Mickey Mouse In Shanghai

In this newsletter on China we see that Disney gets to build a Disney theme park in Shanghai. I think that after all these years it is still a little hard to comprehend just how utterly modern the present Chinese culture has become. You can see it in the skylines and the adoption of all forms of modern material culture. Their own Disney land is simply icing on the cake.

Also it will be an easy build. Unlike Europe’s Disney in Paris, we will not have the gnashing of teeth that came along with it at the time. It is not that Chinese culture will not be conflicted; it is more that Chinese culture has been reinventing itself over the past forty years of post Mao development.

In a sense the cultural history of China has been extraordinary. The ancient and rich Chinese culture was decimated under Mao, creating a cultural vacuum. Into this vacuum has flooded modern consumer culture, unresisted as in Japan by any traditional forces that were sadly depleted. Traditional Chinese culture is presently resurging in a revitalized form to take its proper place.

Those who chafe at the lack of political evolution should learn patience. These things are generational and as long as the population can prosper and can afford to see Mickey Mouse, political improvement is inevitable.

US-China Today Newsletter

Tourists now have more reason to visit China. After 20 years of on-off negotiations, Beijing has finally approved plans to build a Disneyland-style theme park in the Putong area of Shanghai. This park is expected to exceed the size of the Disneyland in Anaheim, California. To be built at a projected cost of $3.5 billion, it will be one of the largest-ever foreign investments in the country.

In another boost to tourism, China plans to turn a sparsely-populated island, Hengqin, located near Macau, into a tourist destination. Hengqin aims to draw more tourists to the area for non-gambling activities. The focus is on building resorts, villas, golf courses and other entertainment centers.

The latest signs of China’s financial well-being came through the World Bank’s prediction that the Chinese economy will grow 8.4 percent his year. This figure is up from the 7.2 percent predicted in June. The bank readjusted its earlier forecast after China’s rapid rebound this year, following the large stimulus package of 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion).

In one the major gang-related crackdowns this week, Xie Caiping, known as the “godmother” of a Chongqing local gang, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for running illegal casinos and bribing government officials. Xie’s trial has exposed the networks of protection by government officials for local gangs, often using bribery. Read more about China's economy, politics and other current events in the Daily Updates section of our website.

In our most recent multimedia photo series, “Streets of China,” we take you on a visual tour of China, through its streets. China’s bustling streets support a unique way of life. From barber shops to beauty supplies, and pups to pedicures, there’s little you won’t find being sold here. Cars coexist with handcarts and pedestrians jostle for space with vendors in the country's vibrant streets. Read this and other articles at our website.

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