20 moments that give Shanghaiers the fear

Flickr: Ocean. K

We all know living in Shanghai is great, but it's not without its stresses and inconveniences. Here is just a selection of the things that can make Shanghai life a struggle.

When all your friends decide to move away Please stay. Who are we going to go to brunch with now?

Ordering something on Taobao that will be delivered while you’re not home It's a real lottery where the delivery guy is gonna leave it.

Having to pay in cash and getting loads of coins as change What do people do with these things?

Trying to order food during Chinese New Year Good job you stocked up on pasta...

Getting tickets to a music festival and realising you have to get the metro all the way to Disney (or somewhere equally as far) You'll genuinely reassess how much you want to go Storm.

Changing lines at People’s Square station between 5.30pm and 7.30pm Welcome to the Hunger Games, may the odds forever be in your favour.

The restaurant saying they’ll post you your fapiao Why such mafan? Why?

Your heater/air conditioning not working and your baoan not responding to your WeChat messages Help, we're dying.

Someone messaging you on Alipay What is going on here?

Your friend wanting to go clubbing for their birthday Nothing says happy birthday like standing in a circle in the middle of the ASL dancefloor...

Going outdoors in the summer You know it's hot when the dogs stop wearing clothes.

Your Didi driver turning up in a different colour car than they said they would This is why we have trust issues.

Having to be a tour guide when your friends or family are in town We'd love nothing more than to go to Qibao on a Saturday afternoon... and it's a public holiday weekend, that's just perfect.

Waking up with a hangover and not knowing whether you have any drinking water This truly is the definition of 'the fear'.

Sitting in the front row at Kung Fu Komedy and the comedian asks you where you're from Please, leave me alone, I have a family.

Finishing bottom of the table at The Camel pub quiz and your shame being displayed on the screen for all to see The bad-taste pun as a team name doesn't seem so funny now, does it?

Getting a new ayi What if she breaks our favourite mug?

Being added to an incredibly active group chat *Mute Notifications*.

When your elderly neighbours ask you what seems like a very important question in Shanghainese Good luck with that if you're not a local...

VPN not connecting first time I NEED TO INSTAGRAM THIS BAGEL, GOD DAMMIT.

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