China is a land of pagodas and terraced rice-fields...oxen, water buffalo and giant duck-ponds...people in conical hats playing cards and sleeping under shady banyan trees.
Depending on where you go, China could be a tremendously cheap place to live, but you would need to have a pioneering spirit--and also a commitment to learn Chinese.
Fast Facts
Population: 1,330,141,295 (July 2010 est.)
Capital City: Beijing
Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Time Zone: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Source: CIA World Fact Book
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China Articles
Drums, Buskers, and a Circus FestivalPosted on December 20, 2011 by Darius Fisher
A round-up of the weird and wonderful events taking place around the world over the coming months.
- Ice Sculptures and Camel Wrestling
Posted on November 24, 2011 by Darius Fisher
A round-up of the weird and wonderful events taking place around the world over the coming months.
The Ancient Teller of PingyaoPosted on September 16, 2011 by J. Keith Howie
The biggest attraction in Pingyao is the Rishengchang Draft Bank museum. The bank operated during the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644 to 1911) and is reputed to be the first draft bank in the world.
Tales of a Travel Writer in ChinaPosted on August 24, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Dinner time on the Chinese island of Hainan Dao, but I don’t feel hungry. When presented with what resembles the diseased body parts of Things From Outer Space, your appetite tends to vanish.
How You Can Profit from China’s Democratic RevolutionPosted on June 27, 2011 by Chris Hunter
I’ll be blunt. I have no time for Communists. Theoretically, Communism is just plain dumb. But on a practical level, it’s even worse.
This Really Is Low Hanging FruitPosted on June 17, 2011 by Chris Hunter
Although you wouldn’t know it from tuning into CNBC or opening the Wall Street Journal, the world is actually in a new “super cycle” of growth.
Read This Before You Invest in China…Posted on April 6, 2011 by Chris Hunter
I recently came across some “intel” on China. It comes via a source I met while I was on my recent investment scouting trip to Southeast Asia.
Hong Kong on the Cheap – 7 TipsPosted on March 16, 2011 by Arthur Hoffman
1. The Star Ferry crossing Victoria Harbor between Hong Kong island and Kowloon offers views of one of the world’s most dramatic cityscapes, not to mention terrific people-watching—and it only costs 83 cents.
The Sneaky Way China Is Hiding Its Soaring InflationPosted on February 16, 2011 by Chris Hunter
China is cooking the books on inflation. This is hardly surprising. The Chinese leadership knows too-high inflation has the potential to cause serious social unrest. So it’s doing all it can to convince people that it has inflation under control.
The Closest Thing to a One-Way Bet You’ll See This YearPosted on January 27, 2011 by Chris Hunter
We’re on the verge of one of the most extraordinary financial revolutions of our lifetimes. According to HSBC bank’s chief economist, Qu Hongbin, it’s a revolution of “truly epic proportions.” And it’s one that could have major implications for international investors.
From Communism to Capitalism—The Next Great Leap ForwardPosted on January 26, 2011 by Chris Hunter
One of the biggest trends in the world right now—and potentially one of the most profitable—is the growth of a new middle class outside places where you might not normally imagine middle class people. Places like India, Brazil and China.
2011 Portfolio Review (Part 1)Posted on January 12, 2011 by Chris Hunter
Today, I’d like to take a look at where we stand with our portfolio. In particular, I want to deal with the first two “buckets” in the recommended portfolio: the Emerging Market Middle Class and the Building Blocks of Growth.
China’s Bombshell Means This Market Will Soar in 2011Posted on December 26, 2010 by Chris Hunter
China dropped a bombshell this month. Not the kind the North Koreans have been dropping on their neighbors in Yeonpyeong Island. But one that has explosive consequences for investors nevertheless.
What the Price of Burgers in Beijing Could Do to Your MoneyPosted on December 14, 2010 by Chris Hunter
How many times have you heard people talk about the “debate” over inflation and deflation? Ben Bernanke says he’s fighting deflation by printing more money. Something he likes to call “quantitative easing.” (So as the ordinary folks at home don’t start panicking about the value of their dollar savings.)
This Emerging Market Giant Could Sink Your PortfolioPosted on November 18, 2010 by Chris Hunter
Over the last 30 years, this country’s economy has increased sixteen-fold. And its standard of living has doubled every 10 years. If this country keeps growing at its current rate, it will account for 40% of the entire planet’s economic output within a decade.
China Is Running Out of Farmland… Here’s How to Play ItPosted on November 4, 2010 by Chris Hunter
Here at International Living Investor we like big, unstoppable trends. Trends you can profit from year after year…and even decade after decade.
Make Money From the Mega TrendsPosted on October 28, 2010 by Mary Anne and Pam Aden
Something big is happening: a massive shift in power from West to East. With this change comes opportunity…the kind that only appears every few decades.
Make 82% by Next October from the “Fifth BRIC”Posted on October 7, 2010 by Rob Marstrand
Inside this month’s issue we’re visiting another Asian powerhouse economy – one that’s still not on mainstream investors’ radars. It’s what I call the “fifth BRIC.”
Why These 1,408 Investing Pros Are Fleeing AmericaPosted on September 30, 2010 by Chris Hunter
The financial editors at IL Investor have a simple rule when it comes to their research: They only want investment ideas where the odds are stacked in your favor. That’s why they always look for bargain prices in high-growth markets.
Each Thursday we select the best idea from what they’re working on and send it to you.
Here are details from Chris on an investment mistake you may be making…and how to rectify it immediately.
