Touring China

Finally--a travel video about China that doesn't insult the Chinese people or the American viewer's sensibilities. Profiling major tourist destinations, such as Beijing, the Great Wall, Suzhou and Hangzhou (sister cities along the old imperial canal), X'ian (the tomb of China's first emperor, guarded by thousands of terra cotta warriors), Shanghai, Hong Kong and more, Touring China looks at China's gifts to the world (silk, porcelain, fireworks, pasta and gunpowder) and touches on the importance of symbolism in Chinese gardens, performing arts, and religion. Mixing film with original videography, the tape is visually arresting, with beautifully fashioned maps keeping the viewer oriented along the video tour. However, the tape does have weaknesses, all stemming from glaring omissions. For example, when Tiananmen Square is featured, the script points out that it's the site where Chairman Mao triumphantly proclaimed the People's Republic of China in 1949...but doesn't mention a word about the massacre of pro-democracy protesters there forty years later. Too, the video refers to the nation as a "republic," which despite the official name, has always been a joke. (Sure the Chinese can vote--as long as it's for a Communist Party candidate. No one else gets on the ballot.) The Chinese Communist system isn't mentioned; yet we are told that Shenzhen is a "booming capitalist showcase." Such omissions smack of government propaganda, but oddly enough, this tape was produced in the U.S. I'm still waiting for the perfect video on China to come along, but until then, this is a pretty good one to consider. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Reagan)