Page 7 - ISAKOS Newsletter 2016 Volume 1

IN SHANGHAI
The enormous metropolis of Shanghai is a city of changes. Melding old with new, Shanghai is the most populous city in China, with more than 23 million residents. Shanghai is a wonderful host city for ISAKOS, as more than 9 million of the 23 million residents of the city are from outside of China!
A fascinating mix of East and West, the city of Shanghai has a wide diversity of architecture, ranging from the historic shikumen (石库门) houses that blend the styles of Chinese houses with European designs, to one of the richest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world. The city has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel with Parisian, Tudor and 1930s New York or Chicago style buildings.
Shanghai is one of China’s primary industrial hubs, with a stated goal to become a financial and economic center of China and Asia. Shanghai is also home to one of the world’s most prolific skylines, and will be home to the second tallest building in the world – the Shanghai Tower.
Shanghai is marked by a humid and subtropical climate. The month of June will bring Shanghai’s wettest month, with estimated highs around 35°C (95°F), and monthly rainfall totals above 170mm or 6.5 inches.
Shanghai is a good city for walking, especially in the older parts of the city such as The Bund, but tourists are cautioned to be aware that “right of way” is proportional to the size of the individual. Vehicles trump motorbikes, which trump pedestrians! Motorbikes and bicycles rarely use headlights and can come from any direction.
Particular points of cultural interest include Yuyuan Gardens (豫园) (in Old City), which if full of classical Chinese architecture. For a taste of 1920s Shanghai, head for the stately old buildings of the The Bund or the French Concession – this area is becoming known for boutique shopping and fantastic restaurants! For art aficionados – the Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆) has an impressive Ancient Bronze exhibit, as well as other traditional art offerings. Zhujiajiao Water Town (朱家角镇) is known as the Venice of Asia. This more than 400-year-old classic, water village is home to a five-arch bridge spanning the Cao Gang River. The city is located about 40 minutes from downtown Shanghai, but is home to quaint shops and restaurants serving local favorites. Visitors can stroll the maze of paths and bridges, and take a boat ride to view the residences of this nicely- preserved water village.
Chinese shoppers account for more than 47% of the global luxury goods market around the world, so Shanghai is a wonderful city for shopping! Shanghai’s premier shopping street is Nanjing Road (南京东路), or visitors can visit the Yuyuan Bazaar for Chinese crafts and jewelry, not far from The Bund. For those interested in boutique shopping, head to the French Concession Streets Xinle Lu (新乐 路), Changle Lu (长乐路) and Anfu Lu (安福路), starting from east of Shaanxi Lu (陕西路). This section of the city features tree-lined streets with small boutiques of clothing and accessories, where young Shanghainese looking for the latest fashions shop.
Shanghai’s cuisine, like its people and culture, is primarily a fusion of the forms of the surrounding Jiangnan region, with influences sprinkled in more recently from the rest of China and the international community. Shanghainese cuisine, and authentic Shanghai cuisine, primarily features fresh ingredients, bright colors, and original flavors. Boiled eel (锅 烧河鳗), three yellow chicken (三黄鸡), fried shrimp (油爆河 虾), and Shanghai drunk crab (上海醉蟹) are the common Shanghainese dishes. Another common dish are small steamed buns called xiǎolóngbāo (小笼包), and are full of tasty (and boiling hot!) broth inside with a dab of meat.
We hope you will join ISAKOS in Shanghai to experience this wonderful and worldly city!
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