A day at Shanghai Botanical Gardens

One of those weekends where everyone is together in Shanghai, and we can take a breather. We went to Shanghai Botanical Gardens for a little relaxation and a little walk walk. Shanghai Botanical Gardens is located outside of the city at Xuhui District. We were there for like 2 hours, went a little too late. Jojo was perhaps rather unhappy that we went so late, but te good thing is that he managed to take some good pictures.

It was pretty congested in the park, with families and groups of friends taking pictures around. We avoided the ground, enjoyed the many tulips found in the garden, went a little oooh-aaah when we saw some sakura and blossoms. There were some hobbyists flying kite in some areas of the park, and some doing their little BBQ with the much-loved yang-rou-chuan (羊肉串).

Went off around 6 in the evening. Push ourselves off to this Malaysian Restraunt called Sakura in the city. Good food, a little pricy. Along the way, I was sharing a cab with Yida and Caihui. The taxi driver who took us there kept talking to us. Reason: fatigue. He was a hell driver, swearing and cursing throughout the trip as if the road only belonged to him. Occasionally, doing a couple of unnecessary and daring angry road overtaking. We smell the tyre burning, apparently he did some damages to his gear. Bad luck for us, but we arrived to whereever we want safe and sound.

We don't do much nowadays. With most of them working, and some of us never in town, Mahjong at night is just what we do nowadays. This trip happened 3 weeks ago during a shiny sunday. And yes, it is still damp and cold here in Shanghai. Where is the sun?!

Qing Ming Festival

Today is Qing Ming festival. Here in China, the government has made this day an official national holiday. The move was to spread the annual holidays in the country over the month to curb the human traffic congestions during the Spring festival season, May day and National day period. It is a good move, as people can use this period to pay their respects to the dead.


This festival is both the fifth term in the traditional lunar calendar and a festival to hold memorial ceremony for the dead. It is a day in which one expresses one's grief for his lost relatives. People often go to sweep and weed graves with whole family and take a walk in the countryside as well. In Singapore, the Chinese took the time to pay their respects to the dead in cemetries. However, as the need for land is limited, most of the formal burial sites for our ancestors were moveto small areas. Many chose to goes through the respect visiting over a month.


Here in china, people can travel over across the land by train or plane to do the chore. And many chose to do it before the national holiday to avoid the peak traffic congestions, as well as spending perhaps a well worth holiday resting or doing some neat travelling.


So what am I doing here now in Shanghai? I spent the day watching Lost Season I and playing a little bit of mahjong. Luck is good. Won enough to buy 2 packet of tobacco to past time through the night.


Whatever or however things are, we just stay up late as our form to pay our respects to the dead as we gamble through the night.

On a shiny day in Shanghai in the nieghbourhood

Anytime or anywhere, if there's good sunshine, even the worst kind of camera can take a dirt in shooting some photographs. This pictures are taken in my neighborhood. It was a good day with good sunshine. Such shots are typical photos of alleys in Shanghai, most commonly known as nong-tangs by the locals. When there are good sunlight, people rushes out to dry their clothes. Similarly, locals will try to air the bed rolls to remove moisture and possible fungi attempting to grow in damp cold Shanghai.

The only thing different of this alley from most alleys in Shanghai is that there is a mixture of Spanish Architecture and Shi Ku Men existing together. Still, life goes on at it is, with no differential factor of who own which house as a tone of serenity lies around, where everyone knows each other, despite whether you are Local Chinese or Western, or mixed blood.

The area has a nice local community to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the place. Anyone who walks around the French concession area can guess where this place is?

China has two cities listed as World Most Polluted Places

Linfen, a city in Shanxi is greatly polluted due to the large amount of pollutants produced from automobiles and burning coals. Even China's State Environmental Protection Agency stated that this is China's worst controlled city in environmental control. With the amount of pollutants being released into the air, at least 3 million people were affected. Time stated that if anyone tries to dry their clothes by hanging them out to dry, most probably you end up with soot concentrated washed clothes. That bad huh, even the locals cannot withstand it by commenting "The place of our is no good". Welcome to China's hell.

