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Q: In which parts of China are there people who have never seen foreigners?
I keep reading people claiming to live in cities where they are the first foreign person many of the locals have seen. I find this very difficult to believe. Maybe 50 years before, but not now, given the relatively low cost of travel between rural places in China and the big cities (where people are likely to see many foreigners a day) and the low cost of travel between WeiGuo and China.
I'm sure there are scattered people who, for one reason or another, have never seen a foreigner (perhaps they stay in the same little neighborhood for their whole life) but I find it difficult to believe there are cities where substantial numbers of people have never seen a foreigner. Are there really such places? Where?
An old bat was staring so hard at me yesterday that she face planted whilst stepping up the kerb.
She certainly gave the impression of never seeing a foreigner before- even lying on the ground she was still transfixed...
Any small city in China you will go, you'll hear word 'laowai', expressed with surprise. However, it is difficult to say if you are their first 'waigou ren' or no. I take it as an expression of 'different than me' more than 'never saw laowai before'.
I reply: 'ni shi lao wai' 
, and always get laugh out of them.
Any Chinese person Blind from birth!
I would Think Some parts of Inner Mongollia and in the mountains in the west of China
GuilinRaf:
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The parts of Tibet and Xinjiang that foreigners are kept out of?
icnif77:
In my small city (10 000 residents) 'edit': NE of Xinjiang, there were 4 foreign teachers, 1 left. All FT jobs are Government sponsored, and there are 3 more job openings for FT at the Public Schools in the city.
It doesn't look like Xinjiang is any different than other parts of China (except Tibet).
One would think, judging by he constant pointing and staring, that this would include all parts of China.
sam239:
They do it everywhere I've been in Thailand, I've been in every region of Thailand (travel there is much easier than here IME). The only places I've been in China are Shanghai airport and HZ. HZ people don't do the "laowei" thing (I've heard it once in three months, a shopkeeper teaching her granddaughter the word by pointing at me), but sounds like the rest of China does. Maybe not Xinjiang. i wonder what they call us in Xinjiang. Maybe farangi?
The prison that is located in China somewhere. They most likely will never get out to see a foreigner...
TedDBayer:
Your institution is like that. 
If you can somehow message us. someone will come to see you.
Reading comprehension, icnif, I said "parts". But yes, Tibet is obviously more closed than Xinjiang.
icnif77:
Sorry
! There are no FT job openings in western parts of Xinjiang.
An old bat was staring so hard at me yesterday that she face planted whilst stepping up the kerb.
She certainly gave the impression of never seeing a foreigner before- even lying on the ground she was still transfixed...
Any where I go I've met people that have probably seen but never met a foreigner. The women seem to have an innocent curiosity some times, almost reminds me of a kitten.
sam239:
That description reminds me of a Korean TV special that was a big controversy there about a year ago, it was called "The Truth About Foreigners in Korea", and gave the really offensive idea that weiguoren in Korea were there to take advantage of the "naive, innocent Korean women" with their big bank accounts and big ****. Actually it occurred to me that that would be a good theme for a hot porno flick.
In the Diaoyu Islands ........... Oh, sorry. According to the question, it has to be of China, yes? 
Four years ago, in Luzhou. I only saw two about six other foreigners in three months.
A fat white guy who looked miserable but said "Hello".
A black guy travelling past me in a cab.
A group of Indians or Pakistanis who popped in to the McDonalds there.
Otherwise, very rare.
Chengdu had quite a few but they all lived around the same few places. Over the years, I noticed a rather gradual increase.
Shenzhen - Need I tate the obvious?
Beijing? I was stunned. I saw about 100 in 5 days, and they were just the ones who I saw when I was only outside briefly. MOst of the time, I was in a restauant or coffee shop with clients, or in my hotels.
My wifes hometown of Tongcheng in Hubei Province. They have of course seen foreigners in advertising or on TV but to see one in person is a new experience for them. So much so that one time I went into a store and spoke with the shopkeeper he thought I was from Xinjiang Province! When I told him I was from the UK he was shocked and asked for a picture!
