[obblekk]

I think the bigger issue is that China faces labor competition on the lower end of the unskilled market from South East Asia and India and is trying to enter the lower end of the skilled labor market but finding out that the Americans, Europeans, and Israelis are fairly competitive.

I'm generalizing and neither list of countries is exhaustive.

[jcoffland]

China is miles ahead of South East Asia and much of India. Chinese tourists go to places like Vietnam and are seen as wealthy and sophisticated by the locals. From the Western perspective it may seem like China, SEA and India are on a level playing field but that is far from the truth.

[seanmcdirmid]

Bangkok is a much more cosmopolitan city than Beijing or even Shanghai. I get the feeling that Thailand is a bit richer than China per capita. That's about it though.

[dh997]

Beijing takes the cake for both craziest bus drivers and bicyclists, beating Hanoi and Davis, CA.

[seanmcdirmid]

This is so true. No matter what city I go to (Manila? Bangkok? Delhi? Kunming? Changsha?), it never feels as bad as home.