Shanghai

I last visited Shanghai last year during my first-ever trip to China. I didn’t have the chance to get a coherent look at it as I spent the majority of my time in Beijing and Suzhou. So, I decided to make a pit stop for 2 nights in Shanghai before heading off to Nanjing for my 2-week medical exchange program. This time, I came to appreciate the place just that bit more, but compared to Nanjing and Chongqing, it ranks last in my “go-to” places to visit. While there was a considerable amount of things to explore, meat buns to eat, and photos to take, the over-modernization of the city has subsequently killed a lot of what I believe I have already missed. The “Old Shanghai” has been replaced by “ease, convenience, and chain institutions.” I still did enjoy the more “sketchy” parts of the city, walking down some of its alleyways, you are greeted with the omnipresent pungency of sewer stench, infused within the humidity of Shanghai. All while clashing with the overpowering smells of cooked duck, bao tzu, and noodles. More contrasts for me to appreciate :) Nevertheless, the place is still deserving of attention, it is a place where old European colonialist history meets China’s growing mark on the world. A place that says straight to your face, “This is China, live with it.”. I hope you like what you see.