Shanghai Local Customs

I would really like to get to know more about the music of Shanghai in the 30s and 40s since it was very influential to Hong Kong pop music. After listening to the CD, all I can tell you is that I can't stop listening to it. Some of the songs on this album go back to the 30s, yet the stellar quality of the songwriting and vocal performances really shine through the pulsating beats and electronic soundscapes. Listeners should keep an open mind about the new reinterpretation of this music. This is not a butchering of the original songs, but is merely an updating of the musical ideas behind the music.

One thing you will never forget after you visit Shanghai ... the food! It's hard to avoid the thousands of dishes you've never seen before. I guarantee that you will find yourself in a true culinary experience. Ask your tour guide or the locals and they will introduce you to lots of classic Shanghai dishes. From seafood to meat to vegetables to soups and noodles, you definitely should plan on trying some new dishes. Eating is part of the travel!

new law decreed!!!! arrgghhhh....
requires that you show your passport at Internet Bar's/Cafe's, etc.... to protect against I don't know what... so you can check your email...
that's if you go to a place outside your hotel/hostel...
in my opinion, annoying, not safe for us to be carrying passport around to check email...
had interesting experiences at different locations.....

just a heads up!!

1 more image

Whether it is the May Day holiday or the October National Day holiday, main cites across the country will be SWAMPED with tourists, both national and international. It is an incredible sight....something I certainly had never seen before that's for sure!!!

I was in Shanghai last October holiday and the maount of people who take to the streets on either of these two national holidays is colossal! Truely outstanding! The photo on this page which i urge you to open, was taken from the top floor of The Peace Hotel on The Bund!!! Can you believe it...were my eyes really telling me the truth...they couldnt be surely.....but oh yes they were!!! For those who have been there on normal working days, you will recognise this street as having lots of traffic...but for these holidays, they block everything off and it's all pedestrinised....! CRAZY!!!!

So a little culture tip for.....during the May Day and October National Day holidays...please PLEASE just stay at home!!!!! Unless you like the feeling of claustrophobia..hee hee!!!

With the increasing use of English in China, English signboards are beginning to appear in major shopping malls and public buildings. However, in the process of translating word for word, the meaning of the signboard can be distorted, sometimes with amusing results. I saw this signboard outside a toilet in a major shopping center on Huai Hai Lu.

Westerners have an unspoken and sacred aura around them that they expect to never be invaded. In line, westerners will stand at least a foot apart, and when talking to friends, they will equally do so, even after knowing each other for years.

In China, however, I suppose as a result of adapting to such a populous nation, they concept of personal space does not exist. People will fall asleep on the bus and rest their head on your shoulder, and get annoyed if you push their head away. If you are standing in line and allow 1 foot space between you and the person in front of you, others will assume you are not waiting in line and jump in. Pushing and shoving is the norm. The concept of waiting in line is also largely unheard of, and everything works on pretty much a first come, first serve basis.

It is a Chinese belief that when phlegm builds up in your throat or mouth, it is "bad" for your body, and thus it is better to spit it out than swallow it. Consequently, you'll witness a lot of locals spitting *constantly* as you walk by. Watch your feet-- not only do you risk stepping into a ball of spit, you might have one actually shooting at your legs if you are not careful!

One thing few tourists understand when they come in contact with locals or tour guides is that in Chinese culture, asking someone about their income or how much they make annually is a polite conversational topic, much akin to being in America and talking about the weather or a sports team. If you feel uncomfortable with their prying questions about how much your mortgage or car costs, or how much your hourly wage is, politely give a gentle wave of your hand and say "Oh, not much!" and smile.