The challenge for locals then becomes having to overcome to lack of motivation and to do something meaningful with their lives.
As mentioned before, the people of Sichuan province, and especially Chengdu, are known for their laidback lifestyles. I believe that the flat terrain contributes to that since there is no need to exert too much effort to go from point A to point B. Furthermore, the basin-like shape of the province provides protection for its people from danger, which also contributes to casual and lazy lifestyles.
One funny observation ties into my Transportation Field Note about bicycling in Chengdu – the flat terrain of Chengdu allows people to easily cycle to almost anywhere. On the contrary, the neighboring city of Chongqing is known to be a hilly city, with lots of steep ups and downs. When I visited I noticed less bicycles there than in Chengdu. Recently, when my friend from Chongqing visited me here in Chengdu, I learned that he never learned to ride a bicycle in his entire 20-year-old life! It’s just not practical to own a bicycle when you live in terrain with lots of steep hills. That speaks volumes to how the environment can affect someone’s upbringing.
