I presume I'm just missing the joke here and it can't actually be the case that people think Chinese housing is cheap
Space Arc @WaywardWestern1
Sep 16
In China, there’s a traditional practice called 建造东西 (“building things”). They construct things called 房屋 (“Houses”), in which people can do things like live and raise families. The Chinese build so many of them that your average Chinese family can afford a “house”

Sep 17, 2025 · 12:57 AM UTC

20
15
4
267
The real magic of the Chinese housing market is that while Western housing markets can either be in a state of shortage or glut, Chinese housing markets can exhibit the worst effects of shortage *and* glut at the same time.
3
6
1
129
Replying to @Birdyword
Renting is really cheap in China though
1
15
Yeah definitely, rental yields astoundingly low
1
1
7
more replies
Replying to @Birdyword
how do you reconcile this with the staggering difference in homeownership and general cost of living
2
8
What cost of living differences that aren't just attributable to China being a much poorer country? Homeownership is high partly because alternative investment opportunities are bad, but also bc people who migrate to cities are still registered as homeowners where they're from
1
1
1
12
more replies
Replying to @Birdyword
It is decently affordable outside the 8 or so largest cities.
1
5
US looks pretty good on the same basis!
1
1
62
more replies
Replying to @Birdyword
well it's cheap for an American on a $/sqft basis...oh wait no not even then
3
10
Replying to @Birdyword
well, Mike, 96% of them own a home, so draw your own conclusions
Replying to @Birdyword
If it hasn’t been explained, they’re mocking the tendency to take normal things in China and make them sound mysterious & exotic by referring to the original Chinese word like it’s the key to some deep mystery, add in half-baked etymology. “Crisis = 危机 = danger+opportunity!”
Replying to @Birdyword
Yes it's cool that China builds stuff, but people forget that Chinese households aren't rich...
1
Replying to @Birdyword
Rent is shockingly cheap, even in Beijing or Hangzhou. Now, if you want to buy, oh boy.
14
Replying to @Birdyword
In HK they divide the buildings into things called 公寓 ("Apartments") which few people can afford so they divide those further into 笼子之家 ("Cage homes"). Even creating so many "cage homes" within a building the building owner still cannot afford 安全修复 or "basic repairs".
8
Replying to @Birdyword
Rental affordability is decent even quite good it's ownership affordability mostly in tier 1 cities that is highly distorted
1
Replying to @Birdyword
Their largest cities have grown in population immensely. Even Chinese construction is not keeping up with demand. But I expect it'll eventually even out and housing will be affordable.
1
Replying to @Birdyword
i bet it's cheap in certain areas, not necessarily where people compete for housing close to high wage jobs :)
1
Replying to @Birdyword
Who says 建造东西？An extremely formal verb followed by a very casual noun.
2
1
Replying to @Birdyword
I think the tone is sarcastic obviously but it seems they are sincerely arguing that Chinese housing is cheap
1
3
Replying to @Birdyword
people that think China has cheap housing should look into the number of Chinese living in caves.
3
Load more