當代中國10大地位象徵 10 Status Symbols in Modern China

1. A Mistress

1.情婦

To anyone familiar with China’s seamier side, the concept of high-powered men taking mistresses will come as no surprise. When a guy’s material needs have been satisfied, an extramarital affair serves to fulfil his carnal requirements as well. Rather than simply meeting up for trysts with his ernai, a man must provide his mistress with an apartment, car and designer wardrobe. Like it or not, sleaze is here to stay, and even high-ranking officials are in on the act. Disgraced railway minister Liu Zhijun was discovered to have 18 mistresses, and ex-vice mayor of Hangzhou, “Plenty” Xu, had a similar harem when he was executed for embezzlement in July.

對於任何熟悉中國醜陋一面的人來說，有權勢的人包養情婦觀念不足爲奇。男人的物質需求得到滿足後，就通過婚外情來滿足他的性慾。他們不只是與“二奶”幽會，而是必須爲情婦提供公寓、汽車和名貴服飾。不管你是否願意，腐敗紮根於這些人中，甚至高級別的官員也在其列。無恥的鐵道部部長劉志軍被發現有18個情婦，杭州市前副市長“許三多”在7月份因貪污公款而被“雙規”時，被發現他有一羣類似“後宮”的女人。

2. A Luxury Car

2.豪車

Every wealthy Chinese person worth his or her salt counts fancy wheels among the trappings of their material success. German cars are among the most popular when it comes to sedans, with Audi and BMW occupying the top spots in the market. Before a middle class guy can even consider wooing a lady, he must first ensure that he has a decent vehicle. And if he wants to take a mistress? Well, that’s another car he needs to budget for.

每個稱得上是有錢的中國富人在炫耀他們的物質財富時都要考慮到名車。德國車在轎車中最受青睞，其中奧迪和寶馬在市場拔得頭籌。一位中產階層的男士在考慮追求一位女士之前，他必須先要確保有一輛體面的轎車。那麼如果他想要包養一個情婦呢？那就要預算另一輛車了。

3. A Pilot License

3.飛行駕照

A car is one thing, but the highest rollers like to go even higher. There are now 1,600 official pilot license holders in China (and doubtlessly plenty more that are unofficial…), and low altitude air spaces have been opened in Hainan, Guangdong and Heilongjiang for them to take their jets for a spin. Getting a license doesn’t come cheap, with courses costing as much as 80,000 RMB. Ownership of private jets is still limited in China, with just 100 registered, but the trend is growing. Celebs like Fan Bing Bing and Chen Daoming have gotten in on the action, each buying a jet of their own.

有車是一回事，而更高的玩家有更高層次的追求。目前中國有1600人持有正式的飛行駕照（毫無疑問還有更多的人持有非正式的飛行許可證……），海南、廣東和黑龍江爲這些飛機開設了低空飛行。獲取飛行駕照並不便宜，課程費高達8萬人民幣。擁有私人飛機在中國還是有限的，目前僅註冊了100架，不過有增長的勢頭。像范冰冰和陳道明這樣的名人已經採取了行動，他們每人都購置了飛機。

4. A Tibetan Mastiff

4.藏獒

Among pedigree dogs, the Tibetan Mastiff is neither the friendliest nor the most attractive, but it is currently the most prized canine in China. Dogs of this breed fetch ridiculous sums; in 2009 a Xi’an couple shelled out over 300,000 RMB for theirs, and show dogs at the annual China Tibetan Mastiff Expo boast names like God, Prince and Warren Buffet (seriously). Pets were banned under Mao for promoting bourgeois attitudes, but ownership of small animals like crickets and birds never really went away. Having the money and space to keep a big dog like a Tibetan Mastiff is a clear sign that you’re doing well for yourself financially.

在純種狗中，藏獒既不是最友好的，也不是最漂亮的，但它卻是目前中國最貴的犬。這個品種的犬價格貴得荒唐，2009年西安的一對夫婦爲他們的狗花了30萬元人民幣。而且一年一度的中國藏獒博覽會展示狗並炫耀它們的名字，如上帝、王子和沃倫·巴菲特（很當真）。寵物在毛澤東時代被作爲宣傳資產階級思想而遭禁止，但養一些諸如蟋蟀和鳥之類的小動物卻從不被禁止。花錢豢養一條像藏獒之類的大狗併爲它們安置居處可以清楚地表明一個人的經濟狀況非常好。

5. Apple Products

5.蘋果產品

To gauge China’s love of iPhones, iPads and Macbooks, you only have to look at the queues outside Apple stores whenever a new device is launched. Desperate consumers were crushed in the fever to get their hands on the iPad two in Beijing in May this year, and a boy even sold his kidney to afford one. Apple products appeal to the wealthy urban youth thanks to their sleek design, cult following, and reassuringly high prices. The fact that they are made on production lines in Guangdong does little to tarnish their appeal.

