Here I come, China!

In five short days I will fulfill a life long dream. I will depart Canada for two weeks to visit one of most exotic and mysterious countries on earth: the People’s Republic of China. My trip to the World’s most populous country is not one of leisure. Rather, it is part of the Richard Ivey School of Business’ China Study Project – an optional elective designed to give students a first-hand look at the emerging superpower that is this culturally rich and fascinating nation.

Despite roots and traditions that span five millennia, China’s ascendance on the global stage is a recent development. While it is the country that gave the world the compass, printing press, and gunpowder, it remained largely unknown for the greater part of the 20th century. It was not until the late 1970s that things began to change in China. Progressive minds helped spawn a series of economic and political reforms that gradually opened her borders. As foreign investment injected vital capital into the economy, millions of Chinese were able to slowly escape abject rural poverty, and eventually lead rise to what is now the world’s largest middle class. While China’s rise to economic superstar seems to fall at odds with its communist system of governance, I’m not entirely sure that the perceived contradiction is of concern to those in power; China’s leaders are undoubtedly cognizant of this dichotomy. It appears on basis of their inaction, then, that they are simply satisfied to endure as long as economic prosperity continues. While not formally acknowledged, China appears to be, for all intensive purposes, a quasi-capitalist nation, governed by many of the same free market principles that govern the United States. Examining how the political contrarieties of being outwardly capitalist yet inwardly communist is managed on a daily basis by business leaders and citizens is an experience I eagerly anticipate.

Further, I’m also interested in seeing whether my own observations, which will unfortunately be limited in scope, corroborate the independent media’s bleak assessment of China’s human rights record. I look forward to a getting a glimpse of the exciting, fast-paced lifestyle of the young urban professional, and seeing Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall of China, and having my picture taken by Shanghai’s Skyline (pictured above). Most importantly, I cannot wait to see Hong Kong!

Until I return, huí tóu jiàn!