Shanghai x 2



View from the Bund area to East Side



 Get out your brushes and find your ink... the two Chinese Characters in the Shanghai's name are 上 ("above") and 海 ("sea") which together literally mean 'Upper Sea'.

Shanghai is commonly abbreviated in Chinese to "沪".

I prefer the easy way.

A bit about Shanghai:

Hard to believe this little town started out as a fishing village. When I was born this city was a place of mystery, sin and power.  Just get the old movies out and you will get the idea.  But my, Shanghai has grown up since then.   In 2002, 13 million people lived here; in 2004, 16 million; 2008, 18.8 million; in 2009, 19.2 million and in 2050 they expect 50 million residents. These are just those that can be counted ..... It is the most populous city in China (8th largest in the world).  As the total number of young people are declining, the longer life expectancy (better health and living conditions)  find the elderly population on the increase.  Life expectancy is 82 years.  The population density is HIGH.  No space to 'be alone'. The population distribution is uneven, boys being favored, one child per family is the rule.  Don't even think of having two pets. China does have its share of issues and problems to figure out.  As the population continues to grow and the standard of living increases, I wonder how China will deal with food, housing, education and employment for her masses. Too many people for me....

It is a slow boat to China, so they say.  Shanghai was no exception.  It took us 4 1/2 hours to snake our way down the wiggly, dragon-tail like Huangpu River, (a tributary of the Yangtze River) to reach the port city of Shanghai.  The Huangpu river is also called The Mother River of Shanghai.  It stretches 75 miles long and .25 miles wide. It is an active river, getting plenty of use for commercial ships, container ships, fishing boats, cruising and the every day life of its citizens. High rises pop up on both sides of the river as far as the eye can see.  The sail in was a visual adventure of the day to day life of people working on or living near the busy port city.


China's official bird. the Crain





Living on the water

coal barges



Life along the river

Lady with red scarf, off to go fishing



old and new, fishing boats in a row



passing under the bridge, a few feet to spare





Our space aged cruise ship terminal- newly completed





We docked as the sun was setting at a brand new Ocean Terminal all a glitter. Its modern look and space ship shape was designed to let us know WE ARRIVED. We (China) are proud. Cash and credit cards accepted here. No US dolla please.



arriving at sunset

 The Huangpu River continued to stretch its way through Shanghai in front of us dividing the city in two. While docked we were within walking distance of the famous Bund. The Bund was on our side, the West Bank. On the West side we found the older Western buildings, built shoulder to shoulder, and well packed. They were revamped and remodeled keeping their original design. Years ago these were all banks. There was a feeling of pride here. The finest shopping, hotels and restaurants area tourist draw. Their age and  style were not shy in demanding a fair share of attention as they boldly faced the shiny new city of skyscrapers on reclaimed land across the river. The East side, opposite and through a massive tunnel, a skyscraper city was all aglow filled with cranes cranking out even more buildings. Here we saw the famous  Oriental Pearl Tower, the modern Jin Mao, and the World Finance Center.

While a gloomy financial cloud hangs over the US, Moscow and Dubai right now, China is taking advantage of its prosperity and man power as it builds as many skyscrapers as it can in its cities. In 2006, There were over 4,000 skyscrapers in Shanghai, double that of NY's 2,000. Currently China has 6 of the World's tallest buildings, the US has 3.  Four more of the tallest are going up in Shanghai including Shanghai Tower which is set to be completed in 2014. This will be the Worlds highest luxury Hotel. The lobby will be on the 101st floor. It will be 128 stories high and will have 258 rooms with a view. China is number 1 in skyscrapers. All buildings are required to be lit up every night at 7 PM. "Look at Me! Look at ME!" I think China is telling the world... and it doesn't disappoint. It does command attention. And I never tired of the view, the feel, the power of it all, I just wish it was in the US.  The skyline at night was magnificant.


http://skyscraper.tumblr.com/post/3639695703/thedailywhat-then-and-now-of-the-day-shanghai


I won't embarrass myself by telling anyone how many pictures I took of the skyline at sunset as we entered Shanghai or at night when we left.  Think of the Las Vegas strip at night then magnify that thought by a thousand... Shanghai.

We spent two nights in Shanghai. On the second night we went to a Chinese Acrobatic Show. It is like the Cirque du Soleil but without the great fanfare. The actors take stage on their own with a simple backdrop to accompany them. You are not allowed to have a bone in your body to be on this stage. These kinds of acts started in China during the Han Dynasty, 2,000 years ago. The first acrobats, jugglers and magicians performed during the annual village harvest celebrations. With nothing to do during the long winters, farmers and village craftsmen spent their time improving their social positions by becoming acrobats. They used whatever they had around the house, cups, saucers, tables, chairs, ropes and their own bodies....and here we are today enjoying one of China's most popular art forms, Acrobats. China recruits them early and starts them young for this lifetime position on stage.