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  <title><![CDATA[Shanghai Daily: Latest News]]></title> 
  <link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/lastestnews/latest_news.aspx</link> 
  <description><![CDATA[Shanghai Daily Latest News]]></description> 
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/A-US-missionarys-forgotten-chronicle-of-1937-city-siege/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>A US missionary’s forgotten chronicle of 1937 city siege</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wang Xiang]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[THE windows shook with every distant explosion on September 4, 1937. Clifford W. Petitt sat hunched over his typewriter in an office at the Foreign YMCA building on Shanghai&rsquo;s Nanjing Road, listening to the eerie whistle of artillery fire.

The American missionary had lived in China for nearly two decades, but this was unlike anything he had ever seen.

Bombs fell close enough to rattle glass panes, and the once-bustling racecourse outside was cloaked in smoke.

&ldquo;The explosions made us shrug our shoulders,&rdquo; Petitt typed in his letters to friends in the United States.

By December, his &ldquo;Shanghai Notes&rdquo; &mdash; a nine-part, 25,000-word chronicle &mdash; had become one of the most detailed eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Shanghai, a brutal early chapter of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

His words capture a city under siege: soldiers digging trenches beside tramlines, refugees flooding the International Settlement, and the defiant heroism of Chinese troops at the famous Sihang Warehouse.

Petitt: Missionary, teacher, witness

Born in 1890 on a Kansas farm, Clifford W. Petitt first came to China in 1918 to study Mandarin in Beijing. By 1936, he was working in Shanghai as a YMCA administrator, overseeing education, sports and community outreach programs.

Fluent in Chinese, he cultivated friendships across Shanghai&rsquo;s diverse communities and served as a bridge between expatriates and locals.

When war broke out, he could have fled. Instead, he stayed to help evacuate Western families while documenting the siege unfolding around him.

In the summer of 1937, Shanghai was China&rsquo;s cosmopolitan jewel. Jazz spilled from dance halls, neon signs glowed over the Bund, and department stores rivaled those of New York and Paris.

But the city&rsquo;s glittering fa&ccedil;ade masked deep political tensions. On August 13, after escalating skirmishes, Japanese and Chinese forces clashed in what would become the months-long Battle of Shanghai.

Within days, the city was transformed. On September 3, Petitt witnessed bombs fall on the horse-racing grounds near the YMCA building, injuring civilians and scattering debris into the streets.

The next morning, a Japanese bomber caused destruction &ldquo;three quarters of a mile north of&rdquo; his office.

The Battle of Shanghai was a turning point in world history. For over three months, Chinese forces, vastly outgunned and outnumbered, mounted a heroic defense in one of the largest urban battles of the 20th century.

The YMCA building became a vantage point for Petitt&rsquo;s observations. He witnessed the defense of the Sihang Warehouse, where a few hundred soldiers held their ground for days within sight of the foreign concessions.

&ldquo;For three days and nights this &lsquo;suicide battalion&rsquo; has refused to leave ... For those days from the rear windows of our building we could see those men and the Japanese shooting at each other the edges of the roofs,&rdquo; he wrote.

Petitt described the battle in detail, noting that some Japanese shells overshot the Chinese positions and landed near the Bund. He watched as exhausted Chinese soldiers retreated through the racecourse outside the YMCA, saluting their courage in his notes:

&ldquo;They did a spectacular thing. They focused world attention on the heroism of China&rsquo;s army. They annoyed the invaders beyond words to describe.&rdquo;

By November, Shanghai&rsquo;s defenders were forced to withdraw, and Japanese forces took control of the city&rsquo;s Chinese-administered districts. The devastation was staggering: more than 250,000 people were killed or wounded, and vast sections of the city lay in ruins.

A fragile international settlement

While Chinese neighborhoods bore the brunt of the bombing, the foreign-controlled International Settlement offered a fragile sense of security. Petitt described sandbagged embassies, soldiers stationed at intersections, and expatriates debating whether to evacuate or stay.

Shops remained open, though their windows were crisscrossed with tape to keep glass from shattering. Cafes still served coffee, even as patrons flinched at the sound of distant gunfire. Foreign journalists, missionaries, and businessmen lived in what Petitt called &ldquo;a curious blend of war and normalcy,&rdquo; where parties continued in the evenings, but curfews loomed.

The Settlement&rsquo;s apparent safety attracted thousands of refugees, many of whom had lost everything. Petitt recorded the sight of families sleeping in doorways, mothers nursing infants on street corners, and makeshift soup kitchens springing up in church courtyards.

One of the most striking contrasts in Petitt&rsquo;s account is the persistence of leisure and culture amid destruction. Even during the height of the battle, the YMCA hosted sports events to boost morale. Basketball tournaments and tennis matches were organized, often featuring both Chinese and expatriate teams.

As Christmas approached in 1937, the YMCA hosted celebrations for 1,500 children &mdash; 1,000 Chinese and 500 foreign &mdash; providing each Chinese child with a winter coat. Petitt viewed these events as small acts of defiance, proof that community spirit could endure even in wartime.

During World War II, the YMCA building was seized and renamed the East Asia Athletic Association. After Japan&rsquo;s surrender in 1945, it became a US military club.

In 1950, the new Shanghai government repurposed it as a sports center. In later decades, it hosted Olympic champions like swimmer Yang Wenyi, and Chairman Mao himself reportedly swam in its pool. Today, it houses the Shanghai Sports Bureau and a museum, welcoming visitors from around the world.

In 1945, after eight years of brutal warfare, China celebrated its victory over fascism. Petitt returned to the United States in 1939. The Shanghai he had known had been forever changed.

Yet his words endure as a reminder of Shanghai&rsquo;s resilience.

As China commemorates the end of World War II, Petitt&rsquo;s &ldquo;Shanghai Notes&rdquo; serves as a powerful artifact of memory.

It is a testament to the city&rsquo;s endurance and to those who risked everything to bear witness.

Today, thousands of shoppers stream past the intersection of Nanjing Road W. and Huanghe Road, where the YMCA building still stands. Few stop to imagine its dramatic past.

Standing before its art deco fa&ccedil;ade, you can still trace the outlines of history.

Inside, the Shanghai Sports Museum tells stories of champions and milestones, but its walls also echo the rattling windows of 1937 and the courage of those who endured.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		THE windows shook with every distant explosion on September 4, 1937. Clifford W. Petitt sat hunched over his typewriter in an office at the Foreign YMCA building on Shanghai&rsquo;s Nanjing Road, listening to the eerie whistle of artillery fire.

The American missionary had lived in China for nearly two decades, but this was unlike anything he had ever seen.

Bombs fell close enough to rattle glass panes, and the once-bustling racecourse outside was cloaked in smoke.

&ldquo;The explosions made us shrug our shoulders,&rdquo; Petitt typed in his letters to friends in the United States.

By December, his &ldquo;Shanghai Notes&rdquo; &mdash; a nine-part, 25,000-word chronicle &mdash; had become one of the most detailed eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Shanghai, a brutal early chapter of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

His words capture a city under siege: soldiers digging trenches beside tramlines, refugees flooding the International Settlement, and the defiant heroism of Chinese troops at the famous Sihang Warehouse.

Petitt: Missionary, teacher, witness

Born in 1890 on a Kansas farm, Clifford W. Petitt first came to China in 1918 to study Mandarin in Beijing. By 1936, he was working in Shanghai as a YMCA administrator, overseeing education, sports and community outreach programs.

Fluent in Chinese, he cultivated friendships across Shanghai&rsquo;s diverse communities and served as a bridge between expatriates and locals.

When war broke out, he could have fled. Instead, he stayed to help evacuate Western families while documenting the siege unfolding around him.

In the summer of 1937, Shanghai was China&rsquo;s cosmopolitan jewel. Jazz spilled from dance halls, neon signs glowed over the Bund, and department stores rivaled those of New York and Paris.

But the city&rsquo;s glittering fa&ccedil;ade masked deep political tensions. On August 13, after escalating skirmishes, Japanese and Chinese forces clashed in what would become the months-long Battle of Shanghai.

Within days, the city was transformed. On September 3, Petitt witnessed bombs fall on the horse-racing grounds near the YMCA building, injuring civilians and scattering debris into the streets.

The next morning, a Japanese bomber caused destruction &ldquo;three quarters of a mile north of&rdquo; his office.

The Battle of Shanghai was a turning point in world history. For over three months, Chinese forces, vastly outgunned and outnumbered, mounted a heroic defense in one of the largest urban battles of the 20th century.

The YMCA building became a vantage point for Petitt&rsquo;s observations. He witnessed the defense of the Sihang Warehouse, where a few hundred soldiers held their ground for days within sight of the foreign concessions.

&ldquo;For three days and nights this &lsquo;suicide battalion&rsquo; has refused to leave ... For those days from the rear windows of our building we could see those men and the Japanese shooting at each other the edges of the roofs,&rdquo; he wrote.

Petitt described the battle in detail, noting that some Japanese shells overshot the Chinese positions and landed near the Bund. He watched as exhausted Chinese soldiers retreated through the racecourse outside the YMCA, saluting their courage in his notes:

&ldquo;They did a spectacular thing. They focused world attention on the heroism of China&rsquo;s army. They annoyed the invaders beyond words to describe.&rdquo;

By November, Shanghai&rsquo;s defenders were forced to withdraw, and Japanese forces took control of the city&rsquo;s Chinese-administered districts. The devastation was staggering: more than 250,000 people were killed or wounded, and vast sections of the city lay in ruins.

A fragile international settlement

While Chinese neighborhoods bore the brunt of the bombing, the foreign-controlled International Settlement offered a fragile sense of security. Petitt described sandbagged embassies, soldiers stationed at intersections, and expatriates debating whether to evacuate or stay.

Shops remained open, though their windows were crisscrossed with tape to keep glass from shattering. Cafes still served coffee, even as patrons flinched at the sound of distant gunfire. Foreign journalists, missionaries, and businessmen lived in what Petitt called &ldquo;a curious blend of war and normalcy,&rdquo; where parties continued in the evenings, but curfews loomed.

The Settlement&rsquo;s apparent safety attracted thousands of refugees, many of whom had lost everything. Petitt recorded the sight of families sleeping in doorways, mothers nursing infants on street corners, and makeshift soup kitchens springing up in church courtyards.

One of the most striking contrasts in Petitt&rsquo;s account is the persistence of leisure and culture amid destruction. Even during the height of the battle, the YMCA hosted sports events to boost morale. Basketball tournaments and tennis matches were organized, often featuring both Chinese and expatriate teams.

As Christmas approached in 1937, the YMCA hosted celebrations for 1,500 children &mdash; 1,000 Chinese and 500 foreign &mdash; providing each Chinese child with a winter coat. Petitt viewed these events as small acts of defiance, proof that community spirit could endure even in wartime.

During World War II, the YMCA building was seized and renamed the East Asia Athletic Association. After Japan&rsquo;s surrender in 1945, it became a US military club.

In 1950, the new Shanghai government repurposed it as a sports center. In later decades, it hosted Olympic champions like swimmer Yang Wenyi, and Chairman Mao himself reportedly swam in its pool. Today, it houses the Shanghai Sports Bureau and a museum, welcoming visitors from around the world.

In 1945, after eight years of brutal warfare, China celebrated its victory over fascism. Petitt returned to the United States in 1939. The Shanghai he had known had been forever changed.

Yet his words endure as a reminder of Shanghai&rsquo;s resilience.

As China commemorates the end of World War II, Petitt&rsquo;s &ldquo;Shanghai Notes&rdquo; serves as a powerful artifact of memory.

It is a testament to the city&rsquo;s endurance and to those who risked everything to bear witness.

Today, thousands of shoppers stream past the intersection of Nanjing Road W. and Huanghe Road, where the YMCA building still stands. Few stop to imagine its dramatic past.

Standing before its art deco fa&ccedil;ade, you can still trace the outlines of history.

Inside, the Shanghai Sports Museum tells stories of champions and milestones, but its walls also echo the rattling windows of 1937 and the courage of those who endured.

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/The-many-heroes-and-sacrifices-of-the-World-War-II-Doolittle-Raid/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>The many heroes and sacrifices of the World War II Doolittle Raid</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Bushroe]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[THIS April, I stood in the city of Quzhou, in Zhejiang Province, at a site that once marked both tragedy and triumph. Eighty-three years ago, several American bombers crash-landed in the surrounding hills after carrying out one of the most daring missions of the Second World War: the Doolittle Raid. For me, as an American living in China, the trip was more than an opportunity to visit a historical landmark. It was a chance to reflect on sacrifice, solidarity and the ways shared history can shape the present.

The Doolittle Raid, launched in April 1942, was America&rsquo;s first strike on the Japanese homeland following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sixteen B-25 bombers took off from the USS Hornet in the western Pacific, aiming to deliver a symbolic blow to Japan&rsquo;s confidence. But the mission carried enormous risk. With no way to return to the aircraft carrier, most of the planes flew westward toward China, where fuel shortages, bad weather, communication difficulty and sheer distance forced them to crash-land or be abandoned.

Several of those aircraft came down in and around Quzhou. Some pilots were killed and others captured. But many were rescued by ordinary Chinese villagers who, despite the dangers posed by Japanese reprisals, offered food, shelter and protection. It is no exaggeration to say that without the bravery and compassion of those villagers, few of the Doolittle Raiders would have survived.

Walking through the local museum dedicated to the raid, I was struck by the care with which the people of Quzhou have preserved this chapter of history. My guide, Zheng Weiyong, a local historian, explained how the stories of both the American pilots and the Chinese villagers have been passed down through generations. He reminded me that the raid was not only a story of war but also one of solidarity &mdash; of ordinary people from two nations, worlds apart, whose fates became linked in a moment of crisis.

What gave the visit an even deeper resonance were the people I met during the commemorative events. Among them was George Retelas, representing the USS Hornet museum in California, who spoke about the connection between the ship&rsquo;s legacy and the fields of Quzhou. I also talked with Clifford Long Jr, the son of a Flying Tigers pilot, who described how his father never forgot the Chinese friends who risked their lives to protect downed airmen. Their presence, traveling halfway across the world to honor this shared history, was a reminder that memories are not confined to museums. They&rsquo;re carried forward by people.

The most humbling moments came when I sat down with elderly villagers who had lived through the events themselves. Their memories, despite the passage of many decades, carried vivid images of smoke-filled skies, unfamiliar aircraft and the fear of Japanese retaliation. Yet above all, they recalled the instinct to help strangers in need. Zhu Qinglin, now aged 96, sat with me and recounted his memories of the night those aircraft descended on his small hometown of Jiangshan. By his side was 90-year-old Liao Mingfa, whose father, Liao Shiyuan, had helped rescue and nurse to health one of the American airmen who had crashed on a mountainside near his home. He showed me the wheat penny, the US 1-cent coin of the time, that Lt Charles J. Ozuk Jr had kept in his pocket during the mission and given to his father as a token of appreciation and remembrance that has now become a prized family heirloom. It was a profound reflection, one that underscored the humanity at the heart of this history.

As I listened, I couldn&rsquo;t help but think about the cost those villagers bore. Entire communities suffered under Japanese reprisals for aiding the airmen. Countless Chinese families paid with their lives for acts of kindness and solidarity. It is impossible to tell the story of the Doolittle Raid without acknowledging the price China paid. Remembering the American pilots without honoring the Chinese villagers would leave the story incomplete.

For me, this trip was not just about learning history &mdash; it was about feeling it. To hear the voices of those who lived through those events and to see the care with which Quzhou has preserved these memories brought a depth of understanding that books alone could never provide. It was a reminder that the past is not only a matter of dates and battles, but of human connection.

And yet, the significance of this history does not belong only to the past. The story of the Doolittle Raid and its aftermath offers a rare reminder of what is possible when people cross cultural and national divides to support one another. The shared sacrifice of Americans and Chinese in the 1940s stands as a testament to what cooperation and empathy can achieve, even in the darkest of times.

That is why commemorations like the one I attended in Quzhou matter so deeply. They are not only ceremonies of remembrance; they are opportunities to reflect on the responsibilities we inherit from history. As people of the world, we are connected not just by rivalry or competition but by moments of mutual support and sacrifice. To honor that legacy is to recognize that cultural diplomacy is not a new idea but one that has been lived, in blood and in friendship, for generations.

As we at Shanghai Daily prepare to release a documentary about this journey, I hope that viewers will see more than just the story of a military mission. I hope they will see the humanity that transcended war, the courage of villagers who chose compassion over fear and the enduring ties that such choices create. The stories of history may be written in grand events, but their meaning is carried in the hearts of ordinary people.

Standing there in Quzhou, looking out across the fields where history unfolded, I felt both the weight of the past and the hope it offers for the future. In honoring the Doolittle Raiders, we also honor the Chinese villagers who saved them. And in remembering both, we take a step toward understanding the power of shared history to build bridges across cultures and across time.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		THIS April, I stood in the city of Quzhou, in Zhejiang Province, at a site that once marked both tragedy and triumph. Eighty-three years ago, several American bombers crash-landed in the surrounding hills after carrying out one of the most daring missions of the Second World War: the Doolittle Raid. For me, as an American living in China, the trip was more than an opportunity to visit a historical landmark. It was a chance to reflect on sacrifice, solidarity and the ways shared history can shape the present.

The Doolittle Raid, launched in April 1942, was America&rsquo;s first strike on the Japanese homeland following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sixteen B-25 bombers took off from the USS Hornet in the western Pacific, aiming to deliver a symbolic blow to Japan&rsquo;s confidence. But the mission carried enormous risk. With no way to return to the aircraft carrier, most of the planes flew westward toward China, where fuel shortages, bad weather, communication difficulty and sheer distance forced them to crash-land or be abandoned.

Several of those aircraft came down in and around Quzhou. Some pilots were killed and others captured. But many were rescued by ordinary Chinese villagers who, despite the dangers posed by Japanese reprisals, offered food, shelter and protection. It is no exaggeration to say that without the bravery and compassion of those villagers, few of the Doolittle Raiders would have survived.

Walking through the local museum dedicated to the raid, I was struck by the care with which the people of Quzhou have preserved this chapter of history. My guide, Zheng Weiyong, a local historian, explained how the stories of both the American pilots and the Chinese villagers have been passed down through generations. He reminded me that the raid was not only a story of war but also one of solidarity &mdash; of ordinary people from two nations, worlds apart, whose fates became linked in a moment of crisis.

What gave the visit an even deeper resonance were the people I met during the commemorative events. Among them was George Retelas, representing the USS Hornet museum in California, who spoke about the connection between the ship&rsquo;s legacy and the fields of Quzhou. I also talked with Clifford Long Jr, the son of a Flying Tigers pilot, who described how his father never forgot the Chinese friends who risked their lives to protect downed airmen. Their presence, traveling halfway across the world to honor this shared history, was a reminder that memories are not confined to museums. They&rsquo;re carried forward by people.

The most humbling moments came when I sat down with elderly villagers who had lived through the events themselves. Their memories, despite the passage of many decades, carried vivid images of smoke-filled skies, unfamiliar aircraft and the fear of Japanese retaliation. Yet above all, they recalled the instinct to help strangers in need. Zhu Qinglin, now aged 96, sat with me and recounted his memories of the night those aircraft descended on his small hometown of Jiangshan. By his side was 90-year-old Liao Mingfa, whose father, Liao Shiyuan, had helped rescue and nurse to health one of the American airmen who had crashed on a mountainside near his home. He showed me the wheat penny, the US 1-cent coin of the time, that Lt Charles J. Ozuk Jr had kept in his pocket during the mission and given to his father as a token of appreciation and remembrance that has now become a prized family heirloom. It was a profound reflection, one that underscored the humanity at the heart of this history.

As I listened, I couldn&rsquo;t help but think about the cost those villagers bore. Entire communities suffered under Japanese reprisals for aiding the airmen. Countless Chinese families paid with their lives for acts of kindness and solidarity. It is impossible to tell the story of the Doolittle Raid without acknowledging the price China paid. Remembering the American pilots without honoring the Chinese villagers would leave the story incomplete.

For me, this trip was not just about learning history &mdash; it was about feeling it. To hear the voices of those who lived through those events and to see the care with which Quzhou has preserved these memories brought a depth of understanding that books alone could never provide. It was a reminder that the past is not only a matter of dates and battles, but of human connection.

And yet, the significance of this history does not belong only to the past. The story of the Doolittle Raid and its aftermath offers a rare reminder of what is possible when people cross cultural and national divides to support one another. The shared sacrifice of Americans and Chinese in the 1940s stands as a testament to what cooperation and empathy can achieve, even in the darkest of times.

That is why commemorations like the one I attended in Quzhou matter so deeply. They are not only ceremonies of remembrance; they are opportunities to reflect on the responsibilities we inherit from history. As people of the world, we are connected not just by rivalry or competition but by moments of mutual support and sacrifice. To honor that legacy is to recognize that cultural diplomacy is not a new idea but one that has been lived, in blood and in friendship, for generations.

As we at Shanghai Daily prepare to release a documentary about this journey, I hope that viewers will see more than just the story of a military mission. I hope they will see the humanity that transcended war, the courage of villagers who chose compassion over fear and the enduring ties that such choices create. The stories of history may be written in grand events, but their meaning is carried in the hearts of ordinary people.

Standing there in Quzhou, looking out across the fields where history unfolded, I felt both the weight of the past and the hope it offers for the future. In honoring the Doolittle Raiders, we also honor the Chinese villagers who saved them. And in remembering both, we take a step toward understanding the power of shared history to build bridges across cultures and across time.

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/Dispatches-from-the-East-highlights-Chinas-unwavering-antiwar-efforts/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>‘Dispatches from the East’ highlights China’s unwavering anti-war efforts</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Xu Wei]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[LEAVING behind the success of &ldquo;The Forever Walk: China,&rdquo; a documentary series chronicling two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek&rsquo;s 6,700-kilometer trek across the country, Shanghai-based filmmaker Wang Xiangtao immediately set his eyes on a special project &mdash; the five-part documentary series, &ldquo;Dispatches from the East.&rdquo;

The full series will air at 10pm today on Dragon TV, just a day before China&rsquo;s grand military parade at Beijing&rsquo;s Tian&rsquo;anmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of China&rsquo;s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Drawing on the perspectives of five renowned foreign correspondents &mdash; Edgar Snow, Agnes Smedley, John B. Powell, Jack Belden and Harrison Forman &mdash; the series highlights the courage, resilience and unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the war against Japanese invasion.

&ldquo;Chinese people&rsquo;s sacrifices and devotion to the final victory in the World Anti-Fascist War go far beyond what many could imagine,&rdquo; said chief director Wang. &ldquo;These foreign journalists bore witness to both the brutality of war and the heroism of the Chinese people.&rdquo;

The project took Wang and his team roughly six months to complete. Each episode runs just six to seven minutes, reflecting a bold, innovative approach to documentary production tailored to the fast-paced viewing habits of today&rsquo;s audiences.

One of the key challenges for the production team was distilling a complex span of historical events into a concise documentary format.

&ldquo;The greatest difficulty lay in scripting, namely how to construct a coherent and compelling narrative from the historical events of the time,&rdquo; Wang noted.

Within a very limited runtime, the narrative based on the words and images of the five foreign journalists, stretches across a decade.

&ldquo;These individuals, almost by chance, became war correspondents,&rdquo; Wang said. &ldquo;With keen perception, they sensed that the CPC was destined to change the course of the nation. Another thing these foreign correspondents had in common was their commitment to reporting on China with fairness and objectivity.&rdquo;

As some of the correspondents, like Snow and Smedley, are so familiar to Chinese viewers, it compelled Wang to look for more not-so-well-known stories of these personalities from English-language historical materials.

For example, American journalist Snow is best known for &ldquo;Red Star Over China,&rdquo; yet few realize that before it, he had already published &ldquo;Far Eastern Front,&rdquo; drawn from his own experiences in Shanghai during the early stages of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The book unfortunately received little attention upon release in 1933. Thanks to this project, Wang read &ldquo;Far Eastern Front.&rdquo; The book stands as powerful evidence that China&rsquo;s fight against fascism began long before many realized, enduring for 14 years in its entirety.

The documentary also captures many historical sites and landmark buildings connected with these foreign correspondents.

For instance, the Shanghai Telecom Museum was among the first places Snow visited upon his arrival in Shanghai. The iconic Wukang Building was once one of Smedley&rsquo;s residences in Shanghai.

A vintage Remington typewriter, the same model once used by Snow, was also borrowed from a Shanghai collector as a prop.

Dr Andrew Field, the host and narrator of the documentary, is an old friend to Wang, with the duo having cooperated on several documentary projects. The American historian and professor from Duke Kunshan University has lived in China for over 20 years. He is widely known for his extensive research on modern Chinese history.

In the series, Field guides audiences through Shanghai, revisiting the legendary stories of foreign correspondents who documented China&rsquo;s fight for survival.

Combining live-action footage, classic CG (computer graphics), and AI (artificial intelligence), the production brings to life pivotal war scenes as captured through the eyes of the journalists. This approach is expected to be adopted in future projects to offer audiences a more immersive historical experience.

Having worked on documentaries of many kinds, from historical subjects to engineering projects, Wang has developed an ability to draw on different methods and weave them seamlessly into his filmmaking.

From 2021 to 2024, he followed Paul Salopek&rsquo;s long walk across China, from the southwest to the northeast, crossing rainforests, snowcapped ranges and arid uplands. In June, the 30th Shanghai TV Festival also presented the International Communication Award to &ldquo;The Forever Walk: China (Season 3).&rdquo;

Wang noted that the definition of documentary is broad nowadays. The category has grown so wide that people usually just call it &ldquo;non-fiction.&rdquo;

For him, documentary filmmaking in China is now thriving, with a very promising outlook. The field is becoming more diverse, both in form and content. A lot more subjects are being explored and many people are getting involved in this industry.

&ldquo;I always believe that the essence of documentary filmmaking lies first in truth, and then in the narrative. Storytelling is vital &mdash; just as important as in fiction films. It&rsquo;s about how you gather a huge amount of material and weave it into a story that can truly draw the audience in,&rdquo; he added.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		LEAVING behind the success of &ldquo;The Forever Walk: China,&rdquo; a documentary series chronicling two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek&rsquo;s 6,700-kilometer trek across the country, Shanghai-based filmmaker Wang Xiangtao immediately set his eyes on a special project &mdash; the five-part documentary series, &ldquo;Dispatches from the East.&rdquo;

The full series will air at 10pm today on Dragon TV, just a day before China&rsquo;s grand military parade at Beijing&rsquo;s Tian&rsquo;anmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of China&rsquo;s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Drawing on the perspectives of five renowned foreign correspondents &mdash; Edgar Snow, Agnes Smedley, John B. Powell, Jack Belden and Harrison Forman &mdash; the series highlights the courage, resilience and unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the war against Japanese invasion.

&ldquo;Chinese people&rsquo;s sacrifices and devotion to the final victory in the World Anti-Fascist War go far beyond what many could imagine,&rdquo; said chief director Wang. &ldquo;These foreign journalists bore witness to both the brutality of war and the heroism of the Chinese people.&rdquo;

The project took Wang and his team roughly six months to complete. Each episode runs just six to seven minutes, reflecting a bold, innovative approach to documentary production tailored to the fast-paced viewing habits of today&rsquo;s audiences.

One of the key challenges for the production team was distilling a complex span of historical events into a concise documentary format.

&ldquo;The greatest difficulty lay in scripting, namely how to construct a coherent and compelling narrative from the historical events of the time,&rdquo; Wang noted.

Within a very limited runtime, the narrative based on the words and images of the five foreign journalists, stretches across a decade.

&ldquo;These individuals, almost by chance, became war correspondents,&rdquo; Wang said. &ldquo;With keen perception, they sensed that the CPC was destined to change the course of the nation. Another thing these foreign correspondents had in common was their commitment to reporting on China with fairness and objectivity.&rdquo;

As some of the correspondents, like Snow and Smedley, are so familiar to Chinese viewers, it compelled Wang to look for more not-so-well-known stories of these personalities from English-language historical materials.

For example, American journalist Snow is best known for &ldquo;Red Star Over China,&rdquo; yet few realize that before it, he had already published &ldquo;Far Eastern Front,&rdquo; drawn from his own experiences in Shanghai during the early stages of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The book unfortunately received little attention upon release in 1933. Thanks to this project, Wang read &ldquo;Far Eastern Front.&rdquo; The book stands as powerful evidence that China&rsquo;s fight against fascism began long before many realized, enduring for 14 years in its entirety.

The documentary also captures many historical sites and landmark buildings connected with these foreign correspondents.

For instance, the Shanghai Telecom Museum was among the first places Snow visited upon his arrival in Shanghai. The iconic Wukang Building was once one of Smedley&rsquo;s residences in Shanghai.

A vintage Remington typewriter, the same model once used by Snow, was also borrowed from a Shanghai collector as a prop.

Dr Andrew Field, the host and narrator of the documentary, is an old friend to Wang, with the duo having cooperated on several documentary projects. The American historian and professor from Duke Kunshan University has lived in China for over 20 years. He is widely known for his extensive research on modern Chinese history.

In the series, Field guides audiences through Shanghai, revisiting the legendary stories of foreign correspondents who documented China&rsquo;s fight for survival.

Combining live-action footage, classic CG (computer graphics), and AI (artificial intelligence), the production brings to life pivotal war scenes as captured through the eyes of the journalists. This approach is expected to be adopted in future projects to offer audiences a more immersive historical experience.

Having worked on documentaries of many kinds, from historical subjects to engineering projects, Wang has developed an ability to draw on different methods and weave them seamlessly into his filmmaking.

From 2021 to 2024, he followed Paul Salopek&rsquo;s long walk across China, from the southwest to the northeast, crossing rainforests, snowcapped ranges and arid uplands. In June, the 30th Shanghai TV Festival also presented the International Communication Award to &ldquo;The Forever Walk: China (Season 3).&rdquo;

Wang noted that the definition of documentary is broad nowadays. The category has grown so wide that people usually just call it &ldquo;non-fiction.&rdquo;

For him, documentary filmmaking in China is now thriving, with a very promising outlook. The field is becoming more diverse, both in form and content. A lot more subjects are being explored and many people are getting involved in this industry.

&ldquo;I always believe that the essence of documentary filmmaking lies first in truth, and then in the narrative. Storytelling is vital &mdash; just as important as in fiction films. It&rsquo;s about how you gather a huge amount of material and weave it into a story that can truly draw the audience in,&rdquo; he added.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/The-little-Shanghai-battle-that-gave-the-Chinese-people-a-big-boost/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>The little Shanghai battle that gave the Chinese people a big boost</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Boreham]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[EIGHTY years ago, on September 2, 1945, Japan signed its surrender, ending World War II. That day also marked the end of the Chinese People&rsquo;s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression &mdash; a 14-year struggle that cost China more than 35 million lives and changed the course of history.

That time saw many hideous atrocities committed by the Japanese forces against the Chinese inside their own country, including the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, where China&rsquo;s then-capital was decimated by a six-week rampage of mass murder, rape and destruction. Over 80,000 women were raped, and up to 350,000 Chinese lost their lives.

Then there was Unit 731 in Harbin, a covert biological and chemical warfare research unit where the Japanese conducted horrific experiments on Chinese men, women, children and babies, including live dissections without anesthesia, deliberate infection with deadly diseases to study effects, and being stabbed, shot or burned with new weapons to test their effectiveness.

Those are just two of the hideous examples of Japanese atrocities against the Chinese, which the Japanese government refuses to apologize for to this day.

But there was also an incident right in my neighborhood in Shanghai, where the Japanese attempted their final takeover of the city and were humiliated by the bravery and perseverance of the Chinese. That incident began at the Sihang Warehouse on October 26, 1937, as around 450 Chinese soldiers barricaded themselves inside this building and made one last stand to defend Shanghai.

The warehouse was chosen for its strategic location. Back then, a large section of central Shanghai was occupied by the British and Americans, an area known as the International Settlement. The Sihang Warehouse was located just across the Suzhou Creek, meters from the edge of that settlement.

That meant two things: Firstly, the warehouse was in full view of foreigners and the world&rsquo;s media; secondly, it was so close to the settlement that Japan didn&rsquo;t dare attack using missiles or artillery from their navy, stationed just miles away on Shanghai&rsquo;s Huangpu River, for fear of hitting American and British controlled areas.

On one side of the creek, Chinese territory faced relentless attacks. On the other side, foreigners watched from relative safety. Thousands of desperate civilians tried to cross the creek to reach the International Settlement but were turned away unless they had money or influence, leaving countless people exposed to Japanese aggression.

Inside the warehouse, the roughly 450 soldiers held their ground against an estimated 20,000 Japanese troops. Tanks rolled in, and Japanese forces attempted to burn them out. Yet the defenders endured for nearly a week, fighting back with limited supplies while foreign media reported on their courage.

By the time they withdrew on November 1, they had suffered about 10 fatalities, while inflicting an estimated 300 Japanese casualties. Though Shanghai fell on November 12, that show of force was an important moment for Chinese pride during a hideous time, giving a symbolic morale boost for the Chinese as they faced atrocity after atrocity at the hands of the Japanese.

Today, the Sihang Warehouse still bears the scars of that battle, its pocked walls preserved as part of an extensive museum open to the public free of charge.

While the West celebrates the end of World War II, don&rsquo;t forget the 35 million Chinese who died and the countless others who suffered, helping bring that war to an end.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		EIGHTY years ago, on September 2, 1945, Japan signed its surrender, ending World War II. That day also marked the end of the Chinese People&rsquo;s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression &mdash; a 14-year struggle that cost China more than 35 million lives and changed the course of history.

That time saw many hideous atrocities committed by the Japanese forces against the Chinese inside their own country, including the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, where China&rsquo;s then-capital was decimated by a six-week rampage of mass murder, rape and destruction. Over 80,000 women were raped, and up to 350,000 Chinese lost their lives.

Then there was Unit 731 in Harbin, a covert biological and chemical warfare research unit where the Japanese conducted horrific experiments on Chinese men, women, children and babies, including live dissections without anesthesia, deliberate infection with deadly diseases to study effects, and being stabbed, shot or burned with new weapons to test their effectiveness.

Those are just two of the hideous examples of Japanese atrocities against the Chinese, which the Japanese government refuses to apologize for to this day.

But there was also an incident right in my neighborhood in Shanghai, where the Japanese attempted their final takeover of the city and were humiliated by the bravery and perseverance of the Chinese. That incident began at the Sihang Warehouse on October 26, 1937, as around 450 Chinese soldiers barricaded themselves inside this building and made one last stand to defend Shanghai.

The warehouse was chosen for its strategic location. Back then, a large section of central Shanghai was occupied by the British and Americans, an area known as the International Settlement. The Sihang Warehouse was located just across the Suzhou Creek, meters from the edge of that settlement.

That meant two things: Firstly, the warehouse was in full view of foreigners and the world&rsquo;s media; secondly, it was so close to the settlement that Japan didn&rsquo;t dare attack using missiles or artillery from their navy, stationed just miles away on Shanghai&rsquo;s Huangpu River, for fear of hitting American and British controlled areas.

On one side of the creek, Chinese territory faced relentless attacks. On the other side, foreigners watched from relative safety. Thousands of desperate civilians tried to cross the creek to reach the International Settlement but were turned away unless they had money or influence, leaving countless people exposed to Japanese aggression.

Inside the warehouse, the roughly 450 soldiers held their ground against an estimated 20,000 Japanese troops. Tanks rolled in, and Japanese forces attempted to burn them out. Yet the defenders endured for nearly a week, fighting back with limited supplies while foreign media reported on their courage.

By the time they withdrew on November 1, they had suffered about 10 fatalities, while inflicting an estimated 300 Japanese casualties. Though Shanghai fell on November 12, that show of force was an important moment for Chinese pride during a hideous time, giving a symbolic morale boost for the Chinese as they faced atrocity after atrocity at the hands of the Japanese.

Today, the Sihang Warehouse still bears the scars of that battle, its pocked walls preserved as part of an extensive museum open to the public free of charge.

While the West celebrates the end of World War II, don&rsquo;t forget the 35 million Chinese who died and the countless others who suffered, helping bring that war to an end.

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//in-focus/Chinas-bubble-tea-boom-brews-rural-growth-overseas-presence/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>China’s bubble tea boom brews rural growth, overseas presence</title>
		<category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[ALTHOUGH the traditional spring harvest season is now over, in the humming workshop of a tea company in the city of Shengzhou, east China&rsquo;s Zhejiang Province, the aroma of fresh leaves still lingers in the air while workers operate machines in churning out batches of vibrant green tea.

More than 4,000 kilometers away, Latifahtul Khoiriyah in Jakarta, Indonesia, took a taxi during her lunch break on a sweltering summer&rsquo;s day, making this trip especially to try out the bubble tea of Chinese brand Chagee. This white-collar worker in the finance sector learned about Chagee on social media like TikTok and Instagram.

&ldquo;It tastes good,&rdquo; she said, adding that compared with some other bubble brands, Chagee is less sweet, while its packages are of better design.

&ldquo;Jasmine has a light and rich floral flavor which is extremely refreshing, while the Oolong tea has a deeper aftertaste of roasted cream,&rdquo; said another customer named Raditya. &ldquo;It is evident that high-quality tea is used in Chagee.&rdquo;

Featuring diverse flavors, achieved by combining ingredients such as fresh fruits, tea leaves, milk and cheese, China&rsquo;s new-style tea beverage has expanded its market rapidly in recent years, capturing the hearts of customers across China and also overseas.

Data released by iiMedia Research showed that in 2024, China&rsquo;s new-style tea beverage market value exceeded 350 billion yuan (US$49 billion) &mdash; up 6.4 percent from a year earlier, while the market value is expected to reach 374.93 billion yuan by the end of 2025.

Fragrance spreading overseas

A report by Nanfang Metropolis Daily suggested that Chinese new-style tea beverage brands began opening outlets overseas in the 2010s at an accelerating pace.

According to the National Business Daily, Chinese new-style tea beverage brands had opened more than 5,000 outlets overseas by the end of last year.

While various Chinese bubble brands could be seen in many Western cities such as London and Sydney, Southeast Asia emerged as one of their major markets.

HeyTea, which boasts more than 4,000 stores worldwide, launched its first overseas store in Singapore in 2018. Naixue opened its first overseas flagship outlet last year in Bangkok&rsquo;s well-known shopping center Central World, sparking a frenzy among young consumers.

In April this year, Chagee opened three outlets in Jakarta. By July 15, this number had grown to eight. In its PIK Avenue outlet, sales topped 10,000 cups in the first three days of its opening, while the number of membership registrations exceeded 5,000 within one week.

Mixue is arguably the most popular Chinese bubble tea brand in Indonesia with more than 2,600 outlets. By the end of 2024, Mixue had created jobs for about 12,800 people in Indonesia.

Redefining tea culture

Chen Fuqiao, an associate researcher with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, noted that the popularity of new-style tea beverages reflected the aspirations of the people, especially the young who favor healthy drinks and emotional release.

The new-style tea beverage has become a window for people to learn the traditional Chinese tea culture, he said.

According to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 46.9 percent of young Chinese gain a better understanding of traditional tea during the consumption of new-style tea beverages, and 74.3 percent expressed willingness to try traditional tea after tasting a new-style tea beverage.

The rapid rise of such brands has reshaped the tea supply chain in recent years. China produces about 3 million tons of tea leaves each year &mdash; involving around 80 million farmers.

Soaring demand for raw tea materials has opened up new opportunities for making use of previously underutilized summer and autumn tea resources, Chen said.

Xu Jie, deputy general manager of the Zhejiang Wafa Tea Co, said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve invested tens of millions of yuan in three digital production lines. Right now, we&rsquo;re rushing to fulfill base tea orders for several domestic tea beverage brands.&rdquo;

In the first half of 2025, Wafa Tea produced 1,300 tons of Longjing raw tea, supporting the development of more than 2,000 hectares of tea gardens and generating over 40 million yuan in sales. Full-year sales are expected to exceed 70 million yuan, according to Xu.

&ldquo;Longjing tea is one of Zhejiang&rsquo;s most iconic products,&rdquo; said Lu Debiao, a tea expert at the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

&ldquo;The integration of the Longjing brand with the booming new-style tea beverage sector has become a recent highlight, injecting new vitality into the traditional product.&rdquo;

Benefiting rural growth

Located in Shengzhou, the largest Longjing tea-producing area in China, Wafa Tea&rsquo;s development is a microcosm of the transformation of China&rsquo;s tea industry.

Shengzhou is promoting a &ldquo;three-season harvest&rdquo; strategy across its 14,000 hectares of tea gardens. In spring, farmers hand-pick high-end teas, while in summer and autumn, fresh leaves are harvested for targeted supply to new-style beverage makers and export processors.

In addition to tea leaves, Chinese farmers are also reaping benefits stemming from other agricultural products.

Goodme, for example, has set up an avocado base in Menglian County of southwest China&rsquo;s Yunnan Province, where the annual income of local farmers has been quadrupled from 12,000 yuan to 48,000 yuan.

HeyTea, meanwhile, has purchased matcha from Guizhou Province, also in southwest China, resulting in the scale of the matcha industry in the city of Tongren increasing by 15-fold in the space of three years.

No Yeye No Tea, a newcomer to the bubble tea market with more than 2,200 outlets across China, sources osmanthus flowers from Hubei Province in central China and gardenia flowers from Sichuan Province in the country&rsquo;s southwest.

&ldquo;Last year, we sold 7.4 million cups of osmanthus tea, using as much as 97 tons of flowers from the city of Xianning,&rdquo; said Liu Dong, who is in charge of the company&rsquo;s public affairs department.

In Sichuan, it has collaborated with the Longgushan tea company, which owns about 70 hectares of fields for the growing of gardenia.

&ldquo;Our collaboration encouraged local flower-processing enterprises to upgrade their production line, and gave rise to the growth of gardenia output &mdash; from 20 tons to 300 tons a year,&rdquo; said Li Jialu, general manager of the company.

Zhu Hong, a villager from Qianwei County of Leshan City, started growing gardenia and jasmine four years ago.

&ldquo;Qianwei is famed for its flower industry, but my predecessors had never thought to become wealthy by growing flowers,&rdquo; he said, adding that his parents had once even tried to persuade him to throw away flower seedlings and change his profession.

However, the rise in popularity of new-style beverages boosted the price of gardenia in the county last year, when the market price reached more than 40 yuan per kilogram on average, amounting to about 10 times the price in the past.

Thanks to this change, Zhu&rsquo;s income from flower growing skyrocketed 20-fold last year compared with 2023. This enabled him to buy a new car, while he was also able to contract more land for growing gardenia and jasmine.

&ldquo;Some of my friends even asked me for flower-growing tips,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have confidence in the prospect of new-style tea drinks.&rdquo;
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		ALTHOUGH the traditional spring harvest season is now over, in the humming workshop of a tea company in the city of Shengzhou, east China&rsquo;s Zhejiang Province, the aroma of fresh leaves still lingers in the air while workers operate machines in churning out batches of vibrant green tea.

More than 4,000 kilometers away, Latifahtul Khoiriyah in Jakarta, Indonesia, took a taxi during her lunch break on a sweltering summer&rsquo;s day, making this trip especially to try out the bubble tea of Chinese brand Chagee. This white-collar worker in the finance sector learned about Chagee on social media like TikTok and Instagram.

&ldquo;It tastes good,&rdquo; she said, adding that compared with some other bubble brands, Chagee is less sweet, while its packages are of better design.

&ldquo;Jasmine has a light and rich floral flavor which is extremely refreshing, while the Oolong tea has a deeper aftertaste of roasted cream,&rdquo; said another customer named Raditya. &ldquo;It is evident that high-quality tea is used in Chagee.&rdquo;

Featuring diverse flavors, achieved by combining ingredients such as fresh fruits, tea leaves, milk and cheese, China&rsquo;s new-style tea beverage has expanded its market rapidly in recent years, capturing the hearts of customers across China and also overseas.

Data released by iiMedia Research showed that in 2024, China&rsquo;s new-style tea beverage market value exceeded 350 billion yuan (US$49 billion) &mdash; up 6.4 percent from a year earlier, while the market value is expected to reach 374.93 billion yuan by the end of 2025.

Fragrance spreading overseas

A report by Nanfang Metropolis Daily suggested that Chinese new-style tea beverage brands began opening outlets overseas in the 2010s at an accelerating pace.

According to the National Business Daily, Chinese new-style tea beverage brands had opened more than 5,000 outlets overseas by the end of last year.

While various Chinese bubble brands could be seen in many Western cities such as London and Sydney, Southeast Asia emerged as one of their major markets.

HeyTea, which boasts more than 4,000 stores worldwide, launched its first overseas store in Singapore in 2018. Naixue opened its first overseas flagship outlet last year in Bangkok&rsquo;s well-known shopping center Central World, sparking a frenzy among young consumers.

In April this year, Chagee opened three outlets in Jakarta. By July 15, this number had grown to eight. In its PIK Avenue outlet, sales topped 10,000 cups in the first three days of its opening, while the number of membership registrations exceeded 5,000 within one week.

Mixue is arguably the most popular Chinese bubble tea brand in Indonesia with more than 2,600 outlets. By the end of 2024, Mixue had created jobs for about 12,800 people in Indonesia.

Redefining tea culture

Chen Fuqiao, an associate researcher with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, noted that the popularity of new-style tea beverages reflected the aspirations of the people, especially the young who favor healthy drinks and emotional release.

The new-style tea beverage has become a window for people to learn the traditional Chinese tea culture, he said.

According to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 46.9 percent of young Chinese gain a better understanding of traditional tea during the consumption of new-style tea beverages, and 74.3 percent expressed willingness to try traditional tea after tasting a new-style tea beverage.

The rapid rise of such brands has reshaped the tea supply chain in recent years. China produces about 3 million tons of tea leaves each year &mdash; involving around 80 million farmers.

Soaring demand for raw tea materials has opened up new opportunities for making use of previously underutilized summer and autumn tea resources, Chen said.

Xu Jie, deputy general manager of the Zhejiang Wafa Tea Co, said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve invested tens of millions of yuan in three digital production lines. Right now, we&rsquo;re rushing to fulfill base tea orders for several domestic tea beverage brands.&rdquo;

In the first half of 2025, Wafa Tea produced 1,300 tons of Longjing raw tea, supporting the development of more than 2,000 hectares of tea gardens and generating over 40 million yuan in sales. Full-year sales are expected to exceed 70 million yuan, according to Xu.

&ldquo;Longjing tea is one of Zhejiang&rsquo;s most iconic products,&rdquo; said Lu Debiao, a tea expert at the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

&ldquo;The integration of the Longjing brand with the booming new-style tea beverage sector has become a recent highlight, injecting new vitality into the traditional product.&rdquo;

Benefiting rural growth

Located in Shengzhou, the largest Longjing tea-producing area in China, Wafa Tea&rsquo;s development is a microcosm of the transformation of China&rsquo;s tea industry.

Shengzhou is promoting a &ldquo;three-season harvest&rdquo; strategy across its 14,000 hectares of tea gardens. In spring, farmers hand-pick high-end teas, while in summer and autumn, fresh leaves are harvested for targeted supply to new-style beverage makers and export processors.

In addition to tea leaves, Chinese farmers are also reaping benefits stemming from other agricultural products.

Goodme, for example, has set up an avocado base in Menglian County of southwest China&rsquo;s Yunnan Province, where the annual income of local farmers has been quadrupled from 12,000 yuan to 48,000 yuan.

HeyTea, meanwhile, has purchased matcha from Guizhou Province, also in southwest China, resulting in the scale of the matcha industry in the city of Tongren increasing by 15-fold in the space of three years.

No Yeye No Tea, a newcomer to the bubble tea market with more than 2,200 outlets across China, sources osmanthus flowers from Hubei Province in central China and gardenia flowers from Sichuan Province in the country&rsquo;s southwest.

&ldquo;Last year, we sold 7.4 million cups of osmanthus tea, using as much as 97 tons of flowers from the city of Xianning,&rdquo; said Liu Dong, who is in charge of the company&rsquo;s public affairs department.

In Sichuan, it has collaborated with the Longgushan tea company, which owns about 70 hectares of fields for the growing of gardenia.

&ldquo;Our collaboration encouraged local flower-processing enterprises to upgrade their production line, and gave rise to the growth of gardenia output &mdash; from 20 tons to 300 tons a year,&rdquo; said Li Jialu, general manager of the company.

Zhu Hong, a villager from Qianwei County of Leshan City, started growing gardenia and jasmine four years ago.

&ldquo;Qianwei is famed for its flower industry, but my predecessors had never thought to become wealthy by growing flowers,&rdquo; he said, adding that his parents had once even tried to persuade him to throw away flower seedlings and change his profession.

However, the rise in popularity of new-style beverages boosted the price of gardenia in the county last year, when the market price reached more than 40 yuan per kilogram on average, amounting to about 10 times the price in the past.

Thanks to this change, Zhu&rsquo;s income from flower growing skyrocketed 20-fold last year compared with 2023. This enabled him to buy a new car, while he was also able to contract more land for growing gardenia and jasmine.

&ldquo;Some of my friends even asked me for flower-growing tips,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have confidence in the prospect of new-style tea drinks.&rdquo;

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	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//feature/A-living-space-that-recounts-the-tale-of-a-life-well-traveled/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>A living space that recounts the tale of a life well traveled</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Yang Di]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[EMILIE El Jaouhari has created a home that is a reflection of her life of travel, family, creativity and multicultural heritage in a leafy residential tower near Anfu Road in Shanghai&rsquo;s Xuhui District.

After years spent in Dubai and Hong Kong, El Jaouhari, a Paris-born publishing professional-turned-culture entrepreneur, relocated to Shanghai eight months ago with her husband and three children.

The apartment hunt was swift.

&ldquo;We checked out about 10 apartments and lane houses, but we knew we wanted to be in Xuhui,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It reminds us of a French or Mediterranean village &mdash; with an Asian touch.&rdquo;

The home needed to be central, lived-in and in a lively neighborhood with bakeries, cafes, restaurants and a strong community. They loved the apartment&rsquo;s potential: high ceilings, tall windows and just enough wear to personalize. A lush, fenced garden offered rare intimacy in the city&rsquo;s bustling rhythm.

&ldquo;It was slightly faded when we saw it, but we saw its potential. The charm of the space lay in its quiet contrast: a garden for privacy and a front door that opens to vibrant city life,&rdquo; she said.

El Jaouhari and her husband, French with Moroccan and Italian heritage, have decorated their home with travel souvenirs, creating a vibrant, layered and personal look.

&ldquo;We like a warm and lively atmosphere,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Our style is spontaneous and eclectic, with a mix of vintage, modern street art and Oriental touches.&rdquo;

The home is not designed in a formal way. It&rsquo;s more instinctive, built over years of moving and collecting.

An old brown leather club armchair, gifted at their wedding 16 years ago, shows wear and pencil marks from the kids in the living room.

&ldquo;But we love to see it getting old with us,&rdquo; El Jaouhari said.

An antique gray French dresser with vintage sculptures sits next to a sleek gray dining table with brightly colored chairs from a Nordic furniture design company.

The walls are lined with Indian and Italian bookshelves holding more than 2,000 books. Hong Kong&rsquo;s oversized modular sofa is sectioned for flexibility and has colorful cushions.

Music flows freely through the space. El Jaouhari&rsquo;s husband plays drums and piano, and various music devices and speakers turn the living room into both a lounge and a listening room.

Art is central to their space. A papier-m&acirc;ch&eacute; bust of Basquiat from Bali and several reproductions show her husband&rsquo;s love of the artist, as does their friend Joris Ghilini&rsquo;s Renaissance-inspired street art.

A delicate glass sculpture of Goldorak with tiny toy cars, gifted to her husband for his birthday, arrived with a broken arm.

&ldquo;We might leave it like that. It carries the memory of the journey.&rdquo;

El Jaouhari treasures a detailed painting of the old market in Damascus, created by a Syrian artist from memory before the war.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s like a capsule of a lost world,&rdquo; she remarked.

Her appreciation for detail also extends to vintage treasures: a bright orange rotary phone from a Shanghai antique market, weathered Chinese thermoses from both Hong Kong and Shanghai, and hand-painted boxes crafted by Indian artisans.

Recently, the couple added a photograph by Shanghainese artist Li Anqi to their bedroom &mdash; another reflection of their current chapter in Shanghai.

Not all art comes from others. El Jaouhari creates collages, some of which are displayed in the living room.

The color palette strikes a balance with neutral tones for larger furniture, such as gray and brown, complemented by vibrant textiles and decorations that add joy and warmth. At night, the family embraces ambient lighting &mdash; using lamps, candles and soft glows to create a sense of comfort and calm.

El Jaouhari&rsquo;s design philosophy is grounded in authenticity and atmosphere rather than trends.

The second level of her home serves as the family&rsquo;s private zone. In the master bedroom, her personal passions take center stage, particularly her love for vintage jewelry and bags. Next to the bed, an old Indian wooden ladder has been repurposed into a charming display rack for her jewelry collection, which is arranged with care, resembling tiny sculptures.

&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t wear them all,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but I like displaying them like pieces of art and memories.&rdquo;

Her dressing table is a personal space with memories, art and vintage charm. The table itself is a cherished find from a vintage market in France &mdash; an old piece that a friend lovingly stripped and repainted, giving it new life while maintaining its soulful character. At the center is a metal sculpture by Hong Kong artist Fanson Lam, which depicts a woman seated before a mirror. El Jaouhari discovered this piece at Crafts on Peel in Hong Kong and instantly fell in love with it, especially after having the opportunity to meet the artist.

There&rsquo;s a 1925 drawing by Georges Mareste, which was discovered in a small vintage shop in Brittany and quietly anchors the space in nostalgia. Scattered across the table are small but meaningful details: vintage handbags displayed like objets d&rsquo;art, Art Deco brooches gleaming like miniature sculptures, and an old Paris poster that adds a final, wistful touch of home.

The dressing table resembles a personal gallery &mdash; an elegant expression of El Jaouhari&rsquo;s eye for beauty and her lifelong passion for collecting.

&ldquo;When people enter our home, they can feel who we are. Music, books, painting, photography, vintage, street art &mdash; our interior reflects our lives,&rdquo; she said.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my bubble, my nest. After living away from France for 16 years, it&rsquo;s essential for me to feel rooted and have a sense of belonging. That&rsquo;s what home provides me.&rdquo;

In Shanghai, El Jaouhari has once again created that sense of belonging, not just for herself, but for her family and everyone who steps inside.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		EMILIE El Jaouhari has created a home that is a reflection of her life of travel, family, creativity and multicultural heritage in a leafy residential tower near Anfu Road in Shanghai&rsquo;s Xuhui District.

After years spent in Dubai and Hong Kong, El Jaouhari, a Paris-born publishing professional-turned-culture entrepreneur, relocated to Shanghai eight months ago with her husband and three children.

The apartment hunt was swift.

&ldquo;We checked out about 10 apartments and lane houses, but we knew we wanted to be in Xuhui,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It reminds us of a French or Mediterranean village &mdash; with an Asian touch.&rdquo;

The home needed to be central, lived-in and in a lively neighborhood with bakeries, cafes, restaurants and a strong community. They loved the apartment&rsquo;s potential: high ceilings, tall windows and just enough wear to personalize. A lush, fenced garden offered rare intimacy in the city&rsquo;s bustling rhythm.

&ldquo;It was slightly faded when we saw it, but we saw its potential. The charm of the space lay in its quiet contrast: a garden for privacy and a front door that opens to vibrant city life,&rdquo; she said.

El Jaouhari and her husband, French with Moroccan and Italian heritage, have decorated their home with travel souvenirs, creating a vibrant, layered and personal look.

&ldquo;We like a warm and lively atmosphere,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Our style is spontaneous and eclectic, with a mix of vintage, modern street art and Oriental touches.&rdquo;

The home is not designed in a formal way. It&rsquo;s more instinctive, built over years of moving and collecting.

An old brown leather club armchair, gifted at their wedding 16 years ago, shows wear and pencil marks from the kids in the living room.

&ldquo;But we love to see it getting old with us,&rdquo; El Jaouhari said.

An antique gray French dresser with vintage sculptures sits next to a sleek gray dining table with brightly colored chairs from a Nordic furniture design company.

The walls are lined with Indian and Italian bookshelves holding more than 2,000 books. Hong Kong&rsquo;s oversized modular sofa is sectioned for flexibility and has colorful cushions.

Music flows freely through the space. El Jaouhari&rsquo;s husband plays drums and piano, and various music devices and speakers turn the living room into both a lounge and a listening room.

Art is central to their space. A papier-m&acirc;ch&eacute; bust of Basquiat from Bali and several reproductions show her husband&rsquo;s love of the artist, as does their friend Joris Ghilini&rsquo;s Renaissance-inspired street art.

A delicate glass sculpture of Goldorak with tiny toy cars, gifted to her husband for his birthday, arrived with a broken arm.

&ldquo;We might leave it like that. It carries the memory of the journey.&rdquo;

El Jaouhari treasures a detailed painting of the old market in Damascus, created by a Syrian artist from memory before the war.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s like a capsule of a lost world,&rdquo; she remarked.

Her appreciation for detail also extends to vintage treasures: a bright orange rotary phone from a Shanghai antique market, weathered Chinese thermoses from both Hong Kong and Shanghai, and hand-painted boxes crafted by Indian artisans.

Recently, the couple added a photograph by Shanghainese artist Li Anqi to their bedroom &mdash; another reflection of their current chapter in Shanghai.

Not all art comes from others. El Jaouhari creates collages, some of which are displayed in the living room.

The color palette strikes a balance with neutral tones for larger furniture, such as gray and brown, complemented by vibrant textiles and decorations that add joy and warmth. At night, the family embraces ambient lighting &mdash; using lamps, candles and soft glows to create a sense of comfort and calm.

El Jaouhari&rsquo;s design philosophy is grounded in authenticity and atmosphere rather than trends.

The second level of her home serves as the family&rsquo;s private zone. In the master bedroom, her personal passions take center stage, particularly her love for vintage jewelry and bags. Next to the bed, an old Indian wooden ladder has been repurposed into a charming display rack for her jewelry collection, which is arranged with care, resembling tiny sculptures.

&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t wear them all,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but I like displaying them like pieces of art and memories.&rdquo;

Her dressing table is a personal space with memories, art and vintage charm. The table itself is a cherished find from a vintage market in France &mdash; an old piece that a friend lovingly stripped and repainted, giving it new life while maintaining its soulful character. At the center is a metal sculpture by Hong Kong artist Fanson Lam, which depicts a woman seated before a mirror. El Jaouhari discovered this piece at Crafts on Peel in Hong Kong and instantly fell in love with it, especially after having the opportunity to meet the artist.

There&rsquo;s a 1925 drawing by Georges Mareste, which was discovered in a small vintage shop in Brittany and quietly anchors the space in nostalgia. Scattered across the table are small but meaningful details: vintage handbags displayed like objets d&rsquo;art, Art Deco brooches gleaming like miniature sculptures, and an old Paris poster that adds a final, wistful touch of home.

The dressing table resembles a personal gallery &mdash; an elegant expression of El Jaouhari&rsquo;s eye for beauty and her lifelong passion for collecting.

&ldquo;When people enter our home, they can feel who we are. Music, books, painting, photography, vintage, street art &mdash; our interior reflects our lives,&rdquo; she said.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my bubble, my nest. After living away from France for 16 years, it&rsquo;s essential for me to feel rooted and have a sense of belonging. That&rsquo;s what home provides me.&rdquo;

In Shanghai, El Jaouhari has once again created that sense of belonging, not just for herself, but for her family and everyone who steps inside.

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	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//feature/Xian-wind-and-percussion-ensemble-a-timeless-sound-for-modern-world/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Xi’an wind and percussion ensemble: a timeless sound for modern world</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Yang Jian]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[THE Xi&rsquo;an wind and percussion ensemble is one of China&rsquo;s oldest musical traditions, dating back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it blends percussion, wind instruments and occasional male chorus.

The guan, a double-reed wind instrument, leads the melodies with its penetrating tone. Drums, gongs and the metallophone-tuned metal plates struck with mallets add bright resonant tones.

Once reserved for emperors, the music is now performed at temple fairs, funerals and public festivals.

It exists in two forms: sitting music, performed indoors, and walking music, performed outdoors in processions.

In sitting music, musicians perform with calm precision, each part clearly defined. In contrast, walking music is energetic, played while marching in unison.

The loud, steady beats fill public spaces, reflecting the music&rsquo;s original purpose of communicating with both the living and the spirits.

The music is passed down through ancient manuscripts and oral tradition. Today, it is practiced in Xi&rsquo;an, capital of northwest China&rsquo;s Shaanxi Province, by community troupes, conservatory students and cultural institutions.

At the heart of its preservation is the Dongcang Drum Music Society, led by Fan Bingnan, a veteran inheritor.

&ldquo;The sound was slipping into silence,&rdquo; Fan told Xinhua news agency. &ldquo;We knew that if we did not pass it on, it would disappear.&rdquo;

The group has trained new generations of performers, modernizing the music for stage shows and livestreams.

Training is demanding. Apprentices memorize the music and then practice the precise movements that accompany it.

&ldquo;This is not just music; it&rsquo;s a way of life,&rdquo; said Fan. &ldquo;It requires discipline, dedication and an understanding of our culture.&rdquo;

For centuries, the ensemble was a male-only tradition. That changed in 2004 when the Dongcang society began admitting women.

Liu Yahong, one of the first women to be trained, now plays a key role in carrying the tradition forward.

Today, women make up a significant part of the ensemble. Liu, now a senior instructor, teaches new players, many of whom are also women.

&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a real beauty in the discipline and rigor of this tradition,&rdquo; she noted.

UNESCO&rsquo;s recognition has raised the ensemble&rsquo;s global profile, securing funding for its preservation. Cultural exchange tours have also been essential in spreading the music internationally.

In June, the Ancient Music Orchestra of Xi&rsquo;an International University performed at the prestigious Dresden Music Festival in Germany, earning wide acclaim.

Festival director Jan Vogler called the show &ldquo;one of the major successes in the festival&rsquo;s 47-year history,&rdquo; saying it highlighted the unique charm of Chinese culture.

Dresden&rsquo;s Deputy Mayor Annekatrin Klepsch said that the performance &ldquo;not only captivated the audience but also strengthened cultural exchange.&rdquo;

Over the past decade, the ensemble has performed across 20 provinces and regions in China and in more than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea and Russia, attracting more than 100,000 viewers.

In July, the group also performed at the China Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, where the audience gave a long round of applause after the final note.

The ensemble has also embraced digital platforms. The Dongcang society adapted to livestreaming, with viewership numbers soaring. Audiences from Europe, North America and Southeast Asia tuned in to performances in China.

&ldquo;The response has been overwhelming,&rdquo; said Fan. &ldquo;Digital platforms allow us to bridge the gap between the local and the global.&rdquo;

Education has been crucial in preserving the tradition. The Xi&rsquo;an Conservatory of Music now includes the ensemble&rsquo;s music in its curriculum, training new generations of musicians.

Local schools also teach students about the music and its instruments, with support from the local government funding performances, festivals and community workshops.

In rural Xi&rsquo;an, villagers continue to perform the music at funerals and festivals, believing the rhythms connect the living with their ancestors. Apprentices learn by observing masters and repeating the beats until they are ready to perform in public.

The last note of each piece is not improvised but carefully composed centuries ago. When it falls, the room turns quiet. That silence, too, is part of the tradition, a reminder that the music is not just a performance but the preservation of memory.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		THE Xi&rsquo;an wind and percussion ensemble is one of China&rsquo;s oldest musical traditions, dating back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it blends percussion, wind instruments and occasional male chorus.

The guan, a double-reed wind instrument, leads the melodies with its penetrating tone. Drums, gongs and the metallophone-tuned metal plates struck with mallets add bright resonant tones.

Once reserved for emperors, the music is now performed at temple fairs, funerals and public festivals.

It exists in two forms: sitting music, performed indoors, and walking music, performed outdoors in processions.

In sitting music, musicians perform with calm precision, each part clearly defined. In contrast, walking music is energetic, played while marching in unison.

The loud, steady beats fill public spaces, reflecting the music&rsquo;s original purpose of communicating with both the living and the spirits.

The music is passed down through ancient manuscripts and oral tradition. Today, it is practiced in Xi&rsquo;an, capital of northwest China&rsquo;s Shaanxi Province, by community troupes, conservatory students and cultural institutions.

At the heart of its preservation is the Dongcang Drum Music Society, led by Fan Bingnan, a veteran inheritor.

&ldquo;The sound was slipping into silence,&rdquo; Fan told Xinhua news agency. &ldquo;We knew that if we did not pass it on, it would disappear.&rdquo;

The group has trained new generations of performers, modernizing the music for stage shows and livestreams.

Training is demanding. Apprentices memorize the music and then practice the precise movements that accompany it.

&ldquo;This is not just music; it&rsquo;s a way of life,&rdquo; said Fan. &ldquo;It requires discipline, dedication and an understanding of our culture.&rdquo;

For centuries, the ensemble was a male-only tradition. That changed in 2004 when the Dongcang society began admitting women.

Liu Yahong, one of the first women to be trained, now plays a key role in carrying the tradition forward.

Today, women make up a significant part of the ensemble. Liu, now a senior instructor, teaches new players, many of whom are also women.

&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a real beauty in the discipline and rigor of this tradition,&rdquo; she noted.

UNESCO&rsquo;s recognition has raised the ensemble&rsquo;s global profile, securing funding for its preservation. Cultural exchange tours have also been essential in spreading the music internationally.

In June, the Ancient Music Orchestra of Xi&rsquo;an International University performed at the prestigious Dresden Music Festival in Germany, earning wide acclaim.

Festival director Jan Vogler called the show &ldquo;one of the major successes in the festival&rsquo;s 47-year history,&rdquo; saying it highlighted the unique charm of Chinese culture.

Dresden&rsquo;s Deputy Mayor Annekatrin Klepsch said that the performance &ldquo;not only captivated the audience but also strengthened cultural exchange.&rdquo;

Over the past decade, the ensemble has performed across 20 provinces and regions in China and in more than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea and Russia, attracting more than 100,000 viewers.

In July, the group also performed at the China Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, where the audience gave a long round of applause after the final note.

The ensemble has also embraced digital platforms. The Dongcang society adapted to livestreaming, with viewership numbers soaring. Audiences from Europe, North America and Southeast Asia tuned in to performances in China.

&ldquo;The response has been overwhelming,&rdquo; said Fan. &ldquo;Digital platforms allow us to bridge the gap between the local and the global.&rdquo;

Education has been crucial in preserving the tradition. The Xi&rsquo;an Conservatory of Music now includes the ensemble&rsquo;s music in its curriculum, training new generations of musicians.

