FosteringC Businessh i and n Cultural a HarmonyIn between s i gChina h and the t .S. VOL. 9 NO. 5 www.chinainsight.info MAY 2010 Culture

Celebrate APA Heritage Month at A Passage to By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer o celebrate American-Pacific awareness and recognizes the contributions Heritage Month, Ch i n a In s i g h t , of Asian/Pacific Americans to our nation. in collaboration with the Chinese This year’s theme, “Diverse Leadership for Heritage Foundation, is present- a Diverse Workforce,” acknowledges the Ting the Third Annual A Passage to China… many nations and ethnicities that Asian/Pa- an interactive journey” on May 22-23, cific Americans represent and their strength 2010 at The Best Buy Rotunda at Mall of and courage that has helped shape America’s Business America, Bloomington, MN. Complete character and identity. Google shuts down in China details are available on the back cover of Asian Americans and non-Asians can the paper. Come and learn about China’s celebrate by eating at Asian restaurants or history, have fun and show your support of attending one of numerous APA Heritage A Passage the Chinese community. Authentic Chinese events organized by many of their local music, dance performances and martial arts Asian American community organizations demonstrations will also be featured at the where they can taste the different foods to china Sears Court throughout the two day event. from various Asian countries, watch cultural A 1978 joint congressional resolution es- performances and learn more about Asian tablished Asian/Pacific American Heritage American history and culture. A visit to A City Slickers – Ready, Set, Go Week to be observed in May, a time chosen Passage to China is definitely a great way to Shanghai! to coincide with two important anniversa- celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month. ries: the arrival in the of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a month long celebration. Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month honors the achievements of Ameri- can ethnic groups with roots in Asia and the Pacific Islands and recognizes their contri- butions to the United States. The U.S. Cen- sus Bureau lists more than 25 such groups -- Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipinos, Indian, Pakistani, Korean, Japanese, Cambodian, Laotian, Indonesian, Thai, Burmese, Ma- Culture laysian, Taiwanese, Sri Lanka, Bangladeshi, and native Hawaiians, Polynesians, New Zealanders and Australians. As Americans, they contribute to the strength of the United States, help shape its future and share in its promise and opportunity. According to 2005 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, approximately 13.5 percent of U.S. residents say they are Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. Hawaii is the U.S. state where Asians make up the highest proportion of the total population (58 percent) but, like most other ethnic groups, Americans with Asian or Pacific Island heritages reside throughout the United States Today Asian Americans are one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the country. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE About 15 million people of Asian descent Announcements...... 2 live in the United States. Although most Events...... 3 of them have arrived here recently, they Education...... 4 are among the most successful of all im- Arts...... 5 migrant groups. They have a higher income Business...... 6, 7 & 15 than many other ethnic groups, and large Shanghai Expo...... 8 numbers of their children study at the best Finance...... 9 American universities. Culture...... 10-14 &16 This annual celebration is one of the ways in which the U.S. can create some PAGE 2 > MAY 2010 announcements www.chinainsight.info Dedicated local volunteer Ch i n a In s i g h t Publisher: Gregory . Hugh David Lam passes away [email protected] cum laude, from the College of Liberal he charmed his audiences on topics ranging Arts with a major in religious studies. In from ancient Chinese pictographs to origins Editor: between classes he continued his lifelong of dragon boat racing to common practices Jennifer Nordin passion of volunteering. He volunteered for during Chinese New Year, always leaving [email protected] the Chinese Senior Citizens Society, Asian them hungry for more. American Renaissance Festival (forerunner David had received much recognition Manager of Operations/ of Dragon Festival), and, later on, Chinese during his life for his volunteerism. 1991 he Circulation: Heritage Foundation. and his wife, Joyce, were invited to have tea Richard He At CHF, David was the driving force with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Pal- [email protected] behind the team. This team goes ace. More recently he received the Model all over the metropolitan area to do name Senior Award from the Chinese Senior translations, at public and private schools, Citizens Society in 2006 and the Volunteer Marketing Director: business corporations, nonprofit organiza- of the Year Award from CHF in 2009. He Will Ahern tions, and citywide multicultural festivals, is survived by Joyce, three children and four [email protected] including Dragon Festival. David was the grandchildren.  chief translator of the team and, eschewing Production Editor: David Lam volunteering at A Passage to easy phonetic translations that often don’t Dawn Murphy China at Southdale Mall in 2008 make sense in Chinese, he worked hard [email protected] David Lam, a frequent volunteer of the to translate English names into authentic ASIAN Chinese Heritage Foundation (CHF), passed Chinese ones, complete with a popular or Artist/Intern: away on April 7 from complications from prestigious Chinese last name and a given BLOOD DONORS Lauren Hugh lung cancer. name that incorporated traditional Chinese Individuals of multi-ethnic David emigrated from , values and aspirations, including the admo- descent (Asian, Pacific Islander, Staff Writers: where he had enjoyed a successful career nitions that Chinese fathers so often place Hispanic/Latino, African Ameri- as a business executive, to the Twin Cities upon their children. David did this quickly. Greg Hugh can, Mixed Race) are desperately in 1993. Immediately upon arriving he set On a busy day, the calligraphy team has done [email protected] about realizing a lifelong dream: attending a 200 names in three hours. needed to register as potential marrow/stem cell donors. liberal arts college. Disrupted by World War In addition to name translation David Albert Leung II in his youth, he had obtained his postwar also delivered presentations on different Yo u c o u l d b e t h e o n e t o s a v e [email protected] diploma in accounting by correspondence aspects of Chinese culture on behalf of a l i f e b y and had never experienced college life. CHF. A gifted public speaker, he was at registering a s a Jennifer Nordin Attending first Normandale Community ease whether he was talking to professionals College and then the University of Min- at Target Headquarters or to a grade school p o t e n t i a l d o n o r . [email protected] nesota, David graduated, at age 69, magna class in St. Paul. Mixing humor with facts, Call 1-800-59-DONOR toll Mike Xiong free for more information. [email protected]

About Ch i n a In s i g h t Ch i n a In s i g h t is a monthly English language newspaper fostering business and cultural harmony between China and the U.S.

Ch i n a In s i g h t is a Member of The Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).

Submissions & Correspondence Ch i n a In s i g h t welcomes guest articles and mail for the Letters to the Editor column. Correspondence should be addressed to:

Editor, Ch i n a In s i g h t 6520 South Bay Drive Minnetrista, MN 55331 Tel: 952-472-4757 Ch i n a In s i g h t In s i g h t Fax: 952 472-6665 [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Guaranteed 10 issues - $24 for a domestic subscription and $40 for Letters to the Editor become the international. property of Ch i n a In s i g h t and may YES you could run to the be edited for length and published. Please make check payable to Ch i n a In s i g h t , 6520 South store and pick up a copy, but Articles will not be published without Bay Drive, Minnetrista, MN 55331 did you know you can have the express consent of the author. Name______Ch i n a In s i g h t delivered directly NOTICE TO READERS: The Address______to your mailbox? views epressed in articles are the City/State/Zip______A subscription costs a mere author’s and not neccesarily those of Ch i n a In s i g h t . Authors may have Phone______$24 and brings a full year (10 a business relationship with the Email______issues) of new understand- companies or businesses they discuss. Company______ing about today’s China, from language to business oppor- Title______tunities. Copyright 2010 Ch i n a In s i g h t , Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info events MAY 2010 > PAGE 3 The Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans presents the 2010 Annual Dinner celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Dr. Frankin S. Odo will give the keynote address on Preserving Art & Cultural Heritage The 2010 Annual Dinner celebrating in the American life story. Heritage Month M.A. in East Asia regional studies at Har- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is rooted in the community as it is the result vard University in 1963. He returned to hosted by the Council on Asian-Pacific of community action. Princeton University, where he completed a Minnesotans will be held on Saturday, doctorate dissertation on Japanese feudalism May 15, 2010, 6-9 p.m. at the Crowne Keynote Speaker: Dr. Franklin S. Odo in 1975. While his academic background Plaza Riverfront Hotel, 11 Kellogg Blvd The keynote speaker at the 2010 Annual and training had been in traditional Asian E, in downtown St. Paul, MN. The dinner dinner will be Dr. Franklin S. Odo. His Studies, Dr. Odo became involved in the is a unique and special event which brings presentation will be on Preserving Art & movement that created Asian American many differing Asian Pacific ethnic groups Cultural Heritage. Studies and other ethnic studies in California and organizations together in unity and Dr. Franklin S. Odo (born 1939) is a in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a result celebration. The dinner program consists Japanese American author, scholar, activ- of the anti-war and anti-racism activism in of a keynote address with a notable guest ist, and historian. Dr. Odo has served as the United States. speaker, the awarding of the annual Asian the director of the Asian Pacific American Pacific Leadership Awards, and various Program at the Smithsonian Institution since Call for Sponsorship cultural performances. the program’s inception in 1997. As the The Council on Asian-Pacific Minne- This year the theme for the annual dinner director of the APA Program, Dr. Odo has sotans relies heavily on community based No r t h Am e r i c a n Translations will be “Rooted in the Community.” As a brought numerous exhibits to the Smithso- organizations as its base of support, but has Your one-stop source for pre- community, everything the APA community nian highlighting the experiences of Chinese also relied greatly on corporate sponsors and cise technical translations be- has received it has had to earn by making Americans, Native Hawaiians, Japanese partners. The dinners would not have been tween Chinese and English. Americans, Filipino Americans, Vietnamese successful without such partnership and fi- its case and pushing forward. For example, We specialize in legal, financial, in 1993, to honor the achievements and Americans, Korean Americans, and Indian nancial support. The Council must continue contributions of Asian/Pacific Americans, Americans. He is also the only Asian Pacific to increase sponsorship and ownership of the engineering and medical trans- the Congress, by Public Law 102-450, as American curator at the National Museum dinner if it is to sustain and better the event. lation work. amended, designated the month of May each of American History. Every sponsorship is important and much year as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Dr. Odo was born in and grew up in Ha- valued no matter what level. Sponsorship Our high-quality serice is com- waii and was the first from his high school is needed and indeed, it is crucial, to the Month.” This law is the result of 2 decades petitively priced. Contact us of advocacy and activism from the Asian to attend Princeton University, where he success of the dinner. American and Pacific Islander community received his B.A. in Asian Studies (China The cost to attend the event is US$40 today to get your free quote. to claim its place in American history and and ) in 1961. He then received his per person. For more information about the event, call 651-757-1740 or go to the Coun- Phone: 612-799-5415 cil on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans Web site Fax: 612-643-3498 2010 Minneapolis MOSAIC celebrates www.capm.state.mn.us/heritage_dinner. Email: fusion of cultures [email protected] 2010 Minneapolis MOSAIC celebrates fusion of cultures

Enjoy City’s Rich Arts & Cultural Diversity;

8th Annual FREE Minneapolis MOSAIC Festival is June 5th The eighth annual Minneapolis MO- performed by the CAAM Chinese Dance SAIC Festival, a celebration of the city’s di- Theatre. Chinese dance and acrobatic acts verse arts and cultures, is on Saturday, June will also be featured and performed at 5 with hundreds of entertainers performing the Pantages Theatre. To further educate at various venues along Hennepin Avenue the public about Chinese culture, the Fair in downtown Minneapolis. School Downtown, located on 10th Street “Minneapolis MOSAIC is an annual op- and Hennepin Avenue, will also display portunity for our communities to celebrate an exhibit that showcases Chinese art and the city’s abundance and diversity in music, calligraphy. dance, theater, visual arts, film and literary arts, and to promote the broad range of local Commemorative Tradition cultural and arts organizations,” said Min- Each year Minneapolis MOSAIC neapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. commissions a lasting artistic work that New to the Minneapolis MOSAIC Festi- celebrates the city’s diversity and serves val is its partnership with Twin Cities World as a commemorative representation of the Refugee Day, which recognizes the more festival. The unique 2010 Minneapolis than 100,000 refugees living in every corner MOSAIC commission focuses on cultural of our state and celebrates the diversity of fusion; a blending of two or more ethnic culture and experiences that they bring to art forms. our community. The partnership was formed This year’s art commission is presented to fortify the cultural bridge between long- by Katha Dance Theatre and Rob- time Minnesota residents and their newest inson Music. The original work is entitled community members. “Soul to Sole”. This innovative cross cultur- From 1-10 p.m., thousands of festival- al collaboration bring together soulful and goers of all ages will delight in the sights percussive Kathak dance from north India to and smells of Midtown Global Market food fuse with all American gospel music. vendors. Cultural music, theater, dance acts, Previous Minneapolis MOSAIC com- art exhibits, as well as a community resource missions include photography, ceramics, a fair and speakers, will fill multiple stages youth media project, a symphonic compo- and exhibitions both indoors and out. Fea- sition, a choreographed dance and spoken tured venues include the Pantages Theatre, word. Hennepin Stages, and two outdoor stages just off Hennepin Avenue between 7th & Teen Participation 8th streets Teens 13-19 interested in the performing arts will celebrate their view of diversity Cultural Education in arts during the first MPLS TLNT SHW! One of the many 2010 Minneapolis MO- To qualify for the talent show, teens must SAIC highlights includes an event opening be from one of the 11 Minneapolis neigh- act with a street dragon dance performance MOSAIC continues on page 4 PAGE 4 > MAY 2010 education www.chinainsight.info Yinghua Academy announces sister school relationship At their Chinese New Year celebration, together to clean the classrooms (to sweep Yinghua Academy announced the establish- away the bad luck of the prior year and pre- ment of a sister school relationship, with pare for a fresh start), decorate the school, Number Eight Middle School in Hohot, In- eat a Chinese New Year feast of dumplings, ner Mongolia, China. The theme of the cel- noodles and auspicious fruits such as apples ebration was New Home, Big Dreams. The and