Background: For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
July 21st 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou Beijing has been invaded.
It began at the start of the traditional tourist season at the end of May. A couple of hopelessly lost Koreans here, a few scattered Westerners speaking Mandarin with h ... 13 photos[full story]
June 25th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou The official countdown has begun, both for me and for China. For China, the Olympics will open in Beijing in 44 days; for me, I will be leaving China and moving back to the United States in 35 days. ... [full story]
June 14th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou I've recently been tempted to snatch the title of "Windy City" from Chicago, my prospective future home, and relinquish it to Beijing. The period of late spring through early summer in Beijing is no ... 15 photos[full story]
June 1st 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou ahhhmm
I did indeed take the subway to WuDaoKou, my old stomping grounds where I lived and worked last year.
Somethings have changed since last year.
For instance, all subway costs are ... 1 photos[full story]
May 16th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou What I thought was a simple Beijing rumbling has turned into the most devastating natural disaster China has experienced in recent decades. I was sitting at my desk, willing myself to crack open my b ... 6 photos[full story]
April 27th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou Our facebook friends will know exactly what this blog is about. So, you can skip this paragraph. To everyone else: In an attempt to make the Olympics a happy and foreigner-friendly affair, the Ch***se ... 6 photos[full story]
April 28th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou Yesterday started out like any ordinary day. The sun was shining, the smog had lifted and everything was turning green. I was on my way to the Dirt Market, one of my favorite locales in Beijing. On ... 5 photos[full story]
April 28th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou Yesterday started out like any ordinary day. The sun was shining, the smog had lifted and everything was turning green. I was on my way to the Dirt Market, one of my favorite locales in Beijing. On ... 5 photos[full story]
April 26th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou Dear Grandma Ruth,
On this, the first anniversary of the day you left our lives, I'm not sure what to feel. It's hard to believe that you've already been gone for a year. So much has happened si ... 5 photos[full story]
April 20th 2008Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou What's stuck in my mind after a week away from Beijing....
station on the subway line lies astride Chengfu Road, a broad and busy boulevard that stretches through the sprawl of northwest suburban ... [full story]
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