Local schools also teach students about the music and its instruments, with support from the local government funding performances, festivals and community workshops.

In rural Xi&rsquo;an, villagers continue to perform the music at funerals and festivals, believing the rhythms connect the living with their ancestors. Apprentices learn by observing masters and repeating the beats until they are ready to perform in public.

The last note of each piece is not improvised but carefully composed centuries ago. When it falls, the room turns quiet. That silence, too, is part of the tradition, a reminder that the music is not just a performance but the preservation of memory.

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//feature/Tighten-your-tent-mind-your-dog-New-park-rules-to-be-put-in-place/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Tighten your tent, mind your dog: New park rules to be put in place</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ke Jiayun]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[DO you enjoy camping under the trees? Walk your dog at night? Or simply enjoy a nice picnic? From Monday, Shanghai will implement new park regulations to make green places safer, friendlier and more enjoyable for all.

You might love weekend camping, late-night strolls or simply resting in nature; these changes will enhance your park experience.

Tent and canopy management

Parks will designate special areas for tents and canopies.

If a park isn&rsquo;t suitable for large sunshades like canopies, notices will be posted to guide visitors.

Safety checks on tent pegs, ropes and wind lines will be strengthened to avoid accidents &mdash; especially tripping hazards.

Each park will set a maximum capacity for camping zones. During peak times, crowd control will be in place.

Parks are encouraged to expand tent areas and cannot arbitrarily ban camping under the excuse of &ldquo;safety.&rdquo;

Safer, friendlier spaces

Visitors must follow park safety rules, behave responsibly and stay mindful of others.

Parks will increase patrols, improve signage and maintain facilities to create a safe and relaxing atmosphere.

Nighttime areas will be well-lit with improved security, and some parks may even introduce emergency one-click alarms.

Vehicle and bike rules

Electric mobility aids for people with disabilities must be licensed; unlicensed vehicles and illegal operations will not be allowed.

Policies for children&rsquo;s bikes, scooters and toy vehicles vary.

Parks that allow bicycles must provide separate cycling lanes with speed controls and safety signs.

Pet-friendly but responsible

Dog-friendly zones will be expanded and better marked.

Owners must leash their pets (large dogs also need muzzles) and clean up after them.

Security patrols will step up enforcement of these rules.

Better nighttime services

At least one 24-hour restroom will be available in every park that&rsquo;s open around the clock.

Large and busy parks will be encouraged to add more 24-hour facilities.

Smart technology, such as self-service equipment, will make after-dark visits more comfortable.

Quieter, more peaceful parks

Noise control rules will be strictly enforced.

Fitness, music and entertainment activities will be confined to designated areas and periods to ensure a calm environment.

Community participation

Parks will introduce Citizen Park Leaders and volunteer programs, giving visitors a voice in park management.

Feedback platforms will be created so that they can share their ideas and concerns.

Complaints will be handled through a tiered response system to ensure timely resolutions.

Shanghai&rsquo;s parks are more than just green spaces. They are community living rooms where people gather, relax and connect.

The new rules are designed to make camping and leisure activities safer, ensure parks remain accessible and welcoming, and strike the right balance between enjoyment and order.

Whether you are pitching a tent, walking your dog or taking a midnight jog, these changes mean Shanghai&rsquo;s parks will better serve you around the clock.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		DO you enjoy camping under the trees? Walk your dog at night? Or simply enjoy a nice picnic? From Monday, Shanghai will implement new park regulations to make green places safer, friendlier and more enjoyable for all.

You might love weekend camping, late-night strolls or simply resting in nature; these changes will enhance your park experience.

Tent and canopy management

Parks will designate special areas for tents and canopies.

If a park isn&rsquo;t suitable for large sunshades like canopies, notices will be posted to guide visitors.

Safety checks on tent pegs, ropes and wind lines will be strengthened to avoid accidents &mdash; especially tripping hazards.

Each park will set a maximum capacity for camping zones. During peak times, crowd control will be in place.

Parks are encouraged to expand tent areas and cannot arbitrarily ban camping under the excuse of &ldquo;safety.&rdquo;

Safer, friendlier spaces

Visitors must follow park safety rules, behave responsibly and stay mindful of others.

Parks will increase patrols, improve signage and maintain facilities to create a safe and relaxing atmosphere.

Nighttime areas will be well-lit with improved security, and some parks may even introduce emergency one-click alarms.

Vehicle and bike rules

Electric mobility aids for people with disabilities must be licensed; unlicensed vehicles and illegal operations will not be allowed.

Policies for children&rsquo;s bikes, scooters and toy vehicles vary.

Parks that allow bicycles must provide separate cycling lanes with speed controls and safety signs.

Pet-friendly but responsible

Dog-friendly zones will be expanded and better marked.

Owners must leash their pets (large dogs also need muzzles) and clean up after them.

Security patrols will step up enforcement of these rules.

Better nighttime services

At least one 24-hour restroom will be available in every park that&rsquo;s open around the clock.

Large and busy parks will be encouraged to add more 24-hour facilities.

Smart technology, such as self-service equipment, will make after-dark visits more comfortable.

Quieter, more peaceful parks

Noise control rules will be strictly enforced.

Fitness, music and entertainment activities will be confined to designated areas and periods to ensure a calm environment.

Community participation

Parks will introduce Citizen Park Leaders and volunteer programs, giving visitors a voice in park management.

Feedback platforms will be created so that they can share their ideas and concerns.

Complaints will be handled through a tiered response system to ensure timely resolutions.

Shanghai&rsquo;s parks are more than just green spaces. They are community living rooms where people gather, relax and connect.

The new rules are designed to make camping and leisure activities safer, ensure parks remain accessible and welcoming, and strike the right balance between enjoyment and order.

Whether you are pitching a tent, walking your dog or taking a midnight jog, these changes mean Shanghai&rsquo;s parks will better serve you around the clock.

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	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//in-focus/Chinese-firms-seeking-to-sell-overseas-take-TikTok-pivot/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Chinese firms seeking to sell overseas take TikTok pivot</title>
		<category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lu Feiran]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[A somewhat simple video on TikTok showing a huge rainproof canopy in different settings attracted 7,000-plus &ldquo;likes&rdquo; and more than 100 comments from Africa to Southeast Asia. The video shows the products of the Guangfu Color Steel Structure, a small firm in Shanghai.

It&rsquo;s one of thousands of short videos developed for TikTok by Chinese companies eager to expand their marketing efforts to the popular global platform from traditional reliance on domestic trade fairs and sites like Alibaba.com for sales.

New businesses have sprung up to feed the trend. Shanghai-based LTS Industrial Technology is one example.

Based in Jiading District, LTS has been focusing on online marketing services for industrial products since 2021. Last year, it has shifted its focus from Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to its international version, helping Chinese firms access clients outside the country.

&ldquo;The rising importance of TikTok, driven by short-format videos, presents both significant challenges and opportunities,&rdquo; said Liu Lian, chief executive of the company. &ldquo;Large corporations that have established sales power don&rsquo;t really care about smaller possible clients found on social media, while smaller businesses often lack the necessary skills to chase them. This creates a huge business opportunity for us.&rdquo;

ByteDance-owned TikTok operates in 150 countries and regions with 2.1 billion global registered users and growth projections surpassing 3 billion. The popular platform allows users to post their contact information on the accounts, so with an Internet connection, business can be conducted anywhere in the world.

&ldquo;The success on Douyin made us realize that if we replicate our marketing mode to TikTok, where the customer base is much larger, it would yield far better results,&rdquo; Liu told Shanghai Daily. &ldquo;This has proven to be true. For some industries, we can generate over a thousand inquiries for a client in just one or two months.&rdquo;

Why is TikTok such a good salesman? Probably because its videos can directly show viewers how goods are produced.

&ldquo;The TikTok model is especially well-suited for industrial products, manufacturing, chemical raw materials and engineering machinery,&rdquo; Liu said. &ldquo;Buyers in these sectors are focused on more than just the final product; they evaluate the supplier based on production capabilities, assembly lines, certifications, warehousing and shipping services.&rdquo;

Because TikTok content doesn&rsquo;t change from region to region, companies don&rsquo;t need to localize their content for different audiences.

The development of artificial intelligence has made the format much easier than in the past. Liu, like most of his clients, doesn&rsquo;t speak much English, much less other languages.

AI allows Chinese scripts to be translated into dozens of languages through dubbing and subtitles.

Liu said he believes LTS&rsquo;s business will be in demand for at least a decade because the world marketplace still relies heavily on Chinese production.

&ldquo;It takes some time to build plants from scratch in other countries and more time to train employees, so now there is a big market, especially in the Middle East, with strong demand and low supplies,&rdquo; he said.

In addition to use in business-to-business commerce, TikTok is also attracting Chinese merchants in the business-to-consumer space, especially those that failed to gain traction on sites like Amazon and eBay.

Shu Zixuan from the southern city of Shenzhen is one of them. His C-BULL Global company, which mainly sells Bluetooth speakers and underwear, now enjoys sales volume of 200 million yuan (US$28 million) a year on TikTok.

&ldquo;I started my business in 2013,&rdquo; Shu explained, &ldquo;and initially 90 percent of our business was in China, with domestic sales reaching about 700 to 800 million yuan annually and overseas sales on Amazon of only 40 to 50 million yuan.&rdquo;

He added, &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t take overseas business seriously because the delivery costs on Amazon were too high, and we couldn&rsquo;t invest much more into it.&rdquo;

In September 2023, TikTok launched its shop in North America, and Shu found that many shop owners on Douyin were using it to expand business to the other side of the Pacific. He saw opportunity and seized it. TikTok, he found, suited his needs perfectly.

&ldquo;Amazon operates on a listing logic, so that if you have a large number of listings, your ranking will be high,&rdquo; Shu said. &ldquo;That makes it difficult for new sellers because they&rsquo;re starting from scratch with no accumulated history, and the only way they can compete is on price, which just leads to a race to the bottom.&rdquo;

He said China&rsquo;s Temu online sales platform is mainly for factory sales and doesn&rsquo;t work for little guys like him, who can&rsquo;t set their own prices.

&ldquo;TikTok, on the other hand, uses an algorithm,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;A new product, if it&rsquo;s any good, will automatically be recommended to users. So, any brand that starts a TikTok shop overseas will get traffic, which isn&rsquo;t true for Amazon.&rdquo;

However, the future of TikTok operations in the United States, its single largest pool of users, remains in limbo. The US Congress last year passed a law banning the platform from the US if it remains in the hands of China-based ByteDance, citing national security concerns.

US President Donald Trump, a big fan of social media, has delayed implementation of the law three times this year to allow negotiations on sale of TikTok&rsquo;s American unit to a US-backed consortium of private equity investors. The latest extension expires in mid-September.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		A somewhat simple video on TikTok showing a huge rainproof canopy in different settings attracted 7,000-plus &ldquo;likes&rdquo; and more than 100 comments from Africa to Southeast Asia. The video shows the products of the Guangfu Color Steel Structure, a small firm in Shanghai.

It&rsquo;s one of thousands of short videos developed for TikTok by Chinese companies eager to expand their marketing efforts to the popular global platform from traditional reliance on domestic trade fairs and sites like Alibaba.com for sales.

New businesses have sprung up to feed the trend. Shanghai-based LTS Industrial Technology is one example.

Based in Jiading District, LTS has been focusing on online marketing services for industrial products since 2021. Last year, it has shifted its focus from Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to its international version, helping Chinese firms access clients outside the country.

&ldquo;The rising importance of TikTok, driven by short-format videos, presents both significant challenges and opportunities,&rdquo; said Liu Lian, chief executive of the company. &ldquo;Large corporations that have established sales power don&rsquo;t really care about smaller possible clients found on social media, while smaller businesses often lack the necessary skills to chase them. This creates a huge business opportunity for us.&rdquo;

ByteDance-owned TikTok operates in 150 countries and regions with 2.1 billion global registered users and growth projections surpassing 3 billion. The popular platform allows users to post their contact information on the accounts, so with an Internet connection, business can be conducted anywhere in the world.

&ldquo;The success on Douyin made us realize that if we replicate our marketing mode to TikTok, where the customer base is much larger, it would yield far better results,&rdquo; Liu told Shanghai Daily. &ldquo;This has proven to be true. For some industries, we can generate over a thousand inquiries for a client in just one or two months.&rdquo;

Why is TikTok such a good salesman? Probably because its videos can directly show viewers how goods are produced.

&ldquo;The TikTok model is especially well-suited for industrial products, manufacturing, chemical raw materials and engineering machinery,&rdquo; Liu said. &ldquo;Buyers in these sectors are focused on more than just the final product; they evaluate the supplier based on production capabilities, assembly lines, certifications, warehousing and shipping services.&rdquo;

Because TikTok content doesn&rsquo;t change from region to region, companies don&rsquo;t need to localize their content for different audiences.

The development of artificial intelligence has made the format much easier than in the past. Liu, like most of his clients, doesn&rsquo;t speak much English, much less other languages.

AI allows Chinese scripts to be translated into dozens of languages through dubbing and subtitles.

Liu said he believes LTS&rsquo;s business will be in demand for at least a decade because the world marketplace still relies heavily on Chinese production.

&ldquo;It takes some time to build plants from scratch in other countries and more time to train employees, so now there is a big market, especially in the Middle East, with strong demand and low supplies,&rdquo; he said.

In addition to use in business-to-business commerce, TikTok is also attracting Chinese merchants in the business-to-consumer space, especially those that failed to gain traction on sites like Amazon and eBay.

Shu Zixuan from the southern city of Shenzhen is one of them. His C-BULL Global company, which mainly sells Bluetooth speakers and underwear, now enjoys sales volume of 200 million yuan (US$28 million) a year on TikTok.

&ldquo;I started my business in 2013,&rdquo; Shu explained, &ldquo;and initially 90 percent of our business was in China, with domestic sales reaching about 700 to 800 million yuan annually and overseas sales on Amazon of only 40 to 50 million yuan.&rdquo;

He added, &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t take overseas business seriously because the delivery costs on Amazon were too high, and we couldn&rsquo;t invest much more into it.&rdquo;

In September 2023, TikTok launched its shop in North America, and Shu found that many shop owners on Douyin were using it to expand business to the other side of the Pacific. He saw opportunity and seized it. TikTok, he found, suited his needs perfectly.

&ldquo;Amazon operates on a listing logic, so that if you have a large number of listings, your ranking will be high,&rdquo; Shu said. &ldquo;That makes it difficult for new sellers because they&rsquo;re starting from scratch with no accumulated history, and the only way they can compete is on price, which just leads to a race to the bottom.&rdquo;

He said China&rsquo;s Temu online sales platform is mainly for factory sales and doesn&rsquo;t work for little guys like him, who can&rsquo;t set their own prices.

&ldquo;TikTok, on the other hand, uses an algorithm,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;A new product, if it&rsquo;s any good, will automatically be recommended to users. So, any brand that starts a TikTok shop overseas will get traffic, which isn&rsquo;t true for Amazon.&rdquo;

However, the future of TikTok operations in the United States, its single largest pool of users, remains in limbo. The US Congress last year passed a law banning the platform from the US if it remains in the hands of China-based ByteDance, citing national security concerns.

US President Donald Trump, a big fan of social media, has delayed implementation of the law three times this year to allow negotiations on sale of TikTok&rsquo;s American unit to a US-backed consortium of private equity investors. The latest extension expires in mid-September.

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	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//feature/Softness-style-and-sustainability-behind-Turk-womans-success/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Softness, style and sustainability: behind Turk woman’s success</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Yang Di]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[FROM Istanbul&rsquo;s cobblestone alleyways to Shanghai&rsquo;s bustling energy, Selin Penbe Kireccioglu&rsquo;s journey has been a tapestry of colors, textures and stories. Each chapter &mdash; learning tailoring from her grandmother, painting light and shade with her father&rsquo;s paintbrushes, or managing New York and Paris&rsquo; fast-paced lifestyles &mdash; has created the designer and entrepreneur of today. She has always been driven by a love of craftsmanship, excellence and self-expression.

&nbsp;

Q: Before we talk about your company, would you please introduce yourself?

I was born and raised in Istanbul, where artistry and craftsmanship were part of my everyday life. I grew up in a talented family &mdash; my grandmother and aunt were skilled tailors who filled our home with exquisite fabrics, teaching me the beauty of tradition and meticulous handwork. My father, a gifted painter in his leisure time, introduced me to the magic of colors &mdash; how shades could blend, contrast and tell stories. These early influences nurtured my love for design, creativity and the beauty of self-expression through both fabric and art. These experiences continue to form the foundation of my work and vision today.

My professional journey began in Istanbul&rsquo;s pr&ecirc;t-&agrave;-porter industry, where I gained hands-on production experience. Later, in New York, I immersed myself in the fast-paced worlds of sales, merchandising and customer relations, where I learned the value of efficiency, competition and the fundamental principle that time is money. Paris marked a pivotal chapter, where I dove deep into the production and trade of cotton fabrics. Across these experiences, one principle stayed constant &mdash; customer satisfaction became my compass, and product quality my passion.

&nbsp;

Q: Why did you decide to strike out on your own and start a company in Shanghai?

Shanghai&rsquo;s energy was contagious. After several years here, I realized I had accumulated a wealth of knowledge &mdash; from my roots in Istanbul to my time in New York and Paris &mdash; and it was time to channel it into something of my own. Shanghai gave me the confidence to take that leap, to build a company that reflects my values, craftsmanship and creative vision. Starting my own business wasn&rsquo;t just a professional move; it was a way to weave together all my experiences into something meaningful and enduring.

In 2015, I founded Dahlia Home &amp; Lifestyle in Shanghai, inspired by my travels and my background in fashion and textiles. The story began with a simple gift &mdash; a Peshtemal, a traditional Turkish towel I brought from Turkey for a friend. Its softness, lightness, quick-drying nature and versatility captivated everyone immediately. That&rsquo;s when I realized its potential &mdash; not just as a traditional towel, but as a foundation for a collection of towels, bathrobes, shawls, beachwear and blankets, all crafted from 100 percent Turkish cotton.

The name Dahlia comes from the flower in our logo &mdash; beautiful, diverse and long-lasting &mdash; just like our designs. Hidden within it is Lia, my daughter&rsquo;s name, and the heart behind the brand. At Dahlia, we believe in beauty, softness and sustainability, wrapped in everyday elegance.

&nbsp;

Q: What makes Shanghai&rsquo;s business environment so remarkable?

Shanghai thrives on speed, innovation and energy. Ideas turn into reality almost instantly, and success depends on agility, precision and meeting customer expectations with efficiency. I was inspired by the opportunities this city offers to foreign entrepreneurs &mdash; the chance to turn business dreams into reality. These qualities became part of Dahlia&rsquo;s DNA.

&nbsp;

Q: What are you trying to bring to the local community?

From the start, I wanted Dahlia to be more than a brand. I wanted to offer a fusion of craftsmanship, culture, innovation and sustainability. My goal was to share my appreciation for fabrics and colors, creating designs that tell a story while maintaining exceptional quality. I aim to bring a splash of color into everyday life &mdash; blending modernity, comfort and versatility to match today&rsquo;s dynamic lifestyles. My pieces are made to be effortlessly wearable, adaptable and full of personality &mdash; enhancing not just wardrobes, but moods and experiences.

&nbsp;

Q: What are the biggest challenges setting up a business here? How do you stay motivated?

The language barrier was my first challenge &mdash; communication is essential in business, and understanding both linguistic and cultural nuances is key to building strong relationships. Another challenge was connecting deeply with the local community, learning their preferences and values in a fast-changing market. Chinese consumers appreciate authenticity, quality and brands that resonate with their lives. Balancing their tastes with my vision requires adaptability and insight.

That said, your mindset is inspiring. When you decide, work hard and stay committed, you can achieve all you set out to do.

Shanghai rewards ambition, and with perseverance, creativity and a willingness to learn. Opportunities open up in remarkable ways.

&nbsp;

Q: What was the moment that made you most proud?

Some of my most fulfilling moments are when customers return &mdash; not just to express appreciation, but to buy more. Hearing their stories about how my designs, quality and comfort enrich their lives reminds me I&rsquo;m on the right path. It&rsquo;s more than a transaction &mdash; it&rsquo;s a relationship built on trust and shared appreciation for color and craftsmanship.

&nbsp;

Q: What are you working on?

I&rsquo;m developing a collection focused on sustainability using recycled cotton. These designs bring eco-friendly innovation to bath, beach and home linens &mdash; blending functionality with beauty. Every piece is thoughtfully crafted to cut environmental impact while offering comfort and style.

&nbsp;

Q: Who is your female role model?

Women who break barriers and spark change, whether in science, art or business, inspire me. Figures like Stella McCartney and Tarsila do Amaral have my admiration, but I also find inspiration in everyday women &mdash; scientists, artists and entrepreneurs &mdash; who are making a difference in their communities.

&nbsp;

Q: What is your advice to women entrepreneurs?

Trust your vision and walk your path with confidence. Surround yourself with supportive collaborators &mdash; strong networks open new doors. Stay adaptable, because flexibility is essential for growth.

And remember: Every challenge is an opportunity to evolve and thrive.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		FROM Istanbul&rsquo;s cobblestone alleyways to Shanghai&rsquo;s bustling energy, Selin Penbe Kireccioglu&rsquo;s journey has been a tapestry of colors, textures and stories. Each chapter &mdash; learning tailoring from her grandmother, painting light and shade with her father&rsquo;s paintbrushes, or managing New York and Paris&rsquo; fast-paced lifestyles &mdash; has created the designer and entrepreneur of today. She has always been driven by a love of craftsmanship, excellence and self-expression.

&nbsp;

Q: Before we talk about your company, would you please introduce yourself?

I was born and raised in Istanbul, where artistry and craftsmanship were part of my everyday life. I grew up in a talented family &mdash; my grandmother and aunt were skilled tailors who filled our home with exquisite fabrics, teaching me the beauty of tradition and meticulous handwork. My father, a gifted painter in his leisure time, introduced me to the magic of colors &mdash; how shades could blend, contrast and tell stories. These early influences nurtured my love for design, creativity and the beauty of self-expression through both fabric and art. These experiences continue to form the foundation of my work and vision today.

My professional journey began in Istanbul&rsquo;s pr&ecirc;t-&agrave;-porter industry, where I gained hands-on production experience. Later, in New York, I immersed myself in the fast-paced worlds of sales, merchandising and customer relations, where I learned the value of efficiency, competition and the fundamental principle that time is money. Paris marked a pivotal chapter, where I dove deep into the production and trade of cotton fabrics. Across these experiences, one principle stayed constant &mdash; customer satisfaction became my compass, and product quality my passion.

