History and belonging: life in a Chinese mega-city | Chinese Whispers | SpectatorTV

In the last four decades, hundreds of millions of Chinese have moved into cities. Today, two thirds of the country live in urban areas (compared to just one third in 1985), and many of these are hubs with tens of millions of people - mega-cities that many in the West have never heard of before.
What does this fast urbanisation do to communities and tradition? On this episode, Cindy Yu's guest Austin Williams (an architect turned journalist and academic) explains how these populations were thrown up into 'vertical living'. ‘If Ayn Rand had created a country, then China would be it’, says Austin. In other words, the family unit matters more than the community surrounding you.
This episode is a deep dive into urban life in China. Austin and Cindy discuss the residential compounds that we in the West have seen so much of through reporting of China's lockdowns; the demolitions required to pave the way for this wave of urbanisation, which, sadly, left some towns disembowelled without rebuilding (see Austin's film Edge Town about one such settlement outside the city of Suzhou); and they debate whether it's a good thing that traditional Chinese aesthetics are returning to the country's modern architecture.
If you enjoy this podcast, you can now register your interest for an upcoming Chinese Whispers newsletter, at www.spectator.co.uk/whispers.
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[@adrianlatham7462]

“Villages are places to leave to go somewhere good” So true. Refreshing to hear from someone who’s experienced, knowledgeable, outspoken and down to earth…and also unwoke!

[@johnhenshaw7655]

Your presenter,is so lovely,well spoken,polite and I like that👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@randomtravel1489]

A very intelligent and interesting discussion. I first visited China in 1984 and in 1989 I worked with William H Hinton (Han Ding). Much has certainly changed.

[@tomatofeind2019]

I went there in 2016 and just got back again in 2022. The difference even in these 6 years is vast!

[@PlatinumRatio]

This dude is so down to earth, lol. Good interview :-)

[@samuelturner1668]

Great podcast Cindy. Always great to learn more about China. I'm hoping to go to Wuhan next year with my girlfriend, so I nee to listen to more of these videos. They're very interesting and insightful.

[@realaussiemale567]

Are you taking this piss? Why on earth would you want to go to Wuhan?

[@samuelturner1668]

@@realaussiemale567 why not? I'm sure it's an interesting place.

[@gregorytaylor9104]

Ah, I remember Wuhan station. The lines piled with excrement from people using the carriage toilets while passengers got off and on.

[@michaelmityok1001]

The Chinese urban architecture spoken of here is in my experience depressingly oppressive. The consequences discussed jibe with my experience, but I would add onto the atomization process a kind of stoic fatalism that pervades and colors almost everyone's outlook on their prospects, particularly among the young. Not including the rich of course, although they have their worries too such as how to hide/protect their graft and what escape strategies will actually work as the party tightens its hold.

[@bingolittle8725]

How do the Chinese see these issues? It depends which Chinese person who ask. A xiao qu 小区 is a "community" which allows the government to put you on house arrest more easily. Oh and there's a CCP office in all of them with a giant hammer and sickle.

[@benvice2636]

Great content

[@amandapencil6758]

this was so interesting and informative , thank you

[@wordfromabove7176]

I’m too from South Wales, Swansea in fact and it’s a fantastic seaside city. We have the gower here that was the UKs first area of outstanding natural beauty.

[@sue.F]

I love these interviews, I mainly like the unique way Russians think and express themselves.

[@samuelturner1668]

How is Cindy so unbelievably attractive? Her laugh is so cute as well.

[@yvonnehayton6753]

I'm sure PayPal would see me as problematic if they knew my thoughts on Covid, lockdowns, vaccines, climate change, globalism to name but a few so they'll be relieved to know I won't be using them any more and nor will my husband. Glad to be of service.

[@paulho980]

Ha, in God we trust, all others pay cash

[@davey2363]

Cindy really is pretty lush……oh, the content is excellent too…😎

[@simoncollins6529]

Yeah 😍

[@gregorytaylor9104]

Dujiangyan in Sichuan has many attractive wooden buildings in whatust be a traditional style. Built after the big earthquake, I believe. The shopping area there is wonderful, with leafy trees and mini canals at the sides of the road to carry storm water, complete with little wooden water wheels. The Chinese can build very well when they want. But I was disappointed by the village houses with their concrete courtyards. I think the Spanish could teach them something there. It's the same in Taiwan. Gorgeousl mountains with horrid white tiled houses and concrete courtyards. And the Buddhist temples are very gaudy.

[@scottanderson3967]

We need to build these here to house the working classes with good conections to the leafy suburbs so they can get to work faster.

[@SuperPromethee]

really miss mainland china...

[@GriffMJ]

....complete hell.

[@amcluesent]

Housing market getting closer to collapse.

[@simoncollins6529]

She is soooo cute 😍

[@guff9567]

As long as they're working for nowt and making my iPhone as cheaply as possible, I'm happy

[@NewWorldDAO]

Fox news, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, NBC news, CBS are all child rapist! They have known all these years that I’ve been in a dungeon and that TV shows were being made using children!! Child rape is part of this cult... they are rapist Tucker Carlson how many kids have you raped today? Get me to Dan Larimer #MoreEqualAnimals

[@davey2363]

Me too…..(obviously not in a Weinstein sense)….🤣

[@samuelturner1668]

You're disgusting