young man, I was around during the "event", and remember it vividly. no need to reference the way back machine.
Would love to hear your perspective on the event as someone who lived through it at an age old enough to remember it. Historical accounts are great and accurate but always fun to get the feeling that accompanied the moment.
that year felt transformative, like the "end of history" not just what happened in china, but in Poland, Hungary, and later that fall, Germany and Berlin. during the Tiananmen Square protests, I was in the UK and France, snd there was a lot happening in Eastern Europe at the same time. it all felt like one event, the fall of the global communist order. ::sigh::
I went just before Covid for work, we were buying a pill dispenser to automate the process, and I had a blast. I was only there for 4 nights but on the first night one the owners of the company took us out and we got HAMMERED and it was a repeat every night. But dam if he wasn't back to work at the crack of dawn............................those ****ers know how to party. My maga friends tell me I should now hate them LOL........................Nah, they were good folks.
Been a couple of times, and have family there. It's probably nicer than most Americans think. Like others have said, there is a tremendous amount of weath disparity in China. There are many nice cities there (I've probably visited about 10 major cities in China) and there's a lot of underdeveloped countryside and poverty. I have spent some time is much less wealthy areas. Most folks just go with the majority and don't make a fuss and just live normal lives. Minority groups are maligned to different degrees, and some are pretty badly treated. You definitely can't be openly against the government without repercussions. The bad stuff in China sucks and is kind of scary. But also, a lot of that stuff is on the rise is the US, so it's hard to be pointing fingers right now.
From what I've seen, there are absolutely amazingly beautiful natural places in China. They are very difficult to get to (which is good). The cities in China are nice for about 48 hours total, then it's time to get the hell out. Food is amazing.
