August 21, 2009, Friday,

Beijing men versus Shanghai men

I was born in Beijing, grew up in Beijing, received my elementary, secondary and higher education in Beijing. On one word, I am a 100 percent Beijing man.

As a blue blood Beijing man, like so many others of my peers, we have some deep-rooted prejudices toward the Shanghai men. We often make fun of them and paint them like penny pinchers, cheapskates, cowards, sissy, fancy pants, selfish, etc.

Not only do Beijing men have this kind of prejudices, Beijing girls are in the same boat. Some of my neighbor girls, at that time when we were young, always claimed that they preferred remaining single rather than marring a Shanghai man. “I simply can’t afford a narrow-minded, small nature man”, often said these girls.

Of course, each big and old metropolitan city has its own characteristics and its own culture. No matter where we are from and who we are, we all have our strengths and our shortcoming. No one is perfect, except some rare saints.

And we know well that Shanghai men, like us, have also some prejudices about Beijing men. We may be, among many other things, brag-lovers, dull, stupid.

Now I tell you my personal experience, I am very lucky to meet and know some good Shanghai men who are extraordinary, good-natured, open-minded and successful. We became quickly good friends. You see, the prejudices didn’t deter me from developing valuable friendship with good people.