Shanghai scales the heights but must address metro issues
By Frank Jiang |
January 1, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
I lived in Sydney for more than six years and moved to Shanghai two years ago for educational pursuits. My transition from a place so tranquil to such a frenetic city has been uneasy.
One thing is certain, my biological clock ticks faster here. Life moves rapidly.
This fast pace comes with Shanghai's emergence as a business hub on the international stage. Urban construction and infrastructure development in Shanghai are completed at lightning speed.
Believe it or not, construction on a four-story gymnasium at the intersection of Xin Cun and Xin Hu roads began early this year and was completed in one month. This demonstrates the industry of the people in Shanghai.
Is it just hard work that enables Shanghai to punch above its weight both economically and socially?
Productivity is part of it, of course, but Shanghai is also flourishing because of one great cultural asset - Shanghainese are indifferent to your ethnic background, but they have a consuming interest in what you can contribute. Offices and schools are eager to accept you based on your ability, not where you live or where you're from.
However, Shanghai's impressive strengths should not divert us from addressing its shortcomings.
For starters, the subway is intolerable. Commuters cram into carriages before passengers can get out. One of the worst parts of working in Shanghai is getting to work.
Another problem in Shanghai is the unnecessary usage of energy.
I live near Wujiaochang and on the weekends the buildings - presumably empty because offices don't open during weekends - are ablaze with lights. The edifices gleam with multi-colored neon.
Why can't Wujiaochang's buildings be powered by renewable energy?
One solution would require the buildings be retrofitted with solar panels as their primary energy source.
New York and Sydney are embracing eco-friendly buildings. Why can't Shanghai?
One thing is certain, my biological clock ticks faster here. Life moves rapidly.
This fast pace comes with Shanghai's emergence as a business hub on the international stage. Urban construction and infrastructure development in Shanghai are completed at lightning speed.
Believe it or not, construction on a four-story gymnasium at the intersection of Xin Cun and Xin Hu roads began early this year and was completed in one month. This demonstrates the industry of the people in Shanghai.
Is it just hard work that enables Shanghai to punch above its weight both economically and socially?
Productivity is part of it, of course, but Shanghai is also flourishing because of one great cultural asset - Shanghainese are indifferent to your ethnic background, but they have a consuming interest in what you can contribute. Offices and schools are eager to accept you based on your ability, not where you live or where you're from.
However, Shanghai's impressive strengths should not divert us from addressing its shortcomings.
For starters, the subway is intolerable. Commuters cram into carriages before passengers can get out. One of the worst parts of working in Shanghai is getting to work.
Another problem in Shanghai is the unnecessary usage of energy.
I live near Wujiaochang and on the weekends the buildings - presumably empty because offices don't open during weekends - are ablaze with lights. The edifices gleam with multi-colored neon.
Why can't Wujiaochang's buildings be powered by renewable energy?
One solution would require the buildings be retrofitted with solar panels as their primary energy source.
New York and Sydney are embracing eco-friendly buildings. Why can't Shanghai?
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