These are the pictures:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441668

1. China's efficiency in implementing new technology is breathtaking. For example, solar power, which is rarely employed in most countries in the world, is already widely used in China. According to my eyeballing on a Hangzhou-Beijing railway trip, approximately 30% of households in the countryside of China's East provinces use it.

I also personally witnessed the CRH bullet train in Hangzhou, but unfortunetly I didn't bring camera with me at that time.

2. The enviromental deterioration, despite being severe in general, is stoped and reversed in many places. This is especially embodyed in China's great effort in afforestation.

3. Everyone cares most, if not only, about money. And indeed, people are really much richer than just 5 yeas ago. A friend invited me to dinner in a restarant. And the menu included the meat of crocdile and shark, geez.

4. Parents' stake in next generation's education is unbelievably high. Many children are still in the control of house-teachers, so to speak, when they are off-campus.

Anyway, it is nice to be home.

是不是有天上一日，地上一年的感觉？

是不是有天上一日，地上一年的感觉？

恩，有点，呵呵。

Poor Wigo, first visit back home after 5 years in the US? I have been here for school for even less than 5 years, and I was back to China for three times! :nuts: Of course that means lots of money spent on the air tickets. I'll probably go back home for another time before my expected graduation in Summer of 2008 (even if I would have to accumulate more credit card debts.:D )

Anyway, so glad that you had a good trip! Wish the whole China will be as prosperous as Zhejiang in near future.

And the menu included the meat of crocdile and shark, geez.


Shark meat was common even thirty years ago in China. Shark meat is considered low-end fish meat.

Shark meat is very cheap in supermaket!

From the pictures and the store name, it looks like it is solar water heater. I've never seen that before.

^^ It is very likely that you did not pay attention to the rooftops.

You can also see it easily in oliver999's thread (the 14th, 24th pics etc)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=421276

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_heater



Flat-plate collectors for solar water heating were popular in Florida and Southern California in the 1920s. There was a flicker of resurgence of interest in them in North America in the 1970s. However, the main improvements now are occurring in other countries which have enabled effective use of solar heating in both private houses and large scale installations. Technical innovation has improved performance, life expectancy and ease of use of these systems, with Germany/Austria the clear leaders. Installation of solar hot water heating has become the norm in countries such as Israel and Greece, where there is an abundance of solar radiation, and Japan and Austria where there is considerably less.

Solar hot water systems have become popular in China, where basic models start at around 1,500 yuan (US$190), much cheaper than in Western countries (around 80% cheaper for a given size of collector). It is claimed that at least 30 million Chinese households now have one, and that the popularity is due to the efficient evacuated tubes which allow the heaters to function even under gray skies and at temperatures well below freezing.[2]

Designs suitable for hot climates can be much simpler and cheaper, and can be considered an appropriate technology; however they will not work very well in temperate climates.[citation needed]