Tianying, the other city of hell, produces masses lead and heavy metal pollutants. At least 140,000 people were affected. Tianying being an industrial city, faces difficulties by the government in any efforts to keep it air purified. Industrialists will always vie with the environmentalist on a hold of this piece of land.

At least I am satisfied and contented knowing that Shanghai, another city with killing lungs air, had managed to lower the amount of pollutants this year. Apparently, I have to agree that, there seemed to be less rain and more sunshine with clear blue sky this year compared to last year. Still determined to come to Shanghai. Let it be known there are more things than air to consider. But still, its a great city to live in.

source: Images from Time, original article by Bryan Walsh.

Happy Hanukkah from Shanghai, and what we cook for the night, and some not so cool bitchings.

Nope, I am not a Jew, I just happened to pass by a house in my neighbourhood. Just beside this neighbour's door is a window in which a simple A4 size paper with a "Happy Hanukkah" was written and pasted on it, and kid drawings of symbols in crayons and colour pencils show a kind of warmth in a lack of festivals Shanghai. Yes, you can find parties every where in town, but festivals celebrated by families are really limited.

You can find about more about Hanukkah from here, and here.

So all the kids start to pop out. You got the leader, who roller blades and guide the rest of the kids around the alley in my neighbourhood. I was rather too shy to take nay photographs of them. This is a family with many kids, mix-blood origin of Chinese and Jewish ethinicity.

One of Neighbours, another Lao Wai-s, has just put up the Christmas Wreath on the door of her house. The house was a really well refurbished Villa inside the alley where I stay. The renovation has brought back a distinct Spanish baraqoue look to the architecture of the house.



It was a good day in which you can see the sunshine and a little bluish sky. Auntie Liew and I went to the market to buy off supplies for the week, or rather, food to put into our mouths. We end up spending 74 RMB on:

potatoes,
tomatoes,
rice 2.5kg,
chicken breast meat,
onions,
snacks,
peanut butter,
and some other things I cannot remember.

Basically, with the rise on petrol and the sudden inflation, one cannot buy much at all. :/



Later night time, this is what we cooked and what we ate:

1. Seafood Tomato Soup
2. Potato Stew
3. Chicken Paste Dumplings.

Coupled rice, our typical Asian staple food.

How we prepare it:

Seafood Tomato Soup



Everything throw in after water boils up.

Prawn Dumplings x 6,
Meat balls x6 ,
Xiao Bai Cai x2 ,
Onion x 1, mashed
Garlic x1 - mashed

Potato Stew



This is harder work.

Potato x 2 -3 [ cut them out into cubes ]
Ham 100 grams [ more if you like something meaty ]
Large Brown Onions [ cubed, those sweet onions ]
Xiang Cai
Garlic x1

You do the usual, golden the onions, garlic aroma thingy come out and throw in the ham and potatoes along the way. Add water. Keep mashing the potatoes occasionally and watch them with like Sauron's Eye from Lord of the Rings, just in case you didn't and burnt the stew. Keep mashing and adding water occasionally in small bits to create that thick and smooth stew.

Season with salt, sugar, and any other seasoning as you fit to your own tasting.


Chicken Paste Dumplings



This one is a little tricky.

Chicken breast meat x1
ginger and da cong paste or soup water
salt, sugar, soy sauce, seasoning you think you will like

The chicken breast meat was cut and minced and really chop chop chop continuously till you get something really pasty looking. It doesn't really look appealing and all. Next you need to add the ginger and dacong paste.. Just a little together with the chicken paste. Stir and mix the paste and chicken together till you think they mix well. Next add a little of cooking oil maybe one teaspoon to the mixture and stir again till well mixed. Lastly, add one egg into the mixture and stir again till thickened. Put into the fridge to harden.

Next you need to prepare and boil some water. Take out the chicken mixture when water is ready. Take a spoon, slowly scoop out the chicken paste mixture and make the shape look like some dumplings and drop into the boiling water. Keep doing it till you run out of the mixture. Let the dumplings cook till ready.

