Taking a Train Under the River

Before this year, I had not taken the train that goes through the tunnel under the river at the Bund in Shanghai before. I've been fortunate enough to have lots of kids visit me in Shanghai this year, and it's certainly broadened my experience of the city. The tunnel under the Huangpu River is one of the things I might not have ever bothered to do if not for all the "underage" guests I've had in 2008.

The ride itself is a pretty cool experience. It is a sort of mini-train, and it goes slowly through the tunnel. As you move from one end to another, there are all sorts of lasers and lights flashing here and there. There is also an audio voice-over that suggests some of the things that we might see if we travel far enough under the earth. The thoughts range from magma to hades. The visual effects to go along with each thought are quite nice.

All the kids who have gone on the ride with me list it as one of the things they really like. It's a fun experience, and well worth the fee to go across. A one-way ticket is 40RMB, and it is just 50RMB to travel both ways. Kids are half price.



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The Last Day

Before I left Singapore to come to Shanghai for a 3-month stay, I got a little nervous, feeling like 3 months was a long time to be away from home. As it turns out, I was not wrong... it is a long time to be away from home. On the other hand, it is a very short time to be in the place you are staying. It seems like the "extended stay" in Shanghai has flown past. And now here I am, with the last day upon me.

It has been a good experience to stay for a little longer than I normally do when I come to Shanghai, and the language courses have been a great help to me. Getting to be here day in and day out for 3 months has given me a chance to see a lot of things I probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to be a part of otherwise.

This being the last day, I'm practically dead on my feet. I've been running about spending time with friends (saying goodbye), and only started packing about an hour ago. I've got to get the flat all lined up to be away for a while (I'll be back in July for another short stay, then probably another extended stay in the Fall), get laundry washed, pack my bag, and all that good stuff.

It's always hectic when trying to juggle one's time between two homes, but it has all been worth it so far. An extended stay overseas for language studies is definitely the way to go if one really wants to get to know another country's culture.


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A Day in Shanghai

I am having to write about 2 essays per week for my Chinese class. My favorite topic assigned so far was "A Day in Shanghai." I decided to write not really about my own day or anything like that, but what you would see on a typical day walking through the streets of Shanghai, if you were to walk from morning till night. I posted that essay on one of my other blogs, where I mostly write about language learning and Chinese culture. The essay is pretty simple, but it is the only one I've written for class that I am more or less satisfied with.

It is in Chinese, so if you read Chinese, it's something you might like to have a look at.


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Walking Shanghai, from one stadium to the other

I really enjoy walking tours in a city, and Shanghai is one of my favorite cities for extended walking trips. It is a very pleasant place to walk, and the streets are very lively, offering lots to see along the way.

The walk from Hong Kou Stadium to the Olympic Stadium in Xu Jia Hui is a great half-day trip. It is just over 20 km / 13 mi, and it can take you into some very interesting parts of the city. You can stretch it into a whole day trip, if you decide to take it at a more "tourist pace." There are lots of places to stop along the way.

I did the walk last week, taking just under 3 hours. Here's the route I took:

Cut through Lu Xun Park (a pleasant way to start)
Head south on Sichuan Road
Turn right (west) on Hai Ning Road (it is nice to cut through some back roads just north of Hai Ning Road if you want to see "local flavor")
Cross the big overhead bridge at Chengdu Road — make sure and stop for a picture of People's Square here
I cut through some small roads heading roughly southwest here, till I hit Shi Men Er Road, where I turned left/south
When you get to Nanjing Road West, you make a little hook back to the right, and Shi Men Road will head south again (right off of Nanjing Road) — when you are here, you'll see WuJiang Lu to the left, if you are looking for a spot to eat (you should do this if you are taking the "tourist pace")
Turn right (west) on Yan An Road
At Chang Shu Road, head south (left turn), follow this as it turns into Heng Shan Road, which will bring you to Xu Jia Hui Park
You can cut through the park, then come out at Xu Jia Hui and cut across to Tian Yao Qiao Road
If you follow this south, you will reach the Stadium



If you would like a little more touristy type of route, don't turn off at Hai Ning Road, but follow Sichuan Road all the way down across Suzhou Creek. You will be in the heart of downtown then. You can wait till you get to Fuzhou Road to head west (turning right on Fuzhou Road). If you follow this all the way through People's Square (it will turn into Ren Min Da Lu), you can hook back to the right at the Grand Theater and over to Nanjing Road West. From there, you can get to Wu Jiang Road for lunch, and pick up the route toward Xu Jia Hui from there.

