The China Thread

[Read_Lives_of_Saints]

So to summarize your review of that $300/month 1,200 square foot 3 bedroom apartment

I've never stayed in an apartment in China without A/C and it doesn't fit with this being a new complex. Shots of the tower's center shaft show A/C units on the exterior of most of the other apartments and definitely has an effect on the rental price.



While I'm used to the heat in the southern USA, it's difficult for me to imagine a couple of Brits going through a Guangdong summer at 95°F/35°C without air conditioning. Chinese people only do it when they have to because of the expense.

The furnishings in this place are bare bones and the Brits don't like the beds, so the owner is probably trying for a low investment rental unit and thought the place could be let out without having to install A/C. Maybe they bought several units and are looking at an overall cost and trying to find tenants who can live without aircon?

It's odd and another example that you have to pay attention to these details when you see shiny adverts from China.

 

[Thomas More]

The Hongqi bridge was recently completed in China. It's one of the world's highest bridges, and has been touted as an example of China's advancement and superiority.

Hongqi Bridge - HighestBridges.com

www.highestbridges.com

It just collapsed.



Edit: When I searched for the Hongqi Bridge, I got a link for the Huajiang Canyon Bridge which was also recently completed and very high. I think this bridge got a lot of attention, and the Hongqi bridge was not as famous. It's still a cautionary tale of hubris.

 

[Wutang]

I don't post in this thread often and prefer to just read since both the pro-China and anti-China tend to give pretty detailed and well-argued posts for their position (outside of the "China is going to turn everyone into fertilizer" posts which I do take time to argue against since it it's so ridiculous and needs to be called out in the same way flat earth stuff needs to be called out) but I have to say seeing one of the biggest pro-Chinese posters who appears to be an ethnically Chinese himself (even though he doesn't seem to be from the mainland) completely deflect the question on how the Chinese government has such strong laws against VPN usage by saying "well plenty of people use it anyways" did raise a big pretty big eyebrow from me. He doesn't deny that the Chinese government does crack down on VPN restrictions but instead suggests people risk getting thrown into jail by using workarounds. Whether it's easy to use VPNs or not, the point that the China critics are pointing out is that the fact that people even have to use these workarounds is already a big stain on the manner in which the CPP are running things.

The fact that even such a law exists on the books is already bad enough but unlike say sodomy laws in some US states, this law does appear to be actively enforced and done so in such a heavy handed manner really doesn't inspire confidence in me that the world will be better off if China does become a superpower.

 

[Cooper]

I've never stayed in an apartment in China without A/C and it doesn't fit with this being a new complex. Shots of the tower's center shaft show A/C units on the exterior of most of the other apartments and definitely has an effect on the rental price.

View attachment 25332

While I'm used to the heat in the southern USA, it's difficult for me to imagine a couple of Brits going through a Guangdong summer at 95°F/35°C without air conditioning. Chinese people only do it when they have to because of the expense.

The furnishings in this place are bare bones and the Brits don't like the beds, so the owner is probably trying for a low investment rental unit and thought the place could be let out without having to install A/C. Maybe they bought several units and are looking at an overall cost and trying to find tenants who can live without aircon?

It's odd and another example that you have to pay attention to these details when you see shiny adverts from China.

There is a large indoor AC unit in the living room corner by the window. Those AC units in your picture above must be for the bedrooms, in the Brits' flat they have set up a large fan for their office and smaller fans for the bedrooms. With a big unit in the living room the temperature in the bedroom is not going to be too high, I would imagine if that were a problem they could easily get a dedicated AC unit for $100-$150 and split the cost with their landlord.

So A/C is definitely not a factor here, and certainly not the deal breaker you make it out to be. As well this is not an "advert", it's just a couple of British boomers being very happy about their setup and about living in China as expats. Their alternative in places like Tenerife would have had 5x the rent.

 

[It_Is_My_Time]

I don't post in this thread often and prefer to just read since both the pro-China and anti-China tend to give pretty detailed and well-argued posts for their position (outside of the "China is going to turn everyone into fertilizer" posts which I do take time to argue against since it it's so ridiculous and needs to be called out in the same way flat earth stuff needs to be called out) but I have to say seeing one of the biggest pro-Chinese posters who appears to be an ethnically Chinese himself (even though he doesn't seem to be from the mainland) completely deflect the question on how the Chinese government has such strong laws against VPN usage by saying "well plenty of people use it anyways" did raise a big pretty big eyebrow from me. He doesn't deny that the Chinese government does crack down on VPN restrictions but instead suggests people risk getting thrown into jail by using workarounds. Whether it's easy to use VPNs or not, the point that the China critics are pointing out is that the fact that people even have to use these workarounds is already a big stain on the manner in which the CPP are running things.

The fact that even such a law exists on the books is already bad enough but unlike say sodomy laws in some US states, this law does appear to be actively enforced and done so in such a heavy handed manner really doesn't inspire confidence in me the world be better off if China does become a superpower.

China already is a superpower, and the world will be better, but not for us, when they are the lone ruler. Unless you think a bunch of 80 and 90 IQ third worlders can compete with them. If you do, then you don't live in reality.

