Here is a video of my leaving Changsha on a slow train headed for Zhangjiajie City. It travels through some less desirable sections of town. It shows a less publicized side of Chinese cities. Nonetheless it is pretty interesting.
Travelling in China
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Bamspeedy
CheeseBob
That looks like typical chinese city I saw when you get away from the skyscrapers. Seen worse, but the rural areas are improving. In-laws farmhouses 9 years ago was in a group of I think maybe 6 houses. This year there was twice as many houses in that group, and now they even got a recycle bin for the neighborhood. The cheaply built brick houses eventually get re-layered with mortar and fancier bricks/tiles placed over them, most added another level to the house.
Chickens/Goose don't roam the house anymore, they are either fenced in or restricted to the roof.
Wife's got more than a half dozen siblings so saw all extremes from one that owns several businesses to another that isn't a migrant worker, but might as well be considered one because she's paying off her daughter's debt that will probably never be paid in full.
Chickens/Goose don't roam the house anymore, they are either fenced in or restricted to the roof.
Wife's got more than a half dozen siblings so saw all extremes from one that owns several businesses to another that isn't a migrant worker, but might as well be considered one because she's paying off her daughter's debt that will probably never be paid in full.
Yes, these old neighborhoods are less visible. The barred windows surprised me, but they are everywhere in China. I was told that windows and balconies were barred to keep people from falling. ??
Bamspeedy
CheeseBob
People falling or suicide, not sure which was more common reason. On the ground level/2nd floor I always thought it was to prevent burglaries (doors are much heavier than in the US, strong bolts, strong locks, etc.), but it wasn't until this last trip that I spent any time on a third floor or higher.
The fifth floor apartment I stayed at had thick cable wires across the balcony to prevent people falling, despite they'd have to climb over a four foot (edit: 3.5 foot) ledge to do so.
Then we visit the other apartment, and I can't recall what floor it was (3rd-6th floor somewhere in there) and there was no bars. I'm tired and dozing off sitting at the table until through my half-closed eyes I see my 4 year old trying to sit up onto the ledge. That woke me up! Apparently the bars cost more money so at the time they got the apartment they didn't see the need for it (they didn't have any small children of their own).
The fifth floor apartment I stayed at had thick cable wires across the balcony to prevent people falling, despite they'd have to climb over a four foot (edit: 3.5 foot) ledge to do so.
Then we visit the other apartment, and I can't recall what floor it was (3rd-6th floor somewhere in there) and there was no bars. I'm tired and dozing off sitting at the table until through my half-closed eyes I see my 4 year old trying to sit up onto the ledge. That woke me up! Apparently the bars cost more money so at the time they got the apartment they didn't see the need for it (they didn't have any small children of their own).
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