The Chinese people are rapidly discovering the cost to their mental wellbeing of China’s phenomenal economic development. The halcyon days of the simple life that

followed liberation in 1949 irrevocably over, they must now deal with the stresses and complexities concomitant to riding the “China Economy Express.” Keeping the family decently housed, fed and schooled depends

directly on their ability to fulfill a heavy workload within a competitive social environment.

The people nevertheless approach each day, its new hopes and joys as well as problems, with characteristic optimism. This issue’s Special Report examines the lives of the contemporary Chinese everyman from different perspectives during China’s socio-economic transition.