Raising a glass to accessibility

Keep moving forward

Xia shares that the pub's disabled customers are diverse in many ways. Still, the majority are able-bodied, including musicians, artists, singers, nearby residents, and other business owners in the community. Open-minded young people are the main force.

Wang Yongjun, a 42-year-old director and producer, learned about this pet-friendly pub on online platforms. He is discussing with Xia the idea of making a public service documentary, which Wang expects to complete next year.

"I see social responsibility, hope and warmth at this pub. When we are continuously moving forward, we must think of and care more about those with disabilities. With the greatest love and compassion, we can show care for these individuals without distinction," says Wang.

Han You, 31, came across the pub while walking her dog. She feels attached to the pub's community after accidentally breaking her leg while skiing in France last month. Being asked to use a wheelchair for three months, she has gained a deeper understanding of what makes this pub and the community special.

"When I am in the wheelchair, I clearly notice the gaze of others. But that doesn't happen here. No one treats you differently, as we are all 'normal'. The pub is a true community — warm, caring, alive, and emotionally connected," says Han.

The groups connected by the pub are still growing, exceeding Xia's expectations. In addition to dozens of regular customers, the pub has also attracted about 1,000 members in its online groups. The Xinhua Road community also engages with the pub for advice, making joint efforts to optimize accessible facilities and experiences in the area.

Shanghai was among the first cities in China to pioneer barrier-free environments. As early as the 1980s, the city began integrating accessible facilities into key roadways and newly constructed large-scale buildings. The city government rolled out the nation's first management regulations on accessible facility construction in 2003, with subsequent efforts over the next two decades to ensure their implementation, optimization, and legislation.

An increasing number of public cultural spaces across the city are also ramping up efforts in promoting accessibility. In 2022, a small bookstore on Nanchang Road opened, featuring Braille books and an environment designed for the visually-impaired, the first of its kind in the city.

Accessible reading rooms with comprehensive facilities and services are available in public libraries, including Shanghai Library, Shanghai Children's Library, and smaller ones across the city.

Moreover, venues such as Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall, the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, Shanghai Museum East, as well as some theaters and cinemas across the city, offer accessible services and special activities for groups with disabilities to enjoy entertainment.

"Accessibility is infrastructure for diverse groups to see each other, to connect and socialize. Some people may say our pub is niche, but I would say we are much more general and inclusive," says Xia.

Notably, the pub also receives many overseas visitors from Australia, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. Some of them even invited Xia's team to open branches in their nations — a future goal Xia is looking into.

"Life is essentially diverse. We've grown accustomed to separation and various constraints, but once they are broken down, by simply seeing and walking into other people's normal lives, changes will happen naturally," says Xia.