Post by bellasunshine on Oct 23, 2013 4:25:45 GMT -5
Either way the Shanghainese themselves are too busy to disagree China tours or bother with what they perceive as sour grapes, prefer to think of themselves as cosmopolitan, smart, shrewd, savvy, ambitious, open-minded, progressive, and enterprising, qualities they believe have allowed Shanghai to lead the country's economic revolution and move headlong into the 21st century. The Shanghainese are fashion-setters and conspicuous consumers. That they enjoy a significantly higher standard of living than most other Chinese is, to them, proof that they possess the necessary winning qualities. And indeed, foreign companies doing business in Shanghai hail the locals as smart, eager, and hungry to learn.
Some Chinese grouse that the Shanghainese are too quick to both please and ape Westerners, but the Shanghainese will just as quickly tell you that their historical exposure to foreigners has made them more open to Western ways, and therefore allowed them to succeed Yangtze River cruises in today's global village. Whether in business or in social mores, the Shanghainese pride themselves on being pioneers willing to break old rules. Already, Shanghainese men, at least those of the post-Cultural Revolution (1966-76) generation, are considered to be a prime catch for young Chinese women, not necessarily because of their urbaneness or any putative business acumen, but because many younger Shanghainese husbands are known to do all the housework, the cooking, and the grocery shopping for their wives.
Even in China's most cosmopolitan and international city, however, there are still significant differences in customs and modes of behavior between the Shanghainese and foreign visitors. Though Shanghainese today have a remarkable amount of freedom in everything from fashions to critiquing corruption, politics, especially criticism of the government and the Chinese Communist Party, is still a taboo travel to Shangri-la subject for public discussion. If you broach any "embarrassing" topic -- including questions about China's handling of political dissidents, the status of Tibet and Taiwan, restrictions on the media, abortion, prison labor, and the Tian'anmen Square incident -- be prepared for stock answers from most people, especially English-speaking tour guides.
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