Sign at a Shanghai subway station
The ESL teacher inside me cringed. I hope nobody noticed.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Double dose of culture Nov 17, 2011
"Heritage Salon at the Fairmont Peace Hotel with Spencer Dodington lecturing on Art Deco in Shanghai, 1929-1945", the email read. How could I resist? It included everything I adore, a fabulous, elegant location, canapes and drinks, and a fascinating speaker.
You must think I am the president of the Spencer Dodington Fan Club. He must think I am a stalker! Either way, I don't care. This was an event I couldn't miss. With Rakesh in tow, we headed over to the Puxi side for what would turn out to be a very memorable evening.
We first listened to Spencer speak on his pet topic. Then, cocktails and delicious canapes in hand, the group went out onto the 10th floor roof top terrace of the Fairmont Peace Hotel. If you are a regular reader, you're up on this landmark location. If not, you've probably already figured out that this is a very swish hotel.
The weather co-operated; it was warm with lots of atmosphere. Here are my most artistic photos to date.
You must think I am the president of the Spencer Dodington Fan Club. He must think I am a stalker! Either way, I don't care. This was an event I couldn't miss. With Rakesh in tow, we headed over to the Puxi side for what would turn out to be a very memorable evening.
We first listened to Spencer speak on his pet topic. Then, cocktails and delicious canapes in hand, the group went out onto the 10th floor roof top terrace of the Fairmont Peace Hotel. If you are a regular reader, you're up on this landmark location. If not, you've probably already figured out that this is a very swish hotel.
The weather co-operated; it was warm with lots of atmosphere. Here are my most artistic photos to date.
Looking north up the Bund
Pudong across the Huangpu River looking very misty and romantic
The pyramid roof covered in copper.
Note the people in front to give you an idea of scale.
Close up of roof detail
I thoroughly enjoyed this glamourous, intellectual and social evening.
I've already signed up for the next Salon event.
French Concession Walking Tour Nov 17, 2011
This was the SEA's last walking tour guided by Spencer Dodington for 2011.
Here is the blurb:
French Concession Walk: Historic Hengshan Lu with Spencer Dodington
In April 1849, the French Consul to Shanghai, Charles de Montigny, obtained a proclamation from the Governor of Shanghai which conceded certain territory for a French settlement. During the 1920s, this settlement, the French Concession, was developed into the premiere residential area of Shanghai. Avenue Petain, now Hengshan Lu, was a major boulevard linking Xujiahui with the center of the French Concession and represented the pinnacle of the settlement's high-end residential district. This southwest corner of the Old French Concession, one of the last parts of the pre-World War II city to be developed, boasts many luxurious single-family homes and stately tower residences along its tree-lined streets. Much of the area maintains a sense of solitude, somewhat removed from the rest of the city.
I will only show you stuff I think you haven't seen here before. Thank goodness, you say, about time!
This building was the highlight, in my opinion. Remember that old farm house that Spencer pointed out on a previous walk? Yes, you do. There are about five or eight of them left in Shanghai. Remember? I couldn't recall the exact number? Yes! Now you do! Anyway, here's another one of them.
The outer wall
Note the rounded yin (female) element that balances the
straight line of the yang (male) wall.
The door (duh)
I show you this so you can count the number of milk boxes.
Yes, that's how many separate households are living here now.
The old farm house features a central courtyard with rooms,
now individual "apartments", opening onto it.
Two of the residents. They want the place torn down. Despite the farm house's historical and architectural significance, I can appreciate why.
A pet, not dinner.
Two entrepreneurs in the tiny, narrow alley outside the farm house.
Moving along to the busier, more modern streets...
I know we have this type of thing in Toronto and elsewhere,
it just throws me for a bit of a loop here.
It's so fluffy!
So that's it, folks, for the walking tours.
Rest your weary feet and get ready for the 2012 season!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Elizabeth walks People's Square Nov 5, 2011
It was raining on and off for the entire duration of this tour; I am talking all varieties of precipitation, from Scottish mist (that one's for you, Jean) to monsoon-type soakings. Still, the Shanghai Expat Association (SEA) participants set out anyway. I know. We walking tour fans are hard core.
