A vastly different look at urban China is just an hour away from
Hangzhou by high-speed train. I’ve heard all sorts of praise for the
wonders of Shanghai from family friends in the US and Chinese teachers
alike, and because of this I’ve been yearning to visit this massive
riverside economic center of China for quite some time now. Keeping with
my desire to travel and see more of China, five MIC students, me
included, decided to take a Saturday day trip to Shanghai a couple of
weekends ago. We booked the first morning gao tie train ticket available
and returned that same evening, before the busses stopped running. It
was a fast-paced but satisfying taste of what seems to be China’s
future, and it left me itching for more.
It seems like Hangzhou is currently heading in the direction of what I saw in Shanghai. Here was a fully functioning, multicultural city with a convenient public transportation network of busses and Metro, a unique blend of European and Chinese architectural influences, and evident economic success. If Hangzhou represents China’s thousands of years of cultural history, Shanghai represents the flashy and fast-paced nature of years to come. This was especially noticeable in the touristy walkway bordering the Bund area: on one side of the river, a futuristic, space-agey view of Shanghai’s modern Pudong skyline is visible; on the opposite side, grand, European-influenced banks and shopping centers provide vivid contrast. If Paris was the city to be in during the 1950s, then Shanghai is the modern-day equivalent, encompassing most of the luxuries and conveniences of modern cities in the developed world, while simultaneously retaining Chinese culture and charm. Note the pants (China style) on the child to my left in the photo below:
Old world charm:
Shanghai is full of diverse things to do that are sort of a blend of the best of the East and West. In the course of just one day, I was able to:
1. Travel all the way across Shanghai and back in thirty minutes on the speedy and convenient subway
2. Hear at least ten different languages spoken in the Bund area- and not attract intrigued stares from locals for my pale skin and light hair (Shanghaii natives are used to foreigners and don’t think much of their presence, unlike many other places in China!)
3. Bargain in Mandarin at the West Nanjing Road market for silk scarves, touristy souvenirs, knock-off brand name shoes and hand-painted Chinese-style paintings, all for fractions of the asking price- already merely a fraction of these items’ value in US dollars. Sometimes it was tempting to over-pay out of a sense of guilt- how can this “thing” be worth so little?, but I think I drove a hard bargain for the most part!
4. Consume Chinese you tiao for breakfast, authentic French lamb, scallops and cheeses for lunch, and Italian beef tortellini in pink sauce with Diet Coke (so hard to find in Hangzhou!) for dinner for a day of truly multicultural dining!
Delicious Italian dinner:
 |
| Shanghai's modern Pudong skyline, in all its hazy glory |
It seems like Hangzhou is currently heading in the direction of what I saw in Shanghai. Here was a fully functioning, multicultural city with a convenient public transportation network of busses and Metro, a unique blend of European and Chinese architectural influences, and evident economic success. If Hangzhou represents China’s thousands of years of cultural history, Shanghai represents the flashy and fast-paced nature of years to come. This was especially noticeable in the touristy walkway bordering the Bund area: on one side of the river, a futuristic, space-agey view of Shanghai’s modern Pudong skyline is visible; on the opposite side, grand, European-influenced banks and shopping centers provide vivid contrast. If Paris was the city to be in during the 1950s, then Shanghai is the modern-day equivalent, encompassing most of the luxuries and conveniences of modern cities in the developed world, while simultaneously retaining Chinese culture and charm. Note the pants (China style) on the child to my left in the photo below:
 |
| Hello, American! And baby bottom |
Old world charm:
 |
| MIC Hangzhou folk in Shanghai |
Shanghai is full of diverse things to do that are sort of a blend of the best of the East and West. In the course of just one day, I was able to:
1. Travel all the way across Shanghai and back in thirty minutes on the speedy and convenient subway
2. Hear at least ten different languages spoken in the Bund area- and not attract intrigued stares from locals for my pale skin and light hair (Shanghaii natives are used to foreigners and don’t think much of their presence, unlike many other places in China!)
3. Bargain in Mandarin at the West Nanjing Road market for silk scarves, touristy souvenirs, knock-off brand name shoes and hand-painted Chinese-style paintings, all for fractions of the asking price- already merely a fraction of these items’ value in US dollars. Sometimes it was tempting to over-pay out of a sense of guilt- how can this “thing” be worth so little?, but I think I drove a hard bargain for the most part!
4. Consume Chinese you tiao for breakfast, authentic French lamb, scallops and cheeses for lunch, and Italian beef tortellini in pink sauce with Diet Coke (so hard to find in Hangzhou!) for dinner for a day of truly multicultural dining!
Delicious Italian dinner:
 |
| Absolutely divine beef tortellini in pink sauce, Da Marco Ristorante, Shanghai |
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