Shanghai Spring

Spring in Shanghai seems far away after nearly two weeks of constant rain and cold weather !

Usually by now warm weather has arrived and the trees are blossoming ! This year we seem to be locked in a perpetual cold front which won't break.

There are sporadic signs of spring including birds in the trees and random blossoms but the mood remains grim after so much rain and so many cloudy days !

Air quality seems to be improved over last year although it is hard to measure.

The city continues to be undergoing a major face lift in preparation for next year's World Fair which will open in the late spring in PuDong along the Huang Pu River. It seems that city districts have been given a clear directive to upgrade the facades of as many buildings as possible. new construction continues but more effort seems to be focused on renovation and upgrades.

Tickets went on sale this week for the World's Fair which is a sign that the final push is on to complete the construction and landscaping at the Fair location. The landmark building for the Fair is nearing completion. Transportation lines - subways and light rail are in their final months of construction.

This should really bring Shanghai on to the world stage as China's pre-eminent international city.

In the meantime we wait for warm dry weather !