Shanghai Living

Where do you park in Shanghai? We haven't seen parking ramps as there is not a lot of space for them in Shanghai. This is another reason there are only 2 million motor vehicles in the city and over 900 bus lines. Whil Volkswagon and Buik are the two major car manufacturers in Shanghai, there are other makes on the roadways. Shanhai residents also purchase special license plates. The special "Shanghai" plates alllow them to drive on the bridges and upper level streets during rush hour. It seems the extra cost of the plates would be worth it as there are a lot of those upper level streets here!

Where do people live in Shanghai? The old hutongs are disappearing from the landscape, making way for modern apartment complexes. The massive concrete apartment buildings tower to the sky here. One such building looks as if it might house all the residents of the small town I'm from in Mississippi. The apartments within them are small and yet spendy. People in Shanghai own their apartments, but not the land on which they are built. Thus apartment owners can use the land for up to 70 years at which point they must move, or extend their agreement with the government to own their apartment in the area.

Immigrants who come here from the countryside in search of work try to find an inexpensive place to stay, but it is difficult. Working in Shanghai is a dream for many of them and the route to financial progress for them and their familes. However, work is hard to find unless you are educated for just the right position. For some, working in Shanghai becomes begging in Shanghai, which some favor over laboring on the land in the countryside.

The Pudong New Area, the Financial Zone, and the High Tech Park reflect the economic reforms have benefited many in the cities here. To some extent I;ve heard it's trickling to the countryside in the form of social security benefits and government supported reforms. China is increasingly becoming ever more open to the world and the world is becoming ever more interested in China. Tourism industries reflect this as well. I plan to travel here again some day.