1.   In Beijing and other Chinese metropolises ordinary people have been driven to riot by pollution ranging from incessant noise to choking clouds of coal dust.

2.   Old habits die hard and Hong Kong is still in the midst of an awkward transition from colonial outpost to Chinese metropolis.

3.   The Transrapid, which Berlin boasts is the most advanced transport technology in the world, has been bought by Shanghai to link the Chinese metropolis with its airport.

4.   Shanghai opened a ring road Wednesday, the first of several infrastructure projects to ease traffic congestion in this crowded eastern Chinese metropolis.

5.   The Business News daily reported that by the end of the century there would be one migrant labourer to every three Shanghainese residing in the eastern Chinese metropolis.