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ENLARGE
Note: Glenwood Springs Post Independent editor Dale Shrull recently returned from China where he was traveling with a group of close to 50 people on a tour offered by the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.
SHANGHAI, China — One of the fascinating and intriguing chapters in Chinese history is a rather recent one. It's the one family, one child policy enacted in 1983. China now has 1.3 billion people. The policy screams of an unyielding, demanding dream-squashing communist rule. It might be a selfish American view, but I certainly like and appreciate it. Just think of what the Chinese population would be right now if they had not instilled this policy 26 years ago. Today, strolling through the markets and tourists attractions, you see the impact of this policy. Family after family with just one child. I wonder if they even sell two-child strollers. Like everything else in China, things are changing, and today the divorce rate is rising. If a woman remarries a man who has not had a child yet, the woman is allowed to have a second child. Twins are allowed. The penalties are stiff for people who violate the policy. If a spouse works for the government, it means immediate termination. There are also large fines. Besides controlling the population, the main area it impacts are the traditions of family life on the Chinese people. There are some families who may travel to places like Hong Kong or outside of the county to have additional children, then not register them, but consider this: More than 70 percent of all businesses are operated by the government, so it's a huge risk to a parent since most Chinese people work for the government. Prior to this policy, the average Chinese family had at least four children. Now, just one. Many of the younger generation isn't following the same family traditions and customs, including not having children.
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In the 1980s, Beijing made cremation mandatory. Not sure about the entire country or other cities. Another move to combat the enormous population.
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China is still a two-wheel society. Chinese cities are now packed with motor cars but the two-wheelers still have a huge impact. There are millions of bicycles and scooters in China, still outnumbering the four wheelers by a huge amount. No bicycles have headlights and many of the scooter riders seem to not use lights, either. As one of the members of our party discovered, it can be a little treacherous to cross the busy streets of Beijing. The tall, solid built man strolled into the street a little after dark and got popped by a bicycle. The rider, and a young child in a basket in the back, were knocked to the ground but seemed unfazed by the accident. He merely snatched the child from the pavement, stuffed him back into the basket and they were back on the road. Our guy got a scrape on his arm and a lesson on street crossing in China. I even saw young people texting as they were riding. Traffic is insane. I think the use of a horn is part of the driving test. Everyone honks but few seem to be upset. I also saw very few cars with dents in them, which is unbelievable after watching them drive for several days. In another incident, a car drilled a scooter as we drove by on the bus. Again, neither seemed to be hurt or overly concerned with the accident. Driving laws are a lot like ours. Based on a point system, drivers get 12 points a year and if they lose all their points, they must retake the license test.
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Crime seldom pays anywhere in the world, but in Communist China, the cost can be deadly. Several stories in the newspaper were about police killing people. “Kidnapper killed by police”; “Man, who tried to assault police shot dead.” I don't think words like “alleged” or “suspect” are used much in China. Neither is the belief of “Innocent until proven guilty.” Chinese people now enjoy great levels of freedom, but those pesky civil rights still have few places in China. Driving drunk will result in a swift penalty of two weeks in jail and a six-month license suspension. Not sure about subsequent violations.
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Gas is sold by the liter and equates to a little more than $4 per gallon.
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Best sign of the trip: A Step Closer Helps Keep It Cleaner. Where do you think this sign was situated? At the urinal. I must say — good advice.
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Like I said, the government owns more than 70 percent of all businesses, and that includes utility companies, which results in big money for the government. Most places we went had what I thought were too many workers. Chinese people do not pay taxes.
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Street vendors and cheap merchandise is everywhere. But that's to be expected since China is the capital of cheap merchandise. Street vendors peddle fake stuff everywhere. Rolex, Gucci bags and more. I have to think that somewhere in China there's a huge factory churning out fake merchandise by the tons. Profit margin seems to be low when some of our group scooped up watches 3 for $10 or even better deals. The watches should be accurate at least twice a day.
••••
Social websites like Facebook and YouTube can't be accessed in China. After I left Beijing, I was unable to use Twitter but that was more likely because of tech and coverage problems than anything else.
••••
Talking Chinese: I learned that the Chinese word for is “no” is “bu yao.” A number of times as street vendors swarmed around me shouting “Want watch,” I replied “bu yao.” Then they asked “You speak Chinese?” and I said “bu yao.” I later found out that “bu yao” doesn't mean “no,” it means “don't want.” I also learned that “xie xie” means thank you, and “beer” means beer.
••••
The country is becoming more English friendly. Most of the streets are also in English. In the popular shopping areas, there are also English signs. Many workers know enough English to understand a little, and they do teach English in school now. There's no doubt that the country is embracing tourism and that means being more open to the English-speaking world.
