China is a big place

That statement seems obvious, but it’s important to keep in mind before coming to any conclusions about the nature of the country.

The scene outside the hotel continues to amaze me, as thousands of cars and bicycles stream by every hour. Everything seems very focused and orderly. It’s overwhelming and daunting.

But a walk through the neighborhood provides another perspective. In the Xidan market, Beijingers shop for clothes, CDs, food. They are dressed in the latest Western styles, and they are relaxed and enjoying themselves.

A mile or so to the east is Tiannamen, and there the Chinese tourists swarm through the square, following their tour guides, who carry colored pennants aloft to keep their charges together.

Over dinner last night, three of us had a lively discussion about the nature of China and its future. An Austrian made it clear that he appreciated the orderliness of the society and argued that the people were not nearly as docile as he had expected.

A Swede was closer to my point of view, questioning the amount of control that the government exerted and wondering how much official scrutiny the conference participants are getting. He’s pretty sure the hotel rooms are bugged.

He is off to Shanghai when the conference closes. By all accounts Shanghai is a far more colorful place, playing the role of Manhattan to Beijing’s D.C.