Auto Shanghi 2009

Auto Shanghi 2009, originally uploaded by StrudelMonkey.

To say that Shanghai is car-crazy is an understatement of the highest order. Consider this ... to drive a car in Shanghai requires a license plate ... a license plate with a price tag in the range of RMB 40,000 (or about US$6,000). Despite this, the streets of the city are choked with cars of all shapes, sizes and brands. People here like their cars ... the freedom they represent and how they reflect their social status.

So it is no surprise that when the Auto Show opens in town, there are more than a few people who come out to have a look. So it was that I paid a visit myself this week ... purchased a ticket for the so-called "professional" day. I arrived about 30 minutes before the doors opened and found a huge mass of people already waiting outside. Lets just say that I was surprised to see so many groups of "professionals" under the age of 10, over the age of 70, wearing 4-inch high heels and trying to sell me a Rolex.

The show hall was massive. It took me the better part of the day to snake my way through the 700,000 people that reportedly visited the show that day. It really is quite a sight ... everywhere you look you see beautiful show cars gleaming under bright lights, bracketed by unbelievably tall models and surrounded by dozens of camera-toting men. Quite a sight indeed