Chinas trains.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Rina Jimenez-David

SHANGHAIIf China is the future, then Shanghai is where Chinas future lies, say observers. Indeed, this city, which forms with Beijing the bipolar axis of power in ChinaBeijing the center of political might, Shanghai the bustling take-off point for Chinas leap into global dominance in trade and commerceseems more outward-looking, more cosmopolitan.

There is a vibe in its streets and street markets, its malls, and especially in the upmarket mixed-use development in a former European settlement (where fast-food outlets of global brands mingle with upscale boutiques and trendy restaurants) that isnt found anywhere in Beijing. Its easy enough to imagine one transposed to Greenbelt or Eastwood, or even New York or London, especially when one takes in the flashy outfits of the crowd of tourists, expats and white-collar workers.

To be sure, Shanghai is blighted, too, by all the ills of urbanization, given the blistering pace of its development. Traffic is horrendous, and navigating its narrow twisting roads can be a living nightmare. This despite the efforts of authorities to limit the number of vehicles in the city by imposing a punishing tax on private cars. Ten years ago, Pudong, the area across the Yangtze River from the famous Bund of the old Shanghai, was dusty and barren, a virtual desert dotted with construction equipment. Today, it is chock-full of skyscrapers, office buildings and factories.

Symbolic of Shanghais thrust toward the future is the Maglev or magnetic levitation traincurrently the worlds fastestthat takes passengers from the city to the airport. Constructed with German technology and financial aid, the train moves at an amazing 430 km per hour, speeding passengers to the airport in about eight minutes, for the ticket price of Y40 or about P280. But indicative of the headlong, and perhaps heedless rush toward the future are doubts about the projects financial viability, with even common residents agreeing that theres no way Shanghais government could recover its $1.2-billion cost. Still, as symbols go, the sleek, smooth Maglev serves the citys forward-looking attitude well.

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