GlobalShift

The Ever Changing Landscape of China

I want to be honest here. All that I don’t know about China could fill warehouses. Although that’s true and something I’m trying to change, modern China is still fascinating to me, especially from a Californian perspective. In California, we have very little history. Most people that settle here came to either chase a dream or run from a harsh reality. Invention and transformation are encouraged, holding on to tradition, not as much.

China is still the fastest growing country in the world with new cities cropping up monthly. Okay, not quite monthly, but there is still more growth going on there on a grand scale, than anywhere else. China hit its own economic bump in 2008, but after a generous bank and domestic loan, it seems to be leading the world in terms of economic recovery.

Two stories I saw recently made me recognize the schism between the innovative growth happening there, versus the side of the country that is still being left behind. The first story was about this fabulous art project that took place in the South China city of Foshan. Titled the Toilet Seat Waterfall, it consists of 10,000 recycled toilets, sinks and urinals all configured into a towering, working waterfall. The project was built in conjuncture with a trade show on pottery and porcelain, which was of course invented in China about 2200 years ago. It sounds like a silly project, but it is actually really beautiful. There are some great pictures here. I love how these ordinary objects are reclaimed to create intricate, abstract patterns. Plus, the engineering aspect of it looks pretty tricky.

The other item I saw depicted an elementary school in Miao village which is located in China’s Guizhou province. This particular school is located in a natural cave, inside a mountain, which has been there for thousands of years. The pictures are stunning, poetic and surreal. But really, who wants to go to a poetic, surreal school. The experience would probably be interesting, but poorly lit and heated. I don’t even want to think about the bathrooms.

In a country where so much is changing so quickly and there is forward trajectory unlike anywhere else on the globe, it would be nice to see someone throw up a decent, fluorescent lit,  insulated classroom for those kids. Maybe toss in a real backboard too. I deeply respect that China’s amazing history seeps in between the cracks of modernity. I just hope that the opportunities that come with growth trickle out to all the citizens of China.

Sources:

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/dongzhong-chinas-cave-school.html

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/chinas-toilet-seat-waterfall.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091022/ap_on_bi_ge/as_china_economy