Today's Shanghai | News(1997)

1997---May

On May 26, Party Secretary Huang Ju and the delegation he led returned to Shanghai after visiting three Latin-American countries and Thailand.

Vice-major Chen Liangyu met with the delegation from Liverpool in England on May 26. The British delegation, led by Liverpool's Municipal Council Chairperson, visited the city in a gesture of strengthening the friendly ties between the two cities.

Shanghai Library has recently opened two educational bases, one for the youth and the other for Shanghai's youth volunteers. Besides, a corridor devoted to the introduction of members of China's Academy of Sciences has been opened.

The 17th "Shanghai In Spring" drew its curtain on May 26. The 18-day artistic event attracted about 50,000 people.

Zabei District celebrated the 5th anniversary of one of the city's four largest commercial center--Nightless City. The commercial city has been successful in drawing investors and real estate developers.

Fengxian County, once regarded as the poorest suburban county in Shanghai, did its best to put more investment on the county's education. As a result, more modern facilities are becoming available for schools.

Family cultural festivals are becoming common. Communities throughout the city have been organizing various kinds of book-themed activities such as book exhibition, old-book swapping and sales as well.

Tomson Golf Link, located in Pudong New Area, opened to business on May 25. It boasts of facilities that are equal to those world-class links.

Commuters now no longer need to buy commutation tickets very month. Several public- transport buses have begun to charge via electronic commutation tickets.

Flower shops are flourishing in the city. More and more local residents are buying flowers for home decoration, as a local newspaper reported.

"Fangsao", literally "textile elder sister-in law", once referred to those married, around-35-year-old female textile workers. But now, as a result of downsizing, some of them are now becoming policewomen thanks to the government's re-careering efforts.

Nanshi District Government has offered jobs to 11,788 laid-off workers since last year. It also helped many in retraining.

On May 23, an exhibition of paintings of Hong Kong was held at the new site for Shanghai Library. The exhibits include Chinese paintings, oil painting and calligraphy works.

The 12th Wenhui Book Fair was a quite success in drawing a large number of readers and buyers as well. It was concluded on May 11.

Jing'an District has recently adopted a new community health maintenance policy which requires community doctors at the beck and call of the patients. After being paged, the doctors will immediately make house calls.

Huangpu District held its fifth Family Culture Festival which lasted for 10 days. During the festival a great variety of activities aiming at promoting harmony, frugality and brotherhood were organized. Among them, there were stage performances by senior citizens, lectures on house decoration, etc.

The first quarter of this year witnessed the booming of the insurance business. It is reported that the income from life insurance during the period reached US$156 million, an 122.4 percent increase over last year.

There is an ever-growing force in Shanghai's service industry. It is express delivery. Now there are several companies offer this service and the delivery is made within hours in the city proper.

The first passenger train left Shanghai for Hong Kong on May 19. It is the first time in history for trains running between the two cities.

This year's May 18 is the 7th anniversary of "National Helping-The-Disabled Day". People from all walks of life did their best in extending a helping hand to those needy.

France's President Chirac delivered a speech during his visit to Pudong New Area. After the speech, Shanghai's vice-major Mr. Zhao Qizheng accompanied the president and his life visiting Shanghai Museum.

On May 18, about one thousand teenagers aged 18 attended an adolescence rite organized by the city's Youth League and Education Committee.

May 17 marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of Tongji University. About thirty thousand professors and students attended the ceremony.

Major Xu Kuangdi met with France's President Mr. Chirac on May 17. Both of them took part in the opening ceremony of France Republic High-Tech Fair held in Shanghai World Commercial City.

On May 17, the delegation led by Shanghai's Party Secretary Mr. Huang Ju ended their visit in Peru.

May 17 is the 100th anniversary of the establishment of The Commercial Press, which has been playing an important role in China's publishing industry and is regarded one of the best publishers in China.

Shanghai plans a series of tight financial and management controlc to complete this year's framework for a modern enterprise system within State-owned enterprises.

Shanghai International Computer & networks Exhibition '97, the largest computer and information technology show in East China, ended on May 17 after receiving more than 80,000 domestic and overseas visitors.

"Shanghai Encyclopedia", the title for a CD-ROM covering various aspects of Shanghai, was recently shipped.

The number of cell phone users in Shanghai has reached nearly 410,000, an average of three for every 100 people, according to the Shanghai Posts and Telecommunications Bureau.

Jinshan County, located to the south of Shanghai proper, will no longer be called a county. The county with a population of half a million, from now on, is designated as Jinshan District.

Tea drinking has been penetrating into every corner of the city. The recently held tea culture sponsored by Zabei District includes "Tea Art Performance" by a group of middle-aged housewives and the teaching of tea etiquette in schools.

Shanghai Polar-region Museum opened on May 12. The museum, another scientific-education base, traces China's Polar Region Exploring Team's hardships and achievements since 1984.

An exhibition of Hong Kong's seven prestigious universities was held on May 12 at Fudan University. About 400 pictures were displayed.

As Hong Kong's return draws near, millions of primary and middle schools students in Shanghai are organizing various kinds of activity to celebrate the historic return.

"Silk Road", the theme of a painting exhibition by the famous modern French painter Anne Lan, was held at Shanghai Historical Museum.

