Apartment Block

This is an apartment block I see when I look out my window. It is a typical 'older' style apartment block that is very common in China.

Often set up in a U-shape with a street entrance on both ends. MOst are either one or two bedrooms,. a kitchen and a small bathroom. Very simple and effective.. Most are 7 stories high. Any higher and the 'building code' requires that there is an elevator. IN the centre of the U-shape, you can see another building.. This is the heating building where they burn coal in winter and pump hot water through the block's heating system in the walls. IT is a very inefficient heating system and the amount of pollution produced is awful. In the newer buildings, the heating is in the floor with is much more efficient and and lot warmer. Winter is a few short months off. the heating starts in mid November and ends in April.