A smartwatch in a trash raises questions about public service costs
垃圾桶里的智能手表引发对公共服务成本的质疑
2025-07-16
| On July 2, a visitor named Lu called the 12345 hotline in Datong, capital of Shanxi Province, for assistance in looking for a misplaced watch.
The day before, on a bullet train from Shenzhen to Datong, Lu's son playfully put the smartwatch into a paper garbage but forgot to take it out when he got off. Lu knew the kids' smart watch was still somewhere in the station, most likely in a garbage pile, because it had a GPS positioning function. They had planned to visit the Yungang Grottoes the next day, so she called the hotline. It took two sanitation workers four hours to wade through the garbage pile in sweltering heat. The watch was eventually recovered. Lu, moved by the experience, said: "If I hadn't come to Datong, I would never have known how lucky we are, and this luck comes from many kind people." The flood of gratitude, however, didn't appease some doubts: "Was this search necessary? Do any of you express any concerns for the sanitation workers?" When the sanitation workers were contacted, the watch was already in a compression facility. To make the search easier, the 8-ton mound of garbage was moved to a vacant area in a rubbish incineration power plant. The local media saw it as a "heartwarming" story, and the environmental company in charge of the search publicized the findings on its official WeChat account. But not everyone was impressed. "I can't see how the story is so inspirational, or commendable," said one person. "Compared with a smartwatch for a kid, the four hours of human exertion plus the costs in transferring the tons of garbage to another location are clearly overwhelming," another person noted. The local urban management authority, which oversees sanitation, stated that this was not an isolated incident and that they will do everything possible to meet the demands of the people whenever necessary. However, their approach fails to account for several complex aspects. Since every public service has a cost, we are entitled to know who paid for this costly search. As one netizen pointed out, is there any classified information in this watch that justifies such a search? Others proposed two further mitigating circumstances that warrant the search: The sanitation business could put the pile on hold for a while so that the Lu family could look it up themselves, or they could delegate the job to another party at Lu's expense. Another dispute is whether sanitation personnel were fairly compensated for their added labor of going through 8 tons of rubbish for four hours in the heat. It could not be determined from local accounts, but Lu did opt to tip the workers for their efforts, which was refused. According to local media, in explaining the pricey search, a deputy chief of the local sanitation bureau stated, "Who is to decide whether the search is worthwhile or not?" This is simply something we should do; there is no need to overstate or understate it. We are always willing to help when folks are in need." As someone wisely commented, the four-hour search through the pile would be a more justifiable and honorable task if completed by the deputy chief himself. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
The race is on! Chinese pharma firms see fat profit potential in weight-loss drugs
竞赛打响！中国药企看好减肥药巨大利润潜力
2025-07-15
| Fatness, once a scourge only in advanced Western countries, is no stranger to China nowadays, with an estimated 400 million overweight or obese adults. Small wonder that the nation's pharmaceutical companies have joined foreign rivals in racing to develop drugs that help people lose weight.
