Saturday, December 26, 2009

Last day Shanghai

Thursday - more taxi rides! The first was the best yet careering through narrow streets while hanging out the window ....gawping as usual at the teeming life. The second ride was a bit over the top for all of us - open road speeds, taking on buses....!
We visited the 'knock off' market at the Museum of Transport and had great fun looking at all the brand copies and bargaining for  a few bits of clothing. Pssst - want to by a Rolex or iPhone? 
Then we visted the Yuyang area and wandered among the restored traditional buildings followed by some back street wandering looking at local life - people living on tiny streets, working out of tiny spaces or from the edge of the street. 
Shanghai has some amazing modern architechture - some buildings quite stunning but the contrast with some of the street life is hard to comprehend.  Traditional beliefs are evident in building thru feng shui and things like the lion statues out the front of buildings - these are to bring good things into the building through the mouth (why it is open) eg money and happiness.

No comments: