Debate on Shanghai Again

Whenever someone initiate a topic related to Shanghai - whether positive or negative about the city, it is very sure that a long debate about whether the city of Shanghai is good or bad will follow. It is very strange and unique atmosphere in China today.

I found the following discussion on Chinese Tea’s newest entry.

Agree to Coin! But to mention the development of city, I do not like Shanghai, not a little. I do not like a city full of “fast food?culture and people watch others through a colored glass.

Credit: Sam on Chinese Tea

There are some even sharper negative comment on the city but I feel a little bit difficulty to translate it into English.

Anti-Shanghai

When Beijing won the 2008 Olympic, the debate around Shanghai was extremely hot on Sina.com. When Shanghai won the 2010 World Expo, the debate on the forum are even hotter. Thousands of people rush into the forum, list data to proof Shanghai is a great city or proof Shanghai is the worst city in China.

A lot portion in the debate is focused on the people of Shanghai or the Shanghaieses. It seems people outside Shanghai don’t like people from Shanghai. Part of the reason is, they feel too good for living in Shanghai. The Anti-Shanghai phenomena has been a tradition in other areas of China since the foundation of the city.