Shanghai is one of the most fascinating cities of China. It has a unique
history and is today the powerhouse of the Chinese economy.
If your are only interested in ancient Chinese history you can easily skip
Shanghai - it's a bustling, modern metropolis that doesn't have too much to
show in ancient treasures and that doesn't let old buildings stand in the
way of new development.
There is one exception - this is the mecca for western architecture of the
20s and 30s in China. If you are interested in that kind of thing, you can
easily spend days hunting down the houses of the rich and famous of that era...
Some views...
| |
Shanghai ca.1935 - in the center are the Broadway Mansions, to the right
is the Astor House and the northern end of the Garden Bridge across Soochow Creek.
|
| |
The same scene, 1995. The Shanghai (Broadway) Mansions, the Pujiang Hotel
(Astor House) and Waibaidu (Garden) Bridge are all still there.
The blue building at the right is the Russian (before Soviet, before Russian...)
Embassy.
|
| |
Nanjing Lu, Shanghai's main shopping area on a rather quiet day.
|
| |
The Bund (old colonial expression for the waterfront) of Shanghai by night.
|
|
