Laugh in Translation: Shanghainese Comedy Stands Up to the Mainstream


SHANGHAI — As Yang Mengqi stepped onto the stage for her first stand-up show in Shanghainese, nervous questions swirled in her head: Would her jokes land, or would the nuances of a dialect rarely used in stand-up trip her up in front of a curious Shanghai crowd? “I kept thinking about what I should say, what jokes to tell, how to arrange them, and how … Continue reading Laugh in Translation: Shanghainese Comedy Stands Up to the Mainstream

Rock Climbing Gains Traction as After-Work ‘Meditation on a Wall’


SHANGHAI — Zhou Yinan is a bit of an anomaly among rock climbing enthusiasts in China — she is afraid of heights. “It’s actually quite scary to climb to the top of an indoor rock wall,” she admits. “I know there is no real danger, but I can’t help feeling afraid. This fear is something I have to face.” Drawn to rock climbing by photos … Continue reading Rock Climbing Gains Traction as After-Work ‘Meditation on a Wall’

A Shanghai Startup’s Fashion Twist: Matching Outfits for Pets and Owners


SHANGHAI — In 2019, Lu Yangyang, fresh out of grad school with a fashion degree, was searching for her niche in the business world. That’s when she saw an untapped opportunity in China’s booming pet market: While pets were often dressed fashionably, their owners lacked the option to coordinate their outfits. One year later, Lu launched her fashion brand GIGIWAWA in Shanghai, designed specifically to … Continue reading A Shanghai Startup’s Fashion Twist: Matching Outfits for Pets and Owners

Zut Alors! The Ambience of Paris Streetlife Is Creating a Popular New Wave in China


SHANGHAI — Having recovered from the pandemic last year, people were champing at the bit to get out again and embrace life. Capturing that heady mood, bistros have burst onto the lifestyle scene of Shanghai. Good food. Cozy ambience. Even the imagery of street life in Paris. The venues quickly became a captivating trend. “This kind of dining seemed so novel, so I began going … Continue reading Zut Alors! The Ambience of Paris Streetlife Is Creating a Popular New Wave in China

The Bookstore Giving Shanghai’s Women a Room of Their Own


SHANGHAI — Wang Xia still denies that she runs Shanghai’s only feminist bookstore. When she started the business in 2020, she claims that she didn’t even know what the term meant. “The word ‘feminism’ was very unfamiliar to me,” Wang tells Sixth Tone. “I still insist that my bookstore is a women-themed bookstore.” For Wang, running the business has been quite an education. It has … Continue reading The Bookstore Giving Shanghai’s Women a Room of Their Own