I recently visited Shanghai and loved the people. Whether wandering the streets or having meetings, I found these traits fairly common:

I find these traits to be very positive and look forward to more time there. What traits do you prefer to be around?

Here are some other things I learned and enjoyed:

If you can pull the ball out of the lion’s mouth it means good fortune. The ball is actually sculpted so it can never be removed. If 100s of people touch and rub it, eventually it may wear away the stone enough that you could pull it out.

A bridge is built in a zig zag to help the ambler avoid evil spirits. I guess evil spirits travel in a straight line. These bridges are beautiful. I love the design.

At one point in Chinese history only the emperor could display a dragon. When the emperor saw this dragon, the owner told him it is really not a dragon because it only has three claws. Dragons have five claws. This was apparently a snake. The dragon symbolizes power. This is the year of the Dragon in China. Many want their son to be born in the year of the Dragon.

There are about 600 Starbucks in Shanghai.

Kids were enthralled with me. Many said, “hello”. Children get nine years of English in school. They enjoyed practicing English with me. This one called me, “nai nai” (grandma). Which they thought was very complimentary. I’m not so sure.

I love the names of their businesses and signage.