He was the first Chinese writer to receive this award.
Chinese writers will have to give their own roles serious examination.
Asked to name his favorite young Chinese writers, he said he had none.
"Something strange is going on, that is certain," a Chinese writer said.
West Lake was also the retreat for many Chinese writers of the past.
Gao's work has led to fierce discussion among Chinese writers, both positive and negative.
Shen is unusual among major 20th-century Chinese writers in his refusal to be political.
Nothing could be further from the urban frustration and alienation that inspire many Chinese writers today.
The Chinese writer said he was struck by the change to the Mao suit.
Encounters with Chinese Writers (1984) is a work of journalism.