澎湃新闻记者 彭艳秋“洋鸡蛋从5块8每斤涨到6块多每斤，差不多一个月涨了七八毛。”8月21日，澎湃新闻记者在上海市徐汇区的复中菜市场发现，鸡蛋价格近期有所上涨。

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    Aerial view of Shanghai's skyline Photo: VCGEditor's Note: 
An international metropolis on the shores of the East China Sea, a new migrant city rising from the Gobi Desert... China's cities embody a remarkable range of forms and efforts etched across a diverse range of landscapes, all of which is reflected in the everyday lives of ordinary people.
No two cities look alike, yet the standard by which we measure a city's warmth is familiar: Is there a place to rest safely? Is there a hot, decent meal to eat? Is there a corner where even the most vulnerable are treated with care and dignity? These seemingly small details are, in fact, what make a city truly moving.
The Global Times is launching a new series, "China City Talk." In this series, we explore cities across China, focusing on the everyday rhythms of life shaped by the human warmth of public policy and the quiet ways urban governance transforms individual lives. These stories offer one of the clearest windows into contemporary China.
Inside a historic red-brick building that houses a Party-mass service complex, run by a local grass-roots organization of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Kunqu opera enthusiast Li Qin rehearses with her retired friends. Many of the complex's spaces are open to the public, and in its elegantly old-fashioned hall, the arias of the classical opera float gently through the air.
At an AI-equipped community canteen for the elderly, a robotic arm skillfully prepares bowls of noodles. Affordable dishes line the serving windows, and 62-year-old Ao Yongjian, who lives nearby, joins the queue as he always does, choosing the dishes he likes.
In a mixed-use commercial block, a class at a rehabilitation center for children with autism is suddenly interrupted by a sharp cry from 9-year-old Xiaozheng (pseudonym). A volunteer beside him gently takes his hand and comforts him in a soft voice.
In Shanghai, scenes like these unfold almost every day, in every corner of the city. From some 12,000 Party-masses service complexes to more than 500 community elderly canteens and the city's first summer vacation care program for children with autism, this metropolis is responding to the needs of every single citizen with remarkable care and precision.
    A robotic arm cooks noodles at Hongqiao AI community canteen. Photo: Courtesy of the canteen
A shared home
With its photogenic looks and downtown location, a Party-masses service complex in the Jing'an district's Shimen Road No.2 subdistrict has gone viral on social media, drawing visitors from near and far almost every day.
Set beside Suzhou Creek, the service complex is made up of three century-old, red brick villas. After being restored in September 2025, many areas were reopened to the public free of charge. Residents now come here to read, chat, dance, and even play chess with AI robots.
There is also a "care station," which provides convenient services for couriers, delivery riders and other workers on the go.
At noon, courier Wang Jun stopped by to warm up his lunch and take a short break. He told the Global Times that, because he is always busy, he used to eat lunch squatting by the roadside, or grab a brief rest in the lobbies of some companies. "Now that this place is here, I can eat a hot meal at noon and get out of the rain when it pours," he said with a smile. "It feels like home."
Delivery rider Wang Shuwei first came here on a rainy day while delivering food. On her period at the time, she found the restroom, only to realize she had forgotten to bring a pad. Fortunately, a janitor pointed out that the "care station" offered free pads.
"At that moment, I thought, how can something be this good?" Wang said. She has since become a regular. "The words 'Party-masses service complex' used to sound like something that had nothing to do with me. But after coming here, I realized there are real services here, and the staff are all very kind."
Behind these services lies carefully conducted surveys of nearby residents.
According to He Hanqing, director of the service complex, the renovation began after more than 1,000 feedback forms were collected online and offline. "Many residents wanted the complex to be closer to Suzhou Creek. They wanted a community canteen, while some young people wanted a shared office space, and parents wanted areas to play with their children," she said. They then integrated indoor and outdoor spaces into a single design, extending the renovation to include the surrounding Suzhou Creek promenade and the space beneath nearby bridges.
Today, the service complex receives an average of 4,000 visits a day. More than 30 percent of visitors come from outside the local community, 12 percent are tourists from elsewhere in China, and 7.7 percent are from overseas, according to data provided by the complex staff. In this highly urban complex, where rent for commercial land is extremely expensive, the place has become a shared home for many.
"We are not doing the math in terms of economic returns, but in terms of public sentiment," He Hanqing told the Global Times. "It is worth it to open up precious land to the public for free."
Warming stomachs and hearts
Around 11 am in Shanghai's Hongqiao subdistrict, the aroma of freshly cooked food drifts out of a community canteen. Named a "community canteen for the elderly," it is actually open to everyone, not just seniors.
