Just like everyone, I thought it was simply a story about someone’s trip to China. But the more I read, the more amazed I am with how much the author knows the existing problem, or threat that government of China has to deal with in this time of big shift. We laugh at the products which are ‘made in China’, it is cheap, you might say. But there is no doubt that China is one of the strongest newly rising countries, no one will doubt about it…or will they? This book brings you the deepest report on the real China. The author, who is a British reporter, has peeled of layers of superficial glamorous, or what we call ‘Chinese pride face’. This is something you definitely cannot miss if you are interesting in the markets of China as a business student. You need to know the history, psychological mindset, culture, problem, fear and people’s needs. It feels like I am re-studying Chinese/ geography/ history/ social study class at the same time, only I can see the real pictures in my head. Thanks to the book.‘If you have only seen Shanghai, you will leave with no doubt in mind that China is the super nation’,written in chapter 2. Recently I had a chance to visit Shanghai and I had to say it is so modern that you hardly believe Taiwan’s ex husband looks like this now. ‘Since when did he become so stylish?’ I personally love Shanghai very much because people are so friendly and unusually polite. I was asking direction from a lady and she walked me all the way to the destination. When she knew I was from Taiwan, she smiled and said ‘Isn’t Shanghai beautiful?’ That was not the common over-confidence you see everywhere in China. Shanghai has class. How can you possibly think China is a ‘communist country’ when you see all the fancy cars, international brands, 5-star hotels and so many other restaurants. It is extreme capitalist. There is so much freedom! But thank God, the rest of the 1.3 billion Chinese people are as confused as I am, and plus you, who is reading this article and trying to figure out what is written in the book.
There is another paragraph from the book(chapter 4), ‘China used to be a victim, no doubt, and it was for a very long period being oppressed by western countries and Japan. However, China now has super power economically, diplomatically, and internationally. Yet it still thinks it is a victim. Most Chinese people feel in that way and I seriously don’t know how will help them change. They are confused. As a nation it has been in failure for too long and it is now lost in the current victory. It is like a fan of Boston Red Socks suddenly sees it wins the world champion. ’ It is very true. China was way ahead in technology than other countries in the history, it had its proud and suddenly when British came with cannon, all of that glory was gone for about a hundred year. Mao-Ze-dong was a good leader, who carried the hopes of all farmers, but he started to do many crazy stupid things that took away millions of people’s lives and also made a irrecoverable damage to the culture. Although it is nothing new for me but I really like the way when the author talks about KMT (Kuo-Ming-tang). Yes the revolution was done but the administration was not prepared to manage the whole big China, and Mao-Ze-Tong came and changed the status of women and improved the sanitary level. Actually it is the whole tone of the book. He is not trying to judge, but to illustrate what happened and what is happening now.
The author started his trip from Shanghai to Kazakhstan though Route 312. The book has recorded the conversations he made with the local people in every stop he made. Sometimes he had to travel in bus too and it just added so much spice to the book! It is just so real and fascinating that I feel the need to share with you about this book, if you want to know about Chinese. I saw people gave 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Amazon.com. Start your journey to China with Rob Gifford and find out where China is heading. By Cindy
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