oranges, and come together for their festival included the celebration of Yinghua grand performance. Students performed Academy’s new, larger location in Northeast traditional New Year songs and dances as Minneapolis, the first year of the new middle well as recited Chinese poetry and per- school program and the announcement of formed skits that highlighted the holiday’s the sister school-relationship. The schools customs. The performance also included a directors wore traditional Inner Mongolian traditional Lion Dance, performed by the costumes during the Chinese New Year Ha Family Entertainment. At the conclusion that they brought back from their visit to children left with the traditional red Chinese Hohot #8. lucky envelope that serves as a token of In early December, 2009 Betsy Lueth, blessings and wishes for good fortune in Yinghua Academy’s Executive Director and the New Year. Luyi Lien, Curriculum Director spent seven days in China, visiting with middle schools About Yinghua Academy in order to establish a sister school relation- Yinghua Academy is the first Chinese ship. It was during that trip that Hohot #8 immersion charter public school in the Unit- Middle School was identified as a good fit, ed States and the first Chinese immersion and the administrators of both schools began school in the Midwest. As the first school of planning the partnership. Yinghua Academy its kind in the Midwest, Yinghua Academy middle school students will use technology is a national leader in im- such as Skype, podcasts, and videoconfer- mersion education. Yinghua Academy is a encing to communicate directly with their bilingual, tuition-free, public charter school Chinese counterparts. Both middle schools’ with an international perspective. students will communicate, developing so- The mission of Yinghua Academy is to cial language skills and sharing academic provide a challenging and comprehensive information, while their teachers collabo- learning environment that will nurture rate on curriculum. Yinghua Academy is students’ natural inquisitiveness and will planning an eighth grade capstone study prepare them to be engaged and productive abroad class trip, to meet their peers in China global citizens. Students develop intel- America in my eyes face-to-face. Much of the funding for the lectual curiosity and critical-thinking skills Yinghua Academy middle school comes as well as a broad and deep knowledge By Stephanie He from an US$800,000 FLAP (Foreign Lan- in language arts, mathematics, world and I came to the United States from China than I thought. One of my friends, Lindsay, guage Assistance Program) grant the school American history and culture, science and nearly one year ago. In this year, the United she told me: “I’m busy; I want school to give received in September 2009. fine arts. States has given me too many surprises. me a scholarship, so I can save money. Be- The New Year’s celebration also includ- For more information, call Because of enthusiastic Americans, I can cause of that, I should work hard to achieve ed students participating in many traditions 612-788-9095 or visit: enjoy real American life. my success. I attended the school volleyball and history. The entire student body worked http://www.yinghuaacademy.org.  Before I thought America is a multi- team to train every day, twice a week and racial nation, so Americans have weak also outside the school competition. To earn relationships between people. But when extra money, I was responsible for cutting Ch i n a In s i g h t I came here, I found Americans are com- the lawn at home, car cleaning, garage SEEKS ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE… pletely different than what I imagined. The cleaning, plate cleaning, waste separation, Must be passionate about our mission: in addition to being success-oriented, must be United States is a warm country. It is my for which my father gave me 10 dollars self-motivated, resourceful, creative, disciplined and community-minded. first exposure outside my home country. I a week. I work every Sunday for the fast Ge n e r o u s Co m m i s s i o n Sc h e d u l e was beginning to miss my home and I was food wage, work 8 hours, making 6 dollars Contact: Greg Hugh feeling lonely and disconnected. Walking an hour. I earn to pay for gas; my car takes (952) 472-4757 along the street, I can see some stranger about 22 dollars per week for gasoline.” She Email: [email protected] smile at me, and some people say “how is 19 years old. In the United States, over 18 are you” to me. I am so surprised, because years of age is considered adult. In China, MOSAIC from Page 3 further promote events and projects to the in China, if I smiled at some people who I it is hard do these things for 19-year-old borhoods. Preliminaries are held at two public. Organizations may go online to the do not know, maybe they think I am crazy. children. I admire them for their indepen- Minneapolis public high schools, Parkway web site to register their information and Americans left a very pleasant impression dence. Every American student has to bear Theatre, Minneapolis Central Library, and submit details about upcoming events. on me. Especially when I go to the markets the responsibility, and they are proud to be The Capri Theater from March through May. The 2010 Minneapolis MOSAIC is to buy anything, every worker says “how able to take responsibility. The acts are judged by rotating representa- chaired by Ana Luisa Fajer, Consul of are you”. American enthusiasm communi- Where there is a dream, there is surprise. tives of the Minneapolis ethnic and cultural Mexico. Consul Fajer is volunteering her cated itself to me, and it solved this feeling America gave me a surprise, and she also organizations. The top performer from each time, along with an executive commit- of loneliness. gave me a dream.  of the 11 Minneapolis neighborhoods will tee who represent a wide range of artistic Although the Americans are enthu- compete on the stage of the Pantages Theatre disciplines, businesses, communications, siastic, Americans are quietly talking in Editor’s Note: Stephanie (Yan) He is cur- on June 5. The winning teen performer will large and small cultural organizations and whispers in the public places, for fear of rently a graduate student attending the be presented with prizes from the Edward R. the tourism industry. disturbing others. Also Americans are very Intensive English Center at St. Cloud State Bazinet Village Scholarship Program. Minneapolis MOSAIC, a festival of arts gentle. When the Americans open the door, University. She graduated from Changsha celebrating cultural diversity, encourages and they see somebody behind, no matter University of Science & Technology (PRC) All Year Long and More the community to experience a wide range how far, he would stand there, hold open in 2009 with a degree in Economics but Events celebrating the city’s diver- of cultural and artistic activities that make the door, and when I pass, he will give me has a great interest in mass communica- sity and artistic talents continue city-wide the city unique. MOSAIC is presented by a smile. On the road with pedestrians, cars tion. Stephanie has agreed to be a regular throughout the year. A guide to all the Min- the City of Minneapolis and funded by always stop and let pedestrians go first. contributor to Ch i n a In s i g h t and will peri- neapolis MOSAIC events is available online private sponsors, not tax payers. For more I am very surprised about American odically submit articles on her experiences at www.minneapolismosaic.com. information, graphics and links please visit students having strong independent thought. as a student from China attending a U.S. The Minneapolis MOSAIC web site www.minneapolismosaic.com or call the When I communicated with them, most university. Stephanie may be contacted at is also a great opportunity for arts, culture Minneapolis MOSAIC hotline at American students are more independent [email protected]. and humanities nonprofit organizations to 612-655-1907.  www.chinainsight.info arts MAY 2010 > PAGE 5 Chinese-American director sheds light upon Chai Vang case By Anthony James

In the fall of 2005, 36-year-old Chai Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as used in in 1997. one of the most shocking revelations was Vang was convicted of first-degree murder academic and community environments as Tang’s latest project, Open Season, fuses from an interview from a Wisconsin DNR and condemned to serve the rest of his a catalyst to open conversation. both the intimate portraits of the victim’s official who noted that many white hunt- remaining life in prison after shooting and The project itself contains a bit of families and Hmong families affected with ers frequently would chase Asian hunters killing six hunters in northern Wisconsin. It background story. As many in Midwest the chilling drama of the courtroom. From off public land under the lie that they are was an incident that created both shock and may already know, when the Wisconsin the interviews and court video, it became trespassing private ground. tension within Minnesota’s Asian commu- deaths first broke national news the media plain that the whole truth of the case was Mark Tang hopes such a powerful ex- nity, where Vang and his family worked and headlines were rampant with racial over- not made evident or even sought. The Vang posé would not be confined to the reel, but lived. Was this a case of a maniac, vengeful tones. The perspectives of the case quickly family, while not asked to testify, spoke of will also be the first step of an open forum killer or self defense? In the screening of became split; some demanded vengeance, how much the trial’s defense distorted the between Asian Americans and Caucasians. his newest documentary film, Open Sea- others begged for understanding. In St. Paul former national guardsman’s personality The Augsburg screening was followed by son, Twin Cities native Mark Tang hopes Vang’s family and Hmong leaders, though and background in order to plead insan- a group discussion much how the sponsors to illuminate the background of the Vang acknowledging grief for the victim’s fami- ity. Families of the victims noted that race hoped to utilize in the future. For many trial to encourage discussion within local lies, pleaded for equality and consideration should not have been a factor in the case, who commented, the events didn’t become communities. as Chai Vang’s side of the story was given. but the media used it to gain attention and solely a Hmong issue, but one that the whole On a cloudy March evening, a crowd Mark Tang, a Chinese American, wit- controversy. community had to deal with then and now. of both students and adults packed a small nessed the tensions between the local In the courtroom, the appalling infusion One commenter was Gran Torino star Bee meeting room in Augsburg College’s student communities and knew that someone had of bias became apparent: the decision to Vang who noted that hopefully the Chai center, curious for a first glimpse at the film’s to go to Wisconsin capture the unfolding keep the case in Wisconsin, the all white Vang story would not end with the Hmong rough cut which Tang co-directed with Lu case. When the call went unanswered, jury, the lack of a Hmong translator, the or Asian Americans in the Twin Cities, but Lippold. Sponsors of the event included Tang packed his gear and headed to Sawyer short-sightedness of the defense. Towards will reach across the aisle and help heal the Augsburg’s Pan Asian Student Services and County, Wisconsin. The project wasn’t new the film’s climax, Vang recounted on the wit- scars that have been ridden in the past. Generous Alternatives, a local organiza- territory for Mark; as a filmmaker who has ness stand the racial slurs that were thrown For more on Mark Tang and his pro- tion that encourages respectful interactions directed many short programs and films on at him by the surrounding hunters, one of duction company at his Web site: www. between people of different cultural back- Chinese American perspectives, his long- the hunters blocking his exit, and the fear of passionfruitfilms.org. grounds. The film, though completed, is in standing repertoire includes documenting being killed as he saw a bullet whizz next to Editor’s note: Anthony James can be con- the stages of seeking funding in order hope- Asian American history in the rural Midwest him. To Vang, they didn’t want him to leave, tacted by e-mail: fully to be shown on public television across and his own return to native Hong Kong they wanted him dead. For the viewers, [email protected]. The Age of BOOKS Crossover— China: The Truth About Its Human Rights Minnesota Chinese Record By Frank Ching Synopsis is booming, and its role on the world’s stage music concert At a time when is increasingly influential. Yet this fascinat- This spring, Minneapolis will present tions, written by contemporary Chinese the world’s atten- ing country is as complex as it is unusual, a high quality Chinese music concert—the masters, are being borrowed from the People tion is focused on and a nation in which the population is de- Age of Crossover, the theme, which indicates Publishing House in China. There are also China, Asia-based nied many fundamental human rights. the communication among different cultures a few Western pieces of music arranged by journalist, Frank This powerfully written and incisive and different musicians. This concert will Marina Liadova, who is the artistic director Ching, presents an book throws light on China’s record today. feature one of the oldest cultural groups of Lidia Productions, the producer of this intelligent and in- From restrictions on free speech and wor- in Minnesota—the Minnesota Chinese concert. Two visual artists (Sang Yim and formed perspective ship to the lack of freedoms under the law, Ensemble, along with a group of orchestral Patty Schwartz) were invited to create their on that country’s in the economy, in health matters and the players from the Twin Cities area. paintings in relation to the particular pieces human rights situ- environment, former Wall Street Journal The music selections include traditional of music. The audience will watch these ation. bureau chief, Frank Ching, offers Chinese pieces, as well as two original paintings “evolve” on the screen during the China is one of the great nations of the a well-informed perspective on what the compositions; Beautiful Moon Lake was performance. world, containing roughly twenty per-cent inhabitants of this vast state might or might commissioned for this performance and The Age of Crossover concert will take of the population of the globe. Its economy not do in the future. composed by the esteemed Ying Zhang. The place at the Highland Park High School other original piece Deep Water is written Auditorium (1015 Snelling Avenue South, by Carleton Macy, a Macalester College St. Paul, MN) on May 16, 2010 at 7 p.m. professor, composer and a long term mentor For tickets and more information visit the China: Ancient Culture, Modern Society of the Ensemble. Two orchestral composi- Web site www.lidiaproductions.org  By Peter Xiaoming Yu h i n a n s i g h t C I is seeking Synopsis Culture, Modern Society provides a much- As the authors needed starting point for piecing together Production Editor the many parts of the complex puzzle that Must be passionate about our mission: in addition to being success- point out, “China is China. More than simply a guidebook or oriented, self-motivated, resourceful, creative, disciplined and commu- has arrived, big time. To ignore the historical survey, this rich volume bridges nity-minded. Chinese is foolish.” geography, culture, politics, and beliefs to Yet, where does present a nuanced picture of a nation that Responsibilities include layout and design of 10 issues per year one begin? Getting is often misunderstood by those seeking using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, some proofreadiing, must be a handle on China, to view it through a Western lens. Whether Internet savvy. with its sweeping one is approaching China for the first time history and vast or seeking to fill the gaps in one’s existing cultural diversity, understanding of things Chinese, this book This is a part-time, volunteer position. is, for most, a daunting task. China: Ancient provides an abundance of useful informa- Contact Greg Hugh at 952-472-4757 or tion.  [email protected] Thank you for reading Ch i n a In s i g h t PAGE 6 > MAY 2010 business www.chinainsight.info HOST FAMILIES NEEDED Google shuts down Host a Chinese student and make a difference… Enrich their experience and enhance your own! in China • As a host family you By Albert Leung, Staff Writer shareAmerican culture with a student from China and For curious internet users in mainland end of its quest, analysts estimate Google’s provide them much more China looking to find information on the market share of China to be around 30 per- Web, they can no longer can say they than could be learned in a cent compared to Baidu Inc.’s 60 percent. “Google-it.” The search engine giant pulled With Google’s departure, the market is more classroom. out of the Chinese market this past March open for other competitors including Sogou • Learn about their culture, citing their refusal to continue censoring and up-and-coming search engine company explore the differences and and filtering search engine results for the Tencent. develop new connections Chinese government and accuse China of at- Prior to all the controversy, Google tempting to hack into their infrastructure. had made great strides in China. Google’s Arriving in July from Hunan Province, China, is a group of 35 According to an official statement posted foray into China started in January 2006 high school students that have earned a cultural exchange trip to on Google’s blog, “Google and more than with a search engine that was compliant to the United States. twenty other U.S. companies had been the censoring laws in China. Many compa- the victims of a sophisticated cyber attack nies were seeing flourishing results from Global Learning Alliance is finalizing arrangements for their trip originating from China, and that during our Google’s advertising platform and Google and has incorporated, as part of their program, staying with an investigation into these attacks we had un- also launched a music search site in August American host family. They will be given the option of staying with covered evidence to suggest that the Gmail 2008 with China-based company Top100.cn the family for their entire 10 day visit or simply for one weekend. accounts of dozens of human rights activists to provide a free and legal music download Since most of their educational programs are taking place in the connected with China were being routinely service. accessed by third parties, most likely via Despite Google’s surge into the market, south-west suburb of Minneapolis, we are focusing our search for phishing scams or malware placed on their the company still found tough competi- families that live in that part of the city, however, we will consider computers.” tion against the already solidified Baidu all families regardless of where they reside. In an earlier statement made by Google who maintained its majority market share To learn more about being a host family, contact Richard He in January, the attacks targeted Google’s throughout the years. Upon its exit, Google’s at(612)987-6540 or email [email protected]. infrastructure and security in December share price started to dip below Baidu’s. 2009 and originated from China. Follow- Google’s search engine site was not the ing the hacks, the search engine company only online service that came into China’s made significant changes to their operations question. In March of last year, China in China, mainly to cease any censorship of blocked access to YouTube, and in June of their search results. 2009 the government also restricted access According to Chinese officials who to Gmail, Twitter, Google Talk, Google spoke to Xinhua News agency, Google Image Search, Google Books and other ap- “violated its written promise it made when plications were subsequently blocked. entering the Chinese market by stopping Whatever the reasons were for Google’s filtering its search services and blaming exit, the largest search engine market in the China, in insinuation, for alleged hacker world has a vast window of opportunity attacks.” with Google’s absence. Time will tell if Upcoming UCBC meetings look at Despite requests from Chinese officials Google decides to return to the country or The Politics of China’s Power and to Google, the search engine giant decided if Baidu can further solidify its hold. Other not to comply with the country’s laws again competitors including Tencent and Sogou Marketing Moneygram to Chinese and decided to shut down its search engine have an opportunity now to claim some of site and redirecting users to the Hong Kong the market share now as well. One should May Meeting Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El site which has no search result restrictions. remember, though, that Google isn’t the The topic of the UCBC May monthly Salvador. Since entering the Chinese market, only search engine entity based in the U.S. breakfast meeting on May 5, 2010, will be Google has been in heated competition Microsoft and Yahoo could have their sights The Politics of China’s Power to be present- June Meeting against a number of China-based search set on this region as well and with Google ed by Ron Bosrock of Global Institute. On June 2, Ann Jackson, Vice President engine entities for the country’s vast, and not participating, the competition has sud- Mr. Bosrock will explore two of the of Market Development, Moneygram will potentially profitable, market share. At the denly become a little less heated.  main pillars of China’s rise as a global eco- speak on how Moneygram Markets to the nomic power: its politics and its military. Chinese-Worldwide. The “China mentality” that guides its growth Moneygram signed an historic agree- goes well beyond being a Communist state. ment with the Bank of China to deliver their World Bank releases East Asia and The extensive planning, acceptance of in- money transfer services within China. It ternal “mistakes”, opening and closing of took them years to accomplish. And that was Pacific Economic Update: markets, nationalistic attitudes and much the easy part. Hear directly from the person Emerging Stronger from the Crisis more are choreographed into a delicate mar- with the responsibility, of how Moneygram tial arts dragon dance. Within that dance are is taking on the daunting task of market- fiscal space is limited and the stimulus steps leading to opportunities for American ing to everyone in China as well as all the Summary alone cannot sustain domestic demand for business. people of Chinese heritage in the U.S. and East Asia has recovered from the eco- an extended period of time. Transitioning Ronald M. Bosrock of St. Paul is founder worldwide. The story is as amazing as the nomic and financial crisis. Largely thanks to private sector-based growth in the short and director of the Global Institute, a re- scope of the task. to China, the region’s output, exports and term is central. search center; Minnesota Honorary Consul UCBC meetings are held at Minneapolis employment have mostly returned to the This is achievable; East Asia has General to Austria; a guest lecturer at the Community & Technical College, 1501 levels before the crisis. Leading the global emerged stronger from the global crisis Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and an in- Hennepin Avenue, Wheelock Whitney Hall, economy, real GDP growth in developing and rapid growth will be possible in the ternational business consultant. His Global Room L3000 (3rd Floor), Minneapolis, MN East Asia is poised to rise to 8.7 percent in coming years even in a weakened global Executive column appears monthly in the 55403. 2010 after slowing from 8.5 percent in 2008 economy. But a return to pre-crisis private Star Tribune. During most of his career Mr. The fee is US$25 per person. UCBC to 7.0 percent in 2009. sector-driven growth rates will require that Bosrock traveled extensively throughout members and college students are free. To With the normalization of activity and countries return to the medium-term reform the world working with U.S. businesses to register, e-mail [email protected] or firming of prices, the monetary authorities agenda and implement it with vigor. expand their markets cross-border. Over the call Jim at 612-865-6543. across the region have begun removing Given the region’s diversity, priorities past thirteen years, he has participated in For free parking at the MCTC Ramp, exceptional policy support. Measures have will be different in different countries. For various aspects of joint ventures, acquisi- please mention your name for the UCBC included allowing additional liquidity China, rebalancing the economy as em- tions and distribution activities in China, meeting to the parking staff. The MCTC schemes to lapse, increasing required re- phasized in the 11th five-year plan will be Japan, , Hong Kong, Singapore, parking ramp is located at 1420 Hennepin serves and, in Vietnam and Malaysia, key. Rebalancing has several dimensions, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Avenue (north side of Hennepin Ave). Ad- policy interest rates. But it may be premature including restructuring the composition of India and as well as Australia, ditional information on parking: at this stage to withdraw fiscal stimulus in economic growth by enabling a larger role New Zealand and the Mideast. He has had http://www.minneapolis.edu/parking.cfm. many countries, as private investment is for the service sector and private consump- similar experience helping U.S. companies  yet to become the engine of growth and in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, the poor are still suffering. Nonetheless, World Bank continues on Page 15 www.chinainsight.info business MAY 2010 > PAGE 7 Mind Your Manners Business Etiquette in China Most of us have heard the old saying, modern international phone facilities are at- •It is not uncommon for Chinese people “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Guanxi tached to selected post offices. to invite business acquaintances to the wed- Thus, if you are planning to do business in •The concept of “guanxi” lies at the heart dings of family or friends. In these situa- China, it would be to your benefit to learn of the Chinese business relationship. In Chi- Titles tions, it is unnecessary for you to buy a gift the proper protocol of the country. The nese, the word means “relationship” and can •Most Chinese names are three syllables but simply present the host’s family with a following are a few pointers and tips that be summed up by the English terms “it’s not long and Chinese surnames come before red envelope of money upon arrival. Such you might incorporate into your business what you know, it’s who you know,” or “you given names. Hence, a Chinese man named red envelopes can be purchased at most strategy. scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” Jiang Li-hua should be referred to as Mr. convenience stores. The amount of money •Essentially, to have “guanxi” means to have a network of useful contacts. It also Jiang. A few Chinese people use an English you give should depend on how well you Language first name when conducting business with •The official language in China is Man- means a relationship where the parties are know the person. Usually a gift of US$30 foreigners. darin (putonghua), although bound by personal obligation to assist each is sufficient for a new acquaintance. Simply place the money in the envelope and write is the language commonly spoken in the other. Having “guanxi,” or a contact in Transport southern Chinese province of Guangdong, an organization, business, or government your name on it. If you are uncertain how adjacent to Hong Kong. department can open doors to foreigners much you should give, make some discreet •English is not widely spoken in China, conducting business in China. inquiries at your hotel. When you arrive at however most companies dealing with the wedding, there should be a table near the foreigners employ at least one [English- Business Attire entrance where you hand over your red en- speaking] staff member. •Chinese people are not as formal velope. Don’t be surprised if the envelope •If you intend to distribute written infor- about business attire as in Japan or Korea. is opened in your presence and the money is mation about your company while in China, However, it is usually advisable to wear a counted and recorded beside your name on it is a good idea to provide your Chinese suit because the wearer gains face if well- a chart hanging on the wall. Remember to counterparts with written translations of presented. ensure that you don’t give a sum of money that is a denomination of four, e.g. [US$40] the material. It is not necessary to reprint Food and Entertainment all documents using Chinese text, but you or 400 [yuan]. •Dining out is a popular method of •In Beijing, the international airport is need to provide word-processed translations •When wrapping gifts for Chinese establishing guanxi. Chinese business ne- located approximately [15.5 miles] from of the most important material. Often senior people, never use white paper, as this signi- gotiations are often conducted over a long the city [center]. A cheap [US$1] airport decision-makers in a Chinese organization fies death and is regarded as inauspicious. multi-course banquet. Large quantities of shuttle bus travels the route and leaves from are unable to read English and the effort The blue-yellow color combination also alcohol are usually consumed at these busi- the front of the building. Tickets are sold put into obtaining translations will be inter- carries a death association and should be ness functions and drinking is regarded as a from a desk inside the , not on the preted as an indication of your commitment avoided. Purple is generally associated with useful social lubricant. bus itself. to doing business with their company. barbarians, so naturally, this color should •Karaoke is a popular form of recreation •Several airlines such as China Eastern, be avoided. Red or gold wrapping paper for Chinese people and foreign business China Southern, China Northern, and Great [are] probably the best color[s] to use for Introductions Wall Yunnan Airlines operate domestically. •Business cards are essential when guests are encouraged to participate. Chinese people. There is no such thing as a discount, no conducting business in China. When distrib- Money matter where you buy your ticket, and you uting or receiving General •China’s official unit of currency is also will be hit with an agent’s commis- business cards, use •Never write notes using red ink, as the yuan, or sion. There is an airport tax payable on all both hands as a mark this can convey the idea that the writer will R e n m i n b i . domestic flights. Over the past decade, the of respect. die soon. The yuan is safety standards of Chinese airlines have •When receiving •When setting down chopsticks between divided into greatly improved. business cards, al- courses, never place them in the rice-bowl jiao and fen. •Taxis from the airport should cost ways pause and read vertically or at an angle, as this resembles Ten fen make one jiao and ten jiao make around [US$15] to Tiananmen Square, but each card individu- sticks of incense burned at a funeral and up one yuan. make sure you finalize the price before set- ally. Never place the card immediately into is considered highly inauspicious. Always •Foreign currency and travelers’ cheques ting off or ensure the meter is turned on. In your pocket or wallet. Cards printed in both lay chopsticks horizontally across the rim can be changed at the main branches of the Shanghai, the airport is located [5 miles] English and Chinese are preferred. of the bowl. Bank of China, the tourist hotels, Friend- from the city center. A taxi fare from the •Chinese people are superstitious about Face ship Stores and some department stores. airport to the Bund should cost around the number four, which signifies death and •It is essential to understand the concept Exchange receipts must be kept if your [US$10]. The airport in is lo- should be avoided at all costs. Conversely of “face” when conducting business in remaining RMB is to be changed back at cated [6.2-7.4 miles] from the city center and the number eight is regarded as auspi- China. Chinese people regard the respect the end of your trip. Travelers’ [checks] are it costs around [US$ 12] to make the journey cious. of their peers and colleagues as a matter useful because the exchange rate is more by taxi. Taxis don’t cruise the streets except •Avoid discussions which may cause of utmost importance. Conversely, to be favorable than that for cash. Thomas Cook, in the largest of cities, and while most cabs embarrassment, such as the discussion of humiliated or embarrassed in public is re- American Express and Bank of America are have meters, they usually get switched on by death, divorce or politics. garded with great shame. [the] most commonly accepted [travelers’ accident. Motorcycle taxis, motor-tricycles •Be prepared to answer or at least po- •This respect or status is regarded as checks]. and/or