Great stories...I'll add some later.

Dex, I must have missed you by a few days....was in Beijing from Oct 15 to 18.....then in Shanghai. A Philly architect has partnered with a young Chinese architect in Beijing....visited their office.....+35 pp in a couple years! DO YOU WANT TO MOVE TO BEIJING....I can hook you up! More later....did you take pics? Will post in the other China thread in the next few days.

 

It would've been fun to meet a familiar face in Beijing!

Our office just pulled the plug on their Beijing office after two years or so. There was disagreement between the Partners, but I think the lack of control after design development tipped the scale. Also, buisness practice in China takes a certain kind of flexibility; I'm sure you know what I mean.

Only pictures of the factory, really didn't get out much w/ dinners @ 10.
Only so much you can see from the back seat in the pollution. Apparently fog is an issue; our panels didn't get shipped last week due to fog that was so thick I was told you could barely see the person in front of you..I can't imagine.

No, I'm not up for a transplant at this stage of my life. Perhaps if I was young and single it'd be a great opportunity.

I noticed there were very few convertibles/ roadsters, maybe a couple of Z4's, a Boxster as I recall.

 

I saw a number of Porsches.....911's, several Cayennes Lots of Bimmers in all sizes.... Yes, very few ragtops....

I took pics of a Chery displayed in the airport....need to post later. Also, a very polished Ford Focus....all zooted up and parked in the Univ grounds in Guilin

Have you ever been to the south of China....very different and beautiful

 

Damn, we could have gotten together when you were in Beijing. I had just moved back into Beijing from Yanshan and was staying at the Courtyard.

 

One other thing that struck me as I was talking to someone yesterday - I saw no small children in the entire 3 weeks I was there.

 

I saw a few walking off the beaten path in residential areas. But your right, not too many.

 

Hey, you guys were in 'factory land'

I saw a good number of small children and will post some pics on the 'other' China thread. MANY times did I see a small child riding with parent on a motor scooter....not the safest mode of transport

Then again, there is that thing about "1 child" per family. It was interesting to hear what our local guides had to say about that......

 

You probably didn't go into the villages, or where the people live in the cities. There are lots and lots of children in China.

 

You are correct. I stayed either in Beijing or Yanshan (a suburb of Beijing).

Would love to get out in the villages, I bet it would be much more interesting than Beijing.