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| A Laowai
in China - A Foreigner in the Middle Kingdom - Living
in China - I was now in China, the infamous Middle Kingdom, the
land of the forbidden "Three T's" - Taiwan, Tibet and Tianamen Square.
This was to be the start of my long and ongoing love/hate relationship
with China. |
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| Adventures
in Chinese Gourmet ~ Who Knows What You may be Eating - Chinese
Cuisine - As she translated the menu to me the revelation was astounding.
I learned that sugarcane rat is a local delicacy and people brag about
their family recipe. I have seen snake, silkworm, beetle, dog, and spiced
donkey all on one menu. Pig entrails and fish heads with rice are some
of the most common foods eaten. I had had no idea. In America I only worried
about what might be in a hot dog. Sept/02. |
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| Adventures
In Rural China ~ Zhenhai
~
by Edward Brewer - Zhenhai, with a population of about 500,000, is located
just 30 miles south of Ningbo, which has a population of about 5 million
people, and is just 200 miles south of Shanghai, over 13 million people.
Zhenhai is where I landed, this time, the sight of Chinas largest petroleum
refinery and chemical company, Zhenhai Refinery and Chemical Corporation.
Zhenhai is a city where most of the people are employed by ZRCC, truly
a company town, although with the changing times, the ownership of many
stores and shops are changing from company-owned to privately-owned. June/04 |
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| Being
in Beijing - Beijing
is moving forward in a big way; really, a quick moving microcosm
of the country as a whole. Irrespective of the Olympics catalyst,
the “People” get things done in the Republic and in some small way I’m
pleased to be a part of it, whether it’s plunking down small change for
a token gift or photographing the city skyline to share with my readers.
It’s an imperfect city that’s given plenty the right to complain - pollution,
heavy traffic - but it’s also taking great strides to improve the living
conditions and still offers plenty in the way of cultural heritage and
daily attractions. Aug./06 |
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| Biking
The Xian City Wall ~ Adventure
In Xian ~ by Tina Zhang - Bicycling along the wall of Xian City
sounds like a great time. If you like biking and are thinking of traveling
to China, then you need to know what it's like to travel on a great wall
riding on your bike. Enjoy the views. Nov./03 |
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| Buyer
Beware in China - And
Learning A little AboutThe Chinese Language ~ By Linda S. - Thinking
about visiting China? Then you should look into the different traps
you might find as a consumer. China is a great country to shop in but like
anywhere you have to be careful about what it is that you think you are
buying. |
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| And before
going to China learning something about the Chinese language might help
you on your travels or just give you a key as to how people think. March/03 |
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| China
is in the news with it's exploding industrial economy, consumption of resources
and booming export trade resulting in an abundance of investment opportunities.
If you are considering investing in China you may be interested in taking
a glimpse at China today. Anthony Peyton's article
China
and Japan : Prisoners of the Past
tells a fascinating story of China's current battle with Japan. "China
wants Japan to face up to its past, but is astonishingly unable to do the
same regarding its own history, which has seen an invasion and annexation
of Tibet in 1951; the disastrous Cultural Revolution 1966-1976 that lost
a million lives as the revered leader Mao Ze Dong attempted anarchic totalitarianism;
and of course the Tiananmen Square massacre of protesting students in 1989.". |
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| My
Other World ~ by Sam Meiguoren - What if there was another distant
planet in another galaxy that had humans just like us. What if they came
into being the same time we did. Would there technologically have evolved
the same as ours? Would they live the same way we do? Would they comunicate
in the same way? Maybe they would never have invented the automobile or
the light bulb. Maybe they would have found a different way to travel or
to light their world in the dark. It would seem that nothing could be exactly
the same from one world to another but how then would it be different?
I've never thought about these questions until after I visited China for
the first time. Feb./05 |
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| China:
Surviving the Culture Clash - One of the most apparent cultural
differences to a foreigner living in China is personal hygiene. It
is well known that spitting is common throughout China, but I did not know
that many Chinese consider blowing your nose straight onto the ground to
be fairly acceptable until I experienced it! Oct./06 |
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| China:
A Nation In Motion: Traveling
Beijing, Wuxi, and Shanghai As A Tourist And Potential Investor ~
by Vinnie Apicella - Ten days in China is not nearly enough time either
as a tourist or value investor. Bearing in mind the flight, which is nearly
a day long, or nearly two after whizzing by the International Date Line,
unless your point of departure is, say, Vancouver, you’re already behind
schedule before even touching down! Ideally, it is best to locate
a reputable tour agency that can escort you city by city to cover the necessary
highlights, then return again on your own to explore your preferred destination.
