Author: Kathleen

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Aesthetics of Shanghai

IMG_2042{Dianchun Hall in Yuyuan Garden}

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The most overwhelming quality you first notice about Shanghai is the population, and once you get past 20 million people surrounding you, the luxury of the city begins to unfold. Yuyuan Garden located in Anren Jie is a classical Ming paradise founded by the Pan family in 1559. It took several years to cultivate the gardens only for it to be ransacked during the Opium War. But, today there are shaded alcoves, glittering pools filled with goldfish and carp. along with potted plants. Yu Garden occupies five acres and has a unique design with specially designed pavilions and towers. The perfect place for a respite during a hectic day.

IMG_2024   {Another view of Dianchun Hall}

P1010876{Red Ribbon Lions outside of the Jade Buddha Temple}

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The Jade Buddha Temple in the western part of the city was originally built in 1882, but the primary building we see today was constructed in 1928 to house resident monks. Within the main courtyard people leave offerings and light incense around the various statues and temple decorations.

IMG_2069{White Jade Buddha}

One of the most precious relics of Buddhist art is the large reclining White Jade Buddha. There is another mid-size Jade Buddha statue at the top of a stairwell that is encased in a glass, but photographing that Buddha was prohibited.

Namaste,
K

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Shanghai Rising

IMG_1744{The Oriental Pearl and Jin Mao Towers}

The various styles of architecture represented within Shanghai give the city an eclectic divergence from the neoclassical to the ultra-mandarin of skyscrapers. The construction craze is prevalent throughout the city and has been since, early in the last century.  A cultured oasis, the city is known as the “Paris of the East”  with remnants of an older city styled in Art Deco or baroque, which can be seen down side streets of the French Concession.

IMG_2196{A view of the Huangpu River from the Shanghai World Financial Center}

The Huangpu River carves the city in two, and on the east bank is the Pudong Financial District where the Jin Mao and the Oriental Pearl Towers (TV Tower) are located. I watched the Bloomberg channel every morning before breakfast. Also, located in the Pudong District is the Shanghai World Financial Center, which was the tallest building before the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, but it is now the tallest building in Mainland China.

IMG_2199{The Jin Mao Tower in the Pudong District, photo taken from the from the Shanghai World Financial Center}

P1010883{A view of the Bund at night}

On the west bank is the waterfront area called the Bund. Located on the southwestern portion of the River in the Xintiandi district and the former French Concession. We were told by one of the locals, in the early days of building up the wharves into modern buildings, there was a lack of qualified architects. So some of the earliest buildings were built in Hong Kong, shipped to Shanghai and then reassembled on site.

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It was fascinating to see how people lived upon the rooftops within Shanghai. Watching the underpinnings of everyday life unfold each day was thrilling. Families were washing clothes, praying or cooking, it felt like being part of Hitchcock’s movie Rear Window.

IMG_1830{A dose of Belle Epoque luxury, the Louis Vuitton store from a taxi ride}

Keep looking up!!!

K