When the going gets tough, turn on the telly

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

But while some retailers had a quiet time it seems that electrical goods were walking out of the stores, encouraged by heavy discounting. In particular, television sellers had something of a bonanza.

Watching television is a favourite pastime in Shanghai. And when the going gets tough, get yourself a newer and bigger TV because whatever happens you know you'll be spending more time with the family.

Virtually non-existent as a household item until the Eighties, television ownership really took off in the Nineties when the introduction of colour coincided with rising home ownership. Latest figures show an average of 1.8 sets per household for urban Shanghai and, rather surprisingly, the same for the poorer rural areas.

And what do people actually watch? Rather sadly, much the same as anywhere else in the world. The usual diet of soaps, game shows, football and reality television is only given local spice by Imperial costume dramas and a never-ending series of programmes detailing the wartime struggle against the Japanese.

But whatever the quality of programming, there's a lot of it. Around £1.30 a month for cable buys 60 channels from all over China, complete with regional dialects and advertising. Five million household subscribers think that's a good deal. And as if that were not enough, satellite dishes are common, if of dubious legality, giving access to foreign channels banned elsewhere. With all this content, viewers are increasingly spoilt for choice. Even pirate DVD sellers are having to drop their prices to compete.

* Pudong New Area is taking over neighbouring Nanhui district in what looks like another move to strengthen Shanghai's position as an Asian hub. The new district will have a population of 2.7 million, favourable tax status and all the port facilities. Quite a package for the new mayor.

* Discussions continue on the expansion of Disneyland Hong Kong. Too small for people to want repeat visits, it hasn't been a great success. Meanwhile, Shanghai awaits state council approval for its own Disneyland. While far from certain, Shanghai seems on a roll with Beijing at the moment so prospects look good. It certainly won't be small.