Qiao Tou is the village I lived in for my first year in China and is near the city of Zhenjiang (like Jen Jiung). Which is itself about an hour out from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

We cannot understand a word of the locals, and our students have trouble as well. They speak very fast and have a very localised dialect.

'Supermarkets' on the left, usual traffic in the centre and rubbish collection on the right - the rubbish is very light compared to previous months. The traffic is slightly heavier...

(C'mon, I'm really really a good teacher...)

What is the 'real' China:

When we hear people talk of the 'real' China, it perplexes us. What part of China are they talking about?

70% of the population live like you see here. People trying to live off the land, earning about 400 to 500 Yuan a month. Is this the real China, because it represents the majority of the population?

The rest of the people live in the affluent cities trying to get a better life for themselves, making the changes that you notice most. Are they considered the real China? Or is it the historic sites (mostly rebuilt because of overzealous Red Guards), the scenery or the 'television' image of the countryside that is the real China?

The real China is as much as the scenes you see here, as it is the Pagodas, Temples and parks, or the unfettered industrial development that is powering this massively developing economy. There is no 'real' China unless you include all these aspects.

 

General Borneo Thailand Laos Laos 2 Vietnam China Great Wall Xinjiang Xinjiang 2 Karakoram Hwy Getting to Tibet Tibet Tibet 2 Pakistan Afghanistan Afghanistan 2 General locations I've carried a backpack

General Teaching Conditions of Service Living Qiao Tou Village Qiao Tou Campus Accomodation Chinglish Everyday Sights Everyday Sights Everyday Sights Everyday Sights Everyday Sights General stuff about living in China

Mine Karakoram Ride Teaching in China Changing a Lightbulb Why Travel Student's The Great Love A Historical Twinkling Huhhot to Nanjing My soapboxing and student essays

Karakoram Highway Pakistan Pakistan Rakaposhi Xinjiang Itinerary Bike Setup Gear China Nanjing Grape Is Huang Shan NJ - Suzhou Australia Syd to Bris Syd to Bris Some places we've ridden the bikes

Overall SARS Dental Journal Dental Visit

Cycle Sydney to Brisbane Cycle Sydney to Brisbane Cycle Nanjing to Suzhou Musings - Karakoram Ride Everyday 5 That Sydney to Brisbane ride is pretty new, the other stuff I just forgot to add earlier

Last Job Married Married 1 Married 2 Married 3 Yep, the stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else...