Shanghai

Just got back from a vacation that lovely city, great place.

Something I've noticed, even though it's Yao's hometown, it's still a soccer city. The hype for Yao isn't nearly as big as it is here. I even think that Beckham (one of the most popular soccer player in the world) might be more popular than Yao in China, atleast I see his face a lot more on billboards around town and on TV.

The Pu Xi and Pu Dong districts are like night and day. The Pu Xi area is very busy metropolis, extremely lively but also have problem with being dirty and poluted, very much like NEW York. Pu Dong is very clean and has a more of a laid back feel you'd get in the the souther and western parts of the U.S., even though areas near the harbor looks just as grand as Pu Xi, there just isn't "reng qi" or livelyness you find in Pu Xi.

The city is definitely becoming very advanced, there a tall buildings every where. The Shanghai grand theatre was beautiful, and it was very sweet hearing the vienna orchestra there.

Prices for things such as DVD and video games are forced to be low because of piracy. Companies there try to compete with the pirates instead of other media. I got WC 3 for 3 bux, and it was a legit version since it came with a battle.net CD key that worked and I can play online.

The food was great, though it will be hard to eat oriental food for a while since most in the states can't compare or is too expensive.

 

There's quite a good amount of westerners around the central harbor area. Around there you can also find a good amount restaurants/cafe that suits westerners including a starbucks on every corner (not exaggerating). The prices in stores and restaurants in that area are very expensive compared to places outside of that area.

However, it could be uncomfortable/weird for some one who doesn't speak the local language (and I'm talking about the shanghai dialect and not mandarin) to be away from the central area.

It's definitely a good place to have a second home there, though the real estate value over there is growing very very fast, most properties around that area have doubled in the the past 2 years. But I think the prices are starting to stablilize since the Chinese government is putting forth policies to try and stabilize the prices. While the prices for a condo in one of the high rise buildings in the central area is fairly high now (around 200 - 250k+ ), it's not out of range for most middle class Americans, especially since you can ask for mortgages now, though a lot lenders over their require almost and 30 percent down. But the overall low cost of living definitely makes up for it.

As far as golfing, I know there are courses around the outskirts of Shanghai but those are fairly expensive and usually used by the rich, but if you're upper middle class here you really wouldn't have too much problem affordding things there.

As for second homes, if you want buy, make sure you get the furnished houses. Furnishing a house can be a real pain especially if you're a foreigner, YOU WILL BE RIPPED OFF and will have to argue for EVERY thing. Also a unfurnished house means an unfurnished house in China, including not having toilets, sinks, bath tubs, kitchen tools, floor tiles, etc etc.

But despite it's vices, I still love the city (I was born there) and think it's great. I don't know if I'd live there long term (way too dirty) but if I can find a job that sends me over there with a $2000 + salary per month , it's definitely a serious option. I do know lot of Chinese people are talking about retiring there since the cost of living is so low.

 

I think you should definitely make a trip back. It's really nice now. And if you stay in Pu Dong, the air isn't so bad and all the nice things you've grown accustomed to in the states can be had over there too for the right price (well maybe a very high right price).