Reporter's Diary: Beginning with a busy Monday morning in Shanghai

Sunshine kisses awake Shanghai's famous Bund. Warm hues flicker on the sides of buildings, both modern and time-worn, together they make up the fiber of the city, flattering the grey concrete, red brick and polished bright steel.

It is another busy Monday morning in the eastern Chinese metropolis, traces of the torrential rain that hit the city over the first two days of November now barely visible.

Traffic starts fast but slows down in the busy lanes. Riders of electric bikes, in yellow or blue uniforms, navigate the winding roads. Pre-occupied pedestrians are pulled back from the depths of their thoughts briefly by the smells of traditional meat buns or coffee.

Amid the fast currents of people and vehicles, there's a casual calm that the city offers as it starts the day. It's in the poised gestures of the elderly as they devour newspapers on benches in a city garden, in jogger or cyclist's defiance against the autumn nip in the air and in the light laughter floating from the neighborhood bakery, where joyful whispers in various languages ebb and flow.

Backpackers roam the streets, taking in the sights and sounds of Shanghai's mix of modernity and tradition. The country's recent policy changes – including more visa-free access for foreign travelers and the rise of more e-payment services – have further boosted the city's popularity with international visitors.

Tourists pouring back is a good sign for both the local and national economy. Boosting consumption is a priority. In the first three quarters of 2024, China's total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.3 percent year on year, reaching 35.4 trillion yuan ($5 trillion). A trade-in program has seen fruitful results, with 1.68 million subsidy applications for automobiles and the sales of household appliances reaching 24.03 million units as of October 30, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

For the Chinese economy to weather downward pressures in the long run, more effort is needed. A series of nationwide consumption promotion events will be launched in November, from food festivals to camping events, sporting activities, exhibitions and performances. And one of the host cities will be Shanghai, where the 7th China International Import Expo is underway.

Despite the recent heavy rain, Monday has seen business as usual in Shanghai. The day is still long, so is the new week, but it's off to a good start.