FOR the majority of British visitors to Shanghai, one of the most interesting things to be witnessed is the abundance of communal activity occurring in the city¡¯s numerous parks and squares. At almost any time of the day, a casual stroll through these public areas will reveal them to be alive with activity.

In the early mornings, they are filled with joggers, walkers and people practising Tai Chi, as well as the many commuters heading for metro stations and bus stops. Later on, as the crowds of business people thin, kite flyers appear, and groups of friends come to sit and drink tea whilst enjoying a game of chess or cards.

At various other times of the day, children can be found playing, and groups regularly gather to exercise together, learn to dance, or practise languages such as English.

This communal use of public spaces often seems strange to people from Britain, where such activates are very uncommon.

Britain is full of ¡°public?spaces ?well-tended grassy parks, open squares and wide, tree-lined streets fill its towns and cities ?but the ways in which they are utilized by the local people are very different from the use of such spaces over here.

For example, the English are justifiably very proud of their parks ?they are usually beautiful areas, well-maintained, and designed for public enjoyment. People flock to them on pleasant days to enjoy a walk, or to drink in the small outdoor cafes within them. They are places to stroll in pleasant weather, walk dogs and ride horses. People jog through them and eat in them. However for the vast majority of British people it would be bizarre to contemplate going to the park in order to play chess or learn to dance ?it just isn¡¯t done. Activities such as these usually take place in private, behind closed doors.

This can probably be attributed in part to the weather. In a country where rain is such a frequent visitor, outdoor activities are not always practical, however, it seems likely that it also has a lot to do with a difference in culture, specifically a difference in the attitude toward social activities.

During the Victorian and Edwardian periods in Britain, society was underpinned by rigid moral and social values. Strict etiquette governed behaviour, particularly in the public sphere. In more recent years, these British social codes have begun to relax, however the traditional ¡°British reserve?still seems to be very evident.

British people, as a rule, still disapprove of loud or demonstrative behaviour, except in very informal situations. They also do not like to be embarrassed. For the majority of British people, therefore, any activity which may draw attention to one¡¯s self is something which should be done in private. There is a great aversion to being seen as a public ¡°spectacle?

Britain continues to be a nation where privacy, a sense of personal space, and the need to maintain a ¡°stiff upper lip?in front of strangers are still strong parts of life.

This is very different from China where, through a combination of choice, tradition and necessity, a more communal attitude exists. In China, it is often impractical to carry out these activities indoors, where smaller living areas would not accommodate dance classes or large gatherings. The Chinese people are also less precious about privacy, and do not object so strongly to being stared at by others, something which often upsets and offends the British.

As a result, free of the social confines that are felt so strongly in Britain, Chinese people are free to fully enjoy their public spaces and, as any walk through these areas will show, this is a freedom they enjoy to the full.