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Maybe on a financial performance benchmark, but there is no city to live in, in Mainland China then Shanghai. Nothing even comes close, and for the people who usually bash Shanghai (I have, as I'm not a big fan of the locals), It is by far the most advanced and beautiful city to live in China, esp if your an expat. The tree lined streets, the quaint shops and places to eat and drink, the new vs the old neighborhoods. The number of restaurants and options for food, as well as expat life is much much better than any other city in China. Tons of groups and activities to join as an expat, or mixed with locals and expats. I've lived in Guangzhou, Beijing and spend time in Qingdao, Dalian and Shenzhen and nothing compares to Shanghai for quality of life.
If you are a westerner and love international city life, your order in china would generally be HK, Shanghai and then the rest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JakeinChina
Maybe on a financial performance benchmark, but there is no city to live in, in Mainland China then Shanghai. Nothing even comes close, and for the people who usually bash Shanghai (I have, as I'm not a big fan of the locals), It is by far the most advanced and beautiful city to live in China, esp if your an expat. The tree lined streets, the quaint shops and places to eat and drink, the new vs the old neighborhoods. The number of restaurants and options for food, as well as expat life is much much better than any other city in China. Tons of groups and activities to join as an expat, or mixed with locals and expats. I've lived in Guangzhou, Beijing and spend time in Qingdao, Dalian and Shenzhen and nothing compares to Shanghai for quality of life.
Just my two cents.
No need to watch out. No need to care when your neighbor grow in height or wealth.
This sounded like all cities in the world are in a competition. In fact, city people don't really care.
Do we in HK or Asia care Macau has the richest GDP per capita?
The fact is both HK and Shenzhen benefited from each other's growth over the years. And both benefited from China's growth and open door policy. If one or both cities shut the doors, both will suffer.
Shenzhen may be an economic powerhouse, but because it's a boom town and has no particular center - it's really just a place to work. Not a whole lot in terms of cultural amenities, walkable places, etc, compared with an established metropolis such as Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao or Tianjin.
If you are a westerner and love international city life, your order in china would generally be HK, Shanghai and then the rest.
What's an "international city life" for a westerner? Let me guess, speaking English, eating western food and hanging out with only other expats most of the time, only in a non-western country? I fail to see how that is international. It is a western life.
Botticelli gets so bitter because he's a Chinese national that moved to Canada and can't find his own identity or group of people to relate to so he pisses on everyone else's comments and opinions.
Botticelli gets so bitter because he's a Chinese national that moved to Canada and can't find his own identity or group of people to relate to so he pisses on everyone else's comments and opinions.
haha. not at all. Do you think I had trouble finding Chinese in Toronto?? I live in France now by the way.
I don't **** on everyone's comments. Your previous reply was well thought. I agree with most of what you said here so I didn't reply to them.
OK Maybe I was too harsh on you. Sorry. But you're very negative most of the time. You have lots of good comments and good thoughts, and I agree with many of them. Best of luck in France. I hope your doing well
The question I really have is, would it be beneficial for HK to merge with Shenzhen, in effect, making Shenzhen also part of the SAR (Special Administrative Region)? Shenzhen could benefit from a stronger legal system such as Hong Kong's. I see real value in merging seen as if HK itself has many Mainland Chinese there anyway. Some points to consider:
- It would give HK as a region more power as a manufacturing base and possibly compete against South Korea/Taiwan/Japan.
- Free up Hong Kongers from living in tight squashed spaces, I'd leave HK as it is as a business hub so to speak.
- Somewhat drive home prices down but quality of life UP.
- Shenzheners can get a better passport/better access to travel & better education.
Many of the earlier growth in China/Shenzhen was started by Hong Kong businessman/expats. It is nothing like that today, many Mainland Chinese have developed better tech than 30+ years ago...
Do you think the government in Beijing would really want Shenzhen to merge with Hong Kong and become more powerful? "Shenzhen could benefit from a stronger legal system such as Hong Kong". Yes, you might be right, but why would the Communist Party want to steer Shenzhen towards a full democracy society instead of their own "Socialism with democracy characteristics"?
Do you think the government in Beijing would really want Shenzhen to merge with Hong Kong and become more powerful? "Shenzhen could benefit from a stronger legal system such as Hong Kong". Yes, you might be right, but why would the Communist Party want to steer Shenzhen towards a full democracy society instead of their own "Socialism with democracy characteristics"?
It's not really a new idea, ever since Shenzhen became a SEZ (Special Economic Zone) it's pretty much been designed to one day merge with HK or at least synergise.
Beijing would want something like a Singapore for Hong Kong...where you'd have a robust legal system but run by a somewhat really strict government. Singapore imho as close as you can get to a "socialism with democratic characteristics"..
HK is nowhere near a democracy back in the ole days of British rule .... and even now...
Shenzhen adopting the HK legal system would make it a hell of a lot easier for SZ companies to do business on a global scale. Personally I think it makes a lot of sense and SZ was already groomed to be as such. If done right like East/West Germany, there can be many benefits...
Population would be a combined 18-20 million with an area of 2,600m2 of usable space. I'd leave HK basically as a CBD/commercial centre whereas Shenzhen would be better for residential and light farming purposes.
Only problem really is to get HKers today to agree to a merger and having a somewhat 30 year "transition" period to 2047. I find HK way too stuffy and overpopulated, whilst SZ is no Siberia, the it could at least provide decent living space.
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