How narcissistic youth might help struggling Chinese booksellers
They like to be seen in pretty shops. They might even buy a coffee
IN 1993, AFTER 14 years of imprisonment, one of China’s most prominent dissidents, Wei Jingsheng, was taken on a tour of Beijing. Authorities hoped that the dazzling new architecture and bustling roads would convince him that the Communist Party he so stubbornly opposed had done great things. Mr Wei admitted to being impressed, but asked to see a bookshop before drawing any firm conclusions.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Salvation through selfie”
From the March 26th 2022 edition
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