tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post6005304849705233171..comments2023-12-04T10:02:29.445-06:00Comments on Mark's China Blog: Chinese cities you've never heard of, but should know - Part 3Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-395600662827350742010-04-25T07:37:52.624-05:002010-04-25T07:37:52.624-05:00Yeah its pretty spooky, a lot of those Ordos neigh...Yeah its pretty spooky, a lot of those Ordos neighborhoods look like the Vegas "master planned communities".... right down to the cheap roofing tiles and the funky little "O" shaped decoration that gets slapped on the walls at the top. I have no idea what decorative function it serves, but I see them on buildings all the time in Vegas and now Ordos.<br /><br />Oh, and those master planned communities here, well they still look like ghost towns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-7160042263688546322010-04-25T00:28:05.855-05:002010-04-25T00:28:05.855-05:00@Ramesh - I haven't been to Ordos or anywhere ...@Ramesh - I haven't been to Ordos or anywhere else in Inner Mongolia. It'd definitely be an interesting place to go though!<br /><br />I like the words you used - "senseless development." That's a good way of putting it. Yes, buildings are going up and people are working. But to what end?<br /><br />It's very troubling to see (although it does make for some great photography).Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-2423676834719764612010-04-25T00:23:39.216-05:002010-04-25T00:23:39.216-05:00From what I understand, there just aren't good...From what I understand, there just aren't good places for Chinese people to put their money. So people with money have to end up speculating on the stock market and real estate.<br /><br />America is certainly hurting from its infatuation of viewing houses as investments. The housing crash (and everything associated with it) is what threw us into a tailspin. And I feel like the current lack of a rebound in real estate is keeping us from really recovering. It's sad that we're in this position.<br /><br />Hopfrog, you surely know the pains associated with this stuff more than most living in Vegas. I'm sure you've seen plenty of crazy stuff going on with condos and houses out there.<br /><br />On a better note, you're right, there certainly is a lot to do in China. It's impossible to see everything worth seeing in the country. There's so much of the China I haven't seen.<br /><br />Saying that, I've seen more of China than I have America and am grateful that I've been able to see as much as I have.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-89032367092166254822010-04-25T00:14:37.943-05:002010-04-25T00:14:37.943-05:00Great post Mark - I know very little about Ordus m...Great post Mark - I know very little about Ordus more than just having heard of it. Have you traveled in those parts ??<br /><br />As you rightly say, China is not immune from the laws of economics irrespective of what the officials might have to say. Such senseless development are most unlikely to work. Some of China's investments in infrastructure is a consequence of going berserk in times of plenty. A great parallel is the UK pouring money into the NHS in the good times - it did some good, but a lot of it was waste. White elephants anywhere in the world will show up however much anybody can try to hide it.Rameshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-34173976630361187702010-04-24T19:14:44.831-05:002010-04-24T19:14:44.831-05:00I am so fascinated to see what happens with the ex...I am so fascinated to see what happens with the experiment that is Ordos. I think it would be an incredible precedent if this proved to be an easy way for the working class to transition to better living conditions. Sadly, I feel this will only happen after reality sets in that housing is not a viable commodity.<br /><br />Much as we saw in the states, housing is being seen as an investment vehicle more than.... well, housing! Eventually the bubble is going to pop and people will eat their losses and these homes will one day become affordable to the masses. For now, they will sit empty.<br /><br />I am really jazzed about going over again, and its fun to think about what city to head to. Chongqing, Ordos, Xian, Qingdao, Beijing, and many others really appeal to me for the varied experiences they would provide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com