[PakG1]

I'd be wary of thinking that it'll take that long. Live in Shenzhen and it is crazy the amount of progress here every year. Public transportation is way better than most American cities and housing is more expensive than most American cities. Apartments here regularly go for a couple million USD, the ads are plastered on the windows of every real estate agency on every street corner. The air here is quite breathable too, and from what I hear, other cities are getting better as well.

Yeah, I think US living standards are higher for now. But I can totally see China seeing parity in less than 20 years. For one thing, they have made large strides in infrastructure investment, and for another thing, they've been realizing and acting on their need to clean up their environmental act over the last few years.

[lawrenceyan]

By choosing to live in China, you take on the opportunity cost of a shortened lifespan, likely a decade or so give or take. As long as you can accept that, then China is perfectly fine place to live.

[oblio]

Chinese cities will open about 15 subway networks in the next 5 years. Let that sink in :)