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Country Driving
Peter Hessler’s *Country Driving* takes readers on a vivid, eye-opening road trip across early 2000s China, using his newly obtained driver’s license as a key to unlock the nation’s hidden corners. Split into three interconnected parts, the book begins with a meandering journey along the Great Wall, where Hessler encounters rural villagers, crumbling historical sites, and the quiet erosion of traditional life amid desertification. Next, he dives into China’s burgeoning auto industry, shadowing Chery’s test drives and meeting young engineers eager to build a domestic car brand from scratch. Finally, he settles in Sancha Village, documenting a farmer’s transition to running a guesthouse, and later explores southern industrial zones—from bra adjuster factories to art “workshops” churning out paintings for export. Through intimate portraits of ordinary people, Hessler captures the chaos, hope, and contradictions of a country racing toward modernity, offering a nuanced alternative to Western stereotypes of China.
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