A relative worked in construction in China for a few years.
At one time, an undergoing project was almost finished and, being a westerner, my relative was expecting to see politicians arrive with the usual fanfare, inaugurate the shit out of everything, have the entire media circus around, etc.
Well, nothing happened.
Higher ups were informed, the work was finished, deemed ready for use. A few workers, out of their own volition, set off some fireworks to celebrate a work well done, cleaned everything after and went home.
The next day the road was being used.