This is a fairly long walk, but not at all hard. The roads sometimes have heavy traffic, but I didn't even find a whole lot of that (mostly because I did not cut through People's Square). In most places in Shanghai, it is not at all difficult to keep up a decent pace while walking on the road. For the most part, pedestrian traffic here moves at a quick pace.





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Moon River Diner, Shanghai

The Moon River Diner has three branches in Shanghai, in Pudong, at Hong Mei Lu, and near Jing An Temple.

The menu has a really good assortment of American-style food. You'll find salads,hot dogs, a little Tex-Mex, burgers, soups, sandwiches, and plenty of ribs, chicken fried steak, and so on. The drinks are free flow (!), and they even have Dr. Pepper on the menu. That's a bit of a rarity in Shanghai (and it is not free flow, unlike the other drinks).

There is free internet access at the diner, which really appeals to many of the patrons there. Lots of people spend the afternoon working there, downing glass after glass of lemonade or fresh brewed ice tea.

The atmosphere is like a diner right out of America of several decades ago. It's a cozy feeling, good food, excellent drinks, and free internet access. It's a great place to spend an afternoon hard at work, or chatting with friends.


The Moon River Diner
3338 Hongmei Road
Shanghai
Phone: 6465-8879

68 Yuyao Lu,
The New Factories
Building #1 (near Xikang Lu)


Phone: 5213 5106
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Spring in Shanghai

Spring has finally decided it is here to stay in Shanghai!






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May Day Holiday

May Day (1 May) in China this year is slightly different than what it has been in the recent past. It is slightly shorter, due to the addition of the recent Qing Ming holiday. This year, most people will enjoy a 3-day holiday, starting tomorrow (Thursday), and heading back to work on Sunday.

Tonight, the streets are lively with the holiday feeling. I was riding my bicycle home a few minutes ago, at nearly midnight, and had to weave in and out of the pedestrians walking on the road — and I mean literally on the road, not the sidewalk or even on the side of the road, but right down the middle of the street. The street was full of lazily strolling holiday-makers, with a few of us on bikes. The cars were fewer than what you normally see on the streets of Shanghai.

I did catch sight of something that made me smile. A family was right in front of me, on two bikes. The father was riding one, and on the other was the mother with her sleeping child (probably about 5 years old) perched behind her. She had her arm wrapped around the child behind her, in a somewhat awkward position, but obviously holding tight. They cycled slowly home, seeming quite pleased after a night out with the family. Even the child seemed to be pleasantly dozing on the back of the bicycle (though seeing her there made me a little concerned for her safety).

The time I've spent in Shanghai on this trip, the first really extended stay I've made here, has run roughly from Yuan Xiao Jie to the Labour Day, right about 3 months. It's winding down in the next couple of weeks, and I will be heading back to Singapore then. Overall, I have to say that this is a good time to spend in Shanghai, with lots of fun things to see. The holiday seasons here always seem to have a special feeling of alive-ness. It's good to have been around for two of the big days on the calendar this year.


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Novel City

Novel City is another in a long line of good spots to eat and shop in Shanghai. It opened up late last year, and has lots of good restaurants and shops. My favorite eateries are Nian Nian Bu Wang and the Blue Frog. I wrote about another branch of The Blue Frog about a year ago, and this new one is not much different. Only the atmosphere tells the two places apart — one being in Shanghai's old-style buildings, while the other is in this new shopping center — but the service is equally good, and the menu is identical.

Nian Nian Bu Wang serves local food, and it is very nice. The hong sao rou was especially good, and very filling. I had a set meal for 30RMB, and it filled me up so much that I didn't have room for dinner that night. That's a pretty good deal.

There are plenty of other shops at Novel City, including groceries, clothing, and a bit of everything. It is on Tian Yao Qiao Lu, and makes for a good place to sit and have a nice meal, followed by a nice set of shops to walk through when you've finished eating.




