LIVING　IN　PEKING

The　great　landmarks　of　old　Peking　remain.The　majesty　of　proportion　and　plan，the　walls，the　lakes，the　architectural　marvels　of　palaces　and　temples　are　still　there.So　is　the　quiet　away　from　the　bustling　main　streets　that　is　one　of　the　city′s　great　charms，that　quiet　broken　only　by　the　song　of　birds，the　voices　of　children　and　the　rustle　of　trees.But　otherwise　the　new　Peking　is　quite　different　from　the　old.

I　shall　not　here　describe　the　more　obvious　changes，those　that　have　also　changed　world　history.These　are　sufficiently　well　known.What　I　want　to　tell　about　is　the　way　the　city　has　been　transformed　for　its　ordinary　people—who　built　it　over　the　centuries　for　others，and　who　now　own　it.

First，the　health　and　comfort　of　the　many，not　the　few，are　what　count　now.Former　governments　built　roads，laid　on　lights，installed　water-systems，only　to　suit　the　rich.In　the　past　three　years，under　the　people′s　own　government，such　work　has　been　concentrated　on　what　were　once　the　poorest，most　neglected　sections.

Before　liberation，Only　40　per　cent　of　Peking′s　people　had　running　water.Now　80　per　cent　have　it.In　the　old　days，none　of　the　tap-water　could　be　drunk　without　boiling.Now　all　of　it　is　safe.As　for　light，one　can　hardly　count　the　number　of　poles　the　city　has　added　to　the　streets.What　is　more　important，they　have　been　put　in　places　no　one　thought　worth　lighting　before.

Peking　was　always　beautiful.But　in　the　past　it　was　also　dirty　and　unhealthy.What　a　change　now！When　the　people′s　army　first　came　in，one　of　its　first　jobs　was　to　remove　tens　of　thousands　of　tons　of　garbage　accumulated　over　the　years.In　1950　alone，51　miles　of　sewers　were　cleaned　and　repaired，and　16　miles　were　added　to　the　system.Peking′s　streets　are　now　kept　completely　free　of　litter　by　the　city，helped　by　its　organized　householders.Even　the　bustling　outdoor　market　at　Tienchiao，（the‘Bridge　of　Heaven’）once　so　filthy　as　well　as　picturesque，has　become　quite　spotless.Peking　residents　say　proudly　that“if　we　could　clean　up　Tienchiao，we　can　clean　up　anything.”

Summer　Marvel

In　warm　weather，Peking　used　to　be　full　of　flies，mosquitos　and　other　insects.But　in　the　summer　of　1952，deputy-mayor　Wu　Han　made　a　personal　inspection　of　the　four　main　city　markets　and　did　not　see　a　fly.Many　residents，too，did　not　see　one　in　their　houses　all　summer，and　found　it　unnecessary　to　use　mosquito　nets　at　night.A　small　thing？Not　for　public　health.Several　intestinal　diseases，once　common，have　become　extremely　rare.So　has　malaria.And　people，especially　children，spent　the　summer，free　from　insect　bites，in　comfort　instead　of　in　irritation　and　torture.

A　Peking　newspaper　recalled　that　a　former　mayor，under　the　Kuomintang，also　wanted　to　rid　the　city　of　flies.He　consulted　a　number　of　sanitary　specialists，but　they　all　reported　that　it　was　useless　to　think　of　such　a　thing　until　China　became　highly　industrialized.Faced　with　this　unanimity　of‘learned’opinion，the　mayor　gave　up.But　since　the　liberation，the　people　have　learned　to　do　the‘impossible’.China　is　not　yet　industrialized，but　Peking　is　quite　so.

Undoubtedly　the　feat　was　difficult　in　a　pre-industrial　environment.It　was　only　through　the　joint　efforts　of　government　and　people　along　many，many　lines　that　it　could　be　achieved.The　government　dredged　millions　of　cubic　yards　of　mud　from　lakes　and　creeks.Stagnant　water，the　breeding　place　of　mosquitos　was　pursued　to　its　smallest　hiding　places.In　every　courtyard，buckets，washtubs，basins　and　jars　were　turned　upside　down　when　not　in　use.Garbage　collections　were　doubled.Weeds　were　pulled　up，bases　of　damp　walls　sprinkled　with　lime，hollow　trees　filled.Horse　and　mule　carts　were　not　allowed　in　the　streets　without　a　canvas　bag　to　catch　the　manure.Most　important，the　people　were　mobilized　to　kill　insects　the　moment　they　appeared.That　was　how　it　was　done.

