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Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

theguardian.com

111–120 of 224 posts

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#111
post #15

Chongqing seems incredible on pictures and YouTube videos. No doubt it's a comfortable place to live for many people, and surely it isn't perfect, especially when it comes to things like air pollution. What amazes me is China's capacity to do development on a large scale, something that's completely missing in Europe. If we had efficient large-scale construction solved, we could really put a dent in the cost of livin…

I would not consider CQ comfortable. Shanghai is 1000x more comfortable.

Chongqing has better food.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#113
post #50
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it’s a misread to attribute large-scale construction mainly to inequality. While inequality funded grand projects historically, today it’s effective planning, strong state capacity, and streamlined execution that make the real difference. China’s development is impressive because it prioritizes coordination and scale, whereas Europe struggles more with political and organizational fragmentation and lack of in…

The strong state capacity collects the resources of large areas and concentrates them into large-scale construction projects in a handful of places. China has a small number of megacities with large, wealthy, modern urban cores and a very large population that lives somewhere else. There are about a hundred cities with more than a million inhabitants but only 47 have urban rail transit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

Knowing how China designates cities[0], citation needed on the number of cities.

0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongqing > The municipality covers a large geographical area roughly the size of Austria,[14] which includes several disjunct urban areas in addition to Chongqing proper.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#114

Fascinating. But not a single picture showing a non polluted sky.

The "Eling Palace complex" photo is interesting. In the midst of all the "rooftop gardens, terraces, stairways, promenades and metal screens," someone nailed up about 4 meters of razor wire on the exterior wall.

Not paradise then.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#115
post #15

Chongqing seems incredible on pictures and YouTube videos. No doubt it's a comfortable place to live for many people, and surely it isn't perfect, especially when it comes to things like air pollution. What amazes me is China's capacity to do development on a large scale, something that's completely missing in Europe. If we had efficient large-scale construction solved, we could really put a dent in the cost of livin…

The Netherlands grew by 1 million people between 2015 and 2025, roughly 6,5% increase in population.

And (almost) everyone has a house.

Except we don't build flats and suburban one-house-fits-all massive construction projects. We mostly do smallscale development times a 1000, in stead of one big one.

We think it results in better cities.

Though, it is true we should build even more.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#116
post #90
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Housing shortages aren't a result of some nefarious plot to make the super rich richer. It's more complex than that. We need to build more housing, and there are various reasons why that isn't happening. Many of them are well-intentioned and even good (high safety standards dramatically increase the cost of new buildings).

The main reason for high prices is not shortages, its low interest rates.

It's remarkable to see how intuitive supply and demand laws are for many individuals until it comes to one particular market: housing.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#117
post #106
post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The person you're replying to is ridiculous and ignorant. But also many of the creators you're talking about are paid by the Chinese government. If they're living in China on an ongoing basis creating content it's almost certain. Even if they're not paid, you have to be careful what you post if you're building a life in China. That's not to say that they are completely wrong or lying. China is safer than the US in al…

> Even if they're not paid, you have to be careful what you post if you're building a life in China. This is the case in most western countries now, especially if you post anything related to Palestine. Besides the US, the situation in France, Germany and the UK is quite concerning these days. As an immigrant to the US I now have to fear being abducted on the street by ICE "officers" who present no identification and…

Yes, absolutely criminal and true. The US is quickly going down a dark path. That doesn't make what I said about China any less true.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#118
post #88
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tell me one way that your statement doesn’t apply to the US or many other wealthy developed nations. The GINI coefficient is higher in the USA than it is in China. China in recent years has reduced inequality while the US has done absolutely nothing to curb discontent, the same discontent that has led to the election of a fascist leader. Don’t believe me, look up the data.

> China in recent years has reduced inequality After many years of increasing inequality > the US has done absolutely nothing to curb discontent, the same discontent that has led to the election of a fascist leader. I cannot imagine possible definition of "fascist" that would include the US and exclude China. China has far more fascist features than any other major country - personality cult, courts compliant with th…

> China has far more fascist features than any other major country - personality cult, courts compliant with the government, erasure of minority cultures - and actual genocide.

These are unsubstantiated allegations that come directly from the governments you are loyally defending.

They are definitely substantiated when it comes to USA: Trump has a legendary personality cult and recently released trading cards for it. Trump's FBI just arrested a judge for noncompliance. Trump is hosting genocidal mass-murderer Ben-Gvir in the country right now. This is all just this week! Spare us the vague "look over there, China bad" hand-waving.

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#119
post #15

Chongqing seems incredible on pictures and YouTube videos. No doubt it's a comfortable place to live for many people, and surely it isn't perfect, especially when it comes to things like air pollution. What amazes me is China's capacity to do development on a large scale, something that's completely missing in Europe. If we had efficient large-scale construction solved, we could really put a dent in the cost of livin…

I was there about 12 years ago, and in all honesty, I wasn't impressed. The air pollution was absolutely horrific, for whole I was there I wasn't able to see the sun at all due to air or lack of it. "Green" trees were just... grey, covered with all the dust. And good luck if you want to grab a taxi and you have long hair :) The food was great, though.

12 years is an eternity in China. I went in 2008-2010 and it was completely unrecognizable compared to 2018. I imagine 2025 is completely different too

Re: Chongqing, the Largest City – In Pictures

#120
post #117
post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Even if they're not paid, you have to be careful what you post if you're building a life in China. This is the case in most western countries now, especially if you post anything related to Palestine. Besides the US, the situation in France, Germany and the UK is quite concerning these days. As an immigrant to the US I now have to fear being abducted on the street by ICE "officers" who present no identification and…

Yes, absolutely criminal and true. The US is quickly going down a dark path. That doesn't make what I said about China any less true.

> That doesn't make what I said about China any less true.

Just in case we meet again in another comment thread, I wasn't suggesting this; I was hoping that quoting a specific part of your comment would communicate that I was replying directly to that part without questioning the veracity of the rest of your comment

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