This goes down in my log book as one of the most uncomfortable days of my life. And it happened while visiting the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai!
Let me give you a little premise to the day. In the evening we were invited to the Swiss Pavilion for a function which the President of Switzerland was going to attend, so the dress code was needless to say, formal. Outside the temperature is 40 degrees and humid as can be! It's abnormally hot for Shanghai, actually the hottest day they've had in many years. The weather is going crazy! So there we go, at 1230, in the heat of the day, of to the World Expo site we go. The whole damn place is uncovered, I'm wearing some stupid shit stylish damn clothes and walking around in the heat. I start perspiring, and I can feel the sweat trickling down my shirt, into my pants. The back of my knees are wet. My feet start to blister from my shoes and the too thick socks that I put on. I'm getting cranky. Very cranky!
I have no problem with humidity and heat. Yet I do have a problem when my outfit is not suitable to the weather conditions!
We meet up with the Swiss delegation … and the first pavilion they take us to is the Dutch one. Now, Robin is Dutch, so I love the Dutchies … yet their pavilion must have been the most stupid thing I've seen. Had nothing to do with Holland, showcased the really eccentric parts of their culture that no one in China will understand and most of all, whoever designed the damn thing should be shot! It's completely uncovered and open! Even the Dutch tour guide … I hope jokingly, although it didn't seem like it … was pointing out to us that the best feature about the Dutch pavilion is that from the top you have a great view of the Luxembourg pavilion!
By this time my shirt is completely soaked through. I look at the other delegates in our group, they're doing as bad as I am. By this point I'm so cranky I don't even feel like talking to anyone! It's only 2 pm!!
Next we head to the French pavilion. Mildly better than the Dutch. But not enough to inspire me. And by this point I'm thinking … why are the Swiss showing us European pavilions when we've all been to these countries?
I turn to Robin and say … let's get the hell out of here. Came to the World Expo. Saw it. And left within a couple of hours. And I don't give a damn about the evening reception!
Crankiness aside, Shanghai has done a major transformation in the last few years, since I've last been here. The city has cleaned up tremendously and all of its major projects are now complete. What I was amazed at is that you can hardly see a crane around! Honestly, the infrastructure is now better than most any other Western country out there. And a lot of this was done in preparation for the World Expo, which is bringing the world to China. Since many of the citizens have not traveled abroad, through the various national pavilions where countries get a chance to showcase themselves, the Chinese are learning and experiencing foreign lands. Thus the European pavilions have proved very popular, as has the one from Saudia Arabia, where you have to lineup for up to 8 hours! The World Expo is estimated to attract 70 million visitors in its 6 months, that's up to 500,000 visitors a day.
Just remember, if you're planning to visit the World Expo … wear shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops. And somehow get a VIP pass. Or else … you'll turn into cranky me!
> Discover Shanghai - touring the city in May 2011
VISA:
> Don't forget that you need to get a visa to enter China, and Visa on Arrival does not exist! One great techie novelty that I noticed at Shanghai Pudong Airport, as I went through immigration, was these screens facing you, that are placed on each counter. As they scan your passport your passport photo and details appear on the screen, next to a live image of you. So you can see in real time how they're processing your details … until you get a green light which means you've been cleared. Very cool! Haven't seen this anywhere else in the world.
WHAT ELSE TO DO:
> walk through Xin Tian Di neighbourhood: beautifully preserved quarter from the 1920’s where you will find the building which housed the birthplace of communist China. The original Shanghai Tang store is also in the vicinity.
> The bund: was the original British concession area right on the river. Today all the old colonial buildings have been renovated and house some of the most luxurious hotels in town, hip restaurants, must-go rooftop clubs, luxury shops and a promenade that is packed at night with strollers taking in the old European feel of the bund, with the spectacular Pudong financial district right across the river.
> French concession: beautifully preserved area of old Shanghai with lots of shops, restaurants and bars along tree-lined roads.
