Special Events in 2008 - China REU 2008 in Dalian

Olympic Year

This year is a special year for China, for it is the year of the Beijing Olympics. The Chinese are eager not only to demonstrate their athletic prowess but also show off many other aspects of their country, to show off the strength of the Chinese economy, the hospitality of the Chinese people, the beauty of the Chinese countryside, the long and remarkable history of Chinese civilization, the success of the modern Chinese system. Everywhere we went we saw evidence of preparation for the Games and felt the excitement surrounding it.

In fact, even before we set foot in China, we began to experience its effects. For example, in order to ensure security, the Chinese government has become pickier about visa applications.

The five mascots of Beijing, busy at different events

Beijing is a flurry of activity in preparation for the Games. Construction crews have completed dozens of sports complexes and housing projects, clearing away old structures in the process. City officials have placed restrictions on the number of vehicles on the road in efforts to improve air quality. Restaurant menus have been updated in English to accommodate foreign tourists. Workers have planted trees and flowers and erected artwork and sculptures to beautify the city. During our short time there, we saw many of these changes. For example, driving to the Forbidden City and other tourist sites, we saw some of the new buildings, such as the Bird's Nest Stadium and the Water Cube. We also experienced firsthand the smog that has been the subject of so much controversy in the weeks leading up to the Games.

Once we left Beijing, we quickly realized that the influence of the Olympics reaches far beyond the capital. The Olympics is truly a national event, and during our stay in Dalian, we felt its presence on an everyday basis. It was a major talking point with almost everyone with whom we spoke and there was a lot of discussion about our favorite events and athletes with our graduate students and other Chinese friends. Riding the bus to downtown or walking to the nearest supermarket, billboards and slogans lined the way, all expressing excitement and encouraging unity for Games. Olympics t-shirts, key-chains, and other merchandise filled the stores that we visited. On television, the Olympics featured in songs and commercials.

Earthquake in Sichuan

Another major event this year for China has been the earthquake in Sichuan province. On May 12th, the earthquake struck near Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. It was so powerful that it was felt in cities as far away as Beijing and Shanghai, each about 1,000 miles away. In all, it is estimated to have killed around 70,000 people, including many children who died when their schools collapsed, and made several million people homeless. This easily makes it one of the deadliest and costliest natural disasters in Chinese history.

Even though we arrived in China a couple weeks after it took place, its impact was obvious. For example, for several weeks the televisions on the public buses showed footage of rescuers saving people from the earthquake rubble, and at the start of events that we visited, there were moments of silence for the earthquake victims. In this way, we experienced both the physical aftermath of the earthquake and its effect on the Chinese psyche.