Shanghai

Day 22: Hong Kong

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With China in the rear-view mirror, we arrived in Hong Kong right around sunset after the second delayed flight of our trip. Our hotel is in the middle of the craziness that is HK’s Tsim Sha Tsui district.

Although we had plenty of time to get to the airport for our flight leaving Shanghai, we opted for the super-fast maglev train purely for the experience. The line is one of only two maglev trains currently in commercial operation (Japan has the other).
Although we had plenty of time to get to the airport for our flight leaving Shanghai, we opted for the super-fast maglev train purely for the experience. The line is one of only two maglev trains currently in commercial operation (Japan has the other).
Shanghai's maglev reaches a top speed of 431 km/h (268 mph), making the 30 km (18.6 miles) trip in about eight minutes. The ride was a bit bumpier than expected.
Shanghai’s maglev reaches a top speed of 431 km/h (268 mph), making the 30 km (18.6 miles) trip in about eight minutes. The ride was a bit bumpier than expected.
The view of the clouds rolling in over the mountains at Hong Kong International Airport made up for the fiasco of catching a bus to the city (honestly, who has exact change when they leave the airport?).
The view of the clouds rolling in over the mountains at Hong Kong International Airport made up for the fiasco of catching a bus to the city (honestly, who has exact change when they leave the airport?).
It's easier to find a shop selling traditional Chinese medicine in Hong Kong than it is a Western-style pharmacy. The shops also have large jars full of dried seafoods, commonly used in treatments. I'm not sure what any of these particular ones do, but we swear by Tiger Balm for everything from headaches to sore muscles to mosquito bites.
It’s easier to find a shop selling traditional Chinese medicine in Hong Kong than it is a Western-style pharmacy. The shops also have large jars full of dried seafoods, commonly used in treatments. I’m not sure what any of these particular ones do, but we swear by Tiger Balm for everything from headaches to sore muscles to mosquito bites.

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Day 21: Last Day in China

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After a day of sightseeing, we headed back to our hotel. On the sidewalk in front of a convenience store on the corner of a busy intersection, these two guys locked horns in a game of xiangqi (Chinese chess).

Throughout our trip, we were frequently stopped by students looking to fulfill a school assignment. In the French Concession, these girls asked questions about my view of Shanghai and whether the education system was better in the U.S. or China. Every exchange was recorded on video, so we'll be making an appearance in a Chinese classroom before long!
Throughout our trip, we were frequently stopped by students looking to fulfill a school assignment. In the French Concession, these girls asked questions about my view of Shanghai and whether the education system was better in the U.S. or China. Every exchange was recorded on video, so we’ll be making an appearance in a Chinese classroom before long!
The Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre is hidden in the basement of a giant apartment complex, but features one of the world's best collections of Mao-era propaganda posters and 1930s
The Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre is hidden in the basement of a giant apartment complex, but features one of the world’s best collections of Mao-era propaganda posters and 1930s “Shanghai Ladies” posters. Early posters took on more of an editorial cartoon style while later posters adopted the bold look associated with Soviet-era propaganda. Displayed in order by year, it also offers a visual timeline of the changes in Chinese attitudes during the 20th century.
Every afternoon, this man set up his noodle stand (a bicycle with a flatbed and propane gas tank attached) around the corner from our hostel in Shanghai. He'd make stir-fried noodles and rice until late in the evening. We stopped in twice during our stay, getting a filling meal for about $1.50 USD each.
Every afternoon, this man set up his noodle stand (a bicycle with a flatbed and propane gas tank attached) around the corner from our hostel in Shanghai. He’d make stir-fried noodles and rice until late in the evening. We stopped in twice during our stay, getting a filling meal for about $1.50 USD each.
On our last night in the city, we were able to meet up with two of our travel buddies from our India/Nepal trip who are teaching English in Shanghai. It also highlighted how reliant we've become on internet access... All of our planning had been done via Facebook or Gmail, both of which are blocked in China. We finally found a way to touch base at the last second.
On our last night in the city, we were able to meet up with two of our travel buddies from our India/Nepal trip who are teaching English in Shanghai. It also highlighted how reliant we’ve become on internet access… All of our planning had been done via Facebook or Gmail, both of which are blocked in China. We finally found a way to touch base at the last second.

