Leaving China
China is a fascinating country (pop. 1.6 billion) with 2% more men than women. I viewed groups of young men but not young women. Because of the shortage of women, men marry women from other Asian countries, notably Korea. Also noted that baby boys outnumbered girls.
While the one child policy is still in effect, there are exceptions. If a farmer has a girl as a first child, he and his wife can try for a son, after 5 years. If this second child is another girl, and the farmer wants to try for a 3rd child, there will be a severe penalty. If the fine cannot be paid, the 3rd child will be unregistered and remain a non-person for life. The fine is so steep, that is it unlikely that the farmer can pay it. We were told a story of how a university lecturer lost his status, home, job and became a labourer after trying 4 times for a boy. The fifth child was a boy but the price was heavy.
China is a country that is rich with history - the dynasties make for good reading. With its rapid (catch up) development, it changes daily. There is major construction in all the cities that we visited. Cranes dot the skylines. Work is constant on the roadways and sidewalks. New homes and condos are being built. Will there always be the apartments where laundry is hung out the windows on either bamboo or steel racks? Will the shacks come down and be replaced with other housing? Possibly. Even the locals are worried about the rapidity of growth.
The cities that we visited were cleaner than Toronto. No litter and garbage on the streets and byways. The streets and highways were adorned with well-kept landscaping with major streets divided with tree-lined meridians for bikes. We saw groups of people, tending to the landscaping.
Of course, there are areas and regions of poverty, if not extreme poverty, but there are places of beauty that are set in history. The large cities are impressive.
I am truly glad that I made this trip to China. It was an educational and cultural experience.
China is a fascinating country (pop. 1.6 billion) with 2% more men than women. I viewed groups of young men but not young women. Because of the shortage of women, men marry women from other Asian countries, notably Korea. Also noted that baby boys outnumbered girls.
While the one child policy is still in effect, there are exceptions. If a farmer has a girl as a first child, he and his wife can try for a son, after 5 years. If this second child is another girl, and the farmer wants to try for a 3rd child, there will be a severe penalty. If the fine cannot be paid, the 3rd child will be unregistered and remain a non-person for life. The fine is so steep, that is it unlikely that the farmer can pay it. We were told a story of how a university lecturer lost his status, home, job and became a labourer after trying 4 times for a boy. The fifth child was a boy but the price was heavy.
China is a country that is rich with history - the dynasties make for good reading. With its rapid (catch up) development, it changes daily. There is major construction in all the cities that we visited. Cranes dot the skylines. Work is constant on the roadways and sidewalks. New homes and condos are being built. Will there always be the apartments where laundry is hung out the windows on either bamboo or steel racks? Will the shacks come down and be replaced with other housing? Possibly. Even the locals are worried about the rapidity of growth.
The cities that we visited were cleaner than Toronto. No litter and garbage on the streets and byways. The streets and highways were adorned with well-kept landscaping with major streets divided with tree-lined meridians for bikes. We saw groups of people, tending to the landscaping.
Of course, there are areas and regions of poverty, if not extreme poverty, but there are places of beauty that are set in history. The large cities are impressive.
I am truly glad that I made this trip to China. It was an educational and cultural experience.
posted by Courtney Chan at 6:09 AM
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