Expats’ dinner party on Shanghai subway criticized

A group of foreign passengers are seen having a “dinner party” on Shanghai’s Subway Line 11 on April 7, 2017. The passengers placed a table in the aisle and held up goblets, eating and drinking wantonly inside the train.

The photo has drawn criticism online, as according to the Shanghai Rail Transit Passenger Code, it’s forbidden to consume food or drinks on subway.

The rule warns passengers that such behavior could affect the normal running of the trains because open liquids could spill over other passengers, and food debris would encourage cockroaches and rats, damaging the fabric and facilities of the subway tunnel.

However, the rules are only for guidance and are not legally binding. There are no specific penalties for violations at present.