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by RussSpencer from Atlanta

Last Post 12 hours Ago


In Shanghai
Mar 31, 2008 | 10:32 AM
Category: News
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The growth in Shanghai is astounding, even for someone like me who hadn't seen the city before. The Pudong part of the city, which means the part of Shanghai east of the Pu river, is practically new -- all of it built within the last 20 years, most within the last 10.

Imagine building Manhattan from scratch and you have some idea what's happening. I've had many reputable people tell me that the land my huge hotel and the rest of the Pudong development sits on was all farm fields 20 years ago, and I still have a hard time believing it.

We were not allowed to document the welcoming ceremony for Delta's non-stop flight from Atlanta because the Chinese Government didn't want us to turn on our cameras in the Shanghai airport. Censored from a ribbon cutting? I don't get it.

The trip from the airport to downtown took us on a multi-billion dollar maglev train, built with German technology, with a top speed of more than 250 miles an hour.

No seatbelts, by the way -- not that they would help.

The guide who led us to the bus and accompanied us to the hotel talked with immense pride about China's economic rise. He spoke excellent English -- taught by an American, he said, at a University in Shanghai. He unselfconsciously referred to the country and the city as "Our China" and "Our Shanghai" and rattled off how much the new villas were worth on the way to the financial district. Twelve million Chinese Yuan, he said -- which is almost 2 million dollars.

We met Jack Portmann today, an architect and developer from Atlanta who studied at Georgia Tech and Harvard and came to the Far East to make a name for himself in a business in which his father was already famous. Portmann figured out how to do Real Estate business here in a western way before almost anyone else. He talks to us about the propects of Georgia capitalizing on the almost unprecedented potential of the Chinese market, in a story that will air Tuesday on Fox 5.

Photographer Fred Plummer and I have been up for almost 30 hours straight. If there are typos in this blog, you'll understand and forgive.

More coming....

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Member Comments Total Comments: 10
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Cromagnon read my blog view my photos
Mar 31, 2008 | 1:53 PM

WHAT!?? CENSORSHIP!??? IN CHINA????!!!

Naaaaaaahhhhhh! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!

C'mon now kids what does the 'C' stand for in 'China'?
Cromagnon read my blog view my photos
Mar 31, 2008 | 1:56 PM

Oh, and remember while you're there, You are NOT in AMERICA...ergo...you HAVE NO RIGHTS. Don't forget that. Very important. So, let's just say you know how some reporters are a little brash and pushy about getting thier story?...Don't be that reporter. Over here ok. But not over there.
have a nice trip back.
(Bet you wished you ate a little more before leaving the U.S. huh?)
ZETA333
Mar 31, 2008 | 10:54 PM

Shanghai is an amazing city visually. The new architecture is a visual smogasborg. The Bund is amazing to behold and the shopping district is like Las Vegas on steroids(at night) You have never seen so many neon lights

Forget personal space, because it does not exist over there. Also, I wish you luck with the food because the food tastes nothing like the Chinese food we love so much in the U.S.
Logistics42 read my blog
Apr 1, 2008 | 8:18 AM

Russ didn't I tell you about the population you can't understand fully till you see it yourself. Have you ever seen so many bikes in your life? Hopefully your staying at the Marriott or another Western Hotel because they are the to closest home cooking your going to see. Good Luck and have fun taking it all in.
SANTAS_ELF read my blog
Apr 1, 2008 | 6:33 PM

DRINK IT IN RUSS!!,China is already leading the world in commerce, they already make dam near everything we use in everyday life. GO CHINA GO!!
stevey
Apr 1, 2008 | 10:34 PM

Russ,
I can only say enjoy the experience. I went last May to Beijing and Shanghai and was overwhelmed by the Chinese cities. The absolute immensity of everything is amazing!!! I suggest getting out of Pudong and the Bund and into the heart of the city to see some of the culture. Go enjoy the food, it is not American Chinese food. I also recommend going down Nanjing Rd and finding a place for lunch and just observe the business people interacting. You will get an insight and perspective of the business culture. I would also recommend not leaving Shanghai until you get to Malones. It is a great expat bar that you can meet some great people and I am sure get some interesting stories. Have a great time as I cannot wait to go back.
RussSpencer read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 5:14 AM

This is my first chance to actually check in. I agree with the perspectives of those of you who've been here and appreciate them. China is a locomotive, that's for sure.
Cromagnon read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 4:35 PM

Yeah, I think we all better start learning Chinese, and digging out all those old cook books with recipes for RICE!
Cromagnon read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 4:37 PM

It's amazing what a country can do without all those PESKY human rights violations in the way of progress, now isn't it?
RussSpencer read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 5:46 PM

To your point, I talked with an American consultant who has lived in Beijung for 10 yeras who says there have been many cases where the government here tore town old buildings to make room for these new skyscrapers.

Some of the people who lived in them claim the Chinese authorities removed them in the middle of the night, gave them a few thousand dollars and a train ticket, and told them to get out of Dodge. That's the claim.
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RussSpencer

I anchor the evening news on Fox 5 at 5, 6, and 10pm. My wife and I have 6 children, 5 girls and a boy. That sums up my life pretty neatly.

Member Since: 4/10/2007


 

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