Impressions of China 1983-2000

About the Book

This book records the author's impressions of China, based on visits he made of a month's duration every two years from 1983 - 2000, as well as on a year's lecturing at the Shandong Teachers' University, 1989-1990. It deals with areas he visited in the north and northeast; south, southeast and southwest; west and northwest of the country. It attempts to show that nature has endowed parts of China with an impressive scenery, matched by architectural "wonders" and engineering "marvels" of the Chinese themselves, ancient and modern.

The book points, as well, to the bewildering array of problems which confront the leaders of the country -- social, economic, demographic, structural, financial -- all requiring immediate and simultaneous attention. Finally, the author reflects on the future of China -- where it might be heading, and ought to be heading.

About the Author

Edmund H. Dale, Canadian citizen, was born in Jamaica where, with considerable difficulty, he obtained his early education. During World War II, he volunteered for active service in the Royal Air Force and served in England. Determined to continue his professional and academic training, which he had begun in Jamaica, he sought and gained admission twice to the University of London, but intervention by a colonial administration prevented his going there, and directed him instead to a Teacher Training institution. After successfully completing the normal two-year teachers' training course, he applied a third time to enter the University of London and was again admitted. He obtained first, the Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Geography, second, the Master of Science degree at Birkbeck College while teaching in London in a boys' school by day and studying at Birkbeck College at night.

Next, he was invited to teach in Canada and was provided with Canadian Landed Immigrant status. He taught in two high schools in Alberta before entering the University of Alberta, Edmonton, to begin the Ph.D. programme in Geography. Even before he could complete the programme, he was required to teach in the Geography Department, where a problem had arisen, subsequently at the University of Victoria, B.C., where a similar problem had occurred. No sooner had he calmed the "troubled waters" there, he was invited to head the Geography Department at the University of Regina, which was also experiencing student problems. His mandate was to plan and initiate a sound programme of studies in that Department, leading to the B.A. and B.Sc. Honours, and M.A. and M.Sc. degrees. His promotion to the status of "Full Professor" came shortly after. He remained as Head of the Department for ten years, and as senior faculty member in the Department for another ten years. On his retirement, the University of Regina conferred on him the title "Professor Emeritus."

In addition to teaching in Jamaica, London (England), and Canada, Dr. Dale has also taught in China. He accepted a one-year position offered to him by the Shandong Teachers' University which, at the end of the year, elected him "Honourable Model Teacher of the Year" (1990). He has travelled widely throughout Europe, Southeast Asia (South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei) and the Americas.

Dr. Dale has published his research in (a) Journals, including the Canadian Geographer, the Scottish Geographical Magazine, the Annals of American Geographers, Plan Canada, and others, and (b) Books, Monographs, Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Physical and Human Resources of the Tropics, among others. He has been editor and co-editor for a few publications on Saskatchewan and the prairies, and he has given invited papers at conferences and universities in Canada, the United States, Jamaica, and China.

Besides, he has evaluated manuscripts and research proposals for the Royal Geographical Society of Canada; the Research Council of Canada; the Institute of Urban Studies; the National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C; and materials considered for recommendation for Full Professor status.