Four days into my China journey. The good news; [my] missing suitcase finally arrived. All is good!

Caveat: My impressions follow, some based on the information or opinions provided by others. I have not been able to rigorously fact check. The gist of what I say, I believe to be accurate. Corrections, if necessary, will be made along the way.

What the Chinese are attempting and are able to do is absolutely mind blowing. The scale and scope of what they are planning and executing is equally hard to imagine. Combine the populations of North America, Europe, Russia and Japan and you still don’t approach China’s 1.3 billion people.

What the Central Government has planned (as only China can plan) is illustrative. They are planning to transform this central-western province of Chongqing into the Chicago of China, a commercial and transportation hub that will be the major portal for their Midwest.

In the next six years, the government has plans and models (see photo below) of a city that will increase from 7 million to 12 million – 70% in six years.

The 30- and 40-story apartment buildings are everywhere with more coming everyday (above photo is typical.) This is the planned urbanization of China.

The rural populations will be relocated to the cities, permitting massive mechanized farming in the hinterlands to increase efficiency and crop yields. On the same amount of land that a California farmer produces 20 units of rice, a Chinese farmer currently produces only six. Labor intensive farming is highly inefficient – and that will change!

More, later. Off to sign sister municipalities agreement tomorrow with Yongschuan District, one of 38 Districts in Chongqing Province – one of 31 provinces in China not including the three autonomous regions.