 

[Cooper]

I don't post in this thread often and prefer to just read since both the pro-China and anti-China tend to give pretty detailed and well-argued posts for their position (outside of the "China is going to turn everyone into fertilizer" posts which I do take time to argue against since it it's so ridiculous and needs to be called out in the same way flat earth stuff needs to be called out) but I have to say seeing one of the biggest pro-Chinese posters who appears to be an ethnically Chinese himself (even though he doesn't seem to be from the mainland) completely deflect the question on how the Chinese government has such strong laws against VPN usage by saying "well plenty of people use it anyways" did raise a big pretty big eyebrow from me. He doesn't deny that the Chinese government does crack down on VPN restrictions but instead suggests people risk getting thrown into jail by using workarounds. Whether it's easy to use VPNs or not, the point that the China critics are pointing out is that the fact that people even have to use these workarounds is already a big stain on the manner in which the CPP are running things.

The fact that even such a law exists on the books is already bad enough but unlike say sodomy laws in some US states, this law does appear to be actively enforced and done so in such a heavy handed manner really doesn't inspire confidence in me the world be better off if China does become a superpower.

It's hard to tell how actively enforced that anti-VPN law is, the sources of the 2 or 3 anti-China CIK zealots being professional anti-China propaganda sites. It looks to me like something similar to crackdowns in the US on downloading bit torrent content, a crime that, in the books, can get you up to 5 years in jail and a $250k fine. A MN woman was found guilty of downloading 24 songs and fined $1.9 million for that:

Woman fined to tune of $1.9 million for illegal downloads - CNN.com

A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each -- a total of $1.9 million -- for 24 songs.

www.cnn.com

I don't blame the Chinese for banning Facebook, Insta, YT, Google etc as those are powerful social engineering and cultural subversion weapons, in addition to being a drain on their economy.

 

[Cooper]

The Hongqi bridge was recently completed in China. It's one of the world's highest bridges, and has been touted as an example of China's advancement and superiority.

Hongqi Bridge - HighestBridges.com

www.highestbridges.com

It just collapsed.



Edit: When I searched for the Hongqi Bridge, I got a link for the Huajiang Canyon Bridge which was also recently completed and very high. I think this bridge got a lot of attention, and the Hongqi bridge was not as famous. It's still a cautionary tale of hubris.

The community notes states that the collapse was due to a massive landslide:

Local authorities & news: Hongqi Bridge approach in Maerkang, Sichuan collapsed due to landslide from mountain slope failure—a natural disaster, not engineering failure. Police closed bridge day prior over cracks & terrain shifts; landslide caused collapse.

It's still a sign of engineering hubris in that the builders have underestimated the natural disaster potential in that site, but it's not like they've used shoddy materials or designs on that bridge.

 

[expectation]

I don't post in this thread often and prefer to just read since both the pro-China and anti-China tend to give pretty detailed and well-argued posts for their position (outside of the "China is going to turn everyone into fertilizer" posts which I do take time to argue against since it it's so ridiculous and needs to be called out in the same way flat earth stuff needs to be called out) but I have to say seeing one of the biggest pro-Chinese posters who appears to be an ethnically Chinese himself (even though he doesn't seem to be from the mainland) completely deflect the question on how the Chinese government has such strong laws against VPN usage by saying "well plenty of people use it anyways" did raise a big pretty big eyebrow from me. He doesn't deny that the Chinese government does crack down on VPN restrictions but instead suggests people risk getting thrown into jail by using workarounds. Whether it's easy to use VPNs or not, the point that the China critics are pointing out is that the fact that people even have to use these workarounds is already a big stain on the manner in which the CPP are running things.

The fact that even such a law exists on the books is already bad enough but unlike say sodomy laws in some US states, this law does appear to be actively enforced and done so in such a heavy handed manner really doesn't inspire confidence in me the world be better off if China does become a superpower.

I'm based in Hong Kong (HK is outside the GFW) and I do get access to Western Apps like Instagram and Facebook through my Sim Card when I use roaming so VPN is built in whenever I enter into the mainland. Obviously when I connect to wifi in Mainland, I won't have access to them.

What made me react that way is the photos of the crackdowns. Its clearly agitprop and I have never seen a VPN crackdown in my life in my 10 years of going back and forth. So I completely dismissed that post as unserious upon seeing that.

Since you're sincere here, tourist eSim Card with built-in VPN is a common thing. This is what I would recommend friends and family when they visit. None of them were ever sent to the gulags (lol).

Best China eSIM Guide: High-Speed 4G VPN eSIM | Trip.com

Get Cheap China eSIM with 4G high-speed VPN on Trip.com. This guide explains how to choose the right eSIM and how to use etc.

www.trip.com

 

[Sandalwood Peak]

You got to love how "Nazis" turn into SJWs when it comes to China. "China is not letting a man love another man, a disgusting dictatorship".

You also got to love how boomer civnat Americans would make Hitler blush with their positions on the Chinese. Chinks are born-evil ant-people dead set on killing all whites using commie free market economics, I will never let these subhumans harm my fellow Americans: Vivek and Tyrone.