Shanghai Medical University has been officially recognized as a "211 Project" university. The project, organized by the State Education Committee, is aimed to have 100 top universities under its wing by the year 2000.

The 12th Wenhui Book Exhibition opened on May 9 at Shanghai Workers' Palace. There are about 30,000 kinds of books on display.

Credit cards are playing a more important role in facilitating the lives of local residents. About 200 supermarkets are now connected to a network called "Orient Card Network".

More than 180 telecommunications officials and experts from 29 Asia-Pacific countries and regions are gathering in Shanghai for a seminar on the development of telecommunications in the Asia-Pacific.

Starting this month, workers in private enterprises and self-employed workers can enjoy medical security. The city reformed the hospitalization fees for workers on May 1 last year.

Funds from foreign donators to support Shanghai's culture and welfare development must not be spent for other purposes, according to a new regulation that goes into effect on June 1.

Since it was established three years ago, the Shanghai Charity Foundation has received more than $13 million in donations from home and abroad, according to its director.

Top administrators from universities in China and Germany on May 17 will celebrate the 90th anniversary of Tongji University. The occasion will be marked by the opening of a new college at the Shanghai campus.

COnsulting service has started to develop in Pudong New Area. According to a report in the local Business News, Pudong's need for international investment, projects and personnel support has attracted many well-known multinational consulting firms.

China Glass & Enamel '97, the second international glass and enamel technology and machinery exhibition, opens on May 6 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center.

The remains of China's veteran revolutionary Peng Zhen, who died on April 26 at the age of 95, were cremated in Beijing on May 5.

The six-day '97 Shanghai Real Estate Fair held its opening ceremony on May 4. It is the largest of its kind in history. About 150 real state companies and brokerages participated; about 20 million square meters of apartment and office buildings will be displayed.

This year's May 4 is the 75th anniversary of the founding of China's Communist Youth League. President Jiang Zemin called upon the young to learn from excellent youth representatives whom have recently been awarded with "Medal of May 4".

Shanghai began to adopt pension system for town workers in 1993. After about three years, Shanghai has been regarded as a successful example among major cities in forming a social security network.

About $35 million has been set aside for Shanghai's Cross-provincial Economic Cooperation Fund which will encourage Shanghai's enterprises to invest in middle-west areas.

Shanghai will try to convince more Chinese studying abroad to return home by urging employers to offer them foreign-level salaries and other preferential treatment.

Overseas investment kept pouring into Shanghai in the first quarter this year, according to local officials. During the period about a contracted sum of $852 million was reported.

Shanghai No. 1 Department Store, the No. 1 player in China's retail industry over the past decade, lost its lead in the first quarter of 1997 to arch rival Shanghai Hualian Co., Ltd.

Wei Guangxiu, a 26-year-old man charged in 12 assaults and two murders, is awaiting trial at Shanghai People's Court. Wei, the notorious "stalker" that the mere mention of him stroke fear in local residents, might face death penalty.

More than one quarter of migrant workers in Shanghai have brought their families to China's largest industrial city. According to a survey done by Fudan University, Shanghai's 2.6 million migrants include at least 100,000 families with 320,000 people.

The Shanghai Railway Bureau, operator of railways in most of East China, has set a record of no major accidents for 1,200 straight days.

About 150,000 Shanghai students on May 3 celebrated the 78th anniversary of the May 4 Movement, the anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism student movement in 1919 that marked the beginning of Modern Chinese history.

The seventeenth "Shanghai in Spring" will start from May 9 to May 26. The annual artistic and academic event will feature 26 activities including the famous opera "Carmen".

A recent survey done in Pudong New Area revealed that about 88.8% of the locals their living standard has been improved with the development of the whole area. The average living space per person has reached 11.4 square meters and there are about 504 schools within the area.

Career counseling plays a positive role in relieving the lives of the "laid-off". Labor departments throughout the city have been making efforts in providing them with training opportunities and guiding them in career options.

'97 Shanghai International Tea Cultural Festival drew a successful conclusion on May 2. During the festival, about one hundred thousand people participated in the series of activities that centered upon China's tea culture.

Statistics show that the city's birth rate was 0.512% last year, while its death rate was 0.741%. As a result, the city's population recorded a 0.229% decrease. It was the third consecutive year the city reported population decline.

Shanghai plans to build a large modern residential zone on the site of the obsolete airport called Jiangwan Airport to help improve living conditions for local residents.

Shanghai will spend 3% of its gross domestic product on environmental protection in the remainder years of the 20th century, according to Major Xu Kuangdi.

Tea remains the No.1 drink in Shanghai despite the influx of instant coffee and other beverages such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The city's per capita team consumption has increased from 200 grams to 550 grams. At the same time, 28 tea houses have been set up around the city.

A local regulation that became effective on May 1 prohibits the indiscriminate discharge of sewage and construction companies from blocking sewers with debris and garbage.

This year's May 1 marks the two-year anniversary of the adoption of the five-day work week among most enterprises. According to a regulation of the State Council, all enterprises must adopt the 5-day work week from May 1, 1997.

May 1st is the International Labor Day. The municipality announced three days off for people of all walks of life. The holidays start from Thursday to Saturday. People are expected to resume work on Sunday.

Back>>>