New
Of course the big news this month is the reopening of the Bund after some three years of construction dust and jackhammering. Most traffic has been diverted underground, though there are still five lanes in use.
Also new is Hongqiao Airport’s Terminal 2 (where most carriers are now based – primarily domestic flights), and with it the western extension of metro line 2 to Hongqiao, which opened on the same day. The Pudong extension has not yet opened.
Closures
Nam 1975 (p 168, Eating/French Concession) According to Smart Shanghai, Vietnamese fave Nam has closed, with rumors of a possible relocation swirling.
Crystal Ball
For several years there have been talks about the Maglev line being extended, and the latest projection is that it will connect Pudong and Hongqiao Airports, with three stops in between (one being at the World Expo site). Talks of the line extending 200km to Hangzhou have also resurfaced, with a completion date of 2014 given.
<strong>Blue Frog</strong> (p 172, Eating/Jing’an) The Blue Frog location on Tongren Rd has closed, though their other branches remain open.
I would be extremely said if there wouldn’t be at least one approved maglev line for America…