How EXPO Changed Shanghai

March 22nd, 2010 · 1 Comment

Now that Shanghai World EXPO will be open in 40 days, I notice there are lot of changes happening in Shanghai.

Most of constructions are almost done as well as polishing streets with new paintings e.t.c. Past 6 month, Shanghai has changed daily that i even got lost same route back home. All the slum area has been totally removed (at least exterior sight) and either turned into park or properly hidden.

Not only scenery view but also infrastructure has been changed. In order to make “Better City Better Life” government came up with new rules and campaign to educate local Chinese people.

“Seven Nots” Rules

No spitting
No littering
No vandalism of public property
No damaging greenery
No jaywalking
No smoking in public places
No use of dirty words

In order to educate these, small TV screens are installed at bus and metro train playing etiquette video what are acceptable action and what are not.

Actually ‘No smoking in public places‘ became law in China recently. However I got information that it will be charge to individual but not to company or organization. Which means if someone smokes in the restaurant, you have to call police and report him directly and restaurant would not get any fine. I wonder if it really works. Come to think about it! By the time police reach the place, the person would have already gone or already finished smoking. But happy side is that at least now I can tell people you can not smoke here

Metro X-ray Check

Since this week, all the metro station installed X-ray machine to check passenger’s bag. It is to show how safe shanghai is. It surely gives foreigner good impression on protecting from potential terrorist attack. However for local people, or foreigner living in Shanghai are having pain in the neck for this procedure. Metro is already super crowded but introducing x-ray is causing even more heavy traffic. I hope government would have come up with this traffic solution.

I think it will take some times for Chinese to get used to new rules and get rid of bad habits plus It is little bit uncomfortable as well. Nevertheless I am happy to see the initiative of change and hope that this new rules and campaign would go on even after EXPO is finished.

More information on impact of EXPO in Shanghai:

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/MDForum-viewtopic-t-105918.phtml

http://www.thechinabeat.org/?cat=65