Today I had to go to our bank. Citibank to be exact, which is based in Pudong right on the other side of the river. It is ususally is a 20-30 Minute cab ride (without traffic).
When I looked out the window this morning I saw blue skys, no rain in sight and it did not feel like opening the window into a sauna. So I decided to make this trip a little more exciting and to cycle to the bank. An estimated 10km trip across the heart of Shanghai. On purpose I did not bring my camera because I wanted to make sure I get to the bank before it shut.
The great thing about moving around in Shanghai is that you don´t really need a map in the city. Pu dong stands for "East of the River HuangPu", Pu xi stands for "West of the River". We live in Puxi and all road signs show if you are travelling east or west The same works for north and south by the way.
So I turned right from our street (Gao An Road) started cycling west along Jiangao Road which is a not too busy street (in Shanghai terms). It runs from east to west through a large part of the city. I really like Jiangao Road. It is several kilometers long and fringed with trees and little local shops and restaurants. It crosses the heart of the French concession and you get to seem some beautiful colonial architecture and gardens, too.
At the end of Jiangao Raod I had to cross a development zone and one of those larger 8 lane city roads. Behind me were many tall rise buildings, besides me huge building sides and in front of me were the low rise buildings of Old Shanghai. I decided to dive right in there.
It felt like I was sucked into a place in time that has not changed for 100 years. Little alleys and lanes, small houses closely tucked together. People in the streets cooking, playing mahjong, snoozing in their loungers or just sitting in their door step. Washed clothes, beddings and shooes hanging up in the air for drying, cats and chickens crossing my path. Children playing with their grand parents, old men smoking pipes and street vendors selling their fruit and vegetables. I was in China.
As I cycled through this labyrinth a well known feeling rose inside me. It is this heart warming tickle which I get every time when travelling in Asia and I feel like I have entered a parallel universe. This place in down town Shanghai is a million miles away from the Shanghai you usually get to see. There was no sight of any fake Prada or Gucci handbags or anything fake for that matter. No cars, no shopping malls, no one rushing or bothering you and greatest of all - people were friendly and smiled back. Not that Chinese are not friendly. It is more like in most other major cities in the world: We rush and become faceless, to busy to care for a smile.
I could not stop wondering and beeing amazed by the life and many little things I saw every time I turned into another alley. Not once have I seen so many different colours in one spot in Shangai or experienced something that real. I truly loved it and I look forward to getting my camera out one day and taking pictures of this place because it is a matter of time and this area will be converted into another trendy place for the "New" Shanghainese and Expats.
Old Shanghai borders with the Riverfront. When I had finished wondering I took the ferry across to Pudong and arrived just in time at my bank which is based in one of those fancy sky scrapers right at the river front.
I later had lunch on the river side. And wilst sipping my coffe I watched the ships passing by on their way to the sea feeling very happy and grateful for beeing able to be here and this little adventure.
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