Through a glass wall, a robotic arm in the back kitchen deftly picks up a tray of washed vegetables and delivers it into an intelligent cooking chamber. Within minutes, stir-fried cabbage is ready to serve. Braised pork, zucchini with scrambled eggs… more than a dozen dishes stand neatly lined up across the counter
Opened in 2021, this is one of Shanghai's earliest AI community canteens. The dishes here are prepared by machines and an AI system. According to the canteen's manager, Dong Yong, the system contains more than 3,000 recipes and can precisely regulate oil and salt use. Beyond its AI features, the canteen also offers full traceability for its ingredients, from procurement to processing.
What really puts diners at ease, however, are the prices. A vegetarian dish costs 4.5 yuan (67 cents), meat dishes range from 6 to 9 yuan, and some specialty items sell for 12 to 18 yuan, according to a price list on the wall. 
Seniors aged 60 and above can enjoy discounts and subsidies. "A meal here costs me about 15 yuan on average - it's tasty and a good value," said resident Ao. Since retiring, Ao has come almost every day.
So how can the canteen turn a profit while charging below-market prices? He Junting, an official from the Hongqiao subdistrict, explained that the canteen is part of a government-supported partnership. 
The local government provides the venue rent-free, allowing the restaurant to pass on the savings to customers. "That's why the prices are so affordable," she told the Global Times.
After choosing her dishes, a 70-year-old resident surnamed Du sat down at a table and chatted with the Global Times as she ate. Her husband is in the hospital, leaving her little time to cook for herself, so she comes here for lunch four or five days a week.
"The food here is healthy and the prices are friendly. I don't have to bother buying groceries or washing dishes myself," Du said. "The government really has solved an important problem for us older people."
During lunchtime, white-haired seniors, office workers and cleaning staff alike share the same dining space, giving the canteen a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere. Whether powered by AI or run in more traditional ways, these affordable community canteens can be found in nearly every neighborhood across Shanghai - warming both stomachs and hearts.
    Accompanied by a volunteer, a child with autism plays with toys at Palm Star Children's Rehabilitation Service Center in Shanghai on July 30, 2026. Photo: Chen Xia/GT
Much love and care
This summer, Shanghai launched a pilot program for children with autism in three districts, including Changning, marking the city's first attempt at such a summer daycare service.
The Palm Star Children's Rehabilitation Service Center, a professional rehab facility for children with autism, is located in Changning. There, 10 children attend the program, with each child paired with a volunteer.
In the classroom, laughter mixes with sudden cries. When one child has an emotional outburst, a volunteer gently calms him down; when another seems lost in her own world, the volunteer stays by her side, guiding her patiently.
Xiaozheng has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. When his mother fell ill and his father grew busy caring for her, his grandmother was left to look after him alone. In previous summers, Xiaozheng could only stay at home. This year, however, the summer vacation program gave the boy somewhere to go.
Each session of the program lasts three weeks and costs only 600 yuan - less than one-tenth of what a commercial institution might charge. For families like Xiaozheng's, which are struggling financially, this fee is covered by the local government.
In Shanghai, children with physical, intellectual or mental disabilities also receive annual care and living subsidies.
Caring for children with autism is a lifelong process, and summer vacations have long been a gap in that support, said Chu Lin, director of the center. She explained that the program is the result of joint efforts from government subsidies, social organizations and donations from caring enterprises. "Every child has the right to education. By learning here and practicing simple daily living skills and social interaction, we hope their situation can gradually improve."
Among the volunteers is 21-year-old Kalahala Nuerbaishan, a university student majoring in special education. Before taking up her post, she and the other volunteers completed two rounds of professional training. 
She shared that at the program, one boy under her care had been silent all day at first, but now he raises his hand to ask for tissues on his own. "Small progress like that gives me a great sense of accomplishment," the volunteer told the Global Times.
Lunchtime arrives. Accompanied by volunteers, the children wash their hands, line up and collect their meals. Some are already seated; others are still restless. Yet the special education teachers and volunteers remain patient, trying again and again to communicate with them.
In Shanghai, the most scenic stretch along the Suzhou Creek waterfront has been left for ordinary residents; the most advanced technology is being used to prepare three meals a day; and the most professional expertise is supporting the most vulnerable children. 
This metropolis, as many people living there told the Global Times, is interpreting the meaning of "cities are built by the people, for the people" in the quiet, everyday acts of care that speak the loudest.
。鸡蛋经营商介绍，涨价趋势基本要持续到10月。

