In November the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration launched an online survey - "99 Reasons to Like Shanghai" - asking netizens to post their reasons for enjoying the city. Earlier this week the 99 most popular reasons were selected from some 600,000 posts. The Global Times has assembled some of the comments on five aspects of life in the city.

Photo: CFP





It's delicious



1. Shanghai is a place where you can taste food from all parts of China. Pancakes, fried dough sticks, glutinous rice balls and soybean milk are regarded as the four classic foods for breakfast in Shanghai.



2. I believe the hairy crabs from Chongming county in Shanghai taste just as good as the famous crabs from Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou. The Chongming crabs taste even better with wine.



3. Shanghai's stinky tofu and youdunzi (street fried pastry with vegetables or meat fillings) are my favorites.



4. I love Shanghai because of Yang's fried dumplings, Nanxiang steamed buns and tasty soups cooked with curry and tofu.



5. I like the fresh pork moon cakes made by Laodafang, a traditional pastry bakery which has been operating since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and I like the atmosphere in the queue when I line up to buy them. Laodafang now has several outlets in Shanghai with the most famous in Nanjing Road East.



6. I love Shanghai's chili sauce - it's delicious on fried pork chops and fried fish.



7. Delicious breads and cakes made by local bakers like Hongbaoshi and Kaisiling can be found easily throughout the downtown Shanghai.



8. Qiaojiashan, a Shanghai pastry shop that is more than 100 years old, is famous for making traditional Chinese pastries and deserts including rice cakes, rice puddings, qingtuan (a green-colored rice dumpling) and zongzi (the triangular-shaped leaf-wrapped rice delicacy). The old shop has grown into a major food company with dozens of outlets in Shanghai.

Photo: CFP

It's convenient



1. It takes me less than an hour to get downtown from the suburbs on the Shanghai metro. Elevators and washrooms can be found in almost every metro station in Shanghai. With the APP software developed by the metro company, it's easy to check out the subway routes and ticket prices.



2. There are scores of convenience stores in Shanghai where you can buy food if you come home late at night.



3. Shanghai is well equipped with hospitals and clinics and can offer advanced treatments for people who are ill.



4. In Shanghai there is never a problem finding a taxi to get home from the airport, even late at night.



5. There is free Wi-Fi (i-Shanghai) in the city and it works well.



6. Most of the parks in Shanghai, like Jing'an Park and the People's Park, are free.



7. I could cope with life in any city. But without an extensive library, I guess I wouldn't stay there for long. That's the reason I love Shanghai.



8. When I leave Shanghai, I'll miss the metro, buses, shops and even the wet markets because they make our daily lives so much easier.



9. It makes citizens feel safe seeing Shanghai policemen on guard at People's Square.



10. Many of the outdoor basketball courts charge low admission fees or are free.

Photo: CFP





It's classy and cultured



1. The Shanghai qipao (the traditional tight-fitting dress) is elegant.



2. There are many buildings which used to be the residences of celebrities in the city.



3. From early on I loved Shanghai because of the great writer Eileen Chang, who was born in Shanghai and lived here in the 1920s and 30s. Chang said the Shanghainese were traditional Chinese people toughened by the pressure of life, the children of a marriage between new and old cultures.



4. I love Shanghai because I am enjoying learning Shanghaihua (the Shanghai dialect), which I still haven't mastered yet.



5. I used to love Shanghai for the Shenhua football team. Later on I became devoted to Yao Ming (the basketball player). Now another Shanghainese, Liu Xiang (the champion hurdler), is the pride of the city.



6. I love the private cinemas that can be found in Shanghai's old villas. Seeing old movies in them makes me feel as if traveling back to the era of old Shanghai.



7. When I see senior citizens dancing or taking exercise in the parks or squares, I feel that this is a city of energy and that the people are happy here.



8. I like the old brands that have been made in Shanghai, like Youyi creams, Forever bicycles, Warrior (Hui Li) sports shoes, Shanghai watches and Pehchaolin creams. The old brands promised quality.



9. I like Shanghai's trolleybuses - the "buses with braids."



10. Shanghai is a place where hard work is rewarded. It's where I find my dreams.

Photo: CFP





It's entertaining



1. The Formula One World Championship races can be found here.



2. I enjoy the performances of world famous orchestras at the Shanghai Concert Hall. The time when I was helped by a volunteer Shanghainese in his 50s made me love Shanghai even more.



3. I love Shanghai because of the Shanghai Book Fair.



4. Big shows like Cats, Riverdance and Mamma Mia, have all been seen in Shanghai. In this city I have the opportunity to see international musicals and other shows.



5. During the Shanghai Tourism Festival, you can enjoy discounts at shops and watch people from abroad singing and dancing.



6. I enjoy watching the latest foreign movies at the Shanghai International Film Festival.



7. The beach music festival in Jinshan is a chance for people to enjoy watching beautiful girls in swimsuits, to eat delicious foods and enjoy wonderful music.

Photo: CFP

It's unique



1. I like standing on the 100th floor of Shanghai World Financial Center, the tallest building in Shanghai, appreciating a beautiful sunrise on the first day of a new year. I love the view from high in the sky - that's why I love Shanghai.



2. I love the Huangpu River and the bridges spanning across it, like the Yangpu Bridge, the Lupu Bridge and the Xupu Bridge. My favorite is the Nanpu Bridge, which is close to my home.



3. I love Shanghai because of the Bund. The riverside walk is incomparable.



4. Walking along Tian'ai Road, which is said to be the most romantic road in Shanghai, you find the lovers' postbox. Every letter posted here gets a special lover's postmark. And look for the lovers' wall where famous Chinese and foreign love poems are inscribed.



5. I like hunting for bargains at Tianzifang (Lane 210 Taikang Road) where I can find old city lanes and fashionable boutiques.



6. I love Shanghai because of 1933 Old Millfun at No.611 Liyang Road. It used to be the city's largest abattoir but is now a center for culture and creative industries. The stunning heritage structure has become an arts and lifestyle hub in the north Bund. The four buildings of the original square factory area now house design studios, luxury boutiques, restaurants, bars and galleries. It often stages major events.



7. The city of Shanghai grew from a small fishing village. Jinshanzui, the last fishing village that survives in the city, is the reason why I love Shanghai. Here you can enjoy fresh seafood and other delicious local snacks like youdunzi, stinky tofu and tangyuan (sticky rice balls).



8. I like taking the red double-decker buses and going sightseeing around Shanghai, enjoying its attractive views.



9. I love shopping in the old narrow streets of Qibao old town in Minhang, where I can always find something novel and attractive.