Although I saw very few foreigners while I was in Fuzhou and Xiamen, the overall atmosphere was much like many Western cities. Having said that, there are a lot more bicycles and fewer cars. As a result, their traffic flows much more efficiently and you don't see any road rage despite the fact that the population density is high.

Many American businesses can be found in China. They basically sell the same stuff that they do in the U.S., though some products are geared toward local tastes. I have my doubts as to whether some of these places will succeed. For example, at Sam's club you can get great deals on congealed duck blood, marinated pork stomachs, and live eels (Chinese eat a much greater variety than most cultures). However, people go there by bicycle and live in small apartments, so the bulk purchasing idea just doesn't make sense.

There are many temples in China filled with beautiful art. Photography is not permitted in many interesting places because it disrupts the atmosphere.


The hospitality I received in China was amazing -- I cannot say enough good things about the time and trouble people took to make certain my stay was a pleasant one. This picture is from the farewell dinner I received. The person on my left is Mr. Ke who took care of many of the logistical aspects of my trip and did a lot of translating for me. On my right is Mr. Zheng, the director of Fujian Provincial library.

This is Fujian Provincial Library where I spent about half my time. The Chinese libraries I saw are surprisingly similar to their American counterparts in terms of overall mission, procedures, technical sophistication, and culture.

The second half of my stay was spent in at the Xiamen Municipal Library. Xiamen has a very cosmopolitan feel, and it's well known as a business center and scenic paradise. The picture on the right is me with Ms. Wang (the directory of Xiamen Municipal Library), Leah (my translator), and the head of the automation department at Xiamen Municipal.

Xiamen is a beautiful cosmopolitan city. The park in the bottom left of the photo was right next to the library where I worked. I frequently went to the park to watch people practice Tai Chi, use the paddle boats, or visit a small public zoo there.

This picture of Gulangyu Islet simply can't convey the impressions you get by walking along the waterfront at night. I lived within walking distance of a ferry that would take me there for about 50 cents. Needless to say, I went there often.