CHINA: The sumptuous villa's back double-doors opened on to a swimming pool, which looked out over the first hole of one of southern China's most famous golf courses. The woman showing the house waved her hand dismissively. "It's all going to be filled in, moved around the back. Bad feng shui," she said.
The ancient Chinese art of geomancy or feng shui, which believes that unseen "qi" or energy lines determine our destinies, is gaining popularity in China's affluent coastal cities, even though the practice is illegal in fiercely secular China.
Many feng shui masters have set up consultancies in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing, offering advice on everything from career to marriage, to health, to getting out of debt and to making the right investment, the Xinhua news agency reports.
Feng shui, which translates as wind and water, is aimed at ensuring a good flow of energy. Among the principles are that buildings should always face south, or kitchens should never be in the middle of a house.
Derived from the ancient philosophical and divination manual, the Book of Change, feng shui requires careful balancing of elements such as wood, fire and earth. It's become very popular with designers in Ireland and other western countries.
Feng shui was banned after the Revolution in 1949, when the Communists set out to eliminate the "four olds" - old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits.
However, despite the official view that feng shui was hocus pocus, China remained fiercely superstitious - the lucky number eight is prized, while many buildings will not have a fourth floor as the number is linked to death in Chinese tradition.
But in recent years it has staged a major comeback and Zhang Zhizhe, chairman of the Shanghai Yi Jing Institute, said the influx of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents - all places where feng shui is legal and popular - has contributed to the growth of its popularity.
Feng shui guides register themselves as consultants to avoid being shut down and feng shui never really died out as a part of China's traditional culture.
Wang Xiaohe, who manages a Shanghai feng shui consultancy, says there are over 1,000 feng shui guides in China's biggest city. "Feng shui is widely applied in interior decorating and real estate, so it has attracted many estate agents and entrepreneurs."
One western architect said Chinese clients will publicly dismiss feng shui, but often employ geomancers secretly. Some major public building plans have been cancelled because of bad feng shui, even though no one would admit that was the reason.
Consultants charge around €3 per square metre for property advice and €30 per half-hour for general advice. For example, getting advice on your company's name can set you back up to €180 although prices are negotiated according to a customer's means.
When design store Annabel Lee recently opened its 300sq m flagship store in Shanghai, the interiors were all arranged according to feng shui principle.
Feng shui is strict on many issues. For example, you should never have a chandelier above a pillow, or you won't sleep.
Never have a mirror in your bedroom, as you will fight with your spouse and a husband is more likely to have an affair.