He got so excited when I asked for his picture!
Turtles in plastic buckets. Badminton matches at 6 am. Laundry on bamboo sticks... This is not how I imagined Shanghai preparing for my trip. Then we landed and went for a walk...
Here's a typical shot of the city as seen from a giant can opener (aka Shanghai World Financial Centre). Looks modern and expensive. Also, it looks like it could be any large city in North America.
And this is what I stumbled upon on my first day in Shanghai - a more realistic image of where the majority of 14+ million people find themselves every day.
And even though it was a bit of a revelation for me - this isn't something I'm used to seeing in modern cities - I like this side of Shanghai! It puts a human face on a typical modern metropolis and it's so much more fun to explore!
This particular neighbourhood is located across the river from the fancy Pudong towers. It surrounds the famous and beautiful Yu Garden and also the territory of the City God Temple - both very popular tourist attractions. But at 6 am (that's when we went there to avoid a 45-degree heat later in the day) there were no tourists around and locals were enjoying their morning activities.
City God Temple (on the background) is a perfect setting for the morning work out
I just love how residents incorporate the garden's grounds into their everyday lives. These guys are having a great time with their badminton match. Two steps away a group of 15 is involved in tai chi.
And this lady, for example, uses a line divider at the ticket window as her personal ballet bar. And by the way, she can stretch! I have longer legs and less years, but still couldn't do it - I tried.
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Around the corner from the tourist area, I found myself in a maze of tiny streets where people live like it's the 1930s - cooking, washing laundry, watching kids, shaving, exercising.... pretty much doing everything in the open for all the neighbours (and creepy strangers with cameras) to witness.
The streets are so narrow - more like corridors. And they truly are an extension of people's living rooms. Or kitchens - since some homes had their stoves and sinks outside.
Small home - small pet.
I have several pictures of turtles in buckets - all from different locations around town - so I assume it's a thing.
Grasshopper anyone?
Modes of transportation are also ruled by the size of available parking.
Another thing I noticed right away: no matter how tight the space is or how run-down the houses may seem, the streets are still clean and tidy. I think it says a lot about people living there - everyone is making an effort.
At first, I felt very uncomfortable walking through these corridors virtually imposing myself on people. I kept thinking of how inappropriate it would be in Canada if someone was marching through my front yard, peering in the windows and taking pictures... It would be a 911-worthy occasion.
But to my big surprise no one seemed to care about two sweaty laowai ("outsiders" in Mandarin) - no disapproving looks, no one chased us away... I guess, living in such a densely populated city like Shanghai teaches you a great deal about patience and acceptance.
But to my big surprise no one seemed to care about two sweaty laowai ("outsiders" in Mandarin) - no disapproving looks, no one chased us away... I guess, living in such a densely populated city like Shanghai teaches you a great deal about patience and acceptance.
Once noticing The Other Shanghai, I started seeing it everywhere. Like on this barge, for example, that was peacefully floating between two swanky neighborhoods.
What do you think about The Other Shanghai?
Other stories from China:
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