Shanghai, China
上海

china/2004/shanghai_longhua

Guardian lion (shí shīzi) 石狮子, Lónghúa Temple 龙华寺, Shànghǎi, China — January 20, 2004


china/2004/food_chuanr

Uyghur man selling yáng ròu chuànr 羊肉串儿, Shànghǎi, China — January 13, 2004

Of all the street foods found in China, yang rou chuanr, or spicy cumin lamb skewers, were some of my favorite. You can find these vendors almost anywhere, but they become most prolific in the evenings outside bars, clubs, train stations or anywhere there are hungry people.


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Evening commute, Shànghǎi — January 12, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_yuyuan_tea_girl

Green tea ceremony at Yùyuán 豫园 — January 24, 2004

This was an excellent tea ceremony with top-notch tea. My only request was they use bottled water instead of boiled Shanghai tap water. They agreed. Yet the moment I tasted the tea, I knew they forgot to use bottled water because above the subtle and elegant taste of the green tea came the muddy, minerally taste of Shanghai municipal tap water. It is a taste I will never forget.


china/2004/pudong_baubles

Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠塔, Pǔdōng 浦东, Shànghǎi, China — January 7, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_longhua_buddha

Lónghúa Temple, Shànghǎi, China — January 20, 2004

The swastika or sauwastika — as a character, 卐 (right-facing or clockwise) or 卍 (left-facing or counterclockwise) respectively — is a geometrical figure and an ancient religious icon in the cultures of Eurasia. It is used as a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Indian religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In the Western world, it was a symbol of auspiciousness and good luck until the 1930s when the right-facing tilted form became a feature of Nazi symbolism as an emblem of the Aryan race. As a result of World War II and the Holocaust, many people in the West still strongly associate it with Nazism and antisemitism. Swastika still continues to be used as a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Hindu and Buddhist countries such as Nepal, India, Mongolia, and China. Swastika is very commonly used in Hindu marriage ceremonies. 


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View of Huángpǔ Jiāng 黄浦江 from the roof of the Peace Hotel — January 7, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_mao_statue

Chen Yi 陈毅 on the Bund, Shànghǎi, China — January 7, 2004

Chen Yi was a Chinese communist military commander and politician. He served as Mayor of Shanghai from 1949 to 1958 and as Foreign Minister of China from 1958 to 1972.


china/2004/shanghai_longhua_front

Lónghúa Temple 龙华寺, Shànghǎi, China — January 20, 2004


china/2004/pudong_jin_mao_view_down

View from Jīn Mào Dàshà 金茂大厦, Pǔdōng, Shànghǎi, China — January 7, 2004


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Commuting near Yùyuán 豫园, Huángpǔ District, Shànghǎi, China — January 14, 2004

This scenic street, named Jiù jiàochǎng lù-dàolù 旧校场路-道路, is just west of the bustling Yu Garden shopping mall. The street has many traditional shops, cafes and good people watching. Be sure and continue wandering south from here, and take a left on Fāngbāng Zhōnglù Fāng bāng zhōnglù 方浜中路 and wander into the back alleys surrounding this neighborhood.


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Barber shop on Huán Zhèn Nánlù 环镇南路, Shànghǎi, China — December 26, 2003


china/2004/shanghai_buddha

Míng Dynasty Buddha, Yùyuán 豫园 — January 25 , 2004

Starting price: 48,000元

china/2004/shanghai_pudong_december_2003

View of Pǔdōng 浦东新区, Shànghǎi, China — January 7, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_tea_selections

Tea selections, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_yu_yuan_gate

Yùyuán gate 豫园, Huángpǔ District, Shànghǎi, China — January 14, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_kids

Amazed by my digital camera, Shànghǎi, China — January 13, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_cigarettes

1 of every 3 cigarette on Earth is smoked China — January 13, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_luhuang_buddhas

Statues of the 500 Luóhàn, Lónghúa Temple, Shànghǎi, China — January 20, 2004


china/2004/pudong_buidlings

Jīn Mào Dàshà, China, Pǔdōng, Shànghǎi, China — January 7, 2004

The 88-floor Jīn Mào Dàshà 金茂大厦 was the tallest in mainland China at the time of this photo.

china/2004/shanghai_yu_yuan_buildings

Street next to Yùyuán Garden 豫园, Shànghǎi, China — January 14, 2004


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Lónghúa Temple, Shànghǎi, China — January 20, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_train_station

Going home for the Spring Festival, Shànghǎi railway station 上海火车站, China — January 13, 2004


china/2004/pudong_jin_mao_solo

Jīn Mào Dàshà 金茂大厦, Shànghǎi, China — January 7, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_view_from_peace_hotel_2

View from the roof of the Peace Hotel, Shànghǎi, China — January 7, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_dajingge_pavilion_painting

