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HUTONG-A FADING REALITY

China is quickly becoming the world’s low cost manufacturer, feeding our western hunger for more for less, with the calculated approval of its government always keen to sign another agreement with major national and transnational corporations. A country considered as one of the last communist outposts is sardonically turning toward consumerism to support its swelling population and boost its own economy.

The result is observable everywhere: rapid growth and development, monstrous construction sites bearing down on old buildings reduced to piles of rubble, new skyscrapers penetrating the polluted atmosphere. The benefits, however, are only seen amongst a prosperous few, a new rich class. But they number a mere handful compared to the throngs of farmers, commuting daily from the countryside to make a living in the city. Government policies still prohibit the liberty of mobility without ‘special’ permission, rendering migrants in search of work as non-residents in the cities, forced to toil in black market industries earning no more than 20 yuan (about 2 Euros) per day, having no power in an economy growing off of their labour, and running the risk of being sonorously sentenced by the regime.

The Hutongs, which used to be the classic Chinese neighbourhood with shallow houses, oriental rooflines and narrow cobbled streets teeming with kids, traders and craftsmen, are slowly disappearing into the shadows of development and making way for new modern buildings, a western style skyline, and wider roads. But what will become of all the people who used to live in these communities? Packed off to new sprawling, and yes, western style suburban areas to live in concrete bee hives with little chance of ever making the rent. We read of the new middle class, the burgeoning Ikea generation, that class of people receiving a more global education and learning to speak English – the sons, daughters and relatives of party members. But the other ones, the workers, vendors, migrants following the trail of development? In recent years the government has boasted of increasing literacy rates, more education, but is this reaching everyone? What if you have been living in another world, another time, relative isolation, until now? You can barely read and write Chinese ideograms. In your opinion, will they be likely to afford expensive western English courses? Will they go to university? Look at these images and tell me....