Take them out and cool while you prepare the finale sauce. Using some soup from our tomato soup, we take out a few spoonfuls and add heat it up. After which we add in the remaining ginger sauce and dacong sauce and simmer with salt, sugar, and thickening powder. We pour it on top of the Dumplings and Viola.



Dinner and today would have been superb if not for the fact I dislike my housemate totally. Maybe it's her, maybe its me. It all came from a series of events in which lead to the dislike, the disgusts and give up feeling.

Few months back, when we decided to move house, just auntie liew and I, somehow end up with this new monster who resides with us currently. A couple and a monster makes up a lightbulb and a couple. Suddenly, A couple and a lightbulb plus another equal to "shit i need to find a 3 room apartment". Its really hard enough to find an apartment in the city, of which 3 room apartment that is cheap, you don';t even need to think further. And the funny part is, everyone just want to pay 900rmb for a room, which is totally impossible in Shanghai city, heart of the city, somewhere in the middle of Line 1 metro. After being stubborn and going through a series and hack and tear to find the desired housing, it came back to square 2: monster lightbulb and couple.

At that time, the search for an apartment ended up halfway for me. I went to Northern China with a Chinese sworn brother. The trip was good. You go to somewhere where you don't have electricity, no bathing amenities, simple life with daily sunshine and starry nights, with nothing to worry about cept for the hundreds of mosquitoes during the night, it was a good trip at a period in which i need to escape from lack of money. Every meal was well-fed with every meal at least enough Chinese White wine to make you feel like shit. It could have been the wine that start it all. When I heard from a long distance call from Auntie Liew on her hardship in finding a 2 room apartment at a good deal, where 2 of us and a monster will be satisfied, how she ended up finding the ideal apartment alone on a rainy day while the monster goes about doing her own thing, and the fucking fact in which an apartment was found but we have to pay so much more as a couple, I sort of lose my coolness about the whole damn thing living with a lightbulb.

Okay, so how was was the rental for a 2 room apartment? 3200 rmb. Some of you foreigner might have thought as dirt cheap or reasonable. Apparently, 3 of us are south east asians, who don;t really want to depends on our parents for money, and we don't really have too much to load off or jerk off every month. So when I heard the monster came along and paid 1300rmb a month for her room, and we need to pay 1900 rmb a month for ours, I grew fucking off by her standards of democracy and fairness. I was in Hei Long Jiang that period. Away and cannot stop any decisions, and knowing Auntie Liew already looked through and had a hard time FINDING a two room apartment, i resented and gave in.

So when I was back in Shanghai, I was feeling like shit about the whole thing. Even during the moving house period a lot of pattern choot power come out. The Fat monster, maybe knowing she got so little things and maybe because she cannot moved so many things at one time, and the fact that the combinged stuffs of auntie liew and I exceeded her by a lot, she decided that when we move, we should call someone to help us carry the load to 2nd floor. good choice for her, she only pay a small sum cause everything from now on she just needs to pay 1/3 of it. auntie liew and I was against the idea, but she insisted and auntie liew being the simple don't want any trouble kind of girl, end up giving in.

You know what's the problem? I don't like someone who is so calculative, thinks so much, so selfish and all. Everything end up I think so much and makes me so wary of her, that I myself picked up so many habits that she has: aka CALCULATIVE but continue playing her game let her eat us

so we moved in, My face very black. I see the house for the first time. Chao Cheebye lor. You know a queen size bed area is how big? thats the size we pay more for and ah fat went off paying lesser. If she really think twice before saying she pay 1300(in the end she say she pay1400) and we end up paying 1900(in the end 1800), I think i won;t be so angry with her. Whats more, she got the television in her room, her room is definitely more refurbished and looks better, better lighting, no cracks at her room. For us, we pay 1800 for a cracked room, poor lighting, and not so nice feeling, you think I will like? In the first place, she was the one who want to bunk in with us, she act so pitiful and wept in auntie liew's face to soften everything her way to living with us, why the fuck she still can so thick and selfish to pay lesser? okay even if you don;t want to pay equal aka 1600 for a room, knowing well better, at least pay something like 1500 and we pay 1700. Your earnings equals we dulan and we in the end have to pay more.

