Entries: China places & sights

UI Journalists Dine with Chancellor

The journalism students travelling in China dined with University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman Saturday night in Shanghai.  The dinner also included university alumni from Shanghai, members of Sinfonia da Camera, the professional chamber orchestra of the University of Illinois and dignitaries from the Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association.

"Hit the Ground Running"

At the opening of our trip, between settling in and contacting sources, my woes of jet-lag and culture shock were overridden by a finger on the keyboard and another on my cell phone’s keypad. Overseas reporting can be a daunting task, as my peers and I have very quickly discovered, and travelling to a slew of locations throughout the city of Shanghai can make it rather easy for a student-journalist to become overwhelmed with his/her research goals. 

Over the last four days, I have been doing my best to arrange for daily interviews with experts, professionals, or students, in my attempt to examine the underbelly of what outsourcing of US labor markets to China means.  “Hitting the ground running” has been the journalistic motto at the opening of any new week, and we have all done our very best to adhere to this, and have.
Through a number of email and telephone exchanges while in China I have been able to speak with a handful of Fudan University students who have been more than willing to share there educated, and in some cases radical opinions of the Chinese government and other public concerns.  Other notable sources have included, lawyers, graduate professors, UIUC students abroad in Shanghai, Motorola reps, US reporters, and members of the Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Assocation, otherwise known as SORSA.

Understanding the engagement of the US and China in global labor and trade markets has closed many of the cultural gaps that we were once familiar with, particularly within each respective nation.  The cell phone has been the tool that college students are using to close these gaps, in a country like China where there are 32.7 mobile phones for every 100 people.  A student at Fudan University shared some thoughts on these roles of international social stereotyping,

“I am not sure what Americans want to believe about Chinese youth, but in many ways, we have become the same people.”

The statement followed a conversation of increased telecommunication and cell phone use on a college campus.

Many of my interesting encounters with Chinese everyday life have come before my interviews, in transit. Perhaps budding is the incorrect term to describe the technological developments in China over the last decade, as this country has been quick to assume it’s role as a pioneer in electronics.  On a taxi ride home from Fudan University riding in one of the standard-issued Volkswagen Santana cars, installed plush into the headrest, facing the backseat was a touch screen interface.  Through this interface the back seat patrons and I were able to surf a fixed set of web pages designed to cater to all tourist-like needs.  Myself and Sam Unger, put together an impromptu piece on this technology via digital camera video. 

It was moments like these that simply blew my mind, particularly when I thought about how far behind any taxi in the United States is behind it’s Chinese counterpart.

Tomorrow the group and I will take a day trip, to Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China, located in Kunshan City.  Before the trip and all night following the trip, the group and I will be scratching our notes together and making the numerous phone calls and emails that will help us “hit the ground running” for the new week ahead of us.

Fudan University

We did a little exploring and interviewing today at Fudan University, in the heart of Shanghai. What a beautiful place, like a retreat in the middle of the city. It was so peaceful, and I was able to speak with two students, one who played intermural basketball and volleyball. Jack, the volleyball player, was very nice and hopes to make it to Beijing for the Olympics. He wants to see the swimming events at the Water Cube. So do I! After the interviews, we took some pictures and went to lunch with Aisha, our translator for the day. She was so gracious and helpful, and is thinking of coming to the States for journalism. After another delicious lunch, we went to a track meet. I got some pretty good natural sound of the long jump event, bullhorn and all. Later tonight we’re walking around the Bund, seeing the new and old buildings in China. Hopefully we’ll get some good pictures and see some great stuff. More to come later…

Walking The Bund

The skyline of Pudong, otherwise known as Shanghai East, is remarkable.  It’s best viewed from a pedestrian walk called The Bund, along the Huangpu River.  Barges, tourist boats and cargo ships motor up and down the Huangpu, in front of one of the most amazing skylines in Asia, perhaps the world.  At the centerpiece of the Pudong skyline is the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV tower, the third tallest TV tower in the world.  It is more than 1,500 feet tall.  The tower features two giant orbs designed to look like rubies.  Inside those spheres are a restaurant and dance hall.  On the west side of the Huangpu river, along The Bund, you’ll see thousands of tourists having their photo taken with the skyline of Pudong as a backdrop.  Some architecturally significant buildings are also on the west side of the river, such as the Peace Hotel, one of Shanghai’s oldest landmarks.  The hotel was once considered the most luxurious in all of Asia. 

Smokin' Shanghai

Unlike life in Champaign-Urbana, you won’t find much debate about lighting up in Shanghai.  Cigarette smoking is quite popular in this big city and for that matter, throughout China.  Smokers are everywhere, especially men.  A 2001 British Medical Journal determined two-thirds of the adult male population in China smokes.  The same study indicated 30% of the world’s cigarettes are consumed by Chinese.  Smoking is allowed almost everywhere.  Some medical projections expect as many as one third of Chinese men will die due to smoking related illnesses in the next two decades.  Interestingly, China’s state owned cigarette industry has told citizens cigarette smoking is actually good for you…that it will prevent ulcers.  Chinese owned tobacco companies supply one third of the cigarettes made in the world.  Cigarettes are relatively cheap in China too.  A informal survey taken in Shanghai today, indicates a pack of 20 cigarettes can sell for as little as 35-cents US.  Some American brands of cigarettes cost $1.50 to $2.00.  In the U.S., that same pack of cigarettes would run more than $3.50.