Shanghai: My First Day

I love Shanghai.  There, I said it.  It’s out.  I’ve heard so many expatriates in Xi’an say how they don’t like Shanghai.  That it’s not “Chinese” enough for them.  Well over the summer I spent 5 days in Shanghai and I loved every second of it.  Sure it was hot as hell (hotter than Xi’an, which I didn’t think was possible) and incredibly humid.  During that time I couldn’t tell you how many times I was soaked in sweat from just walking around.  But that didn’t deter me.  I am completely in love with Shanghai.  It’s such an exciting and diverse place in so many ways that Xi’an is not.

Don’t get me wrong; I believe that Xi’an is good in its own ways.  It has its own merits as well as its own detractions just like any other place.  But for the type of person that I am and the type of lifestyle I want to lead, Shanghai is the perfect place.  It has this great mix of old tradition, green spaces, lightning fast progress, and an eye towards continuous future progress that I really admire.

Despite the fact that I missed my flight to Xinjiang (which was the reason why I ended up going to Shanghai in the first place), good fortune was upon me in this city.  I had the chance to meet up with one of my former colleagues and a dear friend, Brittany (whom has appeared on here before).  She was doing some final research in the city before heading home for good, so she was kind enough to meet up with me for my first day there and show me around.  We ended up doing A LOT of walking but even still it turned out to be a great day.  Thanks Brittany!

The first place that we visited was the Yu Gardens, purportedly the best garden in the entire city.  I wasn’t sure what to expect as this place seemed to be crammed in the middle of a busy tourist area and the entrance fee was a bit much (don’t remember what it is off the top of my head).  However, I was not disappointed.  The garden is a beautiful and serene respite from the hustle and bustle that surrounds this place.  And despite being sandwiched in this huge city, I was surprised at how big it actually is.  Definitely worth a look if you have the time.  Not to mention the vicinity is full of restaurants, cafes, and trinket shops.  I don’t normally go in for all that stuff, but some may find it fun and convenient.

Like I said, we did a lot of walking.  After the gardens we meandered through some really interesting back streets and alleyways.  The juxtaposition between traditional Chinese architecture and modern design was quite striking at times.  I felt that it gave a really unique spin to Shanghai as there seems to be a continuous interflow of both old and new.

Eventually we made our way out of the maze of roads and ended up at People’s Square.  I’m not sure how else to describe it except to say that it is beautiful.  The combination of the wide-open spaces surrounded by the towering skyscrapers is a striking image.  It reminds me a lot of Central Park back home in New York.

We finished our day at Xintiandi (New Heaven on Earth), which is a massive restoration project replete with high-end restaurants and shops.  There is the small Shikumen (stone gate) Museum at one end of the square that is cheap and provides a great look into the history of the area and the progression of the project.  The museum is inside one of the restored shikumen homes and therefore is not very big, but it is decorated in the style prevalent during the 1920s.  I found it both interesting and short enough that it wasn’t too boring by the end.  Sometimes I have a short attention span when it comes to museums, but this one was just right.  Afterwards we finished our day with a delicious dinner in Xintiandi (not for budget travelers, even the cheapest places are pricey!) and ice cream.  From there we went our separate ways.

Overall it was a fantastic first day in an amazing city with a good friend.  Who could ask for more?  Well, that was only the first day, there was plenty more to come as I finished out the rest of my stay on my own.  Coming up: walking the Bund, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Jade Buddha Temple.

Related Posts:

1. 5 Reasons to Love Shanghai