Are Americans Intoxicated by ‘Our’ China?

Interesting piece in the Washington Post by novelist Nicole Mones, who argues that the U.S.‘s enchantment with the country’s historical sites and the “mystery of China” has blinded us to the realities of the rising power. “Americans are infatuated with ‘our’ China,” she writes. “We prefer a nostalgic, exotic, vanished land that has little to do with China today.”

She points to well-worn tourist paths and “the narrative arts” to support her points, and offers many examples. But she doesn’t discuss some of the amazing recent journalism about modern China.

This week’s New Yorker has a terrific story by Evan Osnos about the “new generation’s neocon nationalists.” Osnos’s previous piece about China’s Elvis of English was also stellar, as was National Geographic’s China issue. Then there’s Peter Hessler’s National Magazine Award-winning piece, China’s Instant Cities, not to mention his books.

That’s just off the top of my head. I’m sure there are many, many more stories and books that attempt to get inside the “new” China.

Related on Travel Channel:
* China Week

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