摘要
This volume is a significant addition to the literature on PRC history. It discusses China＇s urban-rural dichotomy, one of the most pressing social problems in contemporary China. The author has done extensive interviews to explore how ＂people in the Tianjin region of north China negotiated the rural-urban gap in their everyday lives＂ （p. 3）. Most urban historians argue that since the 14th century, China has transformed itself from an empire of villages to an empire of cities. After 1860, China saw an urgent need to deal with the increasing threat of domestic rebellions and foreign intrusions by learning Western industrial technology.
This volume is a significant addition to the literature on PRC history. It discusses China＇s urban-rural dichotomy, one of the most pressing social problems in contemporary China. The author has done extensive interviews to explore how ＂people in the Tianjin region of north China negotiated the rural-urban gap in their everyday lives＂ （p. 3）. Most urban historians argue that since the 14th century, China has transformed itself from an empire of villages to an empire of cities. After 1860, China saw an urgent need to deal with the increasing threat of domestic rebellions and foreign intrusions by learning Western industrial technology.
