China Summary

Commune by the Great Wall - In a poetic juxtaposition, your view presents what China was—a stronghold against the world—whereas your villa represents what it is poised to be: a dynamic, forward-thinking force. On the ridge beyond the plum tree–lined path, visible through the interstices of your bamboo partition, is the Shuiguan segment of the Great Wall. This majestic brick barrier snaking across 4,163 miles—the distance from Chicago to Madrid—is a manifestation of ingenuity and grace, qualities that also define the year-old Commune by the Great Wall, 40 minutes outside Beijing.

The China Syndrome - With Mao a memory, it's not just Chinese cinema that is celebrating—and mining—the country's ancient heritage. Everywhere, China's enterprising citizens are polishing up their past.

Rebirth of a Nation - It's a revolution, fueled by competing dynamos Beijing and Shanghai. Robert Turnbull finds tomorrow's China in skyscrapers and sports arenas, theaters and museums, and Gold List hotels.

The Zing of Ming - While Beijing and Shanghai shout about change, ancient Ming towns preserve a glorious past. Kathleen Lee finds China's passionate heart.

Shangri-La's Last Stand - In the foothills of the Himalayas, China's high-speed progress is poised to overtake the ancient cultures that once inspired the magical utopia of James Hilton's "Lost Horizon." Lately alert to its fragile patrimony, the government is encouraging the growth of sustainable eco-travel.

China for Sale - A new class of homegrown millionaires is transforming the market for Chinese antiquities into a feverish bazaar. Behind it, Dorinda Elliott reports, are huge cultural and political implications—and (beware) some dubious values.