Background

Being a Canadian-born Asian, I have never actually been to China before. Having been to Europe twice already, I decided to correct this situation by visiting the world's most populated nation in December 2005. This idea would have been unthinkable if it were not for my girlfriend who grew up in China, and fluent in various dialects of Mandarin.

We have returned from the 3 week trip today, and it was quite an experience. I have ventured through different cultures before, but never one as different as China. Centuries ago, China was viewed as a mysterious exotic place, and such an aura still exists today... but in a much different light.

China is a society that is opening up it's economic and social boundaries. It's undergoing tremendous change, which will result in two possible scenarios. China will either emerge as a new superpower that may rival the United States, or China will collapse under the pressures of rapid change like the USSR. What will happen in the end is really a mystery, but one thing is certain: Change is happening in China.