Soundbites

Liu Shiyun,

26, teacher, of Shanghai

"I think speaking Shanghainese is a necessity. While Shanghai becomes ever international, we also need to develop its local features. The glamour of the local dialect cannot be explained by Mandarin."

Liu Nian,

27, IT, of Shanghai

"I think Shanghai dialect needs to be passed down to young people, but considering Shanghai is such an international city and wants people from all over the world to come here, it's better that people speak Mandarin."

Zhong Kunlei,

26, financial consultant from Chengdu who lives in Shanghai

"I don't use Shanghai dialect in daily communication and don't plan to. I have lived in Shanghai for more than five years and I still cannot understand Shanghainese."

Lyv Yiting,

31, foreign trade specialist, of Shanghai

"I think people ought to speak Shanghai dialect. It's important to retain our culture and pass it on."

Xie Jinjie,

19, shop assistant from Anhui province who lives in Shanghai

"I cannot understand Shanghai dialect, but I think that since it stands for Shanghai and its culture, promoting it is not such a bad idea."

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