China Report Magazine Issue 04 Zurück Ausgabe

A series of high-profile incidents involving China’s urban management officers, or chengguan, has thrust the quasi-legal government apparatus into the spotlight. Some see chengguan as petty thugs, while chengguan argue they are under-paid and unfairly criticised. Find the full story on page 12.

Also this month: when does an airport bomber draw sympathy instead of condemnation? China Report looks at a worrying trend emerging from China’s vast army of petitioners (P26).

On the cultural side, we look at the prospects for China’s televised New Year Gala (P54), as acclaimed director Feng Xiaogang hopes to inject new life into the format that's now familiar to many Chinese viewers.