V. G. BUROV, Doctor of Philosophy
Nanjing has gone down in Chinese history for its involvement in many significant events. It was the capital of the country three times: at the beginning of the last Chinese Ming Dynasty (XIV-XVII centuries AD), then the Taiping state, founded by the leaders peasant uprising (mid-XIX century), and finally the Kuomintang created the Republic of China (in the 30s-40s of the XX century). Currently, Nanjing is center of Jiangsu Province, one of the fastest growing regions of China.
In the summer of 2008, I visited Nanjing for the fourth time in more than twenty years. I once again walked through the old, long-familiar streets, which are mostly preserved in the same form. There are the same low, low-rise buildings. However, there are also noticeable changes. Over the years of reforms, a large number of multi-storey residential buildings, office buildings, and large shopping centers have been built. And the Fujiyuan quarter, where I visited more than once, was radically transformed by the restoration - the buildings of the old building changed their appearance, as if returning to the old pre-revolutionary times. This neighborhood is a pleasant place to walk - there are many shops selling souvenirs and handicrafts, restaurants and eateries. In the evenings, the quarter is crowded, it is a favorite place of rest for Nanking residents.
By protecting the ancient world, Nanjing retains its involvement in the country's history, which compares favorably with the capital - Beijing, where there are very few old buildings left, so the city is becoming more and more similar to the megacities of Western countries.
COURSE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
On this visit, I literally did not recognize the "campus" of Nanjing University - modern buildings have replaced the old low-rise academic buildings and dormitories. The Chinese leadership pays the most serious attention to the development, or rather, modernization of the higher education system ...
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