I just took a personal trip to Xi’an China from April 2 through April 9. This was a great trip worth sharing. This was the first ever reunion of my class – Computer Hardware Class 1982 of Xi’an Jiaotong University. It’s special because old classmates got to gather together after 30 years, to reminisce the disciplined campus life between class rooms, library, cafeteria, and dorms; to remember the bicycle rides to the suburbs; and to retrace the paths lined with cherry blossoms leading to class rooms. It’s even more special because all of the Class Of 1982 joined forces to commission a 25-ton boulder in front of the library to commemorate 1977 – the turning point in modern Chinese history.  It was 1977 that China began her journey of reform and openness; It was 1977 that China restored the college entrance exam system, affording millions of high-school graduates in the past 10 years a chance to enter college, and allowing many more village kids a chance to become someone other than a peasant.

As can be seen from the pictures here, the boulder is beautifully engraved with a description of the historical 1977. The cherry blossom is ever more beautiful. The campus is packed with people coming to appreciate the April flowers and the campus atmosphere, among them are young generations dressed in costumes of their favorite cartoon characters. What would all these pictures look like if China did not make that right turn?