Shanghai Wish list: Some Things We're Hoping for in 2017
As we are into the new year, we hope to see a few new changes in Shangahi that can make expat lives more liveable.
Translated bus routes
For those of us that can’t read Chinese, the buses remain a mysterious untapped resource, so close, yet so very far away.
Puxi Taco Bell
Why should Lujiazui have all the fun? Taco Bell isn’t meant for upscale areas, it’s mean for those of us that aren’t afraid of spending an afternoon in the bathroom. We don’t wish for a Puxi Taco Bell, we demand one.
Maglev extends to Puxi
What is the point exactly of something that speeds up your commute, yet you must commute to it. On behalf of all Shanghai residents we’re wishing for a Puxi Maglev stop.
Traffic Police leaves us alone at intersections
We thought the amount of grocery store employees was excessive, turns out the cops are even more abundant, so abundant apparently, that they can put one at every single street corner and intersection, with the singular purpose of yelling at you.
Yonkang Lu makes a comeback
It’s not going to happen, but we’re allowed to dream aren’t we?
Great spots please stop closing
2016 seemed like a big ass F&B funeral at times, hopefully in 2017 we’ll have far less great restaurants shuttering the windows.
Big shoe sizes for sale
Having big feet in Shanghai is a double edge blade. On the one hand we can never find shoes, never. On the other hand, we’re not wasting all out money on shoes… so that’s a plus.
Landlords, stop raising rent!
Imagine how delightful it would be if rent stopped being raised every 48 hours. Imagine all the extra money you’d have laying around.
The smoking ban actually works
The proposed March smoking ban in Shanghai has some potential pitfalls, most notably that every single person in Shanghai seems to be a rule-ignoring chain smoker. For our wish list, we’re hoping that the smoking ban miraculously works.
Scooters and bikes stop riding on the sidewalks
Everyone knows the boiling rage that can occur when a scooter is beeping behind you on the sidewalk.
Domestic flights leave on time
It would be nice if every domestic flight wasn’t always delayed 90 minutes.
Make the tallest building
To spend all that time and energy on the Shanghai tower and it’s not even the tallest in the world!? Can’t we add like a radio tower or metal rod or something so it’s the tallest?
Summer hours
Nike does it, why can’t we all do it? Shanghai should institute a city-wide summer schedule, where everyone has Friday half-days, and everyone is generally more laid back about being late and leaving early.
No more honking!
In our ideal 2017, Shanghai will institute a honking bad on all cars and scooters. Violators will be banned from the city for the year.
No construction
We know there’s shit that has to be fixed and refurbished and what not, but this year, let’s all just take a break ok? No more jack hammers at 7am, no more ambiguous banging noises or drills. Just, stop please.
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