We're in Shanghai, and "It looks like a comic book!"

We've made it to our final city in China: Shanghai. Last fall I went to see the the latest James Bond movie shortly after I submitted my Fulbright application. In the movie there's a scene that takes place in Shanghai and in it there's a great aerial flyover shot of the city. I remember watching that and thinking, "Whoa. I might get to go there." And now I'm here! First, we start with a ridiculous translation from a sign on a revolving door:

Today we had a fairly easy day. I got up to go for an exploratory run around the hotel neighborhood. We are very close to a high-end shopping district, but not too close to any parks, so it was city streets for this run. By the way, China doesn't have different time zones (the whole, uniformity-one nation thing) so in Chongqing I got up to run practically in the dark, and here I'm getting up at the same time and the sun is out and blazing already.

So, run, then a visit to another temple. This one was called Yufo Temple, and it's famous for two huge jade Buddhas. We had some free time in the temple and a few of us went to a coffee shop to discuss our curriculum projects and some of what we've learned here in China. One way I can tell that Shanghai is more westernized is by their commitment to coffee shops and because of the lower frequency of what we've been calling, "squatty potties." Also there's a Belgian craft beer bar in our lobby, and I've seen at least 30 non-Asian people that are unaffiliated with our group today.

Temple offerings

Decorations at the temple

In the afternoon we visited the Bund. This is the area along the river where the old 19th Century architecture is located. It also looks out across the river to the economic development area, AKA, all the crazy high rises from the Bond movie. We were all marveling at the architecture as we approached, and group member Tim, summed it up by saying, "Yeah, it looks like a comic book." I agreed. It's not that it's cartoonish or tacky, rather, it is futuristic and sharply angled and LARGE. I can't wait to see it at night. We're going to take another river cruise on the Huangpu River which bisects the city.

Me, the Bund, and my wonky Chinese umbrella 

Like a comic book, right? See the one that looks like a bottle opener? It's to the left of the tall one under construction. I think I might get to go up to the bottom of the window part at the top!

The panorama doesn't really capture it.

Caitlin and Melanie indulge me by posing.

During our visit to the Bund we also walked up Nanjing Road which has even more shopping. This is also high-end and regular-end western shopping, but in China, due to taxes, all the western stuff is high end because of the cost. That part of Nanjing road is a huge pedestrian thoroughfare. Apparently it is also wild with lights and people at night as well.

After sweating through our clothes as we explored the Bund, we traveled to the relative peace and coolness of the Yu Gardens. This was the family home of some rich officials during the Ming Dynasty. It was full of ponds filled with carp, interesting trees sprouting from rocks, doorways cut in interesting shapes, and of course, Chinese-style architecture. It was a very relaxing place to walk around, but we didn't stay long.

Ice cream cone-shaped door

Yu Garden scene

Gulp

Why not? Well, there was more shopping to do, of course! We plunged out of the garden refuge and into the throngs of shoppers in the market just outside the garden. I've already bought another bag to carry home all the booty I've gotten. Some people have some pretty good Christmas presents coming their way! We ate a delicious dinner at a restaurant in the market place that our Shanghai guide, Ada, said is a place where important people eat when they visit Shanghai.

Old meets new. The building under construction in the back will be the tallest in China.

This was the building in the market across from our restaurant.

So, a great first day in Shanghai! Tomorrow we will visit a school and meet with more teachers before visiting an art museum in the afternoon.