As a city in a state of constant flux, it’s all too easy to fall out of the loop with what’s happening in Shenzhen. From the opening of a new Metro supermarket to “improvement” works in the run-up to the Universiade, here’s a round-up of news that have been making headlines this March.

1) Third Metro Supermarket to Open in Shenzhen’s Bao’an District
Another Metro is opening for greater access to imported goods! It’s great news for those who just can’t do without their blocks of cheese and jars of olives. Metro is a cash & carry style supermarket chain, stocking a wide selection of imported goods that can be bought in bulk. The new Metro will be located in Fu’an Building in District 24 of Baocheng (宝城２４区福安大厦) in Bao’an District. This will be the third Metro in the city.

See also: Where to Get Your Hands on Imported Food in Shenzhen

2) More English to be used on buses
In an effort to make Shenzhen an easier city to navigate during the upcoming Universiade, multi-lingual services and English information counters will be set up at key transport hubs like bus and metro stations. Public transport employees are also to attend English lessons for five months, while all street signs will be bilingual before the event.
 

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3) Shenzhen minimum wage to go up
Though it may not affect us lucky expats who earn significantly more than a lot of Chinese people, Shenzhen’s recent announcement that the city’s minimum wage is to increase next month comes as a nice surprise to many. And they deserve it. Last year’s mass suicides at Shenzhen’s Foxconn was a harsh reminder that stories of horrific, slave-like work conditions are certainly not fiction, but are experienced by hundreds of thousands of people every single day, right under our nose in Shenzhen.

4) Painters wall faces demolition in Dafen
Dafen is famous throughout the country as a hub for oil painting production. However, news recently broke out that the walls used by artists to display their work will be demolished in order to “beautify the environment around Shenhui Road”. This obviously comes as a huge set back for the local artists, many who invested great sums of money in renting a wall space and who don’t see renting a gallery as a feasible option. What’s more, many just can’t comprehend the notion that walls filled with art obstruct the beauty of the city. We don’t get it either.

5) Price of MacDonald’s chicken wings drops by 30%
The price of food is going up everywhere, yet MacDonald’s chicken wings in Shenzhen are 30% cheaper than they used to (from 7 RMB to 5 RMB). Why? Apparently, it’s part of a new effort to stand above its main competitors KFC and Zhengongfu. That doesn’t justify eating more junk food however!

6) Two-time Grammy award winner Hilary Hahn to perform in Shenzhen View In Map
Two-time Grammy award winner Hilary Hahn teams up with the English Chamber Orchestra, one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras, for a special concert at Shenzhen Concert Hall on April 9th. Visit Shenzhen Concert Hall’s website for information on how to get your hands on the golden tickets.

When: April 9th, 20:00
Where: Shenzhen Concert Hall, 2016, Fuzhong Yilu, Futian District, Shenzhen 深圳福田区福中一路2016号 深圳音乐厅
How much: 180/280/380/480/680 RMB
Website: www.shenzhenconcerthall.com

7) Residents disgruntled about English broadcasts at Longcheng Square
In yet another effort to “internationalise” the city in the run up to the Universiade, a huge LED screen broadcasting an English news program by CCTV was set up at Longcheng Square. However, the broadcasts were received with some skepticism, and disgruntled locals complained that they can’t understand what’s being said. Some complained that the broadcasts lack Chinese subtitles, making it impossible to understand for those who don’t speak English. But it wasn’t all bad news however, as some eager, young students used the broadcasts as an occasion to brush up on their English listening skills.

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Keywords: Shenzhen watchdog new openings Shenzhen shenzhen news roundup march