- Shanghai is the western face of China, but was having serious cosmetic surgery being done while we were there to get ready for the 2010 World Expo, meaning we didn’t get to experience many of the city’s greatest attractions. Boo.
- Getting shafted is now called “getting Shanghai’d”
- Authentic Chinese shows located in auditoriums, I mean theaters, with a ton of tourist buses outside are probably not the most authentic shows in town.
The “it’s raining outside” version
Shanghai might as well be in the US. Serving as the primary conduit to the west for the last 20 years during China’s leap into the modern age, it has morphed into something very familiar to us. Huge shopping areas, small internationally themed neighborhoods (the French concession), more KFC’s, Haagen Daazes and McD’s than we can describe, and an overall capitalistic feel that screams “We are ready to not only welcome in the 21st century, but to lead it as well!!!!”
Our hotel was just off of Nanjing Road, said huge shopping walking street lined with department stores and designer stores. After settling into our spacious room that had carpet which had actually been vacuumed in the last 4 months (ahem Beijing), Frank took us on a walking tour of the city. We got a quick glimpse of the local museum, the French Concession (where Mao first met with his communist partners before taking over power), a grown woman squatting a pee on the sidewalk next to us, through old town for a glimpse at how things were prior to the city’s renaissance, ending up at the Yuyuan Garden, normally known for its tea house on stilts. But as we would encounter with most things in Shanghai, the tea house was closed due to renovations in preparation for the World Expo being held here next year, 2010. Therefore, we settled for some dumplings and steamed veggies for dinner after a quick milk tea boba (I’m thinking only the LA people will know what that is).
Then the group headed over to the river harbor so we could take a ferry ride up and down the river to view the incredible city skyline. Frank says it’s one of the 100 things people should do before they die. Although impressive, we’d more add it to the 1000 things, not 100. From the financial building to the tower to the high rise wrapped in a huge video screen, it was definitely worth the 100 yuan. Up on the roof, we gathered around like the clock was ticking down to midnight on new year’s eve. Pretty cool experience for the group.
While part of the group headed back to the hotel so they could get some sleep before waking up at 8 to head over to the financial building’s viewing tower (the one that looks like a bottle opener), Tania, Michael, Susie and I darted straight for the Big Echo, which is Asia’s most popular karaoke destination. We sang Bon Jovi medleys, total eclipse of the heart, green day’s 86 (so much to say about this clip...Letterman in Hollywood?Demi Moore's outfit?), and a slew of other tunes that made us feel right at home. Rough on the vocal chords, but great for our spirits.
Even better for the spirits was waking up the next morning to Skype with our families who were celebrating Thanksgiving all across the country from Atlanta to Sacramento to Phoenix. Even though we missed them and the feast of traditional fare very much, it was great to just see and talk to them. If anyone is able to Skype, let us know your log-in name and let’s chat!!
Since it was raining, we went back to sleep and skipped the financial tower viewing. Eventually we got up and walked down to the bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront street which is normally filled with stores, cafes, and restaurants, but was completely closed to the public due the renovations for the Expo. Lame. We had also hoped to have a drink and listen to some jazz at the Peace Hotel, but yup, you guessed it, that too was totally closed. It was at this point that we named this type of occurrence (aka getting royally screwed) “getting Shanghai’d”. There was so much that we wanted to see and do in this city which we couldn’t because of all the construction. I’m sure it’ll look great next year, but for now, we missed most of the best.
To make up for getting Shanghai’d all day, we made up for it at the city’s famous acrobatic show. The whole group grabbed a bite to eat across the sewer-smelling street from the hotel then taxied over to the local, well, I’m going to call it an auditorium since it reminded me of our gathering places during grade school. As the very talented ex-olympians performed tricks ranging from jumping through hoops to hula hooping 40 hoops at the same time to riding 5 motorcycles inside of a large metal ball, all I could think of was that we were in Blain, Missouri, and Mr. Guffman was about to walk through the auditorium doors. It was entertaining, yes, but afterwards we vowed not to take Frank up on any more excursions that had a tri-fold pamphlet to publicize it and that had a multitude of tour buses outside transporting an influx of Caucasians who thought they were about to experience true Chinese entertainment. We’re on an adventure tour to learn about the authentic Chinese culture, not the façade that China wants to sell us in bulk because that’s what they think westerners want. We know Frank only takes us to these places because Gap Adventures obligates him to, but we can’t take him up on any more of these offers.
After being herded out of the theater, the group headed over to the French Concession for some drinks. We found a Mexican place that served over-priced margaritas and chips & salsa that would cause an odd expression to wipe across the face of a Mexican, but it was a far cry from the same types of meals we had been eating every day, we were happy to indulge. In this area we got a good sense of how many westerners had settled into this city due to how many corporations were entrenched here. Good to see firsthand, but at this point in the trip, we were ready to get far away from the west’s influence on this country. And our wishes were about to be granted the next day since we were taking another overnight train to Frank’s hometown, and home of the Terracota Warriors, Xi’an.
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