Our archeologist homeowner tells us about his family, and how his house went from being typical in Beijing to worth half a million dollars. During the cultural revolution, his property (then his mother's) was seized and they were required to pay rent to the government, but afterwards it was returned to the original homeowners, if they had managed to pay the rent. Though he could live very comfortably if he cashed out, he plans to split the property and pass it on to his two sons, who (along with their wives) live with him. Even though, he said, the government is trying to resettle most the locals out beyond the 4th and 5th ring roads to make way for wealthy (Chinese and foreigners) in the city center, he said the neighborhood these days is still mostly average folks who grew up there, though that's bound to change over the years.
EAP China! Robert Klein