Life and Travel in China

People in China increasingly feel that money no longer has value. Everything is becoming more expensive very quickly, this mainly applies to large cities, but also to provinces. In the Middle Kingdom, it is no longer a question of having money, but of having huge amounts of money. Many ordinary people work very hard, but find it difficult to achieve middle-class status. On the other hand, some owners of factories, companies with ideas, owners of Internet portals are simply unimaginably rich. More and more often, the young generation does not even have to work because their parents have already provided for them. The increasing stratification of society is visible. Inflation is progressing and strange things are happening in the market. Our friend's neighbor couldn't sell her apartment for RMB 3 million last year, but this year she sold it for RMB 5.5 million (10 years ago the price would have been 10 times lower). There are more and more upscale restaurants with fancy dishes, but there are still bars nearby where you can eat dinner for 10-15 RMB. Sometimes three-wheelers, Chinese family cars and imported Maseratis park almost next to each other. It is difficult to understand where the Chinese economy is heading. The authorities are trying to stop it somehow, but they have no influence on everything.

In China you can buy anything, even a child... Recently, the number of kidnappings has increased. This is not a kidnapping for ransom, but a kidnapping for trade, giving the child to a new family. The whole procedure is made easier by the lack of accurate population records, there is no such thing as PESEL numbers. Many children come from large families and their parents often did not register them anywhere, so as not to pay a fine for another child or risk abortion. How can you then look for a child about whom there is no official information, no birth certificate, no register, no entry, or even an official name and surname? There are also families who simply sell their own children. Kidnapped and trafficked children are handed over to non-Chinese families through Chinese orphanages. There are kidnappings on request, the family determines the child's gender, age and appearance. There are already many gangs operating in the Middle Kingdom that engage in surveillance of children and their families, kidnapping, transporting them to other provinces and selling them - offers are increasingly sent via the Internet. It is estimated that up to 400 children are kidnapped in China every week! Society is getting richer and many childless couples are ready to pay any amount for a child. Chinese society places an emphasis on having a son, which is why boys fetch higher prices (usually $10,000-15,000), although there is also a demand for girls. It seems that the problem has gotten out of control and the authorities must do something, because society is increasingly outraged by this practice. This will probably end with several death sentences for the leaders of criminal groups involved in kidnapping children.

A few weeks ago, the Chinese stock market crashed. There are various stories circulating on the Internet about people who have lost a lot, there have even been suicides and other tragedies. People who took out mortgage loans to buy shares were in the worst situation. Some people lost their own apartments this way. One of our friends also lost a lot of her savings. There was a similar situation many years ago when one of the politicians said that shares were overvalued. Apparently the Chinese have forgotten that lesson and have gone back to 'making money'. For many, it is a way of life: they quit their jobs, sit at the computer and buy/sell shares, observing the market situation. Unfortunately, this often leads to addiction, and after the first profits, they are willing to invest more and more money. This type of game attracts many people and they become addicted to it. The chances of profit are certainly greater than playing in a casino, but you still need to be aware of your financial situation and withdraw at the right time. Blinded by the possibility of profit, the Chinese take stock market risks and fall into ever greater debts. According to specialists, the entire Chinese stock market is overvalued and has no physical coverage. Typical economic bubble. As usual, in the end, the minnows fall away and what remains are the financial sharks - unfortunately, the vast majority of Chinese are just such stock market minnows, they lose a lot of money.

It may be hard to believe, but some Chinese pay approximately PLN 80,000 a year for an elite junior high school. The essence of such a school is to 'bring out' children into the world. The basis is English, traveling abroad, exchanges with other students, and learning about Western culture. All this is intended to prepare children for studies abroad. Who sends children there? Of course, wealthy businessmen, owners of companies, hotels, factories or officials, politicians, the so-called elite. Studying outside the Middle Kingdom has become very popular. Of course, most students return to China, because in their homeland they have great opportunities for career development and there they can also count on very good salaries. It also happens that such people make a career in show business. This is why most parents in China dream of their children studying abroad.

Today we had a new holiday in China - Victory Day. Almost all companies and factories will have a few days off. This ceremony is intended to commemorate the end of World War II and the victory over Japan. In Beijing, a stunning military parade, over 10,000 soldiers, modern military equipment, 500 types of weapons and military vehicles, and 200 planes and helicopters in the air. The women's units looked very nice and were especially distinguished during this parade. The host was, of course, the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, and one of the most important guests was President Putin. Of course, world opinion reacts differently to this parade and this 'flexing of muscles', but there is one thing we can envy China - a modern and very professional army that ordinary citizens are simply proud of and do not feel threatened by anything. The Chinese president emphasized China's peaceful intentions and, despite everything, he may be right. The power that is China does not actually wage any official war, and yet it could oppress other, smaller and backward countries in Asia. Of course, another issue is oppressing one's own citizens, repression, fighting ethnic minorities... this is a story for another post.