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.
February 14th 2008Asia » China » Sichuan » Danba A lot can change in 1 day. To all my friends who did not heed my advice to come visit me during Chinese New Year, you are wiser than I. Despite the fact that Chinese New Year is depicted as one big fi ... 6 photos[full story]
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