Shanghaiist: The Beijing-Shanghai rivalry

taihanasie

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:27:43 +0800

I don't get how people can still discuss a "rivalry". Beijing has more historic attractions. That is nothing to sneeze at, but it can't guarantee a healthy rivalry in the long run. The fact of the matter is that Beijing does not have the water it needs to support its population. Even after the S-N water diversion project is completed, BJ will still be water-scarce... and faced with millions of new residents more yearly, which won't help things. The capital is already using emergency water resources meant for times of war. And when that is used up.... Shanghai has a lot more room to grow. It is also more promising as a business capital, and it has room to develop culturally as well if you don't equate culture with old buildings. The Olympics is a one-time event, so I don't see how that contributes to Beijing in the long run. It actually may be a drawback when you consider the amount of culture that has already been bull-dozed. And government seats can be moved. Capitals often change places because the city is NOT in as favorable a place as it once was imagined to be Water woes and desertification might do the trick for Beijing. So to imagine Beijing can compete based on the fact that the capital is there and that the Olympic Games will be held next month is folly.

eastman

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:15:31 +0800

To ououou' Who am I? I am th one who know you expats in Shanghai are more stingy than expats in beijing, lol!

vid

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:48:11 +0800

I lived in bj for almost a year but only visited Shanghai for a week so it's hard to say for me which is better. BJ has more tourist spots of cultural and historical significance that are easy to get to: Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Tianamen, Great Wall, Beihai Park and many more. What does Shanghai have? The sightseeing tunnel? That has to be the tackiest tourist attraction ever. I did like the aquarium. Although being so close to Hangzhou and Suzhou is a plus. Beijing has nothing that compares to the amazing view along the Bund and Shanghai definitely has more interesting european architecture that makes it more unique than the bazillion of nearly identical skyscrapers being built in Beijing. Shanghai seemed a lot cleaner to me than BJ although that whole no central heating thing is annoying in the colder months in Shanghai which was when I was visiting. Not sure about the air quality in Shanghai, seemed clearer to me than the ever present BJ smog. The shopping, bars? Don't really know. BJ has Wongfujing, XiDan and Sanlitun. I guess Shanghai has XinTianDi.

ououou

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:26:11 +0800

To eastman: what the hell are ya,huh?

eastman

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:47:16 +0800

To puhlease and ououou --"shanghai and beijing are both shitholes"? Feel quite amazed you both are so desperate to put your shit-heads in both shitholes, even without a valid visa, lol!.

Micah Sittig

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:03:56 +0800

(The WaPo article, that is.)

Micah Sittig

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:03:34 +0800

This article totally failed to prove its thesis. Waste of time.

ououou

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:48:55 +0800

shanghai and beijing are both shitholes. by the way, is there any kinda shanghaiist- sexybeijing rivalry? hoho i guess that will be interesting!

gillsans

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:50:18 +0800

I love Beijing, but I think Shanghai's got Beijing beat hands down this summer. Sounds like they're trying to sanitize Beijing to the point that a lot of what I like about Beijing will be eliminated (temporarily, I hope). They're trying to take the spontaneity out of the place, and what's a Beijing summer without impromptu streetside drinking of Yanjing over a couple of yangrouchuanr?

puhlease

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:35:37 +0800

Shanghai is definitely the better of the two shit-holes.

bottledpoetry

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:34:49 +0800

"The Washington Post writes that while Shanghai has the global industry, business and sophistication stemming from early European colonialism..." somebody needs to stop patting themselves on the back.

Andy Best

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:19:10 +0800

In who's Bizarro world does having the government and the Olympics count as plus points and make Beijing 'better'. Surely they are huge negatives.

T

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:10:51 +0800

Mr. Wang's opinion is contrary to any other person I've met in Shanghai - Shanghai local or half-pat or expat or otherwise. All of them acknowledge that Beijing has far more culture, but they say Shanghai is much more liveable and adaptable and comfortable.

streetcarnage

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:59:40 +0800

I propose a shahnghaiist vs smartshanghai rivalry. has anyone ever tried to read the column "Ask Matsume" on smarthshanghai.com? it will probably ruin your day. http://smartshanghai.com/askmatsume/ words can't describe the pain. I need a lobotomy just to get past the first paragraph. Can someone please reassure me that she does not get paid for this?