pedicabs hunt in packs around most litely fend off personal questions relating to “face”. It is very easy for a Chinese person •Credit cards are gaining ground in major train and bus stations. your age, marital status, income and family to “gain” or “lose” face and foreigners China, with Visa, MasterCard, American •Long distance buses can be used to get background. conducting business in China must remain Express (branches in Beijing, Shanghai, around on the ground, although modern aware of the public image of the people Guangzhou and Xiamen), and Diners Club highways are generally poor or nonexistent. Business Hours and Holidays they deal with. the most common. Cards can be used in A better option is the train, which reaches •Government offices usually open Mon- •In many respects, face is merely a mat- most mid- to top-range hotels, and Friend- into every province (apart from Tibet) along day to Friday between 8-9 a.m., close for ter of common courtesy. It is possible to ship and department stores, but cannot be a [32,240-mile] network. two hours around midday and then re-open used to finance your transport costs. Cash until 5 or 6 p.m. Most offices also open on give a person face by presenting prestigious Gifts gifts such as expensive, famous-brand liquor advances can be made at head branches of Saturday mornings and remain open until •Never present knives or scissors as a gift or cigarettes, by publicly praising good the Bank of China (4% commission). noon. Private companies usually keep lon- as these symbolize conflict. Letter-openers, performance and by giving credit where •Tipping is not customary in China, ger hours, although a five-day week is now however, seem to be an credit is due. but bargaining is definitely [ok]. You can officially encouraged. exception to the rule. •Difficult situations must be handled bargain in shops, street stalls, and hotels[,] •Avoid conducting business during •Naturally, objects delicately and without anger. To shout at but not in large stores. Chinese New Year, which usually falls in which carry a death as- a Chinese person in public, to reprimand late January or early February and lasts Post and Telecommunications sociation are inappropri- them in front of their peers or to raise one’s for a week or more. Most businesses close •Try to send and receive mail from major ate gifts. These objects when exasperated will cause both par- at this time and it is very difficult to book cities where postal services have recently include clocks and cut ties to lose face and disrupt the negotiating transport or accommodation.  been upgraded and are now quite efficient. flowers, white objects process. •Most large hotels have an international such as bed linen and •Confrontations that place a Chinese Editor’s note: This was printed in telephone service from which calls can be table cloths, and objects person on the spot should be avoided and previous issues of Ch i n a In s i g h t . placed overseas. In some hotels, local calls which come in a set of four. The number four resolved quietly. When necessary, always “You cannot open a book without learn- can be made for free from your hotel room. carries a strong association with death, so it refuse requests or invitations indirectly to ing something.“ In large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, is important not to give a set of four. avoid embarrassment. ...Confucius PAGE 8 > MAY 2010 shanghai expo 2010 www.chinainsight.info City Slickers – Ready, Set, Go Shanghai! By Wang Song & Jiao Feng, China Today staff reporters opment, encourage discussion on where we The UBPA will be divided into four go from here, and just inspire us to explore exhibition fields, namely Livable Cities, new approaches to human habitat, lifestyle Sustainable Urbanization, Protection and and working conditions. It is all within the Utilization of Heritage, and Technological context of creating an eco-friendly society Innovation in Built Environment. The UBPA while establishing what is really meant by mainly presents various on-going practices, sustainable development. along with some examples of experimen- tal architecture that has huge application Lay of the Land potential. The Expo site was carefully planned. The Huangpu River, a tributary of the Yangtze, Managing the Multitudes on Foot flows through Shanghai and divides the city The organizer estimates that the Shang- into two areas – and Puxi. The Expo hai Expo will receive around 70 million visi- site spans both sides of the Huangpu River, tors, or about 400,000 per day on average, with [2.5 square miles] in Pudong and [0.8 which will be the greatest attendance ever square miles] in Puxi, covering a total area recorded in the history of the World Expo. of [3.3 square miles], including the enclosed So an obvious problem will be how to area and external support facilities. cope with the usual challenges of heavy The enclosed area is functionally divided and slow visitor flow, and long, exhausting into five zones numbered from A to E. Zone queues. According to Director Hong Hao A is located between the Expo Boulevard to of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo the west and the Bailianjing rivulet to the Coordination, the organizing committee has east in the Pudong Section, seating the China adopted multiple mechanisms. There will be The Expo Boulevard and China Pavilion Pavilion and national pavilions for Asian a floating ticket price. For example, during or China, 2010 will be another cities are facing a series of developmental countries excluding Southeast Asian ones. national holidays such as the May Day and year of fulfilled expectations: challenges such as spatial conflicts, cultural Zone B covers an area between Zone National Day and in the last week before the the Shanghai Expo will run collisions, resource shortages and envi- A to the east and Lupu Bridge to the west, closing ceremony, the tickets will be sold from May 1 to October 31, ronmental degeneration. Without effective hosting national pavilions of Southeast in limited quantity and at greater expense F Asian and Oceanian countries, Pavilions through the hours from nine to five. Since offering a bonanza of state-of-the-art eco- management controls, these problems will nomic, cultural and technological entries swiftly erode the quality of urban life. The for International Organizations, Theme Pa- visitor flow will be stemmed after 5 p.m., from 192 nations and 50 international problem of achieving a balanced quality of vilions, the Expo Center and Performance tickets will be available then at the regular organizations. The Expo will also stage life in urban settlements amounts to resolv- Center. price. Through discounts on group tickets, 20,000 cultural activities and a series of ing discord between man and nature, be- Zone C is located in Houtan to the west visitors are encouraged to visit the Expo site forums – a big agenda for this biggest of tween man and man, and between spiritual of Lupu Bridge in the Pudong Section. This via pre-scheduled travel agency tours. Chinese cities. and material desires. Such frictions, if left is the area for European, American and To those venues expected to be popular, Shanghai is a hub of finance, trade and unattended, could arguably move us from a African national pavilion clusters. A large like the China Pavilion, Theme Pavilions shipping, and has always been so. With a compromised existence to the degeneration public amusement park of about 10 hectares and some artistic performances, tourists population of over 20 million, the city boasts of human civilization. Expo 2010 Shanghai stands at the entrance. can use a fast pass, reserved from any of the China’s largest industrial base and foreign proposes to demonstrate a “city of har- Expo Boulevard is located in the center 184 machines located in 22 places around trade port. Throughout China’s opening-up, mony,” the basis for a “life of harmony,” of the Pudong part of the Expo site and is the Expo site. Shanghai has staged many international art and to work out rubber-to-the-road feasible the largest stand-alone structure within it. Program management is another type festivals and large-scale sports events, such solutions for our cities. Expo Boulevard is a concourse acting as of regulator, as well as the timely update as the Shanghai International Film Festival, the main axis for human traffic flow, com- of information. During weekdays and non- China Shanghai International Art Festival, mercial activities, and other purposes. It has peak months such as June and September, 2010 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix (Shang- two underground throughways, one above the more extravagant crowd-pleasers will hai) and Shanghai ATP Masters 1000. the ground and a canopy. be scheduled, effectively drawing traffic Preparing for the 2010 World Expo, The Theme Pavilions, located in Zone away from the peak load months of July the city began its major urban reconstruc- B to the west of Expo Boulevard, set re- and August. tion a decade ago. From environmentally cords not only for the nation’s biggest non- “A for visitor flow forecasting progressive management of the whole to column-supported space and largest solar will be established to release information alterations of the transport hub, from city energy system on the roof, but also for the and activate various measures to avoid image building to quality of life promotion, The Bund by the Huangpu River world’s largest living green exteriors. These excessive congestion, via broadcasting, the city has constructed an Expo foundation Entries address three questions: What constructions, covering a total area of [31.9 screens and text messages,” says Hong that practices what it preaches. As the open- kind of city makes life better? What life acres], demonstrate how ecology in design Hao. and construction is achieved. ing ceremony draws near, dotting the i’s and styles make a city better? And what kind Traffic Jam Busters of urban development improves life on To the west of the Expo Boulevard in crossing the t’s of construction signals the Handling traffic jams during the 184-day earth? the Puxi Section is Zone D, original site site’s entry into the trial operation phase. expo also calls for a solution. According to These quests and themes have run of the Jiangnan Shipyard and cradle of Meanwhile, Expo Shanghai Online both in the executive committee, most new trans- throughout the urbanization of mankind, national industry in China. Some of the and English versions will be web- portation projects for the Expo, including but more than ever they are addressed in shipyard buildings have been renovated accessible from the Expo site by May 1. A the central ring road and new subway lines, the planning and blueprint stages for future into corporate pavilions. The docklands and decade of hopes and dreams is manifesting have been completed and are already open cities, rather than as hindsight about our slipway are reserved and made into spaces on the shores of the East China Sea. to traffic. Ferry and streetcar lines across urban challenges. Over past centuries, hu- for outdoor public exhibitions and cultural the Huangpu River will be completed by Slicking the City man beings have never stopped their search exchanges. April. The 21st century is a crucial era for ur- for models of harmonious cities, judged in Zone E, located to the east of the Expo More than 90 bus routes cross the fair ban development and planning. As people every dimension of human life. A series of Boulevard in the Puxi Section, will host zone, and 42 buses will run within 2.4 ki- all over the world are looking forward to a theories and propositions, from Utopia to stand-alone corporate pavilions such as lometers of the area. Six metro lines have better life in dense population centers, the Ledoux’s Ideal City to the City on a Hill, the Urban Civilization Pavilion, Urban stations in or near the Expo site. The newly choice to focus on the “city” as the theme to Paolo Soleri’s Arcosanti and Howard’s Exploration Pavilion and the Urban Best opened Line 13 has three stations within the of Expo 2010 Shanghai wasn’t incidental. Garden City, all strove to redress certain Practices Area. site, two on the Puxi side and one in Pudong. The Istanbul Declaration on Human Settle- imbalances, and achieve elegance and har- With a spread of [37.1 acres], the Urban Lines 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 can carry 100,000 ments, issued at the second United Nations mony in terms of space, order, and spiritual Best Practices Area (UBPA) provides an people per hour to nine stations near the Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat and material input and output. opportunity for cities to participate in the Expo site at peak times. II) reaffirms, “Our cities must be places The “Better City, Better Life” slogan World Expo independently. This special It is suggested visitors, especially those where human beings lead fulfilling lives drives a grand international gathering to showcase will not only present commonly from outside Shanghai, enter from the five in dignity, good health, safety, happiness explore the full potential of urban life as it acknowledged, original and valuable pro- entrances in Pudong rather than the three and hope.” might unfold in the 21st century. Participant grams and practices designed to improve in Puxi, because about 75 percent of the displays will use the best of what we have on urban life quality, but also act as a platform ticket machines were on the Pudong side. The Bund by the Huangpu River. hand now to reach the outer limits of mod- for the 50 participants to share and exchange Organizers will inform ticket holders which Despite, or perhaps because of, rapid eling a future urban environment. They’ll experiences in urban construction and de- growth and sudden high densities, today’s exchange their experiences in urban devel- velopment. Expo continues on Page 15 www.chinainsight.info finance MAY 2010 > PAGE 9 PAGE 10 > MAY 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info

According to legend, Chinese characters ten, deriving from various calligraphic and were invented by (c. 2650 BC), a historical models. Most of these originated bureaucrat under the legendary emperor, in China and are now common, with minor Huangdi. The legend tells that Cangjie was variations, in all countries where Chinese hunting on Mount Yangxu (today Shanxi) characters are used. when he saw a tortoise whose veins caught The Oracle Bone and Bronze scripts his curiosity. Inspired by the possibility of a being no longer used, the oldest script logical relation of those veins, he studied the that is still in use today is the Script animals of the world, the landscape of the (zhuànshū). It evolved organically out of earth, and the stars in the sky, and invented the Zhou bronze script, and was adopted in a symbolic system called “zi” (Chinese a standardized form under the first Emperor characters). It was said that on the day the of China, Qin Shi Huang. The , characters were born, Chinese heard the as the name suggests, is now only used in devil mourning, and saw crops falling like artistic seals. Few people are still able to rain, as it marked the beginning of civiliza- read it effortlessly today, although the art tion, for good and for bad. of carving a traditional seal in the script Modern archaeological evidence sug- remains alive; some calligraphers also work gests that the characters are more ancient in this style. still. The earliest evidence for what might Scripts that are still used regularly are be writing comes from , a the lìshū () of the Qin Dynasty site in the basin of the Yellow River in to the , the Weibei, the kǎishū province, dated to c. 6500 BC. It has () used for most printing, and yielded turtle carapaces that were pitted and the xíngshū (Semi-cursive Script) used for inscribed with symbols. Later excavations most handwriting. in eastern China’s province and the The cǎoshū (Cursive Script) is not in Dadiwan culture sites in the eastern part general use, and is a purely artistic cal- of northwestern China’s Gansu province ligraphic style. The basic character shapes uncovered pottery shards, dated to c. 5000 are suggested, rather than explicitly realized, BC, inscribed with symbols. It is unknown and the abbreviations are extreme. Despite whether these symbols formed part of an or- being cursive to the point where individual ganized system of writing, but many of them strokes are no longer differentiable and the bear resemblance to what are accepted as characters often illegible to the untrained early Chinese characters, and it is speculated eye, this script (also known as draft) is high- that they may be ancestors to the latter. ly revered for the beauty and freedom that it Inscription-bearing artifacts from the embodies. Some of the simplified Chinese Dawenkou culture culture site in Juxian characters adopted by the People’s Republic County, , dating to c. 2800 BC, of China, and some of the simplified char- have also been found. The Chengziyai acters used in Japan, are derived from the site in Longshan township, Shandong has Cursive Script. The Japanese script produced fragments of inscribed bones used is also derived from this script.  