Is this China?

I wasn’t surprised by Shanghai at first. Initially, it seemed like another huge cookie cutter Chinese city. Huge cities are difficult for travelers like me. They are expensive, and it’s difficult to find anything in them. I wanted to leave as soon as I stepped out of the train station.

But I quickly noticed interesting things about the city. Like its size. Simply calling it “huge” doesn’t do it justice. And its different, like nowhere else in China. Walking the streets and looking at the buildings, it’s readily apparent that Shanghai is a European creation. Strangely, it feels like Chicago, and the Bund is Lakeshore Drive. This would make Shanghai an easy and interesting city to live in, but not a particularly exciting place to visit.

The future of China

What does one do in a city where one does not speak the language (Shanghainese) or have any friends? Go to museums. So I visited the world class Shanghai museum, which was excellent, and wandered the narrow, un-Chinese streets.

I was in for a Shanghai surprise, though. As I walked down Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s neon shopping street full of pushy guys grabbing me and trying to sell watches, shoes, bags, massages, or anything else, who should I see but one of my Chinese students from Thailand! It really is a small world.

I met the only honest person on Nanjing Road, a Chinese woman visiting Shanghai by herself for the first time. The city was new and confusing for both of us, so we spent the day sightseeing, which involved hours of walking. Luckily she could ask directions, but would not understand if the reply was in Shanghainese. Lili had to catch a train home that night, putting an end to our budding friendship.