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Discover China: A Special Preview
While the Chinese government has kept its
currency, the Yuan (RMB), virtually pegged to the U.S. dollar for the past
decade, the U.S. and other trading partners say that the rate is too low and
gives Chinese exporters an unfair price advantage. While this has been and
remains a point of contention with the many global powers, in July 2005, China
had taken steps to loosen this peg by tying it to a basket of foreign currencies
and allowing it float, at least marginally. So while this may continue to plague
global businesses, it does still benefit the cost-conscious consumer so long as
the "Made in China" label continues to prevail. One dollar is now equal to
approximately eight Yuan.
But progress continues to be made, if slow and steady. In April 2006, the
Chinese government said it would allow companies and individuals to invest
overseas for the first time. The decision to let foreign currency flow out of
China could eventually reduce pressure on the government-controlled exchange
rate of the Yuan and step further toward making it a freely convertible
currency. Until now, China has required companies to sell the government most of
their foreign earnings and obtain approval to invest overseas.
"To Get Rich is Glorious" -Deng Xiaoping (1978)
Well there you have it...and then the floodgates opened.
Astounding development can be seen in many Chinese cities, but to try to even
come close to covering that much ground in a single report would require a
mind-boggling amount of research and analysis and countless hours worth of
travel time. It would be impractical and inefficient to say the least. China is
a huge country, third behind only Canada and Russia in landmass, but first in
total population, and in spite of possessing a sizeable amount of uninhabitable
land, we can be assured that by focusing on such major cities as
Beijing,
Shanghai and Xi'an, the overall effects of the country's expanding markets and
capitalistic intent will resonate outward from there and reach all of its 23
provinces in due course.
Chinese real estate has made headlines again and again the last several months.
From one city to the next there is evidence of new building, from modern day
public transport hubs to hundreds of new high rises. While Beijing and Shanghai,
as China's two largest cities, lead the way, there has been and will be a
spillover effect as many additional cities expand and experience the effects of
a population crunch from millions or rural Chinese seeking to relocate to
improve their living conditions. And as that happens, we'll be there to cover
it. Not familiar yet with cities such as Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, or Wuxi?
Odds are you will be soon enough.
While the country's capital, Beijing, continues to undergo its own profound
transformation to prepare for new residents, it has a vested interest on a
global scale as it readies for the 2008 Olympic Games, among the most proud
moments in the country's storied history. Beijing's leadership has committed to
making the Olympic event a "Green Games" and as environmentally friendly as
possible. While some 700 miles to the south is Shanghai, China's version of
Paris...or London or New York, with some 4,000 skyscrapers already erected and
thousands more on the horizon...literally. And then there is the World Expo
hosted by Shanghai in 2010 not to mention a couple of internationally renowned
theme parks on the way. China has more than 170 cities with a population in
excess of one million, so suffice it to say, the cities are simply trying to
stay ahead of the race.
All this discussion about China's transformation and future changes should in no
way discount all that China, the country, has to offer and its supreme ranking
as one of the world's greatest natural and architectural achievements. For
example, did you know that the biggest ancient building complex in the world is
situated in Beijing? Or that the largest public square in the world is Beijing's
Tiananmen Square? What about the longest man-made architecture in the
world...The Great Wall; or the earliest and longest man-made canal...the
Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The oldest tree, the greatest canyon and the
highest plateau in the world are all found in China.
China is indeed a country of natural splendor, from the majestic Himalayan
Mountains to the mighty Yangtze River, the land is as broad and diverse as the
culture that defines it. And there is no better place to experience the
country's magnificent traditions and the exciting evolution taking place than
right there in the center of it all. The first step is essential. Book your
flight, make like a tourist and see for yourself.
About the Author:
Vinnie Apicella is a Columbia educated writer, editor, international traveler and investor. He has recently created Vinnie's World, which offers business consulting and property sales in select emerging market locations, including China. For more information on Discover China, visit http://www.vinniesworld.com