When I first visited China in 1983, there were few cars, few large buildings, and most people dressed in the gray and blue style that looked like a uniform. My second trip to China this past September revealed a very different picture. The magnitude of the change is immediately apparent. Ten years ago, there were 20 high-rise buildings in Shanghai, China's largest city. Now there are over 500 and more are under construction.
Traffic is like most western cities and the people dress like westerners.
Change is also apparent at the socio-psychological level. There used to be an old Chinese expression about marriage. This view is dying. While allowing women to break from their marriages is a sign of progress, it obviously also leads to problems. China is rapidly experiencing the socio-psychological problems common in western nations.