Trips That Work
  • Blog
  • Countries
  • Trips That Didn't Work
  • Travel Photos
  • Travel Inspiration
  • About

The Other Shanghai

9/27/2014

0 Comments

 
old man, Shanghai, old neighborhood, tripsthatwork.com
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.  
Shanghai skyline, Pudong, skyscrapers, tripsthatwork.com
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.
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
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!
Shanghai, old neighborhood, tripsthatwork.com
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, Shanghai, old neighborhood, tripsthatwork.com
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.
Shanghai, badminton
Shanghai, old neighborhood, tripsthatwork.com
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. 
Yu garden, Shanghai
City God Temple, Shanghai, old neighborhood, tripsthatwork.com
Chinese woman, chinese girl, Shanghai
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.
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
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. 
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Small home - small pet. 
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
I have several pictures of turtles in buckets - all from different locations around town - so I assume it's a thing.
Picture
Grasshopper anyone?
pet cricket, Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Modes of transportation are also ruled by the size of available parking. 
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
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.
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
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.
Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Once noticing The Other Shanghai, I started seeing it everywhere. Like on this barge, for example, that was peacefully floating between two swanky neighborhoods. 
water hut, Shanghai, old town, tripsthatwork.com
Shanghai, tripsthatwork.com
What do you think about The Other Shanghai?

Other stories from China:
Picture
Surviving The World's Most Dangerous Hike
Picture
All You Can Eat On The Streets Of Beijing
Picture
Finding The Second Half In The World's Most Populous Country

If you enjoyed this post and would like to receive notifications about updates on this blog, consider liking my Facebook page. This would be the fastest and easiest way to get news from me.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
     Hi, I'm Irina, and I am a travel addict with a full-time job.
    This blog is about seeing the world and making the best of the limited free time we have.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Russia 2-week itinerary

    my insta feed


    countries

    All
    Argentina
    Austria
    Canada
    Chile
    China
    Cuba
    Czech Republic
    Honduras
    Hungary
    India
    North Korea
    Peru
    Russia
    Thailand
    Trips Didn't Work
    UAE
    Ukraine
    United States