Chinese people’s previous envy of West is over, feel home better

 

Chinese people’s previous envy of West is over, feelhome better

By Jerry GreyPublished: Jul 05, 2021 05:21 PM

  

Photo:Yang Hui and Chen Xia

Chinese citizens used to be envious of Western values and ideals, now they know: The grass isn't greener. They're better off at home.

Casual observers in China see visible evidence of many lifestyle improvements. In cities this is manifested by large shopping centers, car parks full of cars, most of which are less than five years old. Inside the shopping centers, luxury brands are making China their target for future growth. These are indicators of significant wealth. In rural areas it's more relative, it can be seen in improvements in housing, concrete or tarmac roads, which used to be dirt tracks, leading into every village. Donkeys no longer ply the streets carrying owners to market. Now, they're in small vans, on motorbikes and three wheeled electric or petrol carts. There aren't any signs that this explosion of improvements will abate any time soon, all indicators are to the contrary, it's only getting better.