1991	Commerce is the most noticeable change in China. In 1991 most shopping was done at bleak department stores. On the left is the window display of thermoses in the department store where we shopped. About half of the time the window was covered with steel shutters. In 1999, that store was still there, but its display windows were no longer visible because little shops had been constructed along the outside of the store along the sidewalk. Inside the store was much the same, but there seemed to be a better selection of merchandise and less of it was broken.
Right next to the old department store a new one was constructed (right). China has a lot of these new fancy stores that are not too different from American stores (both in the merchandise offered and in the prices). They even have food courts and supermarkets, but what I like is the seats for the husbands to sit in.	1999
The streets in downtown areas of Chinese cities are very wide and in 1991 they were generally very quiet. By 1999, you can see that there were lots of taxi cabs and other traffic. I found crossing the street and riding a bicycle much more of a challenge. There are also tall buildings and modern advertising everywhere. At night the streets and buildings are brightly lit, whereas in 1991 everything was dark.
1991	1999