Growing up. Leaving home. Going back—and grieving for whats lost. As Gertrude Stein described her hometown after it was demolished， “There is no there there.” The cycle is as old as civilization， and its yet one that feels， to each generation， unique， a burden to be borne by them alone.

Of course， theres some truth to that in China today. Has a society ever changed so much， so rapidly？ Has there ever been so much demolition and construction as in the last few decades？ Its partly why weve decided to dedicate this issues cover story to the theme of “home bound”—the ties of family， the bonds of the past.

At the least， its a separation measured by many miles. At worst， its the vast gulf between aspiration and obligation， a fantasy of a prosperous future and a diminishing past threatened by obsolescence. Rarely are the contradictions of homecoming more acutely felt than at the Spring Festival， a time of auspicious omens and annoying aunties， where whats in our hearts often threatens to clash with whats at our hearths.

As well as tracing the lives of villagers and graduates whove left their towns behind， this issue goes underground with Chinas multitude of tomb robbers and dinosaur hunters， examines the legacy and future of the ancient practice of tai chi， gets intoxicated by Guizhou，

and much more besides.

Robert Foyle Hunwick Managing Editor