当代中国10大地位象征

　　Since the opening and reforms of the late 1970s, China’s economy has boomed, leading to a rise in wealth and a burgeoning middle class. With new money comes status symbols, and modernChina has plenty. Here are 10 of the most ostentatious and intriguing.

　　自从七十年代末的改革开放以来，中国的经济蓬勃发展，致使财富增长，中产阶层迅速发展。新兴财富的出现带给当代中国很多的地位象征。以下是10大最炫耀和最耐人寻味的地位象征。

　　1. A Mistress

　　1.情妇

　　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.

　　对于任何熟悉中国丑陋一面的人来说，有权势的人包养情妇观念不足为奇。男人的物质需求得到满足后，就通过婚外情来满足他的性欲。他们不只是与“二奶”幽会，而是必须为情妇提供公寓、汽车和名贵服饰。不管你是否愿意，腐败扎根于这些人中，甚至高级别的官员也在其列。无耻的铁道部部长刘志军被发现有18个情妇，杭州市前副市长“许三多”在7月份因贪污公款而被“双规”时，被发现他有一群类似“后宫”的女人。

　　2. A Luxury Car

　　2.豪车

　　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.

　　每个称得上是有钱的中国富人在炫耀他们的物质财富时都要考虑到名车。德国车在轿车中最受青睐，其中奥迪和宝马在市场拔得头筹。一位中产阶层的男士在考虑追求一位女士之前，他必须先要确保有一辆体面的轿车。那么如果他想要包养一个情妇呢？那就要预算另一辆车了。

　　3. A Pilot License

　　3.飞行驾照

　　A car is one thing, but the highest rollers like to go even higher. There are now 1,600 official pilotlicense 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 aspin. 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.

　　有车是一回事，而更高的玩家有更高层次的追求。目前中国有1600人持有正式的飞行驾照（毫无疑问还有更多的人持有非正式的飞行许可证……），海南、广东和黑龙江为这些飞机开设了低空飞行。获取飞行驾照并不便宜，课程费高达8万人民币。拥有私人飞机在中国还是有限的，目前仅注册了100架，不过有增长的势头。像范冰冰和陈道明这样的名人已经采取了行动，他们每人都购置了飞机。

　　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.

　　在纯种狗中，藏獒既不是最友好的，也不是最漂亮的，但它却是目前中国最贵的犬。这个品种的犬价格贵得荒唐，2009年西安的一对夫妇为他们的狗花了30万元人民币。而且一年一度的中国藏獒博览会展示狗并炫耀它们的名字，如上帝、王子和沃伦·巴菲特（很当真）。宠物在毛泽东时代被作为宣传资产阶级思想而遭禁止，但养一些诸如蟋蟀和鸟之类的小动物却从不被禁止。花钱豢养一条像藏獒之类的大狗并为它们安置居处可以清楚地表明一个人的经济状况非常好。