Is there an expressway being built up to Shangrila?

The time is over, for sure, 100%.
The dystopian state has been creeping slowly until the last month, where now it's very clear and obvious.

Not good for the world, not good for us laowai here.

How's that for a good drink of cynicism?

Went to Chengdu a couple weeks ago, no issues, same as Yereth said.
But we arrived the day before the breakout in south cd, and from then on, a bit more labor intensive with having to fill out some forms where ever we went from there, buses, hotels, air bnb's etc.
Bao'ans and locals sorta freaked out when they saw me,

and community center workers coming to track our travel history.

Besides that, no biggie.

@janjal,
Ha, funny, but not likely.

You're a smart guy, do u not see the writing on the wall?

@livinginchina

They were going down no matter what, badly managed, this probably little to do with their demise, from what I've read on them.

Well it's really not a whim, per se.

Parents have been complaining about costs, and as one person said, teachers are well known to have "private" classes for the test material, because, as far as I hear it, the test material isn't exactly the same as the material taught in class/books, etc.

And they charge some insane prices...u ever wonder how all these teachers are driving those nice fancy cars?!??! haha

And the govt is hoping this will increase births, I think most think this is foolish.

Perhaps there's an ulterior

motive??

And this is not an ALL at once action.

I just heard from my buddy in Nanchong, second largest city in Sichuan, they are not starting there, but perhaps in some time. He said they talked with the education bureau and they want to see how it works out in CD first...
Perhaps this is what is happening in Shanghai and other places as well.

Reminds me of when BJ handed down a bunch of new restrictions for teachers, and it backfired, the schools couldn't get teachers.

It will be a slow phasing out of English, under the guise of other subjects as well, is my guess, but also to help relieve pressure on parents and the cost burdens...and I suppose the corruption of the teachers and headmasters, if it is to be considered corruption.

Seems they are missing some of the main culprits of this education setup, but don't govts usually do??