China's domestic economy is so heavily based on urbanization, that even without financial difficulties like these of Evergrande, the road ahead in coming decades will be a rough ride.
Bumps like this on the road, now, will help China to prepare for the worse that is to come.
I don't think that we have subscribed to any premium service with Metro. Have been using the same "card" as before, albeit in my phone I just show them a photo of the QR. The account is linked to my wife's phone, and last we checked it was not possible for other family members to use the same account in Metro app.
But lately we use Metro's home delivery more, which is also to our door. When we go there in person, it's mostly to entertain the kid.
Also noting that at Metro (north) they seem to have upgraded their tasting station availability in recent month or two. There's regularly wider range of snacks and fruits to sample for free, occasionally wine too!
It is entirely possible that these bans will eventually extend to also adults, but my understanding is that for the time being this is not the case.
And that leaves one group of adults in the market - parents and would-be parents, who want to tutor their own children themselves.
In Chinese commentary related to these regulations it has been stressed that parenting is still allowed. It might be a dangerous leap for the powers to be to interfere, now, in what (non-political) adults do with their time, or how they raise their children.
So throw courses to these parents instead of their children. Refresh some things they may have forgotten from their school years and print some material to take home.
I had not been anywhere beyond walking distance for some time, mainly thanks to revelation that home delivery from Metro is cheaper than subway trip there.
Then yesterday went on a multi-stop subway/office trip. Arriving to local subway station, the healthcode app in AliPay notified "Health Information Has Expired", and required declaring again. Filled everything like before, including "No" to "Current Symptoms".
However, when I clicked to submit it, the app complained about "Current Symptoms" not being filled in properly.
This happened constantly - luckily wife was with me to explain the problem repeatedly at half a dozen checkpoints within the morning, usually twice because the first guy couldn't solve it and forwarded us to second guy who wasn't any smarter about it.
Today evening I checked from comfort of home, and this time it worked.
Agreed. There will be lot of such opportunities for different types of foreigners who are already legally here, and would not be risking that legal stay by engaging in such activities.
Foreign students, workers and other temporary RP/visa holders doing it without formal agreement between their institutions and PSB would be breaking immigration laws.
But permanent residency holders, and those holding Chinese nationality in addition to a nationally perhaps recognized elsewhere. No formal permits, employment, or qualifications needed.
Speaking of which, does China have some minimum age to let children make pocket money from things like baby sitting or... hmm, I don't know, play dating? I'm thinking it's time for the four year old to start contributing. Won't be playing games anyway.
No results found.
Government sues parents to get kids back to school
Posted byBut what is free?
Is it free, if it is funded by tax payers? Or state-owned tobacco sales?
Most foreigners in China I expect to break above the 4800 RMB monthly income limit, and therefore be interested to know that their tax contributions provide (among other things) education to Chinese youth.
But Chinese not so much. Many do not earn over 3500 RMB a month, and especially not the typical villagers and parents in locales where children drop out of compulsory education.
I argue that however little people earn, they should have to provide even a marginal tax contribution to raise awareness about efficient spending of those contributions.
Then again, that may still not be in best interest of the Chinese state.
China hands out happy city awards, Kunming sad
Posted by@bilingualexpat:
Yes, I agree that China is far behind many countries, and when measuring happiness in international level, money starts to play less important role.
China has obvious disadvantages when it comes to civil liberties and democracy for example. People in countries that are arguably better positioned in those aspects, that knowledge alone will make them feel better about their own lives - even if financially they would not fare relatively any better than average Chinese.
But these awards in OP were limited to Chinese cities and I assume to Chinese respondents (by huge proportion anyway).
China hands out happy city awards, Kunming sad
Posted byIn Chinese context, Chengu has still been boasting GDP growth in the double digits or very close anyway, and while few will admit that money brings happiness, increase in GDP will translate to some degree of hope and positive vibe among the Chinese residents.
In national level, China's double digit days are over, but they were there anyway at some point. Was it ever so for Kunming? (not that I know if it still is)
Government sues parents to get kids back to school
Posted byI don't get this part (or I probably do, but disagree wholeheartedly):
"an official at a county-level education bureau in Yunnan told local media in 2014, explaining the local attitudes. "By the time he finishes school, all the good girls would be married, and it'd be hard for him to find a wife.""
Is (was) this "official" saying that if a boy takes his compulsory education to the end and finishes school at 15-or-so old, all good girls are married by then?
Hello?
"No marriage may be contracted before the man has reached 22 years of age and the woman 20 years of age."
Perhaps the schools should have more classes about the laws of China, so at least the future generations wouldn't need to be sued to take their kids to school.
Life in Kunming: Studying Chinese in the Spring City
Posted byWell, I for one am closing on 5th full year in Kunming, and can not speak Chinese more than casual greetings or understanding how much money to give when I buy something.
Local spouse contributes a lot to avoid having to learn, and since neither of us are teachers, family happiness comes before frustrating teacher/student relationship.
Also, to me it seems that it gets easier to manage without Chinese every year - I suppose it is some kind of development both ways.
But I have been considering taking formal classes - not so much to hold a conversation, but as backup plan if things change career or otherwise.