to divine the future, dating to 2500-1900 There also exist scripts created outside BC, and symbols on pottery vessels from China, such as the Japanese Edomoji styles; Dinggong are thought by some scholars to these have tended to remain restricted to be an early form of writing. Symbols of a their countries of origin, rather than spread- Chinese characters similar nature have also been found on pot- ing to other countries like the standard A Chinese character (hànzì) is a logo- ship between phonetics and characters has tery shards from the of the scripts described above. gram used in writing Chinese, Japanese, thus made it possible for them to be used to lower Yangtze valley. Korean, and formerly Vietnamese. Its pos- write very different and probably unrelated Although the earliest forms of primitive Formation of Characters sible precursors appeared as early as 8,000 languages. Chinese writing are no more than individual The early stages of the development of years ago, and a complete Just as Roman letters have a character- symbols and therefore cannot be considered Chinese characters were dominated by pic- in Chinese characters was developed 3,500 istic shape (lower-case letters occupying a a true written script, the inscriptions found tograms, in which meaning was expressed years ago in China, making it perhaps the roundish area, with ascenders or descenders on bones (dated to 2500 - 1900 BC) used directly by the shapes. The development of oldest surviving writing system. on some letters), Chinese characters occupy for the purposes of divination from the late the script, both to cover words for abstract Four percent of Chinese characters are a more or less square area. Characters made Neolithic (c. 3200 - 1900 concepts and to increase the efficiency of derived directly from individual pictograms up of multiple parts squash these parts to- BC) are thought by some to be a proto- writing, has led to the introduction of numer- and in most of those cases the relationship is gether in order to maintain a uniform size written script, similar to the earliest forms ous non-pictographic characters. not necessarily clear to the modern reader. and shape — this is the case especially of writing in Mesopotamia and Egypt. It is The various types of character were first The other 96 percent are logical aggre- with characters written in the Sòngtǐ style. possible that these inscriptions are ancestral classified c. 100 CE by the Chinese linguist gates, which are characters combined from Because of this, beginners often practice to the later of the Shang Shen, whose etymological dictionary multiple parts indicative of meaning, and on squared graph paper, and the Chinese Dynasty and therefore the modern Chinese “Shuowen Jiezi” divides the script into pictophonetics, characters containing two sometimes use the term “fāngkuài zì” script, since late Neolithic culture found in six categories, the “liùshū’” . While the parts where one indicates a general category (Square-Block Characters) Longshan is widely accepted by historians categories and classification are occasion- of meaning and the other the sound, though The actual shape of many Chinese char- and archaeologists to be ancestral to the ally problematic and arguably fail to reflect the sound is often only approximate to the acters varies in different cultures. Mainland bronze age Erlitou culture and the later the complete nature of the Chinese writing modern pronunciation because of changes China adopted simplified characters in 1956, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. system, the system has been perpetuated by over time and differences between source but traditional Chinese characters are still The oldest Chinese inscriptions that are its long history and pervasive use. languages. The number of Chinese char- used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Japan has indisputably writing are the Oracle bone 1. Pictograms (Xiàngxíngzì) acters contained in the Kangxi dictionary used its own less drastically simplified char- script (jiǎgǔwén, literally “shell-bone- Contrary to popular belief, pictograms is approximately 47,035, although a large acters since 1946, while Korea has limited script”), a well-developed writing system make up only a small portion of Chinese number of these are rarely-used variants the use of Chinese characters, and Vietnam of the (or Yin Dynasty), characters. While characters in this class accumulated throughout history. In China, completely abolished their use in favour of attested from about 1600 BC (from Zheng- derive from pictures, they have been stan- literacy for the working citizen is defined as romanized Vietnamese. zhou) and 1300 BC (from Anyang), along dardized, simplified, and stylised to make knowledge of 2,000 characters. Chinese characters are also known as with a very few logographs found on pottery them easier to write, and their derivation is In Chinese tradition, each character sinographs, and the Chinese writing sys- shards and cast in bronzes, known as the therefore not always obvious. corresponds to a single syllable. Most tem as sinography. Non-Chinese languages Bronze script (jīnwén), which is very similar There is no concrete number for the words in all modern which have adopted sinography - and, to but more complex and pictorial than the proportion of modern characters that are are polysyllabic and thus require two or with the , a large number of Oracle Bone Script. Only about 1,400 of the pictographic in nature; however, Xu Shen more characters to write. Cognates in the loanwords from the - are 2,500 known Oracle Bone logographs can (c. 100 CE) estimated that 4 percent of various Chinese languages/dialects which known as Sinoxenic, whether or not they be identified with later Chinese characters characters fell into this category. have the same or similar meaning but dif- still use the characters. The term does not and therefore easily read. However, it should 2. Pictophonetic compounds ferent pronunciations are written with the imply any genetic affiliation with Chinese. be noted that these 1,400 logographs include (Xíngshēngzì) same character. In addition, many characters The major Sinoxenic languages are gener- most of the commonly used ones. Also called semantic-phonetic com- were adopted according to their meaning ally considered to be Japanese, Korean and pounds, or phono-semantic compounds, by the Japanese and Korean languages to Vietnamese. Written Styles this category represents the largest group of represent native words, disregarding pro- There are numerous styles, or scripts, characters in modern Chinese. Characters of nunciation altogether. The loose relation- History in which Chinese characters can be writ- Characters continues on Page 11 www.chinainsight.info culture MAY 2010 > PAGE 11

Characters from page 10 However, it has been used in the develop- A second round of character simplifica- ferent ways. Many Chinese, Japanese, and this sort are composed of two parts: a picto- ment of written forms of dialects, notably tions (known as “erjian”, or “second round Korean dictionaries of Chinese characters graph, which suggests the general meaning Cantonese and Taiwanese in Hong Kong simplified characters”) was promulgated in list characters in radical order: characters of the character, and a phonetic part, which and Taiwan, due to the amount of dialectal 1977. It was poorly received, and in 1986 are grouped together by radical, and radicals is derived from a character pronounced in vocabulary which historically has had no the authorities rescinded the second round containing fewer strokes come before radi- the same way as the word the new character written form and thus lacks characters of completely, while making six revisions to cals containing more strokes. Under each represents. its own. the 1964 list, including the restoration of radical, characters are listed by their total Examples are “hé” (river), “hú” (lake), three traditional characters that had been number of strokes. It is often also possible “liú” (stream), “chōng” (riptide), “hu” (slip- Written Variants simplified: dié, fù, xiàng. to search for characters by sound, using pery). All these characters have on the left a The nature of Chinese characters makes Many of the simplifications adopted (in Chinese dictionaries), (in radical of three dots, which is a simplified it very easy to produce allographs for any had been in use in informal contexts for a Japanese dictionaries) or (in Korean pictograph for a water drop, indicating that character, and there have been many efforts long time, as more convenient alternatives dictionaries). Most dictionaries also allow the character has a semantic connection at orthographical standardization through- to their more complex standard forms. For searches by total number of strokes, and with water; the right-hand side in each case out history. The widespread usage of the example, the traditional character “lái” individual dictionaries often allow other is a phonetic indicator. For example, in the characters in several different nations has (come) was written with the structure in the search methods as well. case of “chōng”, the phonetic indicator is prevented any one system becoming uni- clerical script (lìshū) of the Han dynasty. For instance, to look up the character “zhōng”, which by itself means “middle”. In versally adopted; consequently, the standard This clerical form uses two fewer strokes, pine tree in a typical dictionary, the user this case it can be seen that the pronunciation shape of any given character in Chinese us- and was thus adopted as a simplified form. first determines which part of the character of the character has diverged from that of age may differ subtly from its standard shape The character “yún” (cloud) was written is the radical, then counts the number of its phonetic indicator; this process means in Japanese or Korean usage, even where no with the structure in the oracle bone script strokes in the radical (four), and turns to the that the composition of such characters can simplification has taken place. of the Shāng dynasty, and had remained in radical index (usually located on the inside sometimes seem arbitrary today. Further, the Usually, each Chinese character takes use later as a phonetic loan in the meaning front or back cover of the dictionary). Under choice of radicals may also seem arbitrary up the same amount of space, due to their of “to say”. The simplified form reverted to the number “4” for radical count, the in some cases; for example, the radical of block-like square nature. Beginners there- this original structure. user locates the radical, then turns to the “māo” (cat) is “zhì”, originally a pictograph fore typically practice writing with a grid Southeast Asian Chinese communi- page number listed, which is the start of for worms, but in characters of this sort as a guide. In addition to strictness in the ties the listing of all the characters containing indicating an animal of any sort. amount of space a character takes up, Chi- Singapore underwent three successive this radical. This page will have a sub-index Xu Shen (c. 100 CE) placed approxi- nese characters are written with very precise rounds of character simplification. These giving remainder stroke numbers (for the mately 82 percent of characters into this rules. The three most important rules are the resulted in some simplifications that dif- non-radical portions of characters) and page category, while in the Kangxi Dictionary strokes employed, stroke placement, and fered from those used in mainland China. It numbers. The right half of the character also (1716 CE) the number is closer to 90 per- the order in which they are written (stroke ultimately adopted the reforms of the PRC contains four strokes, so the user locates cent, due to the extremely productive use order). Most words can be written with just in their entirety as official, and has imple- the number 4, and turns to the page number of this technique to extend the Chinese one , though some words also mented them in the educational system. given. From there, the user must scan the vocabulary. have variant stroke orders, which may oc- Malaysia promulgated a set of simpli- entries to locate the character he or she is 3. Ideograph (Zhǐshìzì) casionally result in different stroke counts; fied characters in 1981, which were also seeking. Some dictionaries have a sub-index Also called a simple indicative, simple certain characters are also written with dif- completely identical to the Mainland China which lists every character containing each ideograph, or ideogram, characters of this ferent stroke orders in different languages. simplifications; here, however, the simplifi- radical, and if the user knows the number cations were not generally widely adopted, of strokes in the non-radical portion of the sort either add indicators to pictographs to Reforms: Simplification make new meanings, or illustrate abstract as the Chinese educational system fell out- character, he or she can locate the correct Simplification in China concepts directly. For instance, while “dāo” side the purview of the federal government. page directly. The use of traditional characters versus is a pictogram for “knife”, placing an indica- However, with the advent of the PRC as an Another popular dictionary system is the simplified characters varies greatly, and can tor in the knife makes “rèn”, an ideogram economic powerhouse, simplified characters four corner method, where characters are depend on both the local customs and the for “blade”. Other common examples are are taught at school, and the simplified char- classified according to the “shape” of each medium. Because character simplifications “shàng” for “up” and “xià” for “down”. acters are more commonly, if not almost uni- of the four corners. were not officially sanctioned and generally This category is small, as most concepts versally, used. However, a large majority of Most Chinese-English dictionaries and a result of “caoshu writing” or idiosyncratic can be represented by characters in other the older Chinese literate generation use the Chinese dictionaries sold to English speak- reductions, traditional, standard characters categories. traditional characters. Chinese newspapers ers use the radical lookup method combined were mandatory in printed works, while the 4. Logical aggregrates (Huìyìzì) are published in either set of characters, with with an alphabetical listing of characters (unofficial) simplified characters would be Also translated as associative com- some even incorporating special Cantonese based on their pinyin romanization system. used in everyday writing, or quick scrib- pounds, characters of this sort combine pic- characters when publishing about the canto To use one of these dictionaries, the reader blings. Since the 1950s, and especially with tograms to symbolize an abstract concept. celebrity scene of Hong Kong. finds the radical and stroke number of the the publication of the 1964 list, the PRC has For instance, “mu” is a pictogram of a tree, Japanese Kanj character, as before, and locates the charac- officially adopted a simplified script, while and putting two together makes “lin”, mean- In the years after World War II, the Japa- ter in the radical index. The character’s entry Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan retain the ing forest. Combining “rì” (sun) and “yuè” nese government also instituted a series of will have the character’s pronunciation in use of the traditional characters. There is no (moon) makes “míng” (bright), which is orthographic reforms. Some characters were pinyin written down; the reader then turns absolute rule for using either system, and traditionally interpreted as symbolizing the given simplified forms called “Shinjitai” to the main dictionary section and looks up often it is determined by what the target combination of sun and moon as the natural (literally “new character forms”; the older the pinyin spelling alphabetically, just as if audience understands, as well as the up- sources of light. forms were then labelled the “Kyūjitai”, it were an English dictionary. bringing of the writer. In addition there is a Xu Shen estimated that 13 percent of literally “old character forms”). The number This