Although Shanghai authorities are proud of the city's lively entertainment, high quality food and bright lights, it appears they are less fond of the locals' reputation for using colourful language as they are considering outlawing swearing.
Officials plan to ban swear words in the city's financial district as it believes without such language the locals will be more accommodating to tourists and arguments are less likely to develop into full scale confrontations.
The proposal is part of a city-wide social clean-up that also includes restrictions on jaywalking, smoking, littering and spitting.
But these laws would be very difficult to enforce admitted a spokesman for the city government's Office of Spiritual Civilization Construction.
"It's not certain whether this can pass or how we would punish people who use bad language even if it is passed," he told the AP.
Shanghai is the modern hotspot of the world's most populated and fastest growing economic power. Although it cannot off the historic and cultural depth of Beijing, it is best known for its superb shopping facilities and commitment to top of the range cuisine.
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