Question: I’ve been presented an opportunity to go back to several places in China I visited in the past–namely Beijing, Xi’an, Yangshou and Shanghai. Probably three weeks.
I will also spend a week in South Korea with old friends, where I lived in 1993-94.
Is this a trip you, the readers of Ian’s site, would be interested in?
JMH
I have visitede sall four of those places multiple times , but not since 2018.Iam curioous to see/hear how they nhave changed and how they are the same.
j
I didn’t know I wanted this, but now I need this:)
Bill H.
A discussion comparing what China has done in the past 30 years or so compared to what the US has done? Yes. That discussion coming from you? Oh, hell yes.
Eclair
Definitely interested . I spent two weeks touring by train in the mid-90’s , the last of the steam trains if I remember correctly. I could feel the excitement and sense of optimism , even through the layers of grime. People trailed us around, practicing their English. The food was marvelous!
Nora Handler
My health would not allow me to do such a trip. I hope you enjoy.
GlassHammer
Ian,
It wasn’t on your listed destinations but I liked Guangzhou when I visited.
Also, if you didn’t already know the ozone above some of the heavy industry cities (Beijing) is a bit thin so…. long sleeves and a hat or you start to burn while walking outside.
Ian Welsh
Glasshammer,
it’s Sean-Paul who’ll be going, not that I wouldn’t love to.
someofparts
You bet. Thanks to you I became interested in Istanbul. Now I’ve spent years immersing myself in Turkish historical dramas, which segued into my current love of dizileri. Took a break from the one I’m watching now to post this.
bruce wilder
I have only been to China twice and will never be able to go again. I would very much appreciate your observations, I am sure of that.
Jeremy Hartley
I visited Shanghai a few months ago after not visiting since 2007 and I was really amazed at how much it had changed. Most of it very positive. The air was clean, the city generally seemed clean, maybe overly sanitized. I would definitely go if you have the chance.
Dan
Absolutely! Would love to see your observations of how China has changed since the 90’s, especially vis a vis Canada and the US.
My aunt and uncle lived in Beijing in the 90’s, back when it was still a city of bicycles.
Purple Library Guy
China has been, for longer than a lot of us realize really, the place where things are happening–and it’s been particularly dramatic and visible since the 90s. It would be interesting to get an idea about how the shift has been working out on the ground.
elkern
Hell yeah, go. Looking forward to several “What I did on my Summer Vacation” posts here!
Joan
I would be interested. I spent a summer in South Korea in college but I’ve never been to China.
Alan Sutton
Are kidding? Definitely interested in reports of that type.