&nbsp;

Q: Why did you decide to strike out on your own and start a company in Shanghai?

Shanghai&rsquo;s energy was contagious. After several years here, I realized I had accumulated a wealth of knowledge &mdash; from my roots in Istanbul to my time in New York and Paris &mdash; and it was time to channel it into something of my own. Shanghai gave me the confidence to take that leap, to build a company that reflects my values, craftsmanship and creative vision. Starting my own business wasn&rsquo;t just a professional move; it was a way to weave together all my experiences into something meaningful and enduring.

In 2015, I founded Dahlia Home &amp; Lifestyle in Shanghai, inspired by my travels and my background in fashion and textiles. The story began with a simple gift &mdash; a Peshtemal, a traditional Turkish towel I brought from Turkey for a friend. Its softness, lightness, quick-drying nature and versatility captivated everyone immediately. That&rsquo;s when I realized its potential &mdash; not just as a traditional towel, but as a foundation for a collection of towels, bathrobes, shawls, beachwear and blankets, all crafted from 100 percent Turkish cotton.

The name Dahlia comes from the flower in our logo &mdash; beautiful, diverse and long-lasting &mdash; just like our designs. Hidden within it is Lia, my daughter&rsquo;s name, and the heart behind the brand. At Dahlia, we believe in beauty, softness and sustainability, wrapped in everyday elegance.

&nbsp;

Q: What makes Shanghai&rsquo;s business environment so remarkable?

Shanghai thrives on speed, innovation and energy. Ideas turn into reality almost instantly, and success depends on agility, precision and meeting customer expectations with efficiency. I was inspired by the opportunities this city offers to foreign entrepreneurs &mdash; the chance to turn business dreams into reality. These qualities became part of Dahlia&rsquo;s DNA.

&nbsp;

Q: What are you trying to bring to the local community?

From the start, I wanted Dahlia to be more than a brand. I wanted to offer a fusion of craftsmanship, culture, innovation and sustainability. My goal was to share my appreciation for fabrics and colors, creating designs that tell a story while maintaining exceptional quality. I aim to bring a splash of color into everyday life &mdash; blending modernity, comfort and versatility to match today&rsquo;s dynamic lifestyles. My pieces are made to be effortlessly wearable, adaptable and full of personality &mdash; enhancing not just wardrobes, but moods and experiences.

&nbsp;

Q: What are the biggest challenges setting up a business here? How do you stay motivated?

The language barrier was my first challenge &mdash; communication is essential in business, and understanding both linguistic and cultural nuances is key to building strong relationships. Another challenge was connecting deeply with the local community, learning their preferences and values in a fast-changing market. Chinese consumers appreciate authenticity, quality and brands that resonate with their lives. Balancing their tastes with my vision requires adaptability and insight.

That said, your mindset is inspiring. When you decide, work hard and stay committed, you can achieve all you set out to do.

Shanghai rewards ambition, and with perseverance, creativity and a willingness to learn. Opportunities open up in remarkable ways.

&nbsp;

Q: What was the moment that made you most proud?

Some of my most fulfilling moments are when customers return &mdash; not just to express appreciation, but to buy more. Hearing their stories about how my designs, quality and comfort enrich their lives reminds me I&rsquo;m on the right path. It&rsquo;s more than a transaction &mdash; it&rsquo;s a relationship built on trust and shared appreciation for color and craftsmanship.

&nbsp;

Q: What are you working on?

I&rsquo;m developing a collection focused on sustainability using recycled cotton. These designs bring eco-friendly innovation to bath, beach and home linens &mdash; blending functionality with beauty. Every piece is thoughtfully crafted to cut environmental impact while offering comfort and style.

&nbsp;

Q: Who is your female role model?

Women who break barriers and spark change, whether in science, art or business, inspire me. Figures like Stella McCartney and Tarsila do Amaral have my admiration, but I also find inspiration in everyday women &mdash; scientists, artists and entrepreneurs &mdash; who are making a difference in their communities.

&nbsp;

Q: What is your advice to women entrepreneurs?

Trust your vision and walk your path with confidence. Surround yourself with supportive collaborators &mdash; strong networks open new doors. Stay adaptable, because flexibility is essential for growth.

And remember: Every challenge is an opportunity to evolve and thrive.

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/War-documentary-series-chronicles-resilience-and-contribution-of-Chinese/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>War documentary series chronicles resilience and contribution of Chinese</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Xu Wei]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[&ldquo;DISPATCHES from the East,&rdquo; a compelling five-part documentary series, sheds new light on the immense contributions of the Chinese people during the World Anti-Fascist War, from the perspectives of foreign journalists.

Beginning from tomorrow, the series will start to air on multiple platforms, including iSMG, DocuLife and ShanghaiEye.

It follows five foreign correspondents &mdash; Edgar Snow, Agnes Smedley, John B Powell, Jack Belden and Harrison Forman &mdash; who not only witnessed but also courageously chronicled Chinese People&rsquo;s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

From the vibrant streets of Shanghai to the battlefields across the country, these intrepid journalists risked their lives to tell the world the story of a nation under siege. Through their words and images, they shaped global understanding of China&rsquo;s resilience, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to survival. In their eyes, the war becomes not just China&rsquo;s fight for existence, but a universal struggle for truth and justice.

The series arrives just in time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japanese invasion and the World Anti-Fascist War.

A joint production by the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality and Shanghai Media Group&rsquo;s DocuChina, &ldquo;Dispatches from the East&rdquo; is a tribute to the heroism, courage and solidarity of the Chinese people. It offers the world a glimpse into the extraordinary sacrifices made during a defining moment in history.

The documentary is hosted and narrated by Dr Andrew Field, an American historian and professor at Duke Kunshan University. Field is widely respected for his extensive research on modern Chinese history.

Four years ago, Field took viewers on a journey through the liberation of Shanghai, breathing life into the city&rsquo;s historic landmarks and unveiling their rich, wartime significance.

Now, he returns in a similar narrative style, leading audiences on a journey across Shanghai to retrace the legendary stories of the foreign correspondents, who bore witness to China&rsquo;s battle for survival.

The series is based on an array of valuable English-language historical materials, including prominent publications like The New York Times, The Manchester Guardian, The New York Sun and Time, alongside firsthand accounts from newspapers and periodicals like Millard&rsquo;s Review and the Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury, which circulated in Shanghai and across the globe during that time. These sources provide an exclusive, vivid account of the war, as documented by the foreign journalists reporting from the frontlines.

Each episode of the series, lasting 6 to 7 minutes, combines live-action footage with traditional computer graphics (CG) and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to recreate key war scenes as they were depicted by the journalists. It brings the audience an immersive historical experience that transcends time and space.

Chief director Wang Xiangtao noted that one of the main challenges was condensing vast historical events into such a concise format.

&ldquo;Presenting a narrative spanning over 10 years in such a short time is no small feat,&rdquo; said Wang. &ldquo;We have tried to strike a balance between brevity and impact, while ensuring that the correct historical perspective is emphasized to international audiences.&rdquo;

The full series will air at 10pm on Dragon TV on September 2, ahead of China&rsquo;s grand military parade at Beijing&rsquo;s Tian&rsquo;anmen Square. The highly anticipated parade, on September 3, will feature impressive marching formations, armored columns and aerial displays, showcasing China&rsquo;s latest advancements in combat forces, strategic systems and military intelligence.

Episode  From Six Weeks to Thirteen Years

Edgar Snow arrives in Shanghai in 1928 intending only a short stay, but war and upheaval change his course. From witnessing the 1932 battle against Japanese marines to slipping through Kuomintang blockades, Snow reaches Yan&rsquo;an to meet Chairman Mao Zedong. His &ldquo;Red Star Over China&rdquo; reveals the Communist resistance to the world, making him the first Westerner to capture its significance.

Episode  Hymn for the Unsung

Journalist Agnes Smedley finds a kindred spirit in renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun before plunging into the frontlines of war. Living among the Chinese resistance force, she records not just battles but the sacrifices of ordinary people. Her dispatches became a lasting tribute to the unsung heroes of China&rsquo;s struggle.

Episode  The Unyielding Stand

Editor John B Powell, long rooted in Shanghai, takes an uncompromising stand against Japanese aggression. From exposing atrocities after the 1931 invasion of China to witnessing the devastation of the 1937 Battle of Shanghai, Powell refuses to remain silent &ndash; even when it leads to imprisonment under the Japanese military police.

Episode  Embedded in Reality

Jack Belden, a seaman-turned-journalist, immerses himself in Chinese life and language. On the war&rsquo;s frontlines, his vivid dispatches capture both resilience and determination. His daring journey to the New Fourth Army shows how guerrilla resistance reshaped the war, and his later &ldquo;China Shakes the World&rdquo; stands as a raw testament to revolution born in the crucible of resistance.

Episode  More than Just Pictures

Harrison Forman&rsquo;s photographs and reports bring the world face to face with China&rsquo;s wartime ordeal. From bombed Shanghai streets to rare images of Yan&rsquo;an, his lens documents both destruction and resilience. His &ldquo;Report from Red China&rdquo; gives Western readers one of their first authentic glimpses of the Communist resistance and its disciplined forces, leaving behind a visual legacy of a nation at war.

&nbsp;
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		&ldquo;DISPATCHES from the East,&rdquo; a compelling five-part documentary series, sheds new light on the immense contributions of the Chinese people during the World Anti-Fascist War, from the perspectives of foreign journalists.

Beginning from tomorrow, the series will start to air on multiple platforms, including iSMG, DocuLife and ShanghaiEye.

It follows five foreign correspondents &mdash; Edgar Snow, Agnes Smedley, John B Powell, Jack Belden and Harrison Forman &mdash; who not only witnessed but also courageously chronicled Chinese People&rsquo;s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

From the vibrant streets of Shanghai to the battlefields across the country, these intrepid journalists risked their lives to tell the world the story of a nation under siege. Through their words and images, they shaped global understanding of China&rsquo;s resilience, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to survival. In their eyes, the war becomes not just China&rsquo;s fight for existence, but a universal struggle for truth and justice.

The series arrives just in time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japanese invasion and the World Anti-Fascist War.

A joint production by the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality and Shanghai Media Group&rsquo;s DocuChina, &ldquo;Dispatches from the East&rdquo; is a tribute to the heroism, courage and solidarity of the Chinese people. It offers the world a glimpse into the extraordinary sacrifices made during a defining moment in history.

The documentary is hosted and narrated by Dr Andrew Field, an American historian and professor at Duke Kunshan University. Field is widely respected for his extensive research on modern Chinese history.

Four years ago, Field took viewers on a journey through the liberation of Shanghai, breathing life into the city&rsquo;s historic landmarks and unveiling their rich, wartime significance.

Now, he returns in a similar narrative style, leading audiences on a journey across Shanghai to retrace the legendary stories of the foreign correspondents, who bore witness to China&rsquo;s battle for survival.

The series is based on an array of valuable English-language historical materials, including prominent publications like The New York Times, The Manchester Guardian, The New York Sun and Time, alongside firsthand accounts from newspapers and periodicals like Millard&rsquo;s Review and the Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury, which circulated in Shanghai and across the globe during that time. These sources provide an exclusive, vivid account of the war, as documented by the foreign journalists reporting from the frontlines.

Each episode of the series, lasting 6 to 7 minutes, combines live-action footage with traditional computer graphics (CG) and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to recreate key war scenes as they were depicted by the journalists. It brings the audience an immersive historical experience that transcends time and space.

Chief director Wang Xiangtao noted that one of the main challenges was condensing vast historical events into such a concise format.

&ldquo;Presenting a narrative spanning over 10 years in such a short time is no small feat,&rdquo; said Wang. &ldquo;We have tried to strike a balance between brevity and impact, while ensuring that the correct historical perspective is emphasized to international audiences.&rdquo;

The full series will air at 10pm on Dragon TV on September 2, ahead of China&rsquo;s grand military parade at Beijing&rsquo;s Tian&rsquo;anmen Square. The highly anticipated parade, on September 3, will feature impressive marching formations, armored columns and aerial displays, showcasing China&rsquo;s latest advancements in combat forces, strategic systems and military intelligence.

Episode  From Six Weeks to Thirteen Years

Edgar Snow arrives in Shanghai in 1928 intending only a short stay, but war and upheaval change his course. From witnessing the 1932 battle against Japanese marines to slipping through Kuomintang blockades, Snow reaches Yan&rsquo;an to meet Chairman Mao Zedong. His &ldquo;Red Star Over China&rdquo; reveals the Communist resistance to the world, making him the first Westerner to capture its significance.

Episode  Hymn for the Unsung

Journalist Agnes Smedley finds a kindred spirit in renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun before plunging into the frontlines of war. Living among the Chinese resistance force, she records not just battles but the sacrifices of ordinary people. Her dispatches became a lasting tribute to the unsung heroes of China&rsquo;s struggle.

Episode  The Unyielding Stand

Editor John B Powell, long rooted in Shanghai, takes an uncompromising stand against Japanese aggression. From exposing atrocities after the 1931 invasion of China to witnessing the devastation of the 1937 Battle of Shanghai, Powell refuses to remain silent &ndash; even when it leads to imprisonment under the Japanese military police.

Episode  Embedded in Reality

Jack Belden, a seaman-turned-journalist, immerses himself in Chinese life and language. On the war&rsquo;s frontlines, his vivid dispatches capture both resilience and determination. His daring journey to the New Fourth Army shows how guerrilla resistance reshaped the war, and his later &ldquo;China Shakes the World&rdquo; stands as a raw testament to revolution born in the crucible of resistance.

Episode  More than Just Pictures

Harrison Forman&rsquo;s photographs and reports bring the world face to face with China&rsquo;s wartime ordeal. From bombed Shanghai streets to rare images of Yan&rsquo;an, his lens documents both destruction and resilience. His &ldquo;Report from Red China&rdquo; gives Western readers one of their first authentic glimpses of the Communist resistance and its disciplined forces, leaving behind a visual legacy of a nation at war.

&nbsp;

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//opinion/Crews-undesirable-moral-bondage/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Crew’s ‘undesirable moral bondage’</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wang Yong]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[PICTURE a group of stewardesses in high heels and short skirts pitter-pattering in small steps beside you as you saunter or stride toward your boarding gate at an airport.

You may appreciate the glamor and elegance of these flight attendants dressed in professional uniforms, but has it ever occurred to you that, given long hours at work, they may feel quite uncomfortable wearing such uniforms, especially those shoes with steeply raised heels?

&ldquo;Why do we have to wear short skirts, silk socks and high heels in such a complicated high-altitude work environment? Why can&rsquo;t we simply wear trousers?&rdquo; asked Xi Ha, a talk show actress, in a widely circulated program broadcast in early July. Xi Ha is the stage name of the actress who used to be a stewardess.

&ldquo;I once asked my instructor why we couldn&rsquo;t wear trousers, and she replied that some passengers might feel uncomfortable if we wore trousers,&rdquo; she recalled.

The instructor&rsquo;s bittersweet answer brings home to us a longtime dilemma in the world&rsquo;s air travel industry: The need to exhibit the feminine beauty of flight attendants with short skirts, silk socks and high heels often compromises their work efficiency and personal comfort.

&ldquo;In a fire emergency, the last step of evacuation is that all flight attendants take off their silk socks, because these socks can burn easily in such a situation,&rdquo; Xi Ha said in her July talk show. &ldquo;But, why do we wear silk socks in the first place, now that we know they are dangerous?&rdquo;

Xi Ha told a real story: A chief flight attendant &mdash; a friend of hers &mdash; once successfully evacuated all the passengers within 90 seconds, but could not prevent herself from suffering injuries. Why? Because she had to take off her silk socks before escaping on a plane slide. Her legs were badly bruised. &ldquo;Had she worn a pair of trousers, she would not have been so badly hurt,&rdquo; Xi Ha claimed.

Her talk show quickly became an Internet sensation, raising public awareness about the dilemma facing many flight attendants.

&ldquo;I would not give in to undesirable moral constraints,&rdquo; Xi Ha said after the talk show. &ldquo;I will try all I can to find the best solution for now.&rdquo;

Toward the end of July, Shandong Airlines announced new uniforms for its flight attendants, allowing them to choose between skirts and trousers. In addition, flats would replace high heels.

I would not venture to say Shandong Airlines&rsquo; decision resulted from Xi Ha&rsquo;s highly publicized comment of what she called &ldquo;undesirable moral bondage&rdquo; in the form of rigid uniform requirement. In fact, some other domestic airlines had already replaced high heels with flat shoes earlier.

And China&rsquo;s latest regulation on cabin operation and management, released at the end of last year, has made it clear that flight attendants should not wear high heels during the period from aircraft taxiing (before takeoff) and landing (before all passengers get off).

CCTV, China&rsquo;s Central Television, published a piece of commentary on July 13, saying Xi Ha&rsquo;s talk show is not just a personal expression, but more importantly, a proof of gradual changes in social psychology and vocational principles.

The commentary concluded that letting flight attendants take off their high heels will serve to explore and pioneer a new route for all those working in the service industry who are constrained by old (and undesirable) rules one way or another.

Indeed, skirts and high heels can date back to the early days of the global civil aviation industry, especially to the 1930s when the world&rsquo;s first flight attendants appeared. And over time, skirts, high heels and, for that matter silk socks, seemed to have been accepted as &ldquo;unmistakable tokens&rdquo; of flight attendants across the world for many decades.

Now many airlines across the world no longer require their flight attendants to wear high heels or skirts, and China is also making substantial progress in this regard.

My hope: Although Chinese airlines did not do away with the old uniform requirement much earlier, enlightened public debates like Xi Ha&rsquo;s talk show will help China take the lead in designing safety- and comfort-oriented professional uniforms for attendants in the future that may set an example of how to make the world a better place for everyone.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		PICTURE a group of stewardesses in high heels and short skirts pitter-pattering in small steps beside you as you saunter or stride toward your boarding gate at an airport.

You may appreciate the glamor and elegance of these flight attendants dressed in professional uniforms, but has it ever occurred to you that, given long hours at work, they may feel quite uncomfortable wearing such uniforms, especially those shoes with steeply raised heels?

&ldquo;Why do we have to wear short skirts, silk socks and high heels in such a complicated high-altitude work environment? Why can&rsquo;t we simply wear trousers?&rdquo; asked Xi Ha, a talk show actress, in a widely circulated program broadcast in early July. Xi Ha is the stage name of the actress who used to be a stewardess.

&ldquo;I once asked my instructor why we couldn&rsquo;t wear trousers, and she replied that some passengers might feel uncomfortable if we wore trousers,&rdquo; she recalled.

The instructor&rsquo;s bittersweet answer brings home to us a longtime dilemma in the world&rsquo;s air travel industry: The need to exhibit the feminine beauty of flight attendants with short skirts, silk socks and high heels often compromises their work efficiency and personal comfort.

&ldquo;In a fire emergency, the last step of evacuation is that all flight attendants take off their silk socks, because these socks can burn easily in such a situation,&rdquo; Xi Ha said in her July talk show. &ldquo;But, why do we wear silk socks in the first place, now that we know they are dangerous?&rdquo;

Xi Ha told a real story: A chief flight attendant &mdash; a friend of hers &mdash; once successfully evacuated all the passengers within 90 seconds, but could not prevent herself from suffering injuries. Why? Because she had to take off her silk socks before escaping on a plane slide. Her legs were badly bruised. &ldquo;Had she worn a pair of trousers, she would not have been so badly hurt,&rdquo; Xi Ha claimed.

Her talk show quickly became an Internet sensation, raising public awareness about the dilemma facing many flight attendants.

&ldquo;I would not give in to undesirable moral constraints,&rdquo; Xi Ha said after the talk show. &ldquo;I will try all I can to find the best solution for now.&rdquo;

Toward the end of July, Shandong Airlines announced new uniforms for its flight attendants, allowing them to choose between skirts and trousers. In addition, flats would replace high heels.

I would not venture to say Shandong Airlines&rsquo; decision resulted from Xi Ha&rsquo;s highly publicized comment of what she called &ldquo;undesirable moral bondage&rdquo; in the form of rigid uniform requirement. In fact, some other domestic airlines had already replaced high heels with flat shoes earlier.

And China&rsquo;s latest regulation on cabin operation and management, released at the end of last year, has made it clear that flight attendants should not wear high heels during the period from aircraft taxiing (before takeoff) and landing (before all passengers get off).

CCTV, China&rsquo;s Central Television, published a piece of commentary on July 13, saying Xi Ha&rsquo;s talk show is not just a personal expression, but more importantly, a proof of gradual changes in social psychology and vocational principles.

The commentary concluded that letting flight attendants take off their high heels will serve to explore and pioneer a new route for all those working in the service industry who are constrained by old (and undesirable) rules one way or another.

Indeed, skirts and high heels can date back to the early days of the global civil aviation industry, especially to the 1930s when the world&rsquo;s first flight attendants appeared. And over time, skirts, high heels and, for that matter silk socks, seemed to have been accepted as &ldquo;unmistakable tokens&rdquo; of flight attendants across the world for many decades.

Now many airlines across the world no longer require their flight attendants to wear high heels or skirts, and China is also making substantial progress in this regard.

My hope: Although Chinese airlines did not do away with the old uniform requirement much earlier, enlightened public debates like Xi Ha&rsquo;s talk show will help China take the lead in designing safety- and comfort-oriented professional uniforms for attendants in the future that may set an example of how to make the world a better place for everyone.

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//opinion/shanghai-daily-columnists/Mates-with-exinmates-Supermarket-chains-altruism/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Mates with ex-inmates! Supermarket chain’s altruism</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion Columns]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Wang Yong]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[I&rsquo;VE been following the words and deeds of the founder of a local supermarket chain in central China&rsquo;s Henan Province for quite some time. And his minute care for customers and employees alike has convinced me that an enterprise can thrive by enriching all parties involved instead of the boss alone.

For example, at Pangdonglai, a retail giant named after its founder Yu Donglai, about 95 percent of its profits go to staff payrolls. On June 11, Yu announced that the supermarket chain&rsquo;s net profits of 2025 were estimated at 1.5 billion yuan (US$205 million), the bulk of which would go to the payrolls of its more than 8,000 employees. Such a high payroll-to-profit ratio is rare indeed among many businesses the world over.

