Walking through the streets of Datong, a grim coal-dust coated city in the north, with broad sidewalks lined with pool tables, I came across a shiny, new brewpub one afternoon, and went in, but no one there knew anything about the beers they brewed or how much they cost. So the staff just kept bringing me mugs of each of the different kinds to sample, as they sat with me and practiced their English and I my Chinese. At the end, they refused to accept any money from me.

(Someone once commented to the effect that every day in China, you’ll see something that just doesn’t make any sense, and for which you’ll never find an explanation.)

I recently read another book about one of the major players in the South, Lai Changxing, Inside the Red Mansion, by Oliver August. It sounds like Delisle’s book is similar in mixing personal narrative with keen observations of an economy racing ahead at light speed, with little regard for anyone or anything that stands in the way.

Pyongyang by Guy Delisle is an even more interesting book, mainly because we know so few about north korea.

His last one is regarding Myanmar, or birmany. It really worth reading.

Guy Delisle is one of my favorites writers, he really puts some humanity into his drawings. Read id, you wont regret it!