Do not come to Thailand during Songkhran...unless..

[guohua]

@"727Sky" 
Yes I would say it is only 10% or 15 % living on $2.00 dollars a day in China, the very rural areas are poor of-course, the small farms still struggle.

The economy has grown rapidly in the last 6 or 8 years.
I can say that it is cheaper to buy groceries like meat and dairy here than in China, the cost of a new apartment / home (other than a government issued apartment) is outrageous.
The cost of clothes has doubled.
Our daughter came home for her month off and we bought all her new clothes here for her continued stay in China.