Feb./05 |
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| Cultural
Attitudes Towards Learning ~ The People's Republic of China - Childhood
Education - Eva Lynne is an ESL teacher in the People's Republic
of China. She writes, "Education is a precious privilege, and a keen recognition
of this is ever so evident in China. In China, it is said that the three
most important persons in your life are: your mother because she gave you
birth; your father because he guides your upbringing and prosperity; and
your teacher because a teacher nurtures your mind. Education in China is
viewed as a life-long process. Throughout life, the quest for knowledge
and the desire to better one's mind is fervent." August/02. |
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| Differences
Between China And Taiwan ~ Living
In Taiwan ~ Photo And Story by Daniel Wallace - One very noticeable
difference between China and Taiwan is that Taiwanese women frequently
have fuller bottoms. I’ve only been in the country a month, so my studies
on the issue are hardly authoritative, yet the difference is pronounced.
Fuller – not especially in the width and height dimensions; it’s in the
depth department, in that mysterious and so hard to draw z axis. Is it
a sign of more affluence in Taiwan, that greater comfort and security allows
women’s bottoms to flesh out? Oct./05 |
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| Elephants,
Dragons, Rice Fields, Pagodas, Karaoke, And Edible Puppies ~ Going
It Alone In China’s Guangxi Province ~ by Steenie Harvey - Students
aside, most first-time travelers to China join organized tours. But not
everybody enjoys group travel, set meals, and rigid itineraries. Although
things sometimes go wrong, I much prefer the freedom of making my own discoveries.
Besides, going it alone is always likely to be cheaper than any tour. But
if you don’t speak Chinese is traveling independently feasible in this
country? Is it easy to book internal flights, use public transport, and
find decent hotels at affordable prices? Nov./05 |
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| Ex
Pats In China - Some
Thoughts On Stereotyping ~ by Daniel Wallace - I opened the door
of a cafe's toilet the other day, and a middle aged Chinese woman was inside,
about to unbutton her jeans and crouch down. I blinked and politely closed
the door. One of my Israeli friends was in the cafe, so I went and sat
with her and recounted how the woman hadn't locked the door. My friend
replied casually, "Oh, they always do that". May/05 |
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| Explosive
Profits In The World’s Fastest-Growing Economy ~ China
Continues Its Transition From Communism To Capitalism ~ by Joseph
Lau - When former Communist Party leader Deng Xiaoping announced in the
1980s, “getting rich is glorious,” China’s 1.5 billion people took him
at his word. Twenty years later, China has the world’s fastest growing
economy—a truly amazing accomplishment for such a huge country. Sept./04 |
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| Foreign
Devils In The Middle Kingdom ~ Teaching
Overseas ~ By Ben Hill - This is a nice little article about what
it means to be an English teacher in China. It seems that as a teacher
you are pretty much a ghost or sideshow for the students. Preparing lessons
to which no students come, being classified as a devil and dirty. Imagine
how irritated you would become with all the slights and feelings of isolation.
Ben Hill lets you know first-hand what it's like to live and teach in the
Middle Kingdom. July/03 |
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| Foreign
Investment in China ~ Rules, Regs and Proceedures - Investing
in China - Butterfield, Reimer & Associates (Hong Kong) Ltd.
writes, "Shanghai, the worlds' 5th largest city with over 22 million people.
It is the home of 2500 high rise buildings, including the third largest
building on earth. The rules how to start your investment in China and
especially booming regions like Shanghai are sometimes confusing. However,
if advised properly this is the path to take. China is the market of the
future!" June/02 |
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| Get Well
Soon ~ A
Sick Expatriate In China ~ by I. Rage Robbins - If you plan to
get sick while in China, be prepared to have many of your notions of medical
treatment transformed. Finding a doctor you approve of in China can be
tricky. Most facilities offer a progressive blend of Western methods with
Chinese traditional medicines. But these methods are usually hardly in
keeping with Western expectations. To the expat, the scarceness of spotless
hospitals, adequate lighting and a standard of sterility are upsetting
if one is unprepared. I was unprepared. Aug/04 |
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| Hot Day,
Hot Food, Hot Time In Guza - In
Sichuan ~ by Satina Anziano - On Friday afternoon Tsering Ji stopped
by my campus apartment to ask questions about the English lesson.