system has also been reborrowed special system of characters used for writing characters fall into this category. of characters in common use was restricted, by Chinese-language dictionary editors, numerals in financial contexts; these char- 5. Associate Transformation and formal lists of characters to be learned giving rise to dictionaries with the tradi- acters are modifications or adaptations of (Zhuǎnzhùzì) during each grade of school were estab- tional radical-based character listings in a the original, simple numerals, deliberately Characters in this category originally lished, first the 1850-character Tōyō section at the front, while the main body made complicated to prevent forgeries or represented the same meaning but have list in 1945, and later the 1945-character of the dictionary carries character listings unauthorized alterations. bifurcated through orthographic and often Jōyō kanji list in 1981. Many variant forms by their pronunciation listed alphabetically Although most often associated with the semantic drift. For instance, “kǎo” (to of characters and obscure alternatives for according to their pinyin spelling. PRC, character simplification predates the verify) and “lǎo” (old) were once the same common characters were officially discour- 1949 communist victory. Caoshu, cursive character, meaning “elderly person,” but aged. This was done with the goal of facili- Sinoxenic Languages written text, almost always includes charac- detached into two separate words. Charac- tating learning for children and simplifying Besides Japanese and Korean, a number ter simplification, and simplified forms have ters of this category are rare, so in modern kanji use in literature and periodicals. These of Asian languages have historically been always existed in print, albeit not for the systems this group is often omitted or com- are simply guidelines, hence many charac- written with Han characters, or with char- most formal works. In the 1930s and 1940s, bined with others. ters outside these standards are still widely acters modified from Han characters. They discussions on character simplification took 6. Borrowing (Jiǎjièzì) known and commonly used, especially those include: , Miao language, place within the government, Also called phonetic loan characters, used for personal and place names. Nakhi (Naxi) language (Geba script), Tangut and a large number of Chinese intellectu- this category covers cases where an existing language, and Zhuang als and writers have long maintained that character is used to represent an unrelated Dictionaries language character simplification would help boost word with similar pronunciation; sometimes The design and use of a dictionary of The Jurchen language used an ideo- literacy in China. Indeed, this desire by the the old meaning is then lost completely, as Chinese characters presents interesting graphic script consisting of original charac- Kuomintang to simplify the Chinese writing with characters such as “zì”, which has lost problems. Dozens of indexing schemes have ters with a few Han borrowings. In addition, system (inherited and implemented by the its original meaning of “nose” completely been created for the Chinese characters. The the Yi script is similar to Han, but is not CCP) also nursed aspirations of some for the and exclusively means “oneself”, or “wan”, great majority of these schemes have ap- known to be directly related to it. adoption of a phonetic script, in imitation which originally meant “spider” but is now peared in only a single dictionary; only one of the Roman alphabet, and spawned such Number of Chinese characters used only in the sense of “ten thousand.” such system has achieved truly widespread inventions as the Gwoyeu Romatzyh. There is no single generally-accepted This technique has become uncommon, use. This is the system of radicals. The PRC issued its first round of official figure for the total number of characters since there is considerable resistance to Chinese character dictionaries often character simplifications in two documents, that exist or have ever existed. The major changing the meaning of existing characters. allow users to locate entries in several dif- the first in 1956 and the second in 1964. Characters continues on Page 12 PAGE 12 > MAY 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info

Characters from Page 11 are taught during primary and secondary distinguish native Vietnamese words from be found in dictionaries. The fact that it rep- dictionaries contain varying numbers of school. The list is a recommendation, not Chinese. Vietnamese is currently exclu- resents a syllable that does not exist in any characters. In Chinese, the Kangxi Diction- a restriction, and many characters missing sively written in the Vietnamese alphabet, Standard Mandarin word means that it could ary lists about 40,000 characters, the modern from it are still in common use. a derivative of the alphabet. be classified as a dialectal character. Zhonghua Zihai lists in excess of 80,000; The one area where character usage is In contrast, the simplest character is the most extensive , the officially restricted is in names, which may Rare and complex characters “yī” (one) with just one horizontal stroke. Dai Kan- Jiten, lists 50,000 entries, while contain only government-approved char- Often a character not commonly used The most common character in Chinese is the most comprehensive Korean dictionary, acters. Since the Jōyō kanji list excludes (a “rare” or “variant” character) will appear “de”, a grammatical particle functioning as “Han-Han Dae Sajeon,” contains about many characters which have been used in in a personal or place name in Chinese, an adjectival marker and as a clitic genitive 60,000. One reason for the overwhelming personal and place names for generations, an Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. This has case analogous to the English apostrophe S, number of characters is due to the presence additional list, referred to as the “Jinmeiyō caused problems as many computer encod- with eight strokes. The average number of of rarely-occurring variant and obscure kanji” (literally. “kanji for use in personal ing systems include only the most common strokes in a character has been calculated characters (many of which are unused, even names”), is published. It currently contains characters and exclude the less oft-used as 9.8; it is unclear, however, whether this in Classical Chinese). 983 characters, bringing the total number of characters. This is especially a problem for average is weighted, or whether it includes Another cause for the proliferation government-endorsed characters to 2928. personal names which often contain rare or traditional characters. of characters is “xíngshēngzì”, a method Today, a well-educated Japanese person classical, antiquated characters. Another very simple Chinese logograph whereby homographs are disambiguated may know upwards of 3500 kanji. The Kanji People who have run into this problem is the character “líng,” which simply refers by modifying their radicals, which was kentei (Nihon Kanji Nōryoku Kentei Shiken include Taiwanese politicians Wang Chien- to the number zero. The logograph is a common among the Chinese literati in the or Test of Japanese Kanji Aptitude) tests a shien and Yu Shyi-kun, ex-PRC Premier Zhu native Chinese character, and its earliest centuries after the standardisation of the speaker’s ability to read and write kanji. The Rongji, and Taiwanese singer David Tao documented use is in 1247 AD during the Chinese script by Qin Shi Huang. highest level of the Kanji kentei tests on (Táo Zhé). Newspapers have dealt with this Southern period, found in Chinese 6,000 kanji, though in practice few people problem in varying ways, including using a mathematical text called “Shǔ Shù Jiǔ It is usually said that about 3,000 charac- attain or need this level. software to combine two existing, similar Zhāng” (Mathematical Treatise in Nine ters are needed for basic literacy in Chinese Korean characters, including a picture of the per- Sections). It is not directly derived from the (for example, to read a Chinese newspaper), In Korea, have become a politi- sonality, or, especially as is the case with Yu Hindi- numeral “0”. Interestingly, be- and a well-educated person will know well cally contentious issue, with some Koreans Shyi-kun, simply substituting a homophone ing round, the character does not contain any in excess of 4,000 to 5,000 characters. Note urging a “purification” of the national lan- for the rare character in the hope that the traditional strokes. The only other character that it is not necessary to know a character guage and culture by totally abandoning reader would be able to make the correct in Chinese with only one stroke is “yĭ”, for every known word of Chinese, as the their use. These individuals encourage the inference. Japanese newspapers may render which is an ordinal meaning “second.” majority of modern Chinese words, unlike exclusive use of the native Hangul alphabet such names and words in instead of their Ancient Chinese and throughout Korean society and the end to kanji, and it is accepted practice for people counterparts, are bimorphemic compounds, character education in public schools. to write names for which they are unsure of The art of writing Chinese characters is that is, they are made up of two, usually In South Korea, educational policy on the correct kanji in katakana instead. called Chinese calligraphy. It is usually done common, characters. characters has swung back and forth, often There are also some extremely complex with ink brushes. In ancient China, Chinese In the People’s Republic of China, swayed by education ministers’ personal characters which have understandably be- calligraphy is one of the Four Arts of the which uses Simplified Chinese, the “Xiàndài opinions. At times, middle and high school come rather rare. According to Bellassen, Chinese Scholars. There is a minimalist Hànyǔ Chángyòng Zìbiǎo” (Chart of students have been formally exposed to the most complex Chinese character is set of rules of Chinese calligraphy. Every Common Characters of Modern Chinese) 1,800 to 2,000 basic characters, albeit with “zhé” listen, meaning “verbose” and boast- character from the Chinese scripts is built lists 2,500 common characters and 1,000 the principal focus on recognition, with the ing sixty-four strokes; this character fell into a uniform shape by means of assigning less-than-common characters, while the aim of achieving newspaper-literacy. Since from use around the 5th century. It might it a geometric area in which the character “Xiàndài Hànyǔ Tōngyòng Zìbiǎo” (Chart there is little need to use hanja in everyday be argued, however, that while boasting the must occur. Each character has a set num- of Generally Utilized Characters of Modern life, young adult Koreans are often unable to most strokes, it is not necessarily the most ber of brushstrokes, none must be added or Chinese) lists 7,000 characters, including read more than a few hundred characters. complex character (in terms of difficulty), as taken away from the character to enhance the 3,500 characters already listed above. There is a clear trend toward the ex- it simply requires writing the same sixteen- it visually, lest the meaning be lost. Finally, GB2312, an early version of the national clusive use of Hangul in day-to-day South stroke character “lóng” (literally “dragon”) strict regularity is not required, meaning the encoding standard used in the People’s Korean society. Hanja are still used to some four times in the space for one. strokes may be accentuated for dramatic Republic of China, has 6,763 code points. extent, particularly in newspapers, wed- The most complex character found in effect of individual style. Calligraphy was GB18030, the modern, mandatory standard, dings, place names and calligraphy. Hanja modern Chinese dictionaries is “nàng” the means by which scholars could mark has a much higher number. The Hanyu is also extensively used in situations where listen, meaning “snuffle” (that is, a pro- their thoughts and teachings for immortal- Shuiping Kaoshi proficiency test covers ambiguity must be avoided, such as aca- nunciation marred by a blocked nose), ity, and as such, represent some of the more approximately 5,000 characters. demic papers, high-level corporate reports, with “just” thirty-six strokes. The most precious treasures that can be found from In the Republic of China (Taiwan), government documents, and newspapers; complex character that can be input using ancient China. which uses Traditional Chinese, the Min- this is due to the large number of homonyms the Microsoft New Phonetic IMA 2002a for This article is licensed under the GNU istry of Education’s Chángyòng “Guózì that have resulted from extended borrowing Traditional Chinese is “tà” (“the appearance Free Documentation License. It is an edited Biāojǔn Zìtǐ Biǎo” (Chart of Standard of Chinese words. of a dragon in flight”); it is composed of the version of the Wikipedia article “Chinese Forms of Common National Characters) The issue of ambiguity is the main dragon radical represented three times, for Character”. lists 4,808 characters; the “Cì Chángyòng hurdle in any effort to “cleanse” the Korean a total of 48 strokes. Wikipedia contributors, “Chinese char- Guózì Biāojǔn Zìtǐ Biǎo” (Chart of Standard language of Chinese characters. Characters In Japanese, an 84-stroke kokuji exists— acter,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Forms of Less-Than-Common National convey meaning visually, while alphabets it is composed of three “cloud” characters on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_char- Characters) lists another 6,341 characters. convey guidance to pronunciation, which top of the abovementioned triple “dragon” acter (accessed September 23, 2006). The Chinese Standard Interchange Code in turn hints at meaning. As an example, character. Also meaning “the appearance of The GNU Free Documentation License (CNS11643)—the official national encoding in Korean dictionaries, the phonetic entry a dragon in flight”, it is pronounced otodo, can be viewed at, http://en.wikipedia.org/ standard—supports 48,027 characters, while for “gisa” yields more than 30 different taito, and daito. wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_ the most widely-used encoding scheme, entries. In the past, this ambiguity had been The most complex character still in use Documentation_License  BIG-5, supports only 13,053. efficiently resolved by parenthetically dis- may be “biáng,” with 57 strokes, which In Hong Kong, which uses Traditional playing the associated hanja. refers to Biang Biang Noodles, a type of Editor’s note: This article appeared in a Chinese, the Education and Manpower Bu- In North Korea, the government, wield- noodle from China’s Shaanxi province. This previous issue of Ch i n a In s i g h t . reau’s “Soengjung Zi Zijing Biu”, intended ing much tighter control than its sister gov- character along with syllable “biang” cannot for use in elementary and junior secondary ernment to the south, has banned Chinese “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these education, lists a total of 4,759 characters. characters from virtually all public displays five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” In addition, there is a large corpus of and media, and mandated the use of Hangul ...Confucius dialect characters, which are not used in in their place. formal but represent col- Vietnamese loquial terms in non-Mandarin Chinese Although now nearly extinct in Vietnam- spoken forms. One such variety is Written ese, varying scripts of Chinese characters Cantonese, in widespread use in Hong Kong (hán tự) were once in widespread use to even for certain formal documents, due to write the language, although hán tự became the former British colonial administration’s limited to ceremonial uses beginning in the recognition of Cantonese for use for official 19th century. Similarly to Japan and Korea, purposes. In Taiwan, there is also an infor- Chinese (especially Classical Chinese) was mal body of characters used to represent the used by the ruling classes, and the characters spoken Min Nan dialect. were eventually adopted to write Vietnam- Japanese ese. To express native Vietnamese words In Japanese there are 1945 “Jōyō kanji” which had different pronunciations from (literally “frequently used kanji”) designated the Chinese, Vietnamese developed the Chu by the Japanese Ministry of Education; these Nom script which used various methods to www.chinainsight.info culture MAY 2010 > PAGE 13 China’s ethnic minorities We continue our series on China’s 55 ethnic minority groups. This month features the Tatar, and the Tu ethnic minorities.