要衡量中國人對iPhone、iPad和Macbook有多麼喜愛，你只需看一看每當蘋果有新產品推出時專賣店外排隊的長龍了。今年5月在北京，不顧一切的消費者擁擠着以求買到iPad 2，甚至有個男孩子爲了買到一個而賣掉自己的腎。蘋果產品時尚的設計、狂熱的追捧和令人安心的高價吸引着富有的城市青年，而這些實際上在廣東生產出來的蘋果產品絲毫沒有降低它們的吸引力。

6. Pale Skin

6.白膚

Contrary to Western women’s fondness for suntanned skin (presumably to imply that they are wealthy enough to take expensive holidays to warmer climes), Chinese ladies prefer the pale and interesting look (presumably to prove that they don’t work outside in a manual job). Beauty products tend to contain “whitening” ingredients, and Western brands operating in China almost always add a special line to their product range, like L’Oreal’s White Perfect. Women hide from the summer sun under decorative parasols, and the pastiest of complexions are prized as the most attractive.

西方女性喜歡古銅色皮膚（大概是暗示她們有足夠的財富去休假以享受溫暖的氣候），與此相反，中國女性喜歡白色和引人注目的外表（大概是表明她們不從事體力勞動）。美容產品往往含有“美白”的成分，而且在中國經營的西方品牌幾乎總是在其產品中加入一種特殊系列，比如歐萊雅的白色完美。夏日裏女性打着陽傘躲避日曬，蒼白色的膚色最受青睞。

7. Fine Wine

7.美酒

China’s domestic wine industry might not be up to much yet, but it is expected to flourish. Until then, wealthy Chinese feed their grape habit with expensive imported wines. These days it’s common to see wine bars with a clientele of mainly locals, as the Chinese palate develops a taste for Cab Sav and Chardonnay. Wine’s growing popularity is partly due to its associations with the sophistication of France and Italy, and partly due to the fact that imported stuff is so darn expensive.

中國的國產葡萄酒行業還不是很發達，不過預計會蓬勃發展。而在此之前，中國富人用昂貴的進口酒來滿足他們飲用葡萄酒的嗜好。近來葡萄酒吧裏常常可以看到中國人，他們品嚐着“解百納”和“霞多麗”。葡萄酒的日益普及，部分原因是由於法國和意大利精湛的釀酒工藝，還有一層原因是因爲這些進口酒驚人的昂貴。

8. Luxury Furniture

8.豪華傢俱

Recently, luxury furniture company Da Vinci was found to be peddling goods that were Made in China instead of Made in Italy. However, the scandal has done little to douse China’s wealthy from lusting after plush sofas from the likes of Versace Home, Fendi Casa and Kenzo Maison. Having the ready cash to kit out your home like Donatella’s boudoir is a sign of great fortune and profligacy.

近來，豪華傢俱公司達·芬奇被曝出售的傢俱爲中國製造而非意大利生產。然而，這樁醜聞絲毫不影響中國的有錢人追求豪華沙發的慾望，從範思哲家居系列、芬奇家居到Kenzo Maison品牌皆是他們的喜愛。用現錢像多娜泰拉·範思哲的閨房那般裝備你的家表明你很富有和奢華。

9. Golf

9.高爾夫

China is catching up with the West when it comes to golf, the sport of the idle rich, or middle class dudes trying to up their guanxi with colleagues and clients. There are now around 600 golf courses in China, up from just a hundred or so at the turn of the millennium. A round on the fairway is seen as proof of your mettle.

中國在高爾夫上正在迎頭趕上西方，高爾夫是有錢人的一項休閒運動，中產階層人士用它來與同事及客戶拉關係。中國有大約有600個高爾夫球場，而在2000年前後僅有100個左右。打一場高爾夫球被視爲證明你的勇氣和耐力。

10. A Designer “Murse”

10.名牌錢包

Finally, the one thing no rich Chinese guy should be without: a man purse (a.k.a. “murse”) from a recognized brand. Gucci, Burberry and Louis Vuitton all fit the bill, with slightly less kudos for mid-range names like Coach. A guy needs somewhere to stash his cash and his iPhone, and the murse is the ideal accessory. Aspirational and functional.

最後，有錢的中國男性必備的一個物件：知名品牌的錢包。古琦、博柏利和路易威登受到青睞，中等品牌的蔻馳稍遜之。錢包是男人存放現金和iPhone的理想物件。它既實用又時尚。