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Sister Cities International: The Oracle Of Municipal Matchmaking
By Paul Midler | December 29, 2007
In case you haven’t heard the news, four new US-China air routes have been announced. Beginning in 2009, the routes will run between: (a) Philadelphia-Beijing; (b) Chicago-Beijing; (c) NY-Shanghai; and (d) Detroit-Shanghai. Great news, but the announcement made me wonder how much thought went into the choices here.
One organization pairs up municipalities as a part of its charter - Sister Cities International. Local government types are involved, and the point is to get your hometown matched up with a “sister city,” or a “twin town”. They say that it’s a diplomacy network, but I suspect that it’s just an excuse for the occasional cross-border boondoggle. No matter the point, it’s always fun to see what city is a sister of what other city.
When I was in Chengdu and discovered that its sister city was Phoenix, I thought: now, that makes sense. Both are western towns, landlocked, and geographically isolated. Traveling over the years, I’ve found myself amazed at how well some of the cities are matched. Just take a look at these examples from China:
1. Shanghai / San Francisco. That kind of makes sense. Both are rather romantic towns with old-fashioned architecture. Tons of tourists.
2. Guangzhou / Los Angeles. Like LA, Guangzhou is a city of immigrants, and it has no real geographic center. Gertrude Stein once said of Los Angeles that the problem was “when you get there, there isn’t any there there.” That pretty much describes the ‘Zhou.
3. Hainan / Hawaii. Tropical island, Hainan, paired up with Maui, Hawaii? That’s a no-brainer.
4. Harbin / Minneapolis. Two cities where the locals don’t just live in the snow - they get off on it. If you want to show a lady in Harbin what a gentleman you are, take her out for an ice cream in the dead of winter. I bet that one makes perfect sense to a Minnesotan.
5. Xishuanbanna / Austin. There’s something to this link. Both are smaller places that are laid back and have tons of character.
6. Beijing / NY & DC. Beijing, the harlot! She’s two-timing it with Washington DC and New York. The double pairing makes sense, though, if you think about it.
7. Qingdao / Miami. Both magnets for retirees.
8. Hefei / Columbus. Hefei in Anhui Province and Columbus, Ohio? Now, that’s just pure genius.
A more complete list of China’s sister cities can be found here. Welcome to leave your own comments related.
Topics: China |
December 29th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I get so sick of hearing Chinese people say “Oh, Hainan is the Hawaii of China!” when I mention my hometown.
What I’d like to say back is “No…Hainan has beaches, yes, but please don’t compare it to Hawaii, where the locals are nice, friendly, civilized, into protecting the environment, and not into blatantly ripping off tourists.” (the ripoff artists are the Chinese or Korean tour companies preying on their own people).
There is an unexplainable spirit of Hawaii called the “Aloha Spirit” which is a sort of summary of family, friendliness, and acceptance. Hainan ain’t that.
So in the future, let’s just leave Hawaii out of any Sino/American sister city talk. Plus, everything in Hainan is now written in Russian whereas it is a mini Tokyo in Waikiki Beach…
December 30th, 2007 at 3:39 am
Touched a nerve there?
December 30th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Just a little. Don’t compare dirt clods with diamonds…
So to speak.
January 1st, 2008 at 10:24 am
Seattle-Chongqing = Aircraft part manufacturing?
Either that, or opposites attract…
Was just making a quick joke about Hefei-SV comparison.
January 28th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Sorry that it messes with the list, but Miami is definitely NOT a magnet for retirees, at least not anymore.
Funny story about the Beijing-Washington link. You can see the arch in question at http://www.dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0000440.htm. As retold at http://modelminority.com/article1039.html:
“In the 1980s, an effort was made to emphasize the district’s cultural roots with the building of a colorful 90-foot high Chinese “Friendship Arch.” Aside from marking the gateway to Chinatown, the $1 million structure was meant to be a symbolic link between Washington and Beijing. In fact, it came to be called “the arch of shame.” Engraved on a bronze plaque at its base are the names of Chen Xitong and Marion Barry, former mayors of Beijing and Washington, D.C. After the arch’s construction both men were convicted of felonies; one for embezzling $16 million in government funds, the other for dealing in cocaine.”