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.
April 24th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Haikou After very little sleep on the ferry, we arrived tired and grumpy at HaiKou. The usual mob of taxi drivers hounded us, but we are growing accustom to that now, so we calmly choose one and set off for ... [full story]
April 1st 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Haikou In ancient China, the southern Island of Hainan was known as the end of the world. It is the place, to which many brave dissenters and critics of China's Imperial Dynasties and its emperors were exil ... 84 photos[full story]
March 5th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Haikou 'TRAVEL THAT FEEDS THE SOUL'........this is what GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS is all about. A week ago, we completed our third year teaching with GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS, we were the 2nd team to teach in Haikou city ... 10 photos[full story]
March 20th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Haikou I never thought my first entry would get myself so addicted to this travel blog (never thought I would like the idea of writing and putting pictures together). But I can not afford non-stop travelling ... 21 photos[full story]
March 5th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Haikou In 110 BC, Emperor Hanwu was the first to assign an administrative office on Hainan Island. It borders Vietnam to the west. The climate is very tropical & due to the abundance of sunlight, many crops ... 15 photos[full story]
March 3rd 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Haikou LUCHEN is an ancient, rural village 2 hours from the city of Haikou, Hainan Island. There is a stone marker, at the entrance to the village, from the 'Ming Dynasty', 1500 A.D. It lists 10 rules for th ... 12 photos[full story]
February 13th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Haikou FEBRUARY 20th: WE'RE ON OUR WAY! 'CHINA SOUTHERN' AIRLINES, BUSINESS CLASS, 15 HRS TO GUANGZHOU, CHINA, WHICH IS WEST OF HONG KONG. WE SPEND ONE NIGHT IN GUANGZHOU (CANTON). NEXT DAY, WE FLY TO HAIKO ... 1 photos[full story]
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