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Comment by IIAOPSW | Hacker News Reader

Ugh this is so Shanghai and not in a good way. I lived in Shanghai for about 2 years. Certain 'design decisions' that they make are like Times Square with Chinese Characteristics. It feels like a pop-up ad in real life that you physically can't close. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not some architectural taste curmudgeon. I actually like the garish lighting and weirdly shaped vanity projects like the Bottle Opener. I just hate the buildings that literally become building-sized billboards when you look at the skyline at night.

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You would hate my view from Hong Kong, where I finally got a sea view from a high rise floor, and I can see the entire city lighting up at night with huge ads and stuff.

It feels so Ghost in the Shell, I reached my goal :D

The tram ride up to the top of Victoria Peak at night should be on every single persons bucket list.

I would love that.

Perfect application for AR with ad blocking.

Haha, the manufacturers will likely do their best to lock them down tight in order to show you their ads.

I've been screaming about this to friends for years hahaha, finally someone who thinks similarly! The best use for AR glasses will be IRL ad blocking.

I was in Shanghai for a couple of days, and I really loved the night, in a Blade Runneresque sort of way. Even watching the smog-filled sky filtering the sun at dawn was mesmerizing, thank you jet lag... but I understand why living there full time couldn't be the best experience.

The Bund is like that but not all of Shanghai is so garish. French district for example - though I agree the city Shanghai feels most like is NYC (just not all copies of Times Square).

There's very little overarching design in the new development, and I grew to like the patchwork quilt-like mismatch of elements. Shanghai is a beautiful city, though if you said "this is so the Bund" then I'd agree with everything you said.

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