Today's tour, led by another great professional, Heidi, was of Old Shanghai. There are many parts of this city that are old, naturally, but this particular section is slated for demolition, so Heidi wanted us to see it before it was gone. Some of Old Shanghai will look familiar to you, like the alley houses, similar to the ones seen on the tour of the French Concession. Some of it will be new to you, like the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pharmacy.
Gate to the area and Shanghai's oldest TCM pharmacy (to the right)
Closer shot of the gate with remarkably few people or vehicles in front
Inside the pharmacy
Dried flowers for sale to be made into tea
Sea horses for sale to be...yeah, you got it.
Looking down from the second floor
TCM doctors seeing patients on the second floor.
No privacy, but you can touch the lion's head on the railing for good luck before you see the doctor.
If you get a bad diagnosis, there is a god in the next room you can ask for intercession.
Originally some famous and gifted physician, then elevated to god status by grateful patients.
I thought most doctors considered themselves gods anyway. (Just teasing, Dad.)
Close up
Gorgeous ceiling
A little crooked. Bad editing!
A little crooked. Bad editing!
Close up
So pretty. The attention given to detail amazed me.
Display of medicine vases in the same room. I apologize for the awkward angle, but the tiger scared me. No, it was actually the only way I could fit him in.
View outside from the second floor
I thought the Art Deco railing was attractive.
View without the railing
Then we went back down to walk the neighbourhood streets.
The main "drag"
Love the rooftops.
Further along
Looking back down the street
Into the alleys, always far more intriguing, in my opinion, than the larger streets, and certainly more intimate.
A true luxury, a washing machine. Note red chamber pot next to it. Yep, they still use them in these homes and then dump the contents in the nearest public toilets.
Local cutie
Can you stand it?
She was so friendly and sweet.
Wonderful colour contrast
Moving along, we came to a more modern medical building.
The door handles
The atrium
The statues of famous doctors
Full frontal
After having a good look around, our group went back out onto the street to continue our tour.
Another building of architectural interest...
... and another
We were now nearing a street known as a "food street". This means that it has a lot of small restaurants, food stalls and carts.
The old...
The gate to this street
... and the new
We must have more wires and laundry hanging poles! More, I say!
Crepe maker, Shanghai style
Dried goods
A quilt of colours
Eggs of all different types
Name those animals that laid them!
Food vendors
When I'm feeling braver, I'll return to have lunch here.
Another terrific tour, thank you, Heidi.
So pretty. The attention given to detail amazed me.
Display of medicine vases in the same room. I apologize for the awkward angle, but the tiger scared me. No, it was actually the only way I could fit him in.
View outside from the second floor
I thought the Art Deco railing was attractive.
View without the railing
Then we went back down to walk the neighbourhood streets.
The main "drag"
Love the rooftops.
Further along
Looking back down the street
Into the alleys, always far more intriguing, in my opinion, than the larger streets, and certainly more intimate.
A true luxury, a washing machine. Note red chamber pot next to it. Yep, they still use them in these homes and then dump the contents in the nearest public toilets.
Local cutie
Can you stand it?
She was so friendly and sweet.
Wonderful colour contrast
Moving along, we came to a more modern medical building.
The door handles
The atrium
The statues of famous doctors
Full frontal
After having a good look around, our group went back out onto the street to continue our tour.
Another building of architectural interest...
... and another
We were now nearing a street known as a "food street". This means that it has a lot of small restaurants, food stalls and carts.
The old...
The gate to this street
... and the new
We must have more wires and laundry hanging poles! More, I say!
Crepe maker, Shanghai style
Dried goods
A quilt of colours
Eggs of all different types
Name those animals that laid them!
Food vendors
When I'm feeling braver, I'll return to have lunch here.
Another terrific tour, thank you, Heidi.
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