A recent survey has shown that residents in Shenzhen, a boomtown facing Hong Kong across a river, spent 22,022 yuan (about US$2,653) on average last year.
The figure shows a rise of 9.7 percent compared to the year 2000, said local sources. According to the survey, most of the expenditure went on medical aid, the purchase of housing and cars, education, and tourism.
Shenzhen, which used to be a small town of about 20,000 residents,led China's reform and opening-up drive after being designated the country's first special economic zone, introducing preferential policies.
It has now grown into a boom city and is now highly rated throughout the country as one of China's leading exporters and won the most "garden-like city in the world "award in 2000.
(eastday.com February 7, 2002)
