Chapter 37 Fashion surveys foreigners in the city

I was born in the city and have spent most of my life in the city so far.However, I often feel that I am just a foreigner in the city.My scope of activities is extremely limited, basically sitting at home reading and writing, going to work once a week, occasionally visiting friends' homes, or going out to the countryside with friends.In such a big city, I am most familiar with only one or two ordinary stores near my residence, which are enough to meet my basic living needs.The rest of the vast areas, especially the many luxury shopping malls and high-end entertainment venues that make the city so proud, were to me only ideas, modern mazes that I had no time to explore.

In recent years, I have been to some other cities.I was surprised to find that everywhere I went, even in the remote places before, new cities were rapidly emerging one after another.But how alike are these new cities!The old side streets and city walls were demolished and replaced by ring roads and thoroughfares.Luxury shopping malls with similar layouts are successfully marching to the center of each city, becoming a new symbol of each city.However, these signs do not show the characteristics of the city at all, but on the contrary prove the city's namelessness.In fact, when you are wandering on the streets of a certain city, you really cannot tell which city you are in if you just look at the sights in front of you.Even people's leisure methods tended to be the same. After nightfall, the sound of Yangko dance was no longer heard in Yan'an City, and fashionable young men and women entered the Orchid Flower Karaoke Hall one after another.

 Of course, urbanization can also have another model.I have been to some cities in Europe, such as the world metropolis Paris, where while updating the urban architecture, the maintenance of the city's historical features is considered more important than anything else, almost sacrosanct.A city's architectural style and folk customs reflect the city's personality, and they originate from the city's special historical and cultural traditions.To wipe out the personality of a city is almost tantamount to killing the memory of the city.No matter how prosperous such a city is, it loses the value of learning and appreciation for its guests, and it also loses the meaning of home for its owners.In fact, in a city that has lost its memory, there is no real master, and every resident is just a homeless stranger.

As far as my temperament is concerned, I am afraid that I will always be a foreigner free from urban life.However, I have no intention of opposing urbanization.I know that although urbanization will bring disadvantages such as dense population and traffic congestion, urbanization itself is a progress after all, which promotes economic and cultural prosperity.I just hope urbanization happens in a healthy way.Even as a foreigner, I can appreciate the beauty of the city.Sometimes, in the dead of night, I walk alone in the dimly lit streets of Beijing, looking at the tall buildings illuminated by colorful spotlights, a feeling of admiration arises spontaneously: in a small corner of the vast universe, Lovely human beings have built themselves such ingenious toys.I am also grateful for my discovery: the most beautiful moment of the city is when the hustle and bustle of the day and night life are silent.

1998.1