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Popular Local Customs | Other Local Customs Tips | All Tips (101) There hasn't been a place I have more struggle to catch a taxi. In Shanghai, getting on a taxi is an art form, and I am not exaggerating one bit. To successfully be on broad, I have to fend off a crowd of strangers who are ultra aggressive. They push, curse, put their body onto mine, budge their asses in front of me.... the point is made.
Two more extreme cases. A man was getting into the back seat of a taxi after a hard fought shoveling match. Then all of a sudden a lady opened the front passanger door and jumped into the seat. She literally cursed the man out of the car, but not after employing a minute's effort. After her victory, she waved to her companions and they occupied the remaining seats.
The second one was unfortunately happened to me. As I was stepping forward to embrace my highly anticipated taxi, a b*tch(excuse my language) pushed me from behind. As I crumbled another few steps forward, the taxi's front wheel met my right foot and sparked an upclose encounter.
(note: remember to bring a good pair of sneakers. Mine saved my foot.)
Of course this doesn't only apply to catching a taxi. Another prime destination to get frustrated is the train station, where getting in line can be quite similar to boxing out for a rebound when playing basketball. Leave a Comment
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Any attempt to cross the roads in Shanghai is a major challenge. Drivers have no common road sense, and they will turn into an intersection with no regards of the right of way, nor the fact that many pedestrians are walking on it. I think every driver believes anybody with legs will have enough time to run away from their cars.
I still have "fear of mad cars syndrome" when attempting to cross a road this day, six weeks after my departure from Shanghai. Leave a Comment
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Shanghai is very hot in summertime. During my stay, the average temperature hovered between 33-37 degree celsius. Air conditioning shopping centres and restaurants seem to be a good way to escape the heat, right?
Not so in Shanghai, when the city is having a serious crisis at hand concerning power supply. Attempting to reduce the usage of electicity by the public, the government has issued a law restricting any businesses to operate their air conditioners at below 26 degrees celcius. That's why even when entering such new facilities like the new airport, it seems to be quite hot and suffocating. Leave a Comment
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Another interesting aspect of today's Shanghai is the many new shopping malls constructed over the past few years. Most of these new buildings have great looking exterior. Curiously enough, some are home to low priced computer's hardware and software. This is a clear sign that while construction of new buildings seem to never cease in Shanghai, the demand for such infrastructures cannot keep up. Thus, these expensive shells are only a better shelter for the locals to house low priced businesses, or window shopping in front of shops they will not think of entering. Leave a Comment
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One of the local customs that I am getting used to in Shanghai (and I would assume elsewhere within China) is the display of fully plucked geese (or ducks) outside of shops as seen in the picture to your left.
I still haven't figured out why the birds are outside on a clothesline where pollution, insects, and other elements can take their toll. Nevertheless, like clothes hanging outside in the middle of the winter (or any time of the year) the hanging of geese is definitely classified as a local custom in Shanghai. Leave a Comment
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Many foreigners now reside in Shanghai to take advantage of the rapid economic development. Most live in apartment complex where security is tight and management is of high-standard.
These gardens, as they are called, seem to effectively isolate the residents from the locals who might be living just a block away in the same neighbourhood for decades. Leave a Comment
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I love sugar cane juice. I saw it quite often in China. A couple of problems with buying it in the street is What kind of water did the glass get rinsed out in? Who was the last person that drank from that glass? Luckily I didn't have any problems!! KNOCK on Wood!! LOL
You can have a big glass for just pennies....I would recommend bringing your own cup if you have sanitation concerns. Leave a Comment
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Almost every back alley that I walked through had laundry hanging everywhere. It was interesting to see laundry even hanging at street level in the big city. So that showed me that the people of the area most not have a petty theft problem. Nobody wants to steal their neighbors underwear!! hahaha Leave a Comment
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The super long electric buses seemed to be the People Mover of Shanghai. They were always packed with people. I rode them quite a bit myself. The bus system is very extensive and cheap. If you get yourself a good bus map it's also fairly easy to use...the tricky part is knowing when to get out!! hahaa I missed several stops but I was never to far from my intended destination. Leave a Comment
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Bicycles, bicycles, bicycles... they were everywhere! Sometimes I just stopped to look at them, wondering if I could capture a moment without seeing one. I couldn't! While walking around in Shanghai or any other Chinese city, it's better to be careful because it's quite easy to be run over. Auch! ;) Leave a Comment
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on August 28, 2004
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