Written by: DAI Qian, ZHANG Ruyun, XU Jiechen, DING Yimin, Huang Yunzhi, CHEN Yijia, Hu Lu

Photographed by: Xu Jiechen, DING Yimin, Wang Zhiqiang, LI Yonggang

Shanghai, a vibrant and dynamic city, has been attracting more and more attention as well as expectations from the world. People in Shanghai, who have created all the splendor of the city, cherish every day, every moment of their lives here. Growing together with the city, Shanghai people are experiencing all the pains and gains of Shanghai.

Living in Shanghai, people find their busy lives full of hope and joy. Using their own brushes of dreams, Shanghai people are painting a new picture of life in Shanghai.

Let’s take a look at 24 hours in the lives of Shanghai people! Take a look at life in Shanghai!

Time: 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Place: Gateball Course

Morning greets people earlier in summer. It was only 5 a.m. when LU Qiuxin and her friends flocked to the Sanmin Gateball Course in Sanlin Town, Pudong New Area. In no time a group of some forty people gathered, each taking their own rod together with a cup of tea.

The gateball course was built by the government of Sanmin Village two years ago for its senior citizens at a cost of RMB 100,000 yuan. The game soon captured the hearts of the old people and won a lovely nickname—Golf for the Old—from the players. Before the advent of gateball in Sanmin Village, communication between senior villagers was confined to small groups of mahjong or poker pals. Now gateball has brought the elderly of the whole village together, and one will be asked about if s/he is absent from the game. Ms. LU is an active member of the group. At the end of last year, she and her elderly neighbors moved into new houses because of the construction of the Expo Zone. Her pretty new house is quite close to the gateball course.“Lots of Sanmin villagers are moving to new houses this year. The houses won’t be far from this course. For us, life is becoming more and more beautiful. Look at the old man over there! He’s 85, the oldest in our team, and you see what sound health he’s in! By the way, this year I have passed the second-grade umpire exam for gateball.”Says Ms. LU cheerfully.

The golden sunlight gently kisses the green course as well as the leisurely playing elderly on it. What a nice picture of an early summer morning!

Time: 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Place: Shanghai TV Station

“A splendid day starts with SHANGHAI MORNING. Good morning! Welcome to our program SHANGHAI MORNING.”With a cordial greeting, SHANGHAI MORNING on the Shanghai TV Station begins at 7 a.m. sharp every day.

The staff of this morning program are always the first to come to the TV station, located on Weihai Street. As early as 6 o’clock, the editors have already scanned the latest newspapers of the day and have prepared the news to be announced on the program. The dubbing for the program has also been finished by this time. Everything has to be fully arranged before the cameras are on.

At 6:20, WANG Xin, the lovely anchor of SHANGHAI MORNING, sits down by the computer and begins to prepare for her part. Every day she has to arrive at the station by 5 a.m. so her make-up can be applied. And within half an hour, she must finish the preparation for the 50-odd pieces of news to be announced, arranging sentences and paragraphs according to the audience’s habits and her own broadcasting style.

7 a.m., time to go on air.“A splendid day starts with SHANGHAI MORNING…”

With WANG’s pleasant voice, another splendid day in Shanghai begins.

Time: 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Place: Songnan Residential Area/Hongqiao Blind Children’s School

Be it rainy or windy, JI Long’an never fails to pick up LIU Jiaqi at 7 a.m. from Songnan Residential Area and drive the small boy to Hongqiao Blind Children’s School. Liu Jiaqi has never been able to see the world with his eyes, and his parents are also blind. The boy goes to school on Monday and returns on the weekend every week, but the dozens of kilometers between home and school seemed an impossible journey to his family. When Mr. JI heard about their plight, he volunteered to drive the boy free of charge using his own taxi. The decision also won praise from JI’s colleagues.

