In 1973, while studying at Beijing University during the Cultural Revolution – a rare ‘foreigner’ from Canada – the author reported a student who asked her for help getting to America. The student disappeared and Jan thought nothing of it, apparently even forgot about it (she was brainwashed and also did not know all the bad things that were happening), until years later. In 2006 she took a trip to Beijing with her family, specifically to try and find out what became of the student.
The book is not really ‘travel writing’ as the quote on the cover says, nor is it exactly a memoir. It’s an exploration of the Chinese’ attitudes towards their past and how China is changing (this was when they were preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics), written by a journalist with a deep understanding of China. I would have preferred to read less about real estate, car ownership and everyone changing their phone numbers, as that became repetitive. I felt that although the author had plenty to say, the concept was rather stretched out and could have been a long article rather than a book. It was a very informative read and definitely thought-provoking.
First published in 2007 as Beijing Confidential. This edition in 2010 by Atlantic Books.