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Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

bbc.com

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Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#31

Post by seanmcdirmid »

dmoy wrote: post #21
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These are part of the same apartment complexes, which are like gated planned communities in the states, except with apartment buildings rather than houses. In Beijing, most housing outside of the 3rd ring is like that...heck, even inside the 3rd ring, you'll see a lot of communities, just with lower height buildings because they were built much earlier.

Not just beijing, but other big northern cities as well. Hell even "small" cities. River fronts along songhua on all the cities around there have >>30 story apartment complexes with like 5-20 identical buildings each. One of them uses giant lights to make a sort of pixelated movie screen at night, which only passably works cus the buildings are all the same and run by the same complex. Very much not just a southern t…

Ya, I should have mentioned that this happens throughout china, and probably much of Asia as well.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#32

Post by chrischen »

Alexx wrote: post #4

The most striking thing about visiting the southern industrial cities for me was how (especially towards the outskirts) they tend to build the exact same residential skyscraper several times next to each other. You just don't really see that in Western cities so much.

China has about 5x the population.

So in America where you have the same McMansion replicated 10-20 times in CHcina you have the same condo tower since it has to house more densely.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#33

Post by chrischen »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #12
redleggedfrog wrote: post #2

"...internet access and freedom is curtailed: popular sites like Google, Facebook and YouTube are not accessible." That line caught my attention for two things. One, it intimates internet access is related to freedom, which I think has merit. And second, Google, Facebook, and YouTube are obviously not essential, cause those millions get by just fine without them.

> And second, Google, Facebook, and YouTube are obviously not essential, cause those millions get by just fine without them. What's more, in parts of China where these websites aren't blocked (Hong Kong, Taiwan if we call it a part of China), they become very popular again and the mainland Chinese alternatives fall off the map.

Those places are different cultures and sifferent social groups.

I can also give the example of Japan and Korea in which Facebook is not very popular.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#35

Post by reaperducer »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #31
dmoy wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not just beijing, but other big northern cities as well. Hell even "small" cities. River fronts along songhua on all the cities around there have >>30 story apartment complexes with like 5-20 identical buildings each. One of them uses giant lights to make a sort of pixelated movie screen at night, which only passably works cus the buildings are all the same and run by the same complex. Very much not just a southern t…

Ya, I should have mentioned that this happens throughout china, and probably much of Asia as well.

I've seen it in Korea, and occasionally in Singapore. Though usually each building is painted a different pastel shade to tell them apart.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#36

Post by jackcarter »

skewart wrote: post #27
jackcarter wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Different for three reasons: -Central Park is a desirable place to spend time, unlike the artificial, pseudopublic spaces that separate highrise complexes. -Population density is _much_ higher in those neighborhoods than you get with multi-building highrise complexes. -There are shops nearby that, along with the park, provide a reason for people to spend time there throughout the day. People don't like spending time…

> Central Park is a desirable place to spend time, unlike the artificial, pseudopublic spaces that separate highrise complexes. Have you ever lived in a high-rise surrounded by open space? A lot of people, myself included, really like it. You're stating your own personal preference as if it were some universal fact. You also seem to have a limited understanding of housing design. For example, lots of Corbusier-inspir…

You're right; I'm commenting the negative examples that constitute developments I've seen. I'm sure that it's possible to enjoy them. After all, people love cruise ships.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#37

Post by antoinealb »

kbart wrote: post #3
redleggedfrog wrote: post #2

"...internet access and freedom is curtailed: popular sites like Google, Facebook and YouTube are not accessible." That line caught my attention for two things. One, it intimates internet access is related to freedom, which I think has merit. And second, Google, Facebook, and YouTube are obviously not essential, cause those millions get by just fine without them.

"Google, Facebook, and YouTube are obviously not essential, cause those millions get by just fine without them." Most of foreigners traveling in China would certainly disagree with you. No Facebook, no Gmail, no Youtube == "no Internet" for most casual western users.

I was in Shenzhen two weeks ago. You just buy a cheap VPN access like everybody in the tech scene there and you go on with your life. It's not hard to do, even from inside the country.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#38

Post by kuschku »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #30
kuschku wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The network lockin effect is very strong, sadly. This is why such sites without real alternatives should be controlled by society, and not by companies where two people hold the majority of voting rights.

I disagree. I trust Larry and Sergei more than I trust Xi and Li.

The question is if the power is actually with Larry and Sergei, or if someone more powerful could easily seize power from them, or pressure them into doing something they want.

If Larry or Sergei die, do you trust all their inheritors? Do you trust all people who can threaten Larry or Sergei?

I don't.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#39

Post by seanmcdirmid »

chrischen wrote: post #33
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And second, Google, Facebook, and YouTube are obviously not essential, cause those millions get by just fine without them. What's more, in parts of China where these websites aren't blocked (Hong Kong, Taiwan if we call it a part of China), they become very popular again and the mainland Chinese alternatives fall off the map.

Those places are different cultures and sifferent social groups. I can also give the example of Japan and Korea in which Facebook is not very popular.

Facebook is medium popular in Japan, lots of Japanese have Facebook accounts, no idea about Korea. Nobody is really using wechat outside of china unless they have a strong connection to china.

Re: Shenzhen: China’s ‘skyscraper capital’

#40

Post by seanmcdirmid »

kuschku wrote: post #38
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. I trust Larry and Sergei more than I trust Xi and Li.

The question is if the power is actually with Larry and Sergei, or if someone more powerful could easily seize power from them, or pressure them into doing something they want. If Larry or Sergei die, do you trust all their inheritors? Do you trust all people who can threaten Larry or Sergei? I don't.

Do you true the next secretly chosen and annointed royal red family president after Xi? That's if Xi actually decides to leave after his term is up, of course.
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