Mystical country

神奇的国度 (shénqí de guódù): mystical country

In the “mystical country,” government officials can absorb information at meetings while asleep. (club.china.com)

China, a country which, to Chinese netizens, seems to defy the laws of nature.

Remarking on egregiously illogical or ironic situations, netizens often explain that China must be a mystical country. Examples from a BBS forum [Chinese]:

We truly live in a mystical country; we can own our houses but the land upon which they sit forever belongs to the state!

[...] This country is poor but also generous, always willing to pour vast sums into Africa.

[...] Pornographic publications are illegal, but sex shops are everywhere. (August 5, 2009)

这是一个神奇的国度！ 该国房子可以是自己的，但土地永远是国家的！

[...] 该国很穷，却很慷慨，经常有大手笔支援非洲。

[...] 黄色刊物属于非法，但性用品商店到处都是。[Source]

Commenting on Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign, which claims to bring bureaucratic “tigers and flies” to account, 段贵发 asks, “Doesn’t this mystical country get the joke?”

See also expensive country and Celestial Empire.