snaps | protest in shanghai ::
:: I noticed these protest banners on my way into work this morning. I wonder how long they will stay there. The photos below were taken in Shanghai at the intersection of Middle Huaihai Rd. and Huating Rd. The first one says: 上交响迁建严重扰民破坏和谐, meaning “The relocation of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to a new building seriously disturbs the people and is destroying (social) harmony.” The second one says: 上交响不要论为破坏历史建筑的罪人, meaning “The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra should not turn into criminals against historical architecture.” Does anyone know why the authors used the word “论为” instead of “沦为,” or is it just an honest typo? I like how protest banners in China are black on white. // AjS
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May 18th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Coincidentally I’d also spotted similar protest grafitti on a wall along Fuxing Rd between Fenyang Rd and Hengshan Rd over the weekend. Don’t remember if it’s also about Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, but it’s definitely about the relocation of a music institution.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
just an honest typo
May 18th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Adam you are fast! I saw the same signs at midday on my way to lunch and I took a picture of them, I was about to post t it now when I saw you already had it up, damn :)
Some comments I wanted to do, I’ll leave them here instead:
1 – These protest banners catch your eye because they look more professional that the usual handwritten ones. Actually they look like they came from the same printer that does the official red banners. First time I see this. I don’t know if there is any connection but in the little lane that starts behind the sign there are houses of army ganbus.
2 – This may be a silly question, but doesn’t the Shanghaixiang refer to the name of the construction company? I was thinking this because it didn’t really make sense to me otherwise. I mean, where is this Concert Hall?
3- Somebody should put up the same signs against the CRIME that is being commited in Ruijin Hotel Gardens…
May 18th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
@wl thanks for your response. I think they are related. I too saw those banners / graffiti, but was zooming by in a cab and didn’t get a chance to properly read them.
@ Anonymous thanks for that…and for stopping by!
@ uln, thanks for your response. 1) Interesting. 2) I have only known “上交响” to mean the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. I could be wrong in this case, not sure. Haven’t had time to research. If you find otherwise, please let me know. 3) Agreed, and will help cover printing costs. ;-)
// AjS
May 21st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I asked around to my Chinese colleagues and you were right, they all say it has to be the orchestra. But nobody knows exactly what kind of building they are doing or where. They probably have some project somewhere nearby
Regarding the big professional banners: I hear reports that similar large white banners have been spotted in Xujiahui not long ago, complaining against a different thing. But everyone agrees that it is relatively rare, and their theory is that probably all the community is protesting as a whole, as a single individual would not dare/afford to put up such a big thing.
November 26th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
[...] is the protest I saw on one little Huaihai Road Lane a few months ago (56minus1 was faster to post it). Note the white protests banner, to mark the difference with the otherwise [...]