I found a 1500rmb house in which i have a much better liking to. Some more I got a super security guard in front of the house. National WU JING guarding the American Embassy. So why would I want to end up paying more to stay with someone I don't like and in fact I still don't like and getting even more don't like?

Throughout the months, I had been trying to push off the idea that she is not really that bad. But even when I try not to, just by hearing her voice each time make me sian ji buah already. her high pitch voice is not the ideal kind you really want to hear, making her sight rather unbearable. she walks loud, she bangs her fucking door loud, really very loud. that was the first thing that she did that really fuck me upside down. imagine you everyday hear her bang bang bang her door.. she really bangs lor.. but not like ricky martin. then simply, living room and toilet she don't ever wash one.

When i cook, i don't ask her to pay for expense..she eat she eat lor.. but slowly, i think it becomes a habit. she don't say but she let me feel if auntie liew come homes.. she will also be fed.. thats okay actually.. but she only cleans her own bowl after eating.. meaning.. nabehz.. i cook.. i still have to wash the dishes.. clever lor.. you wash your own bowl and spoon.. but knn i spend hours cooking you just eat.. at least clean up the bloody dishes also leh...

i tried a couple of times.. i dunno is i bunk chance give chance or i am just curious how far can it go.. sometimes i cook.. i don't wash.. the best record is any dishes can be left off not washed for up to 4 days. i dunno what to say.. so i cook.. i also need to wash the pans.. and all.. i need to empty the rubbish myself... and everything..the whole thing is okay.. i JUST DUNNO WHY SHE can LEECH!

i believe if i buy anything, including what we use like washing powder, food blah yadayada.. and dun tell her, she will NEVER ask and pay one. But her from her side, anything she calculate, she will always ask us to fork out. That's why auntie liew throw her all the bills to keep track. she so calculative. i think this one suit her best anyway. cannot be eaten. only know how eat people. this one not call monster call what.

back to the months of agony i felt. I tried to think less angry of her. at first, i started thinking she is calculative.. and selfish.. in the end.. my conclusion is this: THICK. basically, although her means are usually calculative.. the main reason is she is thick.. meaning she cannot think one. her head is very thick.. if no one tell her, she will never know. she can continue bang and take advantage of things because it never occured to her to be anything wrong. just like every morning she wakes up she go bang the door. its ok. because she woke up liao. the rest sleeping nevermind.

Thick. similarly. her high pitch loud voice every morning is much better than negaraku and marjula singapura. confirm one i hear liao will wake up.

thick. as long no nails she step on. she comfortable. everything okay one. so if lightbulb is ok. couple not ok. nevermind one.

like this evening, when auntie liew never managed to make it go church with her[again], she asked me too cook rice and prepare the last dish, chicken paste dumplings. Maybe i was lazy, but the first thing that came into my mind and i said to her "that one only know how to eat issit? dunno help issit? "

I just hope this light bulb is not those kind like philips, energy savings and can last 5 years with warranty. i sure confirm will die.

Special Olympics 2007 Official Opening Ceremony

Of course, the special olympics 2007 started with not much of a hassle. Political leaders filled the arena as countries after countries paraded in the stadium in Shanghai. As I was having my meal and watching the broadcast 2 days ago and Man's place, I realise how rigid Mr W. looked when Makau, Hk and Taiwan passed by. But he beamed when PRC team walk across. Is this a sign to show that PRC cares for the people?

Many would have joked that any country with the most amount of participants have a higher percentage of "special people". I urged you to think twice again before doing so. More participants actually meant the country cared for the people, and there's nothing more to joke about.

As I see the huge mob of Americans, Taiwanese and PRC pass by Mr. W, there seem to be a tension of politics in the air. o.O

related story: Shanghai Special Olympics 2007

Special Olympics 2007

The special olympics 2007 is here. And this time, Special Olympics will be held in Shanghai.Almost 7,500 athletes from more than 160 nations will compete against each other in a variety of sports from October 2 until October 11.

"The central government has declared the Special Olympics in Shanghai and the Olympic Games in Beijing as the most important sports events of the next two years," said Tang Xiaoquan, vice president of China's Association for the Physically and Mentally Impaired.

