copperfish, you are not even Chinese. I could also go to Shanghai and have a rip-roaring good ole time, while the rest of the country lies in filth.
I would suggest educating yourself on the horrible practices being used against China and it's people, at the hands of it's own government (including carrying out executions against it's people for population control - yay for communism, eh? Where's communism? I want to sign up for an injection! And I want to work 90 hour weeks for a half cent an hour with $15 taken out of my paycheck for boarding

How can you use the internet when you can't afford a computer, which is where 90% of their population stands). Notice the schools you attended are AMERICAN/BRITISH, not Chinese. LoL..... (lucky for YOU, America has some schools in Shanghai).
So if I'm not Chinese there's no way I would understand anything about the more vile practices in China? You aren't Chinese either, right? I've had plenty of opportunities to hear or read about the horrible deeds that go on in China, and do believe I know more than you do about the truth in the things that are (supposedly) happening.
Executions do happen, but it's not for population control. The most recent execution involved a man in Inner Mongolia who ran over a young boy because he stood in the way of a vehicle. Is the practice of execution to be condemned? I have no answer for you.
The thing about low wages... One, I knew about that already, and two, aren't Americans the ones who benefit most from them anyway? Low prices can't come without low production costs. Without this system, unfortunately, the world economy would suffer quite a deal. No offense, but I don't think Americans should judge so quickly about this issue. Judge me if you want, I don't care.
I have friends who go to Chinese schools. Conditions are worse off than international schools, but they're still an option for many immigrants. I know I'm lucky to have studied at international schools. I'm not that stupid.
A pretty city created for others does not a good country make. All this post does for me is make you look uneducated and uncaring, and selfish. At least know the state of the environment outside of Shanghai before you decide how great communism is.
Hey, chill. It's not like I never stepped out of Shanghai over all these years. I've been to the poorer parts of the country a number of times and have even been to Sichuan when that huge earthquake struck as part of a voluntary community service trip. Besides, like I said, I've had lots of opportunities to discover the "state of environment outside of Shanghai" whilst I lived here, via TV, newspapers, internet, friends who live here etc.
And by the way, one thing you should know is that while the Chinese press is heavily monitored and censored, the foreign ones aren't, and therefore foreigners are more likely to be aware of the stuff going on in China/the world than Chinese people.
Stop blaming everything on Communism. Looks like you misunderstood me, but I'm no fan of Communism - I'm completely neutral, in fact. It's not Communism itself that's hurting Chinese people, it's the people with power - Communism is a CONCEPT, a THEORY that actually has little to do with the idea of oppressing people. The definition of Communism originally centers on property rights, not oppression. I really wish Americans would look deeper into Communism before getting all rowdy about it.
America takes much better care of it's people. DUH. Some of the worst human rights violations in the WORLD happen in China.
Worst human violations? Hardly... Pray tell what you've heard. I know there's a lot of untrue rumors going around about China, especially among Americans. I have no idea what's going on in America, so no comment.
As uneducated as I may seem to you, so you seem ignorant to me.