A question that people often ask me is:  which is the better city, Beijing or Shanghai?  This is such a loaded question I don't know where to begin.  Of course, the answer depends on one's perspective, background, and interests.  I always reply with the hazy but useful phrase 各有千秋 (ge you qian qiu) which literally means "each has a thousand autumns" but translates more accurately as "each has its advantages..."