[联合早报]一个年轻新加坡人眼中的上海

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社论/言论/天下事 2003-01-04
  
  
一个年轻新加坡人眼中的上海
  
  
●  早??By Teo Woan Yee
  
　　五十年前的上海已有“东方的巴黎”之称，和国际大都会伦敦、巴黎齐名；今
天的上海被视为“全世界的商业城”，迟早会成为“东方的纽约”。
  
　　上个月笔者首次到上海，在5天4夜的短暂逗留中感受到现代上海的大都会动力
。
  
　　上海人口近1700万。人口之众，决定了市场潜力。在上海，上中下各阶层各有
消费天地。人民币3元吃一碗拉面，或是人民币20元喝一杯cappuccino，丰俭由人
。
  
　　在贫富两极之间还夹着小康之家、中产阶层，这样的市场构造，让不同市场定
位的商品都找到所属的消费群。
  
　　消费的一大推动力，是重仪表赶时髦。七八十年前，英法德美日租界割据所遗
留下来的历史记忆，让上海人较其他地区的中国人更容易投入现代城市国际化的消
费趋势。
  
　　事实上，20世纪初外国人在上海建设的设施，是今日上海重新跻身国际城市之
列的基础。
  
　　初访者对这座城市的第一个深刻印象必然离不开那些象征了一个城市的财力和
气魄的高楼大厦。
  
　　外滩建筑的天际线景观，遥对浦东新区的88层楼高的金茂大厦。金茂大厦的上
海最高建筑记录只能维持多5年。据说，到了2007年，由日商投资兴建的94层浦东
上海环球金融大楼预计将竣工。
  
　　而另一栋拥有300层楼高的住商综合摩天双塔Bionic大楼已完成规划草案，全
球屏着呼吸，拭目以待。
  
　　如果说高楼林立代表了上海的经济繁荣，吸引了国内外人才汇集此地大展拳脚
。那么休闲娱乐选择之多，则表现了上海多姿多彩的城市生活，吸引了海内外游客
纷纷前来上海观光旅游。
  
　　新事物快速诞生，旧事物却来不及被淘汰。上海吃喝玩乐的选择独具中西交汇
，新旧合璧的特色。日趋国际化的选择，消费却比一般大城市便宜，难怪中外游客
初到上海，马上感觉到消费天堂的召唤。
  
　　一个旅游天堂，光是设备包罗万有未必能吸引游客再三到访。留得住游客的是
殷勤的服务态度。走在街上的上海人让人感受到大城市的拥挤和冷漠。但是，走进
任何一家上海的快餐店，年轻侍应生积极友善的服务态度，让人重新估量这个城市
的无限活力。
  
　　顾客一个举手动作，侍应生再忙也会先来一句：“马上来。”动作熟练利落，
说话清楚明白，普通的服务生都有这样水平，上海年轻人的竞争力可想而知。
  
　　招待我们的上海导游是一个从厦门赴上海念大学，大学刚毕业的年轻小伙子。
英语说得不赖的他说：“在上海找工作，一点也不难。但是，要找一份满意的工作
就不容易了。”
  
　”收 告诉他：“新加坡大学生现在找工作却不容易。?作选人，人更会选工作
。最糟糕的是，工作其实不多。”
  
　　小伙子笑笑：“这点，上海人倒不担心。”
  
　　此行，笔者所接触到的上海年轻人其实并不多，但是在快餐店、咖啡座所碰到
的，态度积极，效率高，一脸的聪明伶俐。本地的一般年轻人似乎就缺少了那份机
灵和朝气。
  
　　虽然说民族的气质和个性，很大程度上是生活环境造就的，但是如果我们继续
安于安逸，脑筋懒得变通，现有的城市活力不但不会增长，还会一点一滴干涸。
  
　　一个缺乏活力和生机的城市难吸引游客，更别说留住人才。
  
·作者是本报高级记者
  
  
A young Singaporean's view of Shanghai
  
  
　　Shanghai was already dubbed as the “Paris of the East” 50 years ago
when it was as well known as cosmopolitan cities like London and Paris
. Today, it is seen as a “global business hub” and it is only a matter
of time before it becomes the “New York of the East”.
  
