Expats sing along to new firework ban song

Police in Jing’an District rolled out a new song this week publicizing the city’s firework ban within the Outer Ring Road area before the Chinese New Year, this time aimed at expats.

Last year their song, based on Romanian band O-Zone's hit number “Dragostea Din Tei,” became a hit.

The new song uses the tune of the pop song in its chorus amid a “Chinese rap” with words said in Shanghai dialect.

Three expats who work for EF Education, together with police and community safety volunteers, recorded the song and the music video.

In Jing’an District, publicity of the firework ban has been increasingly targeting expats.

“After two years, most Chinese residents are quite familiar with the ban, but expats are less informed,” said Yu Qijie, a community police officer of the Nanjing Road W. Police Station.

Yu said he and his colleagues have been publicizing the ban in international companies, and the music video of the song will be played in business buildings.