China’s rise is a fact. Indeed the question is not whether the People’s Republic is rising, but rather which direction will it take?
To sneak a glimpse at the possibilities of China’s future as well as part of it’s mythical and flamboyant past, I decided to visit the Paris of the East, old Shanghai. This modern and accessible city makes an ideal short break destination or ’soft-cushion’ gateway to the rest of China. Hurry though if you want to sneek a peep at the once Whore of the Orient as she is fast reinventing herself into dynamic China’s ‘High Class Call-girl’ with grande scale facelifts and expensive Western tastes; all tempered with a seedy, cosmopolitan chic.
I made my week long trip to the city in mid spring, taking advantage of a cheap flight offer and free accommodation as the guest of Yin Yue and his parents, whom I met via The Hospitality Club. Shanghai has a wealth of interesting places to visit and included on top of anyone’s list should be The Bund, The French Concession, Pudong’s economic zone, the Old Town and the excellent Shanghai Museum.
For me however the highlight of my trip were a couple of early morning visits to Lu Xun Park, in the north of the city. Teeming with elderly Chinese practicing t’ai chi or ballroom dancing, singing, debating, playing cards and board games, or exercising together in all manner of ways; it’s an amazing experience to witness and a lesson to us all.
Travelling around was made convenient by cheap taxi fares, helpful locals and my colourful sign language. Food and drink quality/prices vary but one never goes hungry (I was stuffed full most of the time from all the new and unusual food I was trying). Shanghai feels a safe city to visit and the only real annoyance I encountered were the words, “Lolex watch? Omega? …Mont Blanc pen?”A worthwhile and enjoyable trip; and the ¥30 Mao watch I bought is still waving at me (just!)