　　Last month, I visited Shanghai for the first time and, during the brief
four-day and five-night stay, experienced first-hand the buzzing dynamism
of modern Shanghai.
  
　　The city has a population of close to 17 million which underlies its
immense market potential. Depending on their spending powers, Shanghainese
from different strata of society can take their pick from a wide range
of choices - from paying three yuan for a bowl of traditional la mian
to 20 yuan for a cup of cappuccino.
  
　　Sandwiched between the very rich and the very poor are those who enjoy
a comfortable standard of living and the middle-class.
  
　　Businesses can thus find a niche for themselves by catering to the
needs of different groups of consumers.
  
　　The eagerness of Shanghainese to keep up with the latest in fashion
is a big boost to the market. Memories of foreign settlements 70 or 80
years ago make it much easier for Shanghainese than Chinese in other parts
of China to join the mainstream of international consumer trends.
  
　　Indeed, the many facilities developed by foreigners in Shanghai in
the early 20th century have laid the foundation for modern Shanghai to
rejoin the ranks of global cities.
  
　　First-time visitors to Shanghai will invariably first be captivated
by the soaring skyscrapers that symbolise the metropolis' wealth and glamour
.
  
　　Across the skyline of Puxi is China's tallest building - the 88-storey
Jin Mao Tower - in Pudong New Area. But it is said that the tower will
cease to be the tallest when the Global Financial Centre project, a 94
-storey edifice by Japanese investors, is completed in 2007.
  
　　Meanwhile, it is also said that the plan for the BionicTower, a breathtaking
300-storey residential-cum-commercial building has been drawn up.
  
　　The towering skyscrapers are signs of Shanghai's prosperity and the
magnets that attract both local and foreign talent to converge on the
metropolis. On the other hand, people are spoilt for choice by the variety
of recreational and entertainment activities that demonstrate how colourful
and interesting life is in Shanghai. It is no wonder that Chinese and
overseas tourists are flocking to the city.
  
　　Shanghai presents a unique mix of East and West as well as new and
old in wining, dining and merry-making. While the choices are increasingly
global, consumer goods are cheaper than in most big cities. Not surprisingly
, discerning tourists recognise it at once as a shoppers' paradise when
they arrive in Shanghai.
  
　　The vast variety of merchandise alone may not be enough to make the
tourists come back. But meticulous and excellent service will. The Shanghainese
whom you see on the street will remind you of the congestion and apathy
typical of a thriving city. Yet, step into any fast-food restaurant and
you will be greeted with warm and friendly service from young waiters
and waitresses. They will make you rethink what makes the city tick.
  
　　Just raise your hand and no matter how busy the waiters and waitresses
are, someone will attend to you with a reply: “Right away!” They speak
clearly and know their job well and I'm only talking about ordinary service
personnel. This is a good indication of how competitive the young people
in Shangnai are.
  
　　The tour guide in Shanghai who showed us around speaks fairly good
English. He came from Xiamen and has just graduated from a Shanghai university
.
  
　　”It's easy to find a job in Shanghai but hard to get one that one
is perfectly happy with,” he said.
  
　　I told him: “It's not easy now even for graduates in Singapore to
land a job. Singaporeans are also choosy. And the worst thing is there
aren't that many jobs in the market.”
  
　　He said with a smile: “At least the people in Shanghai don't have
to worry about that.”
  
  
　　Well, I did not come into contact with that many young people in Shanghai
during my trip, but those whom I've met at fast-food restaurants and cafes
no doubt struck me as highly-efficient, quick-thinking and full of drive
. Young Singaporeans seem to lack the astuteness and dynamism that they
possess.
  
　　It is true that a people's character is, to a great extent, shaped
by the environment they live in. But if we rest on our laurels, we risk
losing our vitality. And a city with little life will not be able to attract
tourists, let alone retain its talent.

  
  
(The writer is a senior reporter of Zaobao. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.)