There is an advertisement often repeated on the Chinese English News Channel (CCTV) that goes ‘’every minute of every hour China undergoes rapid transformation.’’ Let me tell you this is not media hype; China is really undergoing transformation on a scale and level unprecedented in human history. And, boy, is it in your face; often literally in the form of construction dust in the environment and, of course, the constant boom and thud of heavy construction equipment operating night and day.
Typical high-rise inner-city apartments
As you know, I arrived several months ago, and, even in that short time, I have witnessed the opening of two new major shopping complexes (with others under construction) and also witnessed several arterial roads in the city being transformed into grand boulevards over night under my very nose.
By the way, when we traveled back from Shanghai airport to Wuhu by car (440 kms), we were on high speed freeways that were as good as anything I have ever seen in the west. They were relatively free of traffic and the Chinese (Wuhu) built car we were travelling in was able to cruise at a steady 140 kms comfortably.
Recently, I got my hands on some statistics about this city’s urban transformation. According to a reliable report, at this very moment in Wuhu (a smaller and fairly insignificant, provincial Chinese City) there are US $14 billion worth of developments underway.
Apparently, the Central and Provincial Governments are working on a major transformative strategy with the aim of shifting the centre of (economic) gravity away from the overcrowded and overdeveloped cities on the eastern seaboard (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Tianjin etc) to smaller cities in the central and western belt of China. Hinterland cities such as Wuhu and many others in the Yangtze delta region have become major beneficiaries of this development thrust.
Now everything is in China. is new! Old is out. The ‘new and big is best’ mentality that infected our thinking in the post-war era has even reached the poorer regions of the Chinese hinterland. The shopping malls, hotels, housing and industrial projects are simply an amazing sight to behold.
New urban housing abounds
Yesterday, I got to visit two new housing estates that are still being constructed, one for working people who have been displaced as a result of the urban-renewal process and a middle class example. They are all mostly in high rise buildings but with well-landscaped surrounding gardens. The interiors of these places are decorated with great taste and rival anything you see in western, inner-urban apartments, although, getting into a basic, undecorated shell can cost upward US $100,000 even in this, third-tier, provincial city. I will bring you a detailed report on my observations at the housing estates and some interesting photos in my next blog.
Zaijian for now
Lao Qi
(Old Qi)
Look forward to your next post, is the 100 grand apartment the workers grade or the middle class?
Brian hi, AU$100 K would get a middle class apartment. Go cats!
Yes, I am still reading your blog and look forward to it every week. Have you changed your email address as my emails are bouncing back?
Hi Mary email should be just the same. I think some emails have been a little errant, not sure why. Thanks for reading
I hope they are preserving historical sites and will not look back and regret the history lost.Tourists are not realy interested in seeing new.
Hi, June thanks, Yes the Chinese still care for thier culture but its just the poverty stains they are intent on removing. Cheers