LETTERS

I am a long-standing and dedicated reader of your magazine， and truly appreciate the information， knowledge and many splendid experiences it has bestowed on me. However， Id like to point out a tiny mistake in the February issue. In the excellent article “Preservation of the Waning Temple Opus” the author mentions a Chinese term gong chi， which is undoubtedly transliterated from 工尺. The correct pronunciation should be gong che， with the character 尺 here pronounced che. But as the old Chinese saying goes， a speck on a jade stone will not obscure its radiance， and this small slip will surely not divert me from my fondness for the article and respect for the magazine. Thank you. Sincerely yours.

Michael

Renovating Beijings hutong homes with green technology is a challenge， but a rewarding one. This innovation in architecture has been hailed as an example of harmony between mankind and nature and for its smart use of natural elements. Incorporating traditional design with the latest technology in rainwater collection， water recycling and artifi cial wetlands enhances the buildings functionality without impairing its cultural and architectural values， enabling it to better meet the needs of modern society. This attempt is particularly valued in Beijing， which has long been plagued by a water shortage. The city consumes on average 3.6 billion cubic meters of water annually， while the local water resource totals only 2.1 billion， leaving a wide defi ciency.

Lin Xuetong

Beijing， China

When I read your report “Economic Transformation through Industrial Restructuring，” I was reminded that people here and in many other provinces are once again focusing their attention on air pollution， wheezing and sneezing in another bout of dense smog. The past decades saw a surge in the construction of factories that devoured fossil fuels and discharged heavy waste. But as they boosted the economy – lets not forget getting rich quick was the top concern of the government and the people– their environmental impact was largely ignored； now we are paying the price. It will take huge investments and decades to clean the water， air and soil tainted due to our earlier mistakes， but better late than never. We cannot afford any delay.

Han Weijun

Taiyuan， China