> Nanjing road: this pedestrian street is a shopping paradise
> World Expo site: the world expo in 2010 was hugely successful attracting more than 73 million visitors. Most pavilions have or are being demolished, yet some of them will be renovated and will be temporary fixtures. One of them is the China Pavilion, which is in the form of an upside down pyramid, or in more local parlance, looks like a crown worn by Chinese emperors. Other pavilions that are remaining have been converted into convention, exhibition and theatre space.
> Yu gardens: walk around Shanghai’s ‘China Town’ and visit the 400-year old Yu gardens.
> Boat cruise down the Huangpu River
> Maglev train: this is the only place in the world where you can take a train at 430 km/h, so make sure you do the train ride from Pudong International Airport to the Longyang Road Metro station in the city. The fastest train in the world will whip you through 31 km in 8 minutes by using magnetic force to propel you forward while levitating above the tracks.
> The Bund: the riverfront has recently been upgraded to add a long promenade along the river and to bring it back to its glorious splendor. The turn-of-the-century European buildings have been renovated and currently house designer shops, hip rooftop bars and top-end restaurants. Plus right across the river you have the classic metropolis shot of Shanghai … the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower, the 2 highest buildings in Shanghai namely the Jin Mao Tower and the World Trade Financial Centre and many other impressive buildings.
RESTAURANTS:
> Jade Restaurant (Shangri La Hotel): this is definitely a restaurant with a view! The French cuisine was delicious and the view of the Bund and beyond very futuristic.
> Lost Heaven (17, Yan An Road, on the Bund): a fantastic trendy Chinese restaurant, serving food from the Yunnan province. The food was incredibly tasty and went down deliciously with a Tsingtao beer. I also found the design of the menu impressive, for it contained stunning photography from Yunnan, where the word Shangri La originates from … meaning Lost Heaven/Horizon. And after dinner, head to the spectacular rooftop bar.
HOTELS:
> JW Marriott: someone mentioned that there are 43 Marriott's in Shanghai … so I better specify which one I'm talking about. The one we stayed in is at Tomorrow Square and holds 59 floors of serviced apartments and hotel rooms. The lobby is on the 38th floor, which to me makes everything very confusing. Since we stayed in a service apartment, if you wanted to get to the lounge floor on the top, you had to take your elevator down to the ground floor, then back up to the 38th floor, and finally change to yet another bank of elevators to get to the 59th floor where the lounge is situated. Tremendous view from the top, if there had been no haze! Elevators aside, fantastic hotel.
> Pudong Shangri-La Hotel: this hotel is right on the riverfront in Pudong and has an impressive breakfast buffet. Get a room with a riverfront view. As is customary of this brand … the hotel is pure luxury!
> Fairmont Peace Hotel: in the category of historic hotels, this is one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed in. Opened in 1929 and built by Victor Sassoon, this hotel has a very long and prestigious history. In 2007 it was closed down and went through a 3-year extensive renovation, opening up in late 2010 as a Fairmont property. The interior has remained through to its past, with subtle modern touches. The suites are beautiful, with very large marble bathrooms and a huge walk-in closet. I felt like royalty here! Don’t miss the rooftop terrace which has a great view of the gleaming downtown. Given that it’s a heritage building and was built aligned to the roads leading up to the Bund, the rooms don’t have a view of the river. Other than the presidential suite, I assume. That would be the only drawback. But then again, this is a monumental building with lots of history and its location and physical design were set in 1929. Can’t change that :-)
> Hyatt on the Bund: this hotel must have some of the best views in town. Situated at the beginning of the Bund, the suites all have a 180 degree view of the whole Bund, as well as the Pudong financial area across. This is as modern a city view you're going to get anywhere in the world. The top floor of the hotel is occupied by the Cue restaurant and bar. The open terrace area with a jacuzzi in the centre is one of the hottest rooftop bars in town, with a view to die for. I also like the minimalist zen design of the whole hotel and their fantastic restaurants.
> Grand Central Hotel: another opulent hotel in this city of 5-star hotels! The lobby area has a modern egg-shaped structure suspended above the main foyer, which is actually a very popular banquet hall for weddings.
Bojan Tercon
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