C | “天热的时候蛋鸡生蛋少，产蛋率一降，整体供应量下降，蛋价自然就上去了。

D | 每年国庆节之后，气温转凉，蛋鸡的产蛋率会上来，鸡蛋供应量会变多。这是鸡蛋每年的常规周期，天热涨价，天凉降价。”而乌中市集的鸡蛋经营商也表示，“进价涨了，陆陆续续涨了一个月。”卓创资讯监测数据显示，8月中上旬主产区鸡蛋价格整体呈上涨走势，主产区鸡蛋均价最高涨至18日的4.65元/斤，较月初低点上涨0.81元/斤。受蛋价走高影响，养殖端盈利水平同步提升，8月中上旬单斤鸡蛋盈利维持在1.14-1.94元，养殖收益可观。国家统计局数据显示，7月蛋类价格同比上涨14.4%，环比下跌1.7%，1-7月同比上涨2.8%。

E | 中秋糕点备货等需求释放此轮蛋价上涨主要受中秋备货需求逐步释放与供应端收缩双重因素的拉动。

F | “从需求来看，蛋价上涨的核心驱动来自中秋备货周期开启。进入8月，月饼等节日食品生产进入旺季，食品加工企业鸡蛋采购量逐步放大，工业端刚性需求明显增加。立秋以后，全国多数地区气温降低，市场需求整体好转。

G | 另外，在价格上涨趋势确立之后，部分贸易商看好后市行情，开展囤货操作，放大了流通环节的采购需求。

H | 工厂刚需叠加贸易商补库，多方需求形成合力，直接拉动市场成交价格不断走高。同时后续开学季消费预期，也对市场心态形成一定支撑。

I | ”卓创资讯分析师王金玉在接受澎湃新闻记者采访时表示，短期来看，产区库存处于低位，生产、流通环节库存天数维持在1天左右，出货压力较小。叠加中秋备货仍在持续推进，食品厂刚需采购对行情形成有力支撑。学校开学、商超中秋促销带来消费增量，市场活跃度有望进一步提升，蛋价整体偏强运行的基础没有动摇。

J | 但经过连续上涨，终端对高价货源消化需要时间，高价走货速度放缓，下游贸易商、商超会出现阶段性观望。综合来看，8月下旬、9月初鸡蛋价格仍将维持高位，期间不排除蛋价回落的可能，但回落空间有限。卓创资讯监测数据显示，8月前两周，主销区代表市场鸡蛋销量维持在6700-6900吨，销量呈增加趋势。

