We have provided helpful links to further enhance your reading experience. We have included websites that present essentials to gain a better understanding on the historical background of the book. Simply click on the image to be directed to the appropriate page.

Moon Festival Learn more about the tradition of the Moon Festival/Mid-Autumn Festival, where the moon is closer to the earth than any other time of the year.

Calligraphy Learn more about the history of calligraphy.

Festivals Learn more about the festivals that occur in Shanghai.

Paris of Asia Learn more about how Shanghai received the reputation of being the Paris of Asia.

Paper Collecting Learn more about the story behing Pearl’s job in Shanghai as a Paper Collector.

Madame Sun Yat-set Learn more about the life of Madame Sun Yat-set, Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China.

Bamboo Curtain Learn more about the Bamboo Curtain, also known as the Iron Curtain.

Paper Sons Learn more about what the Paper sons are.

Mao Zedong Learn more about “The Great Helmsmen’s” various propaganda schemes.

Premier Chou En-Lai Learn more about the brief history on the man who worked directly with Mao Zedong to advance and promote Communism.

Chinese Exports Commodities Fair Click on the above Chinese Export Commodities Fair (commonly known now as the Canton Fair) logo for a brief introduction. You can also click here for the official Canton Fair website.

 

Red China Learn a brief background on Red China.

Chinese Kites Learn more about how and why kites were invented in early China.

Feet Binding Click on the above decorative silk Chinese shoes for an in depth look at an ancient Chinese tradition no longer practiced: feet binding. Click here to read about the stories of women who had their feet bound.

China Reconstructs Learn more about the magazine, China Reconstructs, now known as China Today, from their official website.

Sampans Learn more about the history of sampans.

Chinese Clothing Learn more about Chinese Clothing.

Cicadas Click on the cicada for a website dedicated to what they call “the most amazing insects in the world.” Click here to listen to an audio of cicadas.

Lu Shun Academy of Fine Arts Click on the Lu Shun (now Luxun) Academy of Fine Arts picture to read an English translation of their brochure. Click here for the official Luxun Academy website.

Shanghai Beautiful Girls Click on the poster for a brief introduction to May and Pearl’s old lives as “beautiful girls.”

“Pockmarked” Huang Jinrong Learn more about “Pockmarked” Huang Jinrong’s past as a Chinese gangster posing as a Chinese officer.

New Marriage Law Learn more about the law that supposedly gave more equality to women with men.

Men’s Clothing Learn more about Men’s Clothing in New China.

Mao Suits Learn more about the new trend in clothing known as the Mao Suits.

Women’s Clothing Learn more about the style of clothing for women in New China.

Wades-Giles System Learn more about the history of the Wades-Giles system.

Cantonese Dialect Learn a little background on the Cantonese language and even learn some words!

Mandarin Dialect Learn more about the history of the Mandarin language.

Wu Dialect Learn about the subdivisions and about the history of the Wu Dialect.

Land Reform Law Learn what the Land Reform Law really is.

National Day Learn what occurs on October 1, National Day of the People’s Republic of China.

People’s Republic of China Learn some background information on the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

People’s Red Army Learn a little more about the military forces of China.

The Great Leap Forward Learn more about the economic project of the Great Leap Forward.

 

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