Ever since that, JI has been the“personal driver”for Jiaqi for six years up to the present. His continuous help is deeply appreciated by LIU’s family. Mr. JI delights in every progress of LIU Jiaqi, which he sees as the biggest reward for his efforts. JI promises that he will continue to drive the boy till he goes to college.

At 7 :45, JI’s taxi arrived at Hongqiao Blind Children’s School.“Jiaqi, see you here Friday! Take good care of yourself!”JI tells Jiaqi tenderly.

The car light went on and JI drove away. The light seems to have illuminated the life path of LIU Jiaqi, and it also warms the loving hearts of Shanghai people.

Time: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Place: Metro Line 2

For GU Gang, boarding the Metro Line 2 at 8:10 marks the beginning of another day. Though he gets on the vehicle at the first station, most often it is already crowded, as it is morning rush hour. GU travels from Zhongshan Park station to Zhangjiang Hi-tech Zone in Pudong. If he is lucky enough to get a seat, GU could finish reading the newspaper he bought at the station.

GU Gang comes from Liaoning Province, northeast China. After 4 years of university life in Shanghai, GU found himself deeply attached to the city and decided to stay.

“I’ve just graduated from university earlier this year, and got a job that I love. Well, now everything is fresh for me,”tells GU,”But the past 4 years have already adjusted me to the rhythm of this city.”

As the gate opens, in come many young white-collar workers just like GU. GU goes on,“This may be the busiest moment in the vehicle, but it is also the quietest one. I usually make use of this period of time to skim over all kinds of information. This is quite necessary both for my work and life, otherwise, I might fall behind the development of the society.”

Every morning on the Metro Line 2, you will see lots of young, talented people like GU. They have come to Shanghai for university study, have been offered a decent job here and stay. They are generally below 30 years old. They speak standard Mandarin and are called the“new Shanghainese”. Undoubtedly, these new Shanghainese constitute one of the liveliest forces in the city of Shanghai.

Time: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Place: Shanghai Center of Human Resource Business

The Shanghai Center of Human Resource Business is located at No.123, Damuqiao Road. Every day, the center’s business kicks off at 9 a.m. To the left of the lobby is the service area for examining the qualifications and approving the employment activities of foreign experts in Shanghai. The Center is also responsible for issuing the Certificates for Foreign Experts and Certificates for Qualified Employers of Foreign Experts.

The job at the center requires great care and patience as the staff here deals with numerous application forms and related materials, and has to repeatedly explain the regulations and requirements time and again. However, the top quality necessary for doing this job is enthusiasm. Sweet smiles are always on the staffs’faces despite the boring routine work.

In recent years, the number of foreign experts coming to Shanghai has grown by 10% annually. This year, from March to August, as many as 1,713 sets of Certificates for Foreign Experts have been issued by the center, among which 974 sets are extensions.

Over the years, foreign experts have made significant contributions to the city’s development in such fields as traditional industries, Hi-tech industries, strategic programs, business consultation, welfare, science & education, and culture and public health, among others. These people are becoming an integral part of Shanghai.

Time : 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Place: a hairdressing salon

The hairdressing salon of YAMA opens at 10 a.m. every day. YAMA comes from Yokohama, Japan. He works until 10 at night. The salon’s business is so good that many customers have to make reservations beforehand. YAMA’s first customer today is a news anchor. He visits here frequently for hairdressing and make-up before broadcasting. YAMA talks happily with the old customer in fluent Chinese as he does his job.

Before coming to Shanghai, YAMA spent two years learning hair design in London. This is his 7th year since settling in Shanghai. YAMA worked as free-lancer for Vogue magazines for his first two years here. As he became increasingly fond of Shanghai, he made up his mind in 2000 to open a hairdressing salon of his own. Now YAMA not only has his salon in the hottest part of the CBD on West Nanjing Road, but has also made lots of friends in this city. The young Japanese man is fully enjoying his life in Shanghai.

Time: 11a.m. to 12 a.m.

