A sleek, comfortable hydrofoil got us to Shekou in Shenzhen Province (halfway to Canton) in about an hour (see right) where we saw China's modernization efforts in full swing (including a new McDonald's and a Wal-Mart grocery store!).

New, beautiful apartment complexes were everywhere (see right); however, living in this area is not inexpensive and not many people have a clothes dryer - energy costs too much. Purchase price of a nicer apartment (i.e., 2500 sq ft) costs upwards to US$1,000,000. When a family waits out a government housing list (it might take 4 years), they can get a small (e.g., 600 sq ft) apartment if their annual family income is about US$50,000 and they agree to have at least six people living in it.

As a result of the high price and the need for enough bodies to satisfy the authorities, folks rent out "wire cages" in a dormitory-style room to local workers. No kitchen privileges are provided. The government only subsidizes housing of government workers (they pay 90% of the purchase cost).

We went by bus on into the Canton area later and had lunch in a Cantonese restaurant - no silverware provided! Among other sights, we visited the memorial hall of China's first founder Dr. Sun Yat Sing who overthrew its feudal system of government in 1911. His government was then overthrown in 1948 by the present communist regime.

One of our fond memories on this trip was the panda bear zoo. Here's Shen Shen, the photogenic, 29 year old panda bear. We were lucky to see him because he's usually asleep or quiet 22 hrs/day and awake only 2 hours. The oldest panda bear in existence (32 yrs) was snoozing when we were there.