Forget gym memberships, salad diets or self-control, China's middle class has discovered that the faster way to weight loss comes in a pre-filled syringe. It's a huge market for domestic drug companies. As Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk's Wegovy brand of semaglutide smashes global sales records, Chinese pharma companies are no longer standing idly. One Chinese pharma company has just launched its first semaglutide version. Another is building drug-manufacturing factories even before clinical trials are completed. And local governments are now treating weight management as a civic duty. Stocks investors are piling into domestic pharma share, betting on big returns. Originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, semaglutide mimics a nature hormone called GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide, which tells the brain you are full, slows digestion and improves insulin response. People using the drug have been shown to lose up to 15 percent of their body weight in under a year, with results often showing up within weeks. It's weight loss backed by science. No treadmill required. "The GLP-1 class has the potential to crown the next generation of blockbuster drugs," said Chen Tielin, a pharmaceutical equity analyst. "For the China market, this is more than a moment of innovation. It could mark the beginning of the country's pharmacological weight-loss era. For Chinese drugmakers, it's both a catch-up game and a chance to leapfrog." Chasing GLP-1 gold Indeed, more than 60 GLP-1 drugs are in development across China, with over 20 companies chasing semaglutide generics. Industry heavyweights like Innovent Biologics, Huadong Medicine, Jiuyuan Gene and Hengrui Pharmaceuticals are deep into clinical trials. With semaglutide's China patent set to expire in 2026, the window is wide open, and local drug companies are moving quickly to grab a share of a market projected to swell to 40 billion yuan (US$5.5 billion) by 2030. China is viewed as the world's largest untapped markets for such metabolic therapies. In recent months, Shanghai and other local governments have begun including obesity and the prevention of other chronic diseases into their health policies. That shift is fueling broader acceptance of pharmacological solutions and positioning GLP-1 therapies as more than a just weight-loss fad, but rather a long-term tool for managing a growing national health problem. Innovent Biologics last month made headlines with Mazdutide, the first Chinese-developed dual-target GLP-1/GIP agonist to reach the market. Approved in June, the drug offers weight-loss efficacy comparable to versions sold by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, at a price tag that could appeal to cost-conscious consumers. Meanwhile, Huadong Medicine, a company with established diabetes franchises, has advanced one of its GLP-1 candidates into Phase III trials. In April, its new drug application for a semaglutide injection was officially accepted by the National Medical Products Administration. Hangzhou-based Jiuyuan Gene has partnered with academic institutions to accelerate development, while Jiangsu Province-based Hengrui is leveraging its next-generation delivery platforms, including oral GLP-1 formulations and dual/triple-agonist injections, to build a competitive edge in both efficacy and patient convenience. Getting the jump on final approvals Of the 60 or more GLP-1 drugs in the pipeline across China, some are biosimilar, while others are so-called "me-betters" that tweak the molecule for longer efficacy or fewer side effects. Several players are already pouring money into manufacturing facilities ahead of time, betting that supply won't catch up with demand anytime soon. That urgency now extends far beyond labs and boardrooms. Across the country, hospital clinics are feeling the pressure from patients seeking weight-loss therapeutics. "I probably now prescribe more GLP-1 drugs than some endocrinologists," said Han Xiaodong, an obesity surgeon at Shanghai's Sixth People's Hospital. He noted that many of his patients fall into a gray zone – overweight but not obese enough for surgery, and often discouraged by failed diets and gym routines. "For these patients," he said, "the drug is not a shortcut; it's a bridge. It gives them just enough physiological help to regain control over their weight." But Han is also cautious. "Roughly 60 to 70 percent of GLP-1 inquiries we get aren't suitable," he said. "Some people have unrealistic expectations, thinking one injection will solve everything. Others don't meet the clinical criteria, and using the drug could even backfire." Still, he said he believes GLP-1 therapies mark a turning point in how China approaches obesity, not as a cosmetic issue but as a chronic disease requiring sustained, medical-grade intervention. This real-world enthusiasm is mirrored in China's stock market. Shares of companies with GLP-1 pipelines have soared in recent months, as investors bet on a new generation of blockbuster drugs. Leading the pack is Changshan Biochemical Pharmaceutical, whose shares have skyrocketed 152 percent this year. Shengnuo Biotec and BrightGene Pharmaceutical are not far behind, with gains of 86 percent and 69 percent, respectively. Huadong Medicine has jumped 28 percent since January. But investors should keep their expectations in check, warned analyst Chen. "Most of the domestic GLP-1 candidates for obesity are still in the clinical phase," he said. "That means the risk of delays, or outright failure, is real." And with an increasingly crowded playing field, competition is only going to intensify, he added. For now, the stock market is rewarding optimism. But as clinical deadlines approach, the difference between hope and hype may become harder to ignore. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
苏州河举办国际城市赛艇比赛
2025-07-14
| Nearly 400 rowers from China and abroad took part in the 2025 "Half-Marathon Suzhou Creek" City Rowing Race from July 11 to 13 as part of the annual "Shanghai Summer" campaign.
