Success and Pride

China’s rising economic strength and political power have given its people a new found confidence. It is not only evident on the world stage, but also when you talk to business associates, suppliers or any man-on-the-street in major cities of China. However, people in China should remember to keep their pride in check so as to avoid appearing snobbish to foreigners.

Chinese are also very proud of their country's rapidly developing transport infrastructures such as high-speed trains and modern train stations. There is much room for improvement in terms of maintenance, though. Behind glossy facade of new train stations are leaky ceilings and dated interior designs that do not gel with exterior architecture. And inside the much talked-about hi-tech Meglav train in Shanghai are run-down seat covers and fixtures (see top right photo of Meglav train seat with poorly fitted cover and seat handle with peeled off paint). Thankfully, the train zips from the city station to the Pudong airport in just 8 minutes, so passengers do not have to spend a lot of time with the seats!