China Underground

(Paperback)

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At the beginning of the 21st century, it is hard to imagine a place more exciting than China. Westerners hear much about Chinas role as the next global superpower, but they know less about the young people who make up Chinas varied and fascinating subcultures.
Drawn by the streets humming with the energy of constant change, Zachary Mexico, who had spent two years in China, returned there in the summer of 2006 to conduct formal research on how the changing environment has affected the Chinese of his generation. Readers are introduced to a wannabe rock star from the desert of Xinjiang, trying to make it big in Shanghai; a disillusioned journalist; a budding screenwriter; a vagabond ladies man; a straight-A student at Chinas best university; a Chinese mafia kingpin; a punk band trying their best to stay relevant; a prostitute; the worlds most polluted city; Beijings drug-fueled club scene; and many others.
This is an engaging firsthand account of a young American writers encounter with the new China and the young people who are pursuing their future there. China Underground tells their stories, and some of Mexicos own.

Author Bio

Zachary Mexico studied at Columbia University in New York and Qinghua University in Beijing. He plays in the rock group The Octagon and the electronic duo Gates of Heaven. He lives in New York City.