Dàjìng Gé Pavilion, Old City of Shànghǎi, China — January 24, 2004


china/2004/air_china

Air China B747-400, Shànghǎi PVG, China — December 24, 2003


china/2004/shanghai_intersection

Near the Shànghǎi Railway Station 上海火车站, China — January 13, 2004


2003 - 2004 China Journal
china/2001/cigarettes_lesser_panda.png

Wednesday, 24 Dec

I take the train to NRT Narita International Airport and board All Nippon Airways flight 919 and fly to PVG Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Luckily Jeremy is there to meet me and we go back to his apartment south of the Hongmei Lu and Wuzhong Lu intersection. It’s a nice apartment with two bedrooms and will be home for the next month.

china_route_map Mongolia India Myanmar Bangladesh Vietnam Thailand Bhutan South Korea Urumuqi Tibet Sichuan Chongqing Nanjing Beijing Lanzhou Tianjin Xian
My Itinerary

Wednesday, 31 Dec — Shanghai

A nice evening at the Bund with a mediocre fireworks display. What really gets us going is the bottle of báijiǔ Jason busts out in the taxi on the way there. And then we buy a bunch of Roman candles and light them over the river. Then Jeremy has the nerve to pull a 180 and begins firing the Roman candles along the ground towards the peoples feet. Everyone beings jumping over the fireworks. It was funny as heck, but we could have gotten in trouble. We go up into an office building on the Bund and listen to the White Stripes’ song Seven Nation Army while finishing the rest of the báijiǔ.


Thursday, 1 Jan 2004 — Shanghai

Facial hair on men will never really be in in a country where the men really can’t grow that much facial hair (until they are well into age.)

You haven’t really been to a country until you've had diarrhea. In my case, the Běijīng belly hit on day 9, Jan 1, 2004. Happy New Year.


Sunday, 4 Jan 2004 — Suzhou

China RailwaysWe take the train from Shanghai to Suzhou and enjoy the beautiful town. We visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden.

In the evening, we buy tickets for China Railway T719次, 09车, 下052号, for ¥21元. We depart Suzhou railway station 苏州 at 8:13pm and head east toward Shanghai 上海. We arrive to Shanghai railway station 70 minutes later.

China Railways ticket - Suzhou to Shanghai

Friday, 30 Jan @ 3:14P — Shanghai

Subject: Live from China
Yo, ni hao 你好 everyone,

Been a while, but I am alive and keeping the vibe. Right now, in Yángshuò, at one of those noisy Internet/bar places that you find all over the world these days pumping out the latest in Euro-techno Yángshuò (pronounced: yang + show) is a definite highlight of the trip. It is a karst masterpiece in all senses. I can't explain really, you just gotta come here. Trust me, do an image search on Google. It is basically these plant covered limestone outcropping that jut 1000 feet out of the valley and rivers. The weather had been gray for the last 2 months, and I prayed in Shànghǎi at all the temples for sun. I mean I really prayed, threw money at all the Buddhas. (I also prayed for you all as well.) Well, I can't say if it the miracles of Zen, or whatever, but literally, the moment I left my hotel room at 2:00 PM (yep, Shànghǎi put me on a bad schedule) the sun came out for the first time all year. It was epic to say the least, and magical to say the most. Anyhow, it has been rayz ever since. Took about a billion photos, but none will go on the Web site, 'cause I don't have that ability now. (I miss that hi-speed-connect that Jeremy has in Shànghǎi.) Again, just do a Google images search for: Yángshuò or Guìlín. I will roll around SW China for the next month and then onto Nam, Cam, Thai and then to India. I have to say that I was worried about getting around this wild country, but in reality, it has been nothing but a pleasure. I am learning Chinese and all the locals are wild about helping me. This place is now in the prime time. China is more open now than ever. Go visit Jeremy and then come visit me. I expect to see all of you. The only excuse not to have your butts over here is if: you just bought a house, or just had a kid. You know who you are. Everyone else, come on. Just do it. You are only 30 once.

Anyhow, been eating a lot of that food, and yep, I gained a couple. That is OK, though, 'cause it will be gone soon enough. China is a culinary masterpiece and the new year here and excellent beer really is putting a demand on my belt, but whatever. If the vegans of the bunch knew what went down my esophagus, they would never talk to me again. Any how, eel rhymes with real, and lamb is never damn. It is just the pork that Moses would worry about, but if he was alive today, it would be the cow that would bring the most pout. And on that note, everyone go to the store and buy a Qīngdǎo beer and think of me.

I miss you all and think of you. Keeping it real. Say no to Bush in 2004. It is time we, as Americans, stop expecting and start accepting.

Cheers mates!


Thursday, 5 Feb — Night train

I buy tickets for China Railway 2059次, 15车, 13号中铺, for ¥263元. We depart Guilin railway station 桂林 at 6:00pm and head west toward Kunming 昆明.

