and studying Japanese and Italian; a teacher who spent his childhood as a "little Red Guard" of the Cultural Revolution and went on to study in England; a young girl who dreams of princesses and romance, and another who wants to be a backpacker when she grows up; and more. Ranging in age from 7 to 52, the thirteen interviewees represent a cross-section of Chinese culture and experience, with various levels of social status, education, and economic standing. Their words, supplemented by the author's detailed descriptions of their surroundings and daily activities, offer a fresh perspective on life in present-day China.

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