Arrived into Shanghai yesterday. These are poorly sorted, and could probably do with some thinning out – but you all have fast connections here right? I'm here for three weeks so I'll try to keep the thread updated.
On the way down; a highway under construction, vast container port (also under construction) and big billboard with a picture of a jet on an 80s gradient background.
The maglev's remarkable in its mundanity. It's floating and going faster than any train in Britain, but you wouldn't know it.
Out of the hostel window.
The dirt here is omnipresent and omnipotent. I've got half a kilo of cement in my lungs and every possible form of waste on my shoes. Everywhere someone is pulling something down or pushing something up. It's crazy and wonderful.
A burning temporary building on the construction site.
Coach convoys brought in hundreds of children on school trips.
The subject of the above fire.
The observation deck at the top of the Shanghai World Financial Center, it's currently the world's highest.
These below are from the history of Shanghai exhibit below the pearl. It's tacky but quite appealing.
A video of an English man projected onto glass screens to create a holographic effect. He burbled away in a businesslike manner "yes, no, no, next week? I'm far too busy…"
Gift shop area - 1 Yuan to watch a crude 3D video of a futuristic fighter fly into a mountain and blow up an enemy base.
Shanghai is right near the top of my to-visit list, what a cool city. Great contrast between the futuristic skyscrapers and the more gritty neighborhoods in these photos...the pollution looks terrifying though, damn. Is it really noticeable when you're walking around in it for a while? (not whether you can see it, but does it take a toll on your breathing?)
The pollution is more or less of a problem depending on when you go. Near construction/demolition sites there's a lot of airborne cement dust. Around the more already-built areas it doesn't seem to be a problem. Hasn't affected my breathing anywhere.
__________________ As a staunch Marxist, I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member. Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well I have others.
That's cool, and a good choice I think. Since this is outside what's unofficially is considered to be central Shanghai, there are still many untouched areas over there. Some great neighbourhoods to walk around in, a lot of different smells, etc.
This place was strange. I'm afraid I messed up the photos (blurred most of them, wrong ISO). It's an entire multistory mall dedicated to electronics components. Men chewing takeaway food behind display cases of chips. Capacitors sold by the bowlful. Women running around with resistors attached to bits of wire. Unattended children playing in empty spaces. The first two floors were bustling, the higher you got, the progressively less busy; at the top it was like something from Silent Hill.