"The traffic lights can talk to cars, work out how long it's going to take to transit a road and then provide information back on what speed to travel to ensure that you pass through the traffic lights on green, " he said.

BBC: Green light sat-nav trialled in Newcastle

Back in town, we take you for a stroll along Shanghai's Bund ( Road Trip), where everything old is new (and so is what's actually new, for that matter...).

FORBES: Editor's Note

Even those setting off the firecrackers would dart out into the road, light the fuse and then rush back into a doorway to take shelter from the downpour.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Asia Buzz: Firecracker Freedom