The slightly alarming note waiting for me on the desk of my Shanghai hotel room two days ago:

Dear Guest:

There will be an underground blasting operation undertaking between 23:00pm-23:30pm on 3rd November. 2008, 23:00pm-23:30pm on 5th Nov. 2008, 30M away from here. There will be a chain of "firecracker like" noises and you may feel a little vibration. Please do not park your [sic] or walk in the temporary banned area indicated then. And, close your windows.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

I was there on the night of the 4th, an explosion-free night, I'm almost disappointed to report. I've had hotel nights disturbed by many things over the years: Rats (Vietnam), a hail of insects (Qiqiha'er), inescapable neon (Macau), drunk Russians (also Shanghai), crappy bands from the Philippines (numerous countries in Southeast Asia). Never explosions, I'm pleased to say.