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Re:China's Empty Cities by xtqctz on Saturday September 21, 2013 @07:07AM (#6422614)
Expensive for farmers who make $2kUSD per annum. Even in the central districts of tier two Chinese cities[1], rent is only $200-300/month for a decent two bedroom. In which case, they ought to just move to a functioning city. My total monthly expenses (rent, food, leisure, taxis, reasonably fast internet) are often <$800USD.

[1]ie not Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou

Re:China's Empty Cities by seanmcdirmid on Saturday September 21, 2013 @08:42AM (#6422769)
The farmers can't afford it, who can? China also has to reform its hukou system before these cities can really become viable communities; for a foreign kid having fun, whatever, but what if you had a family to worry about...medical care, schooling, and other social welfares become very important.
Re:China's Empty Cities by xtqctz on Saturday September 21, 2013 @09:10AM (#6422831)
Yes, these issues are major problems for China overall and for the individuals that make up the working poor (Still literally hundreds of millions of people.)

The parent comment was about creating cheap hacker spaces.

Re:China's Empty Cities by seanmcdirmid on Saturday September 21, 2013 @09:30AM (#6422881)
If we want to use cheap art space as a guide, like 798, they don't last very long, or, if generic, are not very intellectually stimulating. Might as well crash someplace nice like Bali where at least Google+ and Facebook aren't blocked.