Shanghai, 2005 - I remember hanging out with a few expats who were reminiscing about how the Zhangjiang Technology Development zone had first developed. Back in 2001, the subway wasn't in existence. There were no restaurants around, and there just wasn't much to do. SMIC was in its infancy back then. When the subway began running, the areas surrounding the school and the LQ began developing quickly. Later, when I revisited that same area in 2007, the subway station finally had its own Starbucks. There were lots of restaurants to choose from, and a short ride away from Jin Qiao and Da Mu Zhi (Big Thumb) Center gave residents plenty to do without the need to go across the river and into the Puxi side of Shanghai.
Yi Zhuang is experiencing its second boom. It must its second since the first reclaimed all the farmland, cleared it out, moved the residents into government housing, and built the first companies here. SMIC BJ was one of them back in 2004. Foreigners, though much fewer in comparison to other parts of BJ, had lived in Yi Zhuang for maybe a decade, recently these foreigners are usually English teachers for the local kindergartens or for Yew Cheung International School.
When I moved up to BJ from SH in the summer of 2005, the Living Quarters (LQ), its neighbor, Youth Mansion (a dormitory), and an apartment community, Lu Hai Yuan, were the only spots of residences in a vast area of dirt. There was no sign if life south of the local river, which smelled horrible. Thankfully, these were the last months that companies were allowed to dump anything before runoff restrictions were finally in place and enforced. Civilization was north of the river, where there was Shanghai Salon - a plaza of shops, restaurants, and its major supermarket, Merry Mart. The well known residences were Greentown, Singapore Gardens, Dear Villa, and Ideal House. Just north of that was Da Xiong, where the area's only foreign recognizable establishment, Domino's Pizza existed. The other place where foreigners like to eat is Subway, but that's closer to the companies and factories. That was pretty much it.
When the Olympics were around the corner, there was a small attempt to draw more companies and businesses into Yi Zhuang (officials like to call it "eTown") by quickly building office buildings. They weren't utilized until a whole year after the Games had been completed. The financial crisis had gone global, and Beijing simply looked new and pretty on the outside, but dead, cold, and empty on the inside. But China, with brute force and loads of capital, forged ahead and pumped millions of RMB for development into eTown. Soon, DHL and Nokia built their offices alongside pre-existing Bayer and SMC. Auto Mall opened up a few more dealerships. Suning, a major electronics store came to compete against Gome. KFC opened up, and just last spring, a second one opened up at Shanghai Salon.
The No 5 Light Rail extension into Yi Zhuang has now taken over two years. But the end is very near. It's September and these are the months when test runs are taking place. What used to cost from 4 to 35 RMB, whether by busses or taxi, to go into the city, a short bus ride of 1 RMB will get you to the subway station, which will then cost 2 RMB.
More apartment communities are on their way. Just right beside the primary school is a new upscale apartment community called "Paradise Court" (or Papadis, I think it's a typo). The large "UFO" looking business complex is finally complete, with a few touch ups like sidewalk repairs. That area had been vacant for over two years. The main street leading up to the 5th Ring Road are now lined up with more business offices and larger communities. Sam's Club will open soon nearby.
Back in the LQ, I've lost my clear view of what used to be a barren place south of the river. The apartments in the LQ are no taller than seven stories. The new, local government apartments are at least 25 stories tall. One of those complexes is to our east, and another to our south, blocking my favorite views. Lu Hai Yuan had already expanded their community, blocking our view to the west. And now, I have to look north through my 3rd floor office window to enjoy the last of the barren piece of land, which belongs to SMIC BJ, and in a few months ground will be broken to build the second phase of the LQ.
Yi Zhuang is booming. And I'm blocked in.
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