Overall

SHANGHAI - The food. The architecture. The shopping. The business. The food. It's so good. The noodles… All the buildings were built by France, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands during their occupation of Shanghai prior to World War II. The dumplings… The buildings have become commercial centers for the world's leading companies. The barbecued lamb… Chanel, Estée Lauder, and other popular western stores reside prominently on the second floors. Green onion pie… The buildings house some of the most powerful business on their upper floors where…Wait! Senses assaulted by the delicious spices, family members abandon one another as they stampede toward the first floor entryways. You see, all the first floors are reserved for food, food from the forty-six different provinces in China waiting to attract people. So get out of the way. The wafting smells lure diners into every available seat, like witches beguiling their victims. This is Shanghai to me. When I think of Shanghai, it is the district of Wai-Tan that comes to mind. A twenty-mile long commercial district, the Bund stretches along on the Right Bank of the Yangtze River through the middle of the city. This district is so beautiful. At night, I can see the shining Pearl Tower as I walk to the Green Wave Dim Sum Restaurant. The prices used to be affordable, but since the recent visits of European and American leaders, it's gone up a fair bit. It's no surprise that it's become the favorite spot of the Chinese locals as well. Despite the cost, I am willingly captivated enough by the smells to wait in line for as long as two hours. Of course, the memory of the wait vanishes upon tasting the delicious boiled snake. There are times in the bund when I can hardly see the sun in the day or the moon at night. The size of the towering buildings leaves me feeling like an ant as I sit on the West Side of the Yangtze River chomping on spicy chicken feet. Western tourists rush past as I eat. The bund is so crowded, whether it's a weeknight or weekend. Looking at people crowded on the street, I easily distinguish the westerners from the Chinese. While the westerners dress causally, the Chinese dress formally in suits and skirts, for they feel that a special place needs special clothes - even under the boiling summer temperature. A historical district, the Bund was the first harbor in ancient China to trade with foreign people. Even Marco Polo has been there. Most who visit Shanghai cannot leave without visiting this commercial center and, of course, without eating at one of the many famous restaurants. At night, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake hits this part of the city as Karaoke parties begin. This is a rockin' part of town. But to me, the Bund remains important not for its entertainment value, but rather, for a more practical purpose. Let's face it. I'm a skinny guy.

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Value

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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