The event featured youth, masters and university races, with 37 competitions ranging from single sculls to eight-person coxed boats. It was held at the Danba Road pier on Suzhou Creek in Putuo District. The Suzhou Creek section has seen major ecological improvement in recent years, with 42 kilometers of continuous public riverfront and new green space added. "The rivers here are calm and safe – perfect for beginners," said Barbara Hanna Krause, a Polish rower living in Shanghai. "The atmosphere, the location … I think it's a huge opportunity for rowing enthusiasts." Rowers aged from 15 to over 60 competed in the event. "It's a big festival," gushed Theo Balavoine, a 19-year-old American rower. "It's cool to see that people are passionate about rowing." Alongside the race, Putuo District also launched a riverside "88 Tribe" market with food trucks, live music and night-time shopping near the Half-Marathon Suzhou Creek Park. More than 5,000 visitors joined the riverside activities during the opening weekend. Alex Sanches, a Brazilian rower who has lived in Shanghai for six years, praised the improvements along the creek. "Suzhou Creek was once quite polluted… and right now the water seems really clean," he said. The rowing race is part of the "Shanghai Summer" consumption season, which lasts through mid-October. Putuo has added three new tax refund points for international visitors. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
New airport facilities unveiled as foreign passenger numbers soar
外国游客增加，机场增添新设施
2025-07-10
| Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports are rolling out a series of new services, including sleeping cabins and free shower rooms, to cater to a growing number of passengers.
The two airports welcomed nearly 2.56 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2025, a 44.7 percent increase from the same period last year, according to Shanghai Airport Authority. Pudong International Airport saw the majority of arrivals, with 2.37 million inbound foreign passengers, more than any other airport in China. Over 1.4 million of the travelers used China's visa-free or 144-hour transit visa waiver policies. That marks a more than doubled year-on-year rise. To accommodate the rise in passenger numbers, the airport now offers eight free overnight rest zones equipped with over 1,000 seats and over 200 charging sockets. Eleven free shower rooms have been installed at the airport, with more set to open by the end of summer. The showers include amenities such as toiletries, and baby care facilities. In addition, sleep pods have been introduced at key departure gates in Terminals 1 and 2, providing reclining chairs, ventilation and charging ports. The pods cost 35 yuan (US$4.87) for 30 minutes. Convenience stores and dining outlets such as Lawson and Starbucks remain open around the clock while many restaurants now adjust their hours based on flight schedules. The airport is also partnering with 11 airlines to offer digital meal vouchers to passengers experiencing flight delays. They can be used at over 100 airport restaurants, providing a range of choices, from local Chinese cuisine to international favorites. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
Shanghai's software and information services report rapid growth
上海软件信息服务增长迅速
2025-07-08
| The revenue of Shanghai's software and information services industry surged 20 percent year on year in the first five months, positioning the city as the fastest-growing hub among China's top four software and information services regions, with the other three being Beijing, and Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, local officials said on Monday.
Shanghai has revealed 17 policies in four categories to fuel this momentum. They include awards for software and information services generating record-high revenue, encouraging research and applications in artificial intelligence, supporting digital and AI tech to empower traditional industries and cut costs from talent finding to fundraising for high-tech firms, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information. Between January and May this year, Shanghai's software and information services industry generated a revenue exceeding 690 billion yuan (US$95.8 billion), a 20.4 percent year-on-year increase, much higher than the national level of 14 percent. The chip design and industrial security sectors grew rapidly, along with China's broader long-term strategy of achieving self-reliance in software development, a goal that has gained increased urgency amidst strict technology bans imposed by the United States on Chinese tech industries. Also in the first half, Shanghai saw 98 fundraising projects in software and information services industry, accounting for 16 percent of the national level, according to the commission. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
Hong Kong is the king of the mountain in new global share listings
香港登顶全球新股上市之王
2025-07-08
| The bulls are stampeding in Hong Kong, with initial public offerings in the city in the first half leading the world in money raised. Many analysts are predicting the trend will extend to the rest of the year.
"Hong Kong has regained the crown jewel in IPOs," said Molly Bao, eastern region partner of the Capital Market Services Group at Deloitte China. A total of 42 IPOs on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange raised HK$106.7 billion (US$13.5 billion) in the first half, according to the London Stock Exchange Group. The Nasdaq in New York ranked second with new listings of US$8.85 billion, while the New York Stock Exchange came in third with US$7.52 billion. By contrast, fundraising from IPOs on the London exchange slumped to a three-decade low, and some companies in continental Europe, like medical technology firm Brainlab, drug company Stada and car-parts seller Autodoc, have delayed share sales amid trade and geopolitical uncertainties. Closer to home, Chinese mainland stock exchanges didn't share in Hong Kong's IPO glory. The three main markets hosted about 50 new companies with listings totaling 33.6 billion yuan (US$4.7 billion). Still, prospects look brighter going forward. The Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges accepted 150 IPO applications in June alone, and the STAR Market has resumed listings for startup companies with great potential but no profits yet. Hong Kong's half-year achievement surpassed total funds raised in new share sales for the whole of 2024, with PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasting up to 100 IPOs in Hong Kong this year and total fundraising of more than US$25.5 billion. Deloitte's Bao attributed Hong Kong's milestone to the rise of mainland technology companies hungry for capital to expand, Hong Kong measures streamlining applications and Beijing's support for second listings. Among the 200 active IPO applicants in the pipeline to be listed in Hong Kong are some 40 are already trading on mainland stock exchanges. "Measures encouraging leading Chinese companies to list in Hong Kong together with improved market valuations, liquidity and capital absorption capacity have all added momentum to Hong Kong's IPO market," Bao said. Centerpiece of first-half activity was the Hong Kong listing of China's world-leading battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), which was already listed in Shenzhen. The IPO raised a record US$4.6 billion. It was not only the largest sale but also one of the fastest, executed in just 128 days with investors from 15 countries involved. The shares surged 25 percent by the end of June. Robin Zeng, chairman and chief executive of CATL, said Hong Kong's status as an international financial center has enabled the company to expand its capacity, supplier network and talent pool, while also finding international partners to achieve its goal of moving beyond just a battery maker to become a "zero-carbon technology company." Worthy of mention, US underwriters of the IPO, including Bank of America, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, participated even amid US-China trade tensions. Fang Xinghai, former vice chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission and current vice president of the China Society for Finance and Banking, said intermarket links, like the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, are strengthening capital market synchronization. The market-connect mechanisms have driven a flow of funds from mainland investors into the Hong Kong market. Those flows hit a record in the second quarter. Besides CATL, 92 percent of IPOs on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the first half came from mainland companies, which raised UK$97.6 billion, a sixfold increase from a year earlier, according to Deloitte. Technology and biomed companies have been the stars in the wave of Hong Kong IPOs. For instance, Jiangsu Province-based drugmaker Hengrui Pharmaceuticals' US$1.3 billion IPO marked a five-year-high for a Hong Kong pharmaceutical debut. Another notable first share sale was Unisound AI Technology, which provides conversational products used across various industry sectors. The company raised US$26 million in its June debut. Other AI-related firms, including SenseTime, humanoid robot-maker UBTech and automotive chip vendor Horizon Robotics, have also chosen to list in Hong Kong. Why is Hong Kong so especially attractive for high-tech firms? For one thing, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in May officially launched its Technology Enterprise Channel (TECH), which provides specialized guidelines for technology and biotechnology companies. It also simplified requirements for firms with complex share structures. The emergence of China's AI star DeepSeek and its powerful, low-cost chatbot model has underpinned investor enthusiasm for breakthrough technology companies since January, helping the Hang Seng Index to a 20 percent surge this year, one of Asia's best-performing equity markets. Chinese technology companies already listed in Hong Kong have basked in the market's glow. Xiaomi shares in the first half soared 68 percent on sales of electric vehicles and the introduction of a new SUV premium model to rival Tesla. Automotive chip vendor Horizon Robotics surged 75 percent. Hong Kong has made great strides in re-establishing its credentials as a global capital market after several years of lassitude. It recently passed legislation setting up a mechanism for stablecoins – cryptocurrencies pegged to real-world assets like the US dollar – to be traded by licensed firms in the city. US-China trade tensions have bolstered Hong Kong as the go-to market for Chinese companies seeking to delist from US exchanges, amid noises from the Trump administration that the US may crack down on China listings. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the city offers an ideal platform for companies that want to sidestep geopolitical and trade risks in favor of raising money for growth and development. Consumer goods companies have also benefited from the Hong Kong market aura. Among the top five Hong Kong IPOs in the first half, two came from the food industry: condiment maker Haitian Flavoring & Food and bubble-tea chain Mixue Group. Other teahouse chains have also been IPO success stories, including Good Me, Hu Shang A Yi and Green Tea. "It's an ideal destination for restaurants and food companies," said Sindy Wong, director of Tourism and Hospitality at InvestHK. "They can not only use the city to raise capital but also as a springboard to overseas expansion." Deloitte's Bao said Hong Kong may well capture the global IPO crown for the whole of 2025. "As Hong Kong's listing regime continues to evolve and attract a new wave of IPO candidates, the city's capital market gains depth and dynamism," she said. "At the same time, new policy initiatives such as TECH are set to facilitate listings by more biotech and specialist tech companies, further fuelling growth in fundraising volumes." Financial Secretary Chan is equally optimistic for the coming month, saying, "Investors are bullish on the Hong Kong bourse going into the second half." But Hong Kong can't rest on its laurels. Some Chinese mainland companies still see brighter prospects overseas. Despite veiled threats from the Trump administration, 36 China companies sold shares in the US in the first half, up 57 percent in volume and 28 percent in fundraising from a year earlier. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
维吾尔木卡姆艺术：保存新疆音乐灵魂
2025-07-04
| The 87-year-old artist Aisaiti Mohetaer taps a dap drum as his students play rawap lutes under poplar trees in Hami, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The music builds as villagers clap, and some begin to dance. For Mohetaer, a third-generation Muqam artist, passing on the tradition is his duty and daily life. The Uygur Muqam, literally means "classic music," is an elaborate combination of music, dance and poetry. It represents one of China's most treasured cultural traditions. In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognized it as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, making it the first cultural heritage from Xinjiang to receive such honors. Muqam developed over centuries through the cultural exchanges of the ancient Silk Road. Historical records trace its early musical forms to as far back as 123 BC, over 2,100 years ago. The art reached its formal structure in the 16th century during the Yarkant Kingdom. Queen Amanni Shahan, consort of Abdurashit Khan, is credited with compiling and refining the melodies into what became the Twelve Muqam. Each suite in the Twelve Muqam can last more than two hours. Together, they stretch across nearly 24 hours of performance. The 87-year-old artist Aisaiti Mohetaer taps a dap drum as his students play rawap lutes under poplar trees in Hami, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The music builds as villagers clap, and some begin to dance. For Mohetaer, a third-generation Muqam artist, passing on the tradition is his duty and daily life. The Uygur Muqam, literally means "classic music," is an elaborate combination of music, dance and poetry. It represents one of China's most treasured cultural traditions. In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognized it as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, making it the first cultural heritage from Xinjiang to receive such honors. Muqam developed over centuries through the cultural exchanges of the ancient Silk Road. Historical records trace its early musical forms to as far back as 123 BC, over 2,100 years ago. The art reached its formal structure in the 16th century during the Yarkant Kingdom. Queen Amanni Shahan, consort of Abdurashit Khan, is credited with compiling and refining the melodies into what became the Twelve Muqam. Each suite in the Twelve Muqam can last more than two hours. Together, they stretch across nearly 24 hours of performance. By the mid-20th century, the Muqam tradition faced extinction. As older masters passed away, fewer people remembered the full repertoire. In the 1940s, only one known musician could perform all Twelve Muqam suites. Recognizing the urgency, the Chinese government launched a rescue project in the 1950s. Engineers recorded the musicians' performances. These recordings became the foundation for archiving and studying the tradition. In 2010, Xinjiang introduced the Regulations on Preserving Uygur Muqam, a rare law specifically written to safeguard an intangible cultural heritage. The legislation ensures funding for preservation efforts, restricts commercial misuse and mandates cultural education programs. "It enters a new epoch," Ma Yingsheng, an official from Xinjiang's intangible heritage office, told Xinhua news agency. "Protection has legal force." Today, a number of cultural centers across Xinjiang teach Muqam. Universities offer undergraduate degrees in the art. Primary and secondary schools introduce simplified forms of Muqam to children. The Xinjiang Muqam Art Troupe tours internationally and performs more than 100 shows each year. Mohetaer, one of more than 200 state-recognized heritage inheritors, has trained over 400 students. He receives an annual government subsidy and teaches from a small studio built by his village. "Young people are key," he told Xinhua. "I teach many 30-year-olds. They must keep this alive." By the mid-20th century, the Muqam tradition faced extinction. As older masters passed away, fewer people remembered the full repertoire. In the 1940s, only one known musician could perform all Twelve Muqam suites. Recognizing the urgency, the Chinese government launched a rescue project in the 1950s. Engineers recorded the musicians' performances. These recordings became the foundation for archiving and studying the tradition. In 2010, Xinjiang introduced the Regulations on Preserving Uygur Muqam, a rare law specifically written to safeguard an intangible cultural heritage. The legislation ensures funding for preservation efforts, restricts commercial misuse and mandates cultural education programs. "It enters a new epoch," Ma Yingsheng, an official from Xinjiang's intangible heritage office, told Xinhua news agency. "Protection has legal force." Today, a number of cultural centers across Xinjiang teach Muqam. Universities offer undergraduate degrees in the art. Primary and secondary schools introduce simplified forms of Muqam to children. The Xinjiang Muqam Art Troupe tours internationally and performs more than 100 shows each year. Mohetaer, one of more than 200 state-recognized heritage inheritors, has trained over 400 students. He receives an annual government subsidy and teaches from a small studio built by his village. "Young people are key," he told Xinhua. "I teach many 30-year-olds. They must keep this alive." |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
5本治愈心灵的回忆录，帮你重整生活
2025-07-04
| For those jetting off somewhere hot, life will still be messy when you get back from the beach. These five memoirs have carried me through some tough times and showed me that our struggles, however isolating they seem, are shared. None of these books are recent releases, but at least one will be new to you, and their insights feel more relevant than ever.
Each offers a different window into the landscapes of suffering and survival, written by people brave enough to map their pain so the rest of us might understand ours. ‘Shoot the Damn Dog’ by Sally Brampton The first mental health memoir I read. Sally Brampton founded Elle UK but behind the glossy exterior was a woman battling severe depression and alcoholism. Her account is unflinchingly honest about what it feels like to live inside a depressed mind. Brampton doesn't romanticize mental illness or offer false hope. She writes about depression like someone clawing at the walls of their existence. Brampton died by suicide years after publication. I was in the bath when I heard the news and cried like a baby. I reread her book to remind me why I'd connected with her words. Her brutal honesty about the fight for her life continues to help people feel less alone in theirs. Why to pack: Perfect for anyone drowning in their own mind. ‘Hunger’ by Roxane Gay I hate my body. If you've ever been at war with yours, this is the most honest thing you'll read about that particular hell. Gay's memoir chronicles how childhood sexual trauma led to extreme weight gain and what it's like to live in a larger body. This isn't just for people who've suffered similar trauma. I live with a severe eating disorder and find this book incredibly powerful. Gay writes brutally, with short, devastating sentences that tell it like it is. Gay doesn't apologize for her size or promise transformation. Instead, she offers something harder: the truth about surviving in a body that feels like both protection and a prison. Why to pack: Essential reading for anyone carrying trauma in a body of any size. ‘Man's Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl This book is on every therapist's bookshelf for good reason. For me, it was my mom who recommended it, but she's a therapist. Double whammy. Frankl's central insight is that we cannot choose what happens to us, but we can choose how to respond. This might sound like greeting card philosophy, but Frankl earned the right to say it through unthinkably hard experiences. There's a reason this slim book has sold over 16 million copies and been named one of the most influential books in America. Frankl's therapy focuses on finding meaning rather than pursuing happiness. In our culture of toxic positivity, this feels revolutionary. Sometimes the question isn't "How can I be happy?" but "How can I make this suffering worthwhile?" Why to pack: When life feels unbearably cruel, Frankl shows the way forward. ‘A Million Little Pieces’ by James Frey The world was sold on this book being a memoir until it turned out to have fictional elements. The addiction narrative hits like a freight train regardless of what's "true." Frey's account of rock-bottom addiction and treatment is visceral in ways that stay with you. He doesn't glorify addiction or make recovery read easy. This is about the daily grind of choosing sobriety when every cell screams for relief. Frey refuses to make himself sympathetic. He's often unlikeable, sometimes cruel, frequently self-pitying. But that honesty makes his recovery feel real. The controversy misses the point: Frey captured something essential about addiction that resonates regardless of embellishment. Why to pack: The unvarnished truth about rock bottom and climbing back. ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom Words from a dying man that are neither morbid nor manipulative. Albom reconnects with his former professor Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from a motor neurone disease. What begins as a courtesy visit becomes Tuesday conversations about love, work, death and what makes life worth living. I must have bought 10 copies of this book because I've given it away to at least nine friends. Each one has fallen in love with Morrie. I challenge you not to. Albom arrives as a successful but spiritually empty workaholic and leaves understanding something fundamental about human connection. The conversations are grounded in the reality of a deteriorating body and a sharp mind grappling with mortality. Why to pack: A gentle reminder of what matters. These books don't offer easy answers or quick fixes. What they provide is more valuable: proof that others have walked through similar darkness. While you've got sand between your toes and a pina colada in one hand, hold one of these books in the other. Sometimes choosing deeper reading over our usual romance or spy thriller gives us something extra. The knowledge we're not alone in whatever else we're packing. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
上海新增三条直飞中亚和蒙古航班
2025-07-04
| Shanghai's air network is expanding with three new international routes launching on Thursday and Friday, connecting the city to Ulaanbaatar, Tashkent, and Almaty.
The new links are expected to boost business, tourism, and cultural exchanges with Central Asia and Mongolia. Shanghai – Ulaanbaatar The first route began early Thursday, with Mongolian Airlines Flight OM265 arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The route is the first direct passenger flight between Shanghai and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. The airline will operate the Boeing 737 service twice a week. Departures from Shanghai are scheduled for 1:10am every Thursday and Sunday, arriving in Ulaanbaatar at 5am local time. Return flights leave Ulaanbaatar at 8:40pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, reaching Shanghai by 12:10am the next day. Shanghai – Tashkent From Friday, Uzbekistan's airline, Qanot Sharq, will fly between Shanghai and Tashkent twice weekly using Airbus A321 aircraft. The outbound flight leaves at 6:40am on Tuesdays and Fridays, landing at 11:50am local time. Return flights are scheduled for Monday at 7pm and Thursday at 6:50pm, arriving in Shanghai the next day at 5am. Shanghai – Almaty Also on Friday, China Eastern Airlines will launch flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan. The route will run three times a week using Airbus A321 aircraft. Flights depart from Shanghai at 4:05pm every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, landing at 7:35pm local time. Return flights leave Almaty at 8:50pm the same days and arrive in Shanghai the next morning around 6am All three cities are key stops along the ancient Silk Road. The new routes connect Shanghai to previously unserved areas under China's Belt and Road Initiative. Shanghai Airport Authority said the city is working to build a major international hub and improve access to Central Asian regions. China has mutual visa-free agreements with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, allowing easier travel for tourists and business visitors. Travelers can explore traditional Mongolian sports in Ulaanbaatar during July's Naadam Festival. In Tashkent, visitors can enjoy historical markets and local architecture. In Almaty, tourists can reach nearby mountains within 30 minutes for outdoor sports year-round. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
Vietnam trade pact shows Trump is serious about 'America First' policy
越南贸易协定显示特朗普非常关注“美国优先”政策
2025-07-03
| The Trump administration announced a new "trade agreement" with Vietnam. Instead of imposing 46 percent tariffs on goods from Hanoi, the US will charge a 20 percent duty on all imports from the country, while Vietnam will go zero-free on all imports from the US.
