[Video] Eye on JiangZheHu series
In our second regional special, Eye on JiangZheHu, we bring you a collection of feature stories and essays on the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai region.
(Teaser produced by Lingming Lu.)
Red packets are not just cash; they are tiny bundles of nostalgia, family quirks and cultural pride. From the bustling chaos of childhood to the quiet satisfaction of giving, red packets have shaped his Chinese New Year memories in ways that money alone never could, says ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming.
Jiangnan cuisine shot to literary prominence in the 11th and 12th centuries when Song dynasty elites moved from the capital of Bianliang to Lin’an, today’s Hangzhou. Since then, Jiangnan cuisine has captivated many literati epicures including Qing dynasty poet, Yuan Mei. Academic and food writer Thomas DuBois explores the gastronomical charm of that era.
Architecture professor Ho Puay Peng points out the unique charm of water towns in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai — a testament to centuries of creative endeavours as many an artist or writer strolled past their waterways, seeking inspiration.
The Jiangnan region has long been renowned across China for its picturesque scenery, cultural refinement, and rich history, among many other things. Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao tells us more about the history of China’s “paradise on earth”, giving us a glimpse of Jiangnan’s enduring charm and allure.
Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai’s dynamic economy, great social mobility, rising cost of living, exorbitant housing prices, intense competition and costly childcare have prompted a shift towards a wider variety of family forms to cope with these modern challenges. These pragmatic and innovative family and marriage arrangements have enriched the Chinese family system, asserts US academic Xiaoling Shu.
Within a country, people from different regions often have their own characteristics and quirks, and China is no exception. Economics professor Li Jingkui shares some observations about the defining traits of people in Zhejiang, a province he now calls home, versus that of his old friends in his hometown of Henan.
The Yangtze River Delta area, first comprising Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang then later expanding to include Anhui, has clear-cut advantages in scientific and technological innovation. But the area also faces several challenges. EAI senior research fellow Yu Hong observes that excessive competition among cities and provinces within the region remains a pressing issue.
