Beijing Transformation

Some nice reflections from this LA Times writer on the transformation Beijing has undergone over the past ten years. From my experience, it is hard for a westerner to comprehend the pace and scale of change in China. It is so unlike anything our societies have experienced or are capable of.

I found Beijing far more electrifying than Paris, unrecognizable from the city I had visited 10 years ago....The truth is this: There was the polluted, awkward, unfriendly Beijing I visited 10 years ago, and there is Beijing now, physically and psychologically transformed.

My International City

In LA, 53% of people speak a language other than English at home.

The data are part of a census report on social, economic and housing characteristics in the U.S. Nationwide, almost 20% of people over age 5 spoke a language other than English at home in 2006.

Some smaller Southern California communities recorded even higher percentages than Los Angeles, including East L.A. (91%), El Monte (83%), Santa Ana (83%), Alhambra (71%), Oxnard (67%), Garden Grove (67%) and Glendale (64%). The statewide percentage of 43% is up slightly from data from a few years ago.

It's about the gambling

Interesting statistic about the differences between the American and Chinese gambling public. While Macau recently passed Las Vegas in producing more gambling revenue, Las Vegas has over 7 TIMES as many hotel rooms, and is probably better know as an entertainment capitol these days than just as a gambling destination.

As the Chinese grow in affluence, will their appetite for the whole entertainment menu grow to outstrip their hunger for gambling?

Macao last year overtook Las Vegas in total gambling revenue, thanks to China's economic rise and passionate bettors like Wu. But although money from gambling makes up virtually all of Macao's tourist-related revenue, it makes up about half for Vegas, which has more than 130,000 hotel rooms versus about 17,000 in Macao.