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comment by cgod
cgod  ·  1940 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Traveling in Xinjiang

I'm giving this a badge, not because it's great but it's a worthwhile read that seems to have gone mostly unnoticed.

it's an interesting perspective on something anyone paying attention to China is keeping an eye on.





steve  ·  1939 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I was planning a trip to Urumqi with my dad... in the last six months, I've read enough to be appropriately spooked about going there now.

There's still a chance we'll make the trek - but it's at least a little unnerving,

OftenBen  ·  1939 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Business or pleasure?

bryson1216  ·  1861 days ago  ·  link  ·  

both

steve  ·  1923 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Pleasure? I guess? I don't do well sitting on beaches... I like to go places, take photos, eat street food, and meet people.

OftenBen  ·  1923 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Sounds like pleasure to me. I feel similarly.

What interested you guys in the area to begin with?

steve  ·  1918 days ago  ·  link  ·  

My dad has been a China nut since he spent time in Taiwan during the mid 60s. He got to go to the mainland for the first time in 1980, and has been back 25+ times on various academic, business, and leisure trips. I grew up watching him curate the hundreds of slides he shot while in country. Most of his friends when I was a child were from China. I can't count the number of Chinese New Years parties we attended as a family - we would be the only non-chinese family there. Even though he's of eurpean-mutt heritage genetically... I've always felt like he was Chinese at heart.

I've been a few times as an adult. I love it there. It's an itch I have to scratch every couple of years.

OftenBen  ·  1918 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Sounds like something a bit beyond 'pleasure' then!

Hope things pan out for your trip.

What's a common misconception among people who have never been to China, and what is the reality?

veen  ·  1939 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Thanks, probably would've missed it otherwise.