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Baseball in China

Well, it is not quite the same as the MLB exhibition game played in Beijing earlier this year, but you can catch the Beijing Tigers vs. the Shgnahai Eagles tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 pm.

The game is at 201 Yunlian Rd in Pudong. Entrance is free, and it should be lots of fun to watch!

To get there, take the metro Line 6 to West Gaoke Rd and walk west for one block.

I've watched some baseball at the college level in Shanghai before. It's always nice to get a chance to see what the sport looks like in countries where it is not as much a part of the culture as it is in the US (or Japan or various South American countries). I've enjoyed seeing the level of play in China. I think it could be a very fun afternoon at the ballpark in Pudong tomorrow.

The teams will also meet in the same venue, at the same time, on Saturday and Sunday.


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Nice Weather We've (not) Been Having

The end of April will be upon us in the next week or so, and I am still sitting around the house in long sleeves and sweaters, and adding an additional overcoat when I leave the house. If there are two sunny days back to back, they are sure to be followed by three or four foul rainy days. This is not the image that generally comes to mind when I think of spring.

From what friends are telling me, it has been an unusually cold year here in Shanghai this year, or at least, the colder weather has lasted longer than usual. While temperatures are rising in Beijing, a good two hours' flight to the north of here, Shanghai continues to refuse to allow sunny, warm weather in. It looks like I picked a lousy time to spend the whole spring in Shanghai.

That said, the flowers are still stubborn in their belief that spring has arrived. The brighter colours on the trees and plants in town have changed the look of the streets, and really do give hope that warmer weather is on its way soon. I've been snapping some pictures here and there, and plan on posting them as soon as I get a few minutes to sit and put them all together. It's always nice to see the flowers making their appearance in the midst of a big city, and the cold weather this year has made them especially welcome.

It does seem that warmer weather is going to settle in soon, though. Each time after the temperature dips (usually accompanied by a few rainy days), it ends up climbing just a little higher after the cool front passes by than it was before it settled in. There have been several false starts to the spring weather already. I'm hoping the next one will stick.


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Pancakes for Breakfast in Shanghai

The "roadside food" (that sold in the small stalls along the roadside) is one of my favourite things about Shanghai. I've got several things that I really enjoy having from the various stalls along the road between my house and the train station. My favourite has to be the pancakes. There are several different styles of pancakes sold at the various stalls. This video shows my favourite spot, making my favourite breakfast.




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The Maglev, Shanghai

I recently took the Maglev in Shanghai for the first time. It is incredible how quick the magnetic train travels. I took a few pictures to show how fast it builds up to its top speed of 431 km/hr. The first photo is taken a couple of minutes before we left.








As you can see, the train not only moves at a very high speed, but it builds up to it very quickly too.

The trip from the Long Yang Station to the airport takes more than half an hour driving. It takes 8 minutes on the Maglev.

With the recent lowering of prices, and the 20% discount for passengers who have a plane ticket for that day, the magnetic train is really the way to go when making your way from the airport into town (or vice versa).


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Urbanatomy

Last night, I was able to attend the book launch for Urbanatomy, a new Shanghai guide book published by China International Press. The book is very nicely put together, with about 600 pages of information and photos. The pictures are really well done, and the text is very readable and informative. I like the arrangement of the chapters, with the first half being set up geographically, and the second half topically. In the geographical arrangement, the chapters are divided up according to the city's districts. In the topical section, there are 12 topics, including language, night life, shopping, food, and similar topics.

The book launch was held at 3 on the Bund, a pretty swanky place. The view from the windows at the spa where the event was held overlook Pudong, with all its lights blinking at us from across the river. There was plenty of food, drinks, and music, and a lively crowd there to enjoy it all.

Urbanatomy is priced at RMB139 (US$19.95).


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Folk Crock Soup Restaurant

Folk Crock Soup Restaurant.

No joke. That's the name of the place. And the food is much better than the English translation of the restaurant's name.

The branch at Shanghai's Tian Yao Qiao Road, on the 4th floor of "In Center," is nicely decorated and very comfortable. The tables by the windows are especially comfortable. On a weekday evening, it is not too difficult to get a table, but that might not be true on the weekend.