Place: Lane 913, Central Yan’an Road

At 11 o’clock, most people begin to think about lunch. Aunt JIANG, a resident of Lane 913, Central Yan’an Road, has finished hers already. Working as a security ranger for her community, Aunt JIANG must have her lunch a little earlier and begin work at 11 a.m.

Many celebrities once lived in this community, for example, the famous poets Tagore and XU Zhimo, and ZHANG Taiyan, the great revolutionist and scholar in the early 20th Century. Now it is just one of the ordinary residential areas in Shanghai. Wearing her badge, Aunt JIANG guides the tourists to the community while keeping an eye on security and traffic in the area.

“How are you, Aunty?”every resident passing by greets Aunt JIANG affectionately.

When it seems likely to rain, Aunt JIANG hurries to warn the residents to bring in the clothes and quilts that are airing outside.

There are thousands of security rangers like JIANG working in different communities in Shanghai. Thanks to their careful work, the community’s life can be so peaceful and comfortable.

Time: 12 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Place: a bar/restaurant

This is the most popular American-style bar in the vicinity. Located in the CBD area of Shanghai, the bar/restaurant enjoys a booming business, especially at lunchtime. No empty seats can be found in the two-story restaurant after 12 a.m.

The open-air seats by the street are preferred by many foreign customers. The staff of the bar, all in black T-shirts, come and go offering excellent services. Everything here is in perfect order.

As long as she has enough time at noon, Miss XU will always invite some colleagues to the bar/restaurant and have a meal. It is only 2 minutes’walk to the restaurant from her office. Miss XU finds that lots of young professionals just like her choose the same place. While enjoying the great food and drink, these industrious professionals may also treat themselves by stretching their bodies a bit on a sofa or observing the surroundings on high stools. Having lunch here is not only a treat for the mouth, but also a treat for the mind.

Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Place: near an office building downtown

No time to wipe the sweat from his forehead, LIN Zhenyang sets out for another express delivery.

“This is the busiest time of the day.”LIN says from experience. He has been a courier for 2 years in Shanghai, traveling by bicycle between the city’s office buildings.

“I am one of the migrant workers in Shanghai. Two years ago when I began this job, I really felt lost on the labyrinth-like roads and streets. It was a hard time for me, but now I know these routes very well. I dare say that we couriers are much more familiar with the roads here than Shanghai natives.”Mr. LIN could not hide his pride.

“We work very hard, but it is worthwhile as long as the goods arrive safely. In the typhoon weather like we had several days ago, we must make every effort to deliver the goods intact. His voice became serious. Satisfaction from customers is our purpose.”

Indeed, the leaps and bounds of the city could not have been achieved without the efforts of men like LIN.

Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Place: Sunqiao Modern Agriculture Development Zone

Dr. BU Chongxing, renowned as“the Father of Melon”, is from Ningxia Province, northwest China. Dr. BU has been extremely busy recently. At the moment, he and his colleagues are engaged in discussing solutions to various diseases the plants may suffer from. Dr. BU has done pioneering research work in soiless culture, and has made many technological breakthroughs in growing melons with no soil.

Walking into the greenhouse in the agriculture development zone, one will discover a fragrant fairyland. Peonies and tulips are in full bloom. Cherries, tomatoes, and pumpkins are mature and sweetly scented. The bees specially kept in the agriculture zone are buzzing merrily about. Vegetables like celery and cucumbers add more color to this picturesque scene. Sunqiao Modern Agriculture Zone is bringing us closer to scientific agriculture and a green life.

The farmers near the zone are the ones who enjoy the immediate benefits of the advanced equipment and technologies. Guided by Dr. BU, they are sowing seeds of hope and heading for a more fruitful season.

Time: 3p.m. to 4 p.m.

Place: World Expo Volunteers Club

Class begins! Quietly sitting in a classroom, the pupils attending the World Expo volunteers club are listening attentively to their teacher–a little girl who is in grade 4 in primary school.

