China, Beijing

Giant China. Magnificent China. Brutal China. No other country today inspires more than this great nation. It is the place where the old enemies Communism and Capitalism collide. Two giant forces that both have shaped the world we live in today. They seemed to be impossible to combine. But China has found a way.

Big differences
Although there is still massive friction between them, the results of this merger are without a doubt impressive. Most impressive. But the Chinese didn't get this far without some serious pressure from the government. And while the Beijing skyline stands proudly over this massive land, the situation in the countryside is very different. And so are the huge differences in standard of living in the cities.

How did they do it?

How did they build this enormous power in such a short time. The huge population is in this case a big asset. The workers in this photo are migrants from the countryside. They flock to Beijing with the promise of work and a better life. Work there is enough because the building never stops. The old China still exists in some places in Beijing, like this small foodstall, but things are changing fast. The workers build the giant buildings in the background who surely and not so slowly shape the landscape of the new China. Where and when it will stop nobody knows. But I do know that only the Chinese are capable of this.