The China Syndrome

"The struggle between the old and the new in China -- a tug of war affecting family life, the economy and the whole society -- comes into focus [in] Suzhou, a city of almost 6 million residents...It is famous for its gardens...The canals that give the city its special look go back to the sixth century..

The center of the city...is listed by the United Nations as a World Heritage site, and special permission is required for any construction within that protected zone. But the environs are totally modern China. Two giant industrial parks -- one financed by Singaporean developers, the other by Chinese entrepreneurs and the local government -- surround the historical district on the east and west."