Beijing, 38ºC, hazy; Shanghai, 29ºC, hazy
I had the great fortune to exchange the classroom for a couple of days in arguably China’s most modern and exciting city. My primary purpose in Shanghai is to see my best friend play the Butterfly Lover’s Concerto at the World Expo. The concert is tomorrow, but my first impressions of Shanghai are definitely worth noting.
Vibrant. Effervescent. International. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I knew I would take a liking to Shanghai. There are so many differences compared with Beijing: people dress more fashionably, everyone walks with purpose, the underground buzzes with many different languages. As I took the tube into the centre of Shanghai, I noticed one lady with blue and red toenails. Each nail was perfectly covered without a single blemish. This attention to detail drew me to how much it seems 上海人 Shanghai people care about their image. Most of the women I saw on the train were wearing carefully chosen make up, complementing their well-fitting dresses. Fashion seems so important here.
Once I had emerged from the underground, I found myself facing the longest commercial pedestrian street in the world. Magnificent, regal, commanding, 南京路 Nanjing Road was everything you see in the pictures. And more. I could feel the energy of the people. I felt like I had found the heartbeat of Shanghai within my first few hours. I have yet to find it in Beijing.
This bustling street captures the energy of Shanghai life
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