When people think of China these days, they think of goods. Exports, great shopping deals, and knock-off designer accessories.But back in 1991, the Chinese economy was just beginning to come out of the cold. And the market in this photo was about as good as shopping got back … [Read more...]

Before people in China owned cars, before they traveled abroad for pleasure, and before they could shop wherever they wished, they lived in apartments like this one.I stayed in this apartment 20 Chinese New Years ago when I visited my friends in Nanjing. The room in this … [Read more...]

Oh, boy. This scene could have resulted in disaster.An open well, four kids, and a semi-literate 20 year-old foreigner who didn't have the language skills to tell a real adult if a kid fell down the well, let alone call for help.But it was all cool. In fact, these kids … [Read more...]

There's nothing like a good Chinese meal on a cold damp winter evening.Twenty years ago I partook in this dinner out in the Jiangsu countryside with my friends the Chens and their extended family.Mr. Chen's father is the gentleman facing my camera, wearing the furry hat … [Read more...]