Customers get a good deal as well. For example, about half of the medicines sold at Pangdonglai are priced below 10 yuan, while the overall profit margin for drugs priced above 30 yuan hardly exceeds 10 percent, below that of other drug stores.

In short, I&rsquo;ve been watching Pangdonglai, an Internet sensation known for its egalitarian thoughts and actions, with a sincere hope that more businesses will follow suit by sharing benefits with customers and employees alike.

And yet, this is not the whole story about Pangdonglai.

On August 8, Pangdonglai announced it would recruit retired soldiers as well as released inmates for a new shop to be opened in Henan&rsquo;s Xinxiang City. To be specific, the new shop would need 1,000 employees, and Pangdonglai has reserved positions for 200 retired soldiers from the high-plateau frontier regions of Xinjiang and Xizang. Also, there would be jobs for 20 former inmates.

Such a recruitment notice immediately became a hot topic. As expected, there was unanimous support among netizens for Pangdonglai&rsquo;s decision to recruit retired soldiers. As for the decision to employ former inmates, public attitudes varied, though most netizens applauded it, calling Pangdonglai a benevolent enterprise doing good while doing well. Only a few netizens doubted former inmates&rsquo; ability to do well or do good.

On August 10, founder Yu explained why the supermarket chain would recruit released inmates. He said: &ldquo;He/she (a former inmate) took a wrong path, but he/she has served his/her prison term and become a normal person now... Let&rsquo;s understand each other, not discriminate against one another. Discrimination only causes greater harm.&rdquo;

Recruiting 20 former inmates may not be a big deal, but it sends a clear signal to society that love cures while discrimination hurts.

What moves me most is not the recruitment decision itself; it&rsquo;s the thinking behind it. Everyone could have taken a wrong path, but this should not lead us to believe that a once fallen soul cannot correct itself. Pangdonglai chooses to believe in everyone&rsquo;s propensity to do good and in the power of all to love each other.

Certainly, Pangdonglai is not the first or only firm to have recruited released inmates. But given Pangdonglai&rsquo;s unique influence as an enterprise thriving on doing good, its decision to recruit 20 released inmates may have a greater and more positive impact on people&rsquo;s attitude toward those whose life once unfortunately took a wrong turn.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		I&rsquo;VE been following the words and deeds of the founder of a local supermarket chain in central China&rsquo;s Henan Province for quite some time. And his minute care for customers and employees alike has convinced me that an enterprise can thrive by enriching all parties involved instead of the boss alone.

For example, at Pangdonglai, a retail giant named after its founder Yu Donglai, about 95 percent of its profits go to staff payrolls. On June 11, Yu announced that the supermarket chain&rsquo;s net profits of 2025 were estimated at 1.5 billion yuan (US$205 million), the bulk of which would go to the payrolls of its more than 8,000 employees. Such a high payroll-to-profit ratio is rare indeed among many businesses the world over.

Customers get a good deal as well. For example, about half of the medicines sold at Pangdonglai are priced below 10 yuan, while the overall profit margin for drugs priced above 30 yuan hardly exceeds 10 percent, below that of other drug stores.

In short, I&rsquo;ve been watching Pangdonglai, an Internet sensation known for its egalitarian thoughts and actions, with a sincere hope that more businesses will follow suit by sharing benefits with customers and employees alike.

And yet, this is not the whole story about Pangdonglai.

On August 8, Pangdonglai announced it would recruit retired soldiers as well as released inmates for a new shop to be opened in Henan&rsquo;s Xinxiang City. To be specific, the new shop would need 1,000 employees, and Pangdonglai has reserved positions for 200 retired soldiers from the high-plateau frontier regions of Xinjiang and Xizang. Also, there would be jobs for 20 former inmates.

Such a recruitment notice immediately became a hot topic. As expected, there was unanimous support among netizens for Pangdonglai&rsquo;s decision to recruit retired soldiers. As for the decision to employ former inmates, public attitudes varied, though most netizens applauded it, calling Pangdonglai a benevolent enterprise doing good while doing well. Only a few netizens doubted former inmates&rsquo; ability to do well or do good.

On August 10, founder Yu explained why the supermarket chain would recruit released inmates. He said: &ldquo;He/she (a former inmate) took a wrong path, but he/she has served his/her prison term and become a normal person now... Let&rsquo;s understand each other, not discriminate against one another. Discrimination only causes greater harm.&rdquo;

Recruiting 20 former inmates may not be a big deal, but it sends a clear signal to society that love cures while discrimination hurts.

What moves me most is not the recruitment decision itself; it&rsquo;s the thinking behind it. Everyone could have taken a wrong path, but this should not lead us to believe that a once fallen soul cannot correct itself. Pangdonglai chooses to believe in everyone&rsquo;s propensity to do good and in the power of all to love each other.

Certainly, Pangdonglai is not the first or only firm to have recruited released inmates. But given Pangdonglai&rsquo;s unique influence as an enterprise thriving on doing good, its decision to recruit 20 released inmates may have a greater and more positive impact on people&rsquo;s attitude toward those whose life once unfortunately took a wrong turn.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//feature/The-Bund-in-Love-touch-to-Chinese-Valentines-Day/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>The ‘Bund in Love’ touch to Chinese Valentine’s Day</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ke Jiayun ]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[LOVE is in the air &mdash; and it&rsquo;s sparkling a little extra along the Bund this Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine&rsquo;s Day, which falls tomorrow this year.

BFC Bund Finance Center is rolling out a &ldquo;Bund in Love&rdquo; celebration, a romantic lineup designed to tug at heartstrings and deliver maximum sweetness to couples across the city.

The dreamy riverside terrace becomes a whimsical playground where Tom and Jerry make a stylish appearance. Dressed in romantic flair, the mischievous cartoon duo transforms the 5th-floor rooftop into a must-snap scene with heart-shaped balloons and stunning skyline views.

Couples can indulge in a themed afternoon tea, share moments over river sunsets, and unlock rewards like limited heart balloons and surprise gifts simply by posting their terrace moments on social media platform Xiaohongshu (Little RedNote).

Art lovers can stroll through Colorful Heart Bridge, a Qixi-themed installation open through late September. This vivid, fantasy-filled bridge fuses color and meaning to express every shade of modern love, drawing inspiration from the legendary magpie bridge in the stars.

Coffee enthusiasts will find their happy place at the Huchi Coffee Festival, returning for two weekends with champion latte artists, trending brews, and a Pet Matchmaking Corner that brings some extra tail-wagging cuteness to the holiday.

Fine dining also gets a romantic upgrade &mdash; BFC&rsquo;s Michelin and Black Pearl restaurants set the mood with candlelit tables and sweeping views of the Bund.

Meanwhile, in-mall shopping perks include double points, limited-time discounts, surprise gifts and movie ticket giveaways for couples who shop and celebrate together.

Date: Through September 29 (events vary by date)

Tom &amp; Jerry Rooftop Installations &amp; Afternoon Tea: Through September 29

&ldquo;Colorful Heart Bridge&rdquo; Art Exhibition: Through September 29

Huchi Coffee Festival: August 30-31

Venue: BFC Bund Finance Center BFC

Address: 600 Zhongshan Rd E2
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		LOVE is in the air &mdash; and it&rsquo;s sparkling a little extra along the Bund this Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine&rsquo;s Day, which falls tomorrow this year.

BFC Bund Finance Center is rolling out a &ldquo;Bund in Love&rdquo; celebration, a romantic lineup designed to tug at heartstrings and deliver maximum sweetness to couples across the city.

The dreamy riverside terrace becomes a whimsical playground where Tom and Jerry make a stylish appearance. Dressed in romantic flair, the mischievous cartoon duo transforms the 5th-floor rooftop into a must-snap scene with heart-shaped balloons and stunning skyline views.

Couples can indulge in a themed afternoon tea, share moments over river sunsets, and unlock rewards like limited heart balloons and surprise gifts simply by posting their terrace moments on social media platform Xiaohongshu (Little RedNote).

Art lovers can stroll through Colorful Heart Bridge, a Qixi-themed installation open through late September. This vivid, fantasy-filled bridge fuses color and meaning to express every shade of modern love, drawing inspiration from the legendary magpie bridge in the stars.

Coffee enthusiasts will find their happy place at the Huchi Coffee Festival, returning for two weekends with champion latte artists, trending brews, and a Pet Matchmaking Corner that brings some extra tail-wagging cuteness to the holiday.

Fine dining also gets a romantic upgrade &mdash; BFC&rsquo;s Michelin and Black Pearl restaurants set the mood with candlelit tables and sweeping views of the Bund.

Meanwhile, in-mall shopping perks include double points, limited-time discounts, surprise gifts and movie ticket giveaways for couples who shop and celebrate together.

Date: Through September 29 (events vary by date)

Tom &amp; Jerry Rooftop Installations &amp; Afternoon Tea: Through September 29

&ldquo;Colorful Heart Bridge&rdquo; Art Exhibition: Through September 29

Huchi Coffee Festival: August 30-31

Venue: BFC Bund Finance Center BFC

Address: 600 Zhongshan Rd E2

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	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//feature/60-years-of-an-Argentine-comic-icon/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>60 years of an Argentine comic icon</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Zhu Yile ]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[ARGENTINA isn&rsquo;t just about football and tango &mdash; it&rsquo;s also about Mafalda!

This year, the iconic Argentine comic Mafalda turns 60. To mark this milestone, a commemorative exhibition &ldquo;Welcome to the World of Mafalda&rdquo; has been launched.

The exhibition will run through October 31.

Born in Argentina in 1964, Mafalda was created by comic master Quino. This little girl, with a bow in her hair, quickly captured the hearts of the Spanish-speaking world and went on to become a global cultural phenomenon.

Today, her image has been immortalized in city sculptures, fashion T-shirts and films, yet every time you open a comic, her timeless charm continues to shine.

The exhibition showcases Mafalda&rsquo;s classic comic originals, life-sized statues, her friends&rsquo; characters and recreated bedroom and restaurant scenes, offering visitors a panoramic view of her world and highlighting her 60-year remarkable journey in Latin American and global comic history.

Mafalda&rsquo;s creator is Argentine cartoonist Joaqu&iacute;n Salvador Lavado (1932-2020), also known as Quino.

Born in Mendoza, Argentina, to Andalusian immigrants, Lavado dreamed of becoming an artist from the age of three. He studied fine arts in his home province but left before completing his degree to move to the capital, Buenos Aires.

His first comic book was published in 1954, but it wasn&rsquo;t until 10 years later that Mafalda &mdash; his most famous work &mdash; appeared. On September 29, 1964, the witty, satirical little girl debuted in the weekly magazine Primer Planta.

The Mafalda series ran from 1964 to 1973. During this decade, Quino continually drew inspiration from major global events, such as the Vietnam War, the Cuban Revolution, the 1968 Paris protests, the Cold War and shifts in the world order. Through Mafalda and her friends, he addressed issues that many adults dared not speak about.

From a child&rsquo;s perspective, Mafalda portrayed life in 1960s Argentina and Latin America with honesty and insight. She worried about world peace, women&rsquo;s rights, and the rights of the poor. Her questions, reflections and ideas spread widely, inspiring a generation of young middle-class South Americans &mdash; and continue to resonate today.

The Mafalda series first captivated Latin America and then the world, translated into over 30 languages, including Hebrew, Guaran&iacute;, Armenian and even Braille.

Date: Through October 31, 11am-6:30pm

Venue: Miguel de Cervantes Library

Address: 208 Anfu Rd

Admission: Free
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		ARGENTINA isn&rsquo;t just about football and tango &mdash; it&rsquo;s also about Mafalda!

This year, the iconic Argentine comic Mafalda turns 60. To mark this milestone, a commemorative exhibition &ldquo;Welcome to the World of Mafalda&rdquo; has been launched.

The exhibition will run through October 31.

Born in Argentina in 1964, Mafalda was created by comic master Quino. This little girl, with a bow in her hair, quickly captured the hearts of the Spanish-speaking world and went on to become a global cultural phenomenon.

Today, her image has been immortalized in city sculptures, fashion T-shirts and films, yet every time you open a comic, her timeless charm continues to shine.

The exhibition showcases Mafalda&rsquo;s classic comic originals, life-sized statues, her friends&rsquo; characters and recreated bedroom and restaurant scenes, offering visitors a panoramic view of her world and highlighting her 60-year remarkable journey in Latin American and global comic history.

Mafalda&rsquo;s creator is Argentine cartoonist Joaqu&iacute;n Salvador Lavado (1932-2020), also known as Quino.

Born in Mendoza, Argentina, to Andalusian immigrants, Lavado dreamed of becoming an artist from the age of three. He studied fine arts in his home province but left before completing his degree to move to the capital, Buenos Aires.

His first comic book was published in 1954, but it wasn&rsquo;t until 10 years later that Mafalda &mdash; his most famous work &mdash; appeared. On September 29, 1964, the witty, satirical little girl debuted in the weekly magazine Primer Planta.

The Mafalda series ran from 1964 to 1973. During this decade, Quino continually drew inspiration from major global events, such as the Vietnam War, the Cuban Revolution, the 1968 Paris protests, the Cold War and shifts in the world order. Through Mafalda and her friends, he addressed issues that many adults dared not speak about.

From a child&rsquo;s perspective, Mafalda portrayed life in 1960s Argentina and Latin America with honesty and insight. She worried about world peace, women&rsquo;s rights, and the rights of the poor. Her questions, reflections and ideas spread widely, inspiring a generation of young middle-class South Americans &mdash; and continue to resonate today.

The Mafalda series first captivated Latin America and then the world, translated into over 30 languages, including Hebrew, Guaran&iacute;, Armenian and even Braille.

Date: Through October 31, 11am-6:30pm

Venue: Miguel de Cervantes Library

Address: 208 Anfu Rd

Admission: Free

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//feature/Fresh-local-finds-from-Dutch-homeware-to-flavored-eats/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Fresh local finds from Dutch homeware to flavored eats</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Zhu Yile]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[FIRST in Shanghai is our column documenting the rise of Shanghai&rsquo;s &ldquo;debut economy,&rdquo; a model built on being first, fast, and everywhere at once. What started as a policy initiative has morphed into a citywide phenomenon: part economic strategy, part cultural spectacle. In this series, we explore how brands &mdash; both local and global &mdash; are choosing Shanghai not just to launch products, but to create moments. We&rsquo;re here to unpack what it all means.

Shanghai&rsquo;s latest arrivals are mak&shy;ing waves with colorful porcelain, vibrant designs and sizzling street food. Pip Studio has added Dutch whimsy to Jing&rsquo;an, while Pane offers a classic, fresh retro-sporty flagship. Bigoffs has two gigantic discount warehouses; Rama9 serves wagyu-infused Thai boat noodles; and NEED serves South Korean comfort with a dramatic cheese pull. Home d&eacute;cor, footwear and crave-worthy meals are all available in the city.

Pip Studio

Pip Studio opened its first Chinese store in Jing&rsquo;an District recently. It is known for its bright colors, from porcelain to hand-drawn, realistic wallpapers, loungewear and matching luggage. Pip&rsquo;s creativity comes from discovering the right color story for each home.

Founded in Amsterdam, the Nether&shy;lands, in 2007 by designer Anke van der Endt, Pip Studio is recognized for its vibrant hues. Every home deserves a palette, and Pip&rsquo;s creativity comes from identifying these distinct color stories.

Van der Endt is a designer who enjoys experimenting with vibrant colors. Her vibrant color sense makes Pip Studio one of the most popular homeware business&shy;es in the Netherlands and overseas.

Pip Studio has a strong presence in Europe&rsquo;s top retailers, including De Bijen&shy;korf (a leading luxury department store in the Netherlands), John Lewis in the United Kingdom and BHV Marais in Paris. In less than 15 years, the brand has ex&shy;panded to over 2,000 retail points across more than 40 countries and regions.

The Shanghai store will launch new collections twice a year for spring/sum&shy;mer and autumn/winter, bringing the latest trending colors and styles in home d&eacute;cor &mdash; so every visit feels fresh and inspiring.

Address: 7/F, Jiuguang Department Store, 1618 Nanjing Rd W. 南京西路1618号久光百货7楼

The exterior of Pane. &mdash; Ti Gong

Pane

Homegrown footwear label Pane has opened its very first flagship store in Shanghai, right next to brands like On&shy;itsuka Tiger and Undefeated.

Covering 135 square meters, the store&rsquo;s design takes cues from Greek Revival architecture, blended with modern aes&shy;thetics. The space features a neutral base accented with deep green, crimson red and natural wood textures.

Pane&rsquo;s Pace Nostalgia, Light Training No-Gi, Rugby and other collections are on display at the entrance. Designer pieces are scattered throughout.

Two areas are separated by a black wooden door. The private space displays the lifestyle line, apparel and accesso&shy;ries, keeping the retro-sporty theme. Sports-inspired posters, mugs and trophy ornaments are scattered throughout the store.

Pane, which was founded in 2022, has reinvented daily footwear with a special&shy;ized style, unique design and exceptional value-for-money, attracting celebrities and influencers.

Typically, its products cost 800-1,000 yuan (US$111-139), with higher prices for collaborative collections.

Address: 22 Yongyuan Rd 永源路22号

Rama9, the Thai wagyu boat noodle brand from Bangkok, opened its first Shanghai outlet this month. The brand blends Thai boat noodles with premium wagyu beef for a richer, elevated take on the classic.

The chef prefers M3-M9 Australian grain-fed wagyu, searing it over high heat until it&rsquo;s as tender and silky as butter. The traditional tangy-spicy boat noodle broth is upgraded with slow-cooked beef bone soup and M7+ wagyu, served with thick rice noodles or handmade noodles for a layered, flavor-packed experience.

Address: 5/F, North Tower, Grand Gateway 66, 1 Hongqiao Rd 虹桥路1号港汇恒隆广场北座5楼

Bigoffs

The popular Bigoffs Super Discount store has finally arrived in Shanghai, opening not one, but two first stores at Longfor Hongqiao Paradise Walk and Jinhe Shangcheng in Xuhui.

Bigoffs is a warehouse-style, members-only discount store with branches in Beijing, Tianjin, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other cities. As the name suggests, it&rsquo;s all about deep discounts in a massive warehouse shopping environment.

The Longfor Hongqiao Paradise Walk store spans 6,000 square me&shy;ters, while the Jinhe Shangcheng store covers 4,000. The brand-organized stores offer one-stop self-service to save time, money and frustration.

There are over 100 top local and international fashion companies, in&shy;cluding adidas, Puma, Under Armour, Skechers, The North Face and Camel. With over 80,000 items, you&rsquo;ll find cheap luxury, trending streetwear, menswear, womenswear, athletics, casuals and outdoor gear.

The opening special rates are hard to beat: 39.9 yuan for a Lee canvas tote bag and 79.9 for a classic The North Face T-shirt.

Longfor Hongqiao Paradise Walk store

Address: B1, Hall A, 869 Shenchang Rd (opposite Gate 5) 申长路869号龙湖虹桥天街A馆B1（5号门对面）

Jinhe Shangcheng store

Address: B1, 140 Tianlin Rd 田林路140号锦和尚城B1层

NEED Korean Cuisine

NEED, the &ldquo;king of queues,&rdquo; has opened its first Shanghai store at West Bund Dream Center.

Their warm wood tones, greenery and clean visuals contrast with tra&shy;ditional South Korean restaurants&rsquo; neon lights and retro posters.

A warm atmosphere and a layout that mixes social buzz with solitude provide for a relaxing dining experi&shy;ence. NEED blends Western and South Korean flavors under the tagline &ldquo;Handcrafted, Warmth, Creativity.&rdquo;

The headliner is mozzarella cheesespicy stir-fried chicken, South Korean street food with Italian cheese. Rice balls, pineapple and rice cakes ac&shy;company tender chicken made with melting cheese and spicy sauce. Melt&shy;ed cheese creates a half-meter-long &ldquo;cheese waterfall&rdquo; at the table!

Honey fig bingsu is another must-try. Light, sweet and refreshing, fresh figs are cut daily and served with freshly shaved milk ice and honey.

Address: 2/F, Bldg 2, Gate M West Bund Dream Center, 2266 Longteng Ave 龙腾大道2266号西岸梦中心2栋2层
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		FIRST in Shanghai is our column documenting the rise of Shanghai&rsquo;s &ldquo;debut economy,&rdquo; a model built on being first, fast, and everywhere at once. What started as a policy initiative has morphed into a citywide phenomenon: part economic strategy, part cultural spectacle. In this series, we explore how brands &mdash; both local and global &mdash; are choosing Shanghai not just to launch products, but to create moments. We&rsquo;re here to unpack what it all means.

Shanghai&rsquo;s latest arrivals are mak&shy;ing waves with colorful porcelain, vibrant designs and sizzling street food. Pip Studio has added Dutch whimsy to Jing&rsquo;an, while Pane offers a classic, fresh retro-sporty flagship. Bigoffs has two gigantic discount warehouses; Rama9 serves wagyu-infused Thai boat noodles; and NEED serves South Korean comfort with a dramatic cheese pull. Home d&eacute;cor, footwear and crave-worthy meals are all available in the city.

Pip Studio

Pip Studio opened its first Chinese store in Jing&rsquo;an District recently. It is known for its bright colors, from porcelain to hand-drawn, realistic wallpapers, loungewear and matching luggage. Pip&rsquo;s creativity comes from discovering the right color story for each home.

Founded in Amsterdam, the Nether&shy;lands, in 2007 by designer Anke van der Endt, Pip Studio is recognized for its vibrant hues. Every home deserves a palette, and Pip&rsquo;s creativity comes from identifying these distinct color stories.

Van der Endt is a designer who enjoys experimenting with vibrant colors. Her vibrant color sense makes Pip Studio one of the most popular homeware business&shy;es in the Netherlands and overseas.

Pip Studio has a strong presence in Europe&rsquo;s top retailers, including De Bijen&shy;korf (a leading luxury department store in the Netherlands), John Lewis in the United Kingdom and BHV Marais in Paris. In less than 15 years, the brand has ex&shy;panded to over 2,000 retail points across more than 40 countries and regions.

The Shanghai store will launch new collections twice a year for spring/sum&shy;mer and autumn/winter, bringing the latest trending colors and styles in home d&eacute;cor &mdash; so every visit feels fresh and inspiring.

