Around The World In 72 Days - Return To Shanghai & Bund History Tour

We were back in Shanghai late evening on Sunday. But it was back in the touring saddle first thing Monday morning as Venerable Pooh had lined up a private tour discussing the historical nature of central Shanghai.

Shanghai, like Hong Kong, is heavily influenced by the  short period (relative to its long history) when China was dominated by powers from Western Europe and the United States. This roughly 100-year time window (the 1850's to the 1950's) led to portions of the city having heavy Western Europe/U.S. architecture, separate governing bodies dominated by expatriates, and a daily culture influenced by Western powers (for example, Shanghai has a strong coffee culture in contrast to the rest of China which is tea oriented...in fact Shanghai 'officially' has more coffee shops than any other city in the world!). 

During this tour we learned about all this history and looked at the many buildings that dated from that era. But what really fascinated Wife and I, was how regular Chinese life was woven into all these foreign influences.

 I don't want to say Wife and I think too highly of ourselves as far as air travel is concerned, but we do enjoy our privileges (Global Entry, TSA PRE, Star Alliance Gold for Life, Business Class treatment, etc.). However, the egalitarian, Great Proletarian ethos of Pooh Lee Shah Travel let's you know that is NOT what you will get on their tours.

How sad.

Central Historic Shanghai

 

But what was interesting to us was the development over this same time period of local housing just a block or two, and sometimes right adjacent to all these significant buildings. The backstory is many of the buildings were originally large homes for the well-to-do, or other types of commercial establishments. After WWII, the Japanese invasion, and the ending of the foreign concessions in Shanghai with beginning of the People's Republic of China, these buildings were subdivided into smaller and smaller spaces.

Entrance to these complexes is through gated doorways. These proved to be very useful for the residents during the Covid periods when these neighborhoods wanted to restrict access.

Once inside there were numerous narrow alleys

Because the buildings were subdivided into such small apartments, kitchens are found outside in the alleys, some nicer than others.

As we went through the compounds you could see features that showed these were once upper class buildings.

But now the government wants these buildings replaced by more modern structures fitting in better (in their vision) with the economic footprint of the area. So people are being bought out and sent to properties much further away.

This woman was complaining of this and saying she would sell her new place and find something closer in where all the people she knows are.

 

 The forced movement is creating a massive opportunity for the sale and purchase of antiques.

This is an old ink making well for doing Chinese calligraphy with brushes.

 

 Miscellaneous

The time of the Cultural Revolution in the 1960's is a period the current government has done its best to erase from history. Occasionally slogans from that period are uncovered as building renovation is done.

 

 Wiring reminding me of Havana

 And the first sunny day in many meant...

THE LAUNDRY SPECTACULAR!