••••
Xie xie for your time.
SHANGHAI, China — One of the fascinating and intriguing chapters in Chinese history is a rather recent one. It's the one family, one child policy enacted in 1983. China now has 1.3 billion people. The policy screams of an unyielding, demanding dream-squashing communist rule. It might be a selfish American view, but I certainly like and appreciate it. Just think of what the Chinese population would be right now if they had not instilled this policy 26 years ago. Today, strolling through the markets and tourists attractions, you see the impact of this policy. Family after family with just one child. I wonder if they even sell two-child strollers. Like everything else in China, things are changing, and today the divorce rate is rising. If a woman remarries a man who has not had a child yet, the woman is allowed to have a second child. Twins are allowed. The penalties are stiff for people who violate the policy. If a spouse works for the government, it means immediate termination. There are also large fines. Besides controlling the population, the main area it impacts are the traditions of family life on the Chinese people. There are some families who may travel to places like Hong Kong or outside of the county to have additional children, then not register them, but consider this: More than 70 percent of all businesses are operated by the government, so it's a huge risk to a parent since most Chinese people work for the government. Prior to this policy, the average Chinese family had at least four children. Now, just one. Many of the younger generation isn't following the same family traditions and customs, including not having children.
••••
In the 1980s, Beijing made cremation mandatory. Not sure about the entire country or other cities. Another move to combat the enormous population.
••••
China is still a two-wheel society. Chinese cities are now packed with motor cars but the two-wheelers still have a huge impact. There are millions of bicycles and scooters in China, still outnumbering the four wheelers by a huge amount. No bicycles have headlights and many of the scooter riders seem to not use lights, either. As one of the members of our party discovered, it can be a little treacherous to cross the busy streets of Beijing. The tall, solid built man strolled into the street a little after dark and got popped by a bicycle. The rider, and a young child in a basket in the back, were knocked to the ground but seemed unfazed by the accident. He merely snatched the child from the pavement, stuffed him back into the basket and they were back on the road. Our guy got a scrape on his arm and a lesson on street crossing in China. I even saw young people texting as they were riding. Traffic is insane. I think the use of a horn is part of the driving test. Everyone honks but few seem to be upset. I also saw very few cars with dents in them, which is unbelievable after watching them drive for several days. In another incident, a car drilled a scooter as we drove by on the bus. Again, neither seemed to be hurt or overly concerned with the accident. Driving laws are a lot like ours. Based on a point system, drivers get 12 points a year and if they lose all their points, they must retake the license test.
••••
Crime seldom pays anywhere in the world, but in Communist China, the cost can be deadly. Several stories in the newspaper were about police killing people. “Kidnapper killed by police”; “Man, who tried to assault police shot dead.” I don't think words like “alleged” or “suspect” are used much in China. Neither is the belief of “Innocent until proven guilty.” Chinese people now enjoy great levels of freedom, but those pesky civil rights still have few places in China. Driving drunk will result in a swift penalty of two weeks in jail and a six-month license suspension. Not sure about subsequent violations.
••••
Gas is sold by the liter and equates to a little more than $4 per gallon.
••••
Best sign of the trip: A Step Closer Helps Keep It Cleaner. Where do you think this sign was situated? At the urinal. I must say — good advice.
••••
Like I said, the government owns more than 70 percent of all businesses, and that includes utility companies, which results in big money for the government. Most places we went had what I thought were too many workers. Chinese people do not pay taxes.
••••
Street vendors and cheap merchandise is everywhere. But that's to be expected since China is the capital of cheap merchandise. Street vendors peddle fake stuff everywhere. Rolex, Gucci bags and more. I have to think that somewhere in China there's a huge factory churning out fake merchandise by the tons. Profit margin seems to be low when some of our group scooped up watches 3 for $10 or even better deals. The watches should be accurate at least twice a day.
••••
Social websites like Facebook and YouTube can't be accessed in China. After I left Beijing, I was unable to use Twitter but that was more likely because of tech and coverage problems than anything else.
••••
Talking Chinese: I learned that the Chinese word for is “no” is “bu yao.” A number of times as street vendors swarmed around me shouting “Want watch,” I replied “bu yao.” Then they asked “You speak Chinese?” and I said “bu yao.” I later found out that “bu yao” doesn't mean “no,” it means “don't want.” I also learned that “xie xie” means thank you, and “beer” means beer.
••••
The country is becoming more English friendly. Most of the streets are also in English. In the popular shopping areas, there are also English signs. Many workers know enough English to understand a little, and they do teach English in school now. There's no doubt that the country is embracing tourism and that means being more open to the English-speaking world.
••••
Xie xie for your time.