The only "truth" the Chinese need to access using a VPN is that muslims and blacks should never be allowed in. Their state enforced "racial harmony" is a major problem. The only thing American Universities are doing is turning these Chinese students gay. I'm struggling to understand what information the Chinese need access to.

 

[expectation]

You got to love how "Nazis" turn into SJWs when it comes to China. "China is not letting a man love another man, a disgusting dictatorship".

You also got to love how boomer civnat Americans would make Hitler blush with their positions on the Chinese. Chinks are born-evil ant-people dead set on killing all whites using commie free market economics, I will never let these subhumans harm my fellow Americans: Vivek and Tyrone.

The only "truth" the Chinese need to access using a VPN is that muslims and blacks should never be allowed in. Their state enforced "racial harmony" is a major problem. The only thing American Universities are doing is turning these Chinese students gay. I'm struggling to understand what information the Chinese need access to.

My favorite is when it is convenient to forget about Per Capita when it comes to Pollution.

But uses Per Capita for Murder, Thief, HS Graduation, and every other metrics known to sociology.

 

[Thomas More]

The community notes states that the collapse was due to a massive landslide:

Local authorities & news: Hongqi Bridge approach in Maerkang, Sichuan collapsed due to landslide from mountain slope failure—a natural disaster, not engineering failure. Police closed bridge day prior over cracks & terrain shifts; landslide caused collapse.

It's still a sign of engineering hubris in that the builders have underestimated the natural disaster potential in that site, but it's not like they've used shoddy materials or designs on that bridge.

Wouldn't a site survey identify the possibility of land slides as a first priority, and take steps to stabilize the ground or mitigate the risk? The failure to do so successfully is shoddy work.

 

[expectation]

The fact that even such a law exists on the books is already bad enough but unlike say sodomy laws in some US states, this law does appear to be actively enforced and done so in such a heavy handed manner really doesn't inspire confidence in me that the world will be better off if China does become a superpower.

IShowSpeed had over 36 million viewers live streaming earlier this year when he was in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Changsha, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Chinese News even covered his visit while he was here.

He obviously wouldn't be able to do that without VPN - not to mention walking around with a whole crew publicly in China without getting arrested for a week.

That VPN Crackdown Agitprop video is an IQ test from our resident moron.

 

[Wutang]

This guy already had a certain amount of celebrity status due to his reactions to the Negegege music video going viral so I'm not sure this is a good example to use if we're talking about the experience of the average person in China. It seemed like to me that the authorities deemed his visit would be a positive for China's image abroad. I'm assuming everything for his crew and himself had to be cleared with the state and that he was able to do things the average person whether Chinese or otherwise wouldn't be able to.

 

[expectation]

This guy already had a certain amount of celebrity status due to his reactions to the Negegege music video going viral so I'm not sure this is a good example to use if we're talking about the experience of the average person in China. It seemed like to me that the authorities deemed his visit would be a positive for China's image abroad. I'm assuming everything for his crew and himself had to be cleared with the state and that he was able to do things the average person whether Chinese or otherwise wouldn't be able to.

I thought we were talking about VPN crackdowns and not the average experience. If the crackdowns were so harsh in reality they would make an example of a high profile celebrity to not go on vpn.

In any case, I have no interest in showing another example - it should already be obvious.

 

[Wutang]

Not if the celebrity is someone they are specifically letting tour the country for PR purposes. That's exactly someone the CCP wouldn't want to be getting the average experience since the whole point of him being there is to counter the negative stereotypes associated with Chinese society.

 

[Sandalwood Peak]

IShowSpeed had over 36 million viewers live streaming earlier this year when he was in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Changsha, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Chinese News even covered his visit while he was here.

He obviously wouldn't be able to do that without VPN - not to mention walking around with a whole crew publicly in China without getting arrested for a week.

That VPN Crackdown Agitprop video is an IQ test from our resident moron.

 

[Cooper]

Wouldn't a site survey identify the possibility of land slides as a first priority, and take steps to stabilize the ground or mitigate the risk? The failure to do so successfully is shoddy work.

It does look a bit "ambitious" of a project given the size and steepness of the mountain above the entrance of the bridge. I think their way of mitigating the risk was probably by closely inspecting the mountain for any debris or cracks, that's how they were able to close the bridge to traffic well before the rockslides came crashing down.

My guess is that they will rebuild the bridge after blowing up and grading down half that mountain.

 

[Read_Lives_of_Saints]

Future China bridge is futuristically fixed! Everything better with LED!

 

[RedLagoon]

The Hongqi bridge was recently completed in China. It's one of the world's highest bridges, and has been touted as an example of China's advancement and superiority.

Hongqi Bridge - HighestBridges.com

www.highestbridges.com

It just collapsed.



Edit: When I searched for the Hongqi Bridge, I got a link for the Huajiang Canyon Bridge which was also recently completed and very high. I think this bridge got a lot of attention, and the Hongqi bridge was not as famous. It's still a cautionary tale of hubris.

That would've never happened in Japan.

They've got a long way to go still.

 

[expectation]

Here is a lady that shared her Supermarket Experience on youtube after moving to China. No VPN gulag and the pinned comments is amusing.