This is one of the many crowded areas you can find in China. Many of our friends say that the root of China's current problems is because of the "large population." Officially, the population is 1.3 billion, but friends here say it's more likely 1.5 billion. China just completed a census, so we are curious about the results. Truthfully, you cannot escape overcrowding in China. The city where we live has about 1 million people and is considered a "very small city." But look at the photo above, taken while crossing a sky bridge. You see the effects of overcrowding when getting on the bus. People move in mass and push a lot. If it's rush hour don't expect to get a seat. The idiom of being "packed like sardines" is quite appropriate.
Overcrowding does have other problems too. Recently, we read an article about a stampede at a kindergarten. The children were going out to recess when one girl stopped and bent down to tie her shoe. over 40 children were treated for injuries.
