Stories from a Changing China

How do major historical events change the lives of everyday people? When Scott Tong moved to Shanghai to open Marketplace’s first bureau in China, he took the opportunity to reconnect with branches of his family that stayed in China after his parents fled mainland China to live in the United States. What he found were rich accounts of his relatives’ lives during Chinese social and political changes spanning the fall of the Qing dynasty, the occupation by the Japanese during World War II, the early years of the People’s Republic and the opening up to the West under Deng Xiaoping. In his new book, “A Village with My Name: A Family History of China’s Opening to the World,” Tong recounts the stories of his relatives and ancestors, and explores questions about globalization, collective memory and the connections between nations. Join us as Scott Tong guides us through China’s defining historical moments from a different perspective.
SPEAKER:
Scott TongCorrespondant, Marketplace