Waste　Spots　Turned　to　Parks

In　the　meantime，new　places　of　recreation　and　enjoyment　appeared　where　once　there　were　only　evilsmelling　ponds　and　marshes.The　long-neglected　lakes　of　Shi　Cha　Hai　are　now　the　site　of　the　municipal　swimming　pool　and　a　pleasant　boating　area.Excavations　began　this　summer　in　swampy　Tao　Jan　Ting，once　a　scenic　resort　for　poets　but　later　a　dilapidated　healthy　hazard，where　another　public　playground　and　swimming　pool　will　appear.A　new　lake　with　a　shoreline　of　2.5　miles　has　already　come　into　being　there.In　the　middle　of　the　lake　is　an　island.The　hills　on　the　shore，　built　of　earth　dug　out　to　made　the　lake，are　high　enough　to　afford　a　view　of　the　main　landmarks　of　the　city.Together　with　Lung　Tan，another　of　the　eight　waste　spots　still　to　be　reclaimed，Tao　Jan　Ting　will　form　part　of　the　future　South　City　Park，with　athletic　stadiums，cultural　palaces　and　other　facilities.

The　vast　labour　of　sanitation　and　reclamation，while　of　first　importance，is　not　the　only　municipal　construction　going　on　in　the　city.The　rehousing　of　the　working　people　in　better，more　modern　quarters　has　already　begun.Three　apartments，have　already　been　completed.Others　are　being　built.

Peking′s　ancient　buildings　are　getting　their　share　of　attention.Among　them　are　the　Yung　Ho　Kung　or　Lama　Temple，which　has　been　thoroughly　repaired　with　government　funds.The　Buddhist　priests　and　monks　of　this　important　shrine　are　pursuing　their　religious　duties　as　usual.There　is　full　freedom　of　belief　in　our　new　China.

Neighbourhood　Democracy

These　are　all　examples　of　the　changed　outer　aspect　of　Peking.How　about　the　people？

First　of　all，I　would　mention　the　activities　of　the　women.Perhaps　our　greatest　civic　force　are　the　housewives—who　are　no　longer　confined　in　their　own　homes，but　participate　in　running　the　affairs　of　the　whole　neighbourhood.In　my　hutung　，for　example，there　is　a　Mrs.Yung　who　comes　often　to　inspect　our　courtyard　to　see　if　everything　is　clean.She　tells　us　of　meetings　and　other　events　of　interest，arranges　for　injections　and　inoculations　against　seasonal　health　risks　and　gets　assistance　for　those　neighbours　who　need　it.

The　men　are　busy　too.Each　day，the　hutung　is　swept　by　a　different　group　of　able-bodied　volunteers.

Nor　are　the　old　people　idle.They　distribute　the　pension　payments　and　contributions　of　food　and　money　which　the　government　makes　to　families　with　sons　and　daughters　serving　in　the　people′s　army　or　with　the　volunteers　in　Korea.

It　is　interesting　to　note　that，in　our　competition　for　the　cleanest　courtyards，the　poorer　families，often　still　living　crowded　together，came　off　better　than　the　richer　ones.This　was　pretty　much　the　rule　everywhere，reflecting　the　new　pride　of　the　working　people　in　their　city.

I　have　read　in　American　journals　that　we　are　supposed　to　be　a‘police　state’.We　have　policemen，of　course，but　it　is　they　who　serve　the　people，not　the　other　way　round，The　local　police　stations　are　available　for　meetings　of　all　kinds　and　policemen　consult　bourhood　improvements，Moreover，during　the　San　Fan　campaign　against　corruption，waste　and　bureaucracy　they　called　on　all　the　people　to　criticize　them！The　neighbours　organized　meetings　to　air　any　complaints　that　they　had，and　the　police　had　to　stand　up，explain　themselves，and　make　selfcriticisms　when　the　complaints　were　warranted.

After　the　San　Fan　and　Wu　Fan，Peking　held　its　elections.Each　side-street　had　its　general　meeting　to　choose　representatives.Then　the　larger　neighbourhoods　got　together，compared　the　men　and　women　various　streets　had　nominated，and　chose　the　best　by　common　consent.The　process　was　repeated　at　the　next　level，and　that　was　how　we　got　candidates　for　the　People′s　Representative　Conference　of　Peking.

