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."

Annoyed by the fact Beijing recently opened three new metro lines, the Shanghai Metro Operations Co. today released plans for metro line 87. “The fact that we are planning line 87 shows our commitment to a comprehensive metro system covering the entire Pearl River Delta" said a spokeswoman.

Beijing's third line was numbered 13, leading observers to assume the missing numbered lines would eventually be constructed. Shanghai intends to do the same with the new plans. The line is expected to be completed in 2050, in time for the 2052 FIFA World Cup in Shanghai.

Line 87, which will be depicted on maps in plurfle* and green, will link two yet-to-be-built satellite cities of 5 million people, and will intersect with Line 83, Line 129 and Line 77 at the 13-line interchange Mafan Lu.

* Note: The color plurfle is expected to be discovered in 2040

The People's Bank of China has issued a new banknote with a denomination of 11 renminbi. The new note is designed to match the minimum fare on taxis in the city. Businessman Li Xiaoxia said he was delighted by the news. "At last I won't have to hunt around my wallet for that extra one kuai. This will really make my life easier."

Eight of the notes will make 88 kuai, a lucky number in Chinese culture, making the new bill ideal for paying the mai dan or as a gift.

The note will incorporate several innovative security features. On the reverse of the note Mao Zedong will be sitting in a holographic Dazhong taxi. Holding the note up to the light will cause a recorded sound to be played: "Wu qi, wu qi, wu qi qi qi! wo chi, wo chi, wo chi chi chi!"

Approximately 50 passengers were stranded at Shanghai's Pudong International airport (PVG) on Thursday after an Air China flight to Shenzhen left the runway at its scheduled departure time.

Mass confusion took place while Air China staff tried their best to calm the upset crowd by providing tea and snacks.

One visibly upset passenger, Mr. Zhang, commented "This is outrageous! I take several business trips a month and I have never seen an Air China flight without a delay of at least 30 minutes. How can they do this and not expect passengers to be upset? It's crazy!".

Several customers demanded compensation. Another passenger, Ms. Qian, commented "If Air China wants to treat its customers like this, my family and I will take our business elsewhere." Air China declined to comment.

Responding to growing concern about traffic, pollution, and sanitation in Shanghai during the Chinese New Year holiday, city officials have announced a plan to ban half of the city's residents from leaving their homes every other day.

The plan calls for all residents with surnames Wang, Li, Zhang, Liu, Chen, Yang, Huang, Zhao, Zhou, and Wu to stay inside their homes on even days of the month and all other residents to stay inside on odd days during the new year holiday.

“Many visitors will come to Shanghai for the first time during the New Year holiday," explained Wu Jianghua, official spokesperson of the Shanghai Human Circulation Harmony Planning Department. "We don't want them to have the impression that Shanghai is a dirty, overcrowded, exhausting place. We want them to be able to enjoy the city in a more natural state and leave with a positive impression."

In preparation, he continued, "residents are encouraged to stock up on essentials such as rice, water, cooking oil, and DVD box sets."

A magnetic levitation railway between Shanghai and Hangzhou will see giant cats replacing trains in an attempt to cut costs. The maglev project has been in the works for a decade, with an estimated price tag of 35 billion RMB, but was shelved earlier this year after environmental and cost concerns.

It is thought that using 15-tonne genetically modified cats is likely to ease the fears of environmental protestors, while also reducing the cost to a whisker under 20 billion RMB.

The first cat, nicknamed Chairman Miao, is likely to begin operation in 2011.


©上海杭州大猫磁浮交通发展有限公司 (image copyright Shanghai-Hangzhou Large Feline Maglev Transportation Development Co., Ltd.)

Over on the Ditiezu forums regular poster ourorobos has some exciting news about new metro line 8 planned to open in December.

Apparently the line will be shaped like a large 8, (see map, below) with a single stop at People's Square, where riders will be able to transfer free of charge to line 8.

It is thought additional loops may be added in future, with five or six visits to People's Square on a single journey. It may be almost as exciting as a trip on the Bund Tourist Tunnel.

The Chinese team are gearing up for the "how much stuff can I balance on my bike" World Championships to be held in Shanghai next month.

After the disappointment of Hanoi 2003, when they were eliminated at the semi-final stage by unfancied Sri Lanka, the Chinese team are confident they can win this time around.

"We have been in constant training on the streets of Shanghai for the last four years," commented PRC team captain Li Qiang, "and we are confident our knowledge of the terrain, combined with our ability to carry unnecessarily large loads on our bikes, will prove decisive". Li's speciality is carrying over 100 water bottles on his trusty bicycle.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou amateur Mr Liu who recently hit the headlines for balancing his dog Gougou on the back of his bike, failed to make the squad for the championships after he could not balance a pyramid of 21 golden retrievers on his bicycle.