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Sunday, December 21, 2008
Introduction to Bejing This is not a post by us, but by our dear buddy from 北大附中, who has kindly written an intro of beijing. A big thanks to her!!!
Have you ever see Have you ever see Forbidden City? Have you ever taste Beijing duck? If your answers are “no” you will never imagine How interesting in Beijing.
Beijing is the capital of China. It has an area of 16,808 square kilometers. It's very big so there are many people in Beijing. If you come to Beijing you will get in traffic jam very often.
Beijing is one of the ancient centers in china. It has a lot of royal architectures, such as Summer Palace the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Some of them are famous in the world, but some of them are unknown though they are also charming. So if you want to see a real Beijing, some photos are never enough.
Besides famous architectures, Beijing also has fashionable shopping mall with world famous brands, such as Louis Veton, Dior and Chanel, which are becoming increasingly popular among ordinary Beijingers I also appreciate a newly built art center called 798 .It is built on deserted factory buildings yet stands for the highest art level in China and the world!
Finally, Beijing is also famous for its foods, Dip-boiled mutton slices, fried bread stick, porridge and so on, Some of them are sticky, Some of them are Crisp, some of them are pungent. But there will be a kind of food that you like.
Beijing is a modern and ancient, dynamic and relaxed, famous and unknown city. There are many interesting thing to do are waiting for you. Come and have a look, I believe you will fall in love with this beautiful city.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Reflection [Qin Ai] The Global Perspective Programme to Beijing was a very enriching experience for me. Through this trip, I was exposed to the historical background of China, the power CCP gathered, its culture, as well as its development in the various aspects, ranging from its standard of living to science and technology. It had undeniably broadened my horizon and changed some of my beliefs of China prior to the trip.
Initially, my impression of China is that it is a country rich in culture and history and has great potential to excel given the right administration. However, the various media reports also made me think that China’s development is exaggerated. But this trip has reaffirm my beliefs that China definitely has the abilities to be a potential Word no.1, and its development is definitely not exaggerated, though I think there is still much work to be done to achieve this feat. For example, from this trip, I realised that income disparity in China is even more evident than in Singapore. While living standards have indeed improved, there is still a large number of poor commoners who depended heavily on selling cheap goods to tourists, but rarely do I see people buying from them, hence I think they probably earned very little. This also leads to the rise in fake imitations of branded goods. This is one of the many social problems (others being illiteracy, jobs competition, citizen’s welfare, development of the rural areas etc) that the Chinese government has to address if China wants to be a first world country for people to live in happily.
In the course of this learning journey, we also visited many tourist attractions, admiring their beautiful sceneries and understanding the story behind each of them. Sites such as Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Prince Gong’s Palace displayed past China glory as well as the emperors extravagant spending; while the Great Wall shows China impenetrable defence and its isolationistic belief in the past. Not to forget Tiananmen Square which holds many historical significant events, Mao Memorial Hall which shows the Chinese fierce dedication to their all-time hero, Hutongs which illustrates the lifestyle of the commoners in the past, and places such as Temple of Heaven reminds people of the importance of hierarchy as well as Chinese’s superstitious. However, Beijing is not only a historical city, what really wows me is how well the city is able to blend modern developments with traditional culture. And no matter which place you go, the values or message that it is trying to convey seems inter-linked. For example, the real reason for the existence of Mao Memorial Hall is so that the CCP can continue to stay in power, and places such as Hutongs which educates communalism and Anti-Japanese Museum serves to help its case.
During the exchange programme, I had the opportunity to experience the school life of teenagers in China. Indeed, I spotted some differences between the school lives of teenagers in both Singapore and China. For example, they have morning exercise everyday (even in winter times!), and they study politics since primary education! While most Singaporeans shun examinations, to them, exams are a common thing that happens every week. However, we do have similarities, but mostly in the area of recreational activities and entertainment.
In a nutshell, this is my first time participating in such a programme, and it had definitely left a lasting impression on me. The breathtaking sceneries of Great Wall and Forbidden City, the rapid development of Beijing, the hospitality of the staff and students in Renming University and Bei Da Fu Zhong, and the lessons specially prepared by the lecturers would forever be etched in my memory.
