Unlike the busy cities along the Trans-Siberian, which have undergone rapid change over the last few years due to increased train traffic and an influx of foreign travellers, the towns along the BAM remain part of the land that time forgot, their Soviet architecture virtually unchanged.

BBC: A train to nowhere in Siberia

Right now, many China investors are paying closer attention to second and third tier cities away from the busy, saturated coast.

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It has call-centres in 15 American towns and cities, which are beginning to get very busy.

ECONOMIST: Call centres

The cities of Bridgeport and New Haven in Connecticut were still busy clearing roads and removing snow, but businesses began opening up in their downtowns.

WSJ: Road by Road, Plows Reopen Cities, Towns

She and her son, who was busy playing computer games in his seat, were with a tourist group that had toured eight U.S. cities in twelve days.

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