At this point in the history of Gothic Earth, in China a comparison with real world history would show some divergence. Most of the differences stem from the rise of Elder Doctor to power and the changes he is making to Chinese culture, business and government. His rule is absolute at this point. The information would be known by locals and well-informed Travelers.
• Immense construction projects are underway in China, particularly in major cities like Peking, Shanghai and Canton.
• The Chinese hair pigtail, queue, which was originally imposed by the Manchu’s as mandatory, has been rescinded and is discouraged.
• The Chinese cultural practice of footbinding for women has been outlawed (as a minor offense (a fine) for the parents) and speeches and advertising are being used to reverse this cultural mindset.
• Women have education and job opportunities now. However, cultural change is slower and only single, younger women have really begun to take advantage of these opportunities. The change is slowest in rural areas.
• Use of opium usage by Chinese or opium dens in the Chinese territory was declared illegal with severe punishments. (Second offense is punishable by beheading.) Surprisingly, many opium addicts stop promptly.
• Japanese are not feared or hated in 1899 China. They are still disliked because of a long history of conflict (ending with the attack in 1894) but they are not barred from visiting China.
Belief in magic and the supernatural is common in China. People believe they see mystics use minor spells on a regular basis. They accept magic and seek it out for solutions to their problems. Most Chinese people believe in spirits and the unliving. Chinese folklore is filled with zombies, ghouls, ghosts and vampires. In Chinese folklore, for example, a zombie can become a ghoul by eating corpses. An ancestor spirit may become a restless ghost if he or she is not properly worshipped by their descendants. Chinese routinely avoid sites of suicides as the spirit of anyone who kills themselves will be condemned to haunt the site until they find another victim to replace them.