These days, incidents are accumulating that seem to repeat the traumatic history of the People’s Republic of China: During her field research, sociologist Guo Yuhua once collected the oral stories of farmers who were not allowed to flee their villages during the great famines. 60 years later, the retired professor herself stands at the border crossing from Shenzhen to the former British colony of Hong Kong – and is rejected by customs officials. Beijing has imposed a travel ban against her, the academic was informed.