The food is really very good. It is home-style cooking. Soup, of course, is the specialty. You will find a wide selection of soups on the menu from which to choose. It could be a lot of fun to visit the restaurant over and over, trying a different type of soup each time.

I have to recommend the beef and taro dish. It is really good, and a little spicy (cooked with sliced red chili). It is quite filling, so take your appetite with you when you go!






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Video of Lantern Festival Celebrations in Shanghai

Here's the video of the Yuan Xiao Jie (Lantern Festival) celebrations in Shanghai last week. It was a fun day!




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The Lantern Festival

Yesterday was Yuan Xiao Jie, the last day of Chinese New Year. Being the 15th day of the lunar month, you could see a bright full moon overhead, watching over all the celebrations.

Yuan Xiao Jie in Shanghai is different than it is in Singapore. In Singapore, we just have dinner with the family, eat some "tang yuan," and that is pretty much it. In addition to those things, the celebration of Yuan Xiao Jie in Shanghai is rather grand. Here, this is the Lantern Festival, when kids carry lanterns and play with sparklers and all. (We do that for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore.) Last night, you could hear the booming of fireworks in the air, and the sharper, louder sound of fire crackers on the ground. It was very lively all around Xu Jia Hui, with bright lights and loud noises from about 7 pm till nearly midnight.

I managed to get some good video clips of the fireworks last night. When I find my firewire cable (I haven't unpacked yet), I'll post some clips here. It was an exciting night to walk around on the streets of Shanghai.



Visit TRAFFIC JAM today!

Read Colin Fletcher's The Man Who Walked Through Time and join us for the ongoing book club discussion

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Harry Connick Jr. Coming to Shanghai

On March 9, Harry Connick Jr. will be in Shanghai.... and so will I! I am checking to see if I can make it to the concert. I've seen Harry Connick Jr. perform onstage before some years back, in Singapore, and he puts on a great show. I really enjoyed that show, and would love to see him again.

He'll be playing at the Shanghai International Gymnastic Center on March 9, 2008. Tickets range from RMB300-1600.

If you have a chance to make it to the concert, it should be a fun one. And who knows... maybe I'll see you there!

Read Colin Fletcher's The Man Who Walked Through Time and join us for the book club discussion in mid-February

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Xiao Long Bao: A Shanghai Specialty

Read Colin Fletcher's The Man Who Walked Through Time and join us for the book club discussion in mid-February

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Feng Jing

Feng Jing is one of the many "ancient water villages" that surrounds Shanghai. It is not one of the more famous ones, which is nice because it means it is not crowded with tourists.

There are several things worth seeing in Feng Jing. The cartoons on the walls of one of the old houses are very amusing, and worth browsing through. Outside of that same house, there is a "4 century old tree" that is really creates some fantastic views, especially in early winter (or late autumn, I would imagine). The leaves that sit at the base of the tree right now are a bright yellow, and create a perfect atmosphere for the old village.

Also of interest in Feng Jing are the remnants of a panic-driven era several decades ago. There is a large underground bomb shelter, big enough to hold hundreds of people if needed. According to the signs posted there, only about 10% of the place is presently open to viewing. I cannot imagine the extent of the shelter, as the portion I saw was already quite overwhelming. It made me think of the bomb shelters that many families in the US built in their back yards during the 1950s. It's rather telling, isn't it? In the US, each shelter was built to house a single family. In Feng Jing, the place is big enough to house the entire village for a prolonged period.

Other signs of a more paranoid, ultra-patriotic time still survive in Feng Jing too. There are countless Mao buttons hanging in one museum, many propaganda posters that are very dated, ration coupons for various items, and even a small fighter plane that the village helped purchase. The sign beside the plane reports that it was responsible for shooting down 3 planes of the "US agressors" during the Cold War days.

Feng Jing is a place worth spending a day. It is pleasant for walking about, and it certainly gives you a feel for a China of days now past.


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A Taste of Shanghai

Making this video has made me homesick... and hungry.



(Most of the pictures here are from Wu Jiang Lu, an eating paradise. It is walking distance from People's Square, just off of West Nanjing Road.)


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