Intimate Encounters in China

Book excerpt: This book was written so that I could share with my family, friends and those interested in China the stories and experiences of 10 years travelling and working in China and the impact it had on me. In the words of my friend and a colleague, Professor Wang, "From the book we can see how his life was in China: What he encountered, experienced, what he liked and disliked, what he expected and what was unexpected. His life in Tianjin made a big difference to him. To some degree I can confidently say his life in Tianjin and China changed him. He is now a different Doctor Ross Colquhoun from the time before he ever came to China." This book is divided into four parts. Each part reflects on aspects of my journeys throughout China and the intimate encounters I had with the people, society, culture and history. I say intimate, as I feel that the people of China opened their hearts to me and generously shared their knowledge, wisdom, aspirations and their lives. The 20 chapters cover many aspects of Chinese, life., including observations and insights into Chinese food, customs, philosophy, painting, poetry, music and much more.