The Teahouse under Socialism: The Decline and Renewal of Public Life in Chengdu, 1950–2000
by Di Wang
In The Teahouse under Socialism, Di Wang chronicles the decline and renewal of Chengdu's teahouses from 1950 to 2000. These iconic venues, integral to public life, navigated socialist reforms, state interventions, and cultural shifts. The book reveals how teahouses embodied the tensions and adaptations of urban China across five decades, offering a window into the persistence of community amid change.
About This Book
The Teahouse under Socialism examines the role of teahouses in Chengdu's public life from 1950 to 2000. These establishments, once central to social interactions, faced significant changes amid political and economic shifts in China.
Author Di Wang details how teahouses adapted to socialist policies, experiencing periods of decline as public spaces were restructured. The narrative highlights the interplay between state control and local traditions in shaping urban leisure.
Through historical analysis, the book illustrates the resilience of communal gathering spots. It covers renewal efforts in later decades, reflecting broader societal transformations in post-Mao China.
This work provides insights into how everyday spaces like teahouses mirror larger historical processes. It draws on archival sources to document Chengdu's evolving social fabric over the century.
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