More surprises in China

Surprising changes in China (compared to when I lived here between 1980 and 1982), continued:

5.  There's a huge housing construction boom.  We kept exclaiming over the number of high-rise apartments going up.

Construction outside Beijing

The new overshadowing the old (Zhangjiajie)

Old apartments in Taiyuan.  People hope to move out of places this these to...

...something more like these (though I'm not sure how affordable these would be). (Pingliang)

There's a big boom in rural construction too.

New village home.

New village housing.  (Note the solar hot water heaters.)

6.  I noticed a resurgent in practices that had been considered decadent, superstitious, extravagant, and wasteful in the 1980s:

Setting off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck at funerals, new business openings, etc.

Lighting incense and praying at temples.  (Kongtong Shan, a Daoist center near Pingliang, Gansu)

Tying red ribbons with charms. (Kongtong Shan, a center for Daoism)

Honoring the dead by burning paper money (or other things...see http://chinamusings.com/2011/04/08/burning-through-money-tomb-sweeping-day-in-china-going-green/)

Wearing fashionable clothes (in the early 80s it was nothing but plain navy blue suits as seen below).

Kitty and Lan Yu-hui, 1981

College students having a boyfriend or girlfriend (Jishou University, Zhangjiajie).

Playing pool.

Playing mahjong.

7.  Finally in the surprise category--ways China puts its own twist on western imports:

There are more than 3200 KFCs in China, making it the most successful foreign company in China.  Why?  It's not just the chicken, but the local dishes one can get there.

Yes, there are still traditional outdoor butcher shops.

But there are also gleaming supermarkets with pre-packaged meats...

...including vacuum-packed chicken feet.

Familiar brand, yes?  But look closely at the flavors: "hot and sour fish soup flavor" and "numb and spicy hot pot flavor." Both are "intense and stimulating."

China is famous for "Chinglish," a unique form of English that must be the product of machine translation.  I liked this one: "The star class kitchen enjoys for you...." and

...wondered if this restaurant chef wished she had such a kitchen.  By the way, if Chinglish brightens your day, you can see more at http://www.engrish.com/category/chinglish/ and http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/03/world/asia/20100503_CHINGLISH.html