On the train I meet a whole slew of characters including several other backpackers. One family I chat with is a mixed couple, the wife being Chinese and the husband Caucasian; I’m not a particularly good judge of beauty but I find neither attractive, especially the balding, middle aged chap. But they have three half-Asian, half-white kids all of whom are adorable. I realize it would be to my childrens’s benefit to mix up my genes a bit.

I chat with other curious Chinese on the train. Many are tourist, like me, and others are visiting family. We all share tea and noodles during the 24-hour journey.

China RailwaysWe arrive to Kunming railway station the next morning. Several of the backpackers and I leave together and find a dormitory room with six beds to share for about ¥25元 a person, or around $4 USD, a great deal indeed.

China Railways ticket - Guilin to Kunming

Friday, 6 Feb — Kunming

Kunming is known as the sunshine city, an irony considering it snows today. Nonetheless I tour around the surprisingly modern metropolis. I wonder what happened to all the traditional buildings, as I can find known. Instead I navigate massive boulevards in between towering buildings. As a first impression, Kunming is not my favorite city.


Sunday, 8 Feb — Bus to Dali

The great thing about building a freeway in China is that they let you drive on it whilst under construction. And so, I witnessed (as did my kidneys) first hand, the building of monstrous new road from Kūnmíng to Dàlĭ. The drive would make a Kenyan cry!


guidebooks/china_8th

Tuesday, 10 Feb — Dali

And so I've found a tranquil place where there is traditional Chinese architecture everywhere, where you can bike thru endless tea and yellow flower fields, and where smiling toothless old women in aqua head scarves feed you food that numbs the mouth.

Kunming 6 -7 :: Dàlĭ. 8 - 9 :: Qiaotou 桥头 10 :: Tiger Leaping Gorge 11 - 12 :: Lìjiāng 13 - 16 :: Dàlĭ. 17 - 18


Thursday, 19 Feb — Train & Sleeper bus

China RailwaysI wake up in Dali and and board China Railway K744次, 02车, 06号中铺, for 67元. We depart Dali railway station 大理站, Yunnan, at 10:10am and head southeast toward Kunming 昆明. We arrive to Kunming railway station just before dusk. After arriving in Kunming, I wander around for a bit, eat some soup and wander toward the bus station to head to Vietnam.

CR Datong to Beijing

The Kūnmíng long distance bus station — not one of the most pleasant places on earth — a place with stench that equals perhaps Suez. Anyhow, I find myself somehow on an overnight bus sleeper to Hekou 河口; so that I may gracefully cross the China/Vietnam border. The bus is jammed with people: envision a can of sardines rolling down the highway at 60 MPH. Dehydration is the name of the game as pit stops are as rare as a foreigner here. Once we get going, there is no stop for five hours, where everyone shuffles out with a communal shitter which is nothing more than a white tile trough partitioned by three-foot high walls. Six men squat simultaneously and shit together for seems to be ten minutes. I, being the odd one out, opt for a more private section in the back. I latter learn my positioning mistake when a splash of water forces all the refuse my way, underneath me and into an oversized drain beneath. The big flush. This is hell, I think as I wipe and exit. The funny thing is is that I am expected to pay for this enjoyment. Yeah, right. No RMB for you!

* * * * * * *

buddha
Buddha Images

My last two weeks in China were groundbreaking. Yúnnán Province (Southwest China) was superb in all rights: The weather perfect, neon-yellow flowers were in bloom everywhere, the spicy food tantalized and numbed my taste buds, and the peoples' smiles were brilliant. I was so inspired that I even wrote my first guitar/vocal song in five years. ( G G D C C D ) It was mostly colorful Chinese tribal minority tribal folks in these parts and a sharp and healthy contrast to the paler Hàn majority found throughout the rest of China proper.

The fun began in the ancient historic town of Dàlĭ. On the first day, I took a 25-mile bike ride throughout endless villages, along cobblestone alleys, and passed 1000-year old stone Táng dynasty stone pagodas. All the time I was surrounded by huge snow-covered mountains to the north, blue Dàlĭ. Lake to the south, and neon-yellow flowers and tea gardens all over the rest of the place. An international contingency of one Japanese (m), one Chinese (f), one Canadian (m), one German(f) and myself(m) took it upon ourselves to traverse the landscape and together we trekked the steep trails of the 23 km Tiger Leaping Gorge amidst jagged 13,000 ft mountain peaks and mile-deep river valleys. It was, as Mark Segalman says, "EPIC!" The trip ended in the historic town of Lìjiāng and featured an old-city of traditional Chinese architecture — mainly what I thought all of China looked like before I got here. To my dismay, most of what I thought was China had long since been torn down and replaced with their version of modernity — white tiled square buildings. All in all though, China ranks at the top of the list; and I have seen >1% of that massive place…

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