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大路: 高速中國裡的低速人生
在中國，條條大路通……？
有誰曾匍匐三載，目睹中國式高速公路的誕生記？它亮麗的光彩背後有哪些啼笑皆非，辛酸無語？
而這些底層中國人，為何難以踏上國家的通衢大道？
當我們驅車快速駛過一條條高速公路時，無人知道它曾經發生的、它幕後掩藏的種種不為人知的故事。為了弄清楚中國的高速公路到底如何築成，作者潛伏在沈從文故鄉某條高速公路的建築工地達三年之久，他終於覓到了答案，但這答案荒誕而慘烈，讓他百感交集……
在短短十幾年之內，一條條光鮮亮麗、風馳電掣的高速公路在中國廣袤土地上肆意擴展、無限延伸、編織成網，總里程已經達十萬公里，為全球之冠（美國接近九萬公里）。這種規模和速度是人類歷史上從未發生過的罕見奇景。對中國政府而言，這也是黨的偉大業績、燦爛的現代化榮光的證明。然而沒有人知道這些大路背後的意志、迷戀、邏輯、敘事和生命——在中國，這條「大路」既是問題的原點，竟也是答案本身。
是的，這條中國式高速公路摧枯拉朽般地成長，與此同時，伴隨著各種頻繁發生的工安事件、抗爭、起義、上訪、黑幫介入、甚至是死亡：「媽的，修高速公路就跟打仗似的，動不動就搞死人。」
伴隨著產業鏈條上自上而下的層層盤剝和壓榨：「發大財的人是你們這些搞工程的人，你們吃肉，我跟著喝湯唄。」
伴隨著不同利益方之間的應酬和博弈：「此次衝突屬於大水沖了龍王廟——一家人不識一家人的人民內部矛盾，現在穩定壓倒一切，咱們私了吧。」
伴隨著建築品質的偷梁換柱和形形色色的公關：「據說那個電話是從北京打來的，他媽的真沒想到小小的十九標，竟然有這麼牛的關係！」
也伴隨著修路者背井離鄉的無奈、發生在底層的戀愛、性和娛樂：「可不是嘛，有句話這麼說的，『民工們去橋頭堡，項目部往市裡跑，領導們把二奶包』。」
更伴隨著山河、歷史和文化破壞殆盡：「這筆巨額的賠償金究竟出自何處？」他笑了笑，回答我說：「那還不是國家買單！」
並非所有人都能分享中國的高速增長。作者潛伏現場三年之久，與這些底層築路者共同呼吸，才悲哀地發現，中國的現代化榮光更多的是建築在這些底層人生之上的政績。大部分農民工隨著一條條路輾轉多地，他們卑微的夢想被無情地拋棄或被「大路」快速碾過，他們無力踏上國家的通衢大道。
事實上，當高速發展成為這個時代的主題，幾乎沒有人能置身其外：外來者與本地人，城裡人與鄉下人，勞心者與勞力者，權勢者和無權者，既得利益者和被侮辱被損害的人……他們雖然彼此對立，各走一邊，卻不得不共同向前。沒有人能和這條「大路」背道而馳，逃脫它定制的軌跡、方向和速度。
作者既是作家，也是紀錄片導演，他同時用筆和鏡頭原汁原味地記錄，翻開本書，濃厚飽滿的氣息就撲面而來。這部具有獨特風格的創意報導文本，某種意義上，也是Peter Hessler《尋路中國》的「高速公路版」或「電影紀實版」。
有誰曾匍匐三載，目睹中國式高速公路的誕生記？它亮麗的光彩背後有哪些啼笑皆非，辛酸無語？
而這些底層中國人，為何難以踏上國家的通衢大道？
當我們驅車快速駛過一條條高速公路時，無人知道它曾經發生的、它幕後掩藏的種種不為人知的故事。為了弄清楚中國的高速公路到底如何築成，作者潛伏在沈從文故鄉某條高速公路的建築工地達三年之久，他終於覓到了答案，但這答案荒誕而慘烈，讓他百感交集……
在短短十幾年之內，一條條光鮮亮麗、風馳電掣的高速公路在中國廣袤土地上肆意擴展、無限延伸、編織成網，總里程已經達十萬公里，為全球之冠（美國接近九萬公里）。這種規模和速度是人類歷史上從未發生過的罕見奇景。對中國政府而言，這也是黨的偉大業績、燦爛的現代化榮光的證明。然而沒有人知道這些大路背後的意志、迷戀、邏輯、敘事和生命——在中國，這條「大路」既是問題的原點，竟也是答案本身。
是的，這條中國式高速公路摧枯拉朽般地成長，與此同時，伴隨著各種頻繁發生的工安事件、抗爭、起義、上訪、黑幫介入、甚至是死亡：「媽的，修高速公路就跟打仗似的，動不動就搞死人。」
伴隨著產業鏈條上自上而下的層層盤剝和壓榨：「發大財的人是你們這些搞工程的人，你們吃肉，我跟著喝湯唄。」
伴隨著不同利益方之間的應酬和博弈：「此次衝突屬於大水沖了龍王廟——一家人不識一家人的人民內部矛盾，現在穩定壓倒一切，咱們私了吧。」
伴隨著建築品質的偷梁換柱和形形色色的公關：「據說那個電話是從北京打來的，他媽的真沒想到小小的十九標，竟然有這麼牛的關係！」
也伴隨著修路者背井離鄉的無奈、發生在底層的戀愛、性和娛樂：「可不是嘛，有句話這麼說的，『民工們去橋頭堡，項目部往市裡跑，領導們把二奶包』。」
更伴隨著山河、歷史和文化破壞殆盡：「這筆巨額的賠償金究竟出自何處？」他笑了笑，回答我說：「那還不是國家買單！」
並非所有人都能分享中國的高速增長。作者潛伏現場三年之久，與這些底層築路者共同呼吸，才悲哀地發現，中國的現代化榮光更多的是建築在這些底層人生之上的政績。大部分農民工隨著一條條路輾轉多地，他們卑微的夢想被無情地拋棄或被「大路」快速碾過，他們無力踏上國家的通衢大道。
事實上，當高速發展成為這個時代的主題，幾乎沒有人能置身其外：外來者與本地人，城裡人與鄉下人，勞心者與勞力者，權勢者和無權者，既得利益者和被侮辱被損害的人……他們雖然彼此對立，各走一邊，卻不得不共同向前。沒有人能和這條「大路」背道而馳，逃脫它定制的軌跡、方向和速度。
作者既是作家，也是紀錄片導演，他同時用筆和鏡頭原汁原味地記錄，翻開本書，濃厚飽滿的氣息就撲面而來。這部具有獨特風格的創意報導文本，某種意義上，也是Peter Hessler《尋路中國》的「高速公路版」或「電影紀實版」。
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2014
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 8, 2018
This book seems currently no English language version is available (only in Chinese). The book is the written version of a documentary of the same name. The author/director Mr. Zhang graduated from Beijing Film Academy where he studied a master in documentary. He had a bachelor degree in Chinese literature. Therefore, his writing is of high quality. He constantly refers to classic Chinese poems. It makes the whole book become somewhat 'poetic'.
In ancient China, writers used to pay tribute or attention to the commoners. Those classics that exist to this day usually contain 'worries or concerns for the people'. So it resonates perfectly in contemporary China where many people from the bottom of the pyramids are struggling for survival. This book centers on these people. It's a journal of a construction site of a highway.
Author spent three years living among the laborers. He filmed their daily lives. He observed what common laborers were doing or thinking. Currently, road infrastructure in China is expanding furiously. This highway is just a fraction of a whole picture, but it captures the spirits of roots (草根), or the spirits of the most ordinary people.
