Chinanews, Shanghai, March 20 - Shanghai used to be a very self-centered city, and so were its people, who were accused for "looking down upon non-locals". However, today's Shanghainese have become much more tolerant, and "long-distance marriages" between Shanghainese and non-locals are quite common.

 

Wang Yan, from Zhenjiang of Jiangsu Province, married Huang, a Shanghainese man, last week. "My parents-in-law are very kind to me, and they teach me how to cook in Mandarin," said Wang. "My colleagues are from all around China, and all of us feel a strong sense of belonging in Shanghai."

 

According to the latest statistics, there were 55,992 newly-weds (34.6% of the total) of Shanghainese and non-locals (most from Jiangsu Province) in 2006, a 55.96% growth compared with 2005.