A Tale of Two Chinas

Encounters across China’s Cultural Worlds.

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Qinghai, China

Among Yaks, Monasteries, and Memories

A journey into the Tibetan grasslands of Gannan brings Hugh Battye into the rhythms of nomadic family life, local religious practice, and an unexpected memory of an earlier Christian presence in the region.

A tourist bus in Gansu province, China.

Stamps and Negotiations

Fieldwork among the Bonan in Gansu begins with stamps, permissions, and a search for somewhere to stay, revealing along the way how differently a researcher and his hosts can understand hospitality, access, and an “authentic” experience.

A red bridge in China spanning a river in a lush green forest area.

China in the Plural

Drawing on fifteen years in mainland China, Hugh Battye reflects on the very different worlds he encountered—and on what can disappear when we speak of “China” as though it were a single cultural experience.