Work on Shanghai's Metro Line 7, due to open in 2009, has been delayed as workmen have run out of paint for station signboards. The problem centres around 乒乓叮当 哈哈大王贴着脚地占着鞋底路 or Pingpangdingdanghahadawangtiezhejiaodizhanzhexiedi Road Station, the name of which requires more than the expected amount of red paint on station maps and signs.

Xiao Zhang, the 'voice of the metro', has also demanded a 20% increase in her fee for recording announcements for the new station, leading to fears of a budget overrun. "After a day's work saying 下一站，乒乓叮当 哈哈大王贴着脚地占着鞋底路，下车乘客请提前做好准备，从左边车门下车, I'm really tired!" Zhang explained.

Zhang exclusively previewed the new announcements for Shangzilla. Listen to the announcement (mp3).

Zhang also explained why the voice on China Telecom's 10086 helpline is so incomprehensible. "They wouldn't pay my usual fee, so I put a ping-pong ball in my mouth before doing the recordings."