Buy your Shanghai flat, get a job thrown in

High-rise Shanghai flats, seen from the viewing gallery of the Shanghai World Financial tower Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

High rise homes seen from the Shanghai World Financial tower. The price of new housing has dropped by up to 40% in some cities after the global economic crisis burst the Chinese property bubble Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Aerial view of Shanghai flats. With the global financial crisis reaching into every sector many have pinned their hopes on China to unleash its trillions of renminbi and foreign currency to bring relief and liquidity Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

A worker cleans the windows of an apartment block in Beijing's central business district Photograph: Reinhard Krause/Reuters

High density housing in Beijing Photograph: Adrian Bradshaw/EPA

A labourer works on the scaffolding at a construction site in Haikou, Hainan province Photograph: China Daily/Reuters

Visitors view building models at the 32nd Chengdu Real Estate Trade Fair in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Building structure and earthquake resistance has been a major concern in the area Photograph: China Photos/Getty

A migrant labourer demolishes an old apartment building at a construction site in Suining, Sichuan province. Suffering from a slumping housing market, Chinese developers are scrambling to find new ways to keep the cash flowing in and creditors at bay, with anything from factories to timeshares in their sights Photograph: Reuters

People pass an advertisement for a luxury property development in the central business district of Beijing. Investment in urban areas rose more than 25% in the first 11 months of 2008 but began to slump in December after the downturn in exports Photograph: Adrian Bradshaw/EPA

A builder walks past a hoarding in the Xintiandi area of Shanghai Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Construction work in Xintiandi Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

A builder takes a break in Xintiandi Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

A builder walks past a hoarding Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Construction worker installs a neon sign in Beijing Photograph: Corbis