Shanghai and Environs, Briefly Noted

Shanghai is a study in contrasts.  The emerging China--the one already on the entire planet's speed dial, the one engaged in final preening before assuming the number one position of its avidly pursued aspirations--stands side by side with the remnants of the mess and poverty wrought by harshly imposed communism and a tragic interval of cultural revolution, as well as with the faded, yet aesthetically moving, vignettes remaining from previous glory days in history.  When I taught English in China for six weeks in the summer of 2004, high school students asked me more than once where I'd most like to live in China.  Pleading a very real lack of knowledge and experience, I would always return the question to them and ask where they would suggest.  For preferred cities, Shanghai always ranked on top.  Based on my February visit, that opinion certainly merits my assent.


This is Shanghai:

And this is Shangai:

And this is Shanghai:

NOTE:  Over 22 million people currently live in Shanghai.