 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shanghai - November 2005 |
|
|
|
While Shanghai is hyped as "the number one city in China," I can tell you that it's a long way from over-taking Hong Kong. The sprawl, pollution, over-crowding, and infrastructure problems are seething just below its glittering surface. Even so, it is the best place to sample the wide varieties of Chinese cuisine. One of my best friends lives there and is a chef. He's travelled through every nook and cranny (and worse), collecting cuisines of China. We ate well. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
This is a view of the Bund, which is the old colonial waterfront on the Huangpu River. Many of the buildings now house some of the top bars and restaurants in the city. The view across to the Pudong (New Side) of Shanghai is wrongly compared to Hong Kong's waterfront, with the main exception being that all the lights are turned off by 10pm. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a statue of Marshal Chen Yi, who was a hero of the "Long March" campaign during which the Red Army overthrew Chinese Nationalists. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
This is the Yu Garden complex in the ringed "Old City" of Shanghai. As you can see, American brands are becoming entrenched in the most historic sections of Shanghai. That sign in the background is Starbucks. The place was jam-packed with chattering tourist groups, but some of the best Shanghai Hairy Crab restaurants (in season during my visit), are here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a small mongroel from the street market in the Old City. I bought an antique abacus just down the way for about five dollars. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a street scene from the Puxi (old side). I noticed these orange vendors on a side street just behind the Peace Hotel on the Bund. |
|
|
|
|
This is a view of the Pudong (new side) of the city from the Bund. The smog that you see in the photo, never went away during my visit. The large building to the left is the Oriental Pearl television tower. The Jin Mao building is barely seen at the far right. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
This architecture is typical of the Pudong side. I noticed that the eastern side of the Huangpu River was fairly sterile and largely devoid of any cultural sites. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is the Jin Mao building in Pudong. The Grand Hyatt is housed on the 54th to 88th floors. I stayed there for a few days, of course. My friend says that it looks like Dracula's Castle on stormy nights, due to its imposing height and goth-like angularity. |
|
|
|