Progress marches on:

Five years later Changchun is a much cleaner city, it seems to me, and it has grown so much larger.

A massive building project that has included the relocation of many of the largest university campuses along with creating a new fully serviced technology manufacturing district has shifted the centre of the city several kilometres.

This area of the world is like a garden in spring. Everyday there is change, development.

The graceful, though a little dirty, coal fired steam locomotive that awakened me pleasantly with her chuffs and bright whistle was suddenly retired to a city park. A bold modern diesel electric shunt engine now grunts the same line.

A trip to a favourite shop can be surprising. It may no longer be there. An entire city block levelled and a massive new complex springs up in its place.

There seems a little more hope for the poor. There is employment for most and accelerating economic development, new challenges, fresh opportunities.

A newly electrified high-speed rail link makes travel even more of a pleasure.

There are now more varieties of cars and world-class buses in a wonderful array of colours.

Electric vehicles are becoming commonplace. Solar and other renewable energy resources have been embraced.

China has placed a man in space.

The Olympics are coming, and may have been by the time you read this.

Deregulation of the banking industry has opened up competition with outside financial institutions.

Free trade is becoming a reality.

Many more small businesses and huge corporations, including Wal-Mart, have seized on fresh opportunity and thrown open invitation in the hope of giving a welcome new home to wandering RMB and USD.

Foreign brands command more respect and higher prices.

But the old dream of a more equal society firm footed and strong has not died.

The dishonesty I was warned of has not greatly bothered me though it may bother the begging child, who remains without schooling and protection, dangerously stationed in the changeable slip space between fast, heavy opposing traffic.

There are many good and greathearted people here. Some will remain firm friends. And the food tastes the same, as delicious as ever.

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