China's international reputation has recently suffered considerably because of a lack of press freedom, reports of hacker attacks originating from the country and hazardous products.


Furthermore, China has been heavily criticised about its treatment of citizens with intellectual disabilities, who are often confined in psychiatric facilities and sedated with medication.

Pictures of labourers, some of them mentally impaired, being practically enslaved in Chinese brick factories were distributed around the globe.

Now China is apparently striving to correct this gruesome impression.

Dongtan - Shanghai's contributions to Eco-greening

Shanghai has established a new Nature Reserve in Nanhui District, Dongtan Area. It is the first nature reserve establish in Shanghai. Measuring 40.3km, it will be a sanctuary for many birds like white cranes and little stints. China, in recent years has been rapidly taking up steps in ensuring its cultural and natural heritage are protected. However, lack of funds and public support allowed private sectors to damage many heritages that will be never replacable.

Shanghai gets an arthouse theater

source: shanghaiist.com

From varietyasiaonline.com:

Shanghai, commercial capital of China, finally has itself an art-house cinema.

The Shanghai Hong Miao Art Film Center was opened on Tuesday night as one of the highlights of this year's Shanghai international Film Festival (June 16-24). Four generations of local directors, including Lu Chuan, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Xie Jin and Wu Yigong, cut the red ribbon at the opening event on Shanghai's famous Nanjing Road.

Tian Zhuangzhuang's The Go Master ­ which is competing at this year's festival ­ premiered at the new film center.

Later on in this article, we found this:

To date, art house fans in Shanghai and Beijing have been catered for by non-commercial organisations like Maria's Choice (in Shanghai) and Cherry Lane (in Beijing), that screen local art films on an regular basis to largely expats crowds.

Is Maria's Choice still going on? It's true that there have been and continue to be people and groups screening art films, but with one big difference: they weren't in theaters, at least not all the time. Being able to watch art films in the theater is a big improvement, but all that will depend on if this new theater lasts or becomes yet another victim of the bottom line. According to the Shanghai Daily, the theater can hold about 120 people and tickets will sell for 40 yuan.

Shanghai set to overtake Singapore as world`s busiest port

Singapore, June 18: Shanghai is set to overtake Singapore as the world's busiest port in 2008 as the Chinese economy continues with its stellar growth, an executive of the city-state's port operator said in remarks published Monday. Flourishing global trade has enabled Singapore terminals to handle a record number of shipping containers in May, but volumes in Shanghai are growing faster, Kuah Boon Wee, chief executive of PSA for Southeast Asia and Singapore, told the Straits Times. "It's a function of their growth and China's exports are surging," Kuah said. "But even if we're not number one, we will still be a significant player in world trade." Chinese state media said last month that Shanghai has overtaken Hong Kong to become the world's second largest container port in the first quarter as containers handled rose 28.1 percent from a year ago. In the first three months of the year, Shanghai Port processed 5.9 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) while Hong Kong handled about 5.5 million TEUs during the same period, up 2.3 percent from a year earlier. Shanghai Port had been the third biggest container port worldwide after Singapore and Hong Kong since the end of 2003. Its container throughput capacity has kept a growth rate of over 20 percent in the past three years. Kuah said PSA Singapore Terminals moved a record 2.28 million containers in May on the back of robust global trade. In the first five months of the year, PSA handled 10.79 million containers in Singapore, up 14.42 percent over last year, he said. "Areas such as Eastern Europe, the Baltic area, the Middle East and of course China, all showed strong growth in trade this year," he said. "We have been working very hard to find ways to help customers make incremental growth in their business so that they will continue to increase their volumes here." PSA Singapore Terminals is the flagship terminal of PSA International which is owned by state-linked Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings. PSA International handled record container volumes of 51.29 million TEUs last year, 18.6 percent more than in 2005. Its Singapore terminals handled 23.98 million TEUs last year. The port operator earned net profit of 1.21 billion Singapore dollars (USD 786 mn) on revenue of 3.74 billion dollars. PSA is one of the world's top port operators with facilities in 15 countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Bureau Report

