Northbound Whispers: A New China Through the Eyes of a Journalist

Author: Cao Juren
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: Cao Juren claimed neither to be "anti-Communist" nor "pro-Communist," but rather to strive for "understanding Communism." Therefore, starting from the 1950s, Cao Juren, in the capacity of a journalist, traveled multiple times from Hong Kong to Beijing and explored various parts of mainland China. "With an objective, impartial, and fair stance, he provided in-depth reports on the profound social changes in mainland China, exerting a far-reaching influence." However, Cao Juren remained a very traditional scholar, an authentic intellectual, and the so-called "objectivity, impartiality, and fairness" were also subjective opinions. Throughout his writings, his biases were occasionally visible.
At the dawn of the founding of New China, many overseas voices adopted a wait-and-see, skeptical, or even hostile and demonizing attitude, with rumors rampant. Against this backdrop, the renowned writer and scholar Cao Juren, in the role of a journalist, traveled multiple times from Hong Kong to Beijing and explored various parts of mainland China in the 1950s. With an objective, impartial, and fair stance, he provided in-depth reports on the profound social changes in mainland China, exerting a far-reaching influence. Cao Juren, who claimed neither to be "anti-Communist" nor "pro-Communist" but rather to strive for "understanding Communism," recorded what he saw, noted what he heard, and preserved his thoughts, leaving behind precious handwritten historical documents for posterity. Major events such as the Korean War, the cooperative movement, and the Anti-Rightist Campaign are all documented. This book is the first edition published in mainland China, capable of shining in parallel with Cao Juren's A Long Journey, which he left behind as a war correspondent, and is equally worthy of being passed down through the ages.