Going down to the grassroots without being officially dressed (officials in ancient China used to dress differently according to their rank), has a long tradition. The purpose of the practice is to learn the facts without disturbing the grassroots or being disturbed by the reverence and awe locals have for officials.

I know these activities of the big shots will not escape the nosy and swift media, however. On camera, Chen and Vice-Mayor Han Zheng held poles tightly and talked with other passengers on the metro train, their smiles were uneasy - surely they know that making their people smile is even harder.

In this densely-populated metropolis, with 13 million regular residents and a migrant population of about 3 million, there are 18,000 buses and almost the same number of taxis, and three metro lines running to move passengers daily.

The public transportation authority has long set a goal for operators in this section: taking a bus should be as comfortable as taking a plane - a clean environment, large seats and pleasant stewardesses.

The dream is being realized as the buses and metros are disinfected and more modern vehicles are put into services. Drivers and conductors are more likely to help and smile.

However, traffic congestion in all big cities is a major headache.

In Shanghai, on the buses, snores, complaints and quarrels are often heard. On hot summer days, on some busy routes, people sweat together and the smelly air is asphyxiating. Going out on holidays in the city is so troublesome it is almost a nightmare.

There is one thing that particularly deserves public discussion, because we Chinese people have been boasting of showing respect to the old and caring for children.

How many people can really do this without being pushed by regulations? If you simply have a look at the crammed buses or metros you will find out how hard it is to preserve such a tradition.

As a rule, in each bus close to the door, there are two or four seats above which is written: "Reserved for the old, the weak, the pregnant or people carrying babies."

The purpose of bus operators is obvious - to take care of those who cannot fight like the strong to grab a seat for a long trip.

The seats are always found to be abused by young and very healthy men and women who wear absolutely indifferent looks on their faces - the seat is mine because I took it first. I do not want to give it to others just for a simple "thanks."

My office is nearly one-hour by bus from my apartment. I consciously hold myself back from taking the reserved seats. But when I am dozing off in the bus, which rolls like a cradle, nobody can expect to see me give away my seat to others who seem to need it more.

Shanghai is ambitious to build itself into a world city which is both spiritually and materially prosperous, modern and civilized.

But if pedestrians and vehicles still ignore traffic lights or seated people still ignore those who need the seats more, the city mayor and his administration will have to take more buses, walk more streets and visit more families so as to work out more measures.

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