Guangzhou topped the nation in per capita disposable income (13 967 yuan) and consuming spending in 2000, according to the newly released statistics on per capita spending for food, clothing, housing and transportation in China's 10 largest cities. The city once again topped the list in three of the four categories: food, housing and transportation. Guangzhou urbanites' love for food was clearly reflected in the per capita spending on dining. It is found that these residents spent an average of 1 754 yuan (US $ 212.16) per capita on dining out in the year 2000. It is much higher than the other nine cities, approximately 1.6 times as much as that of Shanghai and Beijing, and 19.1 times as much as that of Harbin, which is placed last of the selected 10 cities. Guangzhou also claimed the top spots for average annual per capita spending on housing, 1 475 yuan (US$ 178.41), transportation and communications, 1 034 yuan (US$ 125.07). It is important because positive consuming is the pushing power of a commercial society.

In 2000, Guangzhou's urbanites' income per capital came up to 19 674 yuan, the highest among the major cities in China, followed by Shanghai (18 534) and Beijing (16 351). It is 1.45 times as much as that of Chongqing City in Western China. Life spending per capital was 6 188 yuan in Guangzhou, 30.7% higher than in Beijing (4 736). Guangzhou urbanites spent 11 349.47 yuan on average in 2000, 49.3% higher than in 1995. There are over 100 000 private cars in Guangzhou, also the highest of the 10 major cities. Those guys earn more and spend more, as an English proverb goes: "Easy come, easy go!" Is that true? But Guangzhou is a city of contrasts: from kids who belong to the groups of beggars in the countryside that chase you down the road, to the affluent middle-class who have spent the better part of their youth hunched over a desk in a university. And now, their lost years of growing up are paying off as they collect the big salaries and become the big spenders of this generation. This newly found generation is spending their money in department stores and supermarkets, and dressing the same way as the people in Hong Kong, Paris or New York. As a local Cantonese song goes: "Life is always better off."£¨Bubugao in Chinese£©

Editor: Catherine