A striking theme I noticed throughout all the cities we visited was the restoration of tradition in the face of modernity, tourism, and economic advancement.
I had trouble discerning whether the traditional architecture, foods, and practices were mostly occuring in the touristy areas we visited, or if they were widespread throughout all of China.
An example that comes to mind is the Shikumen housing we visited, which was beautifully preserved. The high brick walls and narrow walkways were breathtaking. However, there were also shops and restaurants sprinkled in. It seems the preservation of history requires a little bit of modernity.
Another example is the wearing of traditional clothing. While we did see a large amount of people wearing traditional clothing, it wasn't their everyday attire. It is popular for citizens to dress up in traditional dynasty clothing for ceremonies, festivals, or to take photos, but not much beyond that. Our group also had the opportunity to try out some traditional Chinese clothing!