Win some cash by greenify'n your balcony!

In the latest and potentially greatest attempt by the government to spruce up our lovely Shanghai before the expo, the government has started a "most beautiful balcony competition." And the best part? The winner gets 3,000 yuan!

But in case you thought this was just like any other gardening competition, you're in for a surprise. That's right: they have standards. High ones.

From Shanghai Daily:

"It's going to be hard," said Liu Weiguang, official of the bureau. "Judges will be composed of the experts of the city's garden authorities."

Besides the judges' votes, Internet voting will count toward the final result, the bureau said.

In order to make the competition more professional, applicants can get instruction from garden experts.

The contest is open to everyone who lives in Shanghai from now until December 15 and the result will be announced in March.

We actually love the idea: what better incentive could the government give Shanghaiers to care about the facades of their homes than money? Although we sincerely doubt the competition will turn the city into an eco-friendly Eden, we'll take any little bit of greenery we can get