At the request of you, our readers, we are introducing a "Letters to the Editor" column in this month's issue. We value your comments and opinions, positive and negative, on our layout, content and pictures, and will make continuous efforts to improve our magazine. We welcome your comments and views on all aspects of China. (We reserve the right to edit for content, clarity or length.)

If your letter or e-mail is published, you receive a gift!

I am an English language teacher from Canada at the University of Petroleum in Dongying, Shandong. I am an avid reader of your magazine, which I find extremely informative, well-written and interesting to read.

Did you ever consider introducing a special column entitled perhaps: "Letters to the Editor," "Reader's Commentary" or something similar?

It would certainly provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between readers and editors.

It might even help to increase both your domestic and foreign readership.

Franz Hegmann
Canada

I am from China. The library in our hospital has a subscription for your magazine, and I am reluctant to miss any issue. From China Today I learned colloquial English, expressions on Chinese philosophy, culture and society.

I want to comment on "A Revolution in Marriage Lines" published in the November 2003 issue. Although the majority supports making pre-marriage medical checkup optional, there are people standing on the opposite side. However, their comments have not been included in your article. Those opposed to making checkups optional hold that marriage relates to physical health on both sides (pre-marital sex is not popular in China). To be responsible to each other, the new couple should undergo a pre-marital medical checkup. As some people feel embarrassed to do so, it should be the government's duty to remind them.

Xu Song
Hubei Province, China

I like your My Story column. The stories Chinese people tell provide a vivid portrayal of their everyday life and living conditions, and give me a concrete understanding of China. To be frank, some stories are a bit boring, so I hope the editors will make some improvement in the future.

Elizabeth Durbin
Australia

I am a college student from the States. Before coming, I considered China an impoverished and backward country. Then I read China Today, which portrays China as advanced and civilized. However, my Chinese tour shattered the two totally different views, China is neither very backward nor very civilized. In east China's big cities, a lot of people live a well-off life like the Americans, but in the western and rural areas there are many impoverished people. What's more, streets in small cities and villages are very dirty. I suggest China Today reports on China's negative as well as positive aspects.

Richard Roberts
USA

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