After over a month in this country I was kind of over it. Too different cultures and not always easy to be tolerant to the ignorant Chinese! But before I left China I wanted to see Shanghai. The perhaps most western like city in China beside Hong Kong.

Since it was still Chinese National Holiday Shanghai was packed with tourists. Especially throughout the pedestrian area which goes to the infamous ‘the buns’.A area along the river with the some historical building. It also faces the banking district of Shanghai with its skyscrapers. A must see area in Shanghai and that how it felt during holiday. Especially in the evening all the people showed up to see the lighting of the high rise buildings. And it was also the evening where as the police started to route the people through the streets. From subway to the bund on one street and back on the parallel street. No contraflow. When the pedestrians crossed the street the police kept them inside of a human tunnel or where putting up ribbons.

Perhaps the most famous at the moment is the Pearl Tower on the left. The most famous in the future might be the Shanghai Tower on the right which will be finished up till 2015. An over 600m Skyscraper which gets narrower to the top and torques around its on centre. And somewhere between you can find the ‘bottle opener’. At least it looks like a xxl opener. If you get the chance get into that one, get up to the 91 floor to the bar and enjoy the few.

During night time The Bund looks amazing with all the skyscrapers. Some of them are simple lid up others like the Pearl tower is flashing and chaining colours.

When the holiday finished Shanghai calmed down and it was possible to walk freely and quick from A to B. I got a totally different experience than the days before. And at once you could realise that people living here are more western. Less people spiting on the street, making weird noises or kids shitting on the sidewalks.
Initially i was planing to take the train down to Hong Kong. But since it would have taken so long I booked a flight there. First flight after all the trains from Europe to and through China. And another reason was to take the Maglev train to the international airport in Shanghai. Never traveled so fast on the ground before. Approaching the exit point with 431 km/h. I have to admit that the regular trains feel more comfortable at speeds exceeding 300 km/h. At top speed it became a little bit shaky but it was an awesome ride 🙂