Dragons in Diamond Village And Other Tales from the Back Alleys of Urbanising Ch

Discover 'Dragons in Diamond Village and Other Tales from the Back Alleys of Urbanising China', a compelling trade paperback that unveils the resilient spirit of Guangzhou's communities against the backdrop of rapid urbanization. In 2009, while nearby Guangzhou prepared for the Asia Games, villagers in Xian braved bureaucratic pressures to celebrate their cultural heritage through the Dragon Boat Festival. This beautifully crafted narrative, rich with vivid descriptions and personal stories, captures the struggles of ordinary individuals like Huang Minpeng, a farmer turned rights activist, and He Jieling, a suburban housewife who dreams of opening a hair salon. Their tales represent a broader movement among communities resisting the encroachment on their land, cherished for generations. With 328 pages of insightful commentary, Bandurski takes readers on a journey through the overlooked landscapes of contemporary China. Each chapter presents valuable lessons about identity, ancestral ties, and activism in an era where land is reduced to mere commodities. This important work of social reportage shines a light on the hidden struggles of urban villages and is essential reading for those interested in the sociopolitical fabric of modern China. Experience the firsthand accounts of villagers grappling with the realities of forced displacement and rising commercialization, and join their fight for justice. Perfect for readers interested in urban studies, cultural heritage, and social activism, 'Dragons in Diamond Village' is a must-have addition to your bookshelf. Enjoy FREE shipping on this exceptional find, delivered promptly to your door.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780670080960
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2015
Publisher: Penguin China
Pages: 328


Description:
In 2009, on the outskirts of the southern metropolis of Guangzhou, Xian villagers secretly prepared for the Dragon Boat Festival. For them, the commemoration of the 221 BC poet Qu Yuan, who threw himself into a river to protest official corruption, held particular resonance.
Guangzhou's drive to become a 'National Model City' ahead of the 2010 Asia Games accelerated a voracious demand for land, turning the ground beneath the villagers' feet into a commodity as valuable as diamonds, a treasure too rich for local officials to ignore.
Dragons in Diamond Village is about the courage of individuals- Huang Minpeng, a semi-literate farmer turned self-taught rights defender; He Jieling, a suburban housewife who just wanted to open a hair salon; Xian villagers like Lu Zhaohui who refuse to give up the land their families have cultivated for generations. Theirs is a community bound by shared history and a belief in the necessity of change, a band of unlikely activists fighting for their place in China's new cities.
'A beautifully written account of how China's traditional rural past is meeting - and struggling with - its urbanising present . . . Via deftly told tales of China's little-known urban villages, Bandurski expertly guides readers through a mostly overlooked landscape and modern history.' Adam Minter, author of Junkyard Planet
'David Bandurski is a modern-day Marco Polo taking us into the heart of new China.' Kevin Sites, author of Swimming with Warlords and In the Hot Zone
'Vivid depictions of how villagers and migrants, living through the lawless and violent storms of Chinese urban land development, turn into political resistors. An important book of social reportage
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