Here's a description of the tour from the SEA's website:
The People's Square and People's Park area is the "green heart" of Shanghai and the foundation area for pivotal changes in Shanghai's history during the first half of the 20th century. Since the middle 1800s, the area that is now the People's Square was colonial Shanghai's horse racing track. Although once the favorite amusement of the British community and upper-class Chinese, gambling and horse racing were banned by the new Communist government and the Square took on new life as a site for political reckoning.
Spencer will take us on this historical journey as we visit the old police station where the British fired against the Chinese in 1926, the last holdout of the Chinese against the Japanese in 1937, as well as sites relating to the Cultural Revolution and the political action of the Gang of Four. You won't want to miss this special tour with stories of Shanghai's fascinating political past.
Thank goodness for the SEA website. It tells me what I actually saw when it is too wet to take notes.
Thank goodness, too, for Wikipedia, as they fill us in on the importance of People's Square:
And so it was.
Well, since you said, "Pretty please, Elizabeth" I will. I also like toshow off educate people. This is Shanghai's so-called marriage market. The signs are made by parents, 99.9% of them mothers, who are extolling the virtues (age, height, job, province of origin, apartment ownership) of their offspring and the desired traits of the possible spouse. If you're a male, you better have your own apartment if you ever want to get hitched. Sometimes the children know their parents are doing this, for the most part, not. At any rate, the parents chat with each other and if they think their children would hit it off, a meeting between the fruit of their loins is arranged. I would love to be a fly on the wall for the conversation that gets the kiddies to meet up with each other, parents in tow, I would imagine.
The Shanghai Art Museum (上海美术馆) is an art museum in the city of Shanghai, China. It is located in the former clubhouse building of the Shanghai Race Club Today, it is the home of the Shanghai biennial and stands adjacent to People's Square. It sits on the edge of People’s Square, which was once the Shanghai Horse Racing course.
Swimming Moving along, we came to the Shanghai Grand Theatre.
Here's an interesting tidbit from Wikipedia:
Since the early 1940s, the communists have built an extensive network of underground tunnels in the area. The tunnels under the art museum building still exist today. It connects to the Marriott hotel across the street, West Nanjing Road. On the top of the Art Museum is the Kathleen's 5 restaurant, a well-known restaurant in the city. Furthermore, the back road had to be refortified in 2005 since the food delivery trucks for Kathleen's 5 were heavy enough to crush the concrete pavement into the tunnels.
Our intrepid guide told the tour participants about this as well, and how the tunnels could hold a million people, according to the government. Hmmmm...don't ever want to have to verify that fact!
Here's a description of the tour from the SEA's website:
The People's Square and People's Park area is the "green heart" of Shanghai and the foundation area for pivotal changes in Shanghai's history during the first half of the 20th century. Since the middle 1800s, the area that is now the People's Square was colonial Shanghai's horse racing track. Although once the favorite amusement of the British community and upper-class Chinese, gambling and horse racing were banned by the new Communist government and the Square took on new life as a site for political reckoning.
Spencer will take us on this historical journey as we visit the old police station where the British fired against the Chinese in 1926, the last holdout of the Chinese against the Japanese in 1937, as well as sites relating to the Cultural Revolution and the political action of the Gang of Four. You won't want to miss this special tour with stories of Shanghai's fascinating political past.
Thank goodness for the SEA website. It tells me what I actually saw when it is too wet to take notes.
Thank goodness, too, for Wikipedia, as they fill us in on the importance of People's Square:
History
Prior to 1949 and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, what is now People's Square was a part of the horse racing course of Shanghai. After gambling and horse racing were banned by the new Communist government, a part of the race course became the People's Square, which included a large avenue and spectator stands for use during parades.
In the 1990s, major changes were made to the square. The Shanghai Municipal Government was moved here from the former HSBC Building on the Bund, also the Shanghai Museum was moved here from its previous site in a former office building. More recent additions include the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall.