The Tatar ethnic minority As a result of exploitation by Tatar and quite common. Marriages between cousins Major area of distribution: Yining, Kazak feudal masters, some poor Tatar occur but are uncommon. Tacheng and Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur herdsmen were forced to become hired A wedding is held at the bride’s home in Autonomous Region. hands, whose families suffered great hard- accordance with religious rules. The newly- Language: Tatar ship, and others were taken on by feudal weds must drink sugar water from the same Religion: Islam masters as “adopted sons,” who had to work cup, symbolizing a long sweet life together. Population: Approximately 5,100 as hired herdsmen but without pay. Usually, the groom must live for some time In addition, there were also a smaller at his parents-in-law’s home, and in some minority of engaged in handicrafts, families, must not go to his own home until chiefly in leather-making, tailoring and the first child is born. embroidery. Babies receive a formal religious bless- These trades were carried out as house- ing three days after birth, and their names hold sidelines. are usually taken from the Islamic classics. A Since 1949, the Tatar people have child usually takes the surname of father or enjoyed equal political rights in Xinjiang, grandfather. The cradle rites are held seven where many ethnic groups live in tightly- weeks later, with the cradle and clothes knit communities. They have representa- provided by a grandmother. tives on the National People’s Congress Forty days after the child’s birth, he and various tiers of regional and local or she is bathed in water fetched from 40 Map of Gansu Provence (Photo from www. Location of Yining City within Xinjiang map-of-china.co.uk/map-of-gansu.htm) (China) Photo from Wikimedia Commons government. A series of social reforms has places, a custom intended to bring about extricated the poor Tatar farmers from feu- healthy growth. When a person dies, the of Minhe and Datong. Others are scattered dal exploitation and oppression. Some have body is shrouded with white cloth in con- History in Ledu, Menyuan and the Tianzhu Tibetan now become industrial workers. formity with Islamic practice. Their history in China dates from the in Gansu Province. The Tatars’ educational development be- The cultural life of the Tatars is rich and Tang Dynasty (618-907), when the Tatar The language of the Tu people belongs to gan in the late 19th century when Tatar cler- colorful. Their music has a lively rhythm, tribe was ruled by the nomadic Turkic - the Mongolian branch of the Altaic language ics opened schools in several areas. Besides and several musical instruments are used, ate in northern China. As this state fell into family. Its basic vocabulary is either the the Koran, Islamic history and Islamic law, including the “Kunie” (a wooden flute), the decline, the Tatars grew in strength, and same as or similar to that of the Mongolian these schools taught arithmetic and Chinese “Kebisi” (a kind of harmonica) and a two- their name was used to refer to several tribes language, but it is much closer to the lan- language. The Ining Tatar School, set up in stringed violin. Tatar dances are lively and in the north after the Tang Dynasty. Their guages of the Dongxiang and Bonan ethnic 1942, was one of the earliest modern schools cheerful. Men use many leg movements, homeland was later annexed by Mongols, minorities. Quite a number of religious terms for ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. such as squatting, kicking and leaping. and when the Mongols pushed west, many are borrowed from the Tibetan language, It played an active role in reforming the Central Asians and Europeans called them while a good portion of everyday words, as old religious education and teaching science Tatars. well as new terms and phrases, come from and culture. In the mid-13th century, Batu, the the Han language, which has long been the Many Tatar intellectuals earlier this cen- grandson of Genghis Khan, established the medium of communication among the Tus tury worked hard to set up and run schools. Khanate in Central Asia. It of Datong County. The Tu people do not Some went deep into rural areas, and played began to decline in the 15th century, and have a written language of their own; they a big part in establishing Xinjiang’s educa- the Kashan Khanate began to rise on the use that of the Hans instead. tional cause. Their efforts benefited not only middle reaches of the River and in The costumes and personal adornments the Tatars, but also the Uygur, Huis, Kazaks, areas along the River. The rulers of of the Tu people are strikingly unique. Men Xibes and Ozbeks. the Kashan Khanate, to boast their strength, and women alike wear shirts with delicately began calling themselves Tatars, the sons of Tartar children (Photo courtesy of China designed embroidered collars whose colors the Mongols. Customs Most Tatars in cities live in flat-roofed Daily) are bright and well blended. Men like to Tatar gradually became the recognized dress in cloth robes, putting on high-collared mud houses equipped with flues for heat- Women move their waists and arms name for the inhabitants of Kashan Khan- fur gowns with waist belts in winter. They ing. They like to hang tapestry inside their more. Their dance styles incorporate fea- ate. Today’s Tatar ethnic group was formed often dress up in felt hats with brocade homes, which are usually very clean and tures of the Uygur, Russian and Ozbek through a mixture of the Baojiaer people, brims. For women, jackets are tilted in the tidy. Courtyards planted with flowers and dances, but also have their own unique Kipchacks and Mongolians over a long front with sleeves made up of five different trees have the appearance of small gardens. characteristics. period. kinds of cloth. Sometimes they slip on a The Tatars in pastoral areas have adapted to At festivals, the Tatars often hold After the 19th century, the serfdom crisis sleeveless garment done in black, indicating a nomadic life, and live in tents. mass dancing contests. “The Plough Head in Tsarist worsened, and serf owners formal attire. They used to be very particular Tatar cuisine, popular in Xinjiang, in- Festival” every spring is an annual grand intensified their plundering of land. Most of about hairstyles, which numbered seven or cludes various kinds of pastries. At festivals, gathering, held usually at beautiful scenic the Tatars’ land along the Volga and Kama eight different varieties. But this custom was they serve pastries called “Gubaidiai” and spots, and includes such collective games was grabbed, and the inhabitants forced to suppressed under the Kuomintang regime “Yitebailixi,” the former being cured with as singing, dancing, wrestling, horse racing flee. Some went south to Central Asia and before the founding of the People’s Republic cheese, dried apricots and rice, and the latter and tug-of-war. then on to southern Xinjiang. in 1949. Nowadays, simple hairstyle topped with pumpkin, meat and rice. Both kinds The game they enjoy most is the “jump- In the late 19th century, Tsarist Rus- by a brocaded felt hat has become fashion- have crisp crusts and soft contents. Tatar ing walk” contest. All contestants hold an sia expanded into Xinjiang, and won able among Tu women. drinks include beer-like “keerxima,” made egg on a spoon in their mouths. The first to trade privileges there. For a time, Russian merchants traveled to Xinjiang, and were of fermented honey, and “Kesaile” wine reach the finishing line without dropping Historical Origins brewed from wild grapes. followed by Tatar merchants from Kashan. the egg is the winner. Tatar drama began The fact that the Tus claim to be Tatar men usually wear embroidered Many stayed in Xinjiang to trade. During developing earlier than those of most other “Mongguer” (Mongolians) or “Chahan white shirts under short black vests or long this period, many Tatar intellectuals and ethnic groups in Xinjiang. By the early Mongguer” (White Mongolians) gives ex- gowns. Their trousers are also black. They clerics moved to Xinjiang. Up to the early 1930s, a Tatar drama troupe had been set pression to the close relations that existed often wear small black-and-white embroi- 20th century, a continuous stream of Tatars up and began giving performances in Ining, between the early Tus and the Mongolians. dered caps, and black fur caps in winter. came to Xinjiang from Russia. Tacheng and Urumqi. Popular legends among the Tus of Huzhu Women wear small flowery caps inlaid with The Tatar language belongs to the Tur- Autonomous County have it that their an- pearls, and long white, yellow or purplish kic of the Altaic language The Tu ethnic minority cestors were Mongolian soldiers under one red shirts with pleats. Their jewelry includes system. Because the Tatars mix freely in Major areas of distribution: Gansu of Genghis Khan’s generals by the name earrings, bracelets and necklaces of red Xinjiang with the Uygurs and the Kazaks, and Qinghai of Gerilite (Geretai). They intermarried pearls. Since liberation, more modern styles the three languages have had strong effects Language: Tu and Han with the indigenous Houers of what is now have influenced both men’s and women’s on one another, and have produced various Religion: Lamaism Huzhu County. clothing, and a growing number of Tatars local dialects. The Tatars’ written language Population: 192,600 Chinese records also tell of Mongolian are now wearing Western style clothes. is based on Arabic letters. The Tu ethnic minority, known for their troops under Genghis Khan making their ap- Most of Tatars in cities belong to small In the late 19th and early 20th centu- simplicity and industriousness, lives in the pearance in Xining (now capital of Qinghai monogamous families. Sons and daughters ries, some wealthy Tatar merchants netted northwestern part of China -- to the east of Province), which exercised jurisdiction over live apart from their parents after they get great profits and forced smaller traders to Qinghai Lake and south of Qilian Mountain Huzhu County during the Yuan Dynasty married, but they still support their parents the brink of bankruptcy. Of the few Tatars Range and along the banks of the Huangshui (1271-1368) founded by Genghis Khan. All until they die, showing great respect for their engaged in animal husbandry, most were and Datong rivers. It is concentrated mainly historical records have accounts of Mon- poor herdsmen who had few animals and elders. Intermarriages between Tatars and in the Huzhu Tu Autonomous County in no pastures. other ethnic groups believing in Islam are Qinghai Province, and also in the counties Minorities continues on Page 14 PAGE 14 > MAY 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info

Minorities from Page 13 of the peasants’ annual income went to the The traditional practice of cremating Quite a few officials from the ethnic group golian troops having either been stationed Ma family. This, coupled with forced labor the dead persists in most parts of the Tu- have been promoted to leading positions at the in Xining during the Mongolian western and military service, brought the Tu people populated areas. provincial, prefectural and county levels. to a state of real disaster. In addition to expeditions or moved into the place at some Birth of Industry point in history. ruthless exploitation through land rent and Prior to 1949 no modern industry Especially worth mentioning is the ac- non-economic extortion in various forms, of any kind had been developed in the count of Yuan imperial clansman Buyan Ti- the practice of usury functioned as another Tu areas. Agricultural production and emuer’s troops being attacked and defeated major means of economic plunder. Many transportation were backward. Since the in Andingwei during the reign of Ming poor peasants were heavily in debt as much founding of the People’s Republic, the Emperor Zhengde (1506-1521). The sur- as several generations on end. Huzhu Tu Autonomous County has set up vivors settled down to the east of Weiyuan The Ma warlords were also bureaucrat a fair number of industrial and mining en- City near Xining. The area is now under the capitalists marked by a strong feudalistic terprises turning out more than 200 kinds administration of the Huzhu Tu Autonomous tendency. A commercial enterprise owned of products including farm machinery, County. This shows that a portion of the Tu by the Ma family, for example, not only chemical fertilizers, wine, ores and coal. people in Huzhu County are descendants of had the power to requisition of laborers and Whereas the entire county did not have Mongolians that moved in from Andingwei means of transportation from the people, a single motor vehicle or farm machine during the . but also the right to set up its own court and carry out inquisitions by means of torture. It before 1949, it now has a substantial number of trucks, cars and buses, trac- “Prior to 1949 no modern industry of any kind had been tors, harvesters, threshers and processing machines. The opening of roads to motor developed in the Tu areas.” traffic throughout the county has helped bring about a big change in its agricultural production. Over 247 acres of irrigated “Huoer” was long ago a Tibetan name farmland has been newly developed, along for the nomadic herdsmen who lived in had its own squad of bodyguards and hired Tu woman (Photo from China Daily) with the construction of 60 reservoirs and northern Tibet and vast areas north of Tibet roughnecks equipped with guns and horses. ponds for draining waterlogged areas. The (or north of the Yellow River, according to a The warlords also ran a number of work- People of the Tu ethnic group are re- building of seven hydro-electric stations different interpretation). In modern times the shops in the Tu areas, whose workers were nowned for their talent for singing and danc- has made electricity available throughout term refers specifically to the Tu people. mostly poor peasants either requisitioned or ing. Ballads with beautiful melodies, as well the county. Herders and farmers economically, the arrested by the reactionary regime for not as oral literature with stirring plots can be Cultural, educational and public health Tu people started off as livestock breeders, having been able to repay loans. The interest heard everywhere in the Tu populated areas. facilities have been gradually developed. especially of goats and sheep. This was due on loans was around 150 percent and could A traditional ballad-singing festival is held By 1981 the county had founded more to the abundance of water and grass in the be as high as 400 percent. once a year, when thousands upon thousands than 500 schools of various kinds with a fertile mountainous area that they inhabited. of singers and young people gather from all Drastic change combined Tu student population of over The Tus used to be well known among the over the area to get together and sing to their The Tu people did not, however, submit 10,000. College graduates, engineers, art- locals for their expertise in animal hus- hearts’ content.  tamely to such oppression. On many oc- ists, journalists, teachers and doctors of Tu bandry. According to historical documents, Source: People’s Daily Online casions they rose in resistance, along with origin are playing active roles on all fronts. they began to familiarize themselves with http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ people of the Han and other nationalities. farming at least from the early period of the In September 1949 the Tu people ush- Ming Dynasty. ered in their liberation with great jubilation. Also starting from that period, the Tu With the help of the central government in Call for Articles… area fell under the rule of 16 hereditary Beijing, they did away with the reactionary headmen, whose titles and territories were oncerned about misconceptions about China? social system and set up an administration of C granted by the Ming Emperor. Since the land their own. This was followed by a struggle tilled by the Tu people belonged to the head- h i n a n s i g h t to eliminate bandits and bring down local C I is a local newspaper fostering U.S.