The Bund 上海滩

Last night we finally at the Bund (literally at Puxi bund area instead of Pudong). I brought Johannes to Bund 18 - Lounge Rouge.
10 years ago, when I first stood at the Bund and admiring the night view of Bund and Pudong, I told myself, one day I will vist Shanghai Bund again with my love one.
Today, this desire of my heart is fulfilled. The bund night scene is ever enchanting and Johannes presence made it complete.
Thank you Jesus.

The memior of Shanghai 时光倒流

I remembered reading a book about Shanghai, this is still about Nanjing Dong Lu, except I looked at it now from the 1930's perspective. Back then, this is already a very famous street for the upper class. The departmental stores such as 永安百货 and 先施百货 both originated from Shanghai.
This afternoon, there happened to have an sax performance at the balcony of Wing On, I remembered from the book, that was the glamerous things to happen at Nanjing Road, where rich ladies and gentlemen in their most expensive outfits would enjoy the performance at the mind afternoon, perhaps sipping the English tea or coffee...

A journey to Nanjing Dong Lu 南京路步行街

This is one of the famous shopping district i Shaghai. I personally hardly come here because I am no longer a tourist in Shanghai. However, everytime I see the photo of Nanjing Road or happened to drop by, I enjoyed the neon lights sign boards, the extremely crowded pedestrian and good bargain. The area has changed a lot since I last visited years ago, certainly with more and more shopping malls. The good thing is, the old (I mean really old shops) remains only today despite of the competition.
Left: I favorite silk store - I got two silk blouse here this time. Right: The bustling commercial and shop sign-boards.

An afternoon stroll at People's Square (人民广场)

Yesterday, we went to People's Square just so that Johannes visited the 'must visit' place in Shanghai.
It was about 4pm when we set off by taxi to one corner of People's Square. It has been a very long time that I do this. The last time I was here was to watch 'The Phantom of the Opera' performance in Shanghai Grand Theatre. Now Lion King is showing but Johannes has no interest in watching it at all.
It was a very hot and humid afternoon, however, the quick visit worth it all.
Picutres...
Major Road sign at the side of People's Square
上海大剧院 - Shanghai grnad theatre where Lion King is showing
上海博物管 - Shanghai museum and the high rise buildings as background

Once upon a time - Soong's family

Once upon a time, this big red mansion belonged Soong's family. After the cultural revolution, this is now converted into a western restaurant. For those of you know the history well... Soong's was once a very influencial family. The family members lived around a few houses in the city of Shanghai.
After the church service, Johannes and me chilled out in this big mansion for drinks and small bites. It was a rather hot evening but despite of the heat and humidity, we enjoyed our quick drinks at terrace.

The architecture of Shanghai 1930

Today, despite of 35C temperature, we walked around one edge of French concession's area. The atmosphere along XingGuo Road is surprising nice and quiet, the houses are nice.
The big (but old) mansions along HuaiHai Xi Road are rather interesting to me. I did the 'in search of Shanghai 1930s' about 10 years ago during my posting here. Now, doing it again in the summer and with my honey is rather different. The buildings remain the same, some old houses have been demolished, a few new highraise city skypers raising and over looking the old houses.
This is the city with new and old mixing together, it is hard to separate the new and the old building in Puxi.

Pudong

This is a famous location to enjoy the magnificient view of the Shanghai bund. I was here a few days ago and I enjoyed it very much. Tonight Dennis brought us to the same place again. However, I enjoyed even more as Johannes is with me. I also dreamed of one day I can walked the Shanghai bund with my honey and this dream came true. It was hot summer humid night, but his presence made the light of the bund even more wonderful.

Off the beaten track - Zhujiajiao( 朱家角)

Tonight my good old Shanghainese friend Dennis took us to a water village nearby Shanghai. Zhujiajiao (朱家角) is about 45 mins away from Shanghai city. The town was built in probably end Ming or Qing Dynasty, around 500 years old.
The architechture is rather unique, not quite typical Chinese, at least is different from Zhouzuang but we
We have a quick orientation of one part of the village which was connected by 7 famous bridges. However, we only been to two bridges as it was too late for sightseeing. Instead Dennis brought us to a local restaurant for dinner.
Today is Johannes first day to Shanghai, I guessed the water village is a bit of extreme to his Shanghai impression and the food definately not up to his expectation.
As for me, it is a nice experience of water village.

Good old Shanghai bund

Finally amazing Shanghai!
My friend brought me to Pudong to show me the beautiful bund from Pudong. The park that I used to go in the past only has a Starbuck, but now flooded with many dessert stores and restaurants. Frankly speaking, I still preferred the park 3 years ago where it was less commercialised.
Anyway, it is really good to be back to Shanghai. Despite of the hot and humid weather, I still find my sense of belonging to this place.
Well, I found myself in Shanghai!

P/S: Beautiful Shanghai bund by Night (view from Pudong)

Hua Shan Lu

The road is located in the French Consession area. I don't know why I picked this title, perhaps my hotel is just by HuaShan Road or perhaps the view of my hotel room is at the junction of HuaShan and XingGuo Roads. I never cherised the French consession area when I first arrived in 1997. However, as I read on books about Shanghai 1930's, I began to get interested in this subject matter. Anything about Shanghai at 1930's is appealling to me. From that on, I always followed the books in search of the old Shanghai and pondering on the different people that once upon a time stayed in some of the big mansion along this area.
I don't know why I choose this topic, it doesn't look very french, very chic now, but if I could follow those books and imagine about the time in 1930's, it really seems very enchanting and memorable to me.
Photo 1: The quiet road of HuaShan Road
Photo 2: The junction of HuaShan and Xinguo, view from my room