60’s this was the time when the “cold war” influenced the political narrative of the day. The “Red Scare” was evident in the books and news I read in elementary and high school.
70’s the movie “Learn from Tachai” had a strong effect on me, the young idealist. A social system enabled people to overcome a land productivity issue.
1992 I visited Jiangsu province for an agroforestry conference. at this time, Under Deng Xiao Ping, two politico-economic systems could co-exist in the country.
2014 A leisurely visit with family, stayed in a Hu tong and sealed the Great Wall
Dynasties and Empires built the Great Wall. to set an idea of their rise and fall. I had watch this movie 5x. The land mark movie documents 3 key records:
a) the last imperial reward;
b) revolution and republic, and
c) the communist era especially the cultural revolution of the 60s
2007 A visit to Hong Kong after the British turned over the city. A modern capitalism, at its height.
2023 A leisurely visit to the island country. A highly successful case on both Mainland and Island but Geopolitics now control the narrative.
The Chinese people went through a lot. we also learned a lot from China (trade skills, piety & kingship, food, medicines, among others) How I wish that in school we studied more about China (out neighbor) than the US. it is sad that the current state of relationship is under great stress. I am hoping that we can find a solution.