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I n the nineteenth century, Western imperialist powers had to use superior weaponry to force ope n China' s door s t o world trade . In the post-Mao era , however , Chin a ha s willingly opene d it s own doors, embracing foreig n investmen t an d technology. Thi s open-door policy has led to a liberalization of ways of thinking, a true Chinese "Renaissance." Since 1978, the importation of international architecture has increased dramatically. Exotic buildings and the lifestyle that goes with them have expanded the vision of ordinary citizens, and Chinese architects have learned new technologies, styles, and management practice s along the way. Today, major civic projects are really the province of international architects. But behind the excitement, pride, and admiration are serious tensions and ongoing arguments about the proper relationship between indigenous architecture and its foreign counterparts. This chapter is written jointly by Charlie Xue and Zhang Xiaochun. I n the nineteenth century, Western imperialist powers had to use superior weaponry to force open China's doors to world trade. rn the post~Mao era, however, China has willingly opened its own doors, embracing foreign investment and technology. This open-door policy has led to a liberalization ofways ofthinking. a true Chinese "Renaissance." Since 1978, the importation of international architecture has increased dramatically. Exotic buildings and the lifestyle that goes with them have expanded the vision ofordinary citizens, and Chinese architects have learned new technologies, styles, and management practices along the way. Today, major civic projects are really the province of international architects. But behind the excitement, pride, and admiration are serious tensions and ongoing arguments about the proper relationship between indigenous architecture and its foreign counterparts. This chapter is written jointly by Charlie Xue and Zhang Xiaochun. CHAPTER THRE E THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE Chapter Two presents the story of how China's identit y and architecture have developed in tandem over the past century. The desire for a strong Chinese national identity has been spurre d b y worrie s abou t losin g the country' s distinctive cultura l heritag e t o globalizatio n an d internationalization. I n Chinese , Chin a i s zhongguo, literally "countr y a t th e cente r o f th e earth, " an d thi s precisely describe s th e attitud e o f Chin a t o the outsid e world unti l th e lat e nineteent h century . Chin a wa s sel f relivant, with little interest in trade with other countries. Invasions by Western powers hastened th e decay o f the feudalist kingdom; ironically, the invaders' main purpose was to open China's doors.1 When the People's Republic of China was established in 1949 , it adopted the Soviet Union's socialist model in everything, from th e all-pervasive "socialist content and national form " t o individua l buildin g technologies , a s mentioned i n Chapte r Two . However , thi s condui t fo r overseas idea s wa s close d i n th e 1960s , when th e tw o countries clashe d ideologicall y ove r their interpretatio n of communist doctrine . From the 1960 s to 1977 , China cut it s political an d economi c link s with the rest of the world to such an extent that the Chinese word for "foreign" became synonymous with "crime."2 After Chin a implemente d th e open-doo r polic y i n 1978, overseas influences started trickling into the country. Anything an d everythin g fro m abroa d wa s deeme d innovative an d fashionable . Fo r China' s architects , the liberation from the old-style communist ways of thinking coincided wit h th e influ x o f importe d internationa l architecture. When Chinese architects intended to pursue individual expression , the y immediatel y looke d t o th e imported buildings. New foreign ideas, both technical and cultural, dazzled th e Chinese architectura l an d buildin g industries. These influences came mostly through a number of highl y publicize d project s a s well a s through books , journals, and magazines that offered tantalizin g glimpses of architecture abroad. The international architecture and imported building activities are inevitable developments of globalization in China. To continue th e rapi d economi c an d infrastructur e development that China had experienced over the previous two decades, the central government had...

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