A few more reflections about China

One-child policy.
At the Oasis Training Center in Pingliang, Gansu, we were having lunch with five students.  Four of them said they had siblings, often more than one.  Maybe it's because they are from a rural area.  Yet their parents are sending them to this school to move beyond agriculture.  In our travels we saw several families who were willing to pay to have more than one child.

Bicycles.
With car fumes and traffic, especially in Beijing, I felt nostalgic for the bicycle (pretty much the mode of transportation in the early 80s).

cars in Urumqi

cars in Shijiazhuang ( between Taiyuan and Beijing)

But here's evidence--a bike repair guy in Pingliang--that people still ride bikes!

And whatever happened to...
public newspaper boards?

They still exist--sponsored by mobile phone ads

hot water thermoses?

Still a reality in this school in Pingliang

six- or eight-person dorm rooms?

Still a reality...

...the only difference is that the students have more possessions to squeeze into their small personal space (including computers on which to watch movies).

Chinese hospitality?

...still legendary!