Entries: Christine Won

Walk through Zhujiajiao

A picture is worth a 1,000 words

A man combing the shoreline for fish. After a few tries, he caught the first fish, which is in the green net hanging from his mouth, to enthusiastic tourist applause

A country of many faces

Today we saw yet another face to China - Zhujiajiao, one of Shanghai’s best preserved historical and cultural towns. Its stone paths, arch bridges, peaceful river and ancient architecture eminates a serenity that is rare and beautiful to behold. Truly, my breath was taken away. I took more than 100 pictures but those cannot come close to capturing the town’s old magic.

As we meandered along, beggars, mostly old women, often wearing toothy smiles will reach out their dirt-crusted hands. Everywhere you look, someone is trying to sell something, often homemade, as part of their livelihood: Food, neat gadgets, grass-woven figurines, sandals, a man rubbing his wet hands against the two handles of a pan full of water to frictionize vibration and cause water to sprinkle. More than one mother or grandmother toted a dimply baby on their hip while making their living.

You try to imagine what life is like for them, constantly being invaded by nosy, bustling tourists clueless to your struggles to put food on the table and keep the baby from crying of hunger, and your heart breaks a little. Your mind is aghast at the sheer contrast between this cozy countryside and grand Shanghai with the impressive architecture and flamboyant lights.

I realized our two weeks in Shanghai and Beijing are but seconds against an eternity of history and to understand China, this can only be the beginning.

A line of open windows along the street, much like the way these people have opened their doors and their lives to those coming to sightsee their livelihood

Many people sat atop stone walls or in-between cracks, notebooks open and pencils in hand, to sketch the beautiful scenery

An oasis of plush green in the middle of a man-made lake, surrounded by tall towers, captures the stark contrast of China's past and present

On the Net at Fudan University

Friday a couple of us went to Fudan University (about 20 minutes away from our hotel by cab) to meet students. I interviewed Dr. Limei Gu, who was on the panel Thursday at SORSA and is also a professor of international relations at Fudan. For almost an hour, we talked about the government’s responsibility and the citizens’ responsibility when it comes to the Internet, and also the e-forums at universities. Gu said she trusts her students when it comes to posting on the BBS forums that they know to not write anything that might be considered “too sensitive” or possibly cause trouble for the univeristy.

Following the interview, Dr. Gu talked to a security guard for me so I can go into a computer lab, which requires a University ID, to talk with students using the Internet. Rick, my translator, and I stayed for two hours talking with various students. The computer lab attendant told us that foreign Web sites were not accessible on campus and it cost money to visit other Chinese Web sites outside the University’s.

Students inside the lab were watching movies, checking e-mail or playing games. The four students we talked with didn’t have any major issues with Internet regulations. 

Shanghai cab drivers give New Yorkers a run for their money

Our most common mode of transportation is by a cab, and by our third day now, it is a miracle we have not died. Traffic in Shanghai defies the laws of space - these crazy cabs, bikes and scooters will squeeze through anything and honk their way through.

Internet increasing the transparency of the Chinese government?

Readers, I apologize. I have many stories to tell you but I’ve been losing the battle against jet-lag and thus have fallen behind blogging. For example, last night after walking the Bund, I came home exhausted and decided to lie down on the bed for a few minutes. Next thing I know, I’m waking up a little after midnight still in my jeans. So here’s a belated recap of Thursday, our first full day in Shanghai.

The highlight of the day was when we visited the Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association (SORSA) and met a panel of experts, all educated and well-versed in English. They addressed some of our individual topics and answered questions about China’s globalization, economy and politics.

Easily the most passionate and outspoken on the panel was Shijing Qu, vice president of SORSA and member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). He vouched for a “better and harmonious world” between the East and West.

“Do not judge China from an American point of view,” Qu said.

It struck me. Did I come into this country knowing what my story was going to say?  Was I just another victim of ignorance, superiority and Americanism? Have I been judging the East with the West’s eyes?

These were some of the questions I struggled to answer for myself. Sure, it’s a journalist’s job to be skeptical and to question. But something I realized after talking with a few of the experts was that what America calls censorship, China understands as responsibility and the duty of a citizen to trust and obey one’s country.

Dunren Zhou, professor of international relations at Fudan University and member of SORSA, argued he votes against “free for all,” where anyone can exercise the freedom to roam the Internet as he or she wishes. But he said the challenge, for not only China but U.S. and other countries, is, “who should be the judge” of what is good and what is bad?

The experts agreed the Internet has positive and negative effects in China - the obvious negatives being increased exposure to pornography, online fraud and other topics considered taboo bby the government. One positive aspect Dr. Limei Gu, alumna of UIUC and professor at Fudan University, mentioned was that as technology develops, transparency of the government is possible and it helps keep the public voice. They acknowledged while China has its flaws and is a long way from being perfect, China is progressing and learning.