250,000 people bid for car plates

As many as 251,717 people bidded for a car license in February's auction, 19,616 more than last month, according to the official website of the Shanghai municipal government. The website also revealed that the median bid price was 88,240 yuan ($12,827), 555 yuan more than the previous month. In addition, the bidding rate stood at 4 percent, 1.3 percentage points less than last month and 0.8 percentage points less than the average rate in 2016.

More AEDs placed in public areas

More than 1,000 automated external defibrillators (AED) have been placed in public areas across Shanghai to date, with the figure set to increase to more than 1,500 by the end of the year, reported Jiefang Daily. There are more than 540,000 people who die from sudden cardiac arrests in China every year, nearly one person every minute. The AEDs in Shanghai's metro stops are usually found in the center of the platforms and the entrance of the stations, and can be accessed within three minutes from any corner of the facility.

Indoor smoking ban to take effect

Smoking will be banned at all indoor public areas in Shanghai starting March 1, according to Shanghai Online. Apart from indoor venues, six types of public places including schools, children's hospitals, stadiums and event venues will also prohibit smoking. Individuals face fines of between 50 yuan and 200 yuan, while venue operators are subjected to penalties of between 2,000 and 30,000 yuan.

Ikea to open megamall in Shanghai

Ikea Centres China, a unit under Ikea Group that operates megamalls, will formally enter Shanghai after it won its bid for a piece of land in Changning district. The Shanghai megamall will be the fifth in China, in addition to those in Beijing, Wuxi in Jiangsu province, Wuhan in Hubei province as well as the one that is under construction in Changsha of Hunan province. The Shanghai project will comprise 150,000 and 60,000 square meters of retail and office space respectively.

Maiden BRT to be launched

Shanghai's first bus rapid transit (BRT), a public transport system designed to improve conventional transportation, would be completed this year, reported local newspaper Jiefang Daily. The BRT line will measure 31.2 kilometers and will link Nanqiao Bus Station in Fengxian district to the Oriental Sports Center in Pudong New Area. The line will reduce traveling time between the two points from 80 minutes to between 45 and 50 minutes.

(China Daily 02/24/2017 page7)