Tales of City

Just noticed that Shanghai average monthly wage in the year 2010 is 3896 RMB (about $605), 9.3% increase over last year. The data was published by Shanghai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau at the beginning of March.

In Shanghai and most other cities of China, employer has the duty to settle social security funds for its employees by law. The fund base is subjected to be adjusted according to the average monthly wage in previous year, and the fund proportion is usually fixed for many years. I will detailed describe how the social security fund calculated in my following blog.

Shanghai 2011 ChinaJoy opened today as usual. Showgirl in ChinaJoy is always a hot topic during the game show. Not like ChinaJoy before, information from the ChinaJoy committee shows that the clothing styles for showgirls will be strictly limited this year. Showgirl in the ChinaJoy may wear more clothes afterward. Will such regulation decrease its attraction?

 2010 ChinaJoy Showgirls

Update after the close of 2011 ChinaJoy on August 1: 2011 ChinaJoy became the second hottest topic in Sina Weibo during the past several days.  Beautiful showgirls  catch most eyes and still wear little and keep sexy. The rule is just a rule and does not effect in the show.

 2011 ChinaJoy Showgirls

A discussion, between one of my colleague and me this noon during the lunch, is whether it is (still) safe to travel by high speed train in China after the crash near Wenzhou. He will send his son to Wuhan University this September, and I ask him whether he will still take high speed train from Shanghai to Wuhan or change to other means of transport.

This is also a question that I ask myself. Is it safe, or still safe to travel by high speed train in China? How can I trust the high speed train that’s constructed at such a rapid pace? Why there are so many breakdown in a short time after Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway put into operation?
In face of such a fatal accident, how can I trust the operation and management of the high speed train system? In fact, I have no answer to these questions. Read full story…

I am looking for an apartment at Jiangqiao of Jiading District, where is very close to Changning and Putuo District. After two weeks’ field investigation and related information search on internet, My final decision, concurring with my girlfriend, is to  quit from the Jiangqiao area.

Last Wednesday, we went to Jiangqiao at first time via metro line 11 at Taopu newly Village station. It is only 3km far away from Jiangqiao, but there is no direct bus and we had to take a tricycle. When crossing Taopu highway, we saw many dense residential buildings, which does not give us a good impression. We knew they are Jiacheng residential quarters later. Read full story…

When browsing the photos that I took that night in Xintiandi, I suddenly recall that I have taken a similar one before at the same position. The photo is about the Apple retail store in HongKong plaza (282 Huaihai middle road). One was taken in the day time last year, and one in the night.

 This one was taken in December last year in the day time Read full story…