He asked me for an opinion on my feelings about living in Shanghai, so...

"At first glance, Shanghai is no different from Singapore. Vibrant, urban and perhaps the only difference is there are a whole lot more chao ang mos around. Only when you start to live in the place then you begin to see the different layers of society that co-exist in this city. Vagrants and beggars mashed with white-collared workers and fashionistas, old-fashioned alleys that stand their ground next to towering skyscrapers, and a sense of chaos throughout the whole city in orderly fashion. Living in Shanghai is an adventure. It is a test of our tolerance towards peeing men on the street, a re-examination of our sense of justice towards pickpockets, and most importantly, a time where we cast our hearts into iron when we turn away from the beggers on the streets. These are poignant moments where the difference between living in Shanghai and Singapore show. In my opinion, this is the beauty of Shanghai that Singapore can never offer. "