"The attitude of Chinese people towards Germany is changing."
The German newspaper "Business Daily" wrote on October 22 that "Made in Germany," which was once highly regarded by Chinese people, is losing its former glory. When Chinese people talk about Germany, their past admiration is gradually replaced by sympathy and regret. German cars are becoming less and less common on Shanghai streets, German railways have become a subject of mockery among Chinese netizens, and even the appeal of German universities to young Chinese people seems to be diminished compared to before.
The article’s author is a journalist based in China. He said that he is often asked about Germany by Chinese people.
“How can Germany regain its vitality?” he wrote. At first, these questions revealed sincere concern, but sometimes they also carried sympathy, and even a somewhat condescending tone: “How has Germany come to this state of affairs?”
He admitted that two years ago, when he heard similar questions, he would instinctively defend Germany. But now, he prefers to listen to what Chinese people have to say.
This change is particularly evident on Chinese social media. The article cites examples of Frankfurt Central Station being the subject of much negative discussion online in China, with some people even questioning whether one could still get off at that station. After arriving at Frankfurt Airport, his Chinese teacher simply took a train to Cologne.
The author believes that some statements on Chinese social media do indeed involve exaggeration, but this does not mean that the negative impressions of Germany among Chinese people have no basis at all.
He described that “Made in Germany” still has a high reputation in China, but the once prestigious image is fading. Compared to five years ago, there are significantly fewer German cars on the streets of Shanghai.
Germany Railways has also become a target of ridicule among Chinese netizens. He lamented that to regain Germany Railways' reputation as punctual and reliable, it would probably be necessary to hire the most expensive advertising company and spend 20 years planning and promoting.
This change is also reflected in the choices of studying abroad. Data from the German Academic Exchange Center shows that during the winter semester of 2019-2020, there were 41,353 Chinese students enrolled at German universities. This number decreased to 38,893 by the winter semester of 2024-2025.
The author acknowledges that this data alone cannot prove a decline in the image of Germany. However, it coincides with his personal observations: Chinese young people no longer regard Germany as their preferred choice, just like they did in the past.
