Ding Lijun, a third-grade student at Honglingjin No. 1 School in Yangpu district, has promised his parents that his homework will be ready "in time for the 2010 World Expo".

Much like 13 new metro lines, redevelopment of Shanghai's satellite cities, a new high-speed maglev line, a city-wide wireless network, English training for all city educators, 14 new museums, cleanup of polluted waterways and a city-wide wireless network.

Ding was told to go to his room.