Country Driving: A Journey Through China From Farm To Factory (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
A lot ppl traveled to China, but few of them actually lived. Staying only in big cities like Shanghai and Beijing gives a very biased view of China. The real China needs to explored out there in the countryside, in the factories, in the schools. I love the fast development that's happening in China, but I love more about what have remained the same over the years. My sweetest memory is always my grandparents countryside field, feeding the pig, climbing the trees, catching the fish, driving the tri-wheel truck. I liked this so much more than I expected to. The first bit, about driving around China is amusing but a bit light on. The second part, about a tiny village somewhere between dying and modernising was so gripping. Hessler is great at observation and because he's living amongst people, making friends and hanging out over a period of years he avoids most of the pitfalls of travelogue.It was kind of terrifying to read the third part, about a new development zone being blasted out of the mountains and filling up with pleather factories but once the zone was populated with workers they come to the fore. People like Yufeng, lying about her age to get work and then arguing with the bosses and kicking everyone's ass. And her whole family. When people make glib comments about "workers in china" all the time, it's pretty great to actually spend some time with a few.
What do You think about Country Driving: A Journey Through China From Farm To Factory (2010)?
Hessler's best yet. Great look into the growth of the Chinese economy from the human perspective.
—lila
A good book to know China from a foreigner's point of view.
—ladyJ
I read the Chinese version. The stories are touching.
—nachomommie
