Welcome to China's China

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In all likelihood, Chengdu and China's other interior cities will look more and more like Shanghai every year. The optimistic citizens of Chengdu, such as Liu Xindi, couldn't imagine anything else. Liu, 33, has seen his income skyrocket 20-fold since he began working 15 years ago. Now Liu, who sells ads for the local Yellow Pages, can splurge whenever he wants on his soccer shoes, badminton racquets and biking gear. But he still thinks the good times are just starting to roll. "Of course, I think my life will be better in the future," Liu says confidently. "The economy of the city is growing, and it's not going to stop. There's no question about it."