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.
Czech visa service center opens in Kunming
Posted byThe text is really not clear about that point. Schengen visa does indeed allow you to travel freely within the Schengen area, but entering the Schengen area is not that simple.
Generally you are required to apply for visa via the consulate of country of entry to Schengen area. If you fly from Kunming to Paris, you may have to apply Schengen visa from French consulate - Czech or other countries' consulates may refuse the application.
Flight ticket reservations (round-trip China-Europe-China) are usually required, so they see what your entry point is. In above example, Czech immigration probably does not want to take responsibility if you fly to France and then decide to stay there as illegal immigrant.
But if your flight ticket allows cancellation and changing the point of entry after you get the visa, you are probably fine. Though I would not be surprised if there are questions on arrival passport check.
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival
Posted byHas a foreigner team ever participated in the race in Kunming? What would it take to get one started for coming years?
European visa centers open to Chinese citizens in Kunming
Posted bywww.gokunming.com/[...]
Life in Kunming: Urban gardening with James Osborne
Posted byGood read. We are trying to grow some tomatoes and stuff in our glass-walled balcony.
I wonder how much such open roof-top area adds to the rent, or did you buy the place?
Around Town: Spring Festival 2016 business schedules
Posted byContrary to this article, couple of days ago Metro had posts saying that they will be closed in Sunday 7th and Monday 8th.