All land is owned by the state, so when you buy a building, you don't gain outright ownership. All you get is the right to use it. Property in Shanghai is divided into various categories, and Chen explains various terms used in the PRC. "Foreign business buildings" can be purchased by foreign-invested enterprises and persons with a foreign passport.
以購屋置產言：土地屬於國家，購屋人只有讓渡使用權，而非買賣使用權，上海的房子又分為外銷房（昔稱僑匯房，外資企業或持有外國護照者方可購買）、商品房（即內銷房，賣給大陸人）、公房（國家的房子）、私房（個人產權房）。