Operation “Make more of Shanghai” starts this weekend

I am planning some fun for the weekend in Shanghai as we have not done too much since i arrived, and just concentrated on setting things up and keeping things simple. There are obviously plenty of things to do in Shanghai so it doesnt take much work to plan a couple of things. I am little skint after buying the Wii last week so the following seem suitable.

Moganshan Road Art District

“…If you’d like to see what’s happening on the contemporary art scene in China, take a taxi to Moganshan Road near Suzhou Creek. Once just factories and warehouses, the area is now a thriving art colony full of galleries of all sizes. There’s a café near the entrance to the lane where you can have a nice coffee once you’ve seen the scene…”

French Concession Walking Tour

“…The French Concession is a lovely part of Shanghai because, despite the fact that you’re in the heart of a city with a population exceeding seventeen million, it feels like you’re just in a local neighborhood. The French imported plane trees in the early 1900s and these trees still line both sides of every street in the area. These days, old villas and lane houses are being renovated and turned into lovely shops and homes. It’s fun to wander the less-congested streets and watch oldies chatting on the sidewalks and vendors market their wares…”

My inspiration was this website http://gochina.about.com/od/whattoseeinshanghai/tp/Top10SHwkd.htm. After these on Saturday daytime we will then go to a British pub in the evening where i plan on “unwinding”. Ruby isn’t much of a drinker though, so i dont expect it will get too messy. But after 3 weeks here it is about time i had a good session.

I am certainly still hoping to go to the Olympics in beach city Qingdao (where they make Tsingtao beer) next month. See photos of Qingdao below. But it might be expensive on my current wage. I thought it was quite near Shanghai, but the train trip is ten hours which im not really up for, we’ll be flying! It is nicknamed the “city of beer” due to previous German roots and with the Chinese Olympics on, could be a great 30th if i can organise it with Ruby.

Ooooh, and finally a little shout out to Mr Carpen who has set up his own blog here, discovering all things Music – ooh, he’s such a Music Snob!

On a different note i am pleased to have learnt the word for takeaway now. I am not really one for eating in a restaurant by myself in the week whilst Ruby is in Ningbo so prefer to eat at home. I can now avoid pointing madly at my flat from local restaurants and get them on with cooking my dinner without any confusion.

~ by tomgurney on July 16, 2008.