Make It Shanghai, Make It Yours: A Foreign Director's Take on City Life

What can life in Shanghai be? What surprises can an ordinary day hold? See the city through a foreigner's eyes in the short film "Make it Shanghai," directed by Andrea Marini, creative director of ĀN Studio Shanghai.

"I grew up with a very specific idea of what a good life looks like – good food, beautiful surroundings, a sense of community, the pleasure of daily things done well. I found all of that in Shanghai, in ways I did not expect and could not have imagined before I arrived," Marini wrote in his director's note.

"What strikes you immediately as a foreigner is the order. Clean streets, public transport that works flawlessly, a sense of shared respect in everyday life that is rare to find elsewhere. Then comes the energy – a city that never slows down, that is always building something, always moving toward something new," Marini wrote.

"What surprised me most, and what I think is most important to communicate, is how livable it is. It is a place where you can build a real life – a home, a community, a daily routine that feels rich and meaningful," Marini wrote.

"Shanghai, make it yours. I already did."

"Make it Shanghai" was jointly produced by the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality and Shanghai Daily.