MediaCorp unveils new projects at Shanghai Television Festival

source: CNA Wednesday June 13, 10:17 PM

SHANGHAI: Singapore's MediaCorp group, with its multiple news and entertainment platforms, is stepping up efforts to entrench its presence in China. It announced several new projects at the Shanghai Television Festival. MediaCorp is to collaborate once again with China's national broadcaster CCTV, to organise the 8th International Inter-Varsity Debate. MediaCorp says response from the non-Mandarin speaking countries is especially good this year, with participants coming from the United States, Canada and even the Middle East. Said Shaun Seow, Deputy CEO, MediaCorp (News, Radio & Print), "We think it's a very worthwhile project to do with CCTV because it helps to popularise the use of Mandarin in the world. "It's the 8th time we're going to collaborate with CCTV, and it's a very, very good relationship we've built with the Chinese big TV broadcasters. "And this is not just the only broadcaster we've cooperation [with]. We actually do it with many other TV stations in China and this is a way we think we can add value to really what we do in China." MediaCorp's News and Current Affairs arm is drawing on this close relationship with China to produce more long-form features and documentaries, which will provide viewers with fresh new perspectives of many interesting Chinese cities like Changzhou in Jiangsu province. Going beyond co-production, MediaCorp is now also stepping up efforts to market and distribute "made-in-China" productions in the regional and international markets. MediaCorp Studios unveiled its latest offering "A Mobile Love Story" at this year's Shanghai TV Festival. Said Chang Long Jong, Deputy CEO, MediaCorp (Television), "The last few years actually have seen a lot of period costume drama being produced and exported, but there's a new trend now in China market itself. "I think they are encouraging a lot more modern and contemporary dramas, and we feel that it's also a good time for us to explore this genre. "You can see that "A Mobile Love Story" - the whole presentation and... packaging is very modern, you don't feel like it is made in China or made in any particular city. It’s just very cosmopolitan, very contemporary; and we have confidence it'll appeal to a larger market." After 13 years, the Shanghai TV Festival is now one of the most influential media events here in China. Every year an increasing number of broadcasters from all over the world gather here to hunt for opportunities to tap into this very lucrative market. - CNA/yy

11.06.07 13.06.07

Just got back from trip. some notes on China Eastern Airlines.

As a crew at the Counter Service:
1. Do not be rude to your customers.
2. Do not cause interference to your customers just because you travel little.
3. Do not waste you customers' valuable time just so you can be guai lan.
4. You might as well quit your job and be a security guard since u like to kay poh so much
5. Do check whether your customer has mileage.

As a flight attendant:
1. Do not dig your ears in front of your passengers
2. Do not steal your passengers' pillow in order to sleep.
3. Do not speak Shanghainese on board unless they are your passengers
4. Do not always presume all yellow men are National Chinese and give bad service.

However, I must also say:
1. Catered food onboard has improved tremendously.
2. Service on board improved as well.
3. But, your mileage online feedback system still got broken English and service sucks. Why, after lunch woes issit?

06.06.07

Photographs taken with Yashica T3, Le Kai 乐凯 B&W Film Asa 100
2006

Changxing Island - Take a trip out of Busy Shaghai

Brief introduction:

Changxing Island covers an area of 76.32 sq.km. It is reputed as a green jadeite for its “pure soil, pure air and pure water”. The orchard is located in the middle of the island, occupying an area of 451.67 hectares. It is the largest production site of the “green food”. There are rockeries, long corridors, a potted landscape garden, a Mongolian village with yurts, a horse track,a conch hall, and a hotel entertaining visitors with each of their own attractive characteristics. In autumn, amidst the ripe fruit in the orange orchard, visitors many feel the joy of a bumper harvest.

Changxing Island is closer to the center of Shanghai City and enjoys the reputation as “Longevity Island”, “Clean Island” and “the Hometown of Oranges”.

Place of Note: Novel farm
It is located in the middle of Changxing Island, with an occupation of 451.67 ha. As one of the national largest orange production base, this novel farm enjoys the high reputation in Shanghai and even the Eastern of China.

Tangerine oranges from this farm look bright and smooth, and taste sweet and juicy, with thin skins and few pits. Besides, there are some attractive scenic spots and well-equipped entertainment places and hotels in this farm.

