I have not spent time in mainland China but I have spent time in Hong Kong and while there sought out and immersed in Chinese "propaganda" there. Which was conspicuous and omnipresent. Have had a good amount of exposure to Chinese nationals professionally and socially, probably in the vicinity of 10% overall of each.
And HK culture is not mainland culture, though the party is trying to make it so. Not that there is a single mainland culture. Hokkien != Shanghainese != Beijing, etc.
If you strip things down to the rawest motivations, then sure everyone is similar. But all the details will look extremely different to most Americans, even CNY, filial piety, meals and family structure, etc.
