But last year, the crackdown in Shanghai was anything but usual. For one thing, it never stopped. Babylon reopened, closed, opened and was shut again. Pubs on the notorious Mao Ming Lu, known for drugs as well as dancing, were repeatedly raided. Even now, Shanghai clubs close at 2 a.m, strictly obeying a tight curfew.
Ravers remain depressed, turning to house parties.
Nobody goes out now. The in-thing now is dinner parties. Blame the ongoing battles between uptight Beijing and swinging Shanghai. Shanghai is feminine. But sometimes, she can be a real bitch.