China
World Economies
Aug 16th
It was just reported that China has passed Japan to become the world’s second-largest economy behind the United States. The Chinese economy represents a value of $1.33 trillion. To put this in perspective, the United States is valued at $14 trillion.
So, who moves and shakes the world? You guessed it — the United States, not China. When we sneeze, the rest of the world catches a cold. I think this is an interesting point when you look at the big picture and see how truly large the United States is in comparison to the rest of the world.
The European Union, if it were a country (and it’s not), would be valued slightly more than the United States. I think, however, that the events of the summer still prove that the EU is just an association tied more into a common currency than anything else.
So, threats of China’s world domination in the near term are untrue, but who knows what the future may bring!
– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way from Beijing
May 10th
As I take care of some work around the house — a little planting for spring — I needed to take a little break to tell you a funny story.
On my way to the airport in Beijing, I was on the main drag outside of the Grand Hotel Beijing, on East Chang’an Avenue, and just in front of the Beijing Hotel, my taxi was stopped at a red light. I was anticipating my flight to Hong Kong and the many meetings ahead of me. Not to mention enjoying the city’s restaurants and shopping!
Suddenly, there was a big bang and a jolt forward. I looked to the cabbie who was as shocked as I. We immediately realized we had been rear ended. The driver put the car in park and got out to assess the damage. As he opened the door, another unmarked car pulled up and the two drivers began talking.
In a few seconds, the trunk of the cab was opened and my luggage and golf bag were transferred to the other car. My driver said “airport,” which I took to mean the other driver would be taking me to the airport. In the “rescue” car, there was another passenger in the front seat. I learned that the passenger was staying at the Beijing Hotel and the two drivers were friends. I went along with the whole ordeal.
Maybe this was not the smartest thing to do. In fact, and in retrospect, this could have been the perfect kidnapping ploy. But it was not — it was simply two guys helping each other out. The taxi had significant damage; the bumper destroyed and the trunk smashed in. It was funny, standing in the middle of the street and watching my things being transferred.
En route, I talked to the other passenger, who was from Jerusalem, and we laughed at the entire event. At the airport, I was taken to the terminal for my Air China flight to Hong Kong. I think I paid a bit more for this ride, but considering the events, I did not quibble.
It is always interesting traveling to China. I would recommend wearing your seat belts (I was not)!
– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO
Improved Choices for Travelers
Apr 26th
I am in China today. Actually, I am in Hong Kong, having spent Friday in Beijing (played a little golf). On Saturday, I did some touring outside of Beijing with my pal, Ernest. He can help you with any transportation or touring needs you may have while you are in Beijing. Here is his email contact: ernest_0716@hotmail.com.
I had a wonderful flight on Air China‘s first class. It is terrific to fly on the Boeing 747-400. No other plane takes off or lands as gracefully as the 747. Air China has really improved their onboard product. The first class sports a fully reclining 180-degree truly flat bed. The service was tops, and except for some deadbeat travelers (a couple who had their iPhone alarms going off; I had to call a flight attendant for assistance as the travelers never woke up) the flight was very peaceful.
I plan to review the flight for an upcoming GT Tested article.
I was recently asked about the purpose of the Global Traveler blog. I quickly responded that the purpose was to show the true face of our company, but also to be a valuable service to you. I think we must offer advice and travel tips to you, the frequent international traveler.
So, my tip today: Don’t discount the secondary and tertiary airlines. Specific airlines have dominated Asia and Europe for many years and have turned their noses down to the secondary and tertiary airlines. Air China is an excellent example.
The lines between these airlines have blurred. Perhaps this has to do with global airline alliances or maybe they have realized what consumers want. Before, when traveling, passengers may have considered one or two airlines to Asia, but now, the real choices (those offering quality product and service) have jumped to as much as six or more.
So travelers, enjoy your improved choices. I will update you on Hong Kong shortly. I am staying at the Grand Hyatt, which I feel has much to offer and the best Club Floor I have ever encountered.
– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO
Outsized in Shanghai
Apr 23rd
To a kid growing up viewing the small (but lovable) skyline of Philadelphia, New York City seemed bigger than life. On the train into the city, seeing the skyscrapers of uptown and downtown stretching to cover the island, I felt awe at the idea of just how much life and energy Manhattan held. Then, last week, I rode the train into a different city, in a different country, and learned a different meaning of the word “massive.” Welcome to Shanghai.
Shanghai wasn’t my first introduction to large cities in China; I had just come from Nanjing and had visited Beijing on a previous trip. Foolishly, I thought that Shanghai would measure around their size; mind-boggingly expansive at first, but not to the extent that you can’t wrap your head around it eventually. The joke was on me.
I can only imagine what the aerial view of Shanghai might be like; perhaps from 30,000 feet in the air you could see an end to the city. From the ground you can’t. If you enter the city via rail, your first introduction to what’s ahead are sprawling apartment complexes lining the tracks in clusters of 20, 40, 80 — each building exactly like the one next to it within its complex and each building holding upwards of 200 families. Try doing that math in your head: If each apartment holds three people, then each building houses 600 people; 600 per building times 20 buildings equals 12,000-plus people in the smallest complex. And these were only the suburbs.
Once you cross into the actual city, there is nothing but city. I took a taxi from (what I thought) was one side of the city to the other and still couldn’t find an end to the skyscrapers. Mind you, that taxi ride took 15 minutes on a superhighway, without traffic. If you took the same ride through NYC, you’d zip through from one side to the other in no time flat.
Shanghai is the only city thus far to completely baffle me, and I love it for doing so. I hope so much to encounter an opportunity to return and try once again to find my bearings amidst the insanity, although I think it would take living there for at least six months (probably more!) to actually say you know Shanghai. Then again, to know Shanghai is probably a fleeting feeling, because every day it stretches a bit closer to the horizon and to the sky.
Dear Philadelphia, I still love you. To New York, you gave it your best shot. But Shanghai’s the future, and America, we have a lot of catching up to do if we expect to be a part of it.
– Kate Gallagher, advertising and editorial coordinator
