Beckie Loewenstein

Article and Photography By BECKIE LOEWENSTEIN Today's Chinese martial artists no longer train on the green limbs of old growth bamboo, but on the roofs of steel and concrete buildings. Martial artists and acrobats in search of more economic opportunities move to the big city. A group of martial artists and acrobats from the rural areas of Kaifeng, Hunan Province, moved together to Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, to begin performance careers. Living without the support of friends and family poses a challenge. The martial artists of the Kaifeng Martial Arts and Acrobatics Troupe assembled together in the rural areas of Kaifeng, Henan Province, and migrated together to Shanghai, Jiangsu Province. They regard each other as close friends. After training together in the E Warehouse of the Shanghai Arts District, they return to their apartment on Shangnan Road. Adopting Shanghai’s punk style, they dye the tips of their long black hair pink and gold. “It looks more attractive,” says martial ar

By BECKIE LOEWENSTEIN AND FENGQIONG CHEN In the mountains of Shanxi and Henan provinces last year, Chinese owners of illegal mines and brick kilns forced Chinese adults and children into slave labor. A Chinese television station broke the story. BBC News reported that more than 160 people were involved in trafficking almost 570 people and 50 children. Wang Dongji—the Chinese Communist Party secretary for Caosheng village, Shanxi province—looked the other way as his son, the kiln operator, ran the kiln without the required licenses and inspections. President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao called for a thorough investigation, resulting in the indictment of 96 local officials. Yu Youjun, the governor of Shanxi province, felt compelled to issue a public apology. The anti-rightist movement of 1959 had no use for law. No new law students were admitted to Peking University from 1966 to 1971. After the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976, the restored leadership of the Chinese Communis