Milton Liu

It’s September 2024 and I am on a fast train from Chengdu (成都) heading into Maoxian (茂县). I’ve visited before, but never by train (it’s a new development). The train is markedly more comfortable, and steady, than the alternative: taking a car or bus through the winding road through the mountains. Of note, the train enters a large tunnel section when the geography becomes mountainous. Thus, the train ride is missing key components of the “experience”: the ominous rocks, the…

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In college, I took an elective called, “Images of China”. A history and social studies class. The teacher and fellow students were good, pleasant. But I don’t recall much specific information that was taught. Maybe my frontal lobe was not quite there yet. I am able to recollect that China was depicted in a sort of poetic, painted way. A really striking landscape with rich history. Minus the course’s overview of the political system (this was 2013 or 2014), this…

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It was not my first time visiting the town of Fengyi (凤仪) in Maoxian (茂县), but it sure felt like it was. The town has utterly transformed. Walking through the streets at night elicit the particular feelings of a neat and modern city: safe, clean, illuminated and convenient. But this is not strictly a celebration. As colorful as it can be, it feels slightly sterile, when reflecting on the past – although that’s certainly OK. But it’s shocking, the perceivable…

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Although I have a couple posts examining the Sichuan countryside already, I don’t think any amount could ever be adequate. Even if the imagery of the countryside ever manages to blend together, I believe there are endless powerful stories that took place in these parts. Looking at the furthest ends of my own ancestry, one can find the dramatic accounts of urban youth dispatched to the countryside, rich landowners forced to give up their property, and destitute farmers securing opportunities…

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Hei Hu (黑虎) is one of 11 official towns in Maoxian. It is a quintessential Qiang village, with a folksy central area that doubles as a cultural tourist attraction. I initially wanted to make a rather long and detailed post about this village but wasn’t satisfied with the photos I captured and spent only a few hours there. But the location left a powerful impression on me, and I earnestly hope to visit again. As breathtaking as it was, I…

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Shèhóng (射洪) is a small city/county within Sùiníng (遂宁), in east Sichuan. Take a train from Chongqing to Chengdu (or vice versa) and it will pass through Suining on the way. From my brief visit, Shehong is a largely rural area. There is a small urban center that leaves an ordinary impression. But the primary environment is the type seen through the window of a train ride from Chongqing to Chengdu – rural outskirts and countryside communities. One particular community…

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On the topic of ancient towns, my opinion is arbitrary, I just felt like over-analyzing it by examining the authenticity and purpose of these locations. At a high level, these places are mostly just aesthetic cultural attractions. Styled after traditional Chinese architecture, with streets designed to guide high foot traffic towards shops and restaurants, ancient towns are deliberately quaint cultural attractions found throughout China. As with much of China’s rapid infrastructure development in recent decades, I view these cultural ancient…

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During my visit to Chongqing, I traveled to the city’s most western district, Rongchang (荣昌). Unlike the big city, there are not many signs of modernity or luxury in Rongchang, it’s a mostly rural location. But one can find the remnants of a different spirit if they look deeply enough. Nearby, I went to see a particular dilapidated house, and the neighborhood around it. What is interesting about this old house is that it was built by a distant family…

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