If the cool temperatures stick around for just a few more days, we may see the earliest fall in Shanghai since 1986! The Shanghai Meteorological Bureau follows the same guidelines for declaring seasons as they do in Spring - "autumn is announced by the bureau when the 24-hour average temperature drops below 22 degrees for five consecutive days." We've been sitting around 21 degrees so far this week, but averages are expected to rise over the next few days and will probably postpone the announcement. While the average autumn start date over the last 30 years was September 27, many of us living in the city the past few years have appreciated much later autumns. But from last Friday to Monday, the city saw a drop of 10 degrees C! more ›

We didn't, and were quite amused to find out that the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau was actually giving out pointers on nose health. Apparently, they've been telling people to "rinse their nasal cavities between one and six times a day depending on weather and environmental conditions to prevent respiratory diseases" - advice that, based on everything we know about mucus' protective functions, sounds plenty terrible. Luckily, actual doctors have stepped in, arguing that "frequent wash or washing in a wrong way may damage the physiological function of the nasal cavity and may even cause other diseases." The Bureau has stepped down for now, withdrawing the products they'd recommended for nasal cleaning... but honestly, who was going to take health advice from a place that can barely do their actual job - accurately predicting weather - well? more ›

While this morning was all blue skies and fluffy white clouds, the weather has changed quite drastically - and now, Shanghai's Meterological Bureau is saying that Shanghai's first day of school (tomorrow) will also welcome the first day of the Typhoon Kompasu. Expect heavy rainfall and winds between level 6 or 8 on the Beauford Scale (anywhere from between 39km/h to 74km/h). We'd argue from the storming outside that the MetBu's a little late - Typhoon Kompasu's already knocking at the door. more ›

Yesterday's thunder and lightning flash flood rain storm was so close you felt like you could reach out and touch it. Luckily, no one seems to actually have (unlike this unlucky worker on Tuesday), but some of you did brave the storm to snap some amazing shots, like this one above by Shanghaiist Flickr pool contributor FrasSmith. more ›

Remember how we went to Orange Alert a little while ago? The insanely high temperatures of the last couple of days have shocked Shanghai authorities into changing the color... to red! That's hardly any comfort to anyone walking outside right now, and I'm not really sure what the colors do besides tell us what we already know... but anyway, look forward to rain (but just a teeny drop in temperature tomorrow, and slightly more reasonable temperatures on Monday in time for the Qixi Festival. more ›

From Shanghai Daily:

SHANGHAI issued an orange alert for heavy fog this morning. It was the first orange fog warning since winter began early this month. more ›

• Students top pregnancy hotline list
  Nearly half the women calling the city's first hotline for unexpected pregnancies are students. Hotline officials released the figures yesterday in a move to promote young people's sexual awareness ahead of World Population Day on Wednesday.


• Prostate awareness drive goes national
  Ten Chinese hospitals will kick off the nation's first coordinated research into chronic prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate gland.


• Beijing opens first counseling clinic for prisoners
  A special assistance center was set up in Beijing Prison recently where policewomen, who are also qualified counselors, provide help for special "clients", male prisoners who are serving long sentences, Beijing Youth News reported on July 5.

Spring has well-and-truly sprung. According to word from the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, we are now entering the earliest summer for 100 years. Get ready for a hot time. more ›

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Photo from kumo36. more ›

Photo from theshanghaieye and Slow Boat to China. more ›