Address: 7/F, Jiuguang Department Store, 1618 Nanjing Rd W. 南京西路1618号久光百货7楼

The exterior of Pane. &mdash; Ti Gong

Pane

Homegrown footwear label Pane has opened its very first flagship store in Shanghai, right next to brands like On&shy;itsuka Tiger and Undefeated.

Covering 135 square meters, the store&rsquo;s design takes cues from Greek Revival architecture, blended with modern aes&shy;thetics. The space features a neutral base accented with deep green, crimson red and natural wood textures.

Pane&rsquo;s Pace Nostalgia, Light Training No-Gi, Rugby and other collections are on display at the entrance. Designer pieces are scattered throughout.

Two areas are separated by a black wooden door. The private space displays the lifestyle line, apparel and accesso&shy;ries, keeping the retro-sporty theme. Sports-inspired posters, mugs and trophy ornaments are scattered throughout the store.

Pane, which was founded in 2022, has reinvented daily footwear with a special&shy;ized style, unique design and exceptional value-for-money, attracting celebrities and influencers.

Typically, its products cost 800-1,000 yuan (US$111-139), with higher prices for collaborative collections.

Address: 22 Yongyuan Rd 永源路22号

Rama9, the Thai wagyu boat noodle brand from Bangkok, opened its first Shanghai outlet this month. The brand blends Thai boat noodles with premium wagyu beef for a richer, elevated take on the classic.

The chef prefers M3-M9 Australian grain-fed wagyu, searing it over high heat until it&rsquo;s as tender and silky as butter. The traditional tangy-spicy boat noodle broth is upgraded with slow-cooked beef bone soup and M7+ wagyu, served with thick rice noodles or handmade noodles for a layered, flavor-packed experience.

Address: 5/F, North Tower, Grand Gateway 66, 1 Hongqiao Rd 虹桥路1号港汇恒隆广场北座5楼

Bigoffs

The popular Bigoffs Super Discount store has finally arrived in Shanghai, opening not one, but two first stores at Longfor Hongqiao Paradise Walk and Jinhe Shangcheng in Xuhui.

Bigoffs is a warehouse-style, members-only discount store with branches in Beijing, Tianjin, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other cities. As the name suggests, it&rsquo;s all about deep discounts in a massive warehouse shopping environment.

The Longfor Hongqiao Paradise Walk store spans 6,000 square me&shy;ters, while the Jinhe Shangcheng store covers 4,000. The brand-organized stores offer one-stop self-service to save time, money and frustration.

There are over 100 top local and international fashion companies, in&shy;cluding adidas, Puma, Under Armour, Skechers, The North Face and Camel. With over 80,000 items, you&rsquo;ll find cheap luxury, trending streetwear, menswear, womenswear, athletics, casuals and outdoor gear.

The opening special rates are hard to beat: 39.9 yuan for a Lee canvas tote bag and 79.9 for a classic The North Face T-shirt.

Longfor Hongqiao Paradise Walk store

Address: B1, Hall A, 869 Shenchang Rd (opposite Gate 5) 申长路869号龙湖虹桥天街A馆B1（5号门对面）

Jinhe Shangcheng store

Address: B1, 140 Tianlin Rd 田林路140号锦和尚城B1层

NEED Korean Cuisine

NEED, the &ldquo;king of queues,&rdquo; has opened its first Shanghai store at West Bund Dream Center.

Their warm wood tones, greenery and clean visuals contrast with tra&shy;ditional South Korean restaurants&rsquo; neon lights and retro posters.

A warm atmosphere and a layout that mixes social buzz with solitude provide for a relaxing dining experi&shy;ence. NEED blends Western and South Korean flavors under the tagline &ldquo;Handcrafted, Warmth, Creativity.&rdquo;

The headliner is mozzarella cheesespicy stir-fried chicken, South Korean street food with Italian cheese. Rice balls, pineapple and rice cakes ac&shy;company tender chicken made with melting cheese and spicy sauce. Melt&shy;ed cheese creates a half-meter-long &ldquo;cheese waterfall&rdquo; at the table!

Honey fig bingsu is another must-try. Light, sweet and refreshing, fresh figs are cut daily and served with freshly shaved milk ice and honey.

Address: 2/F, Bldg 2, Gate M West Bund Dream Center, 2266 Longteng Ave 龙腾大道2266号西岸梦中心2栋2层

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/In-Shanghai-green-is-more-than-just-a-color-the-transition-is-under-way/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>In Shanghai, green is more than just a color, the transition is under way</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Zhu Qing]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[STEP into the Shanghai Greenhouse, and you step onto another planet.

Under the vast glass dome, towering rainforest trees stand beside giant desert cacti, while orchids bloom and cycads &mdash; the so-called &ldquo;living fossils&rdquo; &mdash; quietly endure.

It&rsquo;s a miniature planet where more than 3,000 species thrive, sustained not by energy-hungry machinery but by smart design: water basins with solar panels that cool the greenhouse and generate power, single-glazed walls that reduce heat loss, and irrigation systems that deliver water exactly where needed.

The result: This &ldquo;mini-Earth&rdquo; produces about 60 percent of its own power.

The greenhouse is not just a spectacle. It&rsquo;s a glimpse of Shanghai&rsquo;s bigger ambition to become a &ldquo;park city.&rdquo;

The concept is not about scattering more greenery, but about weaving nature into everyday urban life.

&ldquo;A true park city is one where people can live, work, commute and relax within nature itself,&rdquo; wrote Li Jinlu, chief engineer at the China Urban Construction Design and Research Institute.

Shanghai&rsquo;s blueprint has a poetic shorthand: one river, one creek, one greenbelt park system.

The Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek act as blue arteries linking waterfront parks and green spaces. Around the city&rsquo;s outer edge, a broad greenbelt connects downtown parks with ecological buffer zones beyond, linking the city to the five new towns and forming a continuous green loop.

And it&rsquo;s not just an expert&rsquo;s plan.

&ldquo;In building a park city, we are working to expand citizen participation into every aspect, ensuring it is truly all-encompassing,&rdquo; said Zhang Yingping, director of the city&rsquo;s Public Green Space Construction Affairs Center.

If the park city is about space, waste sorting is about lifestyle.

In July 2019, Shanghai became the first Chinese city to mandate garbage classification. Six years later, the system has become an integral part of daily life.

In Hongkou District&rsquo;s Jiaxing Road neighborhood, residents sort their waste at smart recycling bins, 24-hour collection points, or through door-to-door pickup. Together, the community recycles nearly 700 tons of waste each month.

&ldquo;Garbage sorting is not just about environmental protection, it&rsquo;s about a lifestyle change,&rdquo; said volunteer Hua Lei.

&ldquo;More and more residents now see recycling, reuse and green travel as part of their everyday routine.&rdquo;

At the city&rsquo;s edge, the Laogang facility takes over. Once a sprawling landfill, it is now a &ldquo;resource factory.&rdquo;

In 2024, it processed over 6 million tons of waste &mdash; the weight of seven Shanghai Towers &mdash; turning it into electricity, biogas and construction materials. It now generates 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough for more than 400,000 households.

&ldquo;Our goal is to transform Laogang from a landfill into a green ecological park,&rdquo; said Wu Yuefeng, deputy general manager of Shanghai Chengtou&rsquo;s Laogang Base.

A 21-kilometer jogging trail is even on the drawing board.

The next frontier is economic: how to make ecology itself productive.

&ldquo;The challenge is that ecological products are often hard to measure, hard to trade, hard to use as collateral, and hard to cash in,&rdquo; said Zhu Jun, director of the ecology division at Fudan University&rsquo;s Urban Planning Institute.

&ldquo;Shanghai needs new pathways to turn these values into real market products.&rdquo;

Zhu highlighted three key areas: the unique ecosystems of the estuaries and coastlines, the green spaces in the city center, and the revitalization of rural areas within Shanghai&rsquo;s global context.

&ldquo;For example,&rdquo; he explained, &ldquo;the Chongming Dongtan wetland plays a crucial role in protecting biodiversity. In rural areas, eco-agriculture not only benefits the environment but also helps improve farmers&rsquo; livelihoods.&rdquo;

Finance is beginning to play its part. In 2024, the city launched a Green Finance Service Platform, with 170 projects already in its pipeline and more than 17.1 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) in financing pledged, according to Securities Times.

From the greenhouse &ldquo;mini-Earth&rdquo; to the waste relay between neighborhoods and Laogang, and to the early experiments in eco-finance, Shanghai&rsquo;s green transition is no slogan. It is unfolding across space, lifestyle and economy.

Qiu Wenjin, deputy director of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, said at the city&rsquo;s National Ecology Day event on August 15: &ldquo;Green and low-carbon transition is the trend of the times. It brings great opportunities but also real challenges. Achieving it will take the effort of the whole society.&rdquo;
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		STEP into the Shanghai Greenhouse, and you step onto another planet.

Under the vast glass dome, towering rainforest trees stand beside giant desert cacti, while orchids bloom and cycads &mdash; the so-called &ldquo;living fossils&rdquo; &mdash; quietly endure.

It&rsquo;s a miniature planet where more than 3,000 species thrive, sustained not by energy-hungry machinery but by smart design: water basins with solar panels that cool the greenhouse and generate power, single-glazed walls that reduce heat loss, and irrigation systems that deliver water exactly where needed.

The result: This &ldquo;mini-Earth&rdquo; produces about 60 percent of its own power.

The greenhouse is not just a spectacle. It&rsquo;s a glimpse of Shanghai&rsquo;s bigger ambition to become a &ldquo;park city.&rdquo;

The concept is not about scattering more greenery, but about weaving nature into everyday urban life.

&ldquo;A true park city is one where people can live, work, commute and relax within nature itself,&rdquo; wrote Li Jinlu, chief engineer at the China Urban Construction Design and Research Institute.

Shanghai&rsquo;s blueprint has a poetic shorthand: one river, one creek, one greenbelt park system.

The Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek act as blue arteries linking waterfront parks and green spaces. Around the city&rsquo;s outer edge, a broad greenbelt connects downtown parks with ecological buffer zones beyond, linking the city to the five new towns and forming a continuous green loop.

And it&rsquo;s not just an expert&rsquo;s plan.

&ldquo;In building a park city, we are working to expand citizen participation into every aspect, ensuring it is truly all-encompassing,&rdquo; said Zhang Yingping, director of the city&rsquo;s Public Green Space Construction Affairs Center.

If the park city is about space, waste sorting is about lifestyle.

In July 2019, Shanghai became the first Chinese city to mandate garbage classification. Six years later, the system has become an integral part of daily life.

In Hongkou District&rsquo;s Jiaxing Road neighborhood, residents sort their waste at smart recycling bins, 24-hour collection points, or through door-to-door pickup. Together, the community recycles nearly 700 tons of waste each month.

&ldquo;Garbage sorting is not just about environmental protection, it&rsquo;s about a lifestyle change,&rdquo; said volunteer Hua Lei.

&ldquo;More and more residents now see recycling, reuse and green travel as part of their everyday routine.&rdquo;

At the city&rsquo;s edge, the Laogang facility takes over. Once a sprawling landfill, it is now a &ldquo;resource factory.&rdquo;

In 2024, it processed over 6 million tons of waste &mdash; the weight of seven Shanghai Towers &mdash; turning it into electricity, biogas and construction materials. It now generates 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough for more than 400,000 households.

&ldquo;Our goal is to transform Laogang from a landfill into a green ecological park,&rdquo; said Wu Yuefeng, deputy general manager of Shanghai Chengtou&rsquo;s Laogang Base.

A 21-kilometer jogging trail is even on the drawing board.

The next frontier is economic: how to make ecology itself productive.

&ldquo;The challenge is that ecological products are often hard to measure, hard to trade, hard to use as collateral, and hard to cash in,&rdquo; said Zhu Jun, director of the ecology division at Fudan University&rsquo;s Urban Planning Institute.

&ldquo;Shanghai needs new pathways to turn these values into real market products.&rdquo;

Zhu highlighted three key areas: the unique ecosystems of the estuaries and coastlines, the green spaces in the city center, and the revitalization of rural areas within Shanghai&rsquo;s global context.

&ldquo;For example,&rdquo; he explained, &ldquo;the Chongming Dongtan wetland plays a crucial role in protecting biodiversity. In rural areas, eco-agriculture not only benefits the environment but also helps improve farmers&rsquo; livelihoods.&rdquo;

Finance is beginning to play its part. In 2024, the city launched a Green Finance Service Platform, with 170 projects already in its pipeline and more than 17.1 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) in financing pledged, according to Securities Times.

From the greenhouse &ldquo;mini-Earth&rdquo; to the waste relay between neighborhoods and Laogang, and to the early experiments in eco-finance, Shanghai&rsquo;s green transition is no slogan. It is unfolding across space, lifestyle and economy.

Qiu Wenjin, deputy director of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, said at the city&rsquo;s National Ecology Day event on August 15: &ldquo;Green and low-carbon transition is the trend of the times. It brings great opportunities but also real challenges. Achieving it will take the effort of the whole society.&rdquo;

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/Skincare-padel-and-hotpot-an-Italians-Jingan-story/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Skincare, padel and hotpot: an Italian’s Jing’an story</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Yang Di]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[ITALIAN by birth, Shanghai by choice &mdash; Carlo Dragonetti has spent over a decade turning his China chapter into a defining one. With studies in both Italy and China, he&rsquo;s equally at home sipping espresso or sharing hotpot, enjoying Renaissance art or the convenience of WeChat Pay.

Professionally, he&rsquo;s a cultural polyglot: representing two Spanish personal care brands across China and the Asia-Pacific region for a leading Italian group. It&rsquo;s the kind of cross-border hustle that suits him &mdash; a European mashup with a distinctly Chinese twist.

Off the clock, he&rsquo;s all about sports &mdash; especially padel, where he has helped in developing the Padel movement in China and launched more than 10 courts under the Padel U brand with friends, growing the game in the city he calls home.

Could you introduce the neighborhood you live in?

Jing&rsquo;an kind of adopted me. I lived in Putuo and Xuhui districts before, but something always pulled me here on Yanping Road in Jing&rsquo;an. The energy is different &mdash; dynamic, stylish and full of contrasts. You&rsquo;ve got great restaurants, fun spots for sports, cool museums, cozy and lively places to grab a drink with friends.

What I love most is the blend of old and new. One moment you&rsquo;re walking past a historic temple, the next you&rsquo;re surrounded by sleek towers. My office is the perfect example &mdash; in a beautiful heritage building nestled between skyscrapers, it&rsquo;s like old and new Shanghai having a conversation, and I get to sit right in the middle of it.

What&rsquo;s the best thing about living in this neighborhood?

The best part? Convenience. Everything I need is within a block &mdash; coffee, gym, groceries, a great meal, even laundry. I could easily live a full week without leaving my block and still eat well, stay active, and live a pretty full life (though I&rsquo;d miss happy hour).

But beyond the convenience, what really makes Jing&rsquo;an special is its vibe. It&rsquo;s vibrant but not overwhelming. You&rsquo;ve got that perfect mix of old Shanghai charm &mdash; peaceful, tree-lined lanes and classic shikumen &mdash; combined with modern energy: modern caf&eacute;s, cool boutiques and rooftop bars. That balance makes it one of the most livable and exciting neighborhoods in Shanghai &mdash; at least for me.

What attraction here should not be missed?

Jing&rsquo;an Temple is the obvious one &mdash; iconic not just for tourists but also for those of us who live here. Every time I return from a trip and see it glowing behind the Shanghai Exhibition Center from the expressway, I get that comforting feeling of &ldquo;Ah, I&rsquo;m home.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s also one of my favorite places to catch a sunset &mdash; the contrast between the golden rooftops of the temple and the modern skyline is just amazing.

Right in front of the temple, there&rsquo;s a beautiful little park where you&rsquo;ll often see groups of uncles and aunties dancing or doing tai chi. It&rsquo;s such a unique slice of local life &mdash; something most visitors from abroad have never seen before, and it always brings a smile to my face.

Another underrated gem is the stretch of Suzhou Creek. I love cycling along its quiet, scenic stretches &mdash; it&rsquo;s a softer, more artistic side of Shanghai that&rsquo;s easy to fall in love with. All in all, Jing&rsquo;an isn&rsquo;t just a place to visit &mdash; it&rsquo;s a place to experience.

What&rsquo;s your favorite cafe near home?

Tough one &mdash; I&rsquo;ve got two. Choosing between them kind of depends on the mood&hellip; or honestly, which way I turn when I leave the house. I turn left is Yummy House (1105 Wuding Rd 武定路1105号): great coffee, great vibe, and usually full of puppies. I turn right is Hefa Coffee (216 Jiaozhou Rd 胶州路216号) &mdash; super well-made brews and a stylish place to get your caffeine fix.

And yes, I&rsquo;m Italian and I drink Americanos &mdash; but only in the morning. After lunch, it&rsquo;s espresso. The best in town? Paradox (890 Wuding Rd 武定路890号).

Where should someone eat around here?

So many options. For Western food: Raw Eatery (No. 6, 98 Yanping Rd 延平路98号6号铺) is my go-to when I&rsquo;m craving a great cut of meat and a glass of Chilean wine. Terrakota (Unit 201, Bldg C, 98 Yanping Rd 延平路98号C幢201室) is dangerously close to my home; Bambino (600 Shaanxi Rd N. 陕西北路600号) has that fun lively vibe; Meso (Unit 111, Bldg 7, 100 Yejiazhai Rd 叶家宅路100号7幢111室) features cool Eastern European flair. And then there&rsquo;s RAC Allee (Unit 301, No. 30, Lane 319, Jiaozhou Rd 胶州路319弄30号301室) &mdash; tucked away in a little hidden alley, perfect for a quiet lunch or getting some work done with a flat white in hand. I probably eat at Alimentari (Unit 101, Bldg 3, 358 Kangding Rd 康定路358号3幢101室) more times than I&rsquo;d like to admit, but hey, it&rsquo;s a neighborhood classic for a reason. Yaya&rsquo;s (329 Tongren Rd 铜仁路329号)&hellip;Good food and good vibes.

For Chinese, Jing&rsquo;an has some gems. For Dongbei cuisine, Yaoji Daieguo 姚稷大铁锅 (317-6 Changping Rd) is unbeatable. If I&rsquo;m in the mood for something from the South, Modu Chaoziwei Chaoshan Beef Hotpot 魔都潮滋味潮汕牛肉火锅(1-2/F, Bldg 1, 100 Yejiazhai Rd 叶家宅路100号1号楼1-2层) is a favorite. And I&rsquo;m slightly obsessed with the rice noodles at Qinqin Changsha Mifen 亲亲长沙米粉 (868 Xinzha Rd 新闸路868号) &mdash; simple, a bit spicy and so satisfying.

From high fashion to emerging designers, from flowers to fresh produce, where do you shop in your neighborhood?

I&rsquo;ve always cooked &mdash; even as a broke student with basic Chinese, I&rsquo;d hit the wet markets and chat with shushus and ayis selling veggies. They were always so surprised that a foreigner could speak Chinese, and I think &mdash; or at least I hope &mdash; that got me the &ldquo;local price&rdquo; every now and then. That habit stuck. I still prefer shopping in person for fresh produce in my area.

For other things, I love browsing the indie design shops along Yanping Road such as Park Mall (Room 102, 98-1 Yanping Rd 延平路98-1号102室) &mdash; great for fashion, home decor and inspiration. And my favorite flower shop Yifei Flowers 艺菲花坊 (882 Wuding Rd 武定路882号) is to blame for the 40+ plants in my apartment.

Is there a neighborhood place you recommend for a night out or simply a drink after work?

Jing&rsquo;an is nightlife central. Wuding Road is a classic &mdash; full of buzzing bars where there&rsquo;s always a good chance you&rsquo;ll bump into me, glass in hand. For something a little extra: La Barra (Bldg 5, No. 60, Lane 273 Jiaozhou Rd 胶州路273弄60号5幢) for late-night energy, and Alter (Wechat account: altershanghai11) is one of my absolute favorites &mdash; especially when they host their rooftop parties &mdash; good music, great sunsets and great music. It&rsquo;s an itinerant party, so today in here, tomorrow in there, but often around Jing&rsquo;an.

Lately, I&rsquo;ve loved how wine culture is growing.

It&rsquo;s easier to find cozy spots with curated lists, especially with more good Italian bottles popping up. So yeah &mdash; whether it&rsquo;s a laid-back glass of wine or a rooftop dance floor, Jing&rsquo;an&rsquo;s got you covered.

Have you made any new discoveries in your neighborhood lately?

Always. I travel often, and coming back makes me appreciate Jing&rsquo;an even more.

Lately, I found this tiny rice noodle spot Qinqin Changsha Mifen run by a sweet lady boss.

I&rsquo;ve gone so often she just nods when I walk in &mdash; no words needed, she knows exactly what I want. It&rsquo;s moments like that remind me: this isn&rsquo;t just a place to live, it&rsquo;s a community.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		ITALIAN by birth, Shanghai by choice &mdash; Carlo Dragonetti has spent over a decade turning his China chapter into a defining one. With studies in both Italy and China, he&rsquo;s equally at home sipping espresso or sharing hotpot, enjoying Renaissance art or the convenience of WeChat Pay.

Professionally, he&rsquo;s a cultural polyglot: representing two Spanish personal care brands across China and the Asia-Pacific region for a leading Italian group. It&rsquo;s the kind of cross-border hustle that suits him &mdash; a European mashup with a distinctly Chinese twist.

Off the clock, he&rsquo;s all about sports &mdash; especially padel, where he has helped in developing the Padel movement in China and launched more than 10 courts under the Padel U brand with friends, growing the game in the city he calls home.

Could you introduce the neighborhood you live in?

Jing&rsquo;an kind of adopted me. I lived in Putuo and Xuhui districts before, but something always pulled me here on Yanping Road in Jing&rsquo;an. The energy is different &mdash; dynamic, stylish and full of contrasts. You&rsquo;ve got great restaurants, fun spots for sports, cool museums, cozy and lively places to grab a drink with friends.

What I love most is the blend of old and new. One moment you&rsquo;re walking past a historic temple, the next you&rsquo;re surrounded by sleek towers. My office is the perfect example &mdash; in a beautiful heritage building nestled between skyscrapers, it&rsquo;s like old and new Shanghai having a conversation, and I get to sit right in the middle of it.

What&rsquo;s the best thing about living in this neighborhood?

The best part? Convenience. Everything I need is within a block &mdash; coffee, gym, groceries, a great meal, even laundry. I could easily live a full week without leaving my block and still eat well, stay active, and live a pretty full life (though I&rsquo;d miss happy hour).

