To most people, Shanghai doesn’t pop into mind when they think about the city of the 21st century. However, one look at Pudong will completely change their minds. No where is the growth of China more apparent than in the Pudong New Area. The area has some of the most modern buildings ever seen. Pudong is home to the world’s tallest hotel and some of the tallest buildings in the world.
At night time, Pudong is lit up brighter than the Las Vegas strip. And with good reasons. China is extremely proud with what it has done to the place. It wasn’t that long ago when Pudong was just a bunch of rice padi fields. Today, it is the heart of the financial center and headquarters to nearly every Fortune 500 company that has a presence in China.
Living in Pudong is out of reach for the average Chinese citizen. The area caters to ex-pats working in Shanghai and China’s new rich. Thanks to new rules that allow capitalism inside a communist country, many Chinese citizens are starting businesses and striking it big. China now has over 300,000 citizens with net worth of over $1 million US, excluding property. And mainland millionaires control some $530 billion in assets.
For the newly minted Chinese millionaire, making the big bucks isn’t enough. You got to flaunt it too. And Pudong is one of the best places to flaunt your wealth. While Shanghai can be a very inexpensive place to live, the word inexpensive doesn’t exist in Pudong. Bring lots of money.
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Wow, I appreciate you posting this video. It is very interesting to see the growth of Shanghai. Good job on taking the video without running into people in that mall!
Agreed, Shanghai is looking great!
I think i need to visit there soon
Night views of cities are awesome. When I’m in NYC I always make a point to go see the view at night from a new location.
Of course, I’m sure NYC doesn’t compare to Pudong. The buildings in Pudong seem to be very individually shaped and styled, rather than the standard square shape of most skyscrapers. It makes a refreshing change.
Good video as usual, John.
John great video as always. What kind of camera do you use btw? Maybe next year you should organize a Dot Com Pho field trip to Shanghai?
Its his flip
Very nice Video.
John, you are in same shirt from two days, why don’t you change the shirt. Any way you are good in shooting video.
Actually, it’s the same day. Like most video productions, I try to get a few days take in one day. Of course, the pro video guys know to change their shirts after each take.
I’m too busy taking in the sights and sounds to notice! These are by far your best video entries, really interesting stuff. I just hope that you’re not spending too much time editing and posting vids when you should be enjoying the break, what software are you using?
John,
Good video. To flaunt riches is divine
Great architecture!
Shanhai looks pretty cool at night, even if it’s only from a Flip camera.
That’s an awesome post, great picture.
What kind of a camera did you use to take it?
Have fun,
Anna
Pudong surely is impressive. I hope to vacation there someday. The structure’s are beautiful, and like Jamie above said the building design is much different then the one’s in a NYC where I’m from. It is actually tasty eye candy to me. Thanks for the gorgeous views John!
I dont see why people give a crap about what camera was being used…
I did enjoy the attitude in the video thats what I like to see. “They won’t be nouvo rich for long”
I am a professional Video Producer. I would suggest trying to take still shots on the basis of 3 second intervals to correspond to the attention span of the Human being. The video is very good I’m just making a suggestion for quality purposes.
Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning….
Why? Flips rock!
Just another thought I would like to know more about Mr. Chow. I would like to know if you were ever poor or struggling. Maybe someday I’ll look through the site and see if you have mentioned that.
I come from a very poor farming village in China. We moved to Vancouver when I was 7 years old. I grew up in the downtown eastside of Vancouver, the poor community in Canada.
A sort of “rags-to-riches” type scenario?
Wow…learn something new everyday
I always like the view of Shanghai, and haven’t got a chance to be there in real life. Truely envy John…
That’s pretty badass, it really does look better than Vegas
awesome vid! i just got the Flip Ultra as well. You should get the Perian QT codec. It solves all the video compatibility issues with Flip & QT/FCP.
I have that plugin. However, it doesn’t fix that fact that iMovie can’t import the Flip’s native AVI files.
That’s Chinese to me. Pardon the pun.