Reflection [Tze Hui] Firstly, from the sites that I have visited, I noticed that Beijing is a city that has both traditional and modern culture blended in their architectures. Buildings such as Forbidden City, Dongyue Temple, Ming tombs, Temple of Heaven, Hutongs, Summer Palace and Prince Gong’s Palace showed us how traditional Chinese culture had influenced the way buildings are structured. For example, the way buildings are placed along a centre line in the middle of city, the colour of the buildings (blue represent heaven, yellow represents emperor, green represents commoners), the emphasis on hierarchy – that emperor takes a different path from others, the importance of fengshui in the structures illustrate the respect the people have for their culture and that people were really superstitious in the past. I also realized that the people in China are very proud of their culture and defensive of it. In addition, the magnificent and grand buildings of China make me think that the Chinese were really glorious in the past but the money were not really spent on the people but rather spent to show the wealth of the royalties. The extent of the extravagance is horrifying when you make a comparison between the Forbidden City and a siheyuan in the hutongs. For the part on modern culture, it can be seen in buildings such as capital museum and bird nest stadium. Although those buildings may not be designed by Chinese, the fact that they can be build in China and become an icon of China shows that China is becoming more and more open to western ideas. Thus, I think China is quite successful in balancing their traditional Chinese culture and western culture. With the threat of westernization and diminishing sense of identity and culture, China is able to make use of the space it has to both preserve its own culture and also introduce western culture into the country.
In addition, been in Beijing allowed me to experience a lot of theories such as the respect the Chinese have for their leader, Mao and the population problem in China. For the respect for Mao, it was quite surprising for me as people were very serious about Mao and many treated him like god by worshipping him with flowers. I was quite taken back by the scene as I did not expect the amount of respect Mao can gained from the people to be so great after the failure of his policies such as the culture revolution. Thus, I consider this as an eye-opener and an experience that cannot be gained via textbooks. On top of that, I also see for myself in Beijing the population problem in China. The streets are filled with lots of people and the traffic congestion can be really horrible. A ride of 10 minutes can be delayed by around half an hour due to traffic congestion. After been through this, I realize the urgency of the China’s government in controlling the population and also the rationale behind the one-child policy and the car policy.
In conclusion, the trip has been very meaningful as it has widened my knowledge and also understanding of China’s history and culture. In addition, it has reaffirmed my thought of China being a potential leading power in the future.
Reflection (Chloe) :D Firstly, I have observed the fusion of eastern and western elements in one city like a temple situated beside a disco, showing how China wants to keep the balance between modernization and conservation. In addition, the state’s desire to retain, reconstruct, and renew historical sites is exceedingly obvious. We have learnt that the motivations for doing so are actually very simple as these sites serve not only as reminders of China’s majestic and glorious past but also as attractive tourist attractions, generating much profit for the government. This translates to greater economic growth in terms of GDP.
Secondly, the difference in service standards between private and state owned enterprises is drastic. We later found out that is due to the fact that private owned enterprises are profit driven while those that are state owned are not. When income is solely dependent on the quantity of goods sold by an individual to his/her customers for example, he/she will naturally be more motivated to perform. However, if that same individual is ensured of an iron rice bowl, I believe that a more complacent attitude may result. This certainly sheds some light on human nature and it is best witnessed in China.
Thirdly, after self-isolation for many years, the bamboo curtain is finally tearing down; we’re now witnessing the rising of a great nation, where rapid development is the norm. This also means that the phenomenon of the global youth in China is becoming increasingly significant. This may pose as a problem as when impressionable youths begin to embrace foreign cultures and lifestyles, they may potentially forsake their beliefs, like respect for authority for instance, which make up the Chinese identity. This further emphasizes the urgency to glorify Chinese tradition and heritage, conserving remnants of Chinese lavishness. In my opinion, the identity of a nation is formed through its history. If the youths of China are reminded that she was once the beacon of the ancient world and the master of ballistics, there will be the rousing of patriotism in them and thus the strengthening of their identity.
Lastly, I have observed the patriotism and determination of the Chinese people, which is simply remarkable. I was taken aback by the lengths the Chinese people will go to maintain her reputation and regain her standing in the world. For example, the world, mostly the west, was apprehensive about China playing host to the Olympics, criticizing her terrible air quality, the measures she took to ease traffic congestion and so on. Nevertheless, her air quality miraculously returned to healthy standards just a few days before the event and traffic has no doubt improved.
I admire China for staying rooted in her beliefs, refusing to compromise to the ways of the West. I still remember what one lecturer at Ren Min university said, “One ideology may work for a country but not another.” China has been doing things her way and she has been successful albeit numerous flaws. Having to place Mao on a pedestal in order to secure a one party rule by the CCP may seem like utter propaganda to some people but it is effective isn’t it? So why is the West still criticizing her policies? I attribute this to the lack of understanding.
Hence, I have learnt that we should not blindly criticize without clear understanding for we will only end up as blabbering, indifferent fools.