Not only that, but the US will levy a 40 percent tariff on all goods from Vietnam that are rerouted from China, a significant measure given that a large portion of Vietnamese exports are repackaged goods in supply chains integrated with its northern neighbor. We have long known that the Trump administration has sought to suppress this, which was a key motivation behind its heavy-handed tariff assault on Hanoi in the first place. Let's be honest: This contract is disastrous for Vietnam, threatening to destroy its export model from an early stage, without the benefit of China's vast capacity. Vietnam is an emerging economy that has joined the value chain with a cheap and plentiful labor force as its key asset. As China has become more expensive for the cheapest commodities and has progressed into producing more specialized components, international corporations have outsourced various phases of assembly to the Southeast Asian country to save costs. For example, most Apple iPhone suppliers are based in China, producing physical components, but portions of assembly have been outsourced to Vietnam. This is not an "exodus" from China, since many Chinese companies have outsourced production to Vietnam to avoid tariffs. While one might expect US strategists to see value in an economically stronger Vietnam as part of a larger regional vision to contain Beijing, and thus have attempted to cultivate stronger relationships with Hanoi, the reality is that Trump's protectionist "America First" worldview interprets trade as a zero-sum game, so the fact that China sees Vietnam as a "loophole" is unacceptable. For Trump, there are only "winners" and "losers" in trade, so a Vietnam that prospers compared with the US and China is out of the question; it's all for America or nothing. In such an event, the White House has concluded that it is preferable to crush Vietnam's trade rather than allow it to be a mutual beneficiary. As a result, the United States has pushed Hanoi, a developing country, to agree to one-sided economic arrangements. Vietnam is required to entirely open itself to the American market, but this privilege is not returned, and Vietnamese enterprises will suffer a 20 percent tariff on all exports, plus a 40 percent levy if they are from China. While Vietnam has endeavored to create a close strategic partnership with the United States, with China in mind, this "trade deal" can only be defined as punishing for its economic development and strategy, as it will now have to seek elsewhere and not rely on America. It is an absurdly self-defeating move against US firms looking to save costs, but it will undoubtedly cause them to reconsider expanding into Vietnam. When Trump says "America First," he must be taken seriously. This isn't an "anyone but China" strategy, which many US strategists tolerated and Biden adopted; rather, it's a "I want manufacturing back to the United States" attitude. I had assumed that, given its strategic importance, the US would back down on substantial tariffs against Vietnam and instead offer them a favorable arrangement, keeping China in mind. Instead, it appears that the US president is dead serious about maintaining harsh tariffs on all countries and effectively demanding one-sided capitulation in exchange for little, if any, relief. Even the United Kingdom, which is at the top of the list and poses no trade danger to America, wasn't completely off the hook. Thus, Vietnam, a strategically important country for US interests, has been effectively pushed into submission. Ironically, this will not reduce their reliance on China, but rather highlight the long-term relevance of the Chinese economy as a haven. Hanoi now faces some difficult considerations in restructuring its economic development strategy. Its role as a haven for businesses leaving China in search of access to the United States is no longer relevant. Trump is not only building a wall along the border, but also surrounding all of the United States' ports of entry. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
