‘Singapore Is So Backward’: PRC Traveller Compares MRT And Buildings With Beijing And Chongqing, Viewers Fire Back

A PRC traveller’s remarks about Singapore being comparatively “backward” to cities such as Beijing and Chongqing have sparked a heated discussion online, with many viewers questioning whether modernity should simply be measured by how futuristic a city looks.

The comments appeared under a YouTube video in which two Chinese men reportedly compared aspects of Singapore with what they had experienced in mainland Chinese cities. Their observations included Singapore’s public transport, buildings and payment habits, with the comparison apparently favouring the more recently developed infrastructure found in cities such as Beijing and Chongqing.

The remarks did not go down particularly well with many viewers. What made the discussion particularly interesting, however, was that a significant number of commenters responding to the video appeared to reject the idea that Singapore’s less flashy infrastructure automatically made it less advanced.

Viewers Say Singapore’s Use Of Cash Does Not Mean It Is Behind

One of the recurring points in the discussion was Singapore’s continued acceptance of cash. While mainland China has become heavily dependent on mobile payment platforms, Singapore still allows consumers to choose between cash, bank cards and various digital payment methods.

Several commenters argued that having multiple payment options should be viewed as a feature rather than a weakness. One commenter pointed out that cash remains particularly important for elderly residents and people who may not be comfortable with smartphones or digital payment systems.

Another commenter said that Singapore’s approach gives both residents and tourists greater flexibility, rather than forcing everyone to rely on a single payment method. The argument was that technological advancement should include accessibility and choice, rather than simply adopting the newest system available.

Some commenters also pushed back against the suggestion that digital payments are automatically more “advanced”. They argued that cash provides an additional layer of privacy and remains useful when electronic systems experience technical problems.

Singapore’s Infrastructure Faces A Different Kind Of Comparison

The discussion also extended beyond payment methods to Singapore’s MRT system and buildings. Some viewers felt that comparing Singapore with rapidly developed mainland Chinese cities was unfair because the two environments have different histories, population sizes and urban-development patterns.

Beijing and Chongqing have undergone enormous infrastructure development over the past few decades, with extensive construction of new roads, rail lines, skyscrapers and large-scale urban projects. Singapore, meanwhile, has had to continually upgrade infrastructure while working within a much smaller land area and an already highly developed urban environment.

One commenter sarcastically suggested that visitors who only looked at Singapore’s roads and buildings might miss the extensive underground pedestrian network connecting parts of the city. Another highlighted Singapore’s efforts to make walking more comfortable in its hot and humid climate, including sheltered and air-conditioned underground connections in certain areas.

The broader argument from supporters of Singapore was that a city should not be judged solely by whether its buildings look new or whether its public transport system appears more futuristic.

Chinese Viewers Also Tell Travellers To Respect Other Countries

Interestingly, some of the criticism did not come exclusively from Singaporeans. Chinese-language commenters also criticised the attitude of travellers who visit another country only to complain about how it compares with China.

One commenter wrote that the purpose of travelling is to see the world, experience different cultures and understand other people’s lifestyles, rather than constantly finding fault with everything.

Another said that some people seemed to travel overseas only to make comparisons, rather than appreciating the differences between countries.

There were also commenters who defended Singapore directly, with some saying they were Singaporeans and appreciated the Chinese-speaking content creator who had spoken positively about the city. Others said they had travelled extensively in China themselves and enjoyed the country, while arguing that appreciating China did not require putting Singapore down.

The discussion highlights a wider debate about how people define technological progress. A city can have driverless transport, enormous skyscrapers and widespread cashless payments while another city may place greater emphasis on accessibility, reliability, existing infrastructure and giving residents different choices.

For Singapore, the comparison is particularly complicated because the country has long positioned itself as a highly connected global city while simultaneously maintaining systems that are deliberately designed to remain accessible to different groups of residents.

Ultimately, the online reaction appeared to show that many viewers were less concerned about whether Beijing or Singapore had the more futuristic MRT station and more concerned about the attitude behind the comparison.

As one commenter effectively put it, travelling abroad should be an opportunity to understand how other societies work — not simply an excuse to declare one place superior to another.