Culture of Conflict?

Yesterday, on our way to Zhujiajiao, our guide reminded us of the Cultural Revolution in China. He said those in China saw it as a Liberation, where those who lived in Taiwan view it as the Oppression. “We are right and they are wrong,” our guide remarked. While I browsed yesterday, I noticed this tiny tank toy. If you look closely, you can see it’s made of bullet shell casings. This toy, coupled with the ads I see all over Shanghai urging people to joined the Armed Forces makes me wonder: what is in the cards for China’s military future?

Zhujiajiao: Recount Through Stills

We travelled to Zhujiajiao yesterday, to find ourselves venturing to somewhat of a time capsule, where english speaking tourists clash with the muttering Mandarin of the village locals.  These are some of the 250 photographs I took which recount a local perspective, where electricity is scarce and the fragrance of fresh fish fill the afternoon air.

Below is the web-quality slideshow, however I encourage you to view the full quality version, to do so please right click the “Click to experience this media file | Right-click to download” below this entry and click “Save Target As”.

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Where's the Communism?

On the way back from the rural town of Zhujiajiao, we drove past a gigantic billboard next to a tollbooth.  Starting with a Shanghai skyline picture and ending in a set of tall, cookiecutter apartment buildings, the sprawling text was the first absolute evidence that we’re in a country that still espouses Communism: “Make efforts to build a greater socialistic progressive society!  Speed up the urbanization of the Qingpu District!”

Earlier that day, the Jing’an Temple unveiled a giant new pillared statue.  It couldn’t go without an extravagant ceremony, complete with rows of government and temple dignitaries (keep in mind that almost all religious organizations require government permission to operate), giving speeches in front of a large backdrop.  It took several minutes just to make sure the name placards were placed on the tables in exactly the right order.  It brought to my mind the tightly-structured Communist Party conferences, with giant slogans and rows and rows of higher-ups.

Beyond that, though, there have been very few overt signs of totalitarianism—in its place is something that leaders call “capitalism with Chinese characteristics.”  Customs was a breeze, the police seem relatively passive, daily life goes on, and the late Chairman Mao has been relegated to a statue or two as well as the fronts of all our cash.  One theory is that Shanghai is the most Western of Chinese cities, and Beijing holds a different story.  We shall see later this week.

Taiji in the Park

I woke up particularly early this morning to check out what others have said—that Shanghai’s parks are filled with taiji (or tai chi) practitioners.  It’s confirmed!  Jing’an Park lies caddycorner to our hotel, and this morning it’s packed.  Every few feet there’s a group of 5-15 people, mostly elderly, slowly working on their forms.  Some are doing the same with red-tasseled swords, but as one woman demonstrates, a rolled-up magazine does the trick too.  Others choose a bit quicker pace, jumping and kicking to music playing from a nearby cassette player—though I have a suspicion that they’re working on aerobics rather than any ancient martial art.

Two subway stops down in the less parklike Renmin (People’s) Square, a few other aerobics groups are at it, along with a lone, traditionally-garbed man practicing besides one of the park’s landmark statues.  I felt more at peace just watching him.

Speaking of martial arts, I’m trying to make final plans to head west to the city of Zhengzhou, then south to the smaller town of Dengfeng, where Demitri Daniels has arrived for training.  You saw his picture in an earlier post.  It may mean traveling from here, or I may travel with the group tomorrow night to Beijing and make my western trip after that. 

Woman doing taiji in the Park:
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People's Park.

Interviewing Climate Change

This afternoon I met with the deputy director of the Beijing Climate Center, Yong Luo.  The Beijing Climate Center is a branch of the China Meteorological Administration (similar to USA’s NOAA) that deals with researching and combating climate change throughout Asia. 

The softspoken but passionate Luo was in Shanghai for training seminars aimed at promoting “an environmentally friendly society,” and I was fortunate to get an interview given his extremely busy schedule.  We met at the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, where much of his training is taking place.  The CELAP is an institution funded by China’s central government aimed at providing education and training for high-level government officials. 

The facility was absolutely enormous and reminded me of Chicago’s McCormick Place.