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INDIVIDUAL VOYAGE THROUGH CHINA DURING 7 WEEKS PEKING XIAN CHENGDU CHONGQING YANGTZE RIVER MOUNTS HUANGSHAN HANGZHOU SUZHOU SHANGHAI PEKING
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
SHANGHAI
19 – 24 October 1990
www.flickr.com/photos/jeanette
Sitting in a comfortable ventilated fast train, we travel to Shanghai, 80 km west of Suzhou. No doubt we approach a high economic and cultural city regarding the look of the travelers. Arrived in the most populated town of China, thirteen million of inhabitants, we examine our map in order to locate “Pujiang Hotel” LP proposed. At once a certain Mr. Huang offers to show the way and go with us. This cordial gesture is welcome because we feared to face this gigantic unknown city.
Got rid of our bags, we hurry to Peace Hotel where we hope to find a counter (so says LP) where are held incoming letters addressed c/o Peace Hotel. Indeed! Here we get news from home the first time since we are in China. We feel quite well now and gaily go to the Bund, an Anglo-Indian term meaning the quay. We are on the bank of the Huang Pu River where still now exist the towers, symbol of the foreign concessions.
In 1843 an English consul settled in Shanghai. He was the first white who penetrated into that city. He made of it the center of opium production. Then Shanghai became the center of manufacturers and financiers.
I don’t like the Bund because its Western look, so we enter Nanjing lu (Nanjing street), the broadest and longest (5km) of the town. Standing on one of the numerous footbridges fascinating is the look of the crowd as far as we can see. From here, Shanghai seems really to be the densest place in the country. Daily an average of a million people move through this street they say. A very lively atmosphere here on the pavement where settled different trade companies. Interesting is the animation around the benches where are working carpenters, shoemakers, tailors, clockmakers, hairdressers, barbers, grinders….There is also a medical service. Here we control our arterial tension. Impossible to make out the results however the smiling faces seem to say we are fit to continue our voyage.
On Nanjing lu everything can be found. Here we do our first shopping: blouses – shirts – pyjamas in pure silk at incredibly low prices. It’s not easy to communicate but we are served with the same spontaneous kindness like so far.
Nanjing lu
www.flickr.com/photos/jeanette
Sitting in a comfortable ventilated fast train, we travel to Shanghai, 80 km west of Suzhou. No doubt we approach a high economic and cultural city regarding the look of the travelers. Arrived in the most populated town of China, thirteen million of inhabitants, we examine our map in order to locate “Pujiang Hotel” LP proposed. At once a certain Mr. Huang offers to show the way and go with us. This cordial gesture is welcome because we feared to face this gigantic unknown city.
Got rid of our bags, we hurry to Peace Hotel where we hope to find a counter (so says LP) where are held incoming letters addressed c/o Peace Hotel. Indeed! Here we get news from home the first time since we are in China. We feel quite well now and gaily go to the Bund, an Anglo-Indian term meaning the quay. We are on the bank of the Huang Pu River where still now exist the towers, symbol of the foreign concessions.
In 1843 an English consul settled in Shanghai. He was the first white who penetrated into that city. He made of it the center of opium production. Then Shanghai became the center of manufacturers and financiers.
I don’t like the Bund because its Western look, so we enter Nanjing lu (Nanjing street), the broadest and longest (5km) of the town. Standing on one of the numerous footbridges fascinating is the look of the crowd as far as we can see. From here, Shanghai seems really to be the densest place in the country. Daily an average of a million people move through this street they say. A very lively atmosphere here on the pavement where settled different trade companies. Interesting is the animation around the benches where are working carpenters, shoemakers, tailors, clockmakers, hairdressers, barbers, grinders….There is also a medical service. Here we control our arterial tension. Impossible to make out the results however the smiling faces seem to say we are fit to continue our voyage.
On Nanjing lu everything can be found. Here we do our first shopping: blouses – shirts – pyjamas in pure silk at incredibly low prices. It’s not easy to communicate but we are served with the same spontaneous kindness like so far.
Nanjing lu
Posted by: jeanette / 1:56 AM 
