Cynthia – China Housing
From: Cynthia Ward
Date: May 19, 2009
Shanghai has quite a different feel from Beijing. It is much more cosmopolitan with many more foreigners, so we are not so much of a novelty as we were in other places in China. Shanghai has a “floating” population of nearly 20 million, which means that many people come to the city to work for a year or two and then leave. As in Bejing one sees mile after mile of high rise buildings of offices and apartments. Most people in both cities live in apartments and since space is limited, of course, they build up. It takes an hour to drive from one end of the city to the other on the cross-town expressways, if the traffic is light and longer if the highway is congested, with an unending view of mostly beautiful high rise buidings. China has been replacing their traditional construction of lower 2-3 story buildings, but now the government realizes that some of this traditional flavor and culture should be preserved. Much of this older type of housing, however, is walled off from view or nestled among the high rises down narrow alleyways. Guilin was the only city where single family houses were evident, but as a resort community, much of those are vacation homes of wealthier individuals who can afford them. Those who live and work in the city live in apartments. The farmers appear to live in low, single story houses that resemble motels.
Cynthia J Ward, Ph.D.
Sage Graduate Management Programs
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