A new book with then-and-now pictures of China was unveiled on Friday at Book Expo America at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Entitled Wuxi: Through an American's Lens, the photographs chronicle Wellesley College political science professor William Joseph's two trips to China: one in 1972, 10 days after President Richard M. Nixon's historic trip there; and a second visit 40 years later to the same places.

William Joseph, who was signing copies of the book at the convention, said that back in 1972 he was a graduate student at Stanford University and a member of the Committee of Concerned Asian Scholars, an anti-Vietnam war group that favored normalization of US-China relations.

The group, which included 30 teachers and students, started their trip in Hong Kong and headed north, visiting Luohu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuxi, Jinan, Tianjin Tangshan, and finally arrived in Beijing.

Joseph remembers the night of April 11 when, without any warning, the group was informed that someone would like to meet them at 11 pm.

"I had no idea who the person was at that time," Joseph said. The group was escorted to the Great Hall of the People and there met Premier Zhou Enlai.

During the four-hour meeting, Joseph sat opposite Premier Zhou and took a memorable photo of Zhou that appears in his new book. Joseph remembered that Premier Zhou was friendly. "He engaged each of us in a discussion about our field of research and what interested us most about what we had seen in China so far," Joseph said.

Another one of Joseph's favorite photos in the book is the one taken at Xinfeng Restaurant in Wuxi. Up until then on their trip, the group had only eaten in hotels or first-class restaurants and this was their first meal at an ordinary place.

At the time, Westerners were a rare sight in China and a crowd of onlookers 100 meters deep gathered to watch them eat their lunch. Joseph's picture of the crowd pressing against the windows of the restaurant for a look at the visitors is also featured in the new book.

Last year, on his return visit to Wuxi, Joseph went back to look for the Xinfeng. There was still at restaurant at the same location, but it was a lot different from the old one he remembered. Renamed Jufeng Garden, it was much bigger, brighter and livelier.

Cai Wenyu, director of the information office of Wuxi Municipal Government, brought several different books to the convention, including Charm Wuxi: The Best Spot on Taihu Lake and others.

"We hope western readers can see the real Wuxi and have a better understanding of Chinese culture through these books," Cai said.

Six books from the exhibition, including Joseph's new book, were donated to Columbia University's East Asian Library's permanent collection.

haidanhu12@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 06/03/2013 page2)