K | 瑞达期货指出，鸡蛋作为生鲜品，对存储的温度、湿度要求严格，即使在冷库条件下也很难保持长时间存储，且鸡蛋季节性需求特别明显，节假日对其需求的拉动也较大。故而，蛋价也呈现较为规律的季节性变化。一般而言，进入下半年，在中秋和国庆备货支撑下，三季度蛋价基本呈现回涨态势，并在9月中旬达到全年最高位。近期蛋价表现来看，一方面，中秋糕点、月饼加工企业进入生产旺季，大中食品加工厂开启集中备货，需求将迎来年内阶段性高峰；另一方面，随着开学季来临，学校食堂集中补库，团膳消费刚需回暖，叠加当前产区库存仍然处于低位，多重利好因素共同作用下，鸡蛋现货价格进一步季节性走强。产能去化、高温等导致供应收缩而从供应端来看，行业进入去产能周期、供应收缩是蛋价能够持续上行的底层支撑。王金玉指出，受去年行业低迷影响，2025年国内鸡蛋价格长期低位运行，全年均价仅3.17元/斤，行业平均每斤鸡蛋亏损0.03元。持续亏损打击养殖户信心，市场补栏行为趋于谨慎，中小养殖户空栏率走高，直接推动2026年蛋鸡行业进入产能去化周期。根据补栏、老鸡出栏以及前期存栏基数综合测算，8月产蛋鸡存栏理论预估值为12.65亿只，环比下降1.56%，同比下降7.33%，整体存栏水平明显低于去年同期。

L | “除此之外，夏季高温天气形成热应激，拖累蛋鸡产蛋性能，进一步压缩鸡蛋产量。”王金玉表示。长江期货指出，在产蛋鸡存栏和产蛋率决定了市场鸡蛋供应，当期供应变化取决于当期新开产蛋鸡数量与当期淘汰量的差值，当期新开产大于淘汰，在产蛋鸡存栏量增加，反之减少。另外，产蛋率主要受鸡龄、鸡苗品质、饲养环境等因素影响，波动相对平缓且规律性强，例如天气炎热时，蛋鸡进入歇伏期，采食量下降，产蛋率会出现一定程度的下滑，不过现在饲养条件有所提升，蛋率的波动相对平缓。

M | 2024年下半年丰厚的养殖利润驱动养殖端积极补栏，且不断通过换羽延长产能周期，淘汰少叠加开产多，导致2025年产蛋鸡存栏持续攀升至历史高位，不断施压蛋价、压缩养殖利润，2025年春节后蛋鸡养殖行业结束了四年的盈利周期进入亏损，且亏损幅度为2019年以来的最大值。养殖利润的恶化消耗企业现金流的同时加深了产业的悲观情绪，随之而来的是持续的大量淘汰和不敢补栏的观望，这些共同造成了2026年春节之后鸡蛋供应偏紧、各环节低库存运行的市场格局。未来走势王金玉表示，9月下旬中秋节结束，节日集中备货需求退潮，市场需求由强转弱，蛋价或将从高位出现回落。“进入10月份，节日利多因素消退，鸡蛋消费转入传统季节性淡季。同时气温逐步回落，高温热应激影响消失，蛋鸡产蛋率逐步修复回升，市场鸡蛋供给随之增加。供需格局由紧平衡转向宽松，鸡蛋价格运行重心将会继续下移。短期节日红利仍在，价格具备韧性，但不具备长期持续走高的基础。随着节日结束和产蛋性能修复，后期供应增加、价格回落将是大概率事件。

N | ”王金玉建议，对于养殖户而言，面对当前高盈利，应当理性看待养殖周期，避免跟风捂货惜售，防范后期行情回落带来的经营风险。对于贸易商而言，应控制周转库存，以销定采，切忌追高囤货；食品加工企业在当前高位时期优先保障中秋刚需生产，合理安排生产排期，节后订单回落同步调低采购规模，把握成本回落机会改善经营效益；终端消费者面对节日前高位蛋价无需恐慌囤货，按需适量采购，可趁商超促销少量备货，待中秋过后蛋价逐步回落，10月供给宽松价格下行时正常选购即可。