It had been a long time since I had been on an island in the Yangtze – at that time it was in Nanjing. But I had been intending to go and have a look at Chongming although my friends had always told me that it was a miserable place and definitely not worth going… Read More »
We know there’s a war between the shared bicycle schemes in Shanghai. I have counted 8 companies but apparently there are many more. The pavements and roads have become choked with (predominantly) the yellow Ofo and the original orange Mobike. However, recently I have noticed that people have been going around damaging them, removing wheels,… Read More »
I still don’t understand why the fake DVD shops are tolerated in China. I am pretty sure copyright laws apply here but the shops are still open, still selling fake DVDs seemingly with impunity. Big Movie has outlets all over Shanghai but the biggest one I have found is on Xinle Lu. The one which… Read More »
Once the preserve of only martial arts enthusiasts, Feiyue got a new lease of life in 2006 since when it has grown in popularity especially, it must be said, with foreigners. It’s a Shanghai shoe, proudly Shanghaiese and I have a pair myself. They are really cheap – I paid £7.50 for mine – but… Read More »
I was looking for some bamboo for an art project and so I thought the flower and bird market was probably the best place to find bamboo. These markets are one of the historic joys of Shanghai. In Nanjing, the flower and bird market near FuZiMiao I think is far superior to anything Shanghai has… Read More »
Last night, the newly formed Shanghai Literacy Society held the launch of several books both dealing with the same subject – Shanghai during the war years. Betty Barr is a long term resident of China and well known amongst the expat population here. She has a very interesting story to tell and this, her latest… Read More »
That’s what my friend said when I sent him the photos of an empty Marks and Spencers. He was already packing his bags! What a dreadful shame and a massive disapointment for all Brits and many thousands of other ex-pats to whom M&S was an oasis. For many of us, it was the only place… Read More »
Who would your parents choose as a life partner for you given the opportunity? I am not sure I would leave that decision in the hands of anyone else but in China, there is the tradition of parents advertising their offspring to other similarly desperate parents trying to offload their own. People’s Square is the… Read More »
I will never tire of watching people dancing in the park. The dancers come in all shapes and sizes, from little schoolchildren to OAPs. And under the trees, coats lay in great piles, while those watching pull their closer around the neck. I walked up the avenue of the park and counted 6 groups of… Read More »
Now if you’ve ever seen a couple arguing in China you will notice how the men are cowering under the onslaught of abuse from the wife/girlfriend. I have never noticed a problem with Chinese females being downtrodden in China – quite the opposite. So maybe it’s just foreign women who feel they need empowerment. Female… Read More »