What a nice place to visit. I wish I go there some day. But I wouldn’t trade Vegas to China ever….
I would have to second that, my friend.
I must say I am a great fan of Shanghai, the hard working people of Shanghai and the tall and beautiful buildings. And China being able to become the biggest economy in the future I am pretty sure Shanghai is the New York of Future
Enough with camera talk! This is about shanghai peoplez, sheesh.
Anyways, while the mall is very nice, I’d rather just order my stuff online and pay half as much. I may go in to walk around and see things, but most likely wouldn’t really purchase anything(other than food).
Also the views and buildings in Pudong are amazing, but I can’t help wonder what it looks like outside of the little “rich area” you are in?
John uses his Flip for the videos. The city looks beautiful all lit up at night. Most big cities do, but I really like the different colors glowing. Must be nice to just get away and have no strings keeping you from doing what you want.
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This trip of yours is becoming an education in and of itself for us readers about China and its cities. Amazing stuff. It’s funny how amazing and modern the world is outside of the U.S. and North America. The average doesn’t realize that, but these videos and posts provide the necessary transparency.
Really impressive! Great video John indeed!
The night time part near the end was the best…it reminded me of the view from The Jetson’s apartment.
Truly a beautiful city. I hope to visit it in the future.
I think someone should interview John. Just when you think that you have reached the full depth of his persona he surprises you with depth that truly reveals his unique character.
Email sent John
John.
VentureBlogster here. I hear that Shanghai is HUGE! I hope that you had a nice time over there. What are you doing there anyway? Are you on a long vacation? When are you coming back to the states? I have enjoyed your site, and I look forward to hearing more of your ideas!
Enjoy China and looking to hear from you soon!
-VentureBlogster
Sounds like you’re really enjoy all the views on your trip John. That night pic looks amazing. I’m looking forward to seeing more.
~Terry
That’s certainly a way to lose your hard earned money, pay more for something than it’s worth just to show you are wealthy. As an accountant, that must drive you crazy?
It’s amazing so much has sprung up so quickly.
All these posts from China remind me of the book “Why Mexicans Don’t Drink Molson”. John, you should really check it out. It’s about how Canadians are being eaten alive in the international markets, not because we *can’t* compete but because we won’t.
There’s something to be said about being audacious in both business and in life.
It looks like you are having a great time John. Shanghai is a beautiful place.
yes it is … I am just waiting for him to tell us how much money he took there
Very good picture. Some of those buildings are very impressive.
Absolutely AWESOME! Looks like what Dubai will be in 5 years.
Yeah, I read somewhere that 25% of all the worlds construction is taking place in Dubai.
I’ve been there last year. Shanghai is amazing! The ‘flowers’ are nice too!
If china keeps growing at the current pace it won’t be long before they are the super-power of the world. I am very worried that we (Americans) will become another Canada, especially if Obama is elected.
Why would you be worried that america would become another canada? What does that even mean? No offence, but if becoming a country that is loved by pretty much everyone around the world, where you feel safe without carrying a gun, and control a huge percentage of the worlds fresh drinking water, is a big concern to you, then you are living the life my friend, and the only way it could get better is if america does elect obama (or a democrate), and maybe you’ll be one more step in the right direction.
One the plus side, you guys did end up with more nice beaches and some areas with a nicer climate (minus the hurricanes, tornados, and wildfires), other than that, I think we have you beat.
All IMO of course.
woah! That place looks crazy! I have to go!
take some big money with ya when you are going…
Shanghai become a modernization city with it is rapid development and good business climate, the China Government has a good planned on it, I think the people must change their negative imagination about business in Chinese country.
Really amazing to see big buildings like these in China.
Shanghai is my next destination, will see how great is the building is and the food.Yummy..
So amazing, Awesome architecture !
Hey John,
Great Video of Pudong. Awesome sights. I hope to get there one day. who knows when that will be.
oh no, I have no office there – I am nobody
cool video
I love that picture. What a great shot.
Shanghai looks very beautiful..This is definitely the city of 21st century ….. The title perfectly mathces the city view..