A Nation's Future in Their Hands

Young Pioneers join in China's 60th Anniversary -- "National Day" Parade.
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Proud Leader's Portrait

Carried aloft in National Day Parade -- Artistic rendering of Hu Jin Tao.
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Father of Modern Reforms

Probably Communist China's second most influential leader -- Deng Xiao Ping -- spearheaded the modern reforms which have led to China's ascendency to global prominence.
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Founding Father

Modern China's Founder and Liberator Mao Ze Dong in Parade Portraiture.
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China's Military Might on Display

Tank Troops salute PRC on its 60th Anniversary.
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Girls of the People's Liberation Army

Guys dig a Chick in Uniform.
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Troops March On to Mark China's 60th Anniversary

Carrying the Flag in the Military Parade commemorating the founding of the People's Republic of China.
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PRC Leaders Reviewing the Troops

Current and Past Leaders Hu Jin Tao and Jiang
Zemin watch the Parade.

Jiang always reminds me of a Dr. Seuss character.
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PRC 60th Anniversary -- National Day Military Parade

Tiananmen Square - Troops assembled for review by PRC Leader Hu Jin Tao -- Screen capture from CCTV-7.
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Waystation for the Unwashed Masses

So now, the question becomes: are those masks supposed to protect me or them?
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Welcome to Beijing!

Official Greeter -- I guess we're all potential Swine Flu carriers disembarking following arrival at Beijing International...
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China Daily Celebrates

China Daily, a most excellent publication, has a special section devoted to the 60th Anniversary of The People's Republic of China in its online edition. Buy the hype!

A Monumental Class

The People's Republic

The Monument Statue featured as this publication's title graphic is one of two similar works situated in Tiananmen Square, Beijing; they celebrate the importance of the nation's workers; who, constitutionally, are regarded as China's leading class. These statues are not without some paradoxes as well. As China's economy grows, many State-run firms are being privatized and restructured to address the economic realities of a market system; leaving many workers without the full protection they were once afforded.

Also, it is telling that while one side of the famous Monuments, it is the workers, for whom liberation was won in 1949 that are featured, it is the victory of The People's Liberation Army that is celebrated on the other side of these statues' faces.

Sixty is the New Twenty!

Safety in Numbers

Call it new math, but China is now a very young country; this, in a culture which, while respecting the elderly, also places a very high value on their youth and the promise which they hold.

Great numbers of volunteers were culled from Beijing's youthful population in order to provide service to the 2008 Summer Games; without whom, the Games might not have been half the success they actually were. These young people enthusiastically and tirelessly embraced the Olympic spirit in their effort to showcase Beijing to the World.

Painting the Town Red!

Happy Anniversay!

China has changed immensely since the country was "liberated" in 1949. Gone are the ubiquitous Mao Suits and so many of the old conventions attendant to espousing Chinese Socialism. Notwithstanding the initial fervor which swept the country sixty years ago, and the subsequent upheavals of the Cultural Revolution; China, under the reforms first introduced by Deng Xiaoping and the ripple effect of Tiananmen Square in 1989, now stands front and center; controlling vast sums of capital, leading the way in many areas of technical innovation; and finally, if the world hadn't already been paying attention, grabbing our eyeballs with the spectacular staging of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing last Summer.

This Blog will examine The People's Republic of China as it now celebrates it's 60th Anniversary. As I return to the PRC in October to observe this anniversay, I will first offer some perspective; recounting my trip to Beijing last August; during which I attended the Summer Games, and also toured the City and region.

Hey I'm Back!

"You don't know how lucky you are Boy!"

Actually a flashback...

...it was a little over 13 months ago that I first touched down in Beijing on the evening of the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The authorities had put in place a "No Fly Zone" suspension of all air traffic over Beijing some 2 hours prior to the start of the Games; and I believe mine had to be one of the last flights allowed into Beijing's immaculate new Airport prior to the shutdown of the Capital's airspace to commercial flights. In accord with the anticipated slowing of traffic, the Airport itself had already shut down its air conditioning; leaving disembarking passengers from my Chicago to Beijing flight gasping and sweltering in the late afternoon August heat.

Harried travelers of all types hustled to the Airport's rail system in order to rendezvous with luggage and loved ones; in my case, such reunions a welcome occasion after some 16 hours of travel.