My observations of Chinese grandparents' child raising is more on the negative side. Certainly they can help with infants and toddlers, but the problems start at older age. Teenagers, you know.
Given a city-dwelling couple today that decides to have 3 children, would be looking at possible 9 grandchildren by their retirement age. Not much time for mahjong or traveling.
I would continue this thought exercise by suggesting that Confucian principles such as filial piety could become challenged when child counts within families increase.
What may have worked once upon a time when China was a poorer country with more rural surroundings, may not work now.
Having to raise 2 or 3 princes/princesses instead of just one may hit fabrics of Chinese society in unexpected ways, and force developments that for the powers-that-be may offset the economic benefits of maintaining population.
Reading about latest developments in China's childbirth regulations (now going to 3 children per family), I started to think about the role that religions and related social organizations in western countries (maybe elsewhere too) have played in increasing (maintaining anyway) and supporting child count of families.
For example in my home country most of families with 5+ children are either cases of remarrying with bonus children, or followers of certain (usually Christian) disciplines. Furthermore many church related organizations provide assistance that makes raising children a little bit easier.
I would speculate that if not for religious activities, birth rates in western countries would have dropped much sooner and faster.
In this context, what China has to offer in place of religions, is in my opinion perhaps not sufficient to create equal factor to increase/maintain birth count.
@Mario007:
It looks particularly backward considering that according to latest official data, Yunnan has more foreign residents than Shanghai and Beijing combined.
About same as from a prayer to a revolution?
No results found.
Invasive 'armyworm' threatening corn production in Yunnan, SE Asia
发布者In my wife's hometown - and I assume many small-scale farms elsewhere - corn from the farmers' own fields is the main feed for pigs, trade of which has already been impacted by african swine fever.
Public Notice: A message from the Kunming Public Security Bureau
发布者Since this website serves foreigners (and locals) not just in Kunming but wider in Yunnan province, I wonder if something to reflect that could be arranged in regards of this PSB cooperation.
At least my personal observations of matters related to organized crime is not so much in Kunming, but outside it.
Film Premiere: Check out our travel series Yunnan: The China You Never Knew!
发布者The first episode left a bit hasty picture. in my opinion in line with what Kunming is - a crossroads city to spend a day, max two, on way to other tourist sites in the province..
Personally I would have liked seeing more in depth stuff, not just the 2-3 highlights available on any travel guide.
But probably cannot do much more in few minutes show, and also why I don't epect much more from the coming episodes.
Kunming spearheading provincial "toilet revolution" 2.0
发布者@vicar: "I know how to keep toilets clean"
In most public toilets in city (and beyond) that I have seen, they have a cleaning person stationed on the premises. I don't know know if they even go home for nights.
In many countries that alone would be considered a huge investment, but obviously not in China.
Kunming spearheading provincial "toilet revolution" 2.0
发布者I wonder if it will be possible to check the "real-time concentrations of nitrogen, ammonia and PM2.5" inside a stall before and after your own visit.