Three days before Christmas and my friend Wang Jun is going shopping. I wanted to scan some images I took with the Rollei of the old section of the great canal. Not today. Wang Jun is shopping. He shops more than anyone I have ever met. He is shopping not because it is Christmas but in spite of it. With the new open policies of the government, the Chinese have discovered an economic freedom not seen for the last millennium. With this freedom has come affluence and entitlement. We Americans know very well what economic freedom brings. To the Chinese it is like a drug. Shopping has become a mantra to many young chinese adults who now have the means to a better life. Money can buy many things. It is not the end all to a healthy life but it certainly improves ones lot quite a bit. Yet, we all know the downsides to the idea of "too much". For the time being though we will focus on only the good stuff. Heck it's Christmas, and even though I personally do not believe in Christmas I am always up for a good party. So right now in China things are very affordable. That is all things made in China and China makes pretty much everything. Companies from all over the world have come to China to take atvantage of a cheap, hard working and dedicated work force, several hundreds of millions of people work force. Wuxi, has become one center for manufacturing based on the silk factories that once existed here. At four million people though it is hardly considered a city. Most cities here like Shanghai and Beijing have 4 to 5 times the population of this quiet bedroom community. Add 6 or so other cities like Shanghai and you have China. Chinas greatest resource has always been it's people and when the people decide to shop... look out! It's cheek to jowl every where. Good times. Which reminds me I need to do some shopping.