As usual, there were several memorable figures in the book. Bosses, government officials, foreman, families, laborers, villagers, etc. Their description are vivid. Personally, I think it greatly captures the atmosphere in rural China. Development makes changes happen suddenly. Many villagers are forced to give way to 'economic development'. Hence, conflicts are expected. There are tensions between every party. Construction firms have to handle Guanxi with government agency; laborers need to fight for their benefits with the construction firm; laborers need to deal with the angry villagers whose property is damaged due to the project. Readers could get a rare glimpse into the real life of these unknown people. It reflects the dilemma, bitterness, as well as the happiness (though less than the former two) of these groups.
It's a great book for me to have reflections. It gives me more insights on the status quo of Chinese society. Apart from the affluent people, I think we really should remember there are some people behind the scene. They are backbones of Chinese economic miracles. How to make the society more equal is a question we should try to find an answer.
In ancient China, writers used to pay tribute or attention to the commoners. Those classics that exist to this day usually contain 'worries or concerns for the people'. So it resonates perfectly in contemporary China where many people from the bottom of the pyramids are struggling for survival. This book centers on these people. It's a journal of a construction site of a highway.
Author spent three years living among the laborers. He filmed their daily lives. He observed what common laborers were doing or thinking. Currently, road infrastructure in China is expanding furiously. This highway is just a fraction of a whole picture, but it captures the spirits of roots (草根), or the spirits of the most ordinary people.
As usual, there were several memorable figures in the book. Bosses, government officials, foreman, families, laborers, villagers, etc. Their description are vivid. Personally, I think it greatly captures the atmosphere in rural China. Development makes changes happen suddenly. Many villagers are forced to give way to 'economic development'. Hence, conflicts are expected. There are tensions between every party. Construction firms have to handle Guanxi with government agency; laborers need to fight for their benefits with the construction firm; laborers need to deal with the angry villagers whose property is damaged due to the project. Readers could get a rare glimpse into the real life of these unknown people. It reflects the dilemma, bitterness, as well as the happiness (though less than the former two) of these groups.
It's a great book for me to have reflections. It gives me more insights on the status quo of Chinese society. Apart from the affluent people, I think we really should remember there are some people behind the scene. They are backbones of Chinese economic miracles. How to make the society more equal is a question we should try to find an answer.
September 22, 2018
This book is restricted for buying or discussing in China. Actually it's just simply reflecting Chinese bureaucracy and lower-level people's poverty and helpless. The author comes from the same region with me, so I have a lot of similar feelings in his writing.
October 20, 2025
多麼全面深入的田野
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews