Hi from Shanghai
Okay, so I've succumbed to one electronic gadget that we've never travelled with before and that's my new baby laptop. I've been told by others that this is something they wouldn't travel without nowadays because of the free wifi available worldwide, so I'm taking their word for it.
After a frantic 3 month lead up researching and organising travel and visa arrangements, packing and shifting out of home so that we could lease it, finalising work commitments as well as dealing with minor crises and lots of last minute angst we finally left............ready or not!
Shanghai was our first port of call into China for a 4 ½ day stay. It is THE trendiest & coolest of places in China – a vast metropolis of bright lights, flashy hotels, high rise towers, fashion brands, mega shopping malls, hip international restaurants & cafes and of course the famous waterfront, the Bund. We loved exploring the French Concession area – a cosmopolitan mix of European design mixed with renovated traditional Shikumen houses from the 1900’s.
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| East Nanjing Road, Shanghai |
We had a fantastic glimpse into expat living in Shanghai staying with Penn & Alister in their lovely high rise apartment with brilliant night time views of neon-lit skyscrapers from their loungeroom window. How spoilt were we having not only their insider tips and help but also the services of their driver Andy who chauffeured us to many of the sights!
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| High above Shanghai |
As well as the obligatory visit to the Shanghai Museum to learn more about the Qing, Ming and Tang dynasties, we took Penn’s advice and visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. It sounds like a dry and dull subject but the technology of it all was brilliant. This 4-storey building has an enormous scale model of the entire city – every single skyscraper is represented - that lights up in neon, and an impressive interactive display of a futuristic Shanghai.
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| Shanghai Museum |
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| Urban Planning Hall |
SHANGHAI DUMPLINGS AND YUNNAN FOOD
Shanghai is renowned for its dumplings and we savoured these delicious little parcels in the historic Old Town, doing our best to pick them up with chopsticks and dip them in vinegar. Also, we dined on terrific Chinese cuisine with Penn and Alister. A highlight was pre-dinner drinks at a swanky little wine bar then on to the Lost Heaven restaurant for some amazing Yunnan cuisine where staff were in dress from this province in the south-western part of China. The place had a moody ambience not unlike The Buddha Bar in Paris.
One early morning Penn and Alister showed us their neighbourhood which at this time of day is vibrant with activity. At the many parks around, groups of elderly people were going through their graceful tai chi motions (some dressed in pyjamas), others on exercise equipment installed in the parks, still others partaking of dancercise en masse – the nearest description would be outdoor senior citizens clubs.
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| The art of dumpling making |
One early morning Penn and Alister showed us their neighbourhood which at this time of day is vibrant with activity. At the many parks around, groups of elderly people were going through their graceful tai chi motions (some dressed in pyjamas), others on exercise equipment installed in the parks, still others partaking of dancercise en masse – the nearest description would be outdoor senior citizens clubs.
Bird owners bring their black songbirds & hang their cages alongside each other in the trees – a social outing for both owners and birds - before covering them up and carrying them back home. There were dogs on leashes and dog owners galore – it looked like pet playgroup. Roadside markets and indoor markets were filled with fresh produce and teeming with eager sellers and buyers. The atmosphere was certainly buzzing and had a very communal feel about it.
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| Morning markets |
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| Early morning tai chi |
WUZHEN
A terrific daytrip out of Shanghai was to the canal town of Wuzhen. This is a quaint rebuilt traditional village from the Qing period where we spent hours exploring its narrow alleyways, crossing its many little bridges spanning the waterways and looking in on historic houses, crafts and workshops such as soy sauce, silk and damask production. Sharing the place with us were several film crews that were chasing pairs of competitors around in what looked like an Asian version of the Amazing Race.
Our time in Shanghai came to an end all too quickly – okay, it’s traffic is atrocious, you can’t get anywhere in a hurry, those zillions of silent electric scooters that sneak up from behind give you a nasty surprise - but Max and I knew that there would be no other special place like it in the rest of China. Onward bound, we fly to the south of China next.
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| Traditional life, Wuzhen |
Our time in Shanghai came to an end all too quickly – okay, it’s traffic is atrocious, you can’t get anywhere in a hurry, those zillions of silent electric scooters that sneak up from behind give you a nasty surprise - but Max and I knew that there would be no other special place like it in the rest of China. Onward bound, we fly to the south of China next.
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| Historic tea house, Shanghai Old Town |
Hi, I'm Eva - world traveller, cultural explorer and experience seeker. Together with my husband Max, we've been globetrotting for over 20 years.
Love the photos & commentary... you have to write a book!!! xxx K
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