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.

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!

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！

Such a mystical country... This country is poor but also generous, always willing to pour vast sums into Africa.

有这样一个神奇的国度。。。该国很穷，却很慷慨，经常有大手笔支援非洲。

Such a mystical country... Pornographic publications are illegal, but sex shops are everywhere.

有这样一个神奇的国度。。。黄色刊物属于非法，但性用品商店到处都是。

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?”