Comments on: China’s housing crisis

By: Al Jensen

Al Jensen — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:30:08 +0000

The main reason that young Chinese want to own a home is that it is a traditional requirement for marriage – a young man who wants to get married must prove to his future in-laws that he is capable (or his family is capable) of providing a home for the couple. No apartment, no marriage – and renting an apartment till you can afford to own is not an acceptable alternative.

I was unaware that “Dwelling Narrowness” was banned – it’s widely available in the DVD shops here in China.

By: Peter Poulos

Peter Poulos — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:21:00 +0000

It’s quite strange that the same housing crisis exists in many cities worldwide.

I wonder what is really going on behind closed doors?

Peter

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:10:47 +0000

In reply to above comment –

Woju (or Dwelling Narrowness as the rather awkward but official English translation would have it) did indeed become a hot drama … online!

You can watch all 33 episodes via Youku, Tudou and the multiple other domestic video streaming websites within China.

See here for youku links – http://so.youku.com/search_video/q_蜗居

Also, although it is true that the series was pulled mid-season from some TV stations, it is still currently being broadcast on a few local stations including in Guangzhou and Suzhou.

By: James Flowers

James Flowers — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:03:40 +0000

Thanks for this piece, Peter.

The series, though, is far from being currently being seen on TV. It hit the headlines after it was banned from being broadcast after just a few episodes were shown. A debate in the media then followed on the rights and wrongs of the ban. The problem was that a chief character in the series was a government official who takes a mistress, another chief character in the series. Woju never had a chance to be a hot drama.