When I'm looking for an ayi, I want someone who knows how to iron, separate whites from colored, clean different types of surfaces and... write a thesis on the pros and cons of real politik. Okay, not really. But if I , I'd be in good company, according to Shanghai Daily. more ›

Did you know that Filipino maids are actually illegal in China? And now that Shanghai's biggest party ever has begun, the crackdown is underway:

EXPAT families newly settling down in Shanghai are likely to want Filipinos, renowned for their nannying skills, as housemaids. But finding one is getting harder these days. more ›

• We'll take a moment in this Around Shanghai to highlight this incredibly interesting article about Shanghai's role in the Communist Party. Sure, ex-Prez Jiang Zemin was from here - but it seems like this city's influence stretches deeper than that, and is in fact part of "an on-going factional struggle that has been silently raging at the top levels" of the CCP. [The Hindu]
• Wine critic Jancis Robinson is here in Shanghai, and she's got a lot to say on the subject of Chinese wine faux pas. Um... does buying a 35 kuai bottle at Marks & Spencers count as a faux pas? [CNNGo]
• When an expat mother and her ayi split ways, her children freak out, which makes her worry about where their emotional attachments lie. Hey, expat lady, here's some advice from an expat kid who was basically raised by a string of different ayis: Stop worrying. By the time they're 15, they'll learn not to be attached to anyone. [Cityweekend]

After a long and sometimes chaotic winter, the recent heatwave has been much celebrated around the city. Outdoor dining is back, the windows are open, and the locals are sporting this season's hottest pajama fashion. But with all the good weather there's a silver lining or, perhaps more accurately, a poisonous death haze. This is that magical time of year where all the tiny particles in the air heat up and you start feeling like you're living in a toaster over. If you can't see across the street, you probably won't enjoy walking there. more ›