Other parts of the race course still remain. The clubhouse buildings became the Shanghai Art Museum, while part of the race track became People's Park, a public park.
Before we reached People's Square, we had some other sights to see.
Our first featured attraction
The infamous former British police station
We weren't allowed any closer because the site was being used for a state-run
exam for future state-run tourist guides.
A not-untypical street scene
Can't run wire like that in Canada!
Back on track
This huge white building was the last hold-out of the Chinese
against the Japanese in 1937.
against the Japanese in 1937.
We then waded made our way to the Park Hotel, built in 1934. When it was constructed, it was the tallest building in Asia with a whopping height of 24 floors. Times have changed in Shanghai, just a bit.
As the sign says...
You're going to want to enlarge this. Trust me.
Are you still standing?
In 1950, there was a survey done which determined that the central flag pole on the top of the Park Hotel should be designated as Zero Center Point of Shanghai.
And so it was.
In 1997, when the hotel was renovated, this marker was laid, showing the Zero Center Point.
The Park Hotel has a very interesting museum of sorts showcasing photos, menus and hotel memorabilia from its early days. Oddly enough, I didn't see any objects that had to do with the Gang of Four, which had used the Park Hotel as their headquarters at one point. Hmmm...
Onward we slogged walked to nearby People's Park.
Notice all the signs, typed and handwritten?
Wonder what they're doing, hanging everywhere in this specific area?
Would you like me to enlighten you?
Well, since you said, "Pretty please, Elizabeth" I will. I also like to
Enough with that, on to the other sites/sights (never sure which one to type).
This is the Shanghai Art Museum. Those readers who have good retention may remember this building because it also houses the restaurant Kathleen's 5, where I have had the pleasure of enjoying a couple of delicious luncheons. I digress. I must be getting hungry.
Here's more detailed information on this historic building:
The Shanghai Art Museum (上海美术馆) is an art museum in the city of Shanghai, China. It is located in the former clubhouse building of the Shanghai Race Club Today, it is the home of the Shanghai biennial and stands adjacent to People's Square. It sits on the edge of People’s Square, which was once the Shanghai Horse Racing course.
History
The building was constructed in 1933, as the clubhouse for the Shanghai Race Club race course. The horse race course was reputed to be the third most profitable industry during the 1930s (during the Republic of China era).
In March 1934 the new Shanghai Race Club building opened. The grandstand was thought at the time to be the largest in the world, and probably was, while the Race Club, with its marble staircases, teak-panelled rooms, oak parquet floors, and its coffee room which was 100ft by 47ft with a huge fireplace, must certainly ranked as the sumptuous club of its kind yet built in any country.
Spencer can spout all this info off the top of his head. I need Wikipedia.
The former stables
I know. The most spectacular stables I've ever seen.
Another angle
Another angle with the tip of the landmark JW Marriott Hotel in the back.
The JW Marriott Hotel
Yes, I, too, think it looks like a mechanical pencil.
Here's an interesting tidbit from Wikipedia:
Since the early 1940s, the communists have built an extensive network of underground tunnels in the area. The tunnels under the art museum building still exist today. It connects to the Marriott hotel across the street, West Nanjing Road. On the top of the Art Museum is the Kathleen's 5 restaurant, a well-known restaurant in the city. Furthermore, the back road had to be refortified in 2005 since the food delivery trucks for Kathleen's 5 were heavy enough to crush the concrete pavement into the tunnels.
Our intrepid guide told the tour participants about this as well, and how the tunnels could hold a million people, according to the government. Hmmmm...don't ever want to have to verify that fact!
The final building on our walk, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center.
All in all, another successful tour, despite the sopping wet weather.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Friday Funny Dec 2, 2011
Now that my residence permit is safely stuck in my passport,
I feel safe posting this photo of the application's envelope.
Ah, yes, that subtle difference between "very" and "particularly".
HAPPY DECEMBER, EVERYONE!
Friday, November 25, 2011
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