Audley Archive

China recently overtook Japan as the world’s second largest economy. Behind this slightly dry and unassuming fact lies a country that has undergone a profound change over the past thirty years. The lifestyles of ordinary Chinese people have been transformed beyond recognition, all in the space of a generation. Witnessing this change and seeing an increasingly confident country find its feet on the world stage is part of the reason for visiting China – and the contrast (and sometimes tension) between old and new makes for a fascinating trip.