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**wepoiyub** · 08-02-2010, 09:03 PM

Yes and no. I am not sure which city or when you went, but I have seen major changes in most of the cities. Yes, there are, what we would call slums, and then there are the high rise apartments. What is interesting is the rising middle class in China. As such, things are improving. The living conditions we see today in China can be described what the living conditions in the early 20th century where running water was not available everywhere.

The main problem with the housing, at least from my perspective, is there is no resale value. Once you buy the apartment, you pretty much stay there for life. Also, China tends to build up and not out as does the US, most notaly in the SE, South, SW, and West parts of the country. It is different and as such you cannot make a comparison.

I was in Hong Kong and Beijing. The conditions ARE improving, but slowly. The village I went to was all low rise, but no bathrooms. Better housing WAS being built, but the big complaint was that when you trade up you take a huge loss. Such is life. You don't trade even here either. But they still don't have our personal conveniences, or rights. But from what I see, they are taking advantage of what they DO have and that is educational and cultural opportunities.

I think there is an unequal gradient there when we start comparing who will be the biggest loser in an economic showdown. WE would. Or to put it another way our POPULACE would be the biggest losers. There would be little change for them as far as I can see.

08-02-2010, 09:03 PM	#35
wepoiyub Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 406 Senior Member	Yes and no. I am not sure which city or when you went, but I have seen major changes in most of the cities. Yes, there are, what we would call slums, and then there are the high rise apartments. What is interesting is the rising middle class in China. As such, things are improving. The living conditions we see today in China can be described what the living conditions in the early 20th century where running water was not available everywhere. The main problem with the housing, at least from my perspective, is there is no resale value. Once you buy the apartment, you pretty much stay there for life. Also, China tends to build up and not out as does the US, most notaly in the SE, South, SW, and West parts of the country. It is different and as such you cannot make a comparison. I was in Hong Kong and Beijing. The conditions ARE improving, but slowly. The village I went to was all low rise, but no bathrooms. Better housing WAS being built, but the big complaint was that when you trade up you take a huge loss. Such is life. You don't trade even here either. But they still don't have our personal conveniences, or rights. But from what I see, they are taking advantage of what they DO have and that is educational and cultural opportunities. I think there is an unequal gradient there when we start comparing who will be the biggest loser in an economic showdown. WE would. Or to put it another way our POPULACE would be the biggest losers. There would be little change for them as far as I can see.
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