: The skyline was still low. The ancient city walls were gone, but the high-rise booms of the 90s hadn't yet begun. 🕰️ Why 1985 Matters
: The sound of the rhythmic "thwack" as vendors prepared the cane.
: The sea of blue and grey Mao suits was starting to break. Younger people began wearing "Western-style" colorful down jackets or trench coats. Sugarcane Peking 1985
: The steam from outdoor dumpling stalls mixing with the dry, cold air.
In a city that was just beginning to see the influx of processed sweets and foreign snacks, sugarcane was a staple "natural" street food. : The skyline was still low
: Sugarcane was primarily a winter treat. Massive stalks were transported from the warmer southern provinces to the capital.
: Sugarcane symbolized the new connectivity between the tropical South and the frigid North. : The sea of blue and grey Mao suits was starting to break
: For a few fen (cents), a vendor would chop a section of the stalk and peel back the tough outer rind with a sharp cleaver.