-China cultural and men, the former had to shoulder a multitude despots, which paved the way for the final business harmony. of labor services and extortion enforced by successful drive for land reform. the landlords, apart from taxes of various The Huzhu Tu Autonomous County was We are interested in publishing articles that engages audiences in descriptions. The headmen made full use established in February 1954, in spite of America. Potential topics range from understanding daily life in China of their “inspection tours” once every three the fact that the Tu people account for only (or for Chinese in America) to discussions of business markets from years to exploit their people. It was only 13.5 percent of the population of the county. in 1931 that the Kuomintang government both an American or Chinese viewpoint. Autonomous townships have also been set formally abolished the headman system. up in areas where there are concentrated The displaced headmen were, however, For example, consider the following: populations of the Tus. The Tu people have appointed as deputy county heads, district • Chinese movies/entertainment their representatives in the People’s Con- heads or township heads to continue their • Book reviews gresses at both the Qinghai provincial and function as tools of the regime. Economi- • Old Minnesota-China ties/relationships the national levels. cally, most of them retained their positions • Recommended Chinese restaurants/food as rich landlords and continued to dominate Religious Reform • Chinese painting/calligraphy the means of production. The Yellow Sect of Lamaism used to • Chinese impressions of America Like elsewhere in China, the Tu area was have a wide-spread following among the • Tea gradually being reduced to a semi-colonial Tu people. To strengthen their domination • Impressions of China by Americans and semi-feudal society when history en- over the ordinary people, the ruling classes • Chinese musical instruments tered its modern stage. The only difference of previous regimes had, without excep- was that, due to lack of modern means of • American business people in China tion, collaborated with the upper clerical • Questions about China transportation and the existence of serious elements. The latter enjoyed the support • Cartoons feudal separatist tendencies, the Tu society of the authorities as well as all kinds of had then more of a feudalistic nature. Nev- privileges. • Chinese immigrants that have succeed in America ertheless, the imperialists did manage to rob After 1949, the Tu people carried out • Local Chinese Businesses the Tu people of their wealth by plundering a religious reform under the leadership • Chinese-owned businesses in Minnesota their raw materials and local produce while of the people’s government. They burned • Travel tales dumping foreign products on the Tu market. the feudal deeds and loan receipts of the • Cross-cultural exchanges in education and businesses The penetration of foreign influence was Lama landlords and abolished all religious • Americans who are studying Chinese – why are you learning Chi- also manifested in missionary activities. In privileges, forced apportions and labor nese? the period from 1915 through to the eve of services. liberation in 1949, seven churches and four • How do Chinese students adapt to America? These struggles helped further eman- • Chinese business customs church-run primary schools were set up in cipate the minds of the Tu people, who the area. threw themselves actively into the drive Feudal oppression and exploitation in for socialist construction. Whereas super- If you have an article on one of these topics are any others that the Tu area was extremely ruthless in the stition forbade the disturbing of “sacred” might be of interest to our readers, please contact Greg Hugh at (952) first half of this century. For 38 years, the mountains and springs, the Tu people began 472-4757 or e-mail [email protected]. Tu people toiled under the barbarous rule transforming mountain slopes into farm- of the warlords of the Ma family. Just ordi- lands and digging irrigation canals. Women, nary taxes and corvee in the form of grain who began enjoying unprecedented political as enforced by the Ma family could be of rights, took an active part in all these con- more than 40 different kinds. About half structive endeavors. www.chinainsight.info business MAY 2010 > PAGE 15

World Bank from Page 6 in the second half of 2009.) automatic stabilizers to work. vigilance over lending by local government After a sharp fall early in 2009, exports *Monetary policy needs to be tighter investment platforms. Given China’s solid tion, away from investment-heavy export- recovered briskly and returned to the pre- than last year and the case for exchange macroeconomic position, the local finance led growth, and encouraging more environ- crisis level by the end of 2009. Because rate flexibility and more monetary inde- problems are unlikely to cause systemic mental sustainability. For middle-income of the steep initial fall, exports declined pendence from the U.S. is getting stronger. stress. But the flow of new lending to the countries, the priority is more investment by around 10 percent in real terms in 2009 Strengthening the exchange rate can help platforms needs to be contained and local in physical and human capital to move up as a whole. Imports held up much better reduce inflationary pressures and rebalance government revenues need to become less the value chain in production and exports. than exports, especially the non-processing the economy. The case for a larger role for dependent on land transaction revenues. Low-income countries need to break into imports used in the domestic economy. Be- interest rates in monetary policy is strong. In the presentations to the NPC, the gov- manufacturing and become part of global cause of the larger increase in imports, net If policymakers remain concerned about ernment emphasized the need for structural and regional production networks. Com- external trade was a major drag on growth in interest rate sensitive capital flows, more reforms. As China is preparing for the 12th modity exporters will need to strengthen 2009, subtracting 3.9 percentage points from exchange rate flexibility would help. five-year plan, the key overall objectives are fiscal rules and frameworks to translate GDP growth. The current account surplus *Ensuring financial stability includes making further progress in “rebalancing” the volatile external revenues into long-term declined from 9.4 percent of GDP in 2008 mitigating the risk of a property price economy, enhancing efficiency gains, mov- sustainable growth. And, last but not least, to 5.8 percent in 2009. bubble and ensuring the sustainability of ing to a more sustainable spatial transforma- the Pacific islands will need deeper integra- Real GDP growth is likely to remain local government finances. With regard to tion of economic activity and employment, tion with their nearest large market. strong this year, with the composition of the property market, stability calls for an further changing the role of the state in the This report also identifies two common growth set to shift markedly. The strong appropriate macro stance and improving the economy, and taking account of China’s regional agenda items for the medium term. growth momentum carried into the first functioning of markets. Concerns about the interaction with the rest of the world. First, the process of regional integration, months of 2010, with particularly strong affordability of housing for lower income To read the full East Asia and Pacific driven by ASEAN’s commitments to creat- exports, retail sales and industrial produc- people would be best addressed by a long Update go to http://go.worldbank.org/FX- ing a single economic area, will need to tion. The World Bank projects real GDP term government support framework. The M8GZQIS0. continue. Deeper regional economic inte- growth of 9.5 percent for the year as a central authorities have rightly increased Source: World Bank gration is now even more important, given whole. Exports are on course to grow ro- prospects for slower growth in advanced bustly as global demand recovers. Although economies. Behind-the-border trade barriers imports should outpace exports somewhat, must be lowered, even in the face of incipi- Advertisers net external trade should add modestly to ent protectionist pressures around the world, Your potential customers are reading Ch i n a Insight. Shouldn’t real GDP growth. Real investment growth, including in the region. Deeper integration you be bringing them in the door with an ad? Our readers are: however, may be around half of the rate will encourage agglomeration economies last year. In a heated housing market, real - Well-traveled - Opportunity-seeking and intra-industry trade, support sustain- estate investment should grow strongly. But - Entrepreneurial - Open-minded able urbanization, lower costs, and increase government-led investment, the key driver - Excited about understanding China international competitiveness. of growth in 2009, is bound to decelerate Second, addressing climate change is Rates are highly competitive. heavily. high priority in the region. Mitigation mea- In this scenario, the trade surplus may sures must be strengthened to improve land edge down in 2010 in U.S. dollar terms Contact Greg Hugh (952-472-4757, [email protected]) or and water use, bolster energy efficiency and because of a projected decline in the terms visit www.chinainsight.info for more advertising information. conservation, and foster a much larger role of trade. The current account surplus may for renewable sources of energy. Increased Expo from Page 8 to the site. increase somewhat, again in U.S. dollar energy efficiency is not only good for energy entrances have the shortest line-ups by terms, mainly due to higher income on security but is also environmentally more sending text messages and displaying the Everlasting Expo China’s foreign exchange reserves. sustainable and will help make rapidly information on large screens at the entrances Expo Shanghai 2010 is the first in the Inflation has turned positive, but is likely growing cities more livable. Moreover, with to the site. Volunteers will also help to ease Expo’s 158-year history to be accompanied to remain modest in 2010. Consumer prices investment rates in the region higher than the visitor flow. All group tours will enter by an online exhibition. On the homepage picked up in the second half of 2009, pre- in developed countries, there is scope for the site from Pudong. of Expo Shanghai Online, one is already as- dominantly because of higher food prices. East Asia to move rapidly to the “green” For the convenience of the anticipated tonished by the beautiful 3D effects – ships Nonetheless, inflation will likely remain technology frontier. Such a move will give four million international visitors, Shang- sail on the Huangpu River, and Haibao, the modest, reaching 3.5-4 percent on average the region a competitive advantage in a hai’s traffic administration will, amid many Expo’s mascot, introduces and interprets the in 2010, as global price pressures remain sector poised for rapid global growth. At other measures, offer free traffic guides and landmarks. Computer programming allows subdued, China-specific factors behind food the same time, the adaptation agenda will online and hotline services in foreign lan- for 360 degree turns. Clicking on a point of price increases abate, and the authorities require enhancing the region’s cooperation guages, install touch screen kiosks at local interest, you can change the viewing angle respond decisively to help curb core infla- and disaster risk management frameworks. hotels, and dispatch volunteers competent from straight-on to each side, as well as tion pressures. Institutional and regulatory frameworks in foreign languages. adopt a bird’s-eye view. In the heated real estate market, how- for improving the resiliency of economic Advanced 3D techniques will also give ever, property prices are rising rapidly. activity, reducing drought and flood risk, and Bedding Down in Shanghai people access to virtual versions of the pa- Prices in the large cities were on average managing coastal areas and small islands, It is estimated that an average of 500,000 vilions, as well as exhibitions by 18 corpo- more than 30 percent higher than a year are critically needed. people per day will need accommodation rations, 31 Chinese provinces, autonomous ago in February, and further increases are China’s economy has held up remark- in Shanghai during the Expo, but the beds region and municipalities, Hong Kong, in sight. This has triggered policy measures ably well during the global recession. (For available at local hotels are 50,000 to 10,000 Macao and Taiwan, 242 countries and the to expand supply and curb speculation, more detail on recent developments, the short of this amount. So the organizer is 50 UBPA demonstration sites. although the government is cautious in its outlook, and policy issues in China, see the looking to supplement them with private Access to online pavilions is categorized policy response and does not want to reduce World Bank’s March 2010 “China Quarterly homestays and hotels in neighboring ar- functionally by two types – the Browsing real estate activity. Update.”) GDP grew 8.7 percent in 2009, led eas. Pavilion and the Experiencing Pavilion. China needs a less accommodative by a massive investment-led stimulus that Shanghai Municipal Tourism Adminis- The Browsing Pavilion basically replicates macroeconomic policy stance than in 2009 showed up partly as an increase in the of- tration has trained local families to conduct on the Internet the physical pavilion and its to contain the emerging risks. The world ficial fiscal deficit from 0.4 percent of GDP homestays for international guests, which exhibits. The Experiencing Pavilions, as economy is still subdued, with output below in 2008 to 2.8 percent of GDP in 2009, but not only provides a convenience to tourists, set up by participating nations, can put up potential in many parts. However, China’s much more in a surge in bank lending by but also exposes them more deeply to local displays not found in the physical version of growth has been strong and, unlike most oth- almost 30 percent of GDP. culture. By providing frequent and conve- the Expo, and give more options to online er countries, China’s overall output is close Government-led investment was the key nient transportation, the tourism resources of explorers, like “picking up” an item to have to potential. Thus, China needs a different driver of growth for much of 2009, but real other cities in the Yangtze River Delta region a closer look. macro stance than most other economies. estate investment gained prominence more will be integrated to ease the bed shortage. No Web site would be complete without Even though inflation risks remain modest recently. All in all, investment rose about Travel time from Shanghai to Wuxi, Suzhou, online games; playing against Haibao allows because of the global context, the macro 18 percent in real terms in 2009, the fastest Nanjing, Ningbo or now is less virtual visitors to learn even more about the stance needs to be noticeably tighter than in growth since 1993. Household consump- than one hour, thanks to the Shanghai- World Expo. 2009 to manage inflation expectations and tion growth has remained solid throughout, Hangzhou high-speed railway and speed Aspects of Expo Shanghai Online were contain the risks of a property bubble and largely because the labor market held up increases in the old railway lines between launched ahead of the real Expo’s schedule, strained local government finances. well. Overall employment and wage growth them. To bring the hotel resources in nearby on November 12, 2009. The full bells ‘n’ *The budget presented to the National remained positive in the first half of 2009 cities into the hotel management strategy for whistles version will be officially accessible People’s Congress (NPC) rightly implies a and picked up again around midyear. (Per the Shanghai Expo, will not only ease the on May 1, 2010, with all online pavilions broadly neutral fiscal stance. The 2010 defi- capita rural wage income growth, which pressure on Shanghai’s hospitality sector inaugurated, including “virtual attendance” cit is now targeted to remain little changed includes the of both wage and em- but also bring more visitors to the region in at the international gala. When the curtains compared to 2009. However, there are still ployment developments, dropped sharply to the future. Those urban communities can go down on the real Expo, the Web site will uncertainties about the world economy 7-8 percent year-on-year in the last quarter provide an additional 390,000 hotel beds, still be available, with an aim to make it “an and it is important to have flexibility in of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. As and organizers will encourage hotels to rent everlasting Expo.”  implementation. That means contingency the economy picked up again, it recovered their rooms as part of a package complete Reprinted with permission from China plans and, equally importantly, room for quickly, growing 13.5 percent year-on-year with Expo tickets and bus or train passes Today Magazine, April, 2010 PAGE 16 > MAY 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info