1. Actually, I've been going to China for visits over a long period of time. My personal view is that is it getting a lot better as time passes, at least for dating and romance for foreigners with local girls. Also for quality of life and relating to the locals. The first time I ever set foot in China, it seemed like a extremely dirty and backward country with brainwashed and often immoral people who would be taking a very big risk if they got too close to foreigners. As time passed, Taiwanese started going there in droves (from big institutions to small mom-and-pop set-ups) and many got burned badly by various levels of government and locals who cheated them like bandits with impunity. But then, some started succeeding, especially large tech firms in SARs and the re-export model was a huge boon to Taiwan's economy through the 90s. People born post-Mao grew-up and seemed fairly normal as a whole, not so different than Chinese in other countries. 2005 was the last time I got heavily involved with the local women so I don't know whether the social aspect has continued to improve or started reversing. But even 6 years ago, I did not tolerate the non-western friendly infrastructure well. Chongqing was a giant dirty mess with peasants all over the place involved in building projects. We often wondered what the meat used in our dishes was (rat meat?). Even then, some of the 3rd tier cities were much cleaner though basic things like Coca Cola and sit-down toilets were not available, even at the top hotel in town. On my recent trip to Shekou, I was positively surprised by the big improvements and western friendliness.globetrotter wrote:There is no way to explain this in a short post. Books have been written on the Chinese.Kunold wrote:globetrotter: when you say this "A bit Ageist, too. But almost ALL nations are. The exceptions are the rare nation." what nations arn't ageist?
And what do you mean in 5 years they will be developed maybe the cities on the coasts what about the rest of China? If Chinese don't like foreigners how do you manage?
http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-11/595629.html
I will try.
Most of the warm water SE Asian nations are not ageist. The more money in a country, the more ageist, the less Spanish influence, the more ageist.
I am talking about those smaller cities referred to as Tier 3 and Tier 4. Places you have never heard of in locations you could not find on a map. The growth in these - growth I have seen with my own eyes - in just one year, is astonishing. They are literally moving from 1849 to 2011 in a matter of 3 years. In 6 months an ancient neighborhood is bulldozed, razed and in its place are modern 32 storey hi-rises as one sees in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and a modern 6 lane, asphalt road as one would see in Germany or Canada or the USA. This road is then lined with parking spaces filled with new autos that are all less than 2 years old. 'Snap' just like that the street moves from peasant Middle Ages poverty to modern Europe or its equivalent.And what do you mean in 5 years they will be developed maybe the cities on the coasts what about the rest of China?
Entire square miles of hundreds of Chinese cities are being redone in this fashion.
As always is the case the older expats always say that it was best now -XX years ago. Rock will tell you it was best 5 years ago, older hands will say that the 'Real Gold Rush' was in 1995. This is always the case for growing nations that are discovered by westerners for work, lifestyle and women.
I will tell you to get your ass on a plane this month and that the time is right now.
It's happening. Right now, this moment.
The Chinese are moving their country from 1849 to 2011 and it will be a done deal in 5 to 10 years in many parts of the country.
Hi-speed rail, hundreds of new nuclear reactors, solar and hydro power, hundreds of millions of autos, large highways, modern apartments, appliances, clothing, business opportunities like you won't see again in your lifetime.
The Chinese can be huge pains in the ass with their gargantuan culture differences, but most Chinese are very cool people to hang out with. They like foreigners - they just want you to STAY. Like Indians or Americans, they want you to come in, settle down, assimilate and stay forever. Interlopers get treated like shit because they don't value Guanxi or relationships. They are frivolous and treated as such. If you are serious, they Chinese will respect you and a gf, wife, business, apt, car - the usual - is all doable.If Chinese don't like foreigners how do you manage?
If you come to the country as a 22 yo college grad, and all you do is get drunk, teach ESL, f**k the local girls, take them to the clinic when they get pg, and play PS all day, then you will be treated just as you present yourself as; as someone who is not to be taken seriously.
As Rock wrote, if you are willing to and demonstrate a serious desire to relocate, settle down and make a life for yourself in China (or Asia..) they will welcome you. Your visa will still be a pain, but for work, home, romance, friends, you will be able to have a good life in China.
RP, you can come and go and they will still welcome you. Other nations, too.
But most peoples/nations want you to stay.
Think of how Americans view immigrants.
Same deal.
2. Rapid and dramatic infrastructure makeovers throughout the country are par for the course when a developing economy hits a certain tipping point, especially one where the government is strong. I believe it happened in places like Indonesia during the 90s - jungle villages being transformed and completely modernized overnight. By the time the country's debt burden caught-up with development in 1998, the process was largely completed. The tiger economies had their growth spurts and infrastructure transformations as well. But given China's size and the government's power to make decisions unilaterally, the scale of some of its major projects will trump those of its predecessors.
3. China still has a cheap cost of living in many areas. But I've seen how quickly this can change with my own eyes in just a few years time. Brazil was a cheap country 10 years ago, now its an expensive one, on par with the EU. The purchasing power of a US$ there has fallen around 70-85% over the last decade and with very little improvement in infrastructure. Now Thailand has also gotten a lot more expensive in US$ terms over that period though not as extreme as Brazil. But at least there have been a commensurate infrastructure upgrades so in many ways, the quality of life and available options has improved tremendously. You pay more but get more and prices are still very attractive from an international perspective. I believe China will be more like the second case as long as inflation does not get out of hand and rate of currency appreciation does not accelerate.