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.
May 3rd 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Sanya In four short days, I received the worst sunburn of my life, witnessed a baby being flung about the ocean like a pool toy, observed the differences between island and mainland life, basked in the clea ... 9 photos[full story]
April 25th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Sanya So .. you know how I was complaining about the cold? Yeah, now we're in 32 degree heat - I guess that's what I get for complaining so much.
The thousands of kilometres were covered in two long dist ... [full story]
April 8th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Sanya This weekend, I was finally taken to visit a staggering Chinese paradise with a 25-degree average temperature; yeah, the largest Ocean island in China. Although the car drive and flight were both ple ... 116 photos[full story]
April 11th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Sanya The short trip to Hainan was fantastic. The first two nights we stayed at the Sheraton Hotel and the third night at the Hilton Hotel. Both hotels are simply great and we just relaxed, slept a lot and ... 10 photos[full story]
March 16th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Sanya I've been back in Shanghai for two weeks. The sun is nearly back, but it's still way to cold for me...so
last week-end, was three days in Saigon, and this week-end in Shanghai. You won't see pics fr ... 7 photos[full story]
February 23rd 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Sanya We travelled without the laptop for a while and pretty much just slept for the last week in Oz. Plenty more soon though I swear. We still have to write about Shanghai and Thailand. Hope you enjoy this ... 11 photos[full story]
January 10th 2008Asia » China » Hainan » Sanya The family is together for the first time since last summer. It all feels so right. Longing for the relaxing days of Pensacola in the spring, we decide a beach retreat might be just the thing to sat ... 11 photos[full story]
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