China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power

I pass along this review from a reader in China, L. Li.

"The author of this book came to China in 1987 when he was 21 years old to learn the language, and then stayed for nearly 20 years conducting the research and journalistic reporting. For six years, up until 2005, he held the position of the American National Public Radio Beijing's correspondent. During his work, he traveled all around China and to many other Asian nations.

In this book, the author relates a special two months of travel as his farewell to the land, crossing China from one side of China to the other, hitchhiking much of the time, or utilizing any conveyance at hand. On the road he meets and talks to all sorts of people as he journeys from Shanghai to the Kazakhstan frontier along the unassuming Federal Highway 312.

In his journey Gifford shows profound insight and sensitivity into the day-to-day life of the rapidly changing Chinese society. This, for me, was the book's greatest surprise; that a foreigner to China could possess this level of understanding, and be able to retell his insight to a native born Chinese person such
as myself. The author captures well China's local understanding of itself - especially its admirable human qualities manifest even under the weight of the nation's massive history. The work is a tribute to his years of
research.

The author also intertwines his journey with the journey of China itself, relating what he experiences to the
history of the land and the people. Finally he reflects on where this is all going, giving a forecast of the
possible futures China may face with thoughts on China's possible dangers, judgments that will be needed to keep the current China in it's present situation, on course.

But, this is the part of the book with which I felt some resentment. The author points out that China is developing perhaps too fast - and sounds an alarm for other nations as to its potential for instability. This seems to me a bit of hypocrisy, and a bit of arrogance. Consider the United States - 5% of the World population using something like 30% of the World resources. By what standard can China's rapid growth, not into riches (as in the West) but simply into modernity, be faulted so easily?"

The author has painted a sympathetic picture of China, more realistic of the existent problems facing billions of Chinese people, instead of sticking to the useless ideological issues like social system, etc. The book tells readers the best things that the government has done regarding human rights is to make sure billions of people are free from cold and starvation. People do not need empty talks about freedom and democracy when their stomaches are empty and they do not have enough clothes against cold weather.

Great book!

A must read during these times when China is in the news every day. The best balanced view of what is going on there.

I was initially intrigued with the China "road trip" concept that is the backbone ofthe book. The narrative about the trip was fantastic. You are drawn into the sights and sounds of places far removed from Shanghai and Beijing and his interactions with real Chinese people from throughout the country and very insightful.

Mr. Gifford does a great job of explaining why things might be the way they are in China based on historical and cultural reasons. If you don't know much about key pieces of Chinese history not only does he provide background information, but links it to understanding China today.

I was completely naive as to some of China's practices regarding their one child policy and found this very disturbing. This and the corruption that runs rampant throughout the country is very troubling in terms of quality of life for Chinese people. You come to empathize with their situation and perhaps gain a better understanding as to why they are as determined as they are for economic growth.

Five stars for both a great journey and an informative look at where China is today, why it is the way it is, and some interesting perspectives on what the future may hold. Read it!!

When I saw that the author worked for PBS, I thought propaganda, red flag, don't buy, etc. Well I bought it anyway, and was glad I did. Gifford does a great job painting contemporary China on a printed page. Gifford, obviously identifies with the Chinese, but he hasn't gone completely native. His ability to speak Chinese opens doors and allows him to relate the thoughts of ordinary Chinese and minorities living in 'China' to the reader. Here is my perspective: I loved Paul Theroux's RIDING THE RED ROOSTER. Theroux rode the trains, while Gifford travels by road. Theroux wrote about some of the obnoxious habits of the Chinese, like spitting and seeing all Caucasians as big nosed White devils. Gifford has not wrote that yet (I'm 2/3 through the book). Also, Gibbon's gives more in terms of historical background to bring the reader up to speed. So like Theroux, but different; but destined to be a classic. A great book which brings the reader up to speed relative to contemporary China. Strongly recommended.