I have noticed some similarities between China and Singapore in terms of our pragmatist approach to issues, the creation of our own set of ideology (Asian democracy) and the conservation of beliefs that are slowly eroding with westernization and efforts to protect the earth.
Also, must modernization be the equivalent to westernization or can there be “asianisation” decades later?
In addition, I think the majority Singaporean seemingly lack the sense of rooted ness and patriotism as do the Chinese mainly because of our short history. Sometimes, I wonder if that is the reason they thought of the merlion- a mystical lion which gave Singapore her name.
Is there a Singapore culture that is common among all Singaporeans or must it be artificially created? Is there more than ‘Singapore-A Garden City’? I mean it’s not as if other countries do not have trees or parks. They can even boast of natural scenery while we can only offer mangroves from Pulau Ubin. What actually makes Singaporean ‘Singaporean’? Is it good food or singlish?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Human Geography - CONSERVATION! There is conservation in every country as so it is not uncommon for Beijing to have conservation too. However, something that is unique to Beijing’s conservation is that not only does Beijing have to conserve and improve on its modern development, but she also has to preserve her historical past.
Beijing has to keep pollution low for the march towards a civilised country. Beijing suffers from severe air pollution due to factories as there is a staggering expansion of heavy industry and urbanisation that requires large amount of coals, which though readily available, is the dirtiest source of energy. The main sources of water pollution is industrial (chemical, organic, and thermal wastes), municipal (largely sewage consisting of human wastes, other organic wastes, and detergents), and agricultural (animal wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers). Nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. The scarcity of water caused Chinese farmers to face strong water competition from local cities, hence pushing up the price of water. Pollution poses not only a major long-term burden on the Chinese public but also an acute political challenge to the CCP. Air pollution is blamed for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year and pollution has made cancer China’s leading cause of death. China’s economy is on historical run but she is choking on her own success due to pollution. China’s problem has become the world’s problem too, where sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides fall as acid rain on Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo. Automobiles are increasing by 10 percent annually and roads being extended by only 2 percent, as people’s income increases. Hence there is the problem of traffic congestion.
Hence the government is trying out different strategies to solve this long-termed problem. For example, one has to pay extra to get plastic bags for goods and there are recycling bins around and posters to promote recycling. The government also implemented the car policy where car plates with different alphabets are not allowed to drive on certain days. The fares of public transport are very very affordable as well so as to encourage the locals to take more of them instead. Though there are results on these implementations, there is still room for improvement. This problem must be solved to ensure China’s reputation as China is now under strict inspection by other countries since it is one of the countries who is contributing most to global warming.
Another thing the government has to conserve is China’s historical places of interest, like the hutong and Summer Palace. There are nets to prevent birds from destroying the majestic palace and barriers to prevent destruction caused by men. These places are a reminder of China’s rich dynastic past and how far the Chinese have come. The richness and grandeur of such places will make the Chinese feel proud being a Chinese and also give them places to identify with. The numerous places of interests among the Chinese will also bring them closer to each other due to their shared history and heritage, knowing that they all had something in common. These places allow the future generations to have a peek at the past, though they are not physically there to witness it. For example, the Great Wall showed China’s insularity and self-sufficiency in the past as the Chinese performed amazing feats to build a 6,400km long solid wall to block out the foreigners. It also showed the strong love they had for the country. The Anti-Japanese War Museum on the other hand showed the Chinese’s struggle towards independence and how the Chinese were so brave and persevering in the face of war. It showed them that they had been through the same bitter hardship together, hence forming a sense of closeness and rootedness among the locals. It also allows the future generations to appreciate and love China more since their ancestors had so painstakingly defended China and many had sacrificed their lives for the independence of their homeland.
These historical conservations are definitely necessary though China is undergoing globalisation as it is important for a country not to lose her identity and culture. If the locals do not feel attached to the country, he might migrate and there will be a loss of talents overseas as the young talents search for greener grass elsewhere. This is the problem which is happening to Singapore, where one in four migrates overseas. This, for us, is a very serious problem since we already lack manpower due to our limited population. This affects our economy and puts a strain on the remaining working force to support the increasing aging population. Traditional Chinese values will be lost as well if China loses her identity since everyone will be similar to those in the West. The loss of good values like filial piety and honesty will be a huge loss as more and more people may become more liberal in their thinking and hence commit more crimes.
Human Geography of Beijing - Population Policy & Development
Population Policy: One-child Policy
Today, China has a population growth rate of 0.6% a year, one of the lowest in the developing world and near the level seen in the developed countries (MEDCs). This is the result of the implementation of the one-child policy in China, about a quarter-century ago.
