Day 354: Paris of Asia

Shanghai, China

I arrived in China a total mess after the brutal train ride. I already dreaded my future longer rides; one of which is Xi’an to Urumqi for 28 hours! This will break my 22-hour bus ride in South America.

Upon knowing that I’d be visiting Shanghai, my dad insisted to hook me up with a friend of his. Liuye picked me up at the train station and brought me directly to my hostel so I could unload my backpack and take a shower.

Then I was sweeped off to lunch. Two lunches actually… First is of Shanghainese speciality  “Senjien.” It’s soooo soooo good. Very much like the other famous local dish “Xialong Tangbao,” Senjien is a bun filled with really tasteful soupy meat. It’s incredibly cheap as well. A dollar for four of them heavenly buns. I burnt my lips from my first bite not aware of the scalding hot broth inside. Our second lunch was at a fancy restaurant. Like most Chinese, Liuye is extremely courteous and ordered way too much for the two of us. The food was intricate and good but we couldn’t finish.

The rest of the day, we hopped on and off the subway to different landmarks in the city. Shanghai is a fairly new city; around 150 years old. During 30’s and 40’s of last century, Shanghai was known as the Paris of Asia. Shanghainese are known for their style and fashion.

• Yuyuan: the original center of Shanghai.

• Tianzifang: old neighborhood, now hip and bohemian with plenty of cafes and designer stores

• Renming Guangzang: a big square surrounded by governmental buildings

• Nanjing East road: long and wide pedestrian walkway with all sort of local and foreign chain stores on the sides

• The Bund: riverside promenade with a sick view of Shanghai’s skyline