Tags: China
We reached Shanghai on 7th May for our GAP project after a long flight of around fifteen hours from Chicago. On the first night, we took a stroll in the nearby market and saw that almost all the stores, restaurants, etc. have inscriptions in Chinese. We met hardly anyone on the street or in the restaurants who could understand English. It took almost 30 minutes for us to convey to the waiter what we wanted for food (read tofu and chicken). As the days rolled by, we became more comfortable communicating in broken Chinese and sign language.
Our first week in Shanghai has been a great experience. I was very impressed with the house that we rented, although, from the outside, it looked less than inviting. Overall, the amenities have been very good, and basically what I expected (and what I would expect in a country of China’s level). The neighborhood where we are located has been interesting as well. It is close to the large shopping areas, the old French colonial quarter, and the famous Shanghai skyline.
Nee-Hao from China! Sitting in the apartment in downtown Shanghai is an experience in itself. The China market seems interesting and starkly different from what I have experienced in India or America. The sheer amount of focus on brands and advertisement is amazing. There are progressive advertising banners on set intervals between the stations, which looks like a video ad when the train runs (imagine pictures coming to life in a flip-book!). There are huge billboards everywhere, and everyone seems to be in a hurry.
China is the second largest economy in terms of nominal GDP and the world’s largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, with a very robust infrastructure system in terms of its roads, sub way and railway networks. China has a very heavy focus on manufacturing and is the largest exporter of goods in the world. Industry contributes around 40% of GDP with around 30% of the labour pool employed in industry. The Service sector contributes around 50% of GDP and the remaining contribution is by agriculture.
It is so difficult to travel in China! Given that Chinese and English do not have a common alphabet, getting around is a challenge. While most signs here in Shanghai have the English version of the word underneath it, this translation does not always help. I can look at a map application on my phone, but I cannot type in an address that can be found by the application. Having the English name of the place I am trying to travel to does not work. Only by having the Chinese address will a taxi take me where I need to go. With the advent of Uber, transportation should be easier.