In Mainland China reading direction is mostly left to right, top to bottom now, just like in most European/American countries. I should go and see if the top right menu item is the one with the highest margins.
Only if by "western knowledge" you mean Communist Internationalism and its associated obsession with conformity. The change to left to right horizontal wasn't a natural development, it was forcibly imposed during the 20th century by communists. Given a choice people still prefer vertical (most novels and manga outside the mainland are still typeset vertically). It also has nothing to do with "technology". The first Japanese typewriter used vertical typesetting[0], websites in the Mongolian script use vertical typesetting[1]. It's sad to see people use technology to justify a global monoculture.
