Jonathan Chatwin
@jmchatwin.bsky.social
Non-fiction writer.
Writes about travel, China, sometimes both simultaneously.
‘The Southern Tour: Deng Xiaoping and the Fight for China’s Future’ (2024).
‘Long Peace Street: A walk in modern China’ (2019)
‘Anywhere Out of the World’ (2012)
Writes about travel, China, sometimes both simultaneously.
‘The Southern Tour: Deng Xiaoping and the Fight for China’s Future’ (2024).
‘Long Peace Street: A walk in modern China’ (2019)
‘Anywhere Out of the World’ (2012)
After years photographing the war, Sha Fei’s health and mind broke down.
In 1949, while being treated for tuberculosis at the Norman Bethune Hospital in Shijiazhuang, he shot and killed a Japanese doctor.
Executed in 1950, aged 37. His Party membership was posthumously restored in 1986.
In 1949, while being treated for tuberculosis at the Norman Bethune Hospital in Shijiazhuang, he shot and killed a Japanese doctor.
Executed in 1950, aged 37. His Party membership was posthumously restored in 1986.
November 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM
After years photographing the war, Sha Fei’s health and mind broke down.
In 1949, while being treated for tuberculosis at the Norman Bethune Hospital in Shijiazhuang, he shot and killed a Japanese doctor.
Executed in 1950, aged 37. His Party membership was posthumously restored in 1986.
In 1949, while being treated for tuberculosis at the Norman Bethune Hospital in Shijiazhuang, he shot and killed a Japanese doctor.
Executed in 1950, aged 37. His Party membership was posthumously restored in 1986.
Others climbed for perspective. Confucius said from its peak “the world looked small.” The Tang poet Du Fu vowed: “One day I shall reach its highest peak / And hold the mountains below in a single glance.”
(Photo from the Splendid China Miniature Park, Shenzhen)
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
(Photo from the Splendid China Miniature Park, Shenzhen)
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
August 24, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Others climbed for perspective. Confucius said from its peak “the world looked small.” The Tang poet Du Fu vowed: “One day I shall reach its highest peak / And hold the mountains below in a single glance.”
(Photo from the Splendid China Miniature Park, Shenzhen)
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
(Photo from the Splendid China Miniature Park, Shenzhen)
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
From the Qin onwards, rulers made pilgrimages to Taishan. Qin Shihuang performed the fengshan sacrifices there; Han emperors offered jade and silk at its altars; Tang Xuanzong left stone inscriptions on the slopes. 2/3
August 24, 2025 at 9:26 AM
From the Qin onwards, rulers made pilgrimages to Taishan. Qin Shihuang performed the fengshan sacrifices there; Han emperors offered jade and silk at its altars; Tang Xuanzong left stone inscriptions on the slopes. 2/3
Soon he was on the road. Where he’d once seen rice fields + fishponds, Shenzhen was now highways and towers of glass. In 1984 the SEZ had <350k people; by 1992, >1m. In the wider city: 2.3m. “Shenzhen is developing so fast. It exceeds my expectations.” 3/3
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
August 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Soon he was on the road. Where he’d once seen rice fields + fishponds, Shenzhen was now highways and towers of glass. In 1984 the SEZ had <350k people; by 1992, >1m. In the wider city: 2.3m. “Shenzhen is developing so fast. It exceeds my expectations.” 3/3
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Tou...
Eight years earlier, on a 1984 visit, Deng had written the line: “The development and experience of Shenzhen prove that our policy of establishing the Special Economic Zones is correct.” That inscription was a crucial endorsement at a tricky time for the SEZs. 2/3
August 23, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Eight years earlier, on a 1984 visit, Deng had written the line: “The development and experience of Shenzhen prove that our policy of establishing the Special Economic Zones is correct.” That inscription was a crucial endorsement at a tricky time for the SEZs. 2/3