The girl is named CHEN Ciyu. Last September she was lucky to be chosen as the“little envoy of World Expo 2010”. Ever since then, the little envoy has never let up in her efforts for the World Expo. After her proposition for the club was adopted by her primary school, CHEN Ciyu has been busy preparing lectures and all the club activities. Even teachers of the school are interested in CHEN’s class. From the history of World Expo, to information about the 2010 Expo to be held in Shanghai, CHEN Ciyu knows it all. She also teaches her students small English dialogues about the World Expo.

Now the club has begun its second session. CHEN Ciyu will invite more and more“little Expo envoys”to join the club.

Time: 4p.m. to 5p.m.

Place: Shanghai Library

The reading room closes at 5 p.m. Having been here for almost the whole day, many readers are still reluctant to leave.

This is a peaceful place isolating you from the hustle and bustle outside. You may enjoy yourself in an ocean of knowledge. The only things you need are a reader’s card, a pen, a notebook, and perhaps, a bottle of water.

During the summer vacation, WEI and LIN visit Shanghai Library every other day to read. The two middle school students show great interest in history books.

One can never be too old to learn. Lots of senior citizens are also frequent visitors to the library. An old lady retired from the Shanghai Branch of Xinhua News Agency is checking some foreign papers. Reading and thinking has become an indispensable part of her life. She is so deeply immersed in her world that she doesn’t notice the soft music, reminding everyone that the library will close soon. Just like her, many other readers also find hard to say goodbye to the books.

Time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Place: the crossing of Changde Rd. and Central Yan’an Rd.

Uncle HE has been working as a traffic ranger for more than one year. Every afternoon he is on duty at the crossing of Changde Rd. and Central Yan’an Rd. Wearing his uniform, Uncle HE blows his whistle and waves his hand to keep the traffic moving in order. It is 5 o’clock in the afternoon. The traffic flow reaches a peak at this moment.

“Excuse me, where is the No.708 bus station?”someone asks.

Uncle HE made a standard salute and gave the directions. Hundreds of people ask him for the way every day, and Uncle HE always replies in detail and with great patience. When he see old people crossing the road, Uncle HE always offers his hand and leads them across the road carefully.

“Please stay behind the line. Thank you!”“The bus is turning. Be careful! Move back!”As Uncle HE keeps calling, sweat is rolling down his face.

Time: 6p.m. to 7 p.m.

Place: A ballet training school

FUJIHARA Lingjia is 9 years old now, but she has learned ballet for five years. The girl is surnamed FUJIHARA after her father, who is Japanese. Her mother is from Shanghai and has named the daughter“Lingjia”–a beautiful Chinese given name for girls.

This summer vacation, Lingjia will not go to Japan to stay with her grandparents as usual. The girl has decided to stay in Shanghai for her ballet course, although she badly misses her grandparents, her cousins, and other relatives in Tokyo. Lingjia is a little ballet dancer now.

Like most little girls, Lingjia took a fancy to ballet mostly because she thought the dance would make her lovely and graceful. Each weekend she goes to this ballet school together with four other kids. They are taught by WANG Qifeng, a famous ballet dancer in Shanghai.

The school is located on Changshou Road, Puxi area, while the 5 children all live in Pudong. Therefore, the parents take turns to drive the little dancers to the school every week. On the way to the ballet school, the five kids chat cheerfully in the car. This happy journey might be another reason why Lingjia likes coming to the ballet school so much.

Time: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Place: A foreign language training center

In Shanghai, it is common for young professionals to go to foreign language training centers to“charge”themselves. For most of them, it is also a nice way of relaxing by taking an oral English course and talking freely with teachers and classmates. Statistics show that young white-collar workers account for 70% of all students taking spoken English courses, and the number keeps growing.

In a foreign language training center located on Huaihai Road, there are many such young people who have just finished working, and have come to study. The dozens of mini-classrooms here seem rather unique. Unlike traditional classrooms, chairs are placed at random in these small rooms. Each of the classrooms only holds 8 people at most. Decorated with blue carpet and green plants, the classrooms feel pleasant and cozy.

