Municipal buses to use Shanghai dialect

Announcements in the Shanghai dialect will be expanded to all buses in the municipality from October, according to Shanghai transportation management office, Shanghai Oriental News Radio reported.

Commuters will hear announcements about routes and stops in Mandarin, the Shanghai dialect and English on buses traveling in central urban areas but only Mandarin on buses serving the outskirts.

Residents welcomed the change and hoped the dialect will be used in more public services to highlight Shanghai and better protect and showcase the language and culture.

A pilot program commenced in December 2011 on buses on the No 785 route, which operates in the Pudong New Area. Seven bus routes have joined the program so far.

There is no plan to add the dialect to announcements on the metro, which currently includes Mandarin and English, according to the Shanghai subway authorities.