Apart　from　various　districts，different　occupational　groups　put　up　their　candidates.As　a　playwright，I　am　in　frequent　contact　with　the　city′s　actors　and　actresses　and　know　that　their　five　candidates　were　named　through　55　delgates　sent　to　the　nominating　meeting　by　the　entire　profession.This　double　basis　of　representation，however，does　not　violate　the　principle　of　‘one　person，one　vote’.Because　I　belong　to　the　theatrical　workers′　constituency，I　didn′t　vote　to　nominate　a　street　candidate，but　my　wife　did.

What　does　a　representative　do　after　he　takes　his　seat？He　remains　in　close　touch　with　his　constituents　and　reflects　their　views　and　demands.The　itinerant　actors，for　example，wanted　the　government　to　build　schools　for　their　children，and　arrange　special　facilities　for　rail　shipment　of　their　costumes　and　stage　properties.The　people　of　the　hutungs　ask　for　such　things　as　more　street　lights，repair　of　roads　and　elimination　of　nuisances.If　anyone　in　the　neighbourhood　has　lost　his　working　capacity　or　is　ill，the　representative　is　expected　to　get　him　relief　or　prompt　medical　care.An　active　person　in　the　position　can　do　a　lot　for　his　fellow　residents，and　if　he　isn′t　active　he　doesn′t　get　reelected.　In　short，no　one　is　friendless　or　forgotten　any　more.Everyone　is　represented　in　the　governmant　and　has　someone　responsible　for　his　welfare.

Needless　to　say，the　people　like　this　system　very　much，and　it　has　naturally　changed　life　a　lot.For　example，one　can　trust　the　food　nowadays.All　food　on　sale　must　be　prepared　in　a　sanitary　manner　and　be　kept　covered　from　dust.And　every　pedlar　must　display　his　license　number　so　that　if　he　sells　poor　products　he　can　easily　be　found.prices　are　fixed；there　is　no　bargaining；a　receipt　must　be　given　for　every　sale　and　those　who　over-charge　must　answer　for　it.Quarrels　and　scolding　are　hardly　ever　heard　in　the　streets.

The　people　want　education　and　they　are　getting　it.Besides　more　schools，every　neighbourhood　has　its　night　classes.The　municipal　people′s　government　has　decided　to　wipe　out　illiteracy　in　the　city　within　three　years.In　order　to　keep　abreast　of　the　times，people　organize　themselves　to　listen　to　important　radio　broadcasts　in　public　centres　or　at　the　homes　of　neighbours　who　have　sets，while　our　teen-agers　read　newspapers，at　definite　times，to　neighbours　who　are　still　illiterate.My　16-year-old　son　does　it　several　evenings　a　week.But　this　doesn′t　mean　the　youngsters　don′t　have　fun.They　are　always　on　the　go　and　their　health　is　better　than　it　used　to　be—almost　every　one　is　involved　in　some　kind　of　sports.

Future　Plans

What　of　the　future？The　full　plan　for　the　city　is　not　yet　worked　out　but　some　things　are　already　clear.We　are　getting　more　good　water，more　electric　power，more　municipal　services，more　schools　all　the　time.Trees　are　being　planted　and　open　spaces　will　be　filled　with　grass　and　flowers.Industries　will　be　moved　outside　the　city　and　universities　will　also　go　outside，to　more　spacious　quarters　than　the　crowded　ones　some　of　them　still　have　to　put　up　with.The　city　is　divided　into　nine　boroughs，but　it　has　now　been　decided　to　change　the　number　to　seven.The　distinction　beween　the　central　area　and　outlying　ones　will　be　minimized　because　each　district　will　have　a　government　centre，public　gardens，cinema　theatres，a　large　school，and　a　big　department　store.Peking　will　become　even　more　beautiful　and　a　better　place　to　live　in.

Our　capital　combines　the　old　traditions　and　the　new　changes　in　China.Practically　everyone　who　comes　to　Peking　from　the　outside　says，“This　is　the　right　place　for　Chairman　Mao”.The　people　say　Chairman　Mao　brings　good　fortune　to　everyone.Those　we　used　to　call‘poor　people’feel　this　most　of　all.