But beyond the convenience, what really makes Jing&rsquo;an special is its vibe. It&rsquo;s vibrant but not overwhelming. You&rsquo;ve got that perfect mix of old Shanghai charm &mdash; peaceful, tree-lined lanes and classic shikumen &mdash; combined with modern energy: modern caf&eacute;s, cool boutiques and rooftop bars. That balance makes it one of the most livable and exciting neighborhoods in Shanghai &mdash; at least for me.

What attraction here should not be missed?

Jing&rsquo;an Temple is the obvious one &mdash; iconic not just for tourists but also for those of us who live here. Every time I return from a trip and see it glowing behind the Shanghai Exhibition Center from the expressway, I get that comforting feeling of &ldquo;Ah, I&rsquo;m home.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s also one of my favorite places to catch a sunset &mdash; the contrast between the golden rooftops of the temple and the modern skyline is just amazing.

Right in front of the temple, there&rsquo;s a beautiful little park where you&rsquo;ll often see groups of uncles and aunties dancing or doing tai chi. It&rsquo;s such a unique slice of local life &mdash; something most visitors from abroad have never seen before, and it always brings a smile to my face.

Another underrated gem is the stretch of Suzhou Creek. I love cycling along its quiet, scenic stretches &mdash; it&rsquo;s a softer, more artistic side of Shanghai that&rsquo;s easy to fall in love with. All in all, Jing&rsquo;an isn&rsquo;t just a place to visit &mdash; it&rsquo;s a place to experience.

What&rsquo;s your favorite cafe near home?

Tough one &mdash; I&rsquo;ve got two. Choosing between them kind of depends on the mood&hellip; or honestly, which way I turn when I leave the house. I turn left is Yummy House (1105 Wuding Rd 武定路1105号): great coffee, great vibe, and usually full of puppies. I turn right is Hefa Coffee (216 Jiaozhou Rd 胶州路216号) &mdash; super well-made brews and a stylish place to get your caffeine fix.

And yes, I&rsquo;m Italian and I drink Americanos &mdash; but only in the morning. After lunch, it&rsquo;s espresso. The best in town? Paradox (890 Wuding Rd 武定路890号).

Where should someone eat around here?

So many options. For Western food: Raw Eatery (No. 6, 98 Yanping Rd 延平路98号6号铺) is my go-to when I&rsquo;m craving a great cut of meat and a glass of Chilean wine. Terrakota (Unit 201, Bldg C, 98 Yanping Rd 延平路98号C幢201室) is dangerously close to my home; Bambino (600 Shaanxi Rd N. 陕西北路600号) has that fun lively vibe; Meso (Unit 111, Bldg 7, 100 Yejiazhai Rd 叶家宅路100号7幢111室) features cool Eastern European flair. And then there&rsquo;s RAC Allee (Unit 301, No. 30, Lane 319, Jiaozhou Rd 胶州路319弄30号301室) &mdash; tucked away in a little hidden alley, perfect for a quiet lunch or getting some work done with a flat white in hand. I probably eat at Alimentari (Unit 101, Bldg 3, 358 Kangding Rd 康定路358号3幢101室) more times than I&rsquo;d like to admit, but hey, it&rsquo;s a neighborhood classic for a reason. Yaya&rsquo;s (329 Tongren Rd 铜仁路329号)&hellip;Good food and good vibes.

For Chinese, Jing&rsquo;an has some gems. For Dongbei cuisine, Yaoji Daieguo 姚稷大铁锅 (317-6 Changping Rd) is unbeatable. If I&rsquo;m in the mood for something from the South, Modu Chaoziwei Chaoshan Beef Hotpot 魔都潮滋味潮汕牛肉火锅(1-2/F, Bldg 1, 100 Yejiazhai Rd 叶家宅路100号1号楼1-2层) is a favorite. And I&rsquo;m slightly obsessed with the rice noodles at Qinqin Changsha Mifen 亲亲长沙米粉 (868 Xinzha Rd 新闸路868号) &mdash; simple, a bit spicy and so satisfying.

From high fashion to emerging designers, from flowers to fresh produce, where do you shop in your neighborhood?

I&rsquo;ve always cooked &mdash; even as a broke student with basic Chinese, I&rsquo;d hit the wet markets and chat with shushus and ayis selling veggies. They were always so surprised that a foreigner could speak Chinese, and I think &mdash; or at least I hope &mdash; that got me the &ldquo;local price&rdquo; every now and then. That habit stuck. I still prefer shopping in person for fresh produce in my area.

For other things, I love browsing the indie design shops along Yanping Road such as Park Mall (Room 102, 98-1 Yanping Rd 延平路98-1号102室) &mdash; great for fashion, home decor and inspiration. And my favorite flower shop Yifei Flowers 艺菲花坊 (882 Wuding Rd 武定路882号) is to blame for the 40+ plants in my apartment.

Is there a neighborhood place you recommend for a night out or simply a drink after work?

Jing&rsquo;an is nightlife central. Wuding Road is a classic &mdash; full of buzzing bars where there&rsquo;s always a good chance you&rsquo;ll bump into me, glass in hand. For something a little extra: La Barra (Bldg 5, No. 60, Lane 273 Jiaozhou Rd 胶州路273弄60号5幢) for late-night energy, and Alter (Wechat account: altershanghai11) is one of my absolute favorites &mdash; especially when they host their rooftop parties &mdash; good music, great sunsets and great music. It&rsquo;s an itinerant party, so today in here, tomorrow in there, but often around Jing&rsquo;an.

Lately, I&rsquo;ve loved how wine culture is growing.

It&rsquo;s easier to find cozy spots with curated lists, especially with more good Italian bottles popping up. So yeah &mdash; whether it&rsquo;s a laid-back glass of wine or a rooftop dance floor, Jing&rsquo;an&rsquo;s got you covered.

Have you made any new discoveries in your neighborhood lately?

Always. I travel often, and coming back makes me appreciate Jing&rsquo;an even more.

Lately, I found this tiny rice noodle spot Qinqin Changsha Mifen run by a sweet lady boss.

I&rsquo;ve gone so often she just nods when I walk in &mdash; no words needed, she knows exactly what I want. It&rsquo;s moments like that remind me: this isn&rsquo;t just a place to live, it&rsquo;s a community.

		]]></content:encoded>
		
	</item>
	
	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//in-focus/Babyface-jab-profits-just-skin-deep/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>‘Baby-face’ jab profits just skin deep</title>
		<category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tan Weiyun]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[IN a sleek beauty clinic in downtown Shanghai, 32-year-old fashion editor Mia Ma smiles into a mirror after wiping away a numbing cream from her cheeks.

&ldquo;This is my second round of filler this year,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I just want to maintain my facial contour and make myself look fresh and awake.&rdquo;

Her treatment of choice is tongyan zhen (童颜针), literally &ldquo;baby-face injection,&rdquo; a poly-L-lactic acid, collagen-stimulating filler that over months coaxes the skin into producing its own collagen for a smoother, fuller look.

The injection has become one of China&rsquo;s buzziest trends in medical aesthetics, a market that includes botulinum toxins, hyaluronic acid and collagen stimulators, and is expected to exceed 380 billion yuan (US$52.3 billion) in value by 2027, according to a 2024 report by Deloitte China.

&ldquo;Right now, baby-face injection is by far our most popular service,&rdquo; said Xiao Xiong, a sales consultant at a beauty clinic on Huashan Road. &ldquo;Some people even book second appointments before the effects of the first ones have fully appeared.&rdquo;

She added, &ldquo;There are so many different kinds of treatment in the market now. Some focus on deep collagen stimulation, some add hydrating ingredients for a plumper look, and others promise a longer-lasting lift.&rdquo;

As of July, nine &ldquo;baby-face injection&rdquo; products have won approval for use in China, with another dozen in the regulatory pipeline. Prices, once hovering above 18,000 yuan per treatment, are already sliding toward the 10,000-yuan mark in major cities as competition bites.

Some aggressive newcomers have undercut prices of market leaders by a third, sparking disputes over product authenticity and medical qualifications.

In June, SoYoung, one of China&rsquo;s biggest medical aesthetics platforms, rolled out a cut-rate &ldquo;miracle baby-face&rdquo; injection treatment prices at just 5,999 yuan. It featured a 340-milligram dose of L&ouml;viselle, China&rsquo;s first approved collagen stimulator based on poly-L-lactic acid.

Developed by Changchun-based biotech firm SinoBiom, L&ouml;viselle positioned itself at the premium end of the &ldquo;baby-face&rdquo; market, with a suggested retail price of 18,800 yuan per syringe. When SoYoung launched a cheaper version under its own clinical brand name, SinoBiom hit back.

The company issued a public warning questioning SoYoung&rsquo;s supply channels, physician credentials and patient safety. SoYoung deleted the response statement from its platform, but the offer still appears on other online platforms in mid-August, drawing floods of bargain-hunters.

The pressure is on. Last month, two new products &mdash; Lizhenran, developed by Xihong Bio Pharma and exclusively marketed by China Medical System, and Olidia, co-developed by Anhemei (Hoya Beauty) and Korea PRP &mdash; received approval from China&rsquo;s drug regulator. Their arrival has further intensified what was already a brutal turf battle for customers.

At first glance, the collagen-stimulation market looks busy, but take a look closer and it&rsquo;s a house of mirrors. Many newly launched &ldquo;baby-face injections&rdquo; are strikingly similar in composition, using collagen-stimulating polymers with only slight differences in duration, elasticity and onset of effects. All promise nearly identical outcomes. Some medics have called the market &ldquo;a hundred versions of the same magic bean.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Customers don&rsquo;t really know the differences among all these brands, so it&rsquo;s all about speed,&rdquo; said sales consultant Xiao. &ldquo;Whoever gets there first wins.&rdquo;

In response, established players are ramping up social media campaigns and working with influencers to reinforce brand identity and fend off cheaper competitors.

That flood is washing away L&ouml;viselle&rsquo;s early-entry advantage. In 2022 and 2023, it was the star of the show. Today, it&rsquo;s one of many. And when differentiation fades, price erosion follows fast.

In aesthetic medicine, few products can hold the line on pricing for long. Botox and Juvederm are rare exceptions, backed by decades of branding, strict training protocols, and iron-fisted distribution. L&ouml;viselle? Not quite there.

It&rsquo;s a familiar arc. Star products often hit peak price in the first 6-12 months, then begin a steady slide unless buttressed by relentless marketing and tight supply control. By the three-to-five-year period, most injectables lose pricing power, especially as new approvals accelerate.

For now, the chase is on in a market where everyone promises glowing skin but profits may be skin deep.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		IN a sleek beauty clinic in downtown Shanghai, 32-year-old fashion editor Mia Ma smiles into a mirror after wiping away a numbing cream from her cheeks.

&ldquo;This is my second round of filler this year,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I just want to maintain my facial contour and make myself look fresh and awake.&rdquo;

Her treatment of choice is tongyan zhen (童颜针), literally &ldquo;baby-face injection,&rdquo; a poly-L-lactic acid, collagen-stimulating filler that over months coaxes the skin into producing its own collagen for a smoother, fuller look.

The injection has become one of China&rsquo;s buzziest trends in medical aesthetics, a market that includes botulinum toxins, hyaluronic acid and collagen stimulators, and is expected to exceed 380 billion yuan (US$52.3 billion) in value by 2027, according to a 2024 report by Deloitte China.

&ldquo;Right now, baby-face injection is by far our most popular service,&rdquo; said Xiao Xiong, a sales consultant at a beauty clinic on Huashan Road. &ldquo;Some people even book second appointments before the effects of the first ones have fully appeared.&rdquo;

She added, &ldquo;There are so many different kinds of treatment in the market now. Some focus on deep collagen stimulation, some add hydrating ingredients for a plumper look, and others promise a longer-lasting lift.&rdquo;

As of July, nine &ldquo;baby-face injection&rdquo; products have won approval for use in China, with another dozen in the regulatory pipeline. Prices, once hovering above 18,000 yuan per treatment, are already sliding toward the 10,000-yuan mark in major cities as competition bites.

Some aggressive newcomers have undercut prices of market leaders by a third, sparking disputes over product authenticity and medical qualifications.

In June, SoYoung, one of China&rsquo;s biggest medical aesthetics platforms, rolled out a cut-rate &ldquo;miracle baby-face&rdquo; injection treatment prices at just 5,999 yuan. It featured a 340-milligram dose of L&ouml;viselle, China&rsquo;s first approved collagen stimulator based on poly-L-lactic acid.

Developed by Changchun-based biotech firm SinoBiom, L&ouml;viselle positioned itself at the premium end of the &ldquo;baby-face&rdquo; market, with a suggested retail price of 18,800 yuan per syringe. When SoYoung launched a cheaper version under its own clinical brand name, SinoBiom hit back.

The company issued a public warning questioning SoYoung&rsquo;s supply channels, physician credentials and patient safety. SoYoung deleted the response statement from its platform, but the offer still appears on other online platforms in mid-August, drawing floods of bargain-hunters.

The pressure is on. Last month, two new products &mdash; Lizhenran, developed by Xihong Bio Pharma and exclusively marketed by China Medical System, and Olidia, co-developed by Anhemei (Hoya Beauty) and Korea PRP &mdash; received approval from China&rsquo;s drug regulator. Their arrival has further intensified what was already a brutal turf battle for customers.

At first glance, the collagen-stimulation market looks busy, but take a look closer and it&rsquo;s a house of mirrors. Many newly launched &ldquo;baby-face injections&rdquo; are strikingly similar in composition, using collagen-stimulating polymers with only slight differences in duration, elasticity and onset of effects. All promise nearly identical outcomes. Some medics have called the market &ldquo;a hundred versions of the same magic bean.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Customers don&rsquo;t really know the differences among all these brands, so it&rsquo;s all about speed,&rdquo; said sales consultant Xiao. &ldquo;Whoever gets there first wins.&rdquo;

In response, established players are ramping up social media campaigns and working with influencers to reinforce brand identity and fend off cheaper competitors.

That flood is washing away L&ouml;viselle&rsquo;s early-entry advantage. In 2022 and 2023, it was the star of the show. Today, it&rsquo;s one of many. And when differentiation fades, price erosion follows fast.

In aesthetic medicine, few products can hold the line on pricing for long. Botox and Juvederm are rare exceptions, backed by decades of branding, strict training protocols, and iron-fisted distribution. L&ouml;viselle? Not quite there.

It&rsquo;s a familiar arc. Star products often hit peak price in the first 6-12 months, then begin a steady slide unless buttressed by relentless marketing and tight supply control. By the three-to-five-year period, most injectables lose pricing power, especially as new approvals accelerate.

For now, the chase is on in a market where everyone promises glowing skin but profits may be skin deep.

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	<item>
		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com//news/There-Is-No-Finish-Line-Explore-the-everchanging-Shanghai/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>There Is No Finish Line:  Explore the ever-changing Shanghai</title>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Li Qian]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[SHANGHAI never sits still. Skyscrapers shimmer along the Huangpu River, while quiet, tree-lined lanes preserve the whispers of its past. In this city, invention never quite erases memory; tradition and experiment jostle in the same streets, giving Shanghai a rhythm that is at once relentless and strangely intimate.

&ldquo;There Is No Finish Line In Shanghai,&rdquo; to be released on September 7, captures that rhythm through eight local voices. Presented by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and Shanghai Daily, in partnership with Nike China, the book is less a guide than a chorus &mdash; an invitation to wander, pause, and admire the city&rsquo;s layered identity through the eyes of those who call it home.

For Tang Yan, the story begins with a skipping rope. In the narrow lanes near Nanjing Road, she was once an alleyway girl, jumping Chinese jump rope under dappled sunlight. From those elastic bounds, she vaulted onto the world stage as an acclaimed actress. Yet the city remains her anchor. Today, she cycles along the Huangpu River and turns often to the West Bund for inspiration, where art spaces rise beside the river&rsquo;s steady flow. Her chapter traces how returning to old rhythms &mdash; childhood games, favorite stretches of river &mdash; can ground a life in constant motion.

Cao Yunding, once a midfield maestro chasing speed, now walks Hongkou at a gentler pace. Stadium cheers linger faintly in renovated shikumen courtyards. Tea, small bites, and strolls form his new rituals, showing that sport in Shanghai is not just competition but a lifelong rhythm of movement and pause.

Fitness influencer Zhang Weiya raises the heartbeat again here in Shanghai. Her first Shanghai Marathon marked both a finish line and a beginning &mdash; a test of endurance and a way into the city. Now a new mother, she still runs at dawn from the Bund to Lujiazui, feeling Shanghai&rsquo;s pulse beneath her feet. She writes of the city&rsquo;s inclusivity, how its wide roads and open skies allowed her to establish roots here.

Through markets and caf&eacute;s, Corentin Delcroix, a French chef who married into Shanghai, threads a culinary trail that blends global flavors with local tradition. Clarisse Le Guernic, also French, measures the city in steps. Known as a &ldquo;living GPS,&rdquo; she guides readers through Huaihai Road&rsquo;s hidden corners, unspooling histories that maps can&rsquo;t hold, step by patient step.

Some stories come from kitchens. Qu Minglan, owner of the beloved Chun restaurant, opens doors to the &ldquo;Jufuchang&rdquo; neighborhood, where old Shanghai&rsquo;s patina glimmers alongside modern creativity. Her home-style dishes are a bridge across generations &mdash; a table always set for family, friends, and conversation.

Liu Xinzhou, a pet fashion designer, sketches four-legged itineraries through Zhongshan Park and Yuyuan Road, where caf&eacute;s and boutiques welcome both people and pets. For her, Shanghai&rsquo;s openness is found in companionship &mdash; two-legged and four.

Qian Shengdong allows the city to express itself through its unique dialect. In Yangpu, once an industrial heartland, now a hub of youth culture, he retraces the transformation with a vlogger&rsquo;s eye. His videos capture changing skylines and the cadences of local speech, tying personal beginnings to a district&rsquo;s reinvention. In his Shanghai, past and present converge, every street corner a stanza in a city&rsquo;s ongoing poem.

Another layer of intimacy awaits: Readers will discover tucked-away vouchers and coupons, small tokens that turn narrative into itinerary and invite them to inhabit the city, one street and one corner at a time.

Together, these eight portraits suggest a Shanghai that resists closure &mdash; fast and slow, nostalgic and forward-looking, intensely local yet unmistakably global. Each account serves as both anecdote and allegory, serving as a reminder that the essence of discovery in this place lies not in arrival but in the journey through unexpected turns.

Borrowing its title from a familiar maxim, the book closes with an invitation: In Shanghai, there is no finish line &mdash; only more stories waiting to be lived and told just beyond the next street.
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		SHANGHAI never sits still. Skyscrapers shimmer along the Huangpu River, while quiet, tree-lined lanes preserve the whispers of its past. In this city, invention never quite erases memory; tradition and experiment jostle in the same streets, giving Shanghai a rhythm that is at once relentless and strangely intimate.

&ldquo;There Is No Finish Line In Shanghai,&rdquo; to be released on September 7, captures that rhythm through eight local voices. Presented by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and Shanghai Daily, in partnership with Nike China, the book is less a guide than a chorus &mdash; an invitation to wander, pause, and admire the city&rsquo;s layered identity through the eyes of those who call it home.

For Tang Yan, the story begins with a skipping rope. In the narrow lanes near Nanjing Road, she was once an alleyway girl, jumping Chinese jump rope under dappled sunlight. From those elastic bounds, she vaulted onto the world stage as an acclaimed actress. Yet the city remains her anchor. Today, she cycles along the Huangpu River and turns often to the West Bund for inspiration, where art spaces rise beside the river&rsquo;s steady flow. Her chapter traces how returning to old rhythms &mdash; childhood games, favorite stretches of river &mdash; can ground a life in constant motion.

Cao Yunding, once a midfield maestro chasing speed, now walks Hongkou at a gentler pace. Stadium cheers linger faintly in renovated shikumen courtyards. Tea, small bites, and strolls form his new rituals, showing that sport in Shanghai is not just competition but a lifelong rhythm of movement and pause.

Fitness influencer Zhang Weiya raises the heartbeat again here in Shanghai. Her first Shanghai Marathon marked both a finish line and a beginning &mdash; a test of endurance and a way into the city. Now a new mother, she still runs at dawn from the Bund to Lujiazui, feeling Shanghai&rsquo;s pulse beneath her feet. She writes of the city&rsquo;s inclusivity, how its wide roads and open skies allowed her to establish roots here.

Through markets and caf&eacute;s, Corentin Delcroix, a French chef who married into Shanghai, threads a culinary trail that blends global flavors with local tradition. Clarisse Le Guernic, also French, measures the city in steps. Known as a &ldquo;living GPS,&rdquo; she guides readers through Huaihai Road&rsquo;s hidden corners, unspooling histories that maps can&rsquo;t hold, step by patient step.

Some stories come from kitchens. Qu Minglan, owner of the beloved Chun restaurant, opens doors to the &ldquo;Jufuchang&rdquo; neighborhood, where old Shanghai&rsquo;s patina glimmers alongside modern creativity. Her home-style dishes are a bridge across generations &mdash; a table always set for family, friends, and conversation.

Liu Xinzhou, a pet fashion designer, sketches four-legged itineraries through Zhongshan Park and Yuyuan Road, where caf&eacute;s and boutiques welcome both people and pets. For her, Shanghai&rsquo;s openness is found in companionship &mdash; two-legged and four.

Qian Shengdong allows the city to express itself through its unique dialect. In Yangpu, once an industrial heartland, now a hub of youth culture, he retraces the transformation with a vlogger&rsquo;s eye. His videos capture changing skylines and the cadences of local speech, tying personal beginnings to a district&rsquo;s reinvention. In his Shanghai, past and present converge, every street corner a stanza in a city&rsquo;s ongoing poem.

Another layer of intimacy awaits: Readers will discover tucked-away vouchers and coupons, small tokens that turn narrative into itinerary and invite them to inhabit the city, one street and one corner at a time.

Together, these eight portraits suggest a Shanghai that resists closure &mdash; fast and slow, nostalgic and forward-looking, intensely local yet unmistakably global. Each account serves as both anecdote and allegory, serving as a reminder that the essence of discovery in this place lies not in arrival but in the journey through unexpected turns.

Borrowing its title from a familiar maxim, the book closes with an invitation: In Shanghai, there is no finish line &mdash; only more stories waiting to be lived and told just beyond the next street.

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