tourism - California through Chinese eyes

BBC-reporter Fuschia Dunlop, in a transcript by ESWN, joined three Chinese chefs on their tour through California and wonders whether the US will be a favorite destination for Chinese tourists.
'What they do want is to see how America measures up to the American Dream. They're all familiar with the stereotype of the United States as the richest and most advanced nation in the world, its lifestyle as the holy grail of development. And they want to see it in all its brilliant modernity, to understand how far China has to go to catch up, and whether the struggle will be worth it. Given their high expectations, it's not surprising they are disappointed. Even lovely San Francisco doesn't fit the bill. "If that's going to be the end result of China's development," says one, "then I'm really in despair."'
Since tourists from China have to pay a deposit of US$ 12,000 to garantee their safe return, they might anyway not be able to help the US airlines out of their crisis.