This tall young woman with the long face and graceful moves is a rarity
among her classmates. She actually wants to learn English.
As she was leaving, she told me that the class would be having a hot pot
luncheon in Guza town on Saturday, and I should join them at 10:00 a.m.
May/04 |
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| How To
Find A Sadhu Of Your Very Own ~ Or
The Challenges Of Buying A Tibetan Horse ~ by Brandon Wilson -
Chuzal Dzong was three gritty, unpaved streets, boasting a couple of general
stores all touting the same Chinese goods, a pool hall, a smaller café
frying more spicy Szechwan, and an audio cassette cum sweet shop. It wasn't
much. But I figured it was our only chance to find something with four
legs to carry our packs and someone with two to guide us to Gyantse.
Jul/05 |
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| In China
- Toughing
It ~
by Edward Brewer - They tried again and failed. Yep, Sunday, my dearest
and closest Chinese friend tried to kill me again. And again.
And again. Three times they tried to "off" the big, over-weight,
tall, pony-tailed guy in shorts and with beautiful white skin. I
thought they came close, but I'm still here. Now for the details.
July/04 |
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| Interns
Needed ~ Gateway Language Village, People's Republic of China ~ The Who,
What, Where, When, Why, and How of Interning at GLV - Teaching
English Overseas - Escape from America Magazine was recently contacted
by Gateway Language Village to help in their search for Interns. The editor
of Escape from America Magazine thought it would be helpful to readers
if more was known about the job opening, its location, amenities, and other
particulars readers might like to know about. GLV is offering three
month and six month contracts to anyone with a strong desire to see and
mingle with the authentic cultures of China. It's a chance for mature High
School graduates, college students, world travelers, and people looking
for an interesting adventure and educational experience to travel and work.
August/02. |
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| Kangding
- On
The Road To Tibet ~ by Satina Anziano - Going to church on Sunday.
Now, what could be more ordinary? Well, for me, the nearest church
means a trip to Kangding, and a trip to Kangding is far from the ordinary.
'Kangding' is what the Chinese now call it. Dartsedo, the meeting
place - of two rivers, and of traders - is what the Tibetans have always
called it. Closed off until recently, few westerners have heard the
call of her river and the rugged beauty of her mountains. April/04 |
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| Male Warrior
Princess ~ On
Chinese TV ~ by Daniel Wallace - If you've seen one of these Chinese
period pieces, you've seen most of them: there is a hero with long straight
hair, a comedy fat courtier, a few pretty princesses, various evil bearded
men and scheming aunties. I and four other Westerners (also picked up in
the bar) played the henchmen of "Mar-Jali" a curiously named 19th century
English explorer. When I told my Chinese girlfriend about my new job invading
China, she assured me that the director would make sure that me and my
fellow Westerners would be defeated. She added patriotically, "I hope you
die". April/05 |
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| My Frustrating
Love ~ What
Is It Like To Live In China? ~ Photos And Story by Daniel Wallace
- This article is a goodbye to the country I've lived in for ten months
- travelling, living with a local family, teaching English. This is an
account of the good and bad things I've encountered, and as a result is
inevitably a series of generalisations - there are lots of exceptions to
the tendencies I'm describing. Jul/05 |
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| On Learning
The Awful Chinese Language ~ In
China ~ by Antonio Graceffo - The first night I was on my own in Taichung
City, I went out for some dinner. But, one problem with China is that you
can’t read the street signs. Basically, I never go more than a few blocks
from my house, because I can’t ask for directions. And, even if I could,
I don’t know my address. Coming out of the restaurant, I got a little turned
around. I knew that I was probably not more than a block from the apartment,
but didn’t know where it was, exactly. Aug./05 |
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| On The Modern Silk Road
~ Traveling
An Ancient Trade Route ~ by Susan Boyoung - Born
in South Korea and raised in America, I embody Eastern roots with Western
views. Traveling through China fulfilled part of my personal story, for
in our heritage lies a discovery that may answer some of our precious questions.
