Recent Changes in China (2)

by Tzy C. Peng 

Transformed Cities 

From 1979 to 2001, and as long as peace and prosperity last, all cities in
China are expanding in size as well as transforming in composition. Common
to the eight cities that I have visited (large cities of Shanghai, Beijing
and Nanjing; medium cities of Zhengzhou, Shengyang and Shenzhen; small
cities of Qufu and Benxi), 1) more farmlands are being developed for new
industrial, commercial, residential and recreational uses, 2) bigger and
better highways, bridges, and tunnels are being built to link suburbs and
city centers, 3) more one story old houses in large blocks are being
demolished for high-rise shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, new
national and international airports, and expanding or new railways and bus
stations. Yet, because of the increasing yield per acre on the farm and/or
the development of more farmland in the rural area, the supply of basic
food crops and vegetables to consumers in the city is still adequate and
has not been affected significantly by the demising size of farmland
surrounding these cities.  

Transportation  

In the 1970s, commercial airlines and private cars were practically
non-existent.  Taxicabs were very few.  Trains, buses and bicycles were
primary vehicles of public transportation.  Trains, pulled by coal-burning
locomotives, were slow and dirty, and were often filled with illegal
peddlers selling food, drinks and cigarettes.  In 1986 and 1991, I saw
expanded railroad network, and more diesel locomotives in use. Few
airlines were flying regularly. Private car was still scarce, and majority
of vehicles on road were taxicabs. More highways were being widened and
paved with asphalt. More upgraded highways linking major cities were being
built.  In 2001, airlines are the main transportation between different
regions of China, most of railways were electrified and trains run at top
speed of 60 or more miles per hour.  Many railroads are laid in double
tracks, making possible for regular express trains.  Taxicabs are
available at many street corners. Private cars are present in large
quantities. The only bad news is that bicycles and pedestrians are in
danger of car traffic, and in many instances, they are forbidden in the
center lanes of city streets. 

Subways  

In 1979, China just started its first section of subway in Beijing. I know
because I was  invited by my relatives to be first few passengers to ride
on it.  Right now, big cities like Beijing and Shanghai are equipped with
low-cost, clean, safe and expanding Subway/Surface Railway Networks. 
Subway or surface stations are relatively new, spacious, and quite
artistic. The cost of riding is very low compared to taxicabs, and
train-schedules are usually on time about one in every 5 minutes, and the
passengers  are plentiful.   Crossing town in large cities can be made in
about 30 minutes instead of an hour or more by taxicab and/or car weaving
through traffic.  Looking at the huge crowd of people waiting at the
subway station, especially during the peak hours, makes  me wonder how
people in these cities get around before the opening of subway.  

Market Places

You heard about all those shopping malls in the U.S. Well, China has a
lot of them in many cities. Many of these malls are made up of buildings
of over 8-stories or more. This is necessary to meet the needs of 1.3
billion people in China, and over 10 million people in most of major
cities, including 16 million people in Shanghai. Large shopping centers
and/or malls, are usually found in downtown, and smaller ones are located
in suburbs and residential areas. Particularly interesting, many subway
stations are linked or turned into a market place. It is not uncommon
that multi-story shopping mall with a hundred stores, foreign and domestic.
In fact, you will see commercial stands even in the tunnel-walkways and at
the stairs of the subway station itself.  You can always find McDonald's
hamburger or Kentucky Fried Chicken, much bigger than those in the U.S.,
and are crowded most of times. 

(part 2 of 4, to be continued...)