Broadcasting Time: 2006-12-28

Martin Winter [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Hello and welcome to this edition of Voices from Other Lands on China Radio International. I'm Jennifer Pak sitting in for Su Xiaowei.

If you take a stroll through Beijing's alleyways, you can't miss the slogans spray painted on walls, written on chalkboards, instructing people what to strive for and how to act.

But much like the hutongs, these signs are disappearing as skyscrapers and shopping malls spring up.

Two men have made it their mission to document this dying art. One of them is Martin Winter.

That was an excerpt from a video featuring Winter on YouTube.

He has also helped translate these signs into English on Beijingreadymades.com.

Today on the program, I'm speaking with Winter, who says the signs are a perfect tool to teach Chinese writing, while giving people a unique insight into contemporary China.

If you have any questions or comments, email us at voices@crifm.com. Thanks so much to my guest for joining us today. I’m Jennifer Pak sitting in for Su Xiaowei. Join me again next week, same time, on Voices from Other Lands.