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Beijing v. Shanghai From Two People Who Know

By Dan Harris on Posted in Recommended Reading

Virtually nobody gets tired of comparing Beijing and Shanghai, myself included.  There really is a dichotomy, with neither side (yes, “side’) having much appreciation or understanding for the other.  When asked by people who have never been to China to compare the two cities, I usually sum it up by saying something like the following:

Shanghai is the business and finance city. It has a history of being China’s most international city and in many ways it still is. The people there are like New Yorkers/Parisians, which means they look down on pretty much everyone else.

Beijing is China’s government/power city.  It’s polluted and dry. Its location is unexpected for Westerners in that it seems to have been situated more for defensive reasons than for commerce or livability. It is also China’s media and tech capital.

Five years ago, my China trips almost always meant me spending three days in Shanghai for every day in Beijing. But a few years ago, that ratio completely flipped and now I probably spend at least five times more time in Beijing than in Shanghai. My law firm does a lot of work for media and entertainment and technology companies and that work is often complicated and hands on. That work is mostly in Beijing and it typically requires more client meetings. Much of our Shanghai work involves manufacturing companies and for a variety of reasons, they tend to require a lot less hand-holding and face-to-face visits.

Anyway, I am writing about Beijing and Shanghai because I got an e-mail from Matt Schiavenza the other day regarding the redesign of his blog.  And when I went to look at it (it looks great, BTW) I got hooked on his series of interviews with people living in different cities around the world.  They are truly fascinating and, near as I can tell based on the cities I know best, quite insightful and accurate. I ended up getting quite enthralled and read them all.

The Beijing and Shanghai ones are both excellent. The Beijing interview is with Jeff Crosby, whom I do not know.  The Shanghai interview is with John Pasden, who has been churning out great stuff on Chinese language (mostly) and culture (a bit) on his Sinosplice blog since 2002!  If you want to get a better feel for Beijing and for Shanghai, I recommend you check out the two interviews and then let us know what you think. Both of the interviews and of the whole Beijing v. Shanghai thing.

  • anonymust

    So true. I used to think Shanghainese were arrogant in their disdain for Beijing. I quite enjoyed the city the few times I was there in my early years in China. 8 years later and I make a point of avoiding not just Beijing but all of Dongbei as much as I can. I’m as bad as any Shanghainese in my anti-Beijing sentiment (local cuisine aside of course, Beijing is much better than Shanghai in that regard).

    Beijing is a disgrace of a second tier Chinese city and the impression starts immediately upon arrival at the airport. I never hang out there but if you want anything more than a pile of revolting noodles or an extortionately expensive yet undrinkable coffee you’re out of luck. Every time I’m there I have to ask myself if Beijing’s municipal government is aware of the fact that it’s China’s capital city.

    Of course there are the inevitable complaints about the taxi drivers. You don’t have to be a pampered expat to feel the helplessness of having to deal with the incredibly rude, aggressive and amoral taxi drivers. Taxis are a major feature of life in international cities and the failure of Beijing to manage this essential public service is telling. I have no patience for complaints against Shanghai taxi drivers. They’re by far the best in China. Even in the 3rd tier city I live part-time in the drivers are generally more polite and far less prone to shenanigans (or violence and profanity) than Beijing. What is your excuse Beijing?

    Beijing is the bright burning symbol of China’s corrupt past/present mand it’s potential future if it doesn’t change things. A cesspool of corruption surrounded by an ever-expanding person made dessert. Shanghai is a beacon of the future, ever improving public transport, business friendly, less corrupt (to the extent that that can be said of any place in China), cleaner, blah, blah, blah.

    I should point out that I’m familiar with the fact that Beijing does have a much more active art-scene. I concede that point gladly. I wish Shanghai had the same, but we’re working on it.

    Wow, I’m so partisan to Shanghai! When did that happen? Anyhow, I’d be happy to have my perspective on Beijing changed. But for the time being I can honestly say that I think it’s a terrible city to be in and most people I know (Shanghainese and expats) would agree with me.

    Have at me :)

  • FOARP

    Blogger please, Shanghai FTW.

  • PaulR

    I’ve lived in both cities. As far as I am concerned, they are the same. I very much congratulate the leaders of both cities on their ability to provide rapidly improved services such as housing, power, transport, water, etc… to tens of millions of people.

    But in terms of their appearance and character, Beijing and Shanghai both were clearly designed by Communist central planners with the power to force their will on millions of people, and money to spend. Roads and buildings – that’s about it.

    Anything with character or culture was steamrolled, or is treated like a potted-plant, in the apparatchiks’ quest to gain “face,” implement their fantasies of modernity – and make money. There is absolutely nothing spiritual, natural, organic or spontaneous about either city.