With a group of students from The Beijing Center, I traversed part of the
1,423 mile ancient Silk Road exploring the land, people, and places of
my root culture. Jan/06 |
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| On Two
Wheels ~ China
From The Slow Lane ~ By Ben Hill - Mao's shadow falls far in China.
A Chinese English student of mine from the countryside north of Chengdu
told me that everyone in China says that Mao was 30% wrong and 70% right.
But I've always been told that the Chinese aren't good gamblers, though
I don't know that. Anyway, it seems as though Mao's legacy is being driven
over, literally. Nov./03 |
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| Paddling
The Maekok River - In
Indochina ~ by Antonio Graceffo - When you tell the folks back
in Brooklyn that you are going to paddle the entire Mekong River, they
are justifiably impressed. The Mekong is one of the most famous rivers
in the world, often referred to as The Heart of the Dragon, or The Soul
of Indochina. It's pristine waterways run from Yunnan, China, through Indochina,
ending in Vietnam. May/04 |
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| Perilous
Passes In Winter ~ Adventures
In China
~ by Satina Anziano - A couple years ago, during the winter break,
I came across a monastery cradled in a small grassland area. There are
plenty of monasteries much closer to where I live. Those are either small,
or in an urban area. This monastery, 180 kilometers from my home, was large,
yet away from any population center. I began to harbor dreams of meditation
retreats on three-day weekends, eventually a week-long retreat. I was eager
to meet the head Lama, to see if that would be possible. Meeting him, however,
was not so easy. Oh, he's approachable enough, a real down-to-earth kind
of fellow. But hard to reach. Though the location is not far, 'you can't
get there from here'. April/05 |
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| Relocation
to Shanghai - Our Move - Moving
to Shanghai - "My first impression is that Shanghai is BIG, exotic,
with lots and lots of people, bicycles,and cars- but easy to navigate and
relatively cheap to live if I don't attempt maintain a totally american
lifestyle - which I didn't want to do anyway. The few chinese people I
have had contact with after 5 days have been very friendly, helpful, and
tolerant. A surprising number of chinese I have encountered speak some
English. English is taught as a required subject in most schools. Taxis
and bicycles are everywhere. I can get anywhere in the city for 2 or 3
dollars. We won't need a car here." |
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| Secrets
To Surviving In China - Learning
What It Takes To Make It In China ~ By Glenn Frost - Doing
business in China is filled with idosyncratic gestures that act as a brake
on business. Most people feel you can't do business in the country unless
you have a local Chinese to represent you. But having someone else represent
you in business may not work for the kind of business you want to set up.
The above article will give you some ideas about what you will face in
China and what are some possible solutions. Feb./03 |
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| Shopping
in Mainland China ~ Twelve Steps Across the Cultural Gap ~ Bargaining and
Negotiation 101 for the Traveler to China -
Make
a Deal - A mother of two and a grandmother of 6, Eva Lynne
dreamed of coming to China to teach since her early teens. She currently
resides in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, Peoples Rep. China. Bargaining price
is not only expected, it's the custom. Here's how-to-do-it advice from
a seasoned shopper in China. June/02. |
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| Surviving
The Culture Clash ~ Some
Unwritten Rules When Living In China ~ Charlotte Turner - If
you are considering going to live and work in China, then I am sure that
you have already begun your research and read as much literature as possible
regarding Chinese customs, culture and lifestyle. I have lived in
China now for over a year, (I taught in Beijing during the academic year
of 2002-2003 and I am currently teaching in Shantou on a six month contract),
and I wish to share some of the many unwritten cultural differences that
I have experienced during this time. Nov./05 |
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| Taklamakan
Desert By Rickshaw ~ Venturing
Through Western China ~ by Antonio Graceffo - Antonio takes you
out onto the deserts of western China to meet some of the local inhabitants.
