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As an ocean port where ships from around the world have docked for centuries, Shanghai has always had more of a link to Western culture than most Chinese cities.

Now its residents seem to be showing enthusiasm to learn more about Western etiquette even as they share Chinese social customs with the expatriate community.

The latest of such moves to promote such exchange was an etiquette competition involving both local and expat families, which closed on February 9.

The competition will be converted into a TV program soon, according to organizers of the competition.

Hu Min (center) and her family take part in the finals of an etiquette competition. Many families took part in the final showdown, including one of Indian origin and another of Russian origin. Preliminary competitions began in February last year, when people in Shanghai listed etiquette as an important quality for residents. 

"The 100 families in the competition each have very touching stories, which even affected our creative team from time to time," said Zhang Xuechun, the program's producer.

Seven expatriate families participated in the competition and showed their countries' traditions and customs in front of the cameras.

Zhang said politeness is an international passport, and the families are excellent models for Shanghai residents who want to become ladies and gentlemen.

"One of the 100 families involves a cross-cultural marriage family," Zhang said. "The husband, an overseas Chinese surnamed Yang, and his wife, a fair blonde, live in Shanghai. The wife always treats Yang and his family with New Shanghai etiquette."

Zhang explained that on the show the wife buys gifts for the children and the parents in the family, and she sends gifts in a happily surprising way.

This could be considered a Shanghai way of politeness, neither typically Western nor Eastern.

Yang Yulin, the government official charged with promoting etiquette in Shanghai, noted that the competition was only one phenomenon reflecting the increasing enthusiasm of city residents to learn more international etiquette.

Many training organizations, either government-run or privately run, have opened etiquette training courses to meet the huge demand.

A trainer surnamed Fang said that with more communication between Shanghai and foreign countries, local residents are eager to show their best side to their foreign friends.

A senior at a university in Shanghai, surnamed Shen, noted that she is undergoing the training for a better career path.

"A woman who doesn't know how to use dinnerware gracefully will not get a decent job," Shen said.

(China Daily February 28, 2007)