People wearing pyjamas in public, still a common sight in Shanghai, is one of the most irritating aspects of life in China’s biggest city, according to an opinion poll of residents.
The survey found that pyjama-wearing on the streets and in public places such as shops, banks and parks is among the most uncivilised things in the city, along with aggressive pets, unhelpful neighbours and disregard for the natural environment,
Over 16% of respondents said they or family members often donned pyjamas in public, and 25% reported they sometimes did, Yang Xiong, a professor who helped conduct the poll, said on Wednesday.
The survey was sponsored by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and the Shanghai Women’s Federation.
Theories differ over why the practice of wearing pyjamas — baggy cotton outfits which are often printed with flowers or small animals — is so widespread in China’s richest and most cosmopolitan city.
Some believe residents are showing off their social status by underlining how close to the city centre they live, while others say it is a holdover from life many decades ago in small, self-contained communities. – Reuters