An intrepid traveller he bikes his way across the desert in order to show
us what is out there. He's planning on heading back to the desert soon
and hope we hear from him again upon his return. Sept./03 |
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| The Cult
Of The Leader - Mao's
Hometown ~ by Ben Hill - Very hard to say about Chairman Mao: son
of a well-to-do farmer, schoolteacher, guerrilla leader, absolute ruler
of China. He was also a man of strange habits: he is said to never have
brushed his teeth; he only ever rinsed them in green tea. On the other
hand he was incredibly brave:there is the story of Mao swimming at the
Chinese summer resort, Beidaihe, and upon seeing a typhoon coming across
the sea towards the beach, he jumped into the water and started swimming
into the storm. The above article gives you an idea about Chairman Mao's
legacy. Oct./03 |
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| The Monk
From Brooklyn ~ An
American At The Shaolin Temple ~
by Antonio Graceffo - The Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Kung Fu and
modern Chinese Buddhism, is the oldest and most mysterious kung fu school
in the world. It is an exotic and mythical destination of daydreams to
millions of people. In the history of the temple, very few foreigners have
ever had a chance to study there. Foreigners have been allowed to study
in many of the Shaolin schools, near the temple, which have taken the Shaolin
name as a marketing ploy, but less than fifty foreigners have studied at
the original Shaolin Temple. Nov./04 |
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| There's
No Place Like Home ~ A "Stranger in a Strange Land" Settles In - Living
in China
- Larry Jer is of Chinese decent, but was born
and raised in North America. He signed on for a one-year hitch to teach
English at Shenyang Pharmacy College, China, but mere hours after he dropped
his luggage, he was told he'd have a one month paid vacation, free from
lessons, just to get accustomed to his new surroundings. Not a bad gig
by any means, but lacking any language skills and foreign to the culture,
panic set in. Larry relied on what skills he'd brought with him, and before
the month was over, he called China home. Larry enjoyed his time in Shenyang
so much, he stayed an additional year. He eventually returned to Canada
to set up house with Jun, his lovely bride from China and credits his good
fortune solely on his #35 haircut. |
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| The Pleasures
And Pitfalls Of Teaching In China ~ Some
Thoughts On China ~ by Charlotte Turner - One way to immerse yourself in the culture,
customs and lifestyle of another country is to pack your bags, jump on
a plane, and become a TEFL teacher. I taught in Beijing, China from July
2002 until I left at the height of the SARS outbreak in April 2003, and
I found it to be one of the most interesting, challenging and exciting
experiences of my life. Nov./04 |
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| Tibet and
the Potala Palace ~ From Riches to Ruins - Tibet
- Richard S. Ehrlich notes, "The Dalai Lama may remember the Potala
Palace as his center of power in Tibet, but the Chinese have turned the
stunning 1,000-room structure into a slick corporate logo, decorating beer
bottles, computer screens and plastic packets of dried yak meat. Mindful
of the popular capitalist chant, 'location, location, location,' the heart
of the Potala Palace is now occupied by a tacky, spacious, Chinese-run
gift shop." Sept./02 |
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| Traditions Alive In Modern Eastern
Tibet - Celebrating
The Tibetan New Year ~ by Satina Anziano - Preparations are
in full swing for lhosar, the Tibetan New Year. The teens will gather at
9 a.m. today to practice the dances and songs for the festival. When
I rouse myself to look at my watch, I see it is already quarter past eight.
My host, Urgyen, is at puja1 with the monks, so I will be alone for breakfast.
I ease myself out of the warm bed into the frigid air. My mountaineer watch
records a room temp of 43°F. I use the chamber pot one last time. I
fish under the blankets for my socks, then jump into the rest of
my clothes layered over the ever-present long johns. Once again under the
blankets for the hot water bottle. May/05 |
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| “Wait And See” In Futuristic
Shanghai ~ China’s
Fast-Paced And Most Cosmopolitan City ~ by Steenie Harvey - Although
not the traditional China of pagodas and pavilions, Shanghai conjures up
all the mystery of the Far East. A past of colonial adventurers, shady
ladies, and opium dens, it now has a shining future as Asia’s major hub
of economy and trade. Many multinationals whose regional headquarters were
in Hong Kong and Singapore have already relocated here. China’s most cosmopolitan
city, Shanghai is also its richest and largest. Although estimates vary,
general consensus puts the population of its greater municipal area at
around 18 million people. And that’s truly beyond megalopolis. Dec./05 |
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| Yunnan
- Vacation
In China ~ by Adam Geisler -Having just been blown over by an early
precursor of an infamous Beijing sandstorm, my mind drifts back to a recent
trip to Yunnan province. Yunnan is about as far away as one can get
from Beijing on the Chinese mainland. Colorful in many senses of
the word, the southwest corner of China boasts a diverse motif of people,
places, and topography unseen elsewhere in the country. March/04 |
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