Neighbors seem to be an important part of community relationship in China. For instance, if a couple had a noisy fight and the neighbors heard it, they would come over to calm them down. Or, if both the husband and the wife are working, they will give their house key to the old woman next door so she can look after the children after school.

The “bound feet security guards” was a very popular expression in the last century. It refers to the retired people, usually old women, who would walk around their neighborhood to ensure the security. These people play a key role in stabilizing social order during that time.

The origin of such a kind of relation is the traditional, agricultural society which has almost no population mobility. People lived in one place for generations with no interaction with the outside world. Everyone knew everyone else, and this led to a lot of mutual understanding and interdependence.

Whenever someone needed any help, the 1st solution was to ask the neighbors. This is where the Chinese saying “a neighbor is more dependable than a distant relative” came from.