Future Infrastructure accessing the islands to Shanghai Mainland
Shanghai will extend the planned No. 9 Metro line to Chongming Island as part of an already started bridge and tunnel project linking the island to Pudong.

The Metro line will run from Songjiang District in western Shanghai, through Xujiahui, and Waigaoqiao in Pudong. It will then be linked to Changxing Island by tunnel. From Changxing, it will run across a bridge to Chongming Island.The city has announced that it plans to turn Chongming Island, the third largest island in China, into an ecological zone that will be ideal for tourism and international forums.

While many details of the Metro project haven't been worked out yet, the line is expected to be complete by 2010, according to Mao Jialiang, director of the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau.

"We are planning to merge the new subway line with the tunnel and bridge connection to reach the island," Mao said.Construction has already begun on the 8.9-kilometer tunnel connecting Pudong to Changxing Island."The tunnel will be a two-level tube - its upper level will be used for vehicles and its lower level has been reserved for the subway line," said Yu Sijia, director of the bureau's planning department.

Engineers haven't decided yet how the Metro line will be integrated into the planned 10.3-kilometer cable-stayed bridge connecting Changxing and Chongming.

"One possibility is to build the subway line in the middle of the bridge, dividing the traffic lanes into two parallel sections running in different directions," Yu said.

A 6.3-kilometer elevated highway will also be built on Changxing Island to link the tunnel with the bridge. Yu said city planners are still conducting a feasibility study of how to merge the subway with the bridge.

Location: Changxing Island lie between Congming Island and Pudong New District and belong to Baoshan District.

Transportation: take bus No.5, 51,116,522,728,848,849 to Wusong dock, where you can take ship to Changxing Island, Hengsha Island and Chongming Island.

Above: A local market scene selling fresh vegetables locally produced.


above: a local vendor selling local made Tofus and specialties.




Above: Fishing is an important source of revenue for the islands. During the spring festival, it is the most lucrative period for the locals to sell their catch to the mainland.


Above: A genuine smile you seldom see in the city. An old man posing for a shot at his orchard. The locals grow chinese mandrin for their own consumption as well as exporting to the mainland. Current projects in developing the island into a more robust and industrialised area forces many villagers to relocate. Many chose to build their houses higher in order to receive more stipends and supports from the goverment when they relocate.

3 years ago...

Around Fudan University, you could see lots of construction works going on, building of the central highway in Shanghai, that passes through Handan Road, at which where Fudan University was located. Everyday, students crossed the roads in order to reach their classrooms. Whether it was raining or shiny, it was a real hassale. Students wearing masks was a common sight then. However, students took it easy and everything pass as smoothly as the University's Centennial Celebration.

The constructions are over, but we can still see that Shanghai will always be in an ever changing state, in which one construction ends awaiting another to be complete.


above: construction worker moving across a traffic of students and workers


above: how high can the p.s.i be?


above: such uniformed workers are a common sight around china. they are usually volunteers, old people who had retired. In shanghai, they can be a fierce sight, in which their whistles blow loudly, sometimes screaming at padestrians who jaywalked


above: everything ends with a smile


above: the newly completed central highway 中环线, 2006


above: an evening shot of the surroundings around Fudan University.

This is no art street performance

I took this two shots with my Yashica T3 during 2006 when i was on my way to the Shanghai Museum in summer. It was in the late afternoon, there was a lot of people crossing the busy streets around Nanjing Road, People's Square and Xizang Road. This old lasy sat down near a cross junction attracting lots of attention from passer-bys. She was not performing or basking. She was apparently outcrying to the public for some wrongs done to her, seeking justice and attention. There were a couple of street police and traffic police trying to clear the crowd. I took the shots quickly and left.

Notice the passer-bys, they were curious as well as dumbfounded of the situation. Some tried to look at what was written on pieces of clothes that the old lady dressed herself with. I did not get the chance to read what was written or take a picture of the content.

China CCTV currently is reaching out their hands in telling the social issues happening around in China. You can access the website here. The content is in Chinese and Mandrin. The english version can be accessed here.