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Day 20: Shanghai

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The umbrella-lined path at Shanghai’s People’s Park is a real-life Match.com. Every weekend, the Shanghai Marriage Market draws the parents of unmarried men and women looking for a suitable match for their child. In an ever-changing China, the market is one way traditional family involvement in the matchmaking process is being preserved. China is also facing a gender gap due to the so-called “one child policy.” By 2020, studies project China will have 24 million unmarried men unable to find a female partner.

At Shanghai Museum, a young artist sketches on of the Qing-era bowls on display.
At Shanghai Museum, a young artist sketches on of the Qing-era bowls on display.
A dragon head watches over the collection in Shanghai Museum's Chinese Minority Nationalities' Art Gallery. Artifacts from Tibet, Mongolia and others show another side of China's past.
A dragon head watches over the collection in Shanghai Museum’s Chinese Minority Nationalities’ Art Gallery. Artifacts from Tibet, Mongolia and others show another side of China’s past.
The sign for fast-food chain Real Kungfu features a very Bruce Lee-looking character. Maybe their motto should be
The sign for fast-food chain Real Kungfu features a very Bruce Lee-looking character. Maybe their motto should be “Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick. Eat when you have to eat.”
On our first morning in Shanghai after a rough overnight train from Xi'an, I stumbled on this street market down an alley near our hotel. The narrow market sells fresh fruits and vegetables in the morning while food stalls begin to pop up later in the day. By the third day, the lady with the kung pao tofu was serving it up before I even asked.
On our first morning in Shanghai after a rough overnight train from Xi’an, I stumbled on this street market down an alley near our hotel. The narrow market sells fresh fruits and vegetables in the morning while food stalls begin to pop up later in the day. By the third day, the lady with the kung pao tofu was serving it up before I even asked.
The red chili pepper is a major component of Sichuan-style cuisine. The local market had no shortage of this key ingredient.
The red chili pepper is a major component of Sichuan-style cuisine. The local market had no shortage of this key ingredient.
The market was the real-deal, selling live eels, frogs and turtles. Upon completion of the customer's order, this vendor killed and cleaned the bullfrogs right in the street.
The market was the real-deal, selling live eels, frogs and turtles. Upon completion of the customer’s order, this vendor killed and cleaned the bullfrogs right in the street.

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Day 19: Shanghai Nights

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After three days in the mountains of eastern China, the final night of our North China Getaway tour brought us back to Shanghai. Our group headed into Pudong—Shanghai’s skyscraper district—to see the skyline at night, highlighted by the dazzling light display of the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Three behemoths of the Shanghai Skyline. At left, the World Financial Center houses the world's second-highest hotel. In the center, Jin Mao Tower was once China's tallest building. At right, China's current champion is Shanghai Tower, the world's second-tallest building.
Three behemoths of the Shanghai Skyline. At left, the World Financial Center houses the world’s second-highest hotel. In the center, Jin Mao Tower was once China’s tallest building. At right, China’s current champion is Shanghai Tower, the world’s second-tallest building.

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Day 16: On The Road

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One of the downsides of traveling is that you have to actually travel. Most of the 16th day of our trip was spent on a bus from Shanghai to Huangshan. Fortunately the bus was comfortable and we were loaded up with snacks from an international grocery store in Shanghai, making the nearly seven-hour trip bearable. This was the day’s only photo!

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Day 15: Shanghai

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Shanghai’s skyline is a symbol of the changes in China. Constructed entirely over the past 35 years, it’s been featured in numerous films and is home to the second-largest building in the world, the Shanghai Tower. We’ll be back in Shanghai in a few days for a longer stay.

The Yuyuan Gardens in Shanghai's Old Town combines traditional Chinese architecture with feng shui principles. Outside, we were bombarded by local vendors.
The Yuyuan Gardens in Shanghai’s Old Town combines traditional Chinese architecture with feng shui principles. Outside, we were bombarded by local vendors.
The garden was originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty, beginning in 1559. It took 18 years for the garden to come to maturity and be considered complete. The garden was heavily damaged during the Opium Wars in the mid 1800s, but has once again been restored to its original state.
The garden was originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty, beginning in 1559. It took 18 years for the garden to come to maturity and be considered complete. The garden was heavily damaged during the Opium Wars in the mid 1800s, but has once again been restored to its original state.
A nice photo taken by some fellow tourists...
A nice photo taken by some fellow tourists…
... And a reciprocal act of kindness.
… And a reciprocal act of kindness.

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