From newsstand to the dawn of the Internet
Print Edition
As the millennium turned, Shanghai found itself at a crossroads between tradition and the digital age. In a world before smartphones and apps, life was simpler, yet full of new possibilities — e-mails replaced letters, music was still on CDs, and the city’s rapid development was just beginning to transform the skyline.
People communicated through early internet platforms like MSN, Yahoo Messenger, QQ and Renren.com.
Though internet connections were slow, they offered a thrilling glimpse of what was to come.
“I bought my first mobile phone in 1999. It was a new Nokia model, small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, with an orange case — very fashionable,” recalled Chen Chen, a famous TV anchor of Shanghai Media Group.
Back then, she had just moved to Shanghai from Hangzhou, studying at Shanghai International Studies University and enjoying campus life as a “new Shanghainese.”
Before the concept of “apps” existed, people caught up on the news via sluggish webpages or, more commonly, at the bustling Oriental Newsstand scattered across the city. These kiosks, with their neatly stacked rows of newspapers and glossy magazines, were a daily stop for commuters, students, and retirees alike. It was an essential part of urban life.
Music was still enjoyed through CDs, carefully stored in collections at home or bought from bustling street vendors. The Walkman and Discman were essential for commutes on the freshly opened Metro Line 3, with passengers holding paper subway tickets, which would soon give way to digital ones.
The city had just launched the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, a futuristic vision of what was to come, while weekends were still spent at classic family-friendly spots like Jinjiang Amusement Park and Hongkou Football Stadium.
Sports fever surged across the city, with Liu Xiang’s hurdles and Yao Ming’s basketball stardom lighting up the national imagination.
“The year of 1999 marked the beginning of China’s sports internationalization, symbolized by the completion of Hongkou Football Stadium, the nation’s first professional football stadium, and Manchester United’s visit to Shanghai. This paved the way for Shanghai’s growth in hosting international commercial sports events, such as F1 and the Shanghai Masters in later years,” said Ji Yuyang, a sports reporter of Oriental Sports Daily.
Karaoke and clubbing were beloved pastime that brought people together in the vibrant nightlife of early 2000s Shanghai. Friends would gather in at bustling karaoke bars, belting out their favorite tunes with enthusiasm and laughter.
“We were also really into clubbing back then. My university had its own dance hall, and every Saturday, students from other universities — especially those with more male students — would come to dance. The facilities were very outdated, but it was still packed and a lot of fun,” Chen said.
The internet was beginning to seep into everyday life, but not in the form of apps or smartphones.
At home, families were more likely to gather around a TV set for the latest drama, while home-cooked dinners brought everyone together after a long day of school or work.
“In 2000, Shanghai opened its first Starbucks. I had a senior who interned there and offered to take us for coffee. I still remember holding my phone as I drank my first cup of coffee at the Starbucks in Lippo Plaza on Huaihai Road.
”As for entertainment, it’s basically the same as today, just with different devices. Don’t underestimate us — we had classmates who skipped classes to play video games too! The only difference is that back then, we used desktop computers while now it’s all on smartphones,” Chen recalled.
And though the world was beginning to shift online, everyday tasks still relied on face-to-face interactions. Getting directions meant asking a stranger, and public phone booths were still common for people needing to make a quick call on the go.
This was Shanghai at the turn of the century. Looking back, it feels like a simpler time, but one that paved the way for the fast-paced, digital city we know today.
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