Such is the opinion of one Jiangsu native, who recounts her experience with the hukou (China province residency) system in New Geography. While folks from the countryside used to spend fortunes trying to secure an urban hukou for their kids, now - thanks to luxury real estate in the suburbs and the cost of living in the cities - the trend has reversed. One question I'd like to know: When big city hukous are no longer pined for, does that mean there's a fighting chance for the system to be done away with altogether? more ›

A study published today has found that China's rural children are three to six times more likely to die than those in urban areas. Ten children out of 1,000 died before the age of five in the richest cities, compared to 64 in poorer rural regions. more ›

• Ho ho! Juicy! A Guangxi official was suspended from duties because his porn-filled sex diaries got leaked. And one person has graciously translated some excerpts for us. [Veggie Discourse]
• Thirteen Chinese newspapers have jointly appealed for social reform, attacking the hukou system as outdated and unfair. Though their editorials were quickly scrubbed away, this is unprecedented. [Guardian]
• Sure, Facebook's blocked here - but that hasn't stopped social game developers in this country from courting it. [Inside Facebook]

Despite fears of the great economic recession destroying China's economy with the rest of the world, the average disposable income for Shanghai residents rose 8% since last year to 21,871RMB per person. That only counts for city residents, but even those not lucky enough to have the right hukou have still seen their annual salary raise: the average income for city dwellers is 15,051 RMB, which is 4.4% higher than last year. We've got some ideas, but what do you think all that extra pocket cash is being spent on? more ›

• Award Offers Expats Lower Taxes [Shanghai Daily] "Shanghai will launch a "financial talent award" soon to make the city more attractive to foreign financial specialists, said Fang Xinghai, director of the Shanghai Financial Services Office, yesterday. The award also allows for a lower tax burden for expatriate financial talents in Shanghai and aims to build the city into an international financial hub by 2020."
• Mindful of Japan, US expert urges caution on China [AFP] "The United States should avoid a formal partnership with China to address global problems as it would hamper the alliance with Japan, an influential US foreign-policy thinker told Congress Thursday."
• 'Excellent' migrant workers get Shanghai hukou [Global Times] "Li Ying, a sanitation worker from Jiangsu Province, was so happy to be given a hukou for Shanghai Wednesday she burst into tears in the police station. Li - who has worked in the city for the past 10 years - was among a group of 40 “National Excellent Migrating Workers” to be given the household registration certificates for the thriving city."

You know that whole initiative to get more "qualified experts" to actually receive a coveted Shanghai hukou? Well, now the city government has finally released details of its three-year trial plan, according to Shanghai Daily: more ›

We've highlighted mini-documentaries on the plight of migrant workers before, but there can't be enough said about these 200 million generally faceless people who have borne the burden of China's economic boom on their backs. more ›

• China opens bidding on moon probe technology [Reuters]"China will open competitive bidding so that domestic schools and institutions can help build crucial parts of the country's moon exploration craft, an official newspaper said on Wednesday."
• China launches satellite TV channel to train students, teachers and migrant workers [Xinhua] China Education Television (CETV) is to open a new satellite channel to offer educational services and vocational training for primary and middle school students, teachers, and migrant workers beginning on March 2.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences recently published a report about how much income you need in order to be classified as white-collar in various Chinese cities. At the top of the list was Hong Kong, where you needed to make at least 18,500 RMB. As for some of the other cities:The benchmarks in some major cities at the upper end are: 8,900 yuan ($1,194) in Macao, 5,350 yuan ($717) in Shanghai, 5,280 yuan ($708)... more ›