A few links to start off your day: more ›

The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost upon us, and as with any country-wide holiday in China, we can expect huge amounts (millions upon millions of people moving around!) of traffic both in and out of Shanghai. So what's Shanghai going to do? Block roads around Expo, apparently. more ›

Not only was Car Free Day in Shanghai neither car free or a day, it seems that the two-and-a-half hour traffic ban on Nanjing Xi Lu this morning probably just caused more congestion (and possibly more pollution thanks to stopped, but still running, cars) thanks to nobody even knowing it was Car Free Day. And who can blame them? The day has shrunk from an entire 12-hour ban on private cars in central business districts in 2007 to just six hours on fewer streets last year and now to the measly little attempt this time around. And while today's efforts may have been symbolic, transport planners apparently forgot to tell the media to widely publicize their mediocre, lame action. As a result, traffic was backed up along most nearby roads. Good going, guys. Source:Shanghai Daily more ›

While we suppose that people who use private transportation are wiping their brows at the news, Shanghai's Car Free Day - which happens tomorrow, September 22 - seems to be a bit of a wash. While there is a rule that no cars are allowed in a section of the city during the day, take a look at where and for how long. Unlike previous reports that cars would be banned over five square kilometers for twelve entire hours, it seems that drivers will actually only need to worry about roads from between 8am to 10:30am... and only if they are traveling the stretch of Nanjing Xi Lu between Shimen Er Lu and Huashan Lu. If you happen to be around Shanghai Center and Plaza 66 at that time, we suppose you could leap through the usually crowded street (watch out for buses if you do), but otherwise, everywhere else will remain exactly the same as usual. Source: Xinmin more ›

• Okay, we have to admit the Shanghai Corporate Pavilion looks pretty cool... and its structure is made out of recycled CD cases. Ah, remember when we used to use CDs? [Gizmodo]
• The Golden Grand Prix is this month and everybody's still wondering whether injured Shanghainese poster boy Liu Xiang will appear. [Reuters]
• Soho is opening in China and it's going to be in Jing'an. They are targeting Chinese, not foreign, businesses. [Forbes]

Photo of a Shanghai demolition site from Montrasio International more ›

Defying Chinese criticism and pressure, Chancellor Angela Merkel met the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, on Sunday in Berlin, becoming the first German chancellor to do so, despite warnings from Beijing that it could damage economic contacts. more ›

Ever thought of what you're doing to offset your carbon footprint? This Saturday, instead of driving your car or taking a taxi, why don't you try taking public transport, cycling or walking instead? Residents will be asked to avoid driving private cars within the Inner Ring Road, and while compliance is not mandatory, driving will be banned outright in some areas.
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We're a bit confused here: We just read a report (in Chinese) that says 70 mayors of Chinese cities have signed agreements that make World Car Free Day -- September 22 -- somewhat official. However, it seems that Beijing tried this in 2005 in an attempt to meet "blue sky" goals. Supposedly Chengdu was the first Chinese city back in 2001 to try to do something for WCFD. After the signing of this agreement, most of China's big cities, such as Chongqing, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, etc. are on board. Not only are they going to encourage more people to walk, bike and use public transit, they might even carve out a no-car zone in parts of the cities. more ›