@blobbles, very nice reading. I have looked at a lot of new developments in kunming and an average 2 bedroom would be 80-100sqm. That only makes your figures even more disturbing. Typically an efficiency would be classified in the 40 sqm range. I read an article recently and i am sorry i cannot reference it, but it showcased super small homes designed very effectively to utilize space so the average chinese worker could afford to purchase a home. They would be in the 20-30 sqm range and would cost less than 200,000 rmb.

@tigertiger, I see a huge problem with all the properties owned here in china as an investment. With the poor quality of construction how many years before your investment has reached it peak potential and then begins to decline. When the value starts to decline will people panic and start selling not wanting to pay for the finish costs and maintenance costs which are beginning to soar over the years. We have property now bought in new complex 4 years ago and maintenance costs are rising and talking to real estate people value of our place has risen very little since my wife bought it. Wife also owns home in building that is 20 years old and value is dropping very quickly. Read recently were most of chinese that can afford to buy the bigger homes being built now days have purchased and that units will have to be downsized considerably in the future to help future generations purchase homes. You can always say something is worth a certain value, but if their is no market for product price will have to fall? I might be wrong, but in USA people bought homes for years because it was supposedly a good investment and they said the price never falls on homes. Several people i know have lost at least 40% of their home value and millions have lost their homes entirely. Bankers for years sold the idea that a mortgage was a good investment because of the tax deduction. What a pile of bullshit that was and people bought it, now younger people in USA are refusing to purchase homes because of what happened to their parents.

@blobbles, i have also noticed all the nearly completed projects and their are no signs of anyone working on project while commuters struggle around barricades. They have made patches in road where they are working on subway in north beijing lu and yesterday i saw a small car get stuck in one of the holes left behind. Thing i have found most amusing is on numerous occasions road my bike down a small dirt road only to find a brand new stretch of 6 lane road with curbs, striped and road down it for 5-6 miles only to find it ends with a 1 lane dirt road. Asking local friends no one has any idea why the road was built and many had no idea it even existed. My biggest fear with subway is it will become as dirty as everything else in china. Would be interested in hearing if anyone else has used subways in other chinese cities and what experience has been like.

Despite delays, amazes me the speed they are able to build railroads, subways, light rail systems in this country. In my home city in USA it is taking 4 years to build light rail line 4 miles all above ground. We have 2 Amtrak trains daily, 1 east bound and 1 west bound and they regularly run 2-4 hours behind schedule. Have taken numerous trains here in china and not once have been late.