The throngs of people

Language, people, traffic and pollution

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November 29th 2005
OK, for someone who prides herself in her linguistic ability, China has been a real ego-check. I spent the month before the trip attempting to learn a little travel Chinese (which did come in handy) but not being able to read is a real handicap. I have become an expert mime and pointer. When I do try to say anything apart from nee hao (hello) or xie-xie (thank you), I quickly get into dangerous ... read more

Asia » China » Beijing

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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. A... ... read more