Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shanghainese are considered to be smart, hip - and a little arrogant. The men have a
reputation for being shrewd businessmen, but docile at home - Shanghai men famously, un-
complainingly, carry their girlfriends' handbags. The women are just as sharp as the men
when it comes to business, and very well turned out. Impressions count a great deal here:
visitors from Beijing chuckle that even the undersides of the city's elevated highways are
painted. Shanghainese are conspicuous consumers, with a passion for upmarket brands,
luxury cars and fine dining. The city's history of amalgamating East and West gave rise to a
style called
hai pai
, which translates today to an openness to Western ideas and customs.
LOCAL CUSTOMS
Shanghai has a relentless big-city pace, rising early and going to bed late. By 7am, the tai chi
practitioners and ballroom dancers are going through their paces in the parks, and the mar-
kets are buzzing. Offices, banks and museums are open by 9am, while shops open between
10 and 11am, and restaurants begin serving lunch by 11.30am.
Shanghai has a lively nightlife scene, and the city's bars and clubs keep going well into
the early hours, with some remaining open all night.
Speaking English
The city has the largest population of English-speakers in the country, yet there are still nu-
merous situations in which very little English is spoken - these include taxis, markets, shop-
ping centres, public transport (though the signs are bilingual), police, local hospitals (though
some have a 'foreigners' section') and some government offices. In most public places,
however, you will probably find English-speaking locals, who are usually happy to help.
Besides an English newspaper
(Shanghai Daily)
and a TV channel with 24-hour English
and Japanese programmes, there is also a service hotline (tel: 962288) with 15 languages to
assist foreigners in Shanghai.
