Dear Editor:
I happened to come across the July and August 1991 issues of Sinorama. The warmth and understanding it gives the reader of the look and feel of Taiwan, its state of development and the circumstances of overseas Chinese is something that can't be found in other domestic publications. With innovative topics, rich contents and a unique format, it is quite appealing and I got a lot of it.
I would like to be able to continue to read Sinorama, but unfortunately it seems there is no way to subscribe to it on the mainland.
Editor's Response: We have received subscriptions from readers in the mainland. If mainland readers would like to subscribe to Sinorama, they can ask a friend or relative in Taiwan to help them, or they can subscribe through our agent in Hong Kong (please see the masthead for address).
Dear Editor:
I'm an ordinary young man from mainland China who goes to the library a lot. Today, very much by chance, I came across the June 1991 issue of Sinorama there and spent nearly two hours reading it all at one gulp. Its fine printing, rich contents and clear, fresh style all appealed deeply to me. I could hardly wait to read more issues, but the library doesn't have any.
I very much hope you could send me several issues of Sinorama. I plan to introduce it to my many friends, and then we'll ask the city library to take out a long-term subscription. Or maybe we could take out a joint subscription, if our resources permit. With that in mind, could you please tell me how to subscribe? Can I pay in Renminbi? What's the price? I saw on the masthead that the retail price in Taiwan is 98 yuan [editor's note: the price has been raised to NT$120 beginning this July]. I don't know if that's in NT dollars or Renminbi. If it's in Renminbi, it would be difficult to bear, given the standard of living on the mainland, and you really should lower it, in consideration for your readers here.
My friends and I like economics--we're particularly keen on world development--and so we hope you might be able to feature a regular series on the economies of the world, which would (l) introduce the state and trends of economic development in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, southeast Asia, Europe, the United States and elsewhere; (2) introduce the state and development of Western and Marxist economic theories and the debate between them; and (3) in view of the fact that more and more stock markets are being set up here, the series would tell us something about stock markets and securities investment in developed countries. I believe that many of your readers would certainly appreciate a feature like this. Knowing something about economics is indispensable for any person living in the modern civilized world.
I would also like to suggest that you add a regular feature on "notable people," which would introduce the experiences, ordeals and success stories of Chinese living in places around the world, including ordinary Chinese as well as business people, experts and scholars. A feature like this would let your readers see that Chinese are intelligent and goal-oriented, and could also introduce the lives, work and schooling of people of other countries, both famous and ordinary, to expand your reader's horizons.
Your dual-language format is very effective, but since the general level of English on the mainland is still quite low, I wish you could add a small feature on "Learning English" in hopes of raising the standard of English of the broad mass of your readers.
In the "Potpourri" section, besides reports from Taiwan, you might also consider carrying articles from Chinese-language newspapers and magazines in overseas Chinese communities like Hong Kong and Singapore. That way we could find out mo about how China is viewed by overseas Chinese.
The reason I'm writing you this very long letter, even though I'm just an ordinary young person on the mainland, is that I like your magazine a lot and would like it to be even better and attract even more readers. Even though I may not be able to read it again, I still wanted to write to express my fondness and enthusiasm and to extend my cordial thanks to all the editors and staff, because it is your hard work that has made this fine publication possible. Finally, I wish you all success and happiness--and I hope I can read your magazine!
Mr. Lee Hunan Province
Editor's Response:
Thank you for your letter. Sinorama is currently priced at NT$120 per retail copy, or NT$1200 for a one-year subscription. We will give serious consideration to all your suggestions, including new features and offering a discount to readers on the mainland.
