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Forums > Living in Kunming > Is the importance of Guanxi in business in decline

I think HFCampo hit on something important there, related to mobility.
When people are more isolated (or poor) relationships within your community are very important. They can make or break you. If you upset one person, you can alienate half the town. I have seen this lead to nepotism and cronyism in small towns back home in Wales and England. If you mess up these relationships when you are younger, you and your family can pay a price. Some parents will clearly want to teach their children the importance of relationships.
As people become more mobile they not only see different models of behaviour, but they can start up new networks. Many people now move away from home for work, and start up new networks. People may even change career several times, and so get another 'fresh start'.
I also mentioned poverty. Thirty years ago I worked in an oil town in Alberta. People had money, and were snobbish. They had economic power to keep secure. I also got to visit small towns in Montana, where the people were poor but very friendly. I believed that this was in part due to their security/wealth being attached to their good relationships with others. I have since seen studies backing this up.

In conclusion, I believe that as Chinese society become more mobile and wealthier, and as guanxi plays a smaller role in providing security/wealth, it will become less of a factor. Although it will always remain a part of the core culture, perhaps more espoused than culture in action than it was before.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Baby specialty stores

I am not sure if this applies in your case, but I did hear that the nappies sold in Asia are shaped for a child with smaller hips, and that rounder babies may need a larger size. Not just about the size, but for correct placement of the absorbent pad.
I agree with redjon about the prices of baby stuff in the malls. We did find however that uniqlo had comparatively cheap baby clothes.

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A reasonable choice of lumber that has improved over time. Fancy hardwoods like walnut, and mahogany are in abundance. There are some plywood and rubber-wood boards available. There are also some kiln dried imported softwoods and merbao available. Some of the lumber is very green, so look for the kiln dried if you need stable timbers.

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Echo everything said by others.
Breakfast great and the serve from 8am. Most other places say 9am and they still are not ready.
Sandwiches are cheap 22-32, and really packed full of filling. We got some sandwiches for a day out, the only mistake I made was ordering two, as this was too much. These are seriously good sangars, and they are wrapped in alu foil.

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In fairness to Metro, they are a wholesalers, and not really a supermarket. Hence the need for a card, which can be got around.

They have improved in the year I have been away. They now carry a more consistent range of imported foodstuffs and they also seem to have sorted out the mported milk supply.

They have a wider range of electrical appliances now, there is a coice of more than one toast. There is also a better range of seasonal non foods, like clothes, shoes, garden furniture and camping gear.