Rome wasn’t built in a day but Tianjin is trying its best to re-pave all its road and pavements (sidewalks) before the Olympics.

For months the locals have had to put up with bumpy dirt roads, which kick up a tremendous amount of yellow dust when a bus passes over them. Then they became bumpy mud paths as Tianjin experienced an unusually high amount of rain. There are large potholes in the middle of the road guarded by a solitary traffic cone. The British Health and Safety Executive would have several heart attacks upon seeing them. But they make for more interesting taxi rides (and more painful bike rides).

However, we are now starting to see the results. The re-laid paving stones have a satisfying straightness and regularity.

The new tarmac (asphalt) is finally going down too. In the space of one day the main road outside my home had been finished. I could still feel the heat from the tarmac as I took this picture.

By contrast it took Liverpool City Council more than a year to do the same thing on Berry Street, a 400 metre stretch of road.


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I tried to find an ironic slogan for the title to my blog post about banking in China. The Abbey National Bank’s old slogan was perfect.

I’ve recently opened a current (checking) account in China and I was pleased with how quick and easy it was. The only difficulty was the language for which I bought along a Chinese friend for help. If you don’t have any Chinese or any friends then you can refer to this comprehensive guide.

Requirements to open a Chinese bank account:

1. 1 form of ID
2. £1 processing fee.
3. Yearly £0.70 for the privilege of a debit card.
4. Receive your debit card and PIN number at the same time

The only downside is that you don’t get a chequebook, but no-one really uses them in China. The bank clerk laughed at me when I asked for one. You don’t get a £1000 interest free student overdraft either – but they’re not so useful.

Compare this with the requirements to open a British bank account:

1. 2 forms of ID
2. Proof of address
3. Credit check
4. Zero pounds
5. Wait a week to receive your debit card and PIN number

Bear in mind that these requirements of British citizen. Good luck to those who don’t pledge allegiance to the queen. Why do the rules need to be so complicated? And thanks to a minor financial crisis, even the share price performance of the Chinese banks has been better than the British banks.

To be fair to the British banks, the rules are there to protect me from money-laundering. I’ve also taken for granted the free current accounts that they offer. What I appreciate most is the polite, pleasant and efficient service of the British bank teller. A kind of service that is only found in the English gentlemen. A kind of service that is envied by every other nation on the Earth. Indeed, let us celebrate the British bank teller!

OK, I’ll stop looking through my Union Jack tinted glasses.

I got to fly out of Tianjin’s new airport last week. The airport has a striking glass front. The airport is a large sweeping open hall.

I had a very smooth experience. I got through check in, immigrations and customs very quickly. Everything had a nice new shine to it.

Contrast this to the absolute chaos at the opening of Heathrow Terminal 5. Beijing Capital Airport has also recently opened a new terminal. Then I realised it would be interesting to compare them.

I guess it would be unfair to compare the airports. Beijing Airport is massive but it needs to be in order to serve millions of Olympic visitors. Tianjin’s new airport was a smaller project on the outskirts of the city. Heathrow is blessed with one of the worst possible locations for an airport and locals who are unfortunate enough to be harassed by the daily noise.

In time, Heathrow Terminal 5 will become a good and efficient terminal, and in time Beijing and Tianjin will need to build yet another airport to cope with its growth. If you think I am kidding, an article from The Economist claims that Beijing is already planning a second airport.

But it would be nice if Britain’s construction projects were not not a laughing stock.