Last weekend I went along the West Bund cycle path and I was very impressed. This Sunday was glorious – the first day without a coat this year – so I took my old Chinese bicycle down through Yu Yuan Gardens on FangBang Lu, down to the Fuxing Road wharf and across the river on the ferry to Pudong.
Things have changed a lot since I was last there – probably 8 months ago. Not only is there now a beautiful cycle path along a large stretch of the river (some of it elevated like an actual road) but the gardens were full of spring flowers, lots of benches with people sitting in the shade watching the ships go past.
Further upstream, there were new cafes which had sprung up, hanging seats, wicker seats in the shade, ice-cream and coffee. I stopped at one and had a rather nasty chocolate mousse and an even worse ice-cream. Luckily they didn’t charge for the latter. Perhaps they knew how bad it was.
All along the route there are public art installations referencing to the maritime history of the city, anchor and grabbers with children clambering all over them. There were even children learning to ride bikes along the wide pavement at the side of the Huangpu. There is only a low chain stopping people from falling into the river!
The path upstream ends of The Modern Art Museum. It was hot and I was enjoying the ride so I didn’t get off and go inside. Last time I was here, it wasn’t een open yet. Today there were crowds in there.
Things change so quickly in Shanghai. I am always amazed at the changes when I haven’t visited somewhere for a few months.