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Minpu Bridge Under Construction I'm a waiguoren and I am also interested in construction projects in Shanghai. I think for a foreigner or for a Chinese person the scale and speed of changing landscape is one of the most interesting things about Shanghai. |
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Mega-Projects and Raising Power of China I feel optimistic about China. Mega-Projects are exciting and many have the potential (especially rail and roads) to dramatically affect the economy. I am from Boston, where we recently completed the "Big Dig", which was called by many "the last [American] Mega-Project." Of course there are always questions about whether or not such large amounts of money could be better spent, though I notice that these are all transportation projects, which almost everyone agrees are a big part of an efficient economy. Finally, I hate Heathrow airport, and much prefer Hongqiao to Pudong, though I still like Pudong better than Heathrow. But there are a lot of people in China, and probably a few big airports is better for the environment and the sanity of the people who live in a city than a million small ones. PD almost makes the inconvenient size into a poignant sense of alienation rather than just being a ratty mess with extremely low ceilings (every time I go to Heathrow, I thank god that Yao Ming plays basketball in the US instead of in England. He would probably have to use a wheelchair to get around that airport. I haven't seen the new Heathrow terminal, though.) |
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Social Environment in Central China Wow, I just stumbled on your blog while looking for a hotel for my family to stay in when they come visit me. I love it! You are my hero! Did you ever read Lin Yutang or George Orwell (His essays, not his famous anti-totalitarian books)? The energy of your blog kind of reminds of them: rational, critical, but with a down-to-earth love of life. Keep doing what you're doing! |