The Era of Cheap Food Is Coming To an EndPosted on September 17, 2010 by Rob Marstrand
There are just under 7 billion people on the planet today. According to the UN, there will be more than 9 billion people by 2050. That’s over 2 billion more mouths to feed than in 2010. Meanwhile, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization forecasts that world demand for agricultural commodities will jump by 60% over the next 20 years. As food prices rise…so too will the share prices of the world’s top food producing companies.
Make 20% for 20 Years on the Mother of All Mass MarketsPosted on September 1, 2010 by Rob Marstrand
Inside this inaugural issue we visit the country I know best outside of my native England: China.
You Can Profit from This Mass MarketPosted on August 6, 2010 by Rob Marstrand
I first went to China in 1998. It was a bleak place. My parents had been there in 1987 and nothing much had changed.
Watch Out! China Is Dangerous BubblePosted on May 24, 2010 by Chris Hunter
China is the new Japan.
In the 1980s Japan could do no wrong in the eyes of the mainstream media. The country had a massive trade surplus…a high personal savings rate…and a zooming stock market.
Investment Opportunities in IndiaPosted on May 14, 2010 by Chris Hunter
Only 51% of Indians brush their teeth.
Memories and Misadventures from the FieldPosted on April 30, 2010 by International Living
IL’s staff writers have been traveling and scouting the world on your behalf for years. To celebrate our 30th birthday issue this month, we asked them to tell us about their most memorable travel experiences.
- The Cost of Revaluing the Yuan Will Mean Higher Consumer Prices for Americans
Posted on April 6, 2010 by Chris Hunter
One of the big uncertainties in the markets right now is whether China will let its currency, the yuan, rise in value versus the dollar, to which its been pegged since 2008.
Travel Press Talks: August 2009Posted on July 30, 2009 by Anna Skellern
For discerning travelers who want to experience the old-world charm of the Middle East, Oman is a must-visit destination.
- China Central Bank Could Be the Death of the Dollar
Posted on July 1, 2009 by Dan Prescher
The People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, has formalized its call for replacing the U.S. dollar as an international reserve currency.
From China to the U.K.—Where to Shop for the best AntiquesPosted on April 24, 2009 by Paul Lewis
Don’t go hunting for antiques. Let them come hunting for you. A definite goal leaves you vulnerable to the articulate salesman or, worse still, the self-styled expert who will convince you that what he has is what you really need.
Eight Reasons Why you Should Invest in ChinaPosted on March 25, 2009 by International Living
It’s time to make a big bet and begin investing in China.
I know. It’s not exactly a popular stance. And the smart money is doing exactly the opposite. Or so it appears…
The Travel Press Talks…March 2009 IssuePosted on February 20, 2009 by Anna Skellern
World cruise bargains and finding out where the smart tourists go. It’s all in this month’s Travel Press Talks…
Travel Press Talks: January 2009 IssuePosted on December 17, 2008 by Anna Skellern
This month, travel writers have been crooning about the joys of European skiing vacations.
Shanghai’s SecretsPosted on September 5, 2008 by William Chamberlayne
Meet one of your fellow VIPs, a woman who’s turning her love of good wine into a canny travel plan. And you’ll also discover a restaurant that showcases local bottles with fresh food at reasonable prices, even during harvest.
Growth in the U.S. has been largely a mirage; in Brazil, India, and Russia it is real!Posted on August 27, 2008 by International Living
So far this year, practically everything is going down. The only exception is our favorite investment—property in developing countries.
Building Wealth With BRICs—Profit From GlobalizationPosted on June 25, 2008 by International Living
As summer temperatures keep rising, U.S. investors are feeling rather hot under the collar. The Dow Jones has fallen by 12% since October. House prices are in freefall. The price of gas is at a record. And the clowns in Washington seem to be doing everything they can to send the dollar the way of the dodo.
World NewsPosted on February 28, 2008 by International Living
Major infrastructure improvements for Nicaragua Word has it that a group of Spanish investors …
- Buy in China…sell in the U.S.
Posted on January 30, 2008 by International Living
“Organic is a niche, but a very profitable niche.” So went a 2005 article …
Buy in China…sell in the U.S.Posted on January 23, 2008 by International Living
“Organic is a niche, but a very profitable niche.” So went a 2005 article in Prepared Foods magazine. “Give consumers what they truly want…and they will dig deeply into their pockets.” And digging deep they are. No longer limited to hippies and tree-huggers, research by the Hartman Group Inc. finds that—despite the increased cost to the end consumer—70% of Americans buy organic food and drink at least occasionally, with 27% purchasing on a daily or weekly basis.
Help rebuild the Great Wall of China…and other volunteer adventures in the natural worldPosted on December 26, 2007 by Lynn Mulvihill
The world’s longest man-made structure—stretching more than 4,000 miles—China’s Great Wall also ranks among the World’s 100 Most Endangered Sites. Beyond its restored areas—those that are most-visited by tourists—hundreds of miles lie in disrepair. Volunteer vacationers are sought to help clean and rebuild sections of the wall where restoration projects are already underway.
Seamlessness in the Yunnan ProvincePosted on August 28, 2007 by International Living
On my last night visiting the Yunnan Province in rural Southwest China, I encountered three handsome, pale horses lingering at the entrance of my reconstructed Tibetan lodge that had wandered in from one of the neighboring Naxi tribe’s wheat farms. I had spent the entire week making contact with the exotic, and that night, like every night, I approached bedtime with equal parts exhaustion and excitement.
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