SIXTY years of Communism have changed China in ways that perhaps Chairman Mao would not have foreseen. The concept of owning substantial property is no longer an alien capitalist idea.

Phuket's up-market property brands were represented at the China International Luxury Property Show in Shanghai this week, in the lead-up to China's 60th birthday celebrations.

Among the island's sales reps were Laguna Phuket Director of Property Sales Dan Simmonds and Larry Cunningham from the exclusive Chava at Surin beach.

Laguna has taken a global view of the markets and lately has even launched new developments from overseas capitals, including Stockholm.

More of a surprise was the presence of Mr Cunningham, who figured it was time to fly the Chava flag internationally.

He said the cost of the mission would be met with just one sale, and he was confident about some of 30 or so leads achieved at the three-day fair.

Being a cash market, Phuket has to beat off the rest of the world on quality alone. And there was no shortage of competition.

Cyprus and Mongolia were both in there pitching, even though about 80 percent of the booths were Chinese firms targetting Chinese buyers.

''I though our spectacular backdrops of tropical Phuket were impressive, until I saw some of the competition among other stands,'' Mr Cunningham said. ''One Chinese estate was reproduced in miniature in crystal.''


One of the reasons the new rich in China spend overseas is perhaps as insurance against less settled times. While China is relatively stable these days, the threat of social unrest remains ever-present.

Nick Johnstone, an Australian property agent at the Shanghai show, told a Melbourne newspaper: ''We've had several [Chinese] buy properties sight unseen, just over the internet and phone.

''They buy to land-bank, not to rent. The houses just sit vacant because they are after the capital growth.''

The chase is on again for Phuket buyers in the capitalist markets, too. Laguna's Dan Simmonds will be among a group of the island's upmarket properteers at a two-day event entitled Singapore Phuket Select in November at the island nation's Grand Hyatt.