This policy has been very successful - however, there are problems which surfaced as its effects swept past the whole of China. One rising problem is ageing population. With lesser young, the proportion of elderly would increase over the years. This will lead to a reduction in the country's productivity, which would in turn, deter foreign investments in the country. This slows down the country's development, for there will be less revenue earned from other countries through foreign investments.
Besides, ageing population also pose as a problem for more national funds would be channeled to the building of elderly-friendly facilities and this will lead to a strain on the country's resources, and thus slows down China's economic development.
The policy has also led to a high level of infancide, whereby thousands of baby girls were abandoned or aborted by their parents due to the preference for male heirs. The proportion of men is higher than women in China now, and this has led to social problems for many men could not find wives.
In addition, due to the expectations of the parents, the children, being the only heir at home, were often subjected to stress. This led to high suicide rates, and more children suffering from depression and other psychological problems.
Another disadvantage of this policy is that when the child passes away due to unnatural causes e.g. disasters & accidents, the parents are unable to bear another child for they were forced to sterilise after giving birth to their first - and only - child. This can be seen in the SzeChuan Earthquake this year (2008)
However, this policy was a necessary evil in the 1970s when resources were scarce. A large population of youths (age 0-14) would require more of the country's resource to be chaneled to the building of facilities and amenities to cater to them e.g. building of schools for education. In addition, with a large population of youths, the dependency ratio would increase and the burden on the working people would be further increased.
With a smaller population, more of China's resource can be channeled to the development of the country (e.g. infrastructural developments, technological developments). Development would eventually lead to better technology & skills, which would then translate to a better economy (due to the increased productivity), and thus better livelihood for everyone. This would hence benefit both the country, and its people. Thus, the one-child policy was a necessary evil, and is justified, in our views.
CULTUREEEEEE The Chinese are very rooted in their culture and have a strong sense of identity. Though China is modernising, the Chinese are trying hard to preserve their historical sites. For example, they retained the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, hutong and many other ancient places for the future generations so they will not be deprived of China’s rich and vibrant history. These historical places are a reminder of China’s struggle towards independence and are symbols of grandeur and majesty of ancient China. Hence these sites will make the Chinese will feel proud of themselves and of their magnificent dynastic past. They are also a symbol for the Chinese to identify with, like how one will easily associate China with the Great Wall. Therefore, the Chinese have a strong sense of identity and sense of closeness due to their long shared history. Traditional Chinese festivals are also treated with high regard in China, as many Chinese labourers in other parts of the country or other parts of the world will rush back to their hometown to celebrate Chinese New Year every year. Similarly, though it is said that the China is undergoing rapid development and westernisation, some of the Chinese values have remained unchanged. One example is that the Chinese do not really celebrate Christmas as there are hardly any Christmas decorations in China. Even international shopping malls have very little Christmas decorations. Hence though skyscrapers are sprouting like mushrooms now, the Chinese are still relatively rooted in their culture.
On the other hand, Singapore has very little historical places due to our short history and we had also during some point in time, sacrificed some cultural places for the development of the country due to limited land space. Singaporeans are also apathetic to the Singapore’s history and our places of interest. For example, how many know about the origins of the Merlion? Hence we are relatively confused with our identity. Lesser and lesser people are celebrating Chinese New Year in the traditional way while more people are using the long holiday to go overseas. In Singapore, westernisation is eroding our culture fast. But perhaps we do not even have a distinct culture and heritage to start with since Singaporeans come from a mixture of races and it is difficult to identity each other as one people, one nation.
Another aspect is the Chinese respect their leaders a lot. The people in Mao Memorial Hall are actually locals and security is very tight there since we have to scan our bags before entering. The sight that greeted us before we enter the place itself was amazing already as there were huge amount of people queuing up to enter on a weekday morning right before work. In the hall itself, many gave him flowers and some even prayed to him, which showed he almost had a god-like figure in the locals’ hearts. Many parents also brought their young children to educate them on his contributions towards modern China. Mao’s face is also always printed on T-shirts and on souvenirs. It is evident that the locals hold him in high regard. However, though Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore’s famous founding father, he did not receive as much respect and adoration by Singaporeans as compared to what Mao received from the locals. Similarly, for the reputation of their country, the Chinese worked together under the government’s instructions to transform China into more environmentally-friendly for the Beijing Olympics. There are lesser people smoking and more people are recycling to create a civilised image of China during the Olympics. This again shows that the locals respect the leaders to heed their instructions and love their own country to be able to work together as a whole big nation to make the Olympics a success. Will Singaporeans do the same thing for our Youth Olympics in 2010? We will wait and see…