Zhang said that the novel on which the film is based on is excellent and reflected his own emotions. He described it as one of the few great novels which he has been lucky enough to discover.

Starting as a cameraman, Zhang has grown to be the most successful movie director in China. Most of his films in recent years have been big hits at the box office. Besides films, Zhang also directs Peking opera, ballet, classical opera and large-scale outdoor stage performance. He was also the director of the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Despite the rising fame, Zhang was criticized as becoming more and more commercial, straying far from his origins—literary films. But he said he had not changed from what he was 30 years ago. He has still been engaged in shooting films with values. His latest film is seen as proof of his persistence and return.

New Generation of Migrant Workers

Outlook Weekly

May 12

For more than three decades, by taking advantage of its incomparable "demographic dividend" as well as a cheap labor force mainly composed of migrant workers, China has reaped the economic benefits of being the "world factory."

By the end of 2013, China's migrant workers had reached 269 million, 70 percent of whom were born in the 1980s and 1990s. Compared with their parents, the new generation of migrant workers have received a better education and thus possess a broader vision. They tend to identify themselves with their urban peers, and feel themselves estranged from rural life. Thus, they are strongly eager to get settled in cities, where they can access the benefits and welfare their hosting cities offer.

However, they find it difficult to become real urban residents. They are poorly paid, as most of them are engaged in simple manual work. Besides, they spend most of their time at work and inhabit areas dubbed "villages in cities," and are basically isolated from normal urban life. Most of them can't envisage a future in cities. When China's most energetic young labor force has lost their vision, the whole country's future is placed somewhat in danger.

This young generation represents a precious human resource for China. Enabling them to partake in the modern job market and improving their overall quality of life is essential for the country's economic progress. Businesses need to pay them more so that they can enjoy a higher standard of living and more importantly, the government should work hard to provide them with equal social security.

Protecting Courtyards

Beijing Youth Daily

May 13

The first overall investigation undertaken as part of an effort to better protect courtyard houses, has come to an end. Nowadays, most of these old houses are in a dilapidated condition because too many people are still living there. A few courtyard houses have been repaired and used for purposes other than residence, but there is a lack of the bustling atmosphere of daily life in areas containing such properties.

What is being done in Jinhua, east China's Zhejiang Province, might be able to serve as an example. The local government has not spent a penny on the protection of local historical buildings, but these houses and relics are receiving ample upkeep, thanks to a government scheme that allows people to "adopt" historical houses. Any applicant that meets the government's assessment requirements is able to do so. The property rights still belong to the state while the "adopters" enjoy a 30-year lease, without having to pay the government anything. However, occupants still have to pay for expenses related to maintenance.

Courtyards are a traditional architectural style unique to Beijing. They are an attraction to visitors from around the world. It would be a pity to see these historic building and their surrounding gardens fall into disrepair. It has been suggested that courtyard houses should also find "adopters" who can properly renovate them.