Even at the Dirt Market, the outdoor bazaar of calligraphy scrolls, bead necklaces, chess sets and other bric-a-brac, certain goods are pitched to a cartoon sense of Chinese history.

• 我们忧喜交加地认识到，当今世界上那个年轻的独一无二的超级强国，迎头撞上了一个人口最多，经济发展最快的古老对手。