alienation and partial belonging C. Achievement D. Liberation ________________________________________ 42. Which idea does Lahiri question through Gauri? A. Heroism B. Maternal expectation C. Religious devotion D. Wealth ________________________________________ 43. Subhash represents: A. Pure rebellion B. Survival and adaptation C. Anti-immigrant sentiment D. Total withdrawal ________________________________________ 44. Lahiri’s writing expects readers to: A. Passively accept the plot B. Read emotional subtext in silences C. Ignore symbols D. Only enjoy the story ________________________________________ 45. The lowland as a metaphor mainly signifies: A. Joy B. Unstable cultural ground C. Triumph D. Isolation from family ________________________________________ 46. Why is The Lowland considered significant? A. Its fantasy themes B. Its deep engagement with politics & identity C. Its humor D. Its romantic style ________________________________________ 47. Which comparative author also writes about diaspora identity? A. Chetan Bhagat B. Amitav Ghosh C. Premchand D. Ruskin Bond ________________________________________ 48. Udayan’s death drives the plot because: A. Family hides it B. It forces new relationships & trauma C. People forget him D. It has no consequence ________________________________________ 49. The narrative ends emphasizing: A. Closure and peace B. Lasting consequences of secrets C. National identity D. Religious conflict ________________________________________ 50. Scholars study this work because it explores: A. Only Indian history B. Trauma, diaspora, gender & politics C. Folk storytelling D. ComedyCarCar engine partsCar QuizCAR ACCIDENTCar MakesCar Industry UK