Mr. MA, aged 25, is a doctor. As he has quite a few foreign patients, MA decided to come here and improve his spoken English. Obviously, he likes the lessons here.

A young couple working in a travel agency both attend the lesson to facilitate their communication with foreign customers. Because of their busy work, though working at the same place, they have little chance to talk to each other during the daytime. Unexpectedly, practicing English dialogues in the evening provides an ideal platform for them to talk to each other. The communication between them has also been enhanced. The English course, as they say, has added a sweet sauce to their marriage.

Several girls are also here for an oral English lesson. As they plan to travel to Europe together, they have come to the center first for language preparation.

On the wall of the corridor there are lots of pictures of students and foreign teachers. Happy laughter and English chatting can still be heard from the classrooms. Language is the bridge between different hearts.

Time: 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Place: a fitness club

In a fitness club on West Nanjing Rd., members led by an instructor are spinning and skipping to the syncopated rhythm of the music. The one-hour bodyjam is a mixture of hip-hop, jazz, and Latin dance. As night descends, the fitness club throbs with glittering lights and hot music.

Miss HUANG never misses her bodyjam class. She has been doing fitness exercises for three years.“I don’t care for the traditional exercises like running. Dancing with the instructor is more interesting. Maybe I don’t dance very well, but I enjoy it !”

This is one of the most fashionable fitness clubs in Shanghai. Looking at the curriculum list you will find almost all the exercises you can name. Doing fitness exercises here is not only something to flatten your belly or keep legs lean, it is a way to get yourself motivated and feel great.

Time: 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Place: the basketball court in Xujiahui Park

Few places are as full of vitality and vigor as a basketball court.

Dribbling, driving, slam! Everybody on the court is exploding with enthusiasm. Impossible means nothing here. Youths are flying around on the court with the special charm of basketball.

Mr. WU works in an entertainment company. He has developed a habit of coming to the basketball court in Xujiahui Park after work. Whether they know each other or not, the young people there always play to their hearts’content. It feels good!

Higher, swifter, stronger! Everyone can be Michael Jordon on this court. Knocked down? Never mind. The youthful spirits shall never lose. Let the ball do the talking.

Time: 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Place: the Riverside Boulevard

Shanghai is a sleepless city. 10 o’clock at night is just the beginning of the colorful nightlife in the city. The Riverside Boulevard is the destination of many people who like to take a walk at night. Enjoying the gentle breeze on the boulevard, you can have a very nice view of the Huangpu River.

Miss WANG and Miss XUE used to be dorm mates in university. WANG is from Hunan and XUE from Jiangxi, both in the south-central part of China. After graduation, the two girls found good jobs in Shanghai and stayed here. They often meet after work on Riverside Boulevard. Here they often chat about their university days and life in the future. Asked why they choose this venue, the two girls reply that they like the unique beauty of the boulevard.

Many have the same taste. Lovers like meeting in the nearby bars and restaurants, or appreciating the graceful dancing and soft music by the side of the road. Or perhaps simply walking along the boulevard is romantic enough.

Time: 11 p.m. to 12 p.m.

Place: Pudong International Airport

As the plane landed safely at the airport at 11:05 p.m., Cabin Manager WANG Yuyin dismissed the crewmembers. But the crew has only finished two-thirds of its mission. Although the plane has landed, the members still need to remind passengers to remember their packages, and last but not least, bid everyone goodbye with a smile.

After the passengers have left, WANG must report to the ground crew. Then she will order the cleaning work. Having finished all this, the crewmembers get on a bus and return to their company. They are going to have a meeting to evaluate today’s work.

Midnight has come.

Time: 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Place: Xintiandi

As night deepens, most people say goodbye to the passing day and have a sweet dream in bed. However, if you want to enjoy the night further, Xintiandi is a place you cannot miss.

Shanghai Xintiandi is an urban tourist attraction imbued with the city's historical and cultural legacies. The once Shikumen area (traditional local residential blocks) has now been converted into a multifunctional dining, retail and entertainment center of international standards. Overflowing with restaurants, boutiques, cafes and bars, cuisine, wine, and music, this really is a whole new world, as the name indicates.

Mr. CHEN, who graduated from a famous university in the US, is now working in an IT company in Shanghai. After a day of tiring work, he comes to Xintiandi with his friends and relaxes. Night in Xintiandi is the highlight of the day. Dancing to the tender music, you may feel like you are in a dream, but everything is real.

Time: 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Place: a tea restaurant

Cheers! Cheers! The tea restaurant is unbelievably busy at midnight.

Several years ago, Shanghai was criticized for not having restaurants open late at night. But things are changing now.

As Shanghai people become more and more accustomed to nightlife, restaurants like this one have been mushrooming in the city. The excited faces of the customers show no sign of fatigue. Most of the customers are young people. Getting together is the most important thing to them; no one cares whether it is day or night. After having a drink here, they are probably heading elsewhere for more fun. The youths can never be exhausted, even deep in the night.

Time: 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Place: a 24-hour convenience store

Lights are still on in this 24-hour convenience store. Though it is 2 o’clock at night, Aunt ZHANG is still busy checking the goods and the accounts.

“Bingo!”The automatic door opens with a ring. A young man comes in to buy a cup of coffee.“Bingo!”Soon the new goods arrives. Aunt ZHANG hurries to take them in. She counts the goods 3 times to be careful, and then sticks the price tags to them.

“Bingo!”…

Before dawn comes, the numerous convenience stores are working around the clock for the convenience of the people in this city.

Time: 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Place: foreign exchange transaction room

Room 801 is the foreign exchange transaction room of the BOC Building in Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone. It is 3 a.m., Beijing time. Several staff members are closely monitoring the foreign exchange transaction markets in New York and London via the hundreds’of LCD TVs in this room.

The department of foreign exchange transactions is considered a key department of the Bank of China. DENG Lei, an advanced transaction specialist and head of the office, is the leader of this transaction team of 40 staff members. The average age of this team is 27. Due to the special physical and intellectual demands for foreign exchange transactions, the monitoring workers are merely 25 years old on average. The monitoring staff members have to work in shifts. Those who have done the job for two years would be reckoned as veterans. These young people must have an analytical mind and sharp eyes.

Midnight is the busiest time for foreign exchange transactions. The London market opens at 11 p.m., and the New York market begins at 3 a.m. local time. DENG and his team keep monitoring the data from Reuters and other services. Analyzing the data, making plans for customers, and preparing for the domestic market, the team members work attentively while others are sleeping soundly.

The unusual work time draws special attention from the bank to ensure the health of the team members. Various kinds of sports games have been arranged for the team. Look at the bulletin board in the room: basketball (Monday); football (Wednesday)…

Living in Shanghai, however, DENG and his colleagues do not live according to Beijing time.

Time: 4 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Place: an advertising company

As the first light of morning touches the city, Yezi and her colleagues see sparkles of inspiration.

Yezi works in an advertising company in Shanghai. She amusingly dubbed the meeting room of the company the“fish tank”. Now the chief designer, the copy director and the art director are all gathering in the“tank”, discussing about their new plans.

The advertising industry requires great creativity. People engaged in this industry are always the last to sleep in the city. Yezi and her colleagues are used to this working style—waiting for the Muse to visit them at any time. The hours before dawn are always the most effective time for these people.

The“fish tank”meeting room is on the 23rd floor. Looking outside from here, the city seems unusually tranquil. Whenever they come up with some brilliant ideas, Yezi and her colleagues will celebrate by appreciating the quiet and peaceful Shanghai through the window.

Dawn is breaking. A new day has come.