A quick nap at our new living accommodations, the Pacific Hotel, gave me the necessary energy to comprehend and appreciate the sites of our first day in Shanghai. As soon as we got off the bus from the largest railroad station I’ve ever seen, it was evident this city was substantially more advanced and modern than both Xi’an and Beijing. The architecture was hard to miss, providing extraordinary, uniquely carved skyscrapers that graced the open air with buildings straight out of the Jetsons. It just so happened that our hotel was one of the earliest authentic Victorian style housing in Shanghai. Living in the retro spot did not sit well with some of the females, but I was very appreciative of the historic accommodations and great location Syracuse provided.
The first trip of the day was to the Shanghai Urban Planning museum, no more than a ten minute walk from our hotel. As a side note, this walk required the passing of a noodle burrito stand. Yes, a noodle burrito, filled with carrots, onions, and stir fry style noodles, all wrapped up in the Chinese version tortilla. This 75 cent US treat had to carry the highest percentage of oil to food mass in history. If the shop did not provide saran wrap, tinfoil in the states, my hands would have reeked for days. On the contrary, it was a great munchy snack when you really had that late night urge.
Rainee, our 24 year old native tour guide, ushered the group into another contemporary building for our first location of the day. Most titles of our past activities on the trip have depicted a literal translation of the experience to come, but this museum was something else. Starting with the rotating building all-star squad display (see gallery) and the most complex and detailed replica city projects I’ve encountered, I came to the conclusion that Shanghai promotes its’ own urban and commercial development. A couple of escalators brought us first to an innovative display chronicling the last one hundred years of Shanghai attractions. Later that day and throughout our stay we got the opportunity to visit some of the locations this museum pointed out. Whenever you learn about a place you are going to visit the context and history written on paper comes to life through your vision. Traveling across the world has put some interesting perspectives in my thought processes.
The level above the introductory history lesson had miniature models of different geographical grids of Shanghai. After three or four they all converged into a massive 20′ x 20′ display predicting the future 2020 landscape of this developing city. The fact that this information was available, and then replicated for viewing purposes was quite impressive.
After making our way back down a few levels, exiting the building, our group headed back onto the bus for our second of three scheduled activities. The Shanghai Museum was an ancient display of all aspects of historic life in the city, with works including precious jade, $10o,000 bills, and hand-carved furniture. We were provided electronic narration house phones for a more detailed explanation of most pieces. Coming face to face with 2,000 year old sculptures, desks, and drums proved to be an exhilarating experience. I enjoyed the museum, it was split into three different levels. Each floor had four galleries, providing a wide range of ancient creations. I must note that I perceived the furniture to be most impressive. Most pieces were constructed out of wood, and the precise designs carved into each individual item baffled my mind. I hope to acquire some sort of ancient Chinese desk as I grow older.
While the Shanghai Museum had its’ highlights, our final stop at “The Bund” really characterized the present condition of this city. The Bund is represented by an old bridge, but in truth it depicts a bustling neighborhood full of local peasants and markets. Pudong, the financial district, displays one of the most exotic skylines known to man. That satellite like building is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, completed in 1995. The city is split in half by